The Magic Newswire - Magic News

It isn't the first time that Keith Barry says that he has been snubbed by Criss Angel, but Norm reports on Criss Angel's recent visit to Keith Barry's show and his early exit. According to Norm, "Criss and three members of their entourage stood up in the seventh row and began leaving. Barry stopped the show and said, "I'd like to give a shout out to Criss Angel, who is in the house, in fact he's just leaving." Angel turned around and a bit sheepishly said something like, "Good show, man." After word spread accusing Criss of snubbing the Irish Newcomer, Norm asked each camp for comment. According to Steve Flynn, commenting for Angel, "Holly Madison started feeling bad almost as soon as they sat down. Criss didn't want to get up right then and be rude. Twenty minutes later, she was worse for wear. She was resting her head on Criss' shoulder. Criss was concerned it would look like she appeared bored. The decision was made to leave, Flynn said "No disrespect was intended by any stretch of the imagination. She was not feeling well." Keith Barry later commented saying, "It is what it is. On a personal note, I've never walked out of somebody's show, good, bad or indifferent. I was surprised. I did hear Holly wasn't feeling good. But I thought it would have been nice had he had come over to me. But Vegas is a small town. I'm sure our paths will cross again."

In an announcement on the Genii Forum, publisher Richard Kaufman announced a new "Lifetime Subscription" for the seventy year old magazine. According to the announcement, for a one time fee of $1000 (payable in three installments) "Genii is now offering you the opportunity to become a Lifetime Subscriber and not only receive Genii for the rest of your life for one pay-it-now price, but also to help support this great institution in our field that has been published since 1936." So, what are the benefits of membership?

A non transferable Lifetime Subscription to Genii
Any books the Genii Corporation has published free of charge
A choice of three books from Kaufman and Company.
A Lifetime Membership to the Genii Archive
A mock-up of the cover of Genii with your photograph
Your name in each issue of Genii
50 random issues of Genii published between 1936 and 1998.

Call Genii today at 301-652-5800 and purchase one for me for the holidays! For the rest, you can SUBSCRIBE HERE!

Keith Barry reiterates some of the same sentiments expressed when he spoke with us during a recent interview with the Las Vegas Review Journal and he's hoping for a more extended Vegas Run in the next year. He talks about his hope that the Planet Hollywood show will convince a producer to make a modest investment in him. "Just a couple of hundred grand," he says. "It doesn't need a lot of money. A little bit of budget can go a long way." He can envision a commute from the suburbs and staying in one place with his wife and nearly 3-month-old boy. He might even get a chance to master poker, something that's been denied him so far. LISTEN TO OUR CONVERSATION WITH KEITH BARRY:

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Digital Spy chats with performer Derren Brown as his DVD Specials set hits the market. In the article he tells the tale of being sued for "Psychic Assault." "I had someone who thought I was psychically assaulting them in their dreams. They were going to sue me for it, which, of course, I encouraged them to do because I thought it'd be quite fun – and probably good publicity! In the end, they went down from 'I'm going to sue you' to 'I won't sue you, but can we talk about it?' to 'can we just meet up for a coffee?' down to 'even if you won't meet to talk about it, can we have a conversation on the phone?' Then it went to 'can I just meet your assistant for a coffee?' It just went from legal action to wanting to chat to me." WATCH AS DERREN WORKS HIS MAGIC IN A NIGHT CLUB:

... and a surreal world uniquely woven together into the dazzling, colorful fabric of the story.," begins an interview with Angel from Mediablvd.com. "I just had a big dream, and I always believed, as my father told me, that there’s nothing in life that you can’t achieve, if you work for it. And, that’s exactly what I did. I pretty much sacrificed my childhood, for this dream. Fifteen years ago, I dreamt it, and today, I’m living the dream. It just goes to show you that anybody can live their dream, if you believe. That’s not a line. That’s really what I believe," says Angel.

