Magicians on Television

The two best-known television magicians are David Blaine and David Copperfield. This is not a paid (or even unpaid) commercial for either of these extremely talented and extremely competitive magicians. They're both wonderfully entertaining, and they have both aired some really amazing magic on television.

David Blaine began as a street performer or busker, performing street magic for anyone who would watch. The street was where he started, but it didn't take long before David Blaine had landed his own TV special called "David Blaine: Street Magic" that was aired on ABC television on May 19, 1997.

Blaine is also a magician who specializes in magical escapes or amazing tests of endurance. He's been buried alive, drowned, and frozen. He's been hung upside down, chained to a revolving gyroscope, and stood on a narrow pillar above Bryant Park. His fans love it! David Blaine continues to astonish and astound his audiences and he loves every minute of it, too.

David Copperfield is an illusionist rather than a practitioner of street magic, escape, or endurance magic. He makes things seemingly disappear into thin air. He makes some really big things disappear — like an airplane in 1981 and the Statue of Liberty in 1983. Copperfield also makes things appear to happen that are impossible, like his famous flying act. He flies over the audience and has hoops passed over his body to "prove" that there are no wires attached. He even selects a woman from the audience and flied with her (like Superman flies with Lois Lane).

David Copperfield is currently in the middle of a problem involving the FBI. He is accused of raping a woman, and charges against him have been filed. His warehouse has been raided. Copperfield continues to perform his magic act around the world even while the investigation is ongoing. He expects to be cleared of all charges.