Another non-Phenomenon.

I almost forgot about watching Phenomenon this week, which should give you some idea of how much I was looking forward to the show (not much at all). I didn't start until about 10 minutes in. (I think) The first act did a voodoo doll PK (psycho-kinetic) touch routine. It was well presented although some of the methods were transparent (as indicated by two of the guests figuring out how to avoid getting "stabbed").

I wonder if I missed the part where they culled last weeks contestants... I think I did. Wikipedia is reporting that Jim "I can channel an unknown dead author who writes in reverse and can't spell" Callahan was voted off the show. I like this show a little more already. Perhaps this will send a message to the networks about our disinterest in such woowoos. Probably not. Good times.

The next contestant did a stunt with "dangerous snakes." Why do the paramedics look like body guards. The trick was to set out four vases, hide an object in one vase and a snake in the other three, then find the object. On his first attempt he was "bitten" by the least dangerous of the snakes. After being "attended to" by a paramedic, he found the object. I think his acting was a little cheesy, but he did a really good job of building suspense within the time limit.

The third contestant was the only female. She wore a really sparkley dress. She giggled a lot. Giggling is pretty unusual in magic performances. (At least it's original.) I don't think it was an accident that her psychic revelation included hiking up her skirt, holding a flame to her butt, and then having the revelation appear on her thigh. I guess she's trying to go after the sex appeal votes.

Contestant four used paintball guns. (Apparently he has a show in Vegas since he dropped a reference to it... Gerry McCambridge. I'll have to look him up.) A model shot him in the balls. Then some other models shot him. He then revealed that he had predicted where the splatters would land ahead of time. I thought that it was really good, actually. He had great stage presence, and it was really very original and entertaining. The reveal was almost an afterthought. It was more just an excuse for him to get shot, which is great.

Guy Bavli was next. He had a bunch of beakers with hydrochloric acid. One was randomly exchanged for water. (My roommate in high school almost washed his face with HCl one day after a run. Always read the labels before tapping tanks behind physics buildings.) It was actually kind of original! Kudos.

At the end of the act, Geller said that last week Angel got the last word and asked if he could buy him a drink. Angel (in good humor) said that Uri could buy him a drink any time. I think that the way in which he said that little line made me like Criss Angel a whole lot more.

So, another week down.