498: Pat Hazell - Part Two: Still Standing

In this week’s episode, we pick up where we left off last week with Pat Hazell as we sit in the living room of his home in Austin, Texas. In this second and final part of our discussion, Pat talks about the “real work” behind success. In this podcast, there is invaluable advice from a real pro. He also talks about several projects he has produced and is producing. This will become one of my favorite top ten podcast on The Magic Word.

The Wonder Bread Years Starring Pat Hazell (former Seinfeld writer) is a fast-paced, hilarious production that gracefully walks the line between standup and theater. Audiences across the country are enjoying a show that not only restores a much-needed sense of wonder, but leaves audiences laughing and savoring the past like never before.

This week when we pick up where we left off last week with a funny story about Pat losing a check for his New Year’s Eve show in Lubbock, Texas when he was performing with Terry Seabrooke (see the photo of the three of us on the blog). He also talks about some of his TV pilots including his production of “Bunk Bed Brothers” that turned into the television sitcom, “American Pie”, but also a story about why one of his series failed due to a mix-up of a a show being aired at the wrong time that damaged the package. He also shares several funny stories plus giving us some valuable advice along the way.

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497: Pat Hazell - Part One: Notes From Home

Pat Hazell may not be a name you are familiar with, but for those do (like Johnny Carson and Jerry Seinfeld), then you know how funny he is and how serious he takes comedy. He was an emcee at the 2018 MAGIC Live! event where he showed the “fake trailer” that fooled Jerry. You can view that very funny trailer by Clicking Here. He moved from magic into comedy but has never quit thinking about magic. “Wonderbread Years” is just one of his successful one-man shows that he has developed along the way. In this “Notes From Home” podcast, he talks about his roots so you can see perhaps how it affected his later life as a successful comedian.

In this podcast, Pat Hazell talks about his recent return to magic conventions with his appearance at the 2018 MAGIC Live! event, He also talks about his magical beginnings in Omaha performing restaurant magic, his performances on ”The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson”, and a publicity stunt to promote his ”upside down straight jacket escape” in the warehouse district of Omaha (see the picture here on the blog). He also tells some funny stories about Hooters Restaurant, his Omaha apartment that had high enough ceilings where he could practice juggling, and his “joke of the day” on his answering machine. Pat also talks about why he got into comedy writing and performing that led to his move to Los Angeles where his career took off. There are a ton of other stories that you’re sure to enjoy.

261: Project Alpha with Mike Edwards

After viewing the highly acclaimed documentary, "An Honest Liar" about the career of James "The Amazing" Randi, I wanted to talk with Mike Edwards, the "psychic" who was "tested" along with Steve Shaw (Banachek) over a three year period in the late 70;s to the early 80;s. I have discussed Project Alpha with Banachek many times privately, on the podcast and on an L&L Video (Psi Series Volume 4 - Psychokenisis) but I had never met or spoken with, Mike Edwards, his partner on the project.

The stars aligned with my travel plans to Phoenix, Arizona and Mike's availability so we were able to find a relatively quiet corner in an otherwise busy restaurant and record this chat. It is a completely different perspective from the one I have heard from Banachek and the revelation during the last few minutes of our conversation figuratively "bowled me over". I was not expecting that news. You might be surprised and excited once you hear it, too.

Recorded: 5/27/2010 Original Alpha Kid, Michael Edwards pays a visit to the foundation and recalls some of the behind the scenes tricks that he and Steve Shaw (Banachek) did during the MacLab test. From Wikipedia: Project Alpha was an elaborate hoax orchestrated by the stage magician and skeptic James Randi.

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