Breaking the Magician's Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed
| Breaking the Magician's Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed | |
|---|---|
Title card. Subsequent episodes from the original specials had a number after "REVEALED." |
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| Format | Reality Documentary |
| Starring | Mitch Pileggi (narrator) Val Valentino (Masked Magician) Mark Thompson (announcer) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 13 + 5 specials |
| Production | |
| Running time | 1 hour |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Fox, MyNetworkTV |
| Original run | November 24, 1997 - October 29, 1998 May 15, 2002 October 2, 2008 – February 21, 2009 |
Breaking the Magician's Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed is a series of television shows in which the methods behind magic tricks and illusions are explained. In its original incarnation there were four shows broadcast in 1997-1998 on the Fox network in the United States, and on Sky and ITV in the United Kingdom. In 2008-2009, a new series of thirteen shows was broadcast by MyNetworkTV in the United States and ITV4 in the United Kingdom.
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[edit] The Original Specials
The series is made by production company Nash Entertainment. The first four specials featured incognito magician Val Valentino as the Masked Magician performing large-scale illusions and a few smaller-scale close up magic tricks before revealing the secrets of the tricks.
The Masked Magician was promoted as a well-known magician who wore a mask to avoid recrimination from fellow magicians. He revealed his identity in the fourth episode.
The title alluded to the magician's code: the promise by working magicians not to reveal the basis of their tricks, or else risk getting blackballed by fellow magicians.
| List of Grand Illusions Revealed | |
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| Show One November 24, 1997 |
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| Show Two March 3, 1998 |
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| Show Three May 5, 1998 |
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| Show Four - Unmasking the Magician: The Final Reveal October 29, 1998 |
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| This list covers only large-scale illusions. Other smaller tricks were exposed in between those listed above. | |
| * Denotes illusions only shown on the VHS release. | |
[edit] 2002 special
Fox returned on May 15, 2002, with Breaking the Magician's Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed 5. A new magician was wearing a new mask with artificial hair, and a purple glistening outfit. It is unknown who portrayed the magician in this episode.
| List of Grand Illusions Revealed | |
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| Show Five - Escape From The Ice May 15, 2002 |
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| This list covers only large-scale illusions. Other smaller tricks were exposed in between those listed above. | |
[edit] 2008 series revival
MyNetworkTV bought thirteen new episodes for broadcast in the U.S. starting in the fall of 2008, with the first episode shown on October 2. They were shot at a secret location somewhere in the U.S. during the summer of 2008. The assistants learned the illusion the same day they shot it and filmed 4 - 6 illusions per day. These specials were also shown on TVB Pearl in Hong Kong, with the first episode shown on June 13, 2010.[1] Val Valentino was credited as a producer and Mitch Pileggi returned as narrator, although he did not appear on camera. The show also aired in the UK on ITV4, and in Australia on 7Two with new narration by Grant Denyer. WWE Divas Maria Kanellis and Eve Torres appeared in the first episode.
| List of Grand Illusions Revealed | |
|---|---|
| Show One October 2, 2008 (US) June 13, 2010 (HK) |
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| Show Two October 6, 2008 (US) June 20, 2010 (HK) |
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| Show Three October 13, 2008 (US) June 27, 2010 (HK) |
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| Show Four October 20, 2008 (US) July 11, 2010 (HK) |
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| Show Five November 3, 2008 (US) July 18, 2010 (HK) |
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| Show Six November 10, 2008 (US) July 25, 2010 (HK) |
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| Show Seven November 17, 2008 (US) August 1, 2010 (HK) |
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| Show Eight November 24, 2008 (US) August 8, 2010 (HK) |
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| Show Nine February 7, 2009 (UK) August 15, 2010 (HK) |
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| Show Ten February 9, 2009 (UK) April 27, 2009 (US) |
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| Show Eleven February 14, 2009 (UK) May 4, 2009 (US) |
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| Show Twelve February 16, 2009 (UK) May 11, 2009 (US) September 3, 2010 (HK) |
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| Show Thirteen February 21, 2009 (UK) May 18, 2009 (US) September 12, 2010 (HK) |
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This list covers only large-scale illusions. Other smaller tricks were exposed in between those listed above.
[edit] Australian Version
| Breaking the Magicians' Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed | |
|---|---|
| Format | Reality Documentary |
| Starring | Grant Denyer/Mitch Pileggi(narrator/announcer) Val Valentino (Masked Magician) |
| Country of origin | |
| No. of episodes | 12 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 1 hour (with adverts) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Seven Network, Fox8 |
| Original run | June 14, 2010 – September 12, 2010 |
This show first aired at 7:30 Monday, June 14, 2010 on Network Seven and has changed to Sundays at 6:30 on 7Two. This is the same show as the US version with some minor changes. This show also began to air on Australian pay television network Fox8 on Wednesday 21st of September. This version is a duplicate of the American version.
| List of Grand Illusions Revealed | |
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| Show One June 14, 2010 |
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| Show Two June 21, 2010 |
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| Show Three July 4, 2010 |
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| Show Four July 11, 2010 |
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| Show Three July 18, 2010 |
This episode was a repeat of show three in a different order and with a different narrator.
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| Show Five July 25, 2010 |
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| Show Six August 1, 2010 |
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| Show Seven August 8, 2010 |
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| Show Eight August 15, 2010 |
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| Show Nine August 22, 2010 |
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| Show Ten August 29, 2010 |
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| Show Eleven September 5, 2010 |
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| Show Twelve September 12, 2010 |
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This list covers only large-scale illusions. Other smaller tricks were exposed in between those listed above.