0:00:00.755,0:00:01.244 Thanks. 0:00:01.244,0:00:03.174 We, uh, we have[br]only met... 0:00:03.174,0:00:03.801 This scares me. 0:00:03.801,0:00:04.687 This, this scares you? 0:00:04.687,0:00:07.255 Well, this is - we just got some[br]things together here and... 0:00:07.255,0:00:09.759 (narrator) I told them to provide[br]their own props and not to 0:00:09.759,0:00:13.924 let Geller or his people[br]anywhere near them. 0:00:13.924,0:00:15.820 ... also one of our staff[br]members, um, 0:00:15.820,0:00:18.416 did some drawings which have[br]been sealed in an envelope, uh, 0:00:18.416,0:00:20.341 and I'd like you to take your[br]own pace when you feel like 0:00:20.341,0:00:21.258 you want to try anything. 0:00:21.258,0:00:24.320 Do you want to try that[br]particular experiment first? 0:00:24.320,0:00:25.342 When I'll feel free. 0:00:25.342,0:00:29.668 Sure. 0:00:29.668,0:00:31.956 We'll start eliminating the ones[br]that do not have the water. 0:00:31.956,0:00:32.405 Alright. 0:00:32.405,0:00:34.419 Without touching them. 0:00:34.419,0:00:36.621 He is really suspicious! 0:00:36.621,0:00:39.009 I'm having a hard[br]time with you. 0:00:39.009,0:00:40.008 I - I don't mean to be... 0:00:40.008,0:00:44.169 Just, just keep looking. 0:00:46.396,0:00:47.810 Okay, let me rest[br]a little, alright? 0:00:47.810,0:00:50.161 Alright. 0:00:52.134,0:00:54.410 You know I'm surprised because[br]before this program, 0:00:54.410,0:00:57.257 your producer came and he read[br]me at least 40 questions 0:00:57.257,0:00:58.431 you were going to ask me. 0:00:58.431,0:00:59.520 Well, I can ask you all[br]kinds of questions if 0:00:59.520,0:01:01.091 you'd like - if you'd like[br]me to ask you questions. 0:01:01.091,0:01:03.346 I have to ..I have to have time.[br] 0:01:03.346,0:01:12.153 0:01:12.153,0:01:13.270 Alright, we are back. 0:01:13.270,0:01:15.852 Uri was telling me - you,[br]you don't feel, what, 0:01:15.852,0:01:16.686 strong tonight? 0:01:16.686,0:01:20.270 Not so strong.[br]It's not all tonight. 0:01:20.270,0:01:23.766 Right now I'm feel - I'm feeling being pressed and that I[br]can't... 0:01:23.766,0:01:24.887 I - I'm not trying to[br]pressure ya, 0:01:24.887,0:01:25.714 I'm really not. 0:01:25.714,0:01:27.557 No, you're only telling[br]me, "Well, you try that, 0:01:27.557,0:01:29.316 or that, or that." 0:01:29.316,0:01:33.155 But, I thought that was[br]the idea of, uh, of, uh... 0:01:33.155,0:01:38.815 No, I'm not - I'm not[br]going to put you down. 0:01:38.815,0:01:40.060 (narrator) Much to my surprise, 0:01:40.060,0:01:45.779 The Tonight Show episode didn't have much effect on Uri Geller's career. 0:01:45.779,0:01:49.087 Neither did the book[br]that I wrote about him. 0:01:49.087,0:01:52.104 But, eventually his star[br]faded. 0:01:52.104,0:01:54.970 Why people are so drawn to the[br]irrational is something 0:01:54.970,0:01:57.915 that has always puzzled me. 0:01:57.915,0:02:01.581 I want to be, if I can,[br]as sure of the world, 0:02:01.581,0:02:04.304 the real world around me as[br]is possible. 0:02:04.304,0:02:06.889 Now, you can only attain that to[br]a certain degree, 0:02:06.889,0:02:09.014 but I want the greatest[br]degree of control. 