#Also based on a Penn and Teller illusion

[tvrundownusa]

tvrundown USA 2023.10.27

Friday, October 27th:

(exclusive): LEGO Marvel Avengers (dsn+, "Code Red" special), South Park: "Joining the Panderverse" (Para+, special), Tore (netflix, Swedish dramedy, all 6 eps), "Yosi, the Regretful spy" (amazon, season 2 available, all 8 eps), Shoresy (hulu, Letterkenny spinoff, season 2 available, all 6 eps), Curses! (apple+, animated spooky adventure comedy, all 10 eps), "The Enfield Poltergeist" (apple+, paranormal docuseries, all 4 parts)

(movies): "The Caregiver" (TUBI, crime thriller, ~100mins), "When Evil Lurks" (Shudder|AMC+, Spanish horror, 100mins), "Sister Death" (netflix, Spanish horror, 90mins), "Pain Hustlers" (netflix, true-crime pharma drama, ~2hrs), "Yellow Door: '90s Lo-fi Film Club" (netflix, documentary, ~85mins), "Five Nights at Freddy's" (Peacock, feature based on video game), "The Girl Who Killed Her Parents - The Confession" (amazon, Brazil true-crime sequel, ~100mins)

(streaming weekly): Gen V (amazon, penultimate), Upload (amazon, next 2 eps), Bosch: Legacy (freevee, next 2 eps), Lessons in Chemistry (apple+), Still Up (apple+, season 1 finale), Fellow Travelers (Para+SHO, series premiere), The Great British Baking Show (netflix), Goosebumps (dsn+|hulu), Undead Unluck (hulu)

(also new): "Christmas by Design" (HALL, original movie, 2hrs)

(hour 1): Penn & Teller: Fool Us (theCW, season 10 opener, new host), Power Book IV: Force (Starz, preempted), Shark Tank (ABC)

(hour 2): Fboy Island (theCW, repeat, new night), Shining Vale (Starz), Raid the Cage (CBS), "Rebuilding Black Wall Street" (OWN, part 5 of 6)

(hour 3): Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO), Creepshow (AMC, ~70mins)

[note: Masters of Illusion (theCW), World's Funniest Animals (theCW), these season openers have been moved to an unknown future.]

[m0srael]

The Fourth Rule

A late submission, 1.3k for the @drarrymicrofic prompt: Bullet. Did I have a fever dream about stage magicians last night and immediately wake up to write this? Yes. Read on Ao3. Part 2.

The beery air in the small pub was stale and heavy with the stench of bodies packed too tightly. It was late--the crowd, whiskey-soaked and gin-drunk, were shouting and heckling them before they even stepped on stage.

Potter and Malfoy’s first few tricks were received with a barrage of insults and empty bottles. The pub’s patrons had no interest in simple card tricks or disappearing handkerchiefs. No, tonight Potter and Malfoy would have to pull out all the stops if they hoped to get paid.

Malfoy, whose back had been to the audience for some time, whirled around quickly. “IS THIS WHAT YOU CAME FOR?” He shouted over the cacophony of boos, waving a revolver in the faces in the front row. His brows were pinched in anger, eyes glinting dangerously in the low lamplight. Potter reached slowly into his jacket for his own firearm and watched as the crowd shrank back. A gasp, then a hush fell over the room.

“Well, who will volunteer?” Malfoy asked more quietly, his arms thrown wide, revolver pointing toward the ceiling. The room remained silent.

Potter and Malfoy paced around a small wooden table in the center of the stage, as if sizing each other up. They opened the chambers of their revolvers to show each other and the audience they were unloaded before setting them down on their respective sides of the table.

“We’re going to move a bullet from this side of the stage,” Potter said calmly, pointing to his right, “to that side of the stage,” he pointed to his left. “We’ll move a second bullet from this side of the stage,” he continued pointing to the left, “to that side of the stage,” he finished, swinging his finger back to his right.

“Without crossing,” Malfoy interjected, laying a length of rope down to bisect the stage where the little table stood, “this line.”

“We need two volunteers from the audience, please,” Potter said again, scanning the faces he could see with a detached expression. Finally, hands went up across the crowded room.

“You sir, what’s your name?” Potter pointed to a small, wiry gentleman just behind the first row of patrons. “Jones,” he replied. Potter approached the man with his palm outstretched, several bullets resting on it. “Jones, pick a bullet, any of them will do, they’re all the same. Give them each a thorough inspection if you like.” Malfoy did the same on the other side of the room, approaching a young woman whose name was Rose--she looked terrified to be singled out. The volunteers each selected their bullet.

Malfoy produced three differently-colored felt-tip pens from his breast pocket. “If you please, choose a pen and write your three initials on the tip of the bullet--one on each side and one on the very tip,” Malfoy instructed, extending his arm so the wiry gentleman could also take a pen. “Write clearly and boldly, the next time you see those bullets you may be a little...out of sorts.”

“Very good,” Potter nodded as the volunteers complied, “Jones, Rose, why don’t you show those bullets to your neighbors, let them see what you’ve written.” They did as instructed. “Now, I’d like you each, using that same pen, to draw a symbol on the shell of the bullet--ah, the body of the bullet, miss,” Potter gestured toward Rose without crossing the line.

