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Top 5 America’s Got Talent Magicians

Brandon Parnes coming to you one last time before AGT comes back next week. Today, it’s the mother of all AGT magic Top 5s: Top 5 Magicians. In America’s Got Talent’s 7 seasons, over 40 magicians have been televised and competed, and now I give you the Top 5 best magicians in the history of America’s Got Talent.

5. Kevin James – Season 2

Highly regarded as one of the best magic creators of our time, Kevin James appeared on season two of the hit NBC show. He surprised the judges at his audition, shocked them in Vegas, only to let them down in Hollywood with a lackluster performance. All in all, he is remembered for one of the best illusions in AGT history.

4. Landon Swank – Season 6

Landon came as a surprise to magic’s history on AGT. A young guy from Alaska making it to the Top 10 after the judge who doesn’t like magic brought him back for the wild card.

3. Murray – Season 5

After appearing on many reality shows in the past, in 2010 Murray hit the jackpot on America’s Got Talent. He tested himself by performing illusions he never previously performed. He beat out his number-one competitor Michael Grasso in Vegas only to be beaten out by him in the semi-finals after Grasso was brought back in the Wild Card.

2. Michael Grasso – Season 5
This is a comeback story if there ever was one. We gave you the story yesterday. But here’s the basic gist: Michael was thrown out in Vegas, but was brought back in the wild card, sent through the semis and onto the Top 10 and becoming the first magician to do so.

1. Nathan Burton – Season 1

Arguably the most successful magician to come out of America’s Got Talent, Nathan Burton opened up in Vegas just before he appeared on the show and by the end of the season he was a household name. If that wasn’t enough, he came back on the show in Season 4.

Posted by Editor on Thursday, August 9th, 2012 at 11:54 am.

  • HAL

    Just an opinion about these 5.
    Kevin James: Excellent because it’s original, only one doing this illusion.
    Landon Swank: Poor, there’s no real escape involved, and quite obvious how it’s done.
    Murray: Excellent, done really well.
    Michael Grasso: Poor – “REALLY” obvious, and the method we’ve seen a zillion times.
    Nathan Burton: Ditto – Grasso and Burton are actually the same trick.

    Maybe AGT should get the judges a free eye exam?

  • LoyalCin

    I thought all 5 acts were incredible.  Hal, you must be the perfect example of “those who can’t do, criticize.”

  • HAL

     I think you’re looking at this as only related to magic. Do you think every song you’ve ever heard is “incredible”? Or every movie, dancer, etc. The only reason I “can’t do” these illusions is, I’m not in the magic business, and can’t afford the equipment needed. Let me borrow Grasso’s props, and I’ll do the trick.

    Let me borrow Eric Dittelbomb’s ‘Deal or No Deal’ suitcases, and I’ll predict Howie’s number.

    We have movie critics who can’t act, music critics who are tone deaf, why not magic critics? The good magician FOOLS us. It took me years to find out or figure out many of Copperfields tricks…Some of these clowns on AGT should be appearing at K-Mart.

  • http://iTricks.com/news JustinRYoung

    Dude, what’s your axe to grind with Dittleman… sheesh…

  • HAL

     Nothing really, just an easy name to make a joke.

    But honestly, that “Deal” trick was about as lame as you can get. And I think it’s Dittelman?

  • http://iTricks.com/news JustinRYoung

    Hahah… good call on the name check.

    I don’t know if anything that gets a standing ovation in an arena can be “as lame as you get” but the method certainly wasn’t brain science. I don’t think Eric would hang his hat on that though.

  • HAL

     Well, I have a dumb theory. If you plant people in the first few rows to stand up, those in back of them will follow just because they think it’s right. Many, many get standing ovations. I wonder if you put a 6 year old on AGT, who sings like a frog, would the judges “X” them?

  • http://iTricks.com/news JustinRYoung

    I don’t know how many performers would agree with your assumption on how easy it is to get a positive crowd reaction. They are very fickle beasts.
    Who knows about the 4 year old. My guess is she’d be X’d. The competition needs to maintain SOME sense of accomplishment or else there is no drama.

  • HAL

     I hope someday there is a magician good enough to win. IMO, most of the winners were exceptional way beyond the competition. Terry Fator, one of a kind..Six year old Connie Talbot who sang one chorus of ‘Over the Rainbow’ with no music backround, who’s made a fortune on CD’s, Jacki Evanco (Joe Monti’s trained monkey), etc.

    If someone like Grasso or Murray won, do you think they could compete in Vegas with Copperfield, P&T, etc?