Brief review of T.H.E.M. - An A+ new network show in the USA
MentaThought
first of what I hope will prove to be many, many more episodes of the new NBC
(a television network in the USA) "T.H.E.M." (Totally Hidden Exterem Magic".
What could be better than a show that combines two of my favorite kinds of
entertainment: street magic and pranks!
Thank GAWD that this morning I decided to read messages in the handful of
magic-related newsgroups I subscribe to because that's how I found out about
the show at all.
There were numerous times while watching the show that I laughed so hard
tears actually came to my eyes, some of the situations were that funny.
The effects were first-rate to my layman's (non-performer's) eyes and I have
no idea, at this point, how most of the effects were accomplished and was left
intrigued and perplexed, in most instances. Among other memorable close-up
effects/scenes were (and all are my own improvised titles, of course) "Live
Flies from Mouth"; "Body Through Plate-Glass Window"; "Making Ancient Egyptian
Artifact Whole Again"; "Coughing Head 'Falls Off' Body"; and a very brief segue
clip of "Index Finger Thrust Thru Flung Card".
I look forward to watching many more episodes of T.H.E.M. and only hope
"they" (no pun intended) expand to a 2-hour format.
pathfind11
These will be the only two shows you will see'
Except for a few Magicians there will
be no ratings total.
A very Lame production
Path
Mitch Leary
I thought it was the best magic presentation I'd ever seen!!! Very,
very, well done NBC!!! I really hope the network picks this up for
more episodes, I may start watching television again.
I did notice one glaringly obvious omission--AT NO TIME before,
during, or after the show did they insert the disclaimer that NO
special effects or camera tricks were involved, I never heard it! In
my opinion that's because several cut-away shots (to say the least)
were involved in the editing and final cut. The man-thru-window was
an obvious cut & splice job. Now that I think about it I don't think
a single act was one continuous shot, even for the brief time the
actual trick was taking place. But, you know what? I'm not
complaining, it was that entertaining. I haven't enjoyed a magic show
that much, EVER!
Some of the tricks were modified versions of our standard tricks
"Screwdriver-thru-arm" for example. Other tricks were so original
I'll have to watch the video several more times just to have a clue.
The floating man past the doorway didn't use the method I used as a
kid, which achieved the same effect. I plan to publish it over at
Magic Mentors in the next few days. My method used 1960's technology
and achieved the EXACT same effect. The method employed last night
blew me out of the water. I can't help but think a big screen
television was involved behind the doorway. The last
"around-the-corner" leg shot was spliced in or just a pair of dummy
legs that didn't have a thing to do with the actual levitation or
"flight". I can think of several other possibilities, none of which
involve our standard apparatus.
Something else worth noting--at no time was it ever implied that the
spectators were just that. The stock lines "Have we ever met before?"
Or "Did we plan any of this before the show?" were absent from the
show. Maybe the producers didn't think it was necessary. The show
was tightly edited, which I loved. No build up or drama, they just
did the tricks and received instant feedback. What an excellent way
to produce a show.
I really, really hope we see much more of T.H.E.M. Not only for my
own entertainment, but for what this type of show could do for magic
dealers: provide the much needed boost in sales. I predict this show
will send magic sales through the roof. What a great time to be a
magician...if I were one (I'm just the custodian".
BRAVO NBC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HUNDREDS MORE EPISODES PLEASE!
-Leary-
Mitch Leary
Path...buddy...you really didn't like the show??? I thought everybody
would like it. I'm very interested in your opinion and that of others
on both sides of the fence. What turned you off? The presentation?
Anything specific or the whole show in general?
I'm not slamming you there Path. Friend to friend I'm genuinely
interested in your opinion. Please be specific. Thanks!
-Leary-
PsychicComedy
In fact, I thought it was excellent, if for no other reason than showing how
much more interesting and compelling magic can be when there's a REASON for the
magic to happen. The DeKolta chair, for example. Escaping from a psycho
ex-boyfriend gave it a plot and gave us a reason to care about it.
