PERFECT ACAAN Revealed? - Penn & Teller FOOL US Emily Robinson-Hardy S10E19

Summary

In this video, the presenter dissects Emily Robinson Hardy's performance of the 'Perfect Any Card at Any Number' trick. Emily amazes the audience by correctly revealing a card's position without touching the deck, using a microphone with pre-recorded audio to play the chosen number. The presenter explores the possible methods, including the use of a memorized deck and a custom microphone with a hidden circuit board to trigger specific audio cues. This method, if accurate, highlights the clever blend of magic and technology. The analysis concludes with a nod to Rebecca, a magician who performed a similar routine.

Takeaways

• 😀 Emily Robinson's 'Any Card at Any Number' trick from *Penn and Teller: Fool Us* Season 10 appears flawless but can be explained using a technology-based method.
• 😀 Emily used a regular deck of cards, ensuring the cards were not part of the trick's deception.
• 😀 Unlike other magicians, Emily used a handheld microphone, which played a crucial role in executing the trick.
• 😀 The spectators had a free choice for both the card (six of Spades) and the number (47), which adds to the trick's illusion of fairness.
• 😀 Emily likely used a memorized deck system to track the position of the chosen card (the six of Spades).
• 😀 The microphone had the ability to play a pre-recorded voice that called out the number 47, obscuring the actual number spoken by the gentleman.
• 😀 The trick's effectiveness relied on the audience not hearing the gentleman's voice, which was crucial to avoid any discrepancy in tone or accent.
• 😀 Emily's direction to the gentleman not to react was part of the preparation to ensure the trick went smoothly without suspicion.
• 😀 The custom microphone probably contained an electronic circuit that could trigger pre-recorded numbers at the press of a button.
• 😀 A possible alternative method to the microphone setup might involve a system where the microphone can deduce the card’s position through button presses, ensuring the right number is played.
• 😀 The method used in Emily's performance was similar to techniques used in earlier magic routines, especially those involving audio dubbing and special devices.

Q & A

What is the trick 'Any Card at Any Number' about?

The trick involves a spectator choosing a card and a number, and without any physical interaction with the deck, the magician reveals the card at the exact position specified by the chosen number.

How does Emily perform the trick 'Any Card at Any Number'?

Emily performs the trick by having two audience members choose a card and a number. She uses a microphone to play a pre-recorded voice that announces the chosen number, leading the audience to believe it was spoken by the spectator. The card, in this case, the Six of Spades, is revealed at the corresponding position in the deck.

What is unusual about the microphone Emily uses?

Emily uses a handheld microphone instead of the typical lapel or headset microphones used by most magicians. This microphone is believed to play a key role in executing the trick.

Why didn't Emily ask the audience members' names?

By not asking their names, Emily avoids the risk of the spectators' voices being recognized. This is important because the pre-recorded voice announcing the number needs to sound like the spectator's voice, without any potential mismatches in tone or accent.

How does the microphone contribute to the trick?

The microphone likely contains a small circuit board that plays pre-recorded numbers when specific buttons are pressed. This allows Emily to make it seem as though the spectator is saying the correct number, even if they actually said a different number.

What happens when the gentleman is asked for his number?

The gentleman likely says a number, but the audience hears the pre-recorded number 47, which matches the position of the Six of Spades in the deck. This is achieved by the magician using the microphone to trigger the pre-recorded audio.

Why is it important that the gentleman's voice is not heard?

By not letting the gentleman's voice be heard, Emily ensures that the pre-recorded number sounds like it is coming from him, making the trick more convincing to the audience.

What is the significance of Emily telling the audience not to react?

Emily's warning not to react serves to keep the spectators calm and focused, allowing the trick to unfold smoothly and without distraction, which is critical for the method to work effectively.

How could this trick potentially be performed without a memorized deck?

Instead of relying on a memorized deck, Emily could have used a custom microphone with a programmed system that calculates the position of the card based on a button press, automatically playing the correct pre-recorded number without any memory work.

Who else performed a similar trick before Emily, according to the speaker?

The speaker credits a magician named Rebecca, who performed a similar trick with audio dubbing, where pre-recorded voices were used to announce numbers in a similar way to Emily's performance.