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ICYDK, James Randi was a magician first, and a prominent and vocal skeptic of the "paranormal" after. Like many magicians, including Penn & Teller and Harry Houdini, he held a special contempt for "psychics," who were usually just using stage magic and presenting it as real.
One of his most famous debunkings involved televangelist Peter Popoff, who he caught red-handed being fed info about his congregation through an earpiece by his wife, then pretending God was speaking to him.
He also busted then-popular "psychic" James Hydrick on TV, proving his "telekinesis" was breath control.
And he advised Johnny Carson and his staff on how to expose Uri Geller (the famous "psychic spoon-bender") live on the Tonight Show.
Johnny, you'll remember, also liked and practiced stage magic, and also held considerable contempt for charlatans.
Johnny, you'll remember, also liked and practiced stage magic, and also held considerable contempt for charlatans.
But his most popular act was the One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge. the James Randi Educational Foundation offered one million USD to anyone who could demonstrate paranormal abilities under agreed-upon scientific criteria. First issued in 1964, Over 1,000 people took it.
No one ever won it, meaning no one tested ever successfully demonstrated paranormal abilities under scientific conditions.
The $1MDPC was terminated in 2015, having never been won.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Million_Dollar_Paranormal_Challenge
The $1MDPC was terminated in 2015, having never been won.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Million_Dollar_Paranormal_Challenge
James will go down in history for doing the unpopular, necessary work of promoting healthy skepticism and evidence-based belief. He was the living embodiment of Sagan's Science As A Candle In The Dark, pushing back against a world happier to be hoodwinked than told the truth.
A biopic was made about James in 2015. "A Honest Liar." I recommend a watch.
And if you're interested in watching a modern magician (somewhat) take up the mantle of Randian skepticism, I recommend checking on Derren Brown, when tends to focus on how easily people can be manipulated.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derren_Brown#Shows
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derren_Brown#Shows
