'Talent's' New York circus act
By SEAN DALY August 17, 2010
From The New York Post
Rudy Macaggi is not clowning around.
The third-generation circus acrobat, who emigrated to the US from Italy in 1982, is willing to risk his life to win Season 5 of "America's Got Talent."
On the Aug. 3 live show, Macaggi, 43, cheated death by performing a handstand three feet above a revolving table saw, then suddenly dropped his head to within inches of the blade.
"It's called the Circular Saw of Death," he says, and it's just one of many heart-stopping stunts the self-proclaimed 'acromedian' performs during regular shows at The Box on Chrystie Street.
But when America voted, Macaggi was sent back to the Big Top.
"Of course, my feelings were hurt," he says. "But after I looked at the video, I agreed it was probably too scary."
Tonight, the bald-headed daredevil gets another chance, performing as one of 12 "wild card" acts invited back by the judges.
The stunt?
"It is definitely one of my most dangerous," he hints. "It doesn't look as horrific as the saw, but if you fall a certain way, which would be on my neck, it would be really bad."
Macaggi insists he has the chops to pull it off. One of six children born into a family of circus entertainers, he began performing -- reluctantly -- at age 7. "I didn't choose to be an acrobat, it chose me," he says. "You do what the family expects of you."
The outspoken performer, who also appeared on Season One of "Talent," decided to settle in New York three years ago after working as a cruise ship entertainer.
"It is not easy making a living in New York and paying the bills on time," he admits. "There is no money in what I do right now."
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/talent_new_york_circus_act_YdqpfYlrWlWhEZeZeJjkGM?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=#ixzz0wxXLrNMW
Rudy Macaggi is not clowning around.
The third-generation circus acrobat, who emigrated to the US from Italy in 1982, is willing to risk his life to win Season 5 of "America's Got Talent."
On the Aug. 3 live show, Macaggi, 43, cheated death by performing a handstand three feet above a revolving table saw, then suddenly dropped his head to within inches of the blade.
"It's called the Circular Saw of Death," he says, and it's just one of many heart-stopping stunts the self-proclaimed 'acromedian' performs during regular shows at The Box on Chrystie Street.
But when America voted, Macaggi was sent back to the Big Top.
"Of course, my feelings were hurt," he says. "But after I looked at the video, I agreed it was probably too scary."
Tonight, the bald-headed daredevil gets another chance, performing as one of 12 "wild card" acts invited back by the judges.
The stunt?
"It is definitely one of my most dangerous," he hints. "It doesn't look as horrific as the saw, but if you fall a certain way, which would be on my neck, it would be really bad."
Macaggi insists he has the chops to pull it off. One of six children born into a family of circus entertainers, he began performing -- reluctantly -- at age 7. "I didn't choose to be an acrobat, it chose me," he says. "You do what the family expects of you."
The outspoken performer, who also appeared on Season One of "Talent," decided to settle in New York three years ago after working as a cruise ship entertainer.
"It is not easy making a living in New York and paying the bills on time," he admits. "There is no money in what I do right now."
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/talent_new_york_circus_act_YdqpfYlrWlWhEZeZeJjkGM?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=#ixzz0wxXLrNMW
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