0:02:09.014,0:02:10.924 I don't - I'd never involve[br]myself in 0:02:10.924,0:02:12.966 narcotics in any kind, I don't[br]smoke, 0:02:12.966,0:02:19.681 I don't drink because that can[br]easily just fuzz the edges of my rationality, 0:02:19.681,0:02:21.182 fuzz the edges of my reasoning 0:02:21.182,0:02:25.218 powers and I want to be as aware[br]as I possibly can. 0:02:25.218,0:02:28.223 That means, uh, giving up[br]a lot of, uh, fantasies 0:02:28.223,0:02:29.921 that might be comforting[br]in some ways, 0:02:29.921,0:02:33.011 but I'm willing to give that up[br]in order to live in an 0:02:33.011,0:02:37.227 actually real world, as[br]close as I can get to it. 0:02:43.339,0:02:46.698 During the 1980s, I entered a[br]world that I found filled 0:02:46.698,0:02:49.544 with fantasy and rife[br]with abuse, 0:02:49.544,0:02:53.071 the world of faith healing. 0:02:53.071,0:02:55.470 I developed a special interest[br]in a television 0:02:55.470,0:02:58.463 evangelist named Peter Popoff. 0:02:58.463,0:03:00.871 ...and God told me, he said,[br]"You smite that 0:03:00.871,0:03:04.918 cancer with your fist!" 0:03:04.918,0:03:07.368 At the time, Popoff was[br]pulling in nearly four 0:03:07.368,0:03:09.998 million dollars a year[br]healing people on his 0:03:09.998,0:03:12.751 miracle crusades. 0:03:12.751,0:03:15.585 ... you've got cancer[br]of the stomach. 0:03:15.585,0:03:19.407 Are you ready for God to burn[br]that cancer out? 0:03:19.407,0:03:27.335 Here it goes in the mighty -[br]devil, back off. 0:03:27.335,0:03:29.299 Back off, devil! 0:03:29.299,0:03:34.082 Hallelujah![br]Hallelujah! 0:03:34.082,0:03:35.653 (offscreen voice) You really believe[br]you're healed? 0:03:35.653,0:03:36.636 Yes. 0:03:36.636,0:03:39.964 (offscreen voice) Do you think your[br]cancers are gone now? 0:03:39.964,0:03:43.082 Yes, I believe that,[br]because God never lies and 0:03:43.082,0:03:45.462 you stand in his word. 0:03:45.462,0:03:46.670 Praise the Lord. 0:03:46.670,0:03:48.372 I tell ya from now on[br]you're going to have a 0:03:48.372,0:03:52.136 soul of victory in[br]your heart, Amen! 0:03:52.136,0:03:57.168 (narrator) To his followers, Popoff[br]seemed to have divine powers. 0:03:57.168,0:04:01.237 Is it Gould?[br]Alice Gould? 0:04:01.237,0:04:02.623 He knew their names... 0:04:02.623,0:04:03.861 Stand up, Alice. 0:04:03.861,0:04:06.620 ...as well as the[br]afflictions they'd come to cure. 0:04:06.620,0:04:10.285 God is touching that[br]thyroid condition right now. 0:04:10.285,0:04:12.831 God is touching your[br]nerves right now. 0:04:12.831,0:04:14.120 God is touching your eyes. 0:04:14.120,0:04:15.173 Just lift up your hands. 0:04:15.173,0:04:17.061 Get ready, here it comes. 0:04:17.061,0:04:20.462 (narrator) He also knew the personal[br]details of their lives. 0:04:20.462,0:04:21.808 You're going to hear good[br]news from Charles before 0:04:21.808,0:04:22.605 everything is over. 0:04:22.605,0:04:24.692 I tell ya, he's going to[br]be completely delivered 0:04:24.692,0:04:27.355 because of your prayers,[br]because of your faith. 0:04:27.355,0:04:30.939 Here it comes, complete healing[br]in Jesus' - woo - 0:04:30.939,0:04:34.051 mighty name right now! 0:04:34.051,0:04:34.982 Amen! 0:04:34.982,0:04:36.732 It's alright to[br]praise the lord. 0:04:36.732,0:04:39.234 (narrator) I suspected that Popoff's[br]revelations were other 0:04:39.234,0:04:42.243 than divine. 