You saw Greg Dow last week on Wizard Wars and this video is from pre-show publicity on Las Vegas station KTNV Channel 13. Greg does a little close up and recovers nicely after former Weather Channel host Dao Vu crushes the dreams of guys everywhere learning magic to pick up girls. There is also a glimpse at Greg’s pro-wrestling alter ego that Rick Lax mentioned on the last iTricks Magic Week in Review.
No lead off video today, instead Wizard Wars judge Penn JIllette on Wisconsin radio station WTMJ 620AM.
Speaking of Wizard Wars cast on the radio, Justin Flom was on The Brandon Parnes Hour of Fun, which you can find right here. Brandon is interested in talking to other magicians, by the way. You can contact him through the Johnson County Community College radio station here.
The Daily Herald (serving suburban Chicago) ran a feature on local boy Bill Cook who is competing on tonight’s episode of Wizard Wars.
Oh yeah, in case you forgot, Wizards Wars returns to SyFy with new episodes tonight (with all of the previous episodes running during the day), followed by the premiere of Close Up Kings.
In case you missed Steven Brundage on yesterday’s Steve Harvey Show, we got you covered. This video clip was posted on the show’s YouTube page. You can keep up with Steven over on his website and you can keep up with Steve on his show or on Family Feud.
Blake Shelton was the guest on NBC’s Saturday Night Live over the weekend. The lead video, from the NBC website, is a potentially NSFW sketch featuring him as a heckler turned believer at a magic show.
Speaking of magic on television, Rubik’s cube magician and friend of iTricks Steven Brundage will be on today’s Steve Harvey Show. You will have to check your local listings to see when the syndicated show airs in your market.
Speaking of magic on British television (and eventually PBS), The Dorset Echo caught up with Midsommer Murders star Gwilym Lee. The focus is on superfans of the series, but they tip an upcoming episode involving stage magician and Lee learning a bit of magic himself. The article does not mention who served as Lee’s magic coach.
Finally, and still speaking magic on TV, Wizard Wars returns to SyFy with new episodes this Thursday night (along with the premiere of Close Up Kings). VegasNews.com talked to Rick Lax and has some photographs from the set as well as details on a Wizard Wars viewing party at The Sand Dollar. By the way, big shot producer Rick Lax returns to the iTricks podcast later this week.
The Illusionists have left Broadway and begun their tour of North America. This recently posted video is from WLNE, the ABC affiliate serving the Providence, Rhode Island area. The tour is on to Indianapolis now, but it is good piece with some nice magic sleight of hand from Jeff Hobson.
This is not the official trailer, as far as iTricks can tell, but a promo piece for Close Up Kings that we found on Loki’s YouTube page. The series seems to actually be a Discovery Channel property even though SyFy is airing it in the US, so overseas iTricksters should keep an eye on both their local Syfy and Discovery Channels to see if Close Up Kings will appear on their television. In the States Close Up Kings premieres next Thursday, January 29 after Wizard Wars.
As we mentioned in today’s Magic Bulletin, Brain Games is returning to National Geographic with new episodes on Monday (local listings… you know the drill). There are a few new promos out, including this one featuring illusionist Eric Leclerc. Can’t wait until Monday? Head on over to the Nat Geo website for a full episode sneak preview.
