Children who didn't own the magic sheet or the magic crayons felt left out -- they could watch the show, but they weren't participating in the whole experience.

CNN: Winky Dink and ... Bill Gates?

Standing silently but amiably to one side, he would unbolt the magic boxes, hold the ropes, demonstrate the emptiness of beakers and pots, confirm the thickness of a sheet of glass before a near-naked girl would climb into a magic box and pass straight through it!

ECONOMIST: Ali Bongo | The

Winky Dink said he wanted the children to mail away for a "Magic Window, " which was actually a cheaply produced, thin sheet of plastic that adhered to the TV screen by static electricity.

CNN: Winky Dink and ... Bill Gates?

The 19-year-old was among the replacements for last year's Millennium Magic game, but now he is one of the first names on coach Steve McNamara's team-sheet.

BBC: Burgess looks to build on success