Who will David Blaine perform his street magic with in an upcoming special?”
Street Magic exists in several incarnations. Parts of Blaine’s street act — performing feats of illusion in front of gullible passersby — have turned up on YouTube, where web browsers can hoot in derision in the relative privacy of their computer screens. TV is a different medium, though — less cool, more public. Magic has always been a tough sell on TV, because viewers are used to being hoodwinked. Street magic is busking with card tricks, and that’s tough to convey on the small screen. So it’s up to the performer to sell the act to an audience watching at home. For Blaine, that has meant turning to an ever-growing number of large-scale, Houdini-like stunts, such as being encased in a massive block of ice in New York’s Times Square — 63 hours, 42 minutes and 11 seconds! — standing atop a 30-metre pillar in New York’s Bryant Park –35 hours! — and being sealed inside a Plexiglas case in London, England — for 44 days! Thankfully, it won’t take you 44 days to watch Street Magic. A
TBS Special: Ellen’s Bigger Longer & Wider Show – Wednesday, June 17; Premieres on TBS Saturday, June 27 With a spectacular collection of hand-picked performers lined up, Emmy(R)-winning host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres is ready to blow into Chicago with her third variety special for TBS. Street Magic with David Blaine – Ellen will take to the streets of Chicago with David Blaine as he shows off his trademark street magic skills. Blaine, who holds several Guinness World Records, has been featured on numerous television shows and specials performing his unique brand of illusion and endurance.