B
pathfind11
>would like it. I'm very interested in your opinion and that of others
>on both sides of the fence. What turned you off? The presentation?
>Anything specific or the whole show in general?
>
>I'm not slamming you there Path. Friend to friend I'm genuinely
>interested in your opinion. Please be specific. Thanks!
>
>
>-Leary-
>
>
The entire show was lame, The general public will not watch it.
Don't get me wrong a couple of effects were well done but the format was very
poor from insulting peoples spiritual beliefs to scaring the heck out of people
to the point of tears then laughing at them like they were darn fools. The few
people that do not consider magicians Dorks have now changed their minds.
It was so staged and heavy camera tricks it was sickening!
If you made a tape of it play back the part were the black guy from the
elevator was being talked to, I heard him state "I was caught by the show I
watch" How can he when it is the first time shown, I would like someone to play
that part back and tell me I heard what I thought I heard.
The public will not watch such shows, it is boring to them. Magicians will
watch it.
I guarantee that the ratings were the lowest of any show offered by NBC
Regards,
Path
b p
hey copperfield, lance , franz, you guys like challenges this
is IT!:)
but do try not to start trick camera or video computer tricks
like jurrisc park ideas just keep the tv camera on 24/7 no edits
that way the illusion is more apreciated :)
FOOD to pig out on.
ps also on T.H.E.M. i like the out takes shown if only dc,,fh,
would do this idea cause lance burton allready does this cool
idea:) and when is johthen neat pendragon going to do a new tv
special?
and speakin of blowing somones mind away a COOL person at
out church named wayne berry said after i done zig zag clown
close up illusion he said hey bill that reminds me we had
amazing! magician at OUR BUSSNESS meeting convention in las vegas
his name i for get jeff something he blew me and others away wow!
i will talk more bill but i have to go get ready to preach in my
sunday school class will talk on more about this, ketch ya later
gata run:)
ok cool wayne :)
http://www.kidfat.us.tf
ps folks wayne berry looks just like pual gertner the resmblance
is amazing! even magician bob scofield has to do a double take
hehehehe
PS EXTRA bob also thinks mitch leary could be his twin they
think alike but bob says mitch got the btter half all he got was
the left overs
Re: Brief review of T.H.E.M. - EXCELLENT!!! EXCELLENT!!! EXCELLENT!!!
Group: alt.magic Date: Thu, Jun 24, 2004, 3:54am (EDT-3) From:
mitchel...@yahoo.com (Mitch Leary)
Group: alt.magic Date: Tue, Jun 22, 2004, 7:19pm (EDT-3) From:
mitchel...@yahoo.com (Mitch Leary)
The Magician <vani...@thedropofahat.com> wrote in message
news:<MPG.1b41da15e...@news.optonline.net>...
Anyone have any info on this new special coming up on NBC wednesday
called T.H.E.M. (Totally Hidden Extreme Magic)? Seems to be some sort of
hidden video/candid camera type show with magicians pulling weird
outrageous illusions and stunts on people. But from the fast cut ads for
it...some tricks seem to smell of David Blaine's phony levitation cut
away scene. One cut has a guy popping his head off like Icabod Crane,
and lowering it down to around his waist. Copperfield does something
similar in his act where he cuts himself in half, and hangs onto his
waist as he walks down a ramp... but it's done on a blacked out stage
with obvious set conditions.
From the looks of the ad...this guy does the head bit in a laundromat.
Just wondering if anyone had some avanced info about the show, and who
the young magicians were on it. Thanks,
The Magician
I caught a snippit of the commercial for this show as I was cramming
chinese food into my face and am not sure if I saw what I think I saw.
Was there some dude that floated Superman style across a
doorway??? It just happened to coincide with the hot mustard nasal
clean-out "JESUS CHRIST!!!"effect which really tied the levitation
together.
I predict this will be the next SUPER-HOT-MUST-HAVE manuscript...maybe
even a DVD will come of it. I thought I invented that trick back when I
was around 11 years old. I used to do it when company came over just to
draw attention to myself.
-Leary-
Re: T.H.E.M.
