Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
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Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
Tomorrow, David Blaine will appear on the Oprah show where he'll attempt to break the world record for holding his breath. We've found a couple of videos in which he vlogs from a Hypoxic tent where he has been sleeping and one in which he discusses free diving. Both can be fond at the site below.
Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
Yeah, my kid can hold her breath for a while too when she doesn't get what she wants............boooorrrrriiiinnnngggg.
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
Silly Walter wrote:
This should probably be moved to the "Who gives A [censored]" forum. [/quote]
Probably should....but don't hold your breath.
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
ha ha ha! That is funny!
didn't he already do this stunt but it was underwater? and I am pretty sure he said he'd rather die than not beat the record...and he didn't beat the record...
didn't he already do this stunt but it was underwater? and I am pretty sure he said he'd rather die than not beat the record...and he didn't beat the record...
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
So, watching a guy holding his breath is now considered entertainment and is sufficient to get on Oprah?
Producers are starting to dig into the bottom of the barrel for material.
Producers are starting to dig into the bottom of the barrel for material.
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
Doesn't brain damage start when the brain is out of oxygen for 6 minutes or so? If he's repeadtely trained for this thing, going over 10 minutes regularly... What kind of brain does the poor guy have left?
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
It has to do with super-saturating the body with oxygen. Breathing pure oxygen for some time before a deep dive. Even with practice and professional instruction, it's dangerous. I suppose the "attraction" is that he could die on camera, which, of course, they wouldn't broadcast.
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
That's too scary for me.
Can't we have him back in a block of ice, or up on a stick like the good old times?
Can't we have him back in a block of ice, or up on a stick like the good old times?
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
I like the "take a bite out of a quarter" David Blaine better than the "I can hold my breath underwater" David Lame
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
I love everything this guy does, until he does it. I also love the smell of Oprah in the morning....it smells...like..nepalm.
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
You might find this site of interest:
http://www.performancefreediving.com/team/index.html
Of course, what this has to do with entertainment is beyond me.
Now I see that Blaine is being referred to as a "Magician and endurance artist."
http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/200 ... gen-habit/
http://www.performancefreediving.com/team/index.html
Of course, what this has to do with entertainment is beyond me.
Now I see that Blaine is being referred to as a "Magician and endurance artist."
http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/200 ... gen-habit/
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
On a similar topic some horn players, notably the sickening Kenny G, have pioneered a form of breathing called "circular breathing".....I have no idea how they do it, but it allows them to hold really long notes. I don't know if "pioneered" is the right word or not....maybe "discovered" is better.
The aforementioned G is supposed to hold the record for a sustained note. The performance group "Blast" has a few horn players that can also hold notes beyond what we mere mortals can do.
Where was this technique when I needed it way back when!
Just some info...
Adrian
The aforementioned G is supposed to hold the record for a sustained note. The performance group "Blast" has a few horn players that can also hold notes beyond what we mere mortals can do.
Where was this technique when I needed it way back when!
Just some info...
Adrian
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
Blaine broke the record this morning holding his breath for 17min 4 secs
Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
As Rogers and Hart may have said, "Poor Adrian One Note."
Naphtalia
Impropriety is the soul of wit.
Impropriety is the soul of wit.
Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
You know, when Houdini did the Milk Can Escape, he knew how to entertain by creating drama and emotion. Reports are that audience members were truely freaking out to the point of panic when Houdini did this. Just wondering if he was able to actually entertain Oprah's audience for the 17+ minutes holding his breath. Entertainment IS the point......correct?
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
Was there some sort of afterwords message? A vision perhaps?
Waiting to see how this spins on the news and the late night comedy commentaries.
Waiting to see how this spins on the news and the late night comedy commentaries.
Mundus vult decipi -per Caleb Carr's story Killing Time
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
Jonathan Townsend wrote:Waiting to see how this spins on the news and the late night comedy commentaries.
I'll be interested to see who can abstain from using the phrase, "...but don't hold your breath."
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
John LeBlanc wrote:Jonathan Townsend wrote:Waiting to see how this spins on the news and the late night comedy commentaries.
I'll be interested to see who can abstain from using the phrase, "...but don't hold your breath."
Actually, this fits into pop culture perfectly. A "Blaine" can be 17 minutes of boredom while someone else does something. So instead of a "New York Minute," we can have a "Blaine."
"How long will I have to wait for my car to be fixed?"
"Two Blaines."
"How long will this dental procedure take?"
"Four Blaines, but it will feel like six."
Others will doubtless come up with better uses than I have.
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
Circular breathing has been around a long time before Kenny G.
Imagine (or actually try this) taking a mouthful of water. Don't swallow it. Now, if you expand then contract your cheeks you can force the watter to spit out of your mouth.
This is the basic idea behind circular breathing.
You breath in through your nose as you continue to expel air, not by using your lungs but with the cheek muscles. The nose breath fills your lungs so they take over again. The "cheek" expell just covers the transition.
