May 1, 2006
The David Blaine Aquarium at Lincoln Center
There's crazy, there's insane, and then there's David Blaine. After hearing about his latest stunt where he'd do a one-week residency in a water-filled sphere in Lincoln Center and then try to hold his breath for 9 minutes under water, we imagined people would be plotting various ways to foil his attempt. And when we headed up to Lincoln Center for his immersion today, we weren't wrong, as people around us guessed someone with a BB gun would be getting set up across the street and the credentialed camera people stepped on cable that was bringing him oxygen in a frenzy to film him - oops! Here's what we learned:
- The stunt is no longer just a week underwater (but he does have oxygen and will be fed nutrients by tube) followed by holding his breath for 9 minutes - it's now a week under water, get dragged out of the water and then get shackled wtih 150 pounds of chains, put back in the water to hold his breath for 9 minutes and break out of the chains
- He does have a catheter to take away his number 1; he hasn't eaten solids in a week because he doesn't want to do number 2 (ew!!)
- He's wearing special boots that seem to have weights (or else he'd be floating at the top); he is wearing pants, though people wondered if he had on diving pants underneath
- There are medical types and diving specialists monitoring him; he supposedly lost 50 pounds because the skinnier you are, the less oxygen you need or something (he did look pretty skinny)
David Blaine will be at Lincoln Center for a week, until his live show next Monday on ABC (yes, it's May sweeps time!). We're considering visiting him every day - one day with a picture book, another day with a goldfish - will you? New York magazine has a cool look at building the sphere (which was made by City Aquarium ); we are disappointed there are no sting rays to swim around the sphere with him. Here's our set of photographs from today and here are some pictures of Blaine testing his aquarium at Bandit the Pirate's Flickr page.
| 
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
email this
add to facebook
add to del.icio.us
[ report this ]
Two words: CRACK HEAD!
[ report this ]
I hope his Aquarium gets egged.
In the event he does shit his pants, and the water inside turns brown to the point we cannot see him, and he still pulls it off...
Then I'd be impressed.
[ report this ]
I am claustrophobic just looking at the picture! I thought he would have a special wetsuit to cover his entire body, I would imagine that he will have skin problems.
[ report this ]
Yeah, can anyone say what the effects to his body will be from being in the water for that long? I mean ... waterlogged much?
Is the tank going to be closed at the top, or will it remain temptingly open?
[ report this ]
Wooo! Let's sneak up to it tonight and turn him into a bong! Awwwwwesome Blaine hits, dude.
Someone's going to be a wrinkly little pruneboy when this stunt is over.
[ report this ]
Yeah, let's hope he doesn't come down with any of these ailments, particularly Seabather's Eruption:
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/171/11/1339
[ report this ]
Tom officially gets the reward for the funniest comment I have ever read on Gothamist. I damn near fell out of my chair laughing. It's gold, Jerry! Gold!
[ report this ]
The whole thing is faked you know.
David Blaine is just an annoying faker.
[ report this ]
sorry, but david blaine is NOT skinny. he is a hot wet hunk of underwater man-muscle, and i can't wait to dive in!
[ report this ]
The hose is likely supplying air, not oxygen.
[ report this ]
Nine minutes? Come on, Blaine! That's wuss territory. Real men can do it for 20. Try that! Please. C'mon, try it! I dare you.
[ report this ]
Kirk, Mandi & Martin;
Way to go PFI team. Hope you all have fun in the big apple. Best of luck to Dave.
Cheers
Guy
[ report this ]
i can't wait to see him after school tomorrow
he's disgusting
[ report this ]
My hamster used to have one of those but it
was drt except for the time he ate three of my
wife's diuretic........Mike
[ report this ]
Dosn't a humans skin start to break after 3 hours under water?
[ report this ]
He is sooooo gonna be pruney when he gets out of there.
[ report this ]
Any chance he can be permanently sealed in the globe like those old "sea monkey" aquariums?
[ report this ]
I think Blaine has developed great endurance in his acts by overcome physical challenges. It is actually pretty inspiring. I can't wait to go see him at Lincoln Center, and I wish him the best.
And he is definitely very sexy! His body is totally ripped.
[ report this ]
I need to see this man poop! Can somebody explain how the bathroom situation is going to work?
[ report this ]
Contrary to many people, this is for real. I know for a fact because I helped build it and watched him test it behind the scenes.
I hope he doesn't get ridiculed as much as he did in England. He's a really nice guy and great to work with.
There is a possibility for him to get ailments, but I think there is such thing as "mind over matter" and he has a lot of that.
The only way we'll know for sure is to wait.
And, a funny story, when we were putting together the whole set, the ball turned into a huge magnifying glass -- burning the paint off the steel walkway and we even put a peice of cardboard in the light and that burst into flames quickly.
just thought I share that with you.
[ report this ]
Toby... all magic is fake. What exactly do you think is more "fake" about what he's doing.
[ report this ]
I ca't wait to see how this is going to turn out... exciting stuff!