Group: alt.magic Date: Wed, Jun 23, 2004, 12:32pm (EDT+14) From:
leger...@SPAMOFFiprimus.com.au (Richard Waters)
"Mitch Leary" <mitchel...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:6d258eab.04062...@posting.google.com... | The Magician
<vani...@thedropofahat.com> wrote in message
news:<MPG.1b41da15e...@news.optonline.net>... | > Anyone have
any info on this new special coming up on NBC wednesday called T.H.E.M.
(Totally Hidden Extreme Magic)? | > Seems to be some sort of hidden
video/candid camera type show with magicians pulling weird outrageous
illusions and stunts on people. | > But from the fast cut ads for
it...some tricks seem to smell of David Blaine's phony levitation cut
away scene. | > One cut has a guy popping his head off like Icabod
Crane, and lowering it down to around his waist.
| > Copperfield does something similar in his act where he cuts himself
in half, and hangs onto his waist as he walks down a ramp... | > but
it's done on a blacked out stage with obvious set conditions. | > From
the looks of the ad...this guy does the head bit in a laundromat. | >
Just wondering if anyone had some avanced info about the show, and who
the young magicians were on it.
| > Thanks,
| > The Magician
|
|
| I caught a snippit of the commercial for this show as I was cramming |
chinese food into my face and am not sure if I saw what I think I saw. |
Was there some dude that floated Superman style across a doorway??? | It
just happened to coincide with the hot mustard nasal clean-out | "JESUS
CHRIST!!!"effect which really tied the levitation together.
|
| I predict this will be the next SUPER-HOT-MUST-HAVE manuscript...maybe
| even a DVD will come of it. I thought I invented that trick back when
| I was around 11 years old. I used to do it when company came over |
just to draw attention to myself.
|
|
| -Leary-
Do tell Mitch! Do tell...
I live in Australia so we wont get the US 'tv hand-me-downs' for at
least another 6mths! :-(
-- Richard
Re: T.H.E.M.
Group: alt.magic Date: Wed, Jun 23, 2004, 8:01am (EDT+5) From:
ian....@ntlworld.nospamcom (Ian Wragg)
Yep, you are right Mitch, there was guy floating in front of a door like
superman, at first I thought yeah so but then he floated completely past
the doorway and was like jeeezzzus. We got it here in the UK in early
part of the year. Some of the stunts were pretty lame, but some of the
stuff was truly amazing. The 1 where the guy "melts" throught the window
into the night club was very well staged.
Ian
Re: T.H.E.M.
Group: alt.magic Date: Wed, Jun 23, 2004, 1:59am (EDT+4) From:
begunaNOS...@mindspring.com (Art)
Thank you for the detailed review. I have yet to see a promo for the
show. Sure hope someone watches it besides the visitors to this group.
"Jack Poulter" <jpou...@TAKEOUTislandnet.com> wrote in message
news:8d55803a846ba347...@grapevine.islandnet.com...
"The Magician" <vani...@thedropofahat.com> wrote in message ...
Anyone have any info on this new special coming up on NBC wednesday
called T.H.E.M. (Totally Hidden Extreme Magic)?
[I do not know the source of this review]
Review: T.H.E.M.
Performers:
Lisa de la Vega
Enrico de la Vega
Chris Gongora
Michael Grasso
Cyril
Jason Neistadt
Justin "Kredible" Willman
Thomas Meier
Dan Cole
Totally Hidden Extreme Magic
Executive produced and directed by Ken Mok Produced by Rico de la Vega
and Chris Gongola
An unrecognized miracle cast of actor-magicians introduce themselves via
NBC primetime on Wed June 23. Talent in the cast abounds, with special
props to the hardest hitting female magician artist we've ever seen -
Lisa de la Vega.
REVIEW OF T.H.E.M.
Totally Extreme Hidden Magic
Ken Mok, Enrico de la Vega and Chris Gongora conceived and created
T.H.E.M., a show that allows innoccent bystanders to receive a dose of
non-reality.
