Criss Angel's Success No Illusion

(CBS)  Criss Angel has been called the "new Houdini."

Each week, he combines reality with illusion to shock us on his hit A&E show, "Criss Angel, Mindfreak."

On The Early Show Friday, Angel told co-anchor Harry Smith it's the No. 1 show on cable, and its success even shocks him.

"I pinch myself. It's amazing," Angel said.

His initial deal was for a handful of episodes, but now, Smith said, "Mindfreak" is a "juggernaut."

"It's been amazing," Angel admitted. "We've done over 45 episodes. We're talking right now about doing a third season, maybe. (We've) been very fortunate, indeed."

Smith wanted to know how Angel describes himself, since he's been called, among other labels, "a magician, an illusionist, whatever."

"I'm just an artist that uses many different paint brushes," Angel responded, "whether it's mentalism, hypnosis, escapes, illusion, magic, music, performance art, to try to blur the line between reality and illusion and create an experience that hopefully is engaging and connects to people."

Angel and Smith then went out to The Early Show plaza, where Angel amazed onlookers, doing his thing.

To watch Angel's interview, click here.

To see Angel's performance, click here.