A&E
Remember this guy? Apparently Spike TV still does. There are two kinds of magicians in this world. There’s the kind that doesn’t try too hard to be cool (think Penn & Teller) and then there’s the kind that tries way too hard. Criss Angel is the epitome of the second kind. The long-haired illusionist first came to fame in the early 2000s, the era of nu-metal and Creed, and his last foray into television was six seasons of Criss Angel: Mindfreak on A&E. Now Spike TV is teaming up with the magician to create a show that is going to piss a lot of people off.
The Hollywood Reporter has the details on the as-yet untitled show, which will
…for the first time reveal the creative process behind the magic, letting the audience in to the “think tank” where his team prepares for some of his trademark illusions.
Okay, if there’s one thing that magicians really hate it’s when people reveal the usually pretty prosaic secrets behind what they do. Remember that Fox special Magic’s Biggest Secrets Revealed? That pissed off the brotherhood of illusionists to no end. But think about it: if you take away his tricks, all a magician is is a geeky guy in an ugly tux. Sure, you need to be able to run patter and misdirect an audience, but the kind of magic Criss Angel and most of his contemporaries do is hinged on carefully-crafted gimmicks and machines. Showing the world how those work seems a little self-defeating.
The show, which will also feature a reality TV aspect following Angel and his friends around through his life and is also slated to feature a number of celebrity guests, is set to premiere in the Fall.