Imagine (or actually try this) taking a mouthful of water. Don't swallow it. Now, if you expand then contract your cheeks you can force the watter to spit out of your mouth.
This is the basic idea behind circular breathing.
You breath in through your nose as you continue to expel air, not by using your lungs but with the cheek muscles. The nose breath fills your lungs so they take over again. The "cheek" expell just covers the transition.
Brad Henderson magician in Austin Texas
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
Ha!
I have to say that I was surprised not to hear David talk about his fall special beyond mentioning his next endurance stunt in which he plans to stay awake.
The current record is 11.5 days. Blaine mentioned that 11.57 days is 1MIL seconds.
I have to say that I was surprised not to hear David talk about his fall special beyond mentioning his next endurance stunt in which he plans to stay awake.
The current record is 11.5 days. Blaine mentioned that 11.57 days is 1MIL seconds.
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
Randy wrote:You know, when Houdini did the Milk Can Escape, he knew how to entertain by creating drama and emotion. Reports are that audience members were truely freaking out to the point of panic when Houdini did this. Just wondering if he was able to actually entertain Oprah's audience for the 17+ minutes holding his breath. Entertainment IS the point......correct?
The Harry Houdini of the early 20th century could not hold today's audiences with his early 20th century style. People then had a much longer attention span than they do today. That being said, Houdinilike him or notwas a genius at knowing what an audience wanted. If he were around today, he would be adapting as needed.
Dustin
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
I remember watching Randi do the Milk Can escape on a Paul Daniels show when I was a kid. As instructed I held my breath for as long as I can and got quite concerned when I had to breathe long before Randi came out. I can even remember his line - 'when you, if you were in my place, would suffer a drowning death'.
A couple of times I saw the Gandini Project, Sean Gandini's amazing juggling show. One year they had a live band, and during one routine the sax player stayed on one note for about five minutes. I kept looking over at his cheeks puffing in and out. Circular breathing is very hard to get right, but when mastered it looks and sounds amazing. Even more so if you know what is happening!
Take care, Ian
A couple of times I saw the Gandini Project, Sean Gandini's amazing juggling show. One year they had a live band, and during one routine the sax player stayed on one note for about five minutes. I kept looking over at his cheeks puffing in and out. Circular breathing is very hard to get right, but when mastered it looks and sounds amazing. Even more so if you know what is happening!
Take care, Ian
Ian Kendall Close up magician in Edinburgh and Scotland
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
After he broke the record, I think that was the most I have ever seen David smile. Was nice to see.
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
Congrats to David Blaine! That was no easy task. It was the perfect venue. I didn't really care that they cut away to commercials twice, and had a wrap around montage, once...but he was motionless, so I guess the directors had to keep the clock rolling somehow.
I wouldn't expect any more magic from him. I got the feeling that he's finished with that form of entertainment, (even though he said that he works all year long doing gigs just to pay off the stunts). It was great to see him happy and joking. He came off afterwards as a very nice guy, great smile. Oh yeah, Oprah opened her show saying Stedman was in the audience...and that he only showed up for one other taping, her 50th Birthday party show (probably wanted a car from that show!)
I wouldn't expect any more magic from him. I got the feeling that he's finished with that form of entertainment, (even though he said that he works all year long doing gigs just to pay off the stunts). It was great to see him happy and joking. He came off afterwards as a very nice guy, great smile. Oh yeah, Oprah opened her show saying Stedman was in the audience...and that he only showed up for one other taping, her 50th Birthday party show (probably wanted a car from that show!)
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
More on the Guiness-record-breaking event here at the New York times:
http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/200 ... ex.html?hp
David will be doing magic on his next special.
http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/200 ... ex.html?hp
David will be doing magic on his next special.
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
Pretty funny barbs from the Late Nighters. (Forgive me if I get the exact wording wrong) Letterman said that Blaine was trying to beat the old record that was set by Houdini, who hasn't taken a breath since 1927....Craig Ferguson said that Blaine was probably holding his breath because Oprah farted...
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
I really enjoyed the whole thing. It wasdevoid of the bombast that usually accompanies a Blaine endurance event. And you have to admire the guy's dedication to training and preparation. It's hard to see how he could have made any money off of this particular stunt, so why does he do it?
Simply because he thinks it's cool and wants to achieve something no one else has. What BETTER way to spend your TV money? (Well, I guess you *could* by an island in the Bahamas, invite a girl out, and.....)
His smile afterward looked VERY genuine, and there was no "collapsing and being rushed off in an ambulance". It was well-done, and Oprah was a FAR better host of the event than anyone who's hosted any of Bline'sprevious stunts.
Oh, and, circular breathing was a technique used by Glenn Miller, and ancient aboriginal Australians before him. It goes WAAAAAAAY back.
