"Criss Angel Mindfreak" (2005) TV series 2005-????

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Creator:

Criss Angel
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | unknown

Release Date:

20 July 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Plot Keywords:

Magic | Special Interest | Associate Producer | Character Name In Title

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Luigi Francis Shorty Rossi	...	Luigi and Shorty / ... (33 episodes, 2005-2008)
Criss Angel	...	Himself (29 episodes, 2005-2009)
Banachek	...	Himself (14 episodes, 2005-2007)

(more)

Series Directed by
Criss Angel		(41 episodes, 2005-2009)
Michael Yanovich		(13 episodes, 2006-2008)

Series Writing credits
Criss Angel		(22 episodes, 2005-2009)

Series Produced by
Erich Recker	....	supervising producer / executive producer / ... (91 episodes, 2005-2009)
Peter Hurtgen	....	supervising field producer / segment producer (69 episodes, 2006-2009)
Jennifer Hutchins	....	producer / segment producer (67 episodes, 2005-2008)
Alan Horschler	....	line producer (53 episodes, 2007-2008)
Criss Angel	....	executive producer (44 episodes, 2005-2009)
Dave Baram	....	executive producer (44 episodes, 2005-2009)
Toby Yoshimura	....	line producer (36 episodes, 2005-2006)
Marguerite Henry	....	associate producer / field producer (32 episodes, 2007-2008)
Michael A. Blum	....	executive producer (27 episodes, 2005-2007)
Billy Crawford	....	post production producer (18 episodes, 2008)
Rob Sharenow	....	executive producer (17 episodes, 2005-2009)
Will Raee	....	producer: Las Vegas / producer (16 episodes, 2005-2006)
Scott Nicholas Amendolare	....	post-production producer (15 episodes, 2005)
Steven Lenchner	....	executive producer (15 episodes, 2005)
Simon Millar	....	executive producer (15 episodes, 2005)
Michael Pearson	....	associate producer (15 episodes, 2005)
Elisa M. Rothstein	....	senior producer (15 episodes, 2005)
Chris Nicholas	....	segment producer (14 episodes, 2005)
Ben Waller	....	segment producer (14 episodes, 2005)
Nancy Dubuc	....	executive producer (12 episodes, 2005)
Banachek	....	magic producer (11 episodes, 2008)
Jason Verona	....	associate producer (11 episodes, 2008)
Paul Ballon	....	field producer (10 episodes, 2008)
Elaine Frontain Bryant	....	executive producer (6 episodes, 2008-2009)
Joe Monti	....	producer (6 episodes, 2008-2009)
Danielle Butler	....	story producer / producer (5 episodes, 2009)
Wendy Quinn	....	field producer (5 episodes, 2009)
Michael Soto	....	producer (5 episodes, 2009)
Beverley Ward	....	line producer (5 episodes, 2009)
Christian Jean	....	producer (unknown episodes, 2009)
Bradley Anderson	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Mack Anderson	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Criss Angel		(15 episodes, 2005)
Micky James		(15 episodes, 2005)

Series Cinematography by
Leif Johnson		(14 episodes, 2005)
Michael Millikan		(5 episodes, 2009)
John S. Meyer		(2 episodes, 2005-2008)
Jeremy Settles		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Robert Allen		(15 episodes, 2005)
Natalie Ebnet		(15 episodes, 2005)
Chris Wicke		(15 episodes, 2005)
Sara Mineo		(14 episodes, 2005)
Eddie Arguelles		(13 episodes, 2006-2008)
Nena Hsu		(13 episodes, 2007)
Alison Tusan		(9 episodes, 2007-2008)
Joshua Charson		(6 episodes, 2008-2009)
Rick Frazier		(6 episodes, 2008-2009)
Michael Yanovich		(6 episodes, 2008-2009)
Justine Heasman		(5 episodes, 2007)
Ramsey Denison		(5 episodes, 2009)
Jason Pauley		(5 episodes, 2009)
Noah Pillsbury		(5 episodes, 2009)
Merethe C. Rosvold		(4 episodes, 2006)
Matthew Moul		(3 episodes, 2008)
Lauren Schweitzer		(2 episodes, 2007)

Series Production Design by
John Farrell		(14 episodes, 2005)

Series Art Direction by
Sam Tresler		(15 episodes, 2005)