We've mentioned each of these individually in previous posts, but here's a concise list of upcoming first run television programming featuring magic for the month of November:

Numb3rs Featuring Penn Jillette Air date/Time :: Friday, November 7th, 10pm ET/PT, CBS Synopsis :: The Numb3rs team investigates the disappearance of the magician Talma (Vander Pluym), after she mysteriously vanishes during an illusion. The performance sequences were shot at the Tower Theater in Los Angeles, while the “office” segments were done at John Gaughan’s shop and display room. Jillian Gotlib was the magic consultant. Penn Jillette appears as himself. Brothers and Sisters Air Date/Time :: Sunday, November 9th, 10pm ET/PT, ABC The “Do You Believe in Magic?” sub-plot revolves around an amateur magician who steps in and saves the day when the headliner at the world-famous Magic Manor calls in sick, threatening to ruin a special party. Consultant Tony Clark worked with actors Will McCormack and Sarah Jane Morris on the magic. Pushing Daisies Air Date/Time :: Wednesday, November 19th, 8pm ET/PT, ABC Synopsis :: The ABC “dramedy” about a pie-maker with the ability to bring the dead back to life will air a magic-themed episode featuring Fred Willard as the Great Herrmann and Kerri Kenny as his assistant, Alexandria. Herrmann becomes the subject of attention when several of the main characters become witness to a trick gone horribly wrong. Much of the action in “Oh Oh Oh… It’s Magic” takes place at a famous magicians’ club, the Conjurer’s Castle. World Magic Awards Air Date/Time :: Wednesday, November 26th, 8pm ET/PT, myNetworkTV Synopsis :: The 2008 World Magic Awards, originally slated to air in December, will hit the airwaves on Thanksgiving Eve, the same night on which World’s Greatest Magic specials enjoyed success during the late 1990s. Gay Blackstone coordinated the production, which was taped on October 11th and is hosted by Neil Patrick Harris.

Thanks to the Magic e-update for the summaries.

The Coventry Telegraph shares a dubious report that actor Christian Bale has been tapped to play the role of Doctor Strange in a long planned film adaptation of the comic book sorcerer. Given Bale's recent roles in Batman Begins & The Dark Knight, it would be unusual to see him in the role of another superhero so soon. A source apparently said: "Christian is hot property right now, courtesy of Batman. Doctor Strange is a very different kind of hero to Batman and it's felt Christian is the sort of actor who can make the part work on screen. It is understood a deal could be struck in the coming weeks." Other reports have linked writer Neil Gaiman and Director Guillermo del Toro to the project.

Though the original didn't get the best reception, word from Empire Online movie news is that the prequel to "Smokin Aces" has been greenlit for production. Writer/director Joe Carnahan made the momentous announcement on his official website: "Finally, some actual 'Smokin Aces' news. Universal has officially greenlit the prequel and we are underway. Cameos will abound. Trust me." The 2006 film told the story of a Las Vegas Magician Buddy Israel (Piven) who decides to turn state's evidence and testify against the mob. He quickly discovers that a whole lot of people would like to make sure he's no longer breathing.

On the Halloween Special of the Magic Newswire we talk with one of magician's favorite "non-magicians," the Amazing Johnathan. Johnathan discusses his non-career in magic, the haunted house / party that he hosts each year in Las Vegas, his opinions on magic on television and talks about the Amazing Underground. Robin Leach previewed Johnathan's Halloween party in his column in Las Vegas Weekly in which he told readers to, "Expect to see his fellow magicians David Copperfield, Criss Angel, and Penn & Teller, along with such other Strip famous faces as Carrot Top among the crowd."

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LISTEN TO OUR HALLOWEEN SPECIAL WITH THE AMAZING JOHNATHAN:

Entries by Dodd Vickers (1785)

MENTALIST BARRY MIFFED AT ANGEL?

WHAT'S A LIFETIME OF GENII WORTH?

KEITH BARRY :: GOING MENTAL

DERREN BROWN :: PSYCHIC ASSAULT

CRISS ANGEL HOVERS BETWEEN THE LAND OF THE LIVING...

MAGIC ON TV :: NOVEMBER 2008

BALE TO CONJURE COMIC SORCERER?

ACES PRQUEL MAY BE SMOKIN

MORE REVIEWS OF CIRQUE'S BELIEVE

MNW #67 :: AMAZING JOHNATHAN :: HAPPY HALLOWEEN!