Original subtitles

(flame whooshing) - Illusion,

the art of tricking the brain, (audience applauding)

distorting the senses, challenging perception.

You can't trust what you see,

even with your own eyes.

Meet the Masters of Illusion. (audience applauding)

Hello, everybody, I'm Dean Cain,

and welcome to "Masters of Illusion."

Now, it's interesting how the mind interprets what it sees

and only accepts what it believes.

So what happens when you see something

that your mind is convinced cannot be possible?

Are you ready to find out?

- [Audience] Yeah!

- Okay. (audience clapping)

One of the most famous photos of this generation

was taken by an astronaut on a mission to the moon.

It was called "Earth Rising."

This is not it. (audience laughing)

A closer look here reveals that this is a mosaic

of many NASA photographs.

(audience oohing)

True magic is the sum of many parts.

Our illusionists tonight will challenge you

to see the whole picture.

(audience applauding)

No one's ever said that the art of magic is easy.

As a matter of fact, our next magician believes

it is quite the contrary, and he doesn't mind telling us

just how difficult it can be.

Here's the always entertaining Naathan Phan.

(audience applauding)

- Thank you very much.

Thank you, thank you, thank you very much.

(audience clapping)

I'm gonna let you in on a little tiny secret,

might not be much of a secret, but magic is hard,

so I decided to write a song about magic

and how hard it is.

(gentle ukulele music)

I'm realizing this would be easier with a pick.

Hold on one second. (spits)

There we go.

(audience applauding)

Thank you.

(upbeat ukulele music)

♪ Magic is hard, magic is hard ♪

♪ Magic is hard ♪

♪ Magic is hard, magic is hard ♪

♪ Magic is hard ♪ (audience applauding)

Thank you.

There is more.

(audience laughing)

♪ You spend all those years as an outcast and a loner ♪

♪ You strike out by yourself as a small business owner ♪

♪ The tricks aren't up your sleeve, they're sat on a shelf ♪

♪ And as they gather dust you must believe in yourself ♪

♪ It's a tricky position, being a magician ♪

♪ You study just as long as a lawyer or physician ♪

♪ But there are no degrees from respected institutions ♪

♪ For sleight of hand and big-stage illusions ♪

♪ No, there is no Harvard or Julliard ♪

♪ For training doves and back-palming cards ♪

♪ You wanna get a credit on your CV ♪

♪ You gotta get your face up on the TV ♪

♪ Get booked on a show like MOI ♪

♪ There's no camera tricks 'cause we do it live ♪

♪ No time for nerves or hand wringing ♪

♪ And now you understand why I'm singing ♪

♪ Now the magic is hard, magic is hard ♪

(audience laughing) ♪ Yeah, magic is hard ♪

♪ Lemme give you an example ♪

♪ You sitting here in the front row ♪

♪ What's your name ♪

- Jessica.

♪ It's lovely to meet you, Jessica ♪

♪ Jessica, can you do me a favor ♪

♪ And think of a number between one and a hundred ♪

♪ Yeah, Jessica ♪

(audience laughing) ♪ Are you thinking of a number ♪

♪ Yes, tell us all that number ♪

43.

♪ She's thinking of 43 now ♪

♪ Here's the deal ♪

♪ Before the show even started ♪

♪ I wrote down a number and I put it in an envelope ♪

♪ That envelope, it's been sitting there this whole time ♪

♪ Would you all like to see what that number is ♪

- [Audience] Yeah!

- [Audience Member] You know it!

- Oh! (audience laughing)

♪ Magic is hard ♪ (audience laughing)

(audience applauding)

- Thank you very much!

Okay. (chuckling) (audience applauding)

Thank you so much, I really appreciate that.

And Jessica, as a little gesture of my appreciation,

you get this very special ukulele pick.

(audience applauding)

It's very special.

It's a limited edition ukulele pick.

I'm serious, they only made a hundred of them.

Which one is that?

- Limited edition, 43 of a hundred.

- Sorry, did you say... (audience applauding)

Can you hold that up, can we get the camera?

Show the camera, show the camera.

It says "Limited Edition, 43 of a..."

♪ Magic's still hard ♪

(audience applauding)

- Our next performer is a young lady

who distracts her subjects with her sweetness,

but beware, her magic is very deceiving.

Here is Anna DeGuzman.

(upbeat music) (audience applauding)

- Sir, do you have your phone?

- [Volunteer] I do.

- Can you take it out for us?

(gentle upbeat music)

Check it out.

All right, this is your phone? - It is.

- Perfect, can you help me out, actually?

Great.

Can you unlock your phone for me, please?

(gentle upbeat music)

I'm not looking, I'm not peaking, I have no spies.

Go ahead, you unlocked it? - Mm-hm.

- Can you get into the calculator for us?

- Yeah. - Show everybody.

Great.

Now hold it against your chest.

Do you have a four or six-digit passcode?

- I have a four.

- Hold it against yourself.

Make sure no one else is looking.

Four, four is pretty easy.

Can you put in your birthday?

So mine's August 21st, so I would put in 8-2-1,

so your birthday as a whole number.

