Don’t bother complaining about reality tv, it’s time to embrace the trash. In fact, think of yourself as a gold prospector circa 1854 because that kind of hopeful desperation can lead you to shows like NBC’s Phenomenon, a show that had it all: magicians, Uri Geller, dramatic lighting, Uri Geller, high stakes, fights, and Jim Callahan. Now Jim may not have made it past the third episode, but he definitely made a lasting impression on the viewers (me and some secretary named Darlene) after his infamous yelling match with magic’s perennial bad-boy Criss Angel. I tracked down Jim Callahan and asked him about sex magic, why he hates Criss Angel, and whether or not he’s the devil.

SBTVC: Watching you lose you shit on Phenomenon was amazing. How much do you hate Criss Angel?
Jim Callahan: Criss Angel and I don’t get along at all because I have a big problem with the way he tries to push his viewpoints and his understanding of reality. On the show Criss had been running his mouth about how he was going to expose me, and he didn’t. Criss has an agenda. He portrays himself as being Greek Orthodox but then he says he doesn’t believe in the paranormal and the supernatural. You can’t have both. He plays both sides of the fence, and exposes people for having different beliefs.

I don’t know about you, but this looks a clear cut case of magician jealousy to me.
JC: Well a lot of people think Criss is motivated by jealousy. I think he’s jealous of performers who create and design their own work. Truth is, Criss Angel and I are two of the most polarizing performers in the business. There are people who love what Criss does, and others that think he’s a complete prick.

As a master magician do you have a firm grasp of sex magic à la Aleister Crowley?
Women don’t really care for magicians because it’s more of a show-off type of pursuit. Where as a mind reader/paranormalist really has to pay attention to your thoughts. It’s a very intimate type of art.

What’s the difference between a paranormalist and a mentalist?
Mentalists describe what they do as psychological trickery, and illusion. A paranormalist creates reality. I use what is here in our world and recreate it, so people can have a paranormal experience. Mentalists and magicians get upset about it. I do what the Egyptians did: I build a pyramid and walk away from it, and people have to figure out how I did it.

Your after death job application reeks of devilish witchcraft. Are you trying to enslave souls?
I came up with the idea of after death employment. You sign up, you tell your loved ones that you’ve signed this contract and you will attempt to come back. Upon your death I will try to contact you, and whatever information you send back from the other side is confirmed by your loved ones. At that point they’ll start receiving payments for your work. Houdini did the same thing, using code words.

So you’re not the devil?
I guess that depends who you ask.

Thanks!

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