He's also made a few specials, including a seance show which drew more complaints than any other show that year, i believe (even though it was crap), and another which involved Russian Roulette (which was slightly less crap). His latest effort was him trying to pass himself off as a guru to several different fringe religious/spiritual groups in order to prove a point about their veracity. That was slightly better. But yeh, when he's messing with minds he's at his best!
But, then, I also don't get why Ogged said that the difference between living in London and living in Sussex is "a pretty fine distinction," in which case we shouldn't bother distinguishing between living in Connecticut and living on the Upper West Side of NYC.
The special where he travelled round the usa and managed to convince people he was a christian who could convert people to christianity with a touch, a psychic, another kind of faith healer and a medium was awesome.
Watching him work, especially live, is a real experience. You know it's all tells and psychology but you can't spot it yourself. I imagine he probably can't find a partner for a game of poker within a 400 mile radius of his house any more.
He's also a painter and caricaturist of some note, as it happens.
Been a fan of his for a long time. I feel a lot of people misunderstand him here in the UK, and categorise him alongside David Blaine.
Actually I think he's at his best when he's making a point, such as in Seance. I haven't seen Messiah yet though.
As for the NYT article I'm pretty sure the trick with the undertaker was the other way round. Most of the stuff he did in Mind Control and Trick of the Mind was about predicting the behaviour of others.
He's also made a few specials, including a seance show which drew more complaints than any other show that year, i believe (even though it was crap), and another which involved Russian Roulette (which was slightly less crap). His latest effort was him trying to pass himself off as a guru to several different fringe religious/spiritual groups in order to prove a point about their veracity. That was slightly better. But yeh, when he's messing with minds he's at his best!
Posted by rob | Link to this comment | 03-26-05 2:39 AM
"bullocks", really? Isn't that unusual even across the pond?
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 03-26-05 9:20 AM
You're asking me? You called him on it. (Though he wrote "bollocks," not "bullocks.")
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 03-26-05 9:24 AM
Exactly. He wrote "bollocks", not "bullocks".
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 03-26-05 9:31 AM
Is that really what you meant?
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 03-26-05 9:33 AM
That's how I read Wolfson.
Posted by SomeCallMeTim | Link to this comment | 03-26-05 9:34 AM
Very well, then. I should have checked before posting. (I even thought to check....)
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 03-26-05 9:36 AM
?
What sort of bollocks is this?
But, then, I also don't get why Ogged said that the difference between living in London and living in Sussex is "a pretty fine distinction," in which case we shouldn't bother distinguishing between living in Connecticut and living on the Upper West Side of NYC.
Posted by Gary Farber | Link to this comment | 03-26-05 10:18 AM
When we're talking about whether someone is English or a Yank, then whether he's a Londoner or Sussexer is a fine distinction.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 03-26-05 10:22 AM
The special where he travelled round the usa and managed to convince people he was a christian who could convert people to christianity with a touch, a psychic, another kind of faith healer and a medium was awesome.
Watching him work, especially live, is a real experience. You know it's all tells and psychology but you can't spot it yourself. I imagine he probably can't find a partner for a game of poker within a 400 mile radius of his house any more.
He's also a painter and caricaturist of some note, as it happens.
Posted by McDuff | Link to this comment | 03-27-05 11:21 AM
Been a fan of his for a long time. I feel a lot of people misunderstand him here in the UK, and categorise him alongside David Blaine.
Actually I think he's at his best when he's making a point, such as in Seance. I haven't seen Messiah yet though.
As for the NYT article I'm pretty sure the trick with the undertaker was the other way round. Most of the stuff he did in Mind Control and Trick of the Mind was about predicting the behaviour of others.
Posted by Joe | Link to this comment | 03-29-05 8:46 AM