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Leigh Hotz - Wizard of Fun was a magician from Season 11 of America's Got Talent. He was eliminated in the audition round.

Background[]

Leigh Hotz's wife is named Mamata. Leigh Hotz is the founder and CEO of Wizard Magic. Leigh has been a professional magician and magic teacher for over 30 years performing for thousands around the USA at trade shows, conventions, clubs, and private events. Leigh has opened for international entertainers including The Four Tops and won many magic awards including the Society of Amerian Magicians national Red Seal Award for the best use of comedy in a magic performance. Leigh had taught many magic students over the years, many who are still performing professional today. Leigh is also magic consultant for top magicians around the US designing, and creating new exclusive effects and routines.

In 2002, due to the poor economy after the 911 attacks and rising overhead of operating out of malls, Wizard Magic closed its brick and mortar mall based stores and moved the retail operations to selling exclusively selling on the internet at www.wizardmagic.com where today it has one of the largest selections of magic available from all around the world selling over 12,000 magic related products from hundreds of suppliers. Leigh opened a new mini-magic shop in a mall in Mesa Arizona in 2014 where magicians can once again, buy from a walk in store. Leigh also performs a magic show each Saturday at 2PM at the shop. [1]

Season 11 Audition[]

Leigh Hotz - Wizard of Fun's audition in Episode 1105 consisted of Leigh escaping from a straitjacket while doing impressions, during the escape, a pre-recorded voice over countdown got the the number 2 when Leigh being no way near being released, yells "TEN". whereas the voice over starts the countdown again at 9. With his last move just before countdown zero, revealing a plunger newly attached to his forehead imitating a unicorn. Heidi Klum and Simon Cowell buzzed the act. Heidi and Simon voted "No", eliminating Leigh from the competition.

Season 17 Audition[]

Leigh was once again in front of the judges, this time in season 17 accompanied by Merlynn The Magic Cockatiel. His segment did not air on network but the act went as follows. In his un-aired episode, assisted by comedy/magician Leigh Hotz and his wife Mamata, Merlynn hypnotizes Heidi Klum by talking to her feet. Once under his birdy trance, both Heidi and Merlynn each selects a card from a deck of cards. The total values of the cards are totaled and calculated. On the table on the stage is a toolbox which contains a tool Merlynn has predicted Simon will select later in the act. The total comes out to 14 where Simon Cowell opens a tool catalog which contains about 100 tools, and turns to that page number and selects one tool. Simon announces he has selected a 8 foot ladder. After a fanfare, magician Leigh reaches into the toolbox and struggles a bit before pulling out a gag ladder which is only about 12 inch tall, but has 8 tiny feet with shoes on it. Merlynn then screams something which Leigh replies, "Which OTHER ladder?" Leigh then proceeds to full out a full size 8 foot latter as a climax to the act. By this time Leigh & Merlynn had three X's from the judges, but Howie Mandel who liked the act, said he would have given the act a golden buzzer, if he haven't already gave his away to a previous performer. This therefore saw his un-aired performance given 3 X's from the judges except from Howie Mandel who gave him a YES.

Practice videos submitted for audition for Season 17:[]

Merlynn The Magic Cockatiel & magician Leigh Hotz

Merlynn The Magic Cockatiel and magician Leigh Hotz


External Links[]


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