The show has been playing in various parts of the world including the UK
and Australia but has been absent from the USA - until now.
Originally, it wasn't clear if the show would be a half hour series or a
full blown Special on NBC. After testing in other countries, it looks
like a one shot television Special is what's being offered. Packaging is
everything, and clearly NBC hasn't been sure where exactly the footage
would fit in to their lineup. I expected the show to air in November of
last year but instead they shopped it around the world to various
markets.
The show both works and doesn't work on different levels. The magic is
good - very good. It's simple and visual, with a flair to hard hitting
"gross out" magic such as a screwdriver stuck through someone's arm in
an electrician's accident, or flies pouring out of one of the
illusionist's mouth in the middle of a first date.
In all cases the magicians prove them-selves to be superb actors and
generally charismatic people. Rico de la Vega is especially confident
and relaxed, has a great look for street magic and is believable in the
part. His sister Lisa has charisma to burn and her glossy looks into the
camera give the show a vital lift as it moves along. She's the best
female magician I've ever seen and could write her own ticket anywhere.
So far she's been seen in the public eye only as Enrico de la Vega --->
and Lisa. T.H.E.M. may change all that.
The Editing
The show's only un-doing is the manner in which it was packaged. It's
already dicey with magic and editing... look at the crap Blaine took
with Street Magic - at least from the magic community. The first thing
in a spectator's mind is "is it just fancy editing and camera tricks?".
THEM does nothing to disuade a viewer from taking this line of thinking
when it applies high-end MTV style cuts and effects to the footage.
Either it's reality television or it's a flashy MTV video... THEM has an
identity crisis in this regard and it's the reason the show was not
particularly hard hitting or "juicy".
Don't get me wrong... intros to the show and in various segments look
great. It's what happens in the segment - the way the segments are cut
that is the issue. Each scene is shot multiple times with different
spectators so that reactions can be maximized and the best possible
footage can be obtained. But when the scene is cut togther we fly back
and forth in the middle of the scene with fast cuts of ALL the reactions
of ALL the spectators in ALL the different scenes. A loss of integrity
results, putting the emphasis on the editing instead of the content and
I can only wonder who's decision it was to cut the show like that --- I
suspect it was NBC. Whoever it was had little faith in the quality of
the scene in the first place or they would have left it intact to stand
on it's own. People come away with the feeling they've been duped into
watching something fake. I ran the show by a few lay people to be sure
it wasn't just me and sure enough, the reaction was the same... it's
like being given fast food instead of a decent meal with all your
vegetables.
[Jason Neistadt mentioned to me however that it was somewhat tough
working with the footage particularly because of the hidden cameras.
Hidden means you can't move. Shots gets blocked by unaware spectators,
audio drops out and you have to work with what you actually get on
tape.]
The Extreme Magic of THEM
Card Changes in the Casino
The show opens with the boys putting one over on a casino. We see
various instant card changes and most of the guys wind up with a royal
flush of some kind. The scene is a bit hard to understand and this is
the first time we run into funky editing. Imagine how great that scene
would have been if the camera just watched them walk into a game and do
their thing with no editing. You wonder what kind of footage was really
captured and the quality of it in the first place. Nearly anything can
be fixed in the editing room and this scene has "fixed!" written all
over it.
Levitate Across a Doorway
Next, one of the guys bizarrly levitates across a doorway like superman
- literally flying, albeit slowly. The spectators rush out to witness
the feat and see his legs disappearing around a corner. The stunt looks
utterly bizarre and realistic... almost horrific in a way because
there's simply no way to understand it.
Screwdriver Through Arm
This is the Harry Anderson's Needle Through Arm performed with a
screwdriver. Imaginative thinking and well performed by Justin. A small
audience is invited in for a sneak preview of a show they've never heard
of... the monitor system won't work and when the technician comes in to
fix it he messes up and puts the screwdriver right through the flesh in
his arm. The audience is shocked and horrified at the gruesome sight but
the performer eventually pulls the screwdriver out and is miraculously
healed.
