Criss Angel is not a rip off  Houdini  but a tribute artist. Or, something like that. Despite lending “Believe” its name, I doubt Houdini could have mustered the concentration to sit through the show at Luxor.

There is a funny blog item from Phoenix New Times about Criss Angel’s escape a few days ago from a box in a lake (another Houdini original):

“Criss Angel, the over-dramatic, often-shirtless ‘magician’ and star of A&E’s Criss Angel Mindfreak, performed a ‘death-defying’ stunt in Lake Havasu on Saturday, and, as we predicted last week, nothing too cool happened and Angel’s still alive — despite ruthlessly pimping the danger element of the stunt.”

According to the local newspaper fans who came to watch the stunt were also disappointed.

One watcher: “It was not worth it and we’re still complaining.”

And, another: “Really? This is it?”

Pretty much like an audience at Believe.

In fact, things went like clockwork enough for Angel to make it back to Luxor to bore that night’s audience in Believe.

As with all things Angel his success is the magic and his talents the  illusion.  Yet, very impressively, both magic and illusion are still going strong for him.  (Photo: Lanie Crossman)