- Okay. - Got it?

Press the plus button once. - Okay.

- And then add your four-digit passcode.

Okay. - Okay.

- [Anna] When you're ready, equals it.

- Okay. - Does that number

mean anything to you?

- No.

- [Anna] Are you sure?

- Yeah.

- It could be, like, an address.

- Yeah. - Really?

- Yeah, actually, yes. (audience laughing)

- What address?

- It's my uncle.

(Anna gasps) (audience oohing)

- No way. (laughs) (audience laughing)

That's amazing, yeah.

Can you try to memorize that as best as possible?

Even show it to someone else to help you memorize it.

Okay.

Clear it once.

- Okay.

- Home button.

- Okay.

- Can I see your phone?

Okay, let's see.

How long do you think it'll take me to guess your passcode?

- Mm...

Not that long. - Not that long, okay.

Can you count up for me zero to nine, out loud, please?

- One, two, three, four, five,

six, seven, eight, nine.

- Six, the first number's six?

- It is.

- Lucky guess, right? - Yeah.

- Can you count down for me nine to zero?

- Nine, eight, seven, six,

five, four, three--

- Three? - Yeah.

(audience laughing)

- The second number's three?

- Yeah.

- Okay.

Does anyone here know what your passcode is?

There's no way I can know what it is?

- No. - Can I see your finger?

What finger do you use when you...

This one? - Yeah.

- You can actually match the track.

You see, like where he normally presses it.

I think you'd go for another three.

- Yeah.

(audience laughing)

(upbeat music)

And then a four, is that correct?

- Yeah, it is.

(audience applauding) (upbeat music)

- Okay, we're gonna lock the phone again.

You know when someone pinches you--

- Mm-hm.

- And it leaves an indent on your hand?

See, do you use the right or left side?

- The right. - Right?

If you push your thump up against someone else's,

you can actually transfer their thumb print

just for a moment, and unlock their phone.

(audience oohing)

(audience applauding)

(flame whooshing) - Next,

the amazing card wizardry of Richard Turner.

(flame whooshing) (audience applauding)

(audience applauding)

(flame whooshing)

Our next performer is an inspiration to everyone.

At age seven, he began losing his eyesight,

but it never stopped him from becoming

one of the world's most skillful card technicians.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Richard Turner.

(audience applauding) (upbeat music)

- Thank you.

I want you to see I have a random deck of playing cards.

We'll give it a quick casino wash.

It really doesn't matter, because what I'm gonna do

has no relevance to the cards anyway.

What's your name? - Sal.

- Okay, good.

I'm gonna leave it face up.

Pull out any random card.

Tell me when you have one.

- [Sal] I have one.

- All right.

Hand me the card face up.

What's your card, Sal?

Out loud. - Eight of hearts.

- Watch the eight of hearts.

You're gonna understand what I do.

I want the eight of hearts.

So what happens is I would deal cards

around the table to the other players.

Only when I'm ready, I deal the eight of hearts.

Watch face up, you see how the card sits there

as the second card is dealt?

You have to deal this neatly

and as if you're dealing from the top.

And my first card dealt, not the eight of hearts.

- [Sal] Nope.

(audience oohing) - Watch again, watch again.

I'll deal it in slow motion, eight on top,

super-slow motion.

I hit the other players, and only when I'm ready,

I deal the eight of hearts.

Watch face up, see how the card stays

as the second card is dealt.

That's one-handed, one-handed,

and when the eight is face down, when it's face down,

you can't tell you've been swindled.

Isn't that fun?

That's called dealing seconds.

(audience applauding)

Now people say they can learn this

in like five or 10 easy years.

(audience laughing)

Not gonna happen.

I've been working with cards, I hate to admit this,

for over 58 years, and I've made a living

with cards solely for over 40 years.

And there was a period of time

when I practiced 10 to 20 hours a day, seven days a week,

and I sustained that for 26 years straight,

and I'm gonna show you what obsessive compulsive behavior

can do for you, too.

(audience laughing) Sal, do me a favor, pick a number

between 10 and 20, out loud.

- 15. - 15.

Watch, I'm gonna try to cut, with one hand, 15 cards.

Can you count 'em out loud so everybody can hear?

- One, two, three, four, five,

six, seven, slow counter, eight, nine,

10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.

- Did we do it, Sal? - We did it.

- We oughta go on the road together.

(audience applauding) All right.

Now do you understand what's happening?

I'll do it again, any number, one to 52,

but you don't wanna say "52."

I hand him the deck and nobody cares.

Somebody in the audience, call out a number loud.

- [Audience Member] 36.

- [Richard] Okay, 36?

I heard "36."

- I heard that, too.

- Okay, count 'em out loud, one on top of the other.

- One, two, three, four,

five, six, seven, eight, nine,

10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,

16, 17, 18, 19, 20,

21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26,

27, 28, 29, 30, 31,

32, 33, 34, 35, 36.

(audience applauding)

- Well, I hope y'all had fun, everybody.

Thank you.

(audience applauding) (upbeat music)

- Here is a hilarious magician.

Just saying his name makes me laugh.