0:04:42.243,0:04:44.195 A radio scanner we'd[br]brought to the hall picked 0:04:44.195,0:04:50.612 up a decidedly[br]worldly source. 0:04:50.612,0:04:51.730 Hello, Peetey. 0:04:51.730,0:04:52.924 Can you hear me? 0:04:52.924,0:04:54.893 If you can't, you're in trouble. 0:04:54.893,0:04:59.018 Popoff was being prompted[br]by his wife through a 0:04:59.018,0:05:01.367 wireless earpiece.[br] 0:05:01.367,0:05:07.124 Julie Johnson. 0:05:07.124,0:05:09.201 She'd gotten her[br]information from prayer 0:05:09.201,0:05:14.823 cards filled out by the[br]faithful before the show began. 0:05:14.823,0:05:17.206 She'd like to get[br]rid of the walker. 0:05:17.206,0:05:23.532 You want to get rid of[br]this walker, sister? 0:05:23.532,0:05:24.126 Oh glory. 0:05:24.126,0:05:26.782 How long have you been[br]walking on that walker? 0:05:26.782,0:05:28.333 About three years. 0:05:28.333,0:05:29.537 Three years. 0:05:29.537,0:05:32.429 She lives at 1627 Kent Street. 0:05:32.429,0:05:35.782 1627 Kent Street, is that right? 0:05:35.782,0:05:37.206 That's right. 0:05:37.206,0:05:40.267 She has arthritis all[br]over. 0:05:40.267,0:05:45.374 Burning arthritis right[br]out of your body! 0:05:45.374,0:05:47.724 Take a few steps just[br]to make the devil mad. 0:05:47.724,0:05:48.624 Hallelujah! 0:05:48.624,0:05:49.862 Just move around[br]a little bit. 0:05:49.862,0:05:51.544 There she goes. 0:05:51.544,0:05:53.432 Just walk with me. 0:05:53.432,0:05:56.551 Oh glory to God; she's not going[br]to need that walker anymore! 0:05:56.551,0:05:59.215 God is just putting new[br]strength, new health, 0:05:59.215,0:06:02.720 burning that arthritis out of her body![br]Just keep going! 0:06:02.720,0:06:05.005 Hallelujah![br]Hallelujah! 0:06:05.005,0:06:06.753 (narrator) I was able to arrange for[br]another broadcast of the 0:06:06.753,0:06:10.132 Miracle Crusade on The[br]Tonight Show, 0:06:10.132,0:06:15.164 but this time the wireless[br]prompting was included. 0:06:15.164,0:06:21.333 In 1987, Peter Popoff[br]declared bankruptcy. 0:06:21.333,0:06:27.712 Greater is he![br]Greater is he! 0:06:27.712,0:06:30.937 (narrator) The laying on of hands[br]takes on new meaning in 0:06:30.937,0:06:33.491 the Philippines where[br]psychic surgeons perform 0:06:33.491,0:06:38.835 miraculous operations[br]without knives. 0:06:38.835,0:06:41.135 I investigated this[br]phenomenon, 0:06:41.135,0:06:45.567 then went on The Tonight Show[br]to demonstrate what I'd learned. 0:06:45.567,0:06:48.742 Believe me, what you're[br]seeing is strictly special 0:06:48.742,0:06:50.763 effects, it's sleight of[br]hand and nothing more. 0:06:50.763,0:06:54.565 And this is the way it looks. 0:07:07.612,0:07:10.120 A little animal blood[br]and a few chicken parts 0:07:10.120,0:07:14.197 complete the illusion. 0:07:14.197,0:07:18.793 A bone. 0:07:23.701,0:07:24.500 That's a bit better. 0:07:24.500,0:07:26.328 Just a second, just[br]one second now. 0:07:26.328,0:07:29.034 It may be better for you. 0:07:29.034,0:07:31.792 You don't feel any better? 0:07:38.597,0:07:41.599 Wow, that doesn't come up. 0:07:52.450,0:07:54.779 This is where I live with[br]several birds and an old 0:07:54.779,0:07:59.279 red cat outside of Fort[br]Lauderdale, Florida. 