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Smoke & Mirrors and Steven Seagal: The Burning Pants of Popular Culture
Millard peels back the curtain on the peddlers of tall tales and fantastical bunk, in those subcultures where the nature of truth is subjective.
From pro wrestling's funhouse mirror world of kayfabe, there's the method-acted insanity of Brian Pillman, and the mad lies of Hulk Hogan.
Martial arts gives us super-spy movie stars, deadly men like Count Dante, who can explode your heart from fifty paces, and the strange, forgotten story of James Hydrick, telekinetic Kung Fu cultist; the man no prison could hold.
In the paranormal realm, we've Derek Acorah, and the spectacular rise and lurid public fall of Most Haunted. Plus, the BBC's Ghostwatch, a hoax that became the cultural bogeyman for an entire generation of Brits.
And could Bill Murray really be putting headlocks on the strangers of New York? And just what is his connection to Purple Aki?
From pro wrestling's funhouse mirror world of kayfabe, there's the method-acted insanity of Brian Pillman, and the mad lies of Hulk Hogan.
Martial arts gives us super-spy movie stars, deadly men like Count Dante, who can explode your heart from fifty paces, and the strange, forgotten story of James Hydrick, telekinetic Kung Fu cultist; the man no prison could hold.
In the paranormal realm, we've Derek Acorah, and the spectacular rise and lurid public fall of Most Haunted. Plus, the BBC's Ghostwatch, a hoax that became the cultural bogeyman for an entire generation of Brits.
And could Bill Murray really be putting headlocks on the strangers of New York? And just what is his connection to Purple Aki?
- GenresNonfiction
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 28, 2014
Ever hear about that time Bill Murray swiped a lady’s french fry and left her with the words "..and no one will ever believe you?" What about the allegedly telekinetic James Hydrick? How about pro-wrestlers Brian Pillman and Hulk Hogan – two men who fooled promoters and fans alike. These are the subjects that Stuart Millard tackles in his collection of essays dubbed; “Smoke & Mirrors and Steven Seagal.”
Smoke & Mirrors was a fun, quick read. Millard clearly did his homework when it came to all the pop culture topics he explored. It certainly doesn't hurt that he’s hilarious as well. There were more than a few occasions I found myself laughing out loud. I’m sure he could have just compiled all the rumors and tall tales surrounding several of the text’s subjects but where’s the fun in that? Had it not been for his endlessly entertaining wit, I’m not sure the book would be as enjoyable a read.
For someone like myself – who is as big a pro wrestling fan as they come – I had a great time during the Hogan and Pillman bits. His dissection of the immeasurable number of lies spewed from the mouth of Hulk Hogan had me in tears from laughter. Such highlights include:
Hogan once kicked John Belushi out of a bar in 1986 – despite the fact Belushi died four years prior to that night.
Hogan saying that Andre The Giant died days after he bodyslammed him in 1987 at WrestleMania III. Andre died six years later.
Darren Aronofsky begged him to star in his 2008 film, The Wrestler (he did not). Oh and his films, Mr. Nanny and Santa with Muscles made thirty to forty million.
It should be worth noting that Millard runs a blog dubbed Frantic Planet. Seeing as a few of these essays are basically expanded blog posts, much of his new material should be in line with what’s on the site.
Cross posted @ Every Read Thing
Smoke & Mirrors was a fun, quick read. Millard clearly did his homework when it came to all the pop culture topics he explored. It certainly doesn't hurt that he’s hilarious as well. There were more than a few occasions I found myself laughing out loud. I’m sure he could have just compiled all the rumors and tall tales surrounding several of the text’s subjects but where’s the fun in that? Had it not been for his endlessly entertaining wit, I’m not sure the book would be as enjoyable a read.
For someone like myself – who is as big a pro wrestling fan as they come – I had a great time during the Hogan and Pillman bits. His dissection of the immeasurable number of lies spewed from the mouth of Hulk Hogan had me in tears from laughter. Such highlights include:
Hogan once kicked John Belushi out of a bar in 1986 – despite the fact Belushi died four years prior to that night.
Hogan saying that Andre The Giant died days after he bodyslammed him in 1987 at WrestleMania III. Andre died six years later.
Darren Aronofsky begged him to star in his 2008 film, The Wrestler (he did not). Oh and his films, Mr. Nanny and Santa with Muscles made thirty to forty million.
It should be worth noting that Millard runs a blog dubbed Frantic Planet. Seeing as a few of these essays are basically expanded blog posts, much of his new material should be in line with what’s on the site.
Cross posted @ Every Read Thing
May 6, 2014
First of all, this book is extremely funny. Apart from the sheer absurdity of the some of the events it relates, Stuart Millard has an effortlessly entertaining turn of phrase which is frankly enough on its own to make the book well worth a read: I found myself snorting with laughter several times.
But secondly, it's also perceptive and informative in its analysis of some jaw-dropping showbusiness lies - from televised hoaxes (Ghostwatch; professional wrestling) to light-ent fibbers (Derek Acorah; James Hydrick) to Hollywood urban myths (the strange phenomenon of the 'Bill Murray story'). Millard has an excellent eye for detail and also brings an appealing personal touch to these stories of showbiz deception, drifting occasionally into nostalgic playground reminiscences and entertainingly vitriolic personal diatribes.
Despite its subject matter and despite Millard's frequently acerbic style, there's a real warmth and enthusiasm to this book - you get the impression that the author is genuinely enjoying telling you these often outlandish tales, in the manner of your pop-culture-trivia-obsessed mate in the pub who always has a brilliant insider anecdote to share that's just spot-on when it comes to the off-kilter details that make it doubly fascinating.