I always look forward to his illusions,

because I never know where he's going to take us.

So let's go on a ride with the very unpredictable Ed Alonzo.

(audience applauding)

- Oh.

Time for a card trick!

(audience laughing)

You love the card tricks, don't ya?

Now these are bigger cards so that everyone

can see 'em in the theater.

But let's get someone up close to pick a card.

All different cards.

I'm gonna fan through the cards like this,

and then just reach in, touch a card.

This one here?

Good, take it out of there.

Oh, you got a couple of 'em, just take one.

Don't let me see it, but hold it up

so that all the people behind you can see that card.

Perfect, and the people at home.

Now put the card back into the deck wherever you like.

There you go, oop, oh, nice.

You just shoved it all the way in there, I'll never find it.

(audience laughing)

Okay, well you pretty much ruined that one.

I appreciate it.

(audience laughing)

You know, I wasn't intending on finding that card anyway,

because I have something in this box

that will locate the card in a strange way.

Inside is something very dangerous.

The reason I know that,

it is because it says so right there.

(audience laughing)

It's a crazy beast that we're about to unleash.

(box rattling) Whoa!

(audience laughing)

Slowly, slowly remove...

Keep your seats.

(audience laughing) Until now,

it was only legend.

Ladies and gentlemen, what I have here

is the world's only man-eating plants.

(teeth chattering)

(audience laughing)

(audience clapping) Smart teeth, huh?

Wisdom teeth!

(audience laughing) (teeth chattering)

All right, brace yourselves.

Here we go!

(silly music)

Cards into the box.

(teeth chattering) I feel like the tooth fairy.

Ooh! (chuckles) (audience laughing)

He's eating through the cards, ladies and gentlemen!

(audience laughing) (teeth chattering)

Whoops!

Denture slipped. (chuckles)

That's okay. (audience laughing)

He's getting close.

Whoa!

(drum rolling)

One card left.

(drum rolling)

What was the name of your card?

- Four of diamonds.

- The four of diamonds.

(teeth chattering)

The teeth just said that's correct.

It really is.

(triumphant music) (audience applauding)

(audience applauding)

(flame whooshing) - We'll be right back

with the super-quick hands of Eric Jones.

(flame whooshing) (audience applauding)

(audience applauding)

(flame whooshing) Our next magician

is one of the best close-up artists in the world.

I can never figure out what he's doing.

Manipulation takes a lot of practice,

so watch as he dazzles our audience.

This is Eric Jones.

(audience applauding)

- Hey, how are you, good to meet you.

I'm Eric, you are? - Christie.

- Christie, and--

- Max, buddy. - Max, good to meet you.

I love the beard.

I'm working on mine. - Yeah.

- What I wanted to do, guys, if it's okay,

I wanted to share something interesting.

When I first got into magic, one of the first things

that I wished for was the superpower

to be able to make money,

so I've been playing with a couple of things,

and I hope you like it.

(gentle music)

Huh?

I know it doesn't look like much,

but if I rub that little bit of nothing between my fingers,

I can create the illusion that it changes

into a little bit of money.

(audience applauding) Magic!

(audience laughing)

Now this is one really old Walking Liberty

American half-dollar.

I happened to notice you've got one here as well.

I hope you don't mind if I reach over and take it.

Now folks, this one, you can see.

This one, you have to see to believe.

(gentle upbeat music)

(audience applauding)

That's kind of cool, right?

That's kind of cool.

But they always say the best things happen in threes.

You'll notice right here, bro, do me a favor.

Reach over.

What do you feel?

- Nothing, a bicep.

- A bicep. (audience laughing)

Right, watch, right about there.

Three pieces of silver, thank you.

(audience applauding)

But you know what they say, they say, "Easy come, easy go."

Would you mind opening your right hand?

Watch the top one.

If I was to take this coin and give it a little squeeze,

you might feel the moment.

We'll try it again.

Two left to go.

Would you mind opening your left hand?

Watch.

(gentle upbeat music)

(audience oohing) One left to go.

You can keep your hand open for just a second,

and if you watch, that leaves nothing but a dream.

(audience applauding) (upbeat music)

- Europe's favorite escape artist, Titou, next.

(flame whooshing) (audience applauding)

(audience applauding)

(flame whooshing) Generations of magicians

have attempted the Houdini water tank escape.

Well tonight, from France, see if you can hold your breath

along with the amazing Titou.

(audience applauding) (dramatic music)

(dramatic music)

(ominous music)

(audience applauding)

(dramatic music)

(audience applauding)

(flame whooshing)

All right, that's it for this edition

of "Masters of Illusion."

We hope you'll join us next time for more amazing magic.

Until then, I am Dean Cain, thank you for watching.

(audience applauding)

You're welcome.

You cheated, though.

Nice to meet you.

Hey, you look like my brother.

Nice to meet you, thank you. (audience applauding)

(laughing) Exactly, thank you.

Well done.

Thank you guys for being here.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

Lovely to meet you.

I'll do it the next time.

Were you the kid that sent that creepy thing?

All right.

(audience applauding) That was you.