DERREN BROWN :: EXPERIMENTS

UnrealityTV UK has posted a chat with Derren Brown about his upcoming series, "The Experiments" and here's a sample: 

Q: Your new series is Derren Brown: The Experiments. What’s the concept?

A: The concept is experiments, I suppose! They are four sociological experiments, some of them rooted in existing experiments that have been done before – although re-envisioned – and others are things that I’ve created myself. Three of them are relatively dark, looking into the darker side of human behaviour, and one of them is rather positive and jolly.

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HOUDINI COMMANDOS RESTORE GRAVESITE

Houdini's grave site has been headless since 1975 when vandals destroyed the bust of the magician which had been installed in 1926. For 20 years, plans have been underway to restore the bust and the Houdini Commandos were tapped to reinstall it. A secret group called the "Houdini Commandos" was then formed. They were Dorothy Dietrich; Dick Brookz; Steve Moore, retired escape artist; along with Dean Allen, contractor; Tracy Bullaro, helper; Cathy Moore, helper; and Ron Chicken, videographer. The stealth plan was to get in and out unnoticed in one day. According to Market Watch:

Everything was ready. Diamond bits, drills, a powerful vacuum system, a generator (no electricity at the grave), special cements and epoxies, a way to safely transport the bust, etc. On several of the planned days flooding rains ensued and dates were changed. Everyone had to be available on the same day, which was almost impossible. Finally the day came. On September 27, 2011 everyone arrived by caravan at 10 a.m. and the work began. Each person had their assignments. Part way into the project a cemetery caretaker and watchman inquired what we were doing. Dorothy explained and tried to distract him with various papers, etc., as we continued working. He said we would have to stop until he called his boss. A long, almost non-ending phone conversation followed, and the issue of insurance came up. Our insurance agent faxed a letter and we were given the go ahead. Because of the lost time and other problems - such as a powerful construction cement drying too rapidly, having to drill it out and rushing to a local hardware store last minute for more - we did not finish until 7 p.m. The watchman had now become our supporter and allowed the cemetery to stay open an extra 3 hours.

Get the compolete story from MarketWatch here.

DYNAMO :: THE MAGIC OF FOOTBALL

Barclay's Football TV has a segment featuring Dynamo, "The Magic of Football." To date, they have posted three segments and here they are:

MORE MAGICIANS FOR BBC1

According to Televisual.com:

Shine TV’s The Magicians has been recommissioned for a second series by BBC1, while the format has been sold to Russia and The Ukraine. 

Spintrex in the Ukraine has commissioned the format, while WeiT Media in Russia has licensed the format. The Magicians also launched on SVT1 in Sweden on 1 Oct. 

The Magicians will air live when it returns to BBC1 in January 2012, marking the first time a live magic show has been broadcast on TV in the UK in more than 30 years. The new season will also include live voting. 

READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE

MNW #322 :: JOHN GAUGHAN

I feel certain that anyone that is a regular listener of the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast will assume that I have a "To Do" or Bucket List of interviews that are of the highest priority to me. If you understand that, then you'll certainly understand why the guest on this podcast is near the top of that list. John Gaughan is one of the most highly respected illusion designers, creators and builders today. He's also a remarkable historian and collector. If you aren't familiar with John, then please climb out from under your rock and join me for an outstanding interview!.

LISTEN TO MY CHAT WITH JOHN GAUGHAN::

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WYRICK'S WOES :: LVRJ

We've recently reported on the temporary closing of Steve Wyrick's latest show at the Hilton, and spoken to sources very close to the show explaing that the show is only on hiatus and telling me, off the record, why.  Today, veteran Las Vegas reporter Mike Weatherford presents his own look at what's happening by bringing aboard the LVRJ's "Human Behavior" columnist Steven Kalas.

I can't explain it. Maybe a psychologist can.

Some people grapple with the existence of God. Las Vegas entertainment folks obsess over the existence of a magician named Steve Wyrick. How is he able to keep having a show in town after the public seems to have voted him off to Timbuktu, or at least Branson?