[ report this ]
See, the thing is that this isn't magic, this is a feat of endurance that lasts too long in public view to be faked.
So give the guy a little credit. I mean, look at what we're doing with our days. Posting comments to a website.
God, who's pathetic now?
[ report this ]
It's not magic, nor is it a feat of endurance. It's an ILLUSION.
[ report this ]
oh my gosh u ppl are so stupid!!!!! i actually met david blaine and he did an awesome trick!! oh i didnt think it was real UNTIL IT HAPPENED RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY OWN EYES!!! i bet if david did a trick on u with cards or something u would totally believe it!!
and dont say u dont.i am totally with david all the way and with everything he does!!!
[ report this ]
Well, given that Seabather's Eruption is caused by jellyfish larvae, we can probably count that one out :)
[ report this ]
I think he's sooooo HOT! But gosh he has got to be getting alot of money for this..why else would anyone do this??? wouldn't your skin be totally screwed up after that???
[ report this ]
It's strange, the man is a decent magician, but this look-how-long-I-can-stay-in-this-[container] stuff is really, really boring!
I'm so sick of that stuff that I would no longer go to any of his stage shows, and I probably would have before.
(I was blown away by his performance on Graham Norton a long time ago, he did an card trick that even worked if you were watching the broadcast at home)
[ report this ]
ALWAYS TESTING THE EXTREMES!!! WAY TA GO DAVID!!! I LOVE YOU BLAINE!!!
[ report this ]
Go David...good to see someone do something without drugs, alcohol, and sex. I'm on your side always.
[ report this ]
they should of painted him orange,gave him fins he would of looked like a big gold fish.instead of the big apple n.y.c. could be called the big goldfish. (ha ha ha) carriesontomuch@aol.com
[ report this ]
GOOD JOB DAVID IM COMING IN ON MONDAY TO SEE YOU GET OUT OF THE CHAINS
[ report this ]
I think its interesting that when jesus walked on water he was said to be the son of god, but when david blane does feats beyond the perceptions of possibilties he is called a fake. to all you haters out there, instead of being jealous of blane's amazing gifts you should be inspired by the human potential.
[ report this ]
i hope he gets mugged by a shark.
[ report this ]
Forget David Blaine... Where's "Roberto" I went to Lincoln Center Sunday afternoon and did a full circle around the place looking for the little wooden man, but No "Roberto". Ron & Fez you are a sham, a fake, a fraud a flimflam, BOGUS.
[ report this ]
Forget David Blaine... Where's "Roberto" I went to Lincoln Center Sunday afternoon and did a full circle around the place looking for the little wooden man, but No "Roberto". Ron & Fez you are a sham, a fake, a fraud a flimflam, BOGUS.
[ report this ]
What a idle place for a webcam...
.... So why none???????????????
[ report this ]
Screw this guy. Screw this guy and every body that looks like him. Screw him, and his gigantic ball. Screw him on the ball, screw him in the ball, and screw him twice on Sunday. What sucks more than this morbidly predictible fascination with this guy is the fact that simply by posting this I have succumed to the very phenomenon that I loathe. Screw hypocracy, but most of all screw david lame, and screw you too.
[ report this ]
um..did somebody just compare david blaine to jesus?
seriously, dude?
[ report this ]
I think David is a hottie. He is doing what he enjoys and I wish him the best of luck. Keep having fun David. Love ya Angel
[ report this ]
I think u r great and sexy. Keep up the good work.
[ report this ]
silly blaine, waters for fish
[ report this ]
silly blaine waters for fish
[ report this ]
lol.. he couldnt do all 9 minutes, but still impressive.
[ report this ]
he couldnt do the whole 9 min but what he did do was still pretty impressive. good job blaine.
[ report this ]
your are sooooooooooo hot and very awesome. even though you didn't make it, you are still my hero and i am happy that you tried.
[ report this ]
All that david blaine is doing is showing how good doctors are nowadays...he almost drowns himself, passes out then goes to hospital. shuts himself in ice gets cold then goes to hospital. lives in a box gets a really sore tummy then goes to hospital. and by the look on his face all the time he is just as bored as i am.
[ report this ]
Most of you posting comments are ignorant or just plain stupid. Holding you breath for seven minutes alone is impressive, but doing it after being underwater for a week is unbelieveable! David Blaine much like Houdini has the capacity to do things that transcend magic. I bet if it were possible to put yourself in his shoes it wouldn't take long to realize how much stronger his mind is than yours. Futher more if what he does is so easy why is he the only one doing it? Especially considering all the attention it brings. Only Simple-tons see feats that challenge human limits as boring so if the shoe fits wear it!
[ report this ]
He didnt go through the whole 9 minutes yes but what he did was still unbelievable. No one has ever stayed in water for that long. And did anybody else noticed that he was walking that in itself proves this man great endurance...
