"Most of us are identified by our occupation: doctor, lawyer, teacher, salesman, actor, musician--each is easy to understand in one simple word. But what if your job were so complex, there were no words in any language to define it? You'd do what I did. You'd make one up." -- Criss Angel


MINDFREAK is a term that Criss Angel coined to describe not only his profession, but the reaction that people have to his demonstrations. Criss is more than just an "illusionist" or "magician"; he needed to find a term that accurately describes everything that he does. He came up with a single word: "MINDFREAK." While the A&E TV show popularized MINDFREAK, the term did not originate with the show. Criss originally used the word as the title of his off-Broadway show, and also as the name of one of his early TV specials.


MINDFREAK - Off-Broadway



The first commercial use of "MINDFREAK" was Criss' successful off-Broadway show. As the story goes, Criss morgaged his mother's home in order to produce the show. 9/11 had just occured, and many people told him not to go ahead with the show because shows were closing all the time and people were not paying to see performances, especialy one as unique as Angel's. But that did not deter him - he went ahead with the show, and it was a success, with an almost two year run, ending in 2003.

MINDFREAK - TV Special



During Criss' theatre run, parts of the show were filmed for a TV special called "Criss Angel MINDFREAK." Not to be confused with the A&E show, this one-hour special features Criss peforming his signature magic, in addition to revealing parts of the theatre show. His 2002 Submerged demonstration was also featured, which earned him rave reviews and an early taste of fame.

MINDFREAK - A&E TV Series



After Criss' Broadway run and TV special, he caught the eye of network A&E and they decided to produce a half hour TV special featuring the illusionist. Criss softened his image and got to work, performing demonstrations to spectators and small audiences, very few who knew who Criss was. The show's first season debuted in the summer of 2005 and was a smash hit for A&E. It catapaulted Criss to fame and stardom that he had not yet experienced. People started to recognize him on the streets, the crowds grew, and the demonstrations grew more and more spectacular, wondrous, and, well, MINDFREAKy. ;)

The TV series has currently finished its 4th Season on A&E. Below is a rundown of all of the episodes that have aired (and not aired). To learn more about the show and to read synopses of each episode, please visit A&E's web site. To read about some of my favorite demonstrations, visit the Demonstrations section.

Total Episodes: 107

Season 1
Episode Total: 20 (15 + 3 extras + 2 unaired)

1. Burned Alive
2. Levitation
3. Wine Barrel Escape
4. SUV Nail Bed
5. Body Suspension
6. Buried Alive
7. Hellstromism
8. Superhuman
9. Blind
10. Tesla Strike
11. Oasis
12. Building Walk
13. C4 Crate
14. Radio Prediction
15 Chicken

Extras:
1. Halloween Special (1 hour)
2. Uncut
3. Up Close

Unaired:
1. Bullet Catch
2. Russian Roulette


Season 2
Episode Total: 21

1. Building Float
2. Vanish
3. In Two
4. Walk On Water
5. Easy Rider
6. Party
7. Bike Jump Vanish
8. Chad's Story
9. Celebrity Minds
10. Metamorphosis
11. Animal Magic
12. Back To School
13. Sucker
14. Prophecy
15. Motorcycle Roulette
16. Military Salute
17. Straightjacket Keehaul
18. Shark Cage Escape
19. Magician of the Year
20. Celebrity Seance
21. My Secret Cabaret


Season 3
Episode Total: 26 (20 + 6 "Lost Episodes")

1. Luxor Light (1 hour)
2. Steamroller
3. Prisoner Transport Escape
4. Screwed
5. Motorhead
6. Animal 2
7. Quad Drag Escape
8. Raging Bull
9. Car Crash Escape
10. Sucker 2
11. Drowned
12. Naked Jail Escape
13. Burning Man
14. Rollercoaster Thru Criss
15. Underwater Car Escape
16. The Loyal
17. Mentalism
18. The Kid in Criss
19. Cement Block
20. Seance


"Lost Episodes":
1. Mayhem in the Making
2. Thunderbirds
3. H20 Teleportation
4. Mexico Barrel Escape
5. Most Memorable Mindfreak Moments (1 hour)
6. Fantasy


Season 4
Episode Total: 18

1. Walk On Lake (1 hour)
2. Building Implosion Escape (1 hour)
3. Skeptic
4. Nail Gun
5. Barrel Drop
6. Cremation
7. Spirit of New Orleans
8. Escape Over Bourbon Street
9. Impenetrable
10. Close Up
11. Premonition
12. In Your Face
13. Mindfreaking with the Stars
14. Tronik
15. Billionaire Prediction
16. 24 Hour Birthday Bash
17. Car Wreck Vanish (1 hour)
18. Silverton Final Attempt


Season 5
Episode Total: 5
All episodes are 1 hour

1. White Death
2. Death Field
3. Terminal Velocity
4. Mass Levitation
5. Death Crash

Season 6
Episode Total: 6
All episodes are 1 hour

1. Grand Canyon Death Jump
2. Luxor Walk
3. Cement Shoes
4. 100 Gone
5. Smash
6. Levitation Vanish



MINDFREAK - Favorite Demonstrations

Criss Angel has done numerous demonstrations on Mindfreak over the years. Here are some demonstrations that have bugged. me. out.

1. Luxor Light



The Luxor Light episode is what made me a Loyal. In this episode, Criss literally floats above the Luxor hotel in Las Vegas in the 800 degree beam of light. Helicopters captured the spectable from above, spectators witnessed it from below. It was one of the most amazing levitations I have ever seen and it remains one of my all-time favorite demonstrations that Criss has done.

2. Walk On Water



I love watching Criss do what we think is impossible. We all know that we can't walk on water. Or can we? In Season 2, Criss walked across the length of a swimming pool at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. People were right there in the pool with him. Someone even swam right underneath him as he was walking on top of the water. It blew my mind when I saw it for the first time! And it still does today.

I didn't think that there was anything Criss could do to top this demonstration. Walking across a pool is cool enough. What more could he do, walk on the ocean? Well, he didn't walk on the ocean, but for the Season 4 premiere, Criss did walk on Lake Mead, the largest manmade lake in the United States. This demonstration is still very fresh in my mind, and all I can say is that it is unbelievable. Just unbelievable. Criss stands on the shore of Lake Mead and walks several hundred feet out into the water. Dozens of people watch along the shoreline, and a couple of girls dash out there to get a closer look. They both put their hands directly under Criss' feet to prove that there is nothing underneath. Incredible incredible demonstration.

3. Buried Alive



Out of all of the demonstrations that Criss has done, this one creeps me out the most. Who wants to see anyone get buried alive?! Not me! And especially not Criss Angel! It was very nerve-wracking for me to watch this demonstration, especially considering there are people who have attempted and failed to do this in the past. All I can say is that thank goodness Criss was able to do this demonstration successfully.

4. Steamroller



I couldn't believe it when I saw it for the first time. I still can't believe it now. Criss walked acros a bed of glass, laid down, and had a steamroller roll over his body. You could see his feet sticking out of the other side! Criss later said on Larry King Live that this stunt was an "illusion", and obviously he was doing something that prevented him from being crushed to death, but regardless. It was/is an amazing demonstration.

5. Walk Through Glass



This is one of my favorite demonstrations from Season 1. Criss walks through a frickin' storefront glass window. HOW does he do this stuff? Amazing!

I could write about so many more demonstreations, but I will stop at 5 for right now. Check back soon, because I will probably add more in the future!