Series Makeup Department
Bethany Ensley	....	wardrobe stylist (1 episode, 2008)
Francis MacTavish	....	Criss Angel Hair Cut & Color (1 episode, 2008)
Ron Wild	....	special makeup effects artist (1 episode, 2008)
Robin Mathews	....	makup department head (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Tim Kasiewicz	....	unit production manager / production manager (39 episodes, 2007-2009)
Alan Horschler	....	unit production manager (22 episodes, 2005-2006)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paul Ballon	....	first assistant director / assistant director / ... (24 episodes, 2007-2009)
Melody L. Moses	....	assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Stefanie Lynn Evans	....	graphic artist (71 episodes, 2005-2008)
Nicole Cherry	....	art department (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Kyle D. Betterton	....	audio / sound mixer / ... (25 episodes, 2005-2008)
Eduardo Bejarano	....	sound mixer (4 episodes, 2005)
Joseph H. Shim	....	production sound mixer (unknown episodes, 2009)

Series Special Effects by
Elia P. Popov	....	special effects (11 episodes, 2005)
Chuck Khoury	....	special effects supervisor / pyrotechnics / ... (3 episodes, 2006)
Peter Cappadocia	....	pyrotechnician (2 episodes, 2005)
Jeff Marsh	....	special effects supervisor (unknown episodes)
Nick Plantico	....	special effects (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Mark Chadwick	....	stunt consultant (15 episodes, 2005)
Rich Hopkins	....	stunt coordinator / stunt driver (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Trevor Adams	....	camera operator (27 episodes, 2008)
Armando Bareño II	....	camera operator (16 episodes, 2005)
Patrick Kligel	....	jib operator (16 episodes, 2005)
Costa Sarantakos	....	still photographer (15 episodes, 2005)
Janine Ward	....	camera assist / assistant camera (15 episodes, 2005)
Jeremy Settles	....	camera operator (4 episodes, 2008)
Allen Dewey	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 2008-2009)
Aaron Cannata	....	camera operator (unknown episodes, 2008)
Mike Ansbach	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Nicholas Fry	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
John Robert Mariani	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Jimothy Sekelsky	....	assistant camera / grip (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Charley Allen	....	post-production coordinator / post-production assistant (75 episodes, 2005-2008)
Faust Pierfederici	....	colorist (40 episodes, 2006-2009)
Michael Yanovich	....	lead editor / supervising editor (25 episodes, 2005-2009)
Dave Maguire	....	colorist / on-line editor (16 episodes, 2005)
Sam Newman	....	post-production coordinator (15 episodes, 2005)
Christopher Ryder	....	assistant editor (15 episodes, 2005)
Matthew Sniegoski	....	lead assistant editor (15 episodes, 2005)
Mario Mabe	....	post-production assistant (11 episodes, 2008)
Julie Gulnihal Antepli	....	on-line editor (9 episodes, 2005)
Steve Steinhart	....	on-line editor (9 episodes, 2005)
Shane Lefler	....	assistant editor (8 episodes, 2005)
Jonathan Raimer	....	assistant editor (8 episodes, 2008)
Robb Wood	....	digitizer (7 episodes, 2006)
Shannon Martellaro	....	assistant editor (6 episodes, 2005)
Lori Grossman	....	assistant editor (6 episodes, 2006)
Merethe C. Rosvold	....	assistant editor (6 episodes, 2006)
Zandy Ariss	....	assistant editor (2 episodes, 2008)
Chuck Barnhart	....	post-production assistant (unknown episodes)
Sal Koussa	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Bryce Eckhaus	....	production assistant / talent coordinator (55 episodes, 2006-2009)
Stephanie Deloach	....	production assistant / executive assistant: Criss Angel (39 episodes, 2007-2008)
Jennifer Peterson	....	executive assistant: Criss Angel (29 episodes, 2005-2007)
Jesse Brooks	....	production coordinator (22 episodes, 2006)
Talisha Marie Henderson	....	continuity (18 episodes, 2008)
Jared Zontini	....	production assistant (18 episodes, 2008)
Daniel Benedict	....	production coordinator (16 episodes, 2005)
Melody L. Moses	....	field coordinator (15 episodes, 2005)
Stephanie Baltierra	....	production coordinator (14 episodes, 2005)
Kyle D. Betterton	....	production assistant (14 episodes, 2005)
Jennifer Carno	....	production assistant (14 episodes, 2005)
Emma Humphrey	....	production coordinator (14 episodes, 2005)
Mike Lanzaro	....	production assistant (14 episodes, 2005)
Elaine Pardo	....	production coordinator: travel (14 episodes, 2005)
David L. Sullivan Jr.	....	logger: post-production (14 episodes, 2005)
Rita Hawn	....	production assistant (13 episodes, 2005)
Brooks Citron	....	production coordinator (13 episodes, 2007)
Chuck Barnhart	....	production assistant (11 episodes, 2005)
Charley Allen	....	production coordinator / production assistant (6 episodes, 2005-2009)
Emily Spitale	....	publicist / public relations (5 episodes, 2007-2008)
Mario Mabe	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 2005-2008)
Luke Dancy	....	consultant (3 episodes, 2008-2009)
Doug Malloy	....	consultant (3 episodes, 2008-2009)
Wendy Hyden	....	key production accountant / production accountant (2 episodes, 2005-2008)
Steven Solars	....	field logger (2 episodes, 2007)
Joaquin Ayala	....	consultant (2 episodes, 2008)
Dave Baram	....	management / manager (2 episodes, 2008)
Eric Elias	....	legal counsel (2 episodes, 2008)
Sean Fields	....	consultant (2 episodes, 2008)
Steve Flynn	....	public relations (2 episodes, 2008)
Susan M. Myerberg	....	legal counsel (2 episodes, 2008)
Ben Seidman	....	consultant (2 episodes, 2008)
Jason Verona	....	management (2 episodes, 2008)
Ken Diver	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
John Robert Mariani	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Bill Miller	....	title designer: main titles (unknown episodes)
H. Charles Parrish	....	weapons expert (unknown episodes)
Anysia Romero	....	assistant: Will Raee (unknown episodes)
Kelley Sims	....	assistant to producer (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Angel Productions Incorporated
• TVX

