It makes me laugh when people say that Criss doesn't perform "real magic". There is no such thing a "real magic".
I understand the uproar about people who use stooges instead of practicing sleights over and over, but you know, really, it's the results that matter. "Real magicians" entertain and delight people. Criss does that, stooges, camera tricks, notwithstanding.
This whole "real magic" attitude is like saying an overweight person got thin by surgery instead of diet and excercise and telling that person that he's not "really thin" because he didn't do it the hard way.
Look, I'm not a fan or a hater of Criss but he does have some kind of talent because he's able to hold an audience. His clothes doesn't matter, his attitude doesn't matter, even his methods don't matter. You don't like him. Fine. But to say he doesn't use "real magic" is absolutely absurd. Really, who here uses "real magic"??? There is no such thing.
As to this thing with Jim vs Criss, I am completely on Steerpike's side on this.
The day you start claiming you can talk to the dead, I will take you down.
Because it is one thing to perform such a thing, it is quite another animal to claim you can actually do it. One is entertaining, the other is scamming.