Thanks.
We, uh, we have only met...
This scares me.
This, this scares you?
Well, this is - we just got some things together here and...
(narrator) I told them to provide their own props and not to
let Geller or his people anywhere near them.
... also one of our staff members, um,
did some drawings which have been sealed in an envelope, uh,
and I'd like you to take your own pace when you feel like
you want to try anything.
Do you want to try that particular experiment first?
When I'll feel free.
Sure.
We'll start eliminating the ones that do not have the water.
Alright.
Without touching them.
He is really suspicious!
I'm having a hard time with you.
I - I don't mean to be...
Just, just keep looking.
Okay, let me rest a little, alright?
Alright.
You know I'm surprised because before this program,
your producer came and he read me at least 40 questions
you were going to ask me.
Well, I can ask you all kinds of questions if
you'd like - if you'd like me to ask you questions.
I have to ..I have to have time.
Alright, we are back.
Uri was telling me - you, you don't feel, what,
strong tonight?
Not so strong. It's not all tonight.
Right now I'm feel - I'm feeling being pressed and that I can't...
I - I'm not trying to pressure ya,
I'm really not.
No, you're only telling me, "Well, you try that,
or that, or that."
But, I thought that was the idea of, uh, of, uh...
No, I'm not - I'm not going to put you down.
(narrator) Much to my surprise,
The Tonight Show episode didn't have much effect on Uri Geller's career.
Neither did the book that I wrote about him.
But, eventually his star faded.
Why people are so drawn to the irrational is something
that has always puzzled me.
I want to be, if I can, as sure of the world,
the real world around me as is possible.
Now, you can only attain that to a certain degree,
but I want the greatest degree of control.
I don't - I'd never involve myself in
narcotics in any kind, I don't smoke,
I don't drink because that can easily just fuzz the edges of my rationality,
fuzz the edges of my reasoning
powers and I want to be as aware as I possibly can.
That means, uh, giving up a lot of, uh, fantasies
that might be comforting in some ways,
but I'm willing to give that up in order to live in an
actually real world, as close as I can get to it.
During the 1980s, I entered a world that I found filled
with fantasy and rife with abuse,
the world of faith healing.
I developed a special interest in a television
evangelist named Peter Popoff.
...and God told me, he said, "You smite that
cancer with your fist!"
At the time, Popoff was pulling in nearly four
million dollars a year healing people on his
miracle crusades.
... you've got cancer of the stomach.
Are you ready for God to burn that cancer out?
Here it goes in the mighty - devil, back off.
Back off, devil!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
(offscreen voice) You really believe you're healed?
Yes.
(offscreen voice) Do you think your cancers are gone now?
Yes, I believe that, because God never lies and
you stand in his word.
Praise the Lord.
I tell ya from now on you're going to have a
soul of victory in your heart, Amen!
(narrator) To his followers, Popoff seemed to have divine powers.
Is it Gould? Alice Gould?
He knew their names...
Stand up, Alice.
...as well as the afflictions they'd come to cure.
God is touching that thyroid condition right now.
God is touching your nerves right now.
God is touching your eyes.
Just lift up your hands.
Get ready, here it comes.
(narrator) He also knew the personal details of their lives.
You're going to hear good news from Charles before
everything is over.
I tell ya, he's going to be completely delivered
because of your prayers, because of your faith.
Here it comes, complete healing in Jesus' - woo -
mighty name right now!
Amen!
It's alright to praise the lord.
(narrator) I suspected that Popoff's revelations were other
than divine.
A radio scanner we'd brought to the hall picked
up a decidedly worldly source.
Hello, Peetey.
Can you hear me?
If you can't, you're in trouble.
Popoff was being prompted by his wife through a
wireless earpiece.
Julie Johnson.
She'd gotten her information from prayer
cards filled out by the faithful before the show began.
She'd like to get rid of the walker.
You want to get rid of this walker, sister?
Oh glory.
How long have you been walking on that walker?
About three years.
Three years.
She lives at 1627 Kent Street.
1627 Kent Street, is that right?
That's right.
She has arthritis all over.
Burning arthritis right out of your body!
Take a few steps just to make the devil mad.
Hallelujah!
Just move around a little bit.
There she goes.
Just walk with me.
Oh glory to God; she's not going to need that walker anymore!
God is just putting new strength, new health,
burning that arthritis out of her body! Just keep going!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
(narrator) I was able to arrange for another broadcast of the
Miracle Crusade on The Tonight Show,
but this time the wireless prompting was included.
In 1987, Peter Popoff declared bankruptcy.
Greater is he! Greater is he!
(narrator) The laying on of hands takes on new meaning in
the Philippines where psychic surgeons perform
miraculous operations without knives.
I investigated this phenomenon,
then went on The Tonight Show to demonstrate what I'd learned.
Believe me, what you're seeing is strictly special
effects, it's sleight of hand and nothing more.
And this is the way it looks.
A little animal blood and a few chicken parts
complete the illusion.
A bone.
That's a bit better.
Just a second, just one second now.
It may be better for you.
You don't feel any better?
Wow, that doesn't come up.
This is where I live with several birds and an old
red cat outside of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
From here, I run my investigations,
write my books and go about lecturing.
Recently, I resolved to give a class of college
freshman a chance to evaluate one of the oldest
systems of fortunetelling: astrology.
Well, I started out life as a - as a magician.
I still am a magician, I guess.
I think it's in the DNA, I'm not too sure.
But, uh, I'm an actor playing the part of a wizard.
I know how people are deceived,
I know how they deceive themselves, and many magicians,
most magicians really allow
people to deceive themselves.
Would you like to see me fool ya?
Who's wearing a wristwatch here, a regular,
ordinary wristwatch?
Hmmm.
You've been a good girl, haven't you?
Yes.
That's a Seiko.
I thought it was a Rolex for a minute.
Oh well!
Now, what time does it say on your watch?
It says nine minutes before three and it
says it's the second of October, right?
Yes, it does. Very good.
Open up your hand for me flat like that.
The clean one.
She almost changed, notice that, almost changed.
Now, I'm going to put the watch face down.
Put your finger of your other hand on the back of the watch.
Okay?
Very good.
Now, my watch says nine minutes to three,
so we disagree slightly, but not enough for any nevermind.
Okay. Watch.
I'm really concentrating now.
Oh, I think I hurt myself.
Don't laugh; this is science!
Let me see now, holding it only by this...
Oh, would you tell the folks what time it says on
your watch now, please?
It says 3:40, but...
3:40, how time flies when you're having fun!
Isn't that wonderful?
Now, let me show you something - this is like a little,
tiny, itty, bitty watch.
Here, hold it tightly in your hand.
Don't lose...
Oh my goodness!
What happened?
Oh, the gentleman was carrying it over here
behind his waist and he didn't even know it.
There ya go.
The trickster never works alone.
His audience assists him.