Distributors

• A&E Television Networks (2005) (USA) (TV)
• E4 (2005) (UK) (TV)
• TV6 (2009-) (Estonia) (TV)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Filmtools  expendables
• Firecracker Films  titles
• PES Payroll  crew payroll services
• PES Payroll  payroll services (season 3)
• Point.360 - Woodholly  post-production facilities

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

Angel Productions Incorporated

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Tropic Thunder (2008)

Goth magic hoopla

There was a time when the only reality show on television was the news, and the rest of the schedule was full of fiction. Now it seems there's little but 'reality ' on the box, while conversely some of the most entertaining and comical fiction is on Fox News. The edges have become very blurred and Criss Angel – Mindfreak does little to clarify things.

It's billed as a reality show about a magician, who's also a member of a heavy metal band. It also showcases his music, live street magic, some behind-the-curtain preparation and his family life. Part Marilyn Manson, part David Blaine with a touch of Alan Partridge, we follow Angel around as he spouts mystical nonsense, including this gem: 'A lot of what I do is completely real. There are no tricks. It really is the mind, body, and spirit connection. And a lot of what I do is an illusion. It's up to you to determine what is real and what is... illusion.' As well as talking like a tipsy teenage goth at a Ouija board party, he does some impressive tricks and stunts. These include levitation, setting himself on fire – to 'honour' his mother on her 70th birthday – and lying on a bed of nails as a Hummer drives over him. If you like magic tricks and the colour black, this show should entertain.

He may well look and talk like the sort of person you'd never get tired of punching, but as tricksters go he's one of the best. The Academy of Magical Arts at Hollywood's Magic Castle – a place so pretentious it's powered entirely by the magicians' sense of self-importance – named him 2005 Magician of the Year. Angel is so confident in his abilities, he once publicly challenged magic's other infant terrible David Blaine, saying if Blaine could perform a trick that he couldn't replicate on the spot then he would retire. Somewhat tellingly, Blaine never took up the challenge, although to be fair, Criss is yet to live in a box for 40 days and be abused by Londoners.

Most of the tricks have been done before by the likes of Penn & Teller (who are friends of Criss) but all the same, some of these stunts are really great fun. That is, unless you watched one of those 'magician's tricks revealed' series and you'll know how a lot of them were done. For those who didn't peek behind the curtain, this won't freak your mind as the title promises, but it will set it off thinking about how he did it. And these days, a TV programme that makes you think is a rare trick indeed.