Backstage…Before his performance at Oprah’s Season 24 Kickoff Party, Criss Angel opens up about his magical beginnings, his favorite type of illusions and the tricks behind his trade. Plus, does he get nervous in front of a crowd of 21,000?

About Criss Angel

Criss Angel, an American magician, illustionist, musician, of Greek descent, was born on December 19, 1967, in East Meadow and Long Island New York. Criss Angel’s parents names are John and Dimitra Sarantakos. His siblings are JD and Costa.

When Criss was 6 years old, he saw his Aunt Stella perform a trick and knew that he wanted to be a magician. He got his first paying gig at the age of 12. When Criss was 19, he was performing at nightclubs and kid’s parties earning up to $3,000 per week. Criss performed with an industrial band called Angeldust. In 1998, the band released an album called Musical Conjurings from the World of Illusion. In July 2005, Criss’s debut was the show “Mindfreak” on A&E TV. Some of Criss’s illusions include levitating, walking on water, and cutting himself in half.

Criss has performed at The Aladdin in Las Vegas and the Luxor Hotel. Criss created “Criss Angel Believe,” a live show at the Luxor Hotel. In 2007, Criss Angel was a judge on Phenomenon and appeared in the Robot Chicken episode “I Love Her.”

Criss has received numerous awards throughout his career naming him Magician of the Year. In 2008, Criss Angel was rated the top male reality spot on Yahoo.com. Some of Criss’s appearances: “Larry King Live,” “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Oprah,” NBC’s “Las Vegas,” “Discovery and Playboy Channel,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” FOX, CNN, ABC, CBC, MTV, E, and Spike.

In 2002, Criss Angel married Joanne Sarantakos and she filed for divorce in 2007. In 2008, Criss was romantically involved with Holly Madison, but the relationship ended in 2009.

Considered by many, the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, Manny Pacquiao is making his rounds on the media circuit, in promotion of his upcoming fight against Miguel Cotto. Here he is on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

About Manny Pacquiao

Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao (born December 17, 1978), more commonly known as Manny Pacquiao, is a Filipino professional boxer.

He is currently the WBO World welterweight champion, IBO and Ring Magazine light welterweight champion, and is rated by Ring Magazine as the #1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

He is also the former WBC World lightweight champion, WBC World super featherweight champion, IBF World super bantamweight champion, and WBC World flyweight champion. Furthermore, he is the former Ring Magazine featherweight and super featherweight champion.

The Filipino boxing superstar is the first boxer to win seven world titles in seven different weight divisions. In addition, he is the only boxer to win the lineal championship (“the man who beat the man”) in four different weight classes. Aside from being a boxer, Pacquiao has participated in politics, acting, filmmaking, and music recording.

Jimmy Kimmel Live – Macy Gray was too upset to appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live after getting the boot on Dancing with the Stars.

 Following elimination from “Dancing with the Stars,” contestants traditionally pay a visit to “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” When Jimmy introduced the two eliminated couples, only three of the four scheduled guests walked out on stage. Where was Macy Gray?Macy’s partner Jonathan Roberts said, “Macy’s absolutely torn up about being eliminated.” He explained, “She put her whole heart into the show. She feels like she let her fans down.”The Grammy winner was determined to add the mirror ball trophy to her collection. Her partner joked, “What’s a Grammy compared to a mirror ball?”The eliminated couple of Ashley Hamilton and his partner Edyta Sliwinska also appeared on the late night talk show.Jimmy ended the segment by burning both Macy’s and Ashley’s dancing shoes to symbolize the end of their dancing careers.

About Macy Gray

Macy Gray (born Natalie Renee McIntyre; September 6, 1967), also credited as Natalie Hinds in her music, is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress, famed for her distinctive raspy voice and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday and Betty Davis.

To date, Gray has released four studio albums, one compilation album, and one live album—with her fourth studio album, Big, released in March 2007—and has received five Grammy Award nominations, winning one. She has appeared in a number of films including Training Day, Spider-Man, and Idlewild. Gray is best known for her international hit single “I Try“, taken from her multi-platinum debut album On How Life Is. In late 2008, Gray took on a new alias “Nemesis Jaxson”, and has plans to release her fifth studio album in 2009.

It was announced on August 17, 2009 that she will compete on the ninth season of Dancing with the Stars. She was the second contestant eliminated with the total score of 15 from the judges.