[ report this ]
david blaine is a magician a crappy one at that this is magic meaning its not real. MAgic doesnt exist. You can't sit in water for a week then hold your breathe for 7 minutes. the reason he didnt hold his breath to beat the record is becuase if he beat the record they would investigate it and find out it was fake. teller from penn and teller used to hold his breathe every day for 11 and a hlaf minutes in there show and he admits there was a trick behind it and they cheated but you would never know becasue peopel always hope its real. sorry folks its not real. david blaine cant really anything he jsut reads books on how to do his tricks. anyone who belives this shit is a moron
[ report this ]
I agree...Blaine's a magician. I also saw Teller do his underwater breath-holding trick and was amazed. Blaine's no different. There's no way that he could hold his breath that long after being underwater for a week. At peak physical condition, it would be hard enough. After spending a week under water?!..gimme a break. I'd love to know how he does the trick, though.
[ report this ]
Ok Ya know what I have to say this to all the haters of Daivd Blaine. First off I would like any of you do just 2 of the things that he has done over the years. I Bet you cant which is why your a hater of him. He has a great knowladge of his body and what he can handle and enjoys pushin him self just to see what he can do next. Which is more then I can can say for most of you. I bet the half you haters have never even tried to push your self past your limits just to see what you can do. I also bet that you haters are threated by a man who is able to do things that may seem silly and crazy just to see what happens.
As for the human fish tank I feel that you could see in face last night as they pulled in out that he was angry and hurt but not at anyone but him= self he was angry that he fail thats a true man..
so to all you haters I leave you with this. Before you judge someeles for things can or can not do perhaps you should take a look at your self and ask could i have stayed in tank for a week with barly human contact. under water and and then hold my breath for 7 mintues?
I know I couldnt do that.
Beside at least tried and isnt that what teach our kids that you should always try your hardest and dont give up?
So again I ask who are you to judge???
Melissa Md
[ report this ]
He´s the Jesus of our time..
[ report this ]
Oh and one more thing as far as david's magic. Remeber magic is a illusion but weather if the person veiwing the the magic is amazed or not is the trick. Besides Most people beleave in god but we have never seen him nor spoke to him and isnt that kinda the same?
I think that in order to enjoy magic you have to be open to all the possibilitys One of the being that is not real. But i choose to embrace it instead of hate it. Why because i beleave in god and yet i have never seen him nor talked to him face to face. But I still beleave. Becasue I want. So to the haters I say get over it
[ report this ]
Wow, it is amazing to read how many people are looking to idolize/demonize this guy. Whatever he does, however he does it, he is first of all an entertainer. He is an illusionist and the entertainment factor is that he does these tricks to fool our perceptions of things. That is all that magic is: you look where he wants you to look so you miss what is really going on. He is not a god (and comparing him to Jesus? that is just laughable) he is just a talented man. Why make him out to be more than he is?
[ report this ]
Oh and one more thing as far as david's magic. Remeber magic is a illusion but weather if the person veiwing the the magic is amazed or not is the trick. Besides Most people beleave in god but we have never seen him nor spoke to him and isnt that kinda the same?
I think that in order to enjoy magic you have to be open to all the possibilitys One of the being that is not real. But i choose to embrace it instead of hate it. Why because i beleave in god and yet i have never seen him nor talked to him face to face. But I still beleave. Becasue I want. So to the haters I say get over it
[ report this ]
Travis Dudfield
I never called him god I just referd to the whole illuisson thing. No one no's for sure that there is a god but most will tell you the belive in him why becasue it gives us a purpose. A reason, Its gives use hope. And teaches us to love and beleave in something that we cant ssee.
Now with david I enjoy what he can do becasue he makes it fun and crazy and scary but all of the things he can and will contiune to do. Are his destiny Just as Jesus was to die for our Sins.
So Do I Idolize him NO but I can enjoy what he dose because I am open enough to see past what is in front of me to perhaps enoy the I can not see.
He makes Magic Fun and Brings a warmth to it that has been gone since hodini. Whom Was Good what he did. For the most part.
So stop Seeing the obvious and start seeing whats not there and maybe you will enjoy life a little better
[ report this ]
screw what these ppl r saying. u r a true daredevil. i saw u on tv last night and even though u didnt make the world record i still think ur awesome. honestly.
much
[ report this ]
Travis, please remember that while David Blaine is an illusionist - these are not magic tricks he's performing. There is no illusion here. The week in water, the standing on a pillar over NY, these are all endurance tests and have nothing to do with "magic".
Please understand there are no illusions here - he is in the water and he did hold his breath for 7 minutes and 5 seconds. No trickery.
[ report this ]
I never post comments but David Blaine is far too incredible a "super-human" for me to not type in his defense. Yes ~ I dare to say superhuman because he has defied the odds and done things that the average, simple mind hasn't even dared to imagine. Not only has he conceived these notions intellectually, he has channeled his spirit in a way such that he was physically able to perform the tasks. Please explain to me (if he is such a fake) how all of those people in NYC were able to walk by each day, communicate to him and get a response relevant to what they had originally conveyed? How do you explain the scientific proof of the medical impacts caused by his acts if it is not true? It