Why did the Las Vegas Hilton let him try again? Especially after the Hilton had just pulled the plug on another nonstarter magic show called "Triumph."

READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE

NOW YOU SEE... WOODY HARRELSON

SlashFilm.com reports that Woody Harrelson is the latest actor to join the cast of Louis Letterrier's "Magician Heist Film" with the working title of  "Now You See Me."  As we first reported in June of last year, the film tells the story of a touring band of magicians who pull off bank heists during their performance and share the proceeds with the audience. According to this article and information from Variety,  Harrelson will take on the role of “Merritt Osbourne, a mentalist and hypnotist known for his Jedi-style mind tricks. He used to perform overseas for the Queen of England, but a bloody incident forces him to flee to Vegas where he joins the Four Horsemen,” with the Horsemen being (obviously) the thieving illusionists." 

MNW #321 :: MORGAN STREBLER

Morgan Strebler joined me on the Magic Newswire just over a year ago to promote the upcoming opening of his new show at the Pat Boone Theater in Myrtle Beach where he was signed to a five year contract. More recently, there have been reports in the press on the delays surrounding the opening of the venue and Morgan's departure from the project with many reasons given, including possible issues with his health. Morgan joins me for an exclusive chat to clear the air and to let people know what is really happening with him and what is in store for the future.

LISTEN TO MY INTERVIEW WITH MORGAN STREBLER ::

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THE FOODIE MAGICIAN

Michael Falco for The New York TimeA magician working restaurants in New York for free? Yep, that would be Josh Beckerman and he's profiled in an article from the New York Times :

Over the past year or so, he has become a nightly presence at restaurants across the city. Go out often enough and the foodie magician will materialize at the edge of your table like a lone mariachi clenching a deck of Duane Reade playing cards.

“I’m out every night,” he said. “All I do is eat and entertain. All I spend money on is food. I can’t stay home. I get too antsy.”

Mr. Beckerman, who lives in Midtown Manhattan, makes money as a professional magician at corporate parties, charity events, weddings and bar mitzvahs, but his conversational currents tend more toward the realm of Anthony Bourdain than David Blaine. Naturally, this being the 21st century, he presides over a blog, called NYC Foodie, which chronicles his adventures in eating. He has a thing for burgers. “The lamb burger at the Breslin is one of the best burgers in New York,” he said. “I get turned on just by looking at a menu.

READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE

ROCCO HAS GONE CRAZY

Congratulations Rocco!  

After more than 25 years, Rocco Silano’s dream has finally come true, to perform in the legendary Le Crazy Horse de Paris.

For years, Rocco had auditioned for the Crazy Horse, but was always turned down for one reason or another.

But it was his performance in April 2011 on the Le Plus Grand Cabaret Du Monde television special where the bookers from the Crazy Horse finally took notice of Rocco.  Here is a clip of that performance.

Rocco is certainly no stranger to the people of France, in October 2010, he received the prestigious Mandrake Award which was televised on French TV.  

Rocco will be doing a ten minute act and his engagement starts September 27th and runs for 2 weeks.  And then in February 2012, Rocco will return to the Crazy Horse for a three months run.  There are already tentatively plans for Rocco to  be performing at the Crazy Horse through 2013 which would also include taking his act to the Crazy Horse revue at the MGM in Las Vegas.  

When the deal became a reality, Rocco said, “This is something I dreamed of my entire life.  I’m honored to be part of the Crazy Horse as they celebrate their 60th Anniversary and follow in the footsteps of such great magicians as Finn John, Otto Wesley, Tom Mullica, Vito Lupo and Kevin James   And of course, I have to credit to Monique Nakachian who has been my European agent for past five years for making this dream a reality.”

Rocco added, “The people at the Crazy Horse have been so wonderful to deal with.  In fact, they are allowing me to complete a two month prior obligation I have to tour theaters of China later this year.”  This tour was the result of Rocco serving as the Goodwill Ambassador of FISM when it was held in China in 2009.