Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed - TV-PG

Illusionist how-tos are fun for curious families.

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details

TV Rating: TV-PG
Network: MyNetworkTV
Cast: Val Valentino
Genre: Reality TV
>Available On: DVD

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this series reveals the secrets behind some of the most famous illusions of all time, including levitation, disappearances, and being severed by a buzz saw. There's no violence, but some of the stunts involve dangerous equipment or situations (underwater escape, for instance) and could be life-threatening, so you'll want to remind kids that the performers they're watching are seasoned pros. Though the narrator often remarks about the attractiveness of the scantily clad female assistants, on the whole this captivating series is perfect for inquiring families with older kids and up, and it's sure to change the way you and your kids look at magic.

Families can talk about how performers control the image that they present to audiences. What kinds of tricks do illusionists use to shock their viewers? How is this made easier by using cameras for a recorded show? Does that strike you as dishonest, or is it just the nature of entertainment? How are camera tricks used to create an image for celebrities? How do the images you see on television or in magazines affect your idea of beauty? Families can also discuss Valentino's decision to break the magicians' code. Why do you think he made this series? How do you think other professional illusionists feel about what he's done?

Message
Violence
Sex
Language

Message

Social Behavior:

The series is eye-opening and will encourage viewers to view illusions and magic tricks more critically. On the downside, the host's revelations defies the magicians' code of silence and threaten his peers' ability to shock their audiences.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

There's no violence, but some of the illusions include an element of real-life danger, like a massive buzz saw presumed to cut a magician in half. When appropriate, the narrator reminds viewers that the professionals' work should never be tried at home.

Sex

Scantily clad female assistants are referred to as "sexy," and the narrator frequently says how attractive they are and how enjoyable it is to watch them parade about on the stage.

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Emily Ashby

In MAGIC'S BIGGEST SECRETS FINALLY REVEALED, a professional magician lifts the cover on some of the trade's most impressive illusions. Like the original series from 1998, this version stars illusionist Val Valentino as the Masked Magician, who takes viewers behind the scenes to discover how the pros make assistants disappear, catch bullets in their teeth, and walk through steel walls. The series also includes tutorials that teach viewers simple party tricks like making a toothpick disappear and pressing a cap through a glass bottle.

Is it any good?

First, a word of caution: If you like being mystified by magic and illusions, then this series will be a major letdown. By the end of one 60-minute episode, not only will you be an expert on the stunts you've seen revealed, but you'll come to view any others you see in the future with a highly critical eye. The narrator's explanations of how the pros use lighting, props, and assistants to channel an audience's attention toward -- and away from -- certain aspects of a trick means that from this day forward, you'll find yourself analyzing every move a magician makes to discover what it hides.

But if you crave knowing the tricks of the illusionary trade, then this riveting series is for you -- and with virtually no worrisome content, it's a great choice for families with older kids and up. Magic aficionados of all ages will also enjoy the show's how-to sessions that break down simple tricks that they themselves can use to amaze their friends. Just be sure you restate to kids the obvious caution against trying the more dangerous tricks (those involving buzz saws, for instance) on their own.