I read through this book in a single sitting and will be recommending it to a number of friends - it deserves a much wider audience. Stuart Millard clearly knows that if there's one Hollywood quotation you should never abide by, it's 'pay no attention to the man behind the curtain' - every strange and revealing chapter of this book proves that it's almost always the man behind the curtain who is the most interesting thing on the stage.
But secondly, it's also perceptive and informative in its analysis of some jaw-dropping showbusiness lies - from televised hoaxes (Ghostwatch; professional wrestling) to light-ent fibbers (Derek Acorah; James Hydrick) to Hollywood urban myths (the strange phenomenon of the 'Bill Murray story'). Millard has an excellent eye for detail and also brings an appealing personal touch to these stories of showbiz deception, drifting occasionally into nostalgic playground reminiscences and entertainingly vitriolic personal diatribes.
Despite its subject matter and despite Millard's frequently acerbic style, there's a real warmth and enthusiasm to this book - you get the impression that the author is genuinely enjoying telling you these often outlandish tales, in the manner of your pop-culture-trivia-obsessed mate in the pub who always has a brilliant insider anecdote to share that's just spot-on when it comes to the off-kilter details that make it doubly fascinating.
I read through this book in a single sitting and will be recommending it to a number of friends - it deserves a much wider audience. Stuart Millard clearly knows that if there's one Hollywood quotation you should never abide by, it's 'pay no attention to the man behind the curtain' - every strange and revealing chapter of this book proves that it's almost always the man behind the curtain who is the most interesting thing on the stage.
July 5, 2020
Fascinating look at those in pop culture who rely on fantasy and bunk to peddle something. I can't believe this is self published - he deserves a deal, his writing is massively amusing in the Charlie Brooker style. His blog FranticPlanet is fantastic.
The paranormal chapters are the most intriguing, though I really love the chapter on Kayfabe in wrestling.
Docked a star because the chapter on Bill Murray and legends around him goes on and on and on and becomes his love letter to Murray himself. Not everyone is keen on old Bill, and there are plenty of stories of how he's been a knob to people in the past.
The paranormal chapters are the most intriguing, though I really love the chapter on Kayfabe in wrestling.
Docked a star because the chapter on Bill Murray and legends around him goes on and on and on and becomes his love letter to Murray himself. Not everyone is keen on old Bill, and there are plenty of stories of how he's been a knob to people in the past.
January 27, 2026
Smoke and Mirrors and Steven Seagal – Stuart Millard
This is an entertaining book that takes certain aspects of popular culture and shows just how much of it is built on rubbish. Phony psychics, martial artists, wrestling, Most Haunted and Steven Seagull. Millard looks behind the 'official' stories and backgrounds and demolishes the reputations of many charlatans. It's an enjoyable read, but perhaps not a book you'd read more than once.
This is an entertaining book that takes certain aspects of popular culture and shows just how much of it is built on rubbish. Phony psychics, martial artists, wrestling, Most Haunted and Steven Seagull. Millard looks behind the 'official' stories and backgrounds and demolishes the reputations of many charlatans. It's an enjoyable read, but perhaps not a book you'd read more than once.
February 8, 2025
I got into this chap through his YouTube videos, so admittedly, I'd seen a lot of the material before. I don't want to let that undermine the quality of the book, as one could read the book and criticise the videos for the same reason. It'd be like getting annoyed at reading a screenplay because it was "just the film but without the pictures".
So, that aside, it's hilarious and insightful. He shares my love of pro wrestling, sneaks in some Derrida references, and makes knob jokes. What's not to love?
Centred around the core theme of what I guess we could call "tall tales" (from kayfabe to mythology to outright fraud), this is a loose collection of observations and introductions to some of the most batshit people in popular culture. It's great fun in and of itself, this deserves five stars for delivering on its promise.
And it's impossible not to read it in his voice.
So, that aside, it's hilarious and insightful. He shares my love of pro wrestling, sneaks in some Derrida references, and makes knob jokes. What's not to love?
Centred around the core theme of what I guess we could call "tall tales" (from kayfabe to mythology to outright fraud), this is a loose collection of observations and introductions to some of the most batshit people in popular culture. It's great fun in and of itself, this deserves five stars for delivering on its promise.
And it's impossible not to read it in his voice.
November 17, 2014
It's easy to pick on the more ridiculous and deluded people in bizarro subcultures like pro wrestling, martial arts and paranormal TV 'reality' shows. Yes, they're easy to pick on but difficult to pick on in such a wonderfully, funny, crude, snarky, well-researched way as Millard does in this short, hugely fun book.
His chapter on ordinary peoples' weird encounters with Bill Murray may go on and on and his chapter on the mad lies of elderly fantasist Hulk Hogan barely scratches the surface of the Huckster's delusions but he tells the Brian Pillman story very well and his portrait of squinty-eyed, whispering Aikido twerp Steven Seagal is truly hysterical.
As cheap and addictive and thoroughly entertaining as it's subject matter, Smoke & Mirrors... is well worth a download.
His chapter on ordinary peoples' weird encounters with Bill Murray may go on and on and his chapter on the mad lies of elderly fantasist Hulk Hogan barely scratches the surface of the Huckster's delusions but he tells the Brian Pillman story very well and his portrait of squinty-eyed, whispering Aikido twerp Steven Seagal is truly hysterical.
As cheap and addictive and thoroughly entertaining as it's subject matter, Smoke & Mirrors... is well worth a download.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews