Tag: Magic Trick

And Then There Was One (Magician on AGT)

AGT Magicians

This week on America’s Got Talent, three magicians performed in the top twelve, but after America voted, only one magic man was left standing. The comedy-magic team of David and Leeman left everyone amazed with their giant lottery ticket trick, while Mike Super put Nick Cannon in a money machine and revealed a secret message he had given Howard Stern earlier in the week. But it was Mat Franco, featured in a previous Chimesfreedom post, who wowed America with his card tricks to advance to the finals.

This season of America’s Got Talent found some excellent magicians, so it was sad to see it narrowed down to one. On the other hand, it is likely that having so many magicians split the vote for magic fans, making it harder for any of them to win with the other ones around. Franco should benefit from the elimination of the other two magic acts when he goes to the finals.

Did America get it right? David and Leeman amazed everyone by using random numbers selected by the judges. (UPDATE:  Unfortunately, the videos are no longer available.)

Mike Super gave a prominent role to Nick Cannon and some one-dollar bills to match a prediction made with cards and a special message he revealed with a (malfunctioning) small butane torch.

Finally, Matt Franco incorporated several card tricks into his act, even involving the audience at home. The next night, he would learn that this performance was sending him to the finals while the other two magicians went home.

Was Franco the best of the magicians? All three acts did a great job this week, although none of them probably had their best performance of the season. Franco’s act seemed a little small and scattered compared to the cell phone trick he did last time he appeared, so I suspect his prior work played a role in the vote. Looking just at the night, I liked David and Leeman’s act the best, but on overall strength through the season, the audience probably got it right in picking Franco if only one act could proceed to the finals.

In the finals, Franco will have some tough competition, even though one of our favorite acts, Blue Journey, was sent home. The six remaining acts also include excellent singers like Emily West, Sons of Serendip, and the amazing 12-year-old Quintavious Johnson. So we will have to wait and see whether Franco can pull a million-dollar win out of his hat. (September 17, 2014 Update: He did. Mat Franco won this season’s America’s Got Talent competition.)

Which magic act did you like best on this season’s America’s Got Talent? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Magician Mat Franco and the Missing Cell Phone on “America’s Got Talent”

    AGT Magician

    Some of the highlights of this season’s America’s Got Talent have been several talented magicians, including David and Leeman, Mike Super, Smoothini, and Mat Franco. In this week’s semi-finalist show of the NBC series, the Rhode Island native Mat Franco did a pretty amazing trick with Mel B‘s cell phone.

    In the performance, Franco makes the cell phone disappear and reappear in an impossibly unusual place. Franco’s way of proving that it was the same cell phone was pretty cool too.

    If you are an inquiring person who does not want to be left with the amazement of magic, Reddit has a discussion speculating about how Franco may have done the trick. In addition to Franco, several other artists had a good week too, including dance duo Blue Journey.

    September 4, 2014 Update: The following night after Franco’s cell phone trick, both he and Blue Journey advanced to the next round, putting them among the top twelve acts.

    September 17, 2014 Update: After advancing past the last two remaining magic acts in the competition, Mat Franco went to the finals and won America’s Got Talent for the season.

    Who is your favorite artist on “America’s Got Talent”? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Willie Nelson Does a Card Trick

    Willie Nelson Bobbie

    We already knew that Willie Nelson is full of magic, but this week he released a video of himself doing a card trick. It is a long trick, but it is fun to see Nelson at work.

    In the video, Willie Nelson, who recently appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, shows his sister Bobbie Nelson his latest trick while telling a story about a porter. Check it out.

    The name of the card trick is “Sam the Bellhop,” although Willie turns it into a story about a porter. Reportedly, the basis for the card trick was created by Rufus Steele, and then around 1994 Bill Malone built on the trick, adding cuts. You may watch Malone do the trick in this video. But if you prefer to see how “Sam the Bellhop” is done, check this video, or you can read about it at ehow.

    Hopefully, you will not need those links explaining “Sam the Bellhop” and, like me, will just go on believing in the magic of Willie Nelson.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

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