Head off Body Trick
In this selection, spectators are told they will be interviewed for a TV
show. The interviewer's (Cyril) head comes off his body suddenly as the
coughs and he winds up holding his own head in his hands down by his
stomach. Looks a little fakey but gets an amusing reaction.
Floating Coffee Cup Trick
A stunning effect... in the middle of a coffee house Rico floats a
coffee cup full of coffee up to his waiting hands. The levitation (Rico
is extremely adept with IT, as you'll see) was performed flawlessly and
got a big reaction. We see Rico's superb manner while performing and
realize he's a competent performer and quite interesting to watch.
Plastic Cap in Bottle of Water
Beautifully performed by Cyril. A cap is taken off a normal bottle of
drinking water and visually passed through the bottle into the water
inside. All the more amazing to the spectators when they realize the cap
is bigger than the mouth of the bottle and cannot be taken out without
splitting the bottle first.
Vanishing Lady [ DeKolta Vanish]
This is our first instance to see the vivacious Lisa de la Vega. She's
set up on a blind date gone bad when her restraining order ex-boyfriend
comes in and in an effort to avoid him she puts a coat over her head and
sits still in the chair. The boyfriend storms up and pulls off the coat
and in an instant - she vanishes. The only way to put over this effect
would be to have a single (possibly handheld) shot with zero editing and
that didn't happen. Still, the piece is effective and we realize one
thing we hadn't thought of before... women can do magic and it doesn't
have to be the Egg on Fan or a freaking silk production.
Lisa's Quick Change Routine
Vega blows away a group of girls in a clothing store by trying on five
different outfits in a 30 seconds.
Lisa Performs Hummer Card
One of the guys is sleeping and Lisa walks up to show him a trick. While
he continues to nap, she throws a card into the air with the flick of a
wrist and it hovers, spinning, and begins to float between her hands and
even around her body. [Magicians around the world saying to themsleves,
"Why couldn't I have married her?".]
Man Walking Through Window
An obnoxious magician (Rico playing the part well) attempts to get into
an exclusive nightclub while onlookers stand in the cold. After fighting
with the bouncer (verbally), he walks up to the window where his friends
are waiting for him inside, covers himself momentarily with his coat and
suddenly he's on the INSIDE. Stunning, but once again the editing takes
over and as we flash back and forth between many different spectator's
reactions giving us a feeling of being left in the cold on the other
side of the glass ourselves. Still, once again, utterly stunning.
Snickers Bar in Vending Machine
One of THEM (Jason) reaches into a vending machine from underneath and
we watch as his arm grows longer in order to reach the waiting Snickers
Bar. One of the most versatile actors in the group, Jason Neistadt
excels in the hidden camera game.
Floating Cigarette in Park
Magician performs the floating cigarette in a park. Although brief, I'm
sure Fearson would be proud. Rico is an expert with IT, no doubt about
it.
Flies from Mouth
Chris Gongora pulls a lovely little stunt out of his repetoire to
horrify a variety of beautiful dates. Not for the faint of heart.
Haven't we seen Criss Angel do this with roaches? Maybe not yet.
Statue Back Together
The boys (Justin and Dan) accidentally break a highly prized statue in
an art museum and then visually heal it back together with their bare
hands. Utterly amazing magic yet a somewhat contrived feeling exists due
to editing. Still, there's no way to understand what happened when you
witness the statue heal itself.
Lisa Bends a Spoon
In a fast scene, Lisa causes a metal spoon to bend and we realize we can
never get enough of her superb performing and energetic personality.
Floating Yoga Position
This is where THEM shines.... levitations of any kind take life and
simply freak people out.
Moving Ink on Table
One of the most amazing effects in the show, one of the guys (Michael)
accidentally dribbles ink onto a $600 table and then casually makes it
flow around the table using his will alone. The ink spells out THEM.
Somebody get that guy an exorcist, fast.
Sugar Packet on Finger
Someone throws a packet of sugar at Rico and he stabs it in midair with
his finger.
