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.