IN THE LAB WITH MARCO TEMPEST

Thanks to the Scobelizer for posting this interview with Marco in his NYC Lab:

DAVID BLAINE :: DRESSED FOR DINNER

Dressed for Dinner from adam kimmel on Vimeo.

PENN JILLETTE :: CELEBRITY APPRENTICE

As Penn Jillette enters social media lockdown "due to his involvement in a project in NYC,"  rRumorFlix.com reports that he's one of the contestants on the new season of Celebrity Apprentice. 

We hear that Donald Trump’s cast will include Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Teresa Giudice, Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider, Mob boss daughter Victoria Gotti, American Idol’s Clay Aiken, 80s rocker Debbie Gibson, actress Cheryl Tiegs, comedian Arsenio Hall and magician Penn Jillette.

According to MyFoxNY.com, 

A tipster tells MyFoxNY.com that the latest edition of the Celebrity Apprentice is shooting in New York City on Tuesday.  The cast is apparently selling sandwiches from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at a Cafe Metro on 52 St. and another one on 42nd St. Penn Jillette was also spotted outside of the Cafe Metro during some juggling.

UPDATE: Contrary to some rediculous reporting from Robin Leach (10/19/11) which claims that P&T are breaking up, we all know that Penn's work on Celebrity Apprentice and Teller's work on a London Stage release of "The Exorcist" (10/21/11) that they are both busy with many and varied projects which justified an hiatus from their traditional stage show.

MIKE MARLIN :: THE MAGICIAN MUSIC VIDEO

While stumbling around the inter webs today, I found this new music video from Mike Marlin, "The Magician," which features sleight of hand performances by Steve Dela, Scott Perry, Defedas B & Magic Singh. Enjoy! 

"We know that magic is an illusion created by skill and trickery, but we agree to believe and applaud when the magician deceives us. The contract is unspoken but simple: "Lie to me, but don't let me down"

SCORSESE'S MAGICAL HOLIDAY GIFT

Just in time for the holidays, we will receive Martin Scorsese's interpretation of the novel "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick.

Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.

Selznick is also the author of the children's book "The Houdini Box."

CIA AGENT DAVID BLAINE

Do we believe that David is even aware of this project?

According to a report from the Hollywood Reporter, a new show is in development based upon David Blaine. The article reports:

ABC is looking for a little magic.The network has picked up drama project In Like Fin from Castle producer Alexi Hawley and My Generation’s Warren Littlefield.

Based on David Blaine, the project revolves around Fin, an illusionist who is pulled into action in a covert government sting.

Endurance artist Blaine, dubbed the modern-day Houdini, is best known for his high-profile illusions. In 1999, he was been buried alive in a plastic coffin underneath a three-ton water-filled tank for seven days across from Trump Place. He’s also been encased in a huge block of ice in Times Square for 63 hours.

JIM CAREY IN BURT WONDERSTONE?

I've been reporting on developments on the most recent magic movie project "Burt Wonderstone" for some time now.  According to The Wrap, New Line is hopeful that Jim Carey will join Steve Carrell in the film which is a light hearted comedy about a Las Vegas illusionis who accidentally kills his partner and has to rediscover his love for magic.

Carrey and Carell have worked together several times, including on one episode of "The Office." Carell had a role in Carey's 2003 "Bruce Almighty" and in the animated 2008 "Horton Hears a Who!"

HILTON LAS VEGAS FORECLOSURE

I've reported on the hiatus that the Hilton's Steve Wyrick show is on,  and we have seen him lambasted in the Las Vegas press for various and sundry reasons. As I mentioned in my last report, I have spoken to people close to the Wyrick show who weren't ready to go on record at that time, but much of the info that they shared with me weeks ago coincides with what we are hearing as it relates to the current financial status of the Las Vegas Hilton in stories like this and another that has yet to appear online in the LVRJ also by Mr. Green:

Billionaire casino investor Thomas Barrack is fighting efforts by Goldman Sachs to foreclose on the Las Vegas Hilton, claiming Goldman Sachs is hopelessly conflicted on the matter.

Barrack’s company Colony Capital LLC of Los Angeles in 2004 bought the Hilton for $280 million, and Goldman Sachs later picked up a 40 percent stake in the property through its Whitehall Street Real Estate Funds.

After the 2,950-room Hilton suffered hard times during the recession and defaulted on its $252 million term loan, Goldman Sachs filed a foreclosure notice against the property on Sept. 2 as the holder of the loan.

The Hilton had disclosed on Aug. 10 it was in default after skipping three monthly loan payments this summer totaling $3.5 million in order to conserve cash for operating purposes.

There is obviously more to the story than has been reprted. Let's all take a deep breath and see what really happens.  Read the complete story here.

NEW MAGIC VENUE IN HOLLYWOOD

Thanks to our Hollywood reporter Jordan Goldklang, I can share a report from LA Eater which alerts the community to the opening of a new magic venue in California:

Move over Magic Castle, The Hollywood Magic Bar, opening October 23, is expected to draw a mixed crowd of magicians, mixologists and everything in between. Located in the Hollywood and Highland complex, the Hollywood Magic Bar will live within Level 3, the grown-up bounce house/all-night nightclub. Press materials promise "award-winning magicians" that will perform on stage as well as at each table. Comedians, jugglers, aerialists, fortune tellers, go go dancers, and resident DJ Prophecy will also be on hand, along with a mixed drink menu of "Magixology."

STEVE JOBS :: 1955-2011