Simply because he thinks it's cool and wants to achieve something no one else has. What BETTER way to spend your TV money? (Well, I guess you *could* by an island in the Bahamas, invite a girl out, and.....)
His smile afterward looked VERY genuine, and there was no "collapsing and being rushed off in an ambulance". It was well-done, and Oprah was a FAR better host of the event than anyone who's hosted any of Bline'sprevious stunts.
Oh, and, circular breathing was a technique used by Glenn Miller, and ancient aboriginal Australians before him. It goes WAAAAAAAY back.
Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
I found the interview segments refreshing. Blaine seems very normal and approachable, as opposed to his specials where he seemed aloof.
The stunt itself was well managed. It was much more exciting than the actual special.
One thing I found interesting was how normal Blaine seemed right after. He wasn't out of breath.
Gord
The stunt itself was well managed. It was much more exciting than the actual special.
One thing I found interesting was how normal Blaine seemed right after. He wasn't out of breath.
Gord
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
Are we convinced that what we saw was real and not an illusion?
"Hope I Die Before I Get Old"
P. Townshend
P. Townshend
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
Brandon are you serious? Yes it was real..they all were real, and I witnessed 4 of his stunts, sometimes at 4am.
Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
MaxNY wrote:Brandon are you serious? Yes it was real..they all were real, and I witnessed 4 of his stunts, sometimes at 4am.
Well the only one I witnessed (the riveting 'sit in a box in London' one) certainly wasn't 'real'.
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
Brandon,
I don't think Guinness awards people with the world record for something if they don't actually do it.
mrgoat, how was the starvation endurance not real? Are you claiming that he was secretly consuming food?
I don't think Guinness awards people with the world record for something if they don't actually do it.
mrgoat, how was the starvation endurance not real? Are you claiming that he was secretly consuming food?
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
Travis,
At the risk of sounding skeptical...lol, Mr. Blaine IS a magician. Now, which is the greater trick, holding your breath for that length of time, or CONVINCING everyone that he can hold his breath for an incredible length of time? Remember, we're not SUPPOSED to know how it's done.
Oh, and yes, Max.
At the risk of sounding skeptical...lol, Mr. Blaine IS a magician. Now, which is the greater trick, holding your breath for that length of time, or CONVINCING everyone that he can hold his breath for an incredible length of time? Remember, we're not SUPPOSED to know how it's done.
Oh, and yes, Max.
"Hope I Die Before I Get Old"
P. Townshend
P. Townshend
Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
If I was to advise on something like this I'd have a surgeon implant a breathing tank/system under my skin that pumped doses of oxygen into and out of my lungs.
Stay tooned.
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
Well, Pete, that's certainly one method...
"Hope I Die Before I Get Old"
P. Townshend
P. Townshend
Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
As Silly Walter said.."This should probably be moved to the "Who gives A [censored]" forum."
I totally agree with this..
Who really cares ????
Rennie
I totally agree with this..
Who really cares ????
Rennie
The effect is the important thing, how you achieve is not !!
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
I give a [censored]! Why should we not?
It's common now a days to see magicians performing illusion's that people know are not real or performing things that our imaginations can only dream of.
However, David Blaine is turning fiction into fact and is a step towards our evolution that he's exposing our weaknesses and proving that we can turn them into strengths or changing our fears into our favor.
If we look at these things in terms of 'positive messages or self-improvement' and not just a form of showmanship, we'll see that there is much more value to his stunts of defying the odds.
David Blaine is a one of a kind hero and athlete. Period.
Tony
It's common now a days to see magicians performing illusion's that people know are not real or performing things that our imaginations can only dream of.
However, David Blaine is turning fiction into fact and is a step towards our evolution that he's exposing our weaknesses and proving that we can turn them into strengths or changing our fears into our favor.
If we look at these things in terms of 'positive messages or self-improvement' and not just a form of showmanship, we'll see that there is much more value to his stunts of defying the odds.
David Blaine is a one of a kind hero and athlete. Period.
Tony
Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
It seems Davids hair are dry when he comes out of that tank. the hair should be dripping wet if you ask me.
Looks very odd.
Looks very odd.
Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
Tony Riveral wrote:It's common now a days to see magicians performing illusion's that people know are not real or performing things that our imaginations can only dream of.
Tony
Tony,
The problem with David Blaine is he is not performing magic. He is doing Circus & Sidshow stunts. Maybe he should be in a Carnival and he would fit in.
Let me ask a question, would you rather see a magic show by a known performer or someone sitting in a tank of water holding their breath? Now answer that truthfully.
David Blaine has rapidly become a big bore...
Rennie
The effect is the important thing, how you achieve is not !!
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Re: Blaine's Breathless Stunt on Oprah
David's hair was dry after they came back from commercial. Clearly, they took a break after the stunt for him to get made-up for the interview segment. It's TV. That's what they do. It's no indication of fraud.