Crawl up Elevator Wall
The show ends with yet another levitation - of sorts. Participants are
set up for their own little nightmare inside a large office building
downtown. Chris Gongora (Who produced THEM with Rico de la Vega) crawls
right up the wall of an elevator - with his back to the wall, legs
scratching like a giant beetle. Freaky and scary at the same time... the
poor victim is trapped inside the elevator as Rosemary's Baby meets
Freddy Kruger in front of their eyes.
CONCLUSION
We can only hope the Special does turn into a weekly series. This would
give Ken Mok a chance to fix the editing and give the boys (and girl) a
chance to hone their superb acting chops even further - and fully relax
into the show. Our hat is off to Ken Mok, Rico de la Vega and Chris
Gongora for producing a network magic Special that didn't feature the
usual group of steady performers. It's time for the new kids on the
block to step up to the plate and that's what you've done.
We thank the cast for the enormous amount of work they put into this and
the guts it took to conceive and produce it in the first place. This is
NBC's answer to ABC and Blaine and due to THEM, it works.
ps folks i like how they bended plastic spoons
they made you go wow! THEN i was thinking hmm maybe its mitcleary
ideas but then tv video camera pans to the ground and we see
magician helper using blow torch lol hehehehe neat idea guys :)
MentaThought
>If you made a tape of it play back the part were the black guy from the
elevator was being talked to, I heard him state "I was caught by the show I
watch" How can he when it is the first time shown, I would like someone to play
that part back and tell me I heard what I thought I heard.<
I, too , clearly recall hearing him say that.
However, it was obvious to me that what the guy meant -- rattled as he was at
that moment after just having had the sh*t scared out of him -- was that he
believed he has just been set-up by one of the tv prank shows he regularly
watches.
You can't take his his "I was caught by the show I watch," blurted out by a
shook-up mark -- literally. Obviously it couldn't be true literally as the
T.H.E.M. show had never been broadcast before!
Steve Harder-Kucera
wrote:
What this, and most of the hidden camera shows, lack is the name
recognition that used to make the classic Candid Camera "reveal" shots
so entertaining. When they would tell the mark that they were on
Candid Camera, the fact that they knew what show they were on made the
reactions much more entertaining.
When you reveal to a mark that they are on a show that no one has
every heard of, the initial reaction loses impact.
In fact, that may be the Catch-22 that this show would face if it ever
succeeded as a series. If the magicians on the show gained wide
popularity and recognition, it would be difficult to find people who
recognized the name of the show they were on yet not recognize the
performers from the beginning of the set up.
Personally I found the show to be pretty entertaining. I did find the
"reveal" aspect to be a bit too contrived "He must be one of THEM". It
worked for me a few times but started falling flat on the sixth go
'round.
The show might have had even more impact if they had not revealed the
gag to the marks at all, just focus on their reactions and reveal
off-camera when they are getting the releases signed. For the most
part, the reactions to the stunts were pretty entertaining, the
reactions to the reveals were anticlimatic.....IMHO.
Mutant Bluegrass That Rocks!
http://www.thepickadillos.com
The Magician
> Mitch:
> The entire show was lame, The general public will not watch it.
> Don't get me wrong a couple of effects were well done but the format was very
> poor from insulting peoples spiritual beliefs to scaring the heck out of people
> to the point of tears then laughing at them like they were darn fools. The few
> people that do not consider magicians Dorks have now changed their minds.
> It was so staged and heavy camera tricks it was sickening!
> If you made a tape of it play back the part were the black guy from the
> elevator was being talked to, I heard him state "I was caught by the show I
> watch" How can he when it is the first time shown, I would like someone to play
> that part back and tell me I heard what I thought I heard.
> The public will not watch such shows, it is boring to them. Magicians will
> watch it.
> I guarantee that the ratings were the lowest of any show offered by NBC
> Regards,
> Path
>
I totally disagree.
Magic on US TV lately has become almost nonexistant.
And has to some extent become boring and geeky to a lot of laymen because they're tired of the glitzy, melodramatic dance numbers,
and fans blowing at people's hair.
Right now reality tv, prank shows, and wild extreme stuff is in fashion with the new audiences.
