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A Magician's Act Catches Fire--The Wrong Way

Oh, dear. This ending was definitely not part of the act. TV host Franklin Barazarte apparently tossed some flammable cologne on magician Wayne Houchin, who was a guest on the show "Closer To the Stars." Seconds later, the cologne ignited, and Houchin suffered first and second degree burns to his head, neck, and hands.

Why would Mr. Barazarte do such a thing? One theory: Mr. Barazarte wanted to "bless" Mr. Houchin's performance. But according to anthropologist Paul Draper, the host might have had other things in mind, such as the desire to ward off evil. The result, though--the police are seeking Mr. Barazarte for assault, and Mr. Houchin is recovering from his injuries. More coverage here from L. A. Weekly.