With the SAG-AFTRA strike raging on and actors unable to conduct interviews, The View has found alternate ways to entertain its audience. On this morning’s episode of the hit daytime talk show, the panel welcomed Asi Wind, a magician who left Ana Navarro (and the rest of the group) mind-blown.
Whoopi Goldberg introduced Wind, who grew up in Israel before moving to New York City at 20 years old to pursue his dream. Now, he headlines the off-broadway show, Asi Wind’s Inner Circle.
“I was young, stupid and believed that this could be a profession,” he joked of how he got into magic. “It’s one of those decisions you really can only make when you’re a kid. I was privileged and lucky enough to be young and be like, ‘Oh, I’m gonna be a magician!’ And I never let go of that idea.”
Wind’s act is unique compared to other magicians because he uses a blank deck of cards and has audience members write their names on each one.
“Normally, I use a deck of playing cards. Ace of hearts, two of spades, seven of clubs. I love cards, I still do,” he said. “But one day I had this idea of starting with a blank deck and allowing the audience to fill in the rest. So this deck of cards is more meaningful because it relates to every person in this room.”
With The View co-hosts and the entire audience having written their names on more than 150 cards, Wind proceeded to demonstrate his first trick. After shuffling the deck, he had Navarro pick a random card — and told the person whose name was written on it to stand up.
When Navarro read the card, she stared at Wind in disbelief before rising from her chair.
“It says Ana Navarro! How’d you do that?” she asked, to which a flustered Wind replied, “Don’t do that. I’m trying to create the illusion of randomness and this is not helping.”
He decided to try again — this time with Sunny Hostin, who admitted she was “scared.” For this bit, she had to tell him when to stop cutting the deck, then pick the top card. Of course, the random card she chose read her name, which left her suspicious.
“I was at a church this weekend at a wedding, so,” she said as she crossed herself. “I’m protected from witchcraft.”
The View airs on weekdays at 11/10c on ABC.