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This could prove quite interesting

Doesn't he(Jim) go back and fourth between calling himself a medium and then just saying what he does is "entertainment". Every so often. I don't really understand how that would work.

That whole Callahan vs. Criss Angel thing was the only time I ever heard Criss Angel say anything even remotely intelligent. And for some reason, Uri Geller turned up, when he isn't busy flogging watches on QVC.

Anyway, there's two ways this is going to go - he'll either get it right and then Ben's integrity will be called into question, or he'll get it wrong and fumble for an excuse. Neither option is all that interesting.

My first thought was, what's a 1970s Labour PM got to do with anything? And he's dead now anyway.

It must still be too early in the morning for me. Carry on.

Randy wrote:Doesn't he(Jim) go back and fourth between calling himself a medium and then just saying what he does is "entertainment". Every so often. I don't really understand how that would work.

"True" Mentalists... those of us of the Old School influence, walk with one foot in the world of being a charlatan and one in the world of theater. This is how it was taught by Bob Nelson and echoed in latter days of Stephan Minch, Bob Cassidy, Jon Riggs, and numerous others. Otherwise, as we saw with the Phenomenon show here in the states, you have stage illusionists billing themselves as "Mentalists"... people doing magic shows with a psychic-like theme and not actual mentalism.

I've always found it interesting how, the three or four "real" old school styled mentalists were quickly booted from the U.S. Phenomenon show while the magicians and sexually manipulative vixen were retained...

To date however NOTHING INTELLIGENT every came out of Criss Angel's mouth and that ignorant challenge he made was horridly transparent.

Is it me or does Criss Angel often sound like Elmer Fudd?

ignorant challenge he made was horridly transparent.

Transparent in what way?

Jim is a fraud, claiming to talk to the dead when he clearly can't. I am no fan of Criss Angel, but he was right to call him on his offensive claims.
If he does accept this latest challenge he will have some nonsensical excuse for his failure. And unfortunately the vulnerable, who buy into his nonsense, will continue to believe in him. A pity.

he does it within a theatrical context, he's not derek acorah or colin fry...

I thought the challenge he gave was kind of stupid and was very unprofessional for somebody to do, specially someone who has supposedly been in the business for as long as Criss Angel as. (then again Criss Angel has interrupted lots of people's shows and acted like a complete idiot. IE: the time he interrupted Gregory Wilson's show at the Magic Castle.)

I did think the show Phenomenon was kind so-so. The Jim part of it was a bit badly acted and over the top.

Ugh, please - let's not dredge up this Angel/Callahan debate again. It was painfully obvious that both of them were in on the entire "altercation". Scripted reality, just like every other dung pile "reality" show on television.

Awful ratings brought about an opportunity to get some cheap press. Swarms of staffers right on the scene to break the two of them up before they ever got near each other. Mr. Callahan's ham-handed attempt and indignance, complete with an almost "YOU SIR, HAVE SULLIED MY HONOR! PISTOLS AT DAWN!" delivery.

To top it all off, Jim Callahan was so morally outraged by the whole thing, he agreed to be on the season premiere of Mindfreak, just to tell the world he meant business.

The mental phnomenon world is a place where Ben Harris has garnered a lot of expertise. He was, after all, the first to do a revealing treatise on Uri Geller and the metal bending phenomenon. His excellent book, Gellerism Revealed, was the first detailed explanation of spoon and key bending techniques, including spectacular explanations of the most important aspects: the psychology Geller used to stupify his audiences/spectators/victims. This book started it all and is highly recommended if you can still find a copy.

Ben knows his stuff, so good luck to Callahan, perpetrating his fraud under actual test conditions. My guess is that he will back out - and find a way to blame Ben for his refusal/failure to present any ACTUAL psychic phenomenon.

Uri Geller said (and proved) that any publicity is good publicity - positive or negative doesn't matter. I am not so worried about Callahan and his career. I just hope he stops his "talking to the dead" scam, as this is about as low and vulgar as you can get; feeding off the heart break of those who have suffered a tremendous loss.

Uri Geller, I should add, has done more for close-up magic than just about anyone in the last many decades. Thankfully, he has left the dead alone!

I know that Callahan does his stuff in a more theatrical setting than Fry and the others, but I still feel he is no better than those scum. Geller, for all his baloney and lies, at least respected some boundaries in taste, and has my admiration and respect.

TonyB wrote:I know that Callahan does his stuff in a more theatrical setting than Fry and the others, but I still feel he is no better than those scum. Geller, for all his baloney and lies, at least respected some boundaries in taste, and has my admiration and respect.

So you've never done any kind of Ghost or Seance Shows? Never used a paranormal theme in any of your work?

What about the Houdini Seance at the Magic Castle, is that evil and wrong?

Are Falkenstein & Willard charlatans for doing their Spirit Cabinet act?

What about our own Paul Bell and all of his spirited work?

Which came first, Talk Magic or Magic Talk?