ENDURANCE artist David Blaine is cranking up again. You know David, right? Did 44 days inside Plexiglas suspended over the Thames? Frozen in a case of ice in Times Square and not defrosted for nearly three days? Teetered atop a high pillar 35 hours in Bryant Park? In ’99, buried alive for some reason for seven days? That David Blaine.
Pay attention. I now bring exclusive news. David, apparently uninterested in spending his life doing sane things like driving a bus or delivering Snapple, is onto his next shtick. He’ll break the world record for staying awake. And, kiddies, mother will be severely displeased if you didn’t even know there was such a record.
Understand, David neither confirmed nor denied his coming feat. But, trust me. I mean, trust me. I mean, who do you believe? David Blaine Himself – or me!
OK, so this thing he’s not saying will happen but which I even know when is happening – in May – how’s he train for it?
“I’m dropping 30 pounds,” he told me. “I do two hours every day on the treadmill. I’m on a raw diet that includes brown rice. No red meat. No animal products besides cooked fish.
“It’s been tried before. In 1959, Peter Tripp stayed awake eight days, but it resulted in permanent brain damage. In 1964, 17-year-old Randy Gardner did it for a high school science project. He lasted 11 1/2 days but recovered fully. No damage. A guy in London tried but fell short. Another did 19 hours but slept two hours each night, so that doesn’t count. Also he was seated in a rocking chair. If I do this thing, which you claim I’m doing, I’ll do it on my feet. Standing up.
“After 36 hours of sleep deprivation it’s like being drunk, 72 hours and paranoia sets in, Day Four the mind goes into hallucinations and you’re dreaming while awake. The problem is there’s no way to know how to offset brain damage or to train for this because there isn’t sufficient research. I believe the first guy’s mistake was not being in great physical condition. Also he used stimulants to keep awake, which I assume did him in.
“All that I do will be open and documented. My income’s going to the Brooke Medical Center, which helps kids, and my research to science. For instance, we already know dietary restriction is a retardation of aging and disease. When you overeat your body must work and it gets tired. If I eat medicinally, my body will be entire.”
And his family’s opinion of his chosen career? “My mother’s gone, I haven’t spoken much with my father, my brother, 22, is in China studying Mandarin.” Figures. With his DNA not even a little brother goes the normal garden-variety route.
So how does David Blaine handle fear? “Basically I’m a human guinea pig pushing the borders of human endurance, so I’ve spent the last year and a half figuring out this next step. Preparing for it. Prepare, study, train, learn and you face the fear. When I know something’s coming I’m not afraid. If right now a giant spider suddenly landed on me, I’d be terrified. But if I knew one’s about to land on me, I’d prepare for it.”
Showing me a cellphone photo of himself in Mexico’s open water alongside a 17-foot great white, he said: “The way to train against fear is to prep against it.”
I know he intends to break the record. I know the venue could be Central Park. I think he may even now be losing sleep thinking about this. I think he’s prepping by staying up all night watching movies. I also think his p.r. man, Howard Rubenstein, who was absolutely no help in getting me this exclusive, would probably like the check in advance.
PLAYING heroes isn’t attracting Oscars or audiences. Moviedom’s new breed of heroes – Russell, Brad, Tom – instructed their agents they’re looking to play villains. . . . The most recent presidential debate was reasonably polite. Word is the final debate may be tough and dirty. All candidates will wear mouthpieces and steel cups. . . . Hillary and Chelsea bought Eric Javits hats at Chappaqua’s Petticoat Lane. Mama bought a black rain hat, daughter a crushable packable tweed chenille. . . . Don’t look for the Dan Rather-CBS match to be settled with an out-of-court exchange of a few bucks. Ain’t going to happen. CBS will not – not – cave. . . . Did I not tell you waaaaaayyyyy down the line that Mrs. Astor’s pet horse, her son Anthony, was a really bad guy in this elder abuse case? Did I not?
SO two ladies were dining in an Upper East Side restaurant. Came the bill. Said the one paying, “Oh, it’s very reasonable here. Only $270.”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.