Cosentino's final performance was amazing. After floating down onto the stage, Cosentino announced that whilst that was an illusion, everything he was about to do would be for real. He was restrained in a straitjacket and dangled underneath literal (And flaming) Jaws of death which would snap shut in 82 seconds if he had not escaped by that time. Cosentino milked the suspense generated by this routine to the last, literaly jumping down to the ground, free of the restraints, just as the jaws snapped shut, and the relief when he got up safe and sound was palatable. When asked how well he thought the routine went, Cosentino joked "I survived"
WHAT DID THE JUDGES SAY?
Brain praised the fact that Cosentino just got "Better and better" and also supported his aim of using the $250,000 prize money to open a magic school. Danni noted that the trick scared her, but was generally full of praise, comparing his performances to "Some kind of new fantasy land". Finally ,Kyle, who was unwell but judging by video link, said Cosentino was "World-Standard" and "Excellent" and likened his last-second escapes to the Roadrunner
WHAT ARE COSENTINO'S CHANCES OF WINNING?
Cosentino is coming into the results show as a dark horse. He performed last and recieved good comments from the judges, but the nine acts he is up against are also excellent. However, Cosentino's main rival is Jack Vidgen. A 14 year-old singer, Vidgen has recieved praise and attention from media across the world, but has recently suffered some negative publicity. This concerns the fact that the "Original" song he performed in the final, "Yes I am" is not his own work.. This has led to some strong critism online and could cost him victory. That said, he is still the one to beat. There are also other acts who gave excellent final performances, such as song and dance group Tinomatic and comedian Rod Gregory, but I still think Cosentino has a moderate, hopefully high, chance of winning
FOR BRITSH VIEWERS, THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
WHAT DID SETH DO?
Seth performed an act which began with him being hoisted over a tank full of what appeared to be tar in a straitjacket. He appeaerd to fall into the tar, then the tank opened up to reveal assiatants carrying what appeaerd to be his body. They put it in a cannon and fired it at a water tank, where Seth then appeared, alive and clean. Like all Seth's other tricks, it was unique and inventive, but too easy to figure out. There were mistakes which aggravated this problem too (When Seth fell into the tank, his hands were free, but the body in the cannon still has bound hands). Nonetheless, the production values were good, and the trick wasn't conventional
WHAT DID THE JUDGES SAY?
Howie claimed that he was fooled by the trick and thought that Seth blew him away. Sharon claimed that she hadn't seen the trick before and liked the lavish production values, whilst Piers said that it was "Bigger, better [and] Slicker" then his previous performances
WHAT IS THE COMPETITION LIKE?
Whilst "Singer" Mauricio Herrera, Young rappers the Sh'boss boys,Yo-yo performer Ian Johnson, Dance act The Purrfect Angels and sideshow performers Captain and Maybelle can all be ruled out of the running, the rest of Seths competition was all very impressive. The Summerwind Skippers did some impressive and exciting jump rope tricks. though they may not have worked well on the big stage, they were still excellent. POPLYFE impressed the judges with a solid version of "rolling in the deep". Landau Murphy Jr. made a safe song choice ("Fly me to the moon") but is still very talented indeed. Monet has a sob story that will get votes (About her losing her home in a hurricane) and may offset the fact that the judges felt her voice hadn't yet matured. Lys Agnes made a bad song choice ("Habena" from Carmen) but still sang it well. Finally, Professor Splash dived nearly 37 feet into a pool of water only a foot deep, setting a new world record.
WHAT ARE SETHS CHANCES?
Low . If Landon Swank couldn't get out of a very weak heat last week, Grabel should have no chance in his more competitive group. However, Grabel had good stage presense and a memorable, if not perfect, trick that was more spectacular than Landon's. Expect him to be the last performer eliminated before the judges choice
Whilst many britions are familiar with Britains got Talent or Americas got Talent, the controversy when a
comedian on the show copied a Lee Mack joke is the only knowledge we have of the Austrailian version
However British magic fans are missing out on something big. One of the finallists this year is magician and escapologist Paul Cosentino. His Audition, quarter final and semifinal performances can be seen below
So, can Cosentino win? The final airs in Austrailia on Tuesday and Cosentino has several excellent rivals, such as the 14 year old singer Jack Vidgen or the singing dancing group Tinomatic. However Cosentino has impressed Judges and viewers alike with his performances and even though Adam Murby who represented the art of magic in the final last year with the trick shown below didn't win, Cosentino has advanced with more support and better votes
So, how will Cosentino do in the final? Find out on Tuesday evening how well he did and see if he can do what only Swedens Charlie Caper before him has done-Prove that a magic act can win a Got Talent series
For British Readers, this article may contain Spoilers
WHAT TRICK DID HE PERFORM?
Landon had host Nick Cannon sign a double-sided mirror front and back, put a sheet of paper over the front, stood behind the mirror, walked through both paper and mirror, then showed the mirror intact and the signatures still there. It wasn't amazing or that hard to figure out, but the signatures added a unique spin. Landon is beginning to carve a niche for himself as a performer who does original and impressive spins on what are normally Ho-Hum tricks
WHAT DID THE JUDGES SAY?
Piers asked to see the back of the mirror, and after Landon confirmed that the signature was on the back, Piers, after making everyone worry by saying how much he liked the first two tricks Swank did, usually a sign that a judge doesn't like the newest one, said it was "very impressive". Sharon, however, was "Confused" but also found it "Very Interesting". Which one? Howie, however, said that the presentation was "Lacking" (The issue that got Murray Sawchuck eliminated last year, although, unlike him, Swank does not have as many excellent opponents in his heat or a direct rival) and preferred his Vegas performance
WHAT IS HIS COMPETITION LIKE?
In a word, lacking. There are two acts likely to get an automatic pass: The Silhouettes, who posed as American Landmarks (Although they ruined this effect by overlapping real silhouettes of these landmarks over themselves) and the Smage Brothers, A duo of stunt motorbikers and their assistant, who are direct successors to last years finallist, Jeremy Vonschoonhoven. There are also four decent but unspectacular singing acts; Dani Shay, who has a voice with plenty of potential but lacks confidence or a firm handle on her act, Daniel Joseph Baker, who only sings Lady GaGa songs, Dylan Andre, who is shaky and forgettable, and Mona Lisa, who the judges felt didn't stand out.Only one of these will go through, and it will be either Daniel or Mona Lisa. Meanwhile, Pole Dancer Steven Retchless recieved praise from Howie and Sharon, but Piers dislike the act, and I don't think people will vote for a pole dancer. Attack Dance crew, like the singing acts, were talented but meh, and Western act The Rhinestone Ropers, comedian Geechy Guy and juggler Thomas Johns all fell flat and can be ruled out.
WHAT ARE LANDON'S CHANCES OF ADVANCING?
Landon has a moderate to high chance of advancing, and I think he will get through as a judges choice
Yesterday's episode of Penn and Teller: Fool us included a returnee from the pilot, A pair of Victorian magicians who I saw at the Edinburgh Festival last year, A French illusionist duo, and a restaurant magician. Which of these acts were the two in this episode that fooled Penn and Teller and won a trip to Vegas?
CUBIC ACT- French Illusionist duo
Cubic act did a trick involving a floating canvas box with a girl inside. It was a cute trick, but I've seen that type of trick too often for me to be fooled by it, and Penn and Teller weren't (Although, just as with Alan Rorrison last week, Penn claimed that he himself had been fooled). However, Penn said it was "The best stage illusion I have ever seen". Will an illusionist ever fool the pair?
NICK EINHORN -Mentalist
Einhorn wowed everyone with an elaborate trick. He asked a volunteer to put a dish on each of three tables. The volunteer then assigned three male volunteers an envelope and a seat each at random. The volunteers then opened the envelopes, which correctly predicted the volunteer, where they sat, and what they served. The trick fooled Penn and Teller
MICHAEL VINCENT-Cardsharp
Like Richard Bellars last week, Vincent had previously been seen on the pilot. This time, he had Johnathan Ross, Penn and Teller each select and sign a card. He then made their cards appear in another deck. He didn't fool Penn and Teller, but Penn called him "My favourite performer"
MORGAN AND WEST- Victorian illusionists
I saw Morgan and West at Edinburgh last year and liked them, so I was keenly anticipating their performance on this show. They did a trick which I haven't seen before. In it, West gave Johnathan Silhouette cards to memorize, and Morgan Predicted the names of the silhouetted people from the other side of the stage. The pair fooled Penn and Teller, and won a trip to Vegas
The show finished with Penn and Teller's most shocking trick yet. It involved Penn playing Russian Roulette with a nail gun. He loaded it with a partially empty clip of nails, and fired it into a board if he though there was a nail in the chamber, and fired it at his hand (Or, on a couple of occasions, Teller) if he thought it was empty. Thankfully, his intuition was correct each time, and no one was hurt.
N.B For the next couple of weeks, I will be on holiday, and I will catch up on, and analyze, the episodes I have missed when I return
For British readers, thiis article may contain spoilers
In America, Americas got Talent has reached the liveshows and when (According to rumours I have heard) Landon Swank performs in and for America on Tuesday evening (In America), it will get the magic in the liveshows underway, and for the next two months, we hope against all hope that a magic act (We have four magic acts in the liveshows this year (Counting Frank Miles) and more may be on the way in the youtube and wildcard heats) may win this year. But the previous five seasons have seen some impressive standard setters for the art. Who are the best illusionists Americas got Talent has seen so far?
Honourable mentions before we start (i.e excellent magic acts who didn't make the cut): Shimshi (Series 3), Antonio Restivio (Series 5), Dan Sperry (Series 5)
10. The Pendragons (Series 3)
These magic legends rank low on the list, because, whilst their audition was amazing, they vanished without trace and were not seen again in that series. However, their spin on the metamorphosis trick was amazing enough to make the list
9. Eliot Zimet (Series 1)
A dove magician from the Bronx, Eliot impressed viewers far and wide with his exciting audition and stage presence. He made the liveshows, but didn't made much of an impact there. However, he had already secured a place as one of Americas Got Talent's star magicians
8. Jay Mattioli (Series 4)
Mattioli, Like Zimet wowed with a fresh, exciting audition. But like Zimet, he underwhelmed with a conventional performance in the liveshows, (unlike Zimet, he had been brought back as a wildcard after being initially eliminated). But, also like Zimet, his audition was one of the best pieces of magic that year.
I couldn't find a video of his performance, but I can tell you that his floating microphone trick was legendary
7.Anthony Reed (Series 2)
Unlike Mattioli and Zimet, Anthony Reed didn't make the liveshows. However, unlike those two, his second performance was not as disappointing. Whilst not the best of the many versions of the Aquarian Illusion I have seen on Got Talents around the world, his was impressive enough to give his competitor and former mentor Kevin James a run for his money
6. Drew Thomas (Series 4)
Drew Thomas became the first magician since Series 1 to get beyond the first round of liveshows with an elaborate illusion involving changing female assistants in a box into male ones. Although he flopped in the semi finals with a set of simplistic tricks with an overly sentimental theme, he had cleared the way for magicians to get far in the liveshows
5. David and Dania-Quick Change (Series 1)
David and Dania became infamous on Americas got Talent for repeating almost the same trick every time, and somehow making the final almost entirely because of their feud with judge Piers Morgan. So why are they so high up on this list? Because, first time we saw their routine, it was solid gold. The many videos of their audition on youtube have altogether over 20 million hits, and the duo have performed on Americas got Talent twice more as guests. They may not have been the best magic act on the show, but they are the most famous
4. Murray Sawchuck (Series 5)
Series 5 was an excellent year for magic acts, with all four magicians in the live shows making it past the first round. Probably the most spectacular of these however, was Murray Sawchuck. With an explosion of blond hair and Armani Sunglasses, Murray stood out the most out of any of that years magic acts. So did his magic. In his time on the show, Murray made a car appear, a train vanish, and a lady turn into a tiger. In his semifinal, he duelled with Michael Grasso and came out the loser, but there is no doubt that he left a huge impression on the show
3. Kevin James (Series 2)
Kevin James was magic's sole representative in the liveshows of series 2. However, his first live performance was a disappointment. So why is he so high up on the list? Well, like David and Dania, Kevin James owes his high placing to a pair of wonderful audition performances, with his Vegas performance in particular going viral. Anthony Reed never stood a chance.
2. Nathan Burton (Series 1)
David and Dania got the furthest of all of series 1's magic acts, but the best was undoubtedly Nathan Burton. From his audition to the wildcard show, Burton wowed the judges and viewers with his slick, original illusions, giving viewers a new trick every time, including at the results show. All in all, Burton performed six times that year, including as a guest at the series finale. He appeared in Series 4 but didn't make the live shows. However, by then, he had already earned his own Vegas show and cemented himself as an Americas Got Talent Legend
1. Michael Grasso (Series 5)
There is no doubt about it, Michael Grasso was an inspiration for every magician who watches Americas Got Talent.
Initially eliminated at the Vegas round, Grasso was brought back as a wildcard, and capitalized on this second chance like there was no tomorrow, making the top 10 and only narrowly missing out on the final four. All of the tricks Grasso performed were clever and exciting, from his version of the suspended animation trick in the auditions right down to his transposition trick with swords in the top 10. For the first time ever, Americas got Talent had a magician who could genuinely compete with the best
Congratulations, Michael, you have earned your place on the top of this list.
The performer shows the audience a toy bow and arrow, and tells an assistant or volunteer to fire the arrow. Even though the performer has their hands up their sleeves until the last moment to make it more difficult, they catch the arrow anyway!
YOU WILL NEED
A Toy Bow and Arrows (These are advailable at 99p or toy shops)
Long Sleeves
A Volunteer or Assistant
PREPARATION
Place one of the toy arrows up one of your sleeves. Have it close to your wrist but in a way that does not prevent you from being able to move your arm.
If using an assistant, tell them to fire away from you
PERFORMANCE
Show the toy bow, with an arrow in, and your otherwise empty hands
Give the bow and arrow to your volunteer or assistant. If using a volunteer, tell them that the arrows can be fired in a curved path, and stand a marginal distance to the side.
Tell the volunteer/Audience that you will catch the arrow with your bare hands, but, to make it more diificult, you will have those hands in the sleeves until the last moment. Use this to take hold of the arrow up your sleeve
Tell the volunteer/assistant to fire. As they do, pull both hands out from the sleeve quickly, with one of them containing the arrow. As the real arrow flies away, show the duplicate arrow and tell the audience that you have caught it. This misdirection means that no-one will notice the fact that the real arrow is somewhere else.
If performing in a small room for a small audience, have the real arrow fired so it lands behind them. If performing on a large stage, do the trick side on, next to the curtain. The real arrow will land behind the curtain. In both cases, no-one will see the real arrow, and everyone will assume that you caught it.