As far as "insulting peoples spiritual beliefs"...I haven't got a clue as to what the heck your talking about. What part of the show did that?
And I taped the show...the guy in the elevator said "I'm a victim of the shows I watch"... verbatim.
Probably meaning he watches reality and prank shows, and got stung...not that he watched T.H.E.M. before.
And those very same people laughed along with them. Come on...next you'll be saying clasic shows like Candid Camera were insulting, degrading, and not
"politically correct"...gimme a break.
And the only "camera tricks" as far as I could see were overdone MTV type cuts & filters.
Not actual camera trickery.
(Though I must admit that "Superman" flying thing *did* look a bit suspicious & impossible to do under normal circumstances...)
Magic went completely dead in the 50's, 60's and 70's until Doug Henning came along and breathed new life into it.
Then it reached a pinnacle and renaisance in the 80's & early 90's with Copperfield, Burton, Sigfried & Roy, etc.
The late 90's and 2000's seems to have magic being on a decline as far as popularity with the general public, and television is concerned.
There are fewer and fewer tv programs showcasing magic lately.
And you hear that term..."dorky magician".
Except for maybe David Blaine...who for all people's jealous complaints here on this newsgroup as far as being lame, and "untalented"...
has also brought a new light to magic. To a magician he's maybe doing store bought tricks like a cig thru quarter, etc...but his off the cuff
presentation makes his onscreen and home audiences think he's actually got some sort of mystical powers.
Every lay person I've ever spoke to about him said he amazed them and that he gave them the willys. "Mission Accomplished" if ya ask me!
Robert Houdin said a good magician was merely an actor playing the part of a magician. He acted the part very well.
Magic is about entertainment and presentation...not how flashy your costumes, or dancing girls are...or how skillfully you can execute a backpalm or
zippiddy-doo-da triple backflip pass with a deck of cards.
Lay people know nothing of these things...and shouldn't. They should just see a card appear or vanish magically.
They should simply be "Astonished".
Copperfield hasn't done a special in years...and the last one he did (as much as *I* still love him)...looked embarassigly like he was trying to prove
something, and keep up with Blaine's stunts. ("Tornado of Fire"...how lame was that...?)
The new breed of young magicians like Blaine, Cris Angel, and this T.H.E.M. crew do just that...Astonish people.
And they give magic more TV exposure, turn a newer, younger, jaded generation onto magic, and open the door to making more magic popular again on
TV...and creates a new audience.
AND it opens the door to create more work for magicians.
I think T.H.E.M. was a great show...and will give magic a "shot in the arm".
Art
used to be. The reason you don't see specials is not his failure in ratings
but because of money. TV is so decentralized now that it is almost
impossible to attract a big enuf audience to pay for a show. Except for
major sporting events, how many expensive looking specials of any type do
you see on the 3 or 4 networks these days. Pretty much none. Why bother
when enuf people to pay the bills will watch reality TV or the next version
of CSI or Law and ORder.
Art
the magic was pretty good though I was suspicious of the walking thru the
window. Everything else looked like it was legit. The superman could have
been legit with some help at both ends and perfect timing.
b p
spider man fan:)
wonder woman fan
hulk fan
captain america fan
flag serum
DUKES of hazard
waltons fan
knite rider fan
see this this was the fastes car zoom
tv pilot comercial for knite rider
KNOW one REMBERS IT but i do:)
even on DVD david copperfield says know one knoticed that he walked
out of a theater and flew away in the air ps dave copperfield
if your reading this ((I noticed)))
BUT i did not noticed the bed poles for your sub trunk with no
truck called cacoon
thanks for that:) and also letting us know on your fire escape
where a mustard bottle is hehehehe wow food on the stomack huh
fat cool friend copperfield :)
http://www.kidfat.us.tf
Re: Brief review of T.H.E.M. - An A+ new network show in the USA
Group: alt.magic Date: Fri, Jun 25, 2004, 2:40am (EDT+4) From:
begunaNOS...@mindspring.com (Art)