UK TV GOES MAGIC WILD :: BY BRENDAN

Between BBC’s The Magicians, ITV’s Fool US with Penn & Teller and Ch4’s Derren night there has never been so much magic on TV this side of the pond.  Luckily for me I caught most of these shows on TV here in Ireland as for some bizarre reason we pick up UK TV but are blocked on their online catch-up services.

 

BBC’s Magician’s programme promised a huge amount.  Big production, star names within our industry and guest celebrities.  It is perhaps the guest celebrities (many of whom I haven’t the foggiest who they are or what they do) and TV executives’ insistence on their use in programmes that was it’s downfall.  Try and try as Luis de Matos, Chris Korn and Barry & Stewart might, and they did, little could compensate for the ambivalent attitude of guesting celebrities.  Even Paul Daniels chimed in on Twitter stating that “Celebs are best in magic shows when they have no idea what is going to happen” and then linked to a video of himself performing on the Shirley Bassey Show.  The video did however support his point.  That really magic should be left to the magicians.  Anyone who has been asked to produce a CEO at a corporate event will no doubt attest to this.  The finale of each weeks show is that the guest celebrity/magician pairing with the lowest marks must face a forfeit.  But to be honest I am not sure many cared.

 

Over on ITV Penn & Teller cared, cared a lot.  For our art, the acts that were their to “fool them” and cared about making good TV.  The premise was that if Penn & Teller were fooled by a certain trick then the performer in question would be there opening act in Vegas.  In the end two have that trip to look forward to.  John Archer and Benjamin Earl.  Whether they actually fooled them or not or whether it was a TV thing is in some respect irrelevant.  Not to take away from those two (I know John quite well and am a huge fan of his) but the real winner here was magic. It was super to see a good, honest and well produced show with strong acts and no bulshit.  And to Penn & Teller’s credit they neigh had a bad word to say about any of the other acts.  This was a show that promoted, applauded and appreciated our art.  And here is the clincher.  It was also great TV.

 

Meanwhile Ch4 showcased a night of Derren Brown to celebrate his 10th year with the station.  It included a viewer voted favourite special which turned out to be Heist.  A broadcast of his most recent show Enigma.  And Derren Brown : Behind the Mischief.  Derren is a superb entertainer.  I was lucky enough to catch Enigma live and it really is a breathtaking show.  I felt as I imagined an audience member of a Thurston or Devant show must have felt.  Absolute wonder and astonishment.  This and two of Derren’s previous shows are currently available on pre order from amazon.co.uk as a box set and while shows are always better live in this case TV won't disappoint.  LOOK HERE

 

Behind the Mischief was the show I was most looking forward to.  And while we did see Derren at his old school, in his flat and hanging out in his old table hopping haunt he did in fact give very little away.  Ever the Enigma.

VISIT BRENDAN ONLINE AT IRISHMAGICNEWS.COM