0:07:59.279,0:08:01.335 From here, I run my[br]investigations, 0:08:01.335,0:08:07.450 write my books and go[br]about lecturing. 0:08:07.450,0:08:09.338 Recently, I resolved to[br]give a class of college 0:08:09.338,0:08:12.783 freshman a chance to[br]evaluate one of the oldest 0:08:12.783,0:08:16.238 systems of fortunetelling:[br]astrology. 0:08:16.238,0:08:17.617 Well, I started out life[br]as a - as a magician. 0:08:17.617,0:08:19.038 I still am a magician, I guess. 0:08:19.038,0:08:21.114 I think it's in the[br]DNA, I'm not too sure. 0:08:21.114,0:08:24.703 But, uh, I'm an actor playing[br]the part of a wizard. 0:08:24.703,0:08:26.117 I know how people are[br]deceived, 0:08:26.117,0:08:28.289 I know how they deceive[br]themselves, and many magicians, 0:08:28.289,0:08:30.694 most magicians really allow 0:08:30.694,0:08:33.035 people to deceive themselves. 0:08:33.035,0:08:35.116 Would you like to[br]see me fool ya? 0:08:35.116,0:08:36.698 Who's wearing a wristwatch[br]here, a regular, 0:08:36.698,0:08:37.660 ordinary wristwatch? 0:08:37.660,0:08:39.785 Hmmm. 0:08:39.785,0:08:41.401 You've been a good[br]girl, haven't you? 0:08:41.401,0:08:42.699 Yes. 0:08:42.699,0:08:43.534 That's a Seiko. 0:08:43.534,0:08:44.952 I thought it was a[br]Rolex for a minute. 0:08:44.952,0:08:45.612 Oh well! 0:08:45.612,0:08:47.057 Now, what time does[br]it say on your watch? 0:08:47.057,0:08:48.435 It says nine minutes before[br]three and it 0:08:48.435,0:08:51.115 says it's the second of October, right? 0:08:51.115,0:08:51.673 Yes, it does. Very good. 0:08:51.673,0:08:53.642 Open up your hand for me[br]flat like that. 0:08:53.642,0:08:54.537 The clean one. 0:08:54.537,0:08:57.146 She almost changed, notice that,[br]almost changed. 0:08:57.146,0:08:58.863 Now, I'm going to put the watch[br]face down. 0:08:58.863,0:09:00.896 Put your finger of your other[br]hand on the back of the watch. 0:09:00.896,0:09:01.643 Okay? 0:09:01.643,0:09:02.641 Very good. 0:09:02.641,0:09:05.006 Now, my watch says nine[br]minutes to three, 0:09:05.006,0:09:08.696 so we disagree slightly, but not[br]enough for any nevermind. 0:09:08.696,0:09:10.596 Okay.[br]Watch. 0:09:10.596,0:09:13.400 I'm really[br]concentrating now. 0:09:15.016,0:09:16.302 Oh, I think I hurt myself. 0:09:16.302,0:09:19.735 Don't laugh;[br]this is science! 0:09:19.735,0:09:21.975 Let me see now, holding[br]it only by this... 0:09:21.975,0:09:23.657 Oh, would you tell the[br]folks what time it says on 0:09:23.657,0:09:27.378 your watch now, please? 0:09:27.378,0:09:28.781 It says 3:40, but... 0:09:28.781,0:09:31.936 3:40, how time flies[br]when you're having fun! 0:09:31.936,0:09:33.321 Isn't that wonderful? 0:09:33.321,0:09:35.206 Now, let me show you something -[br]this is like a little, 0:09:35.206,0:09:36.317 tiny, itty, bitty watch. 0:09:36.317,0:09:37.745 Here, hold it[br]tightly in your hand. 0:09:37.745,0:09:38.426 Don't lose... 0:09:38.426,0:09:39.464 Oh my goodness! 0:09:39.464,0:09:41.712 What happened? 0:09:41.712,0:09:43.164 Oh, the gentleman was[br]carrying it over here 0:09:43.164,0:09:44.831 behind his waist and he[br]didn't even know it. 0:09:44.831,0:09:46.332 There ya go. 0:09:50.598,0:09:53.263 The trickster[br]never works alone. 0:09:53.263,0:09:54.430 His audience assists him.