Potter and Malfoy each took the bullets back from the volunteers, holding them up between thumb and forefinger so the crowd could watch them closely. “Rose, have you ever loaded a gun before?” Malfoy asked, chuckling as Rose shook her head quickly. “That’s alright, I reckon you gentlemen have,” he said, nodding toward the men surrounding Rose. “Rose, if you please, place the bullet in that chamber there--excellent, you’ll see that it is the next round to be fired,” Malfoy said as Rose pushed the bullet home with the tip of her forefinger. Potter guided Jones to do the same, encouraging his neighbors to gather around as he did so.

Slowly, Potter and Malfoy walked backwards onto the stage. They remained on their respective sides of the rope, holding their revolvers up and out to ensure they were in view the whole time. After replacing the loaded firearms on each side of the small table, they moved in sync to the back of the stage.

“Many people are frightened by handguns, and for good reason,” Potter said casually. The crowd was silent, hanging on his every word. As rehearsed, Potter and Malfoy slid out of their jackets at the same time and rolled up their sleeves. “There are four rules for handling a firearm that, if universally followed, would ensure no one was ever accidentally injured by a handgun again.” he finished.

“One,” said Malfoy as they each picked up a pair of goggles, “always treat every gun as if it were loaded, unless you’ve checked for yourself.”

“Two,” Potter said, as they both slid into thick, protective vests and fastened the ties behind their backs, “always be very aware of your target, as well as the area around and behind it.”

“Three,” Malfoy continued, “Keep your finger off the trigger until your target is in your sight and you are absolutely ready to fire.” They walked together to the front of the stage.

“Four. Never, and I mean never, point a gun at anything...unless you intend to destroy it.” Potter finished, making eye contact with every audience member he could see.

The room had fallen so silent that they could hear the clatter of carriages as they passed on the street above. The lamps on the walls winked and flickered, casting long shadows across the faces in the crowd.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Potter and Malfoy’s...Magic Bullet Catch” Malfoy announced, imperiously. They bowed deeply.

They turned to face one another across the little table, reaching for their revolvers at the same time. They held the guns before their chests, muzzles pointed upwards. As if on cue, they spun on their heels and began pacing slowly to either side of the stage. “Fair warning,” Potter said, not taking his eyes off of Malfoy as he spun back around, “this will be quite loud.” Each man extended his arm, aiming his loaded revolver at the other.

Every time they performed this illusion--at least a hundred times in rehearsal and a hundred more on stage so far--Harry couldn't be confident that Draco hadn’t swapped out the trick bullets for real ones. Every time, Harry locked eyes with him from across the stage and searched his steely gaze for any indication if this would be it. If this would be their final performance. Harry had never been able to tell. That never stopped him from raising his gun and aiming for Draco’s head, keeping his feet planted as Draco did the same.

The sound of Harry’s breath was loud in his ears as he and Draco stared at one another over their revolvers. Harry tried to communicate to Draco with his eyes that if this was it, if Draco had finally done what he’d threatened to do after their very first performance, it was okay. Harry loved him, he understood why Draco had to do it. He was still here, wasn’t he? He allowed his mouth to fall open as Draco did the same.

The simultaneous shots echoed riotously around the small pub. Rose screamed shrilly and the rest of the crowd burst into shouts and jeers of disbelief. For a moment the room was hazy with gunsmoke, heat, and crackling energy.

“Jones, my good man,” Draco shouted jovially, removing the bullet from between his teeth, “tell me, are these your initials here?”

Not this time, then, thought Harry as he lifted his hand to his mouth.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

#6yrsago Sleights of Mind: the secrets of neuromagic

Last month, I blogged a fascinating profile of Apollo Robbins, a stage pickpocket with an almost supernatural facility for manipulating attention and vision to allow him to literally relieve you of your watch, eyeglasses, and the contents of your wallet without you even noticing it, even after you've been told that he's planning on doing exactly that.

The profile mentioned that Robbins had consulted on a book called Sleights of Mind, written by a pair of neuroscientists named Stephen L Macknick and Susana Martinez-Conde (a husband and wife team, who also hired science writer Sandra Blakeslee to help with the prose, to very good effect). Macknick and Martinez-Conde are working scientists who had a key insight: the way that magicians manipulate our blind spots, our attention, our awareness, our intuitions and our assumptions reveal an awful lot about our neurological functions. Indeed, conjurers, pickpockets, ventriloquists and other performers are essentially practicing applied neuroscience, working out ways to systematically fool our  perceptions and make seemingly impossible things happen before our eyes.

The book is a marvellous read, a very well-balanced mix of summaries of published scientific insights into visual and attention systems; accounts of the meetings between illusionists and scientists that the authors organized; histories of magic tricks; exposure of psychic frauds and fakes; and a tale about the couple's quest to craft a neuroscience-based magic act that would gain them full membership to the exclusive Magic Castle in Los Angeles.

I really can't overstate the charm and delight of Sleights of Mind -- from the introduction to the extensive footnotes, it is a truly great popular science text on one of my favorite subjects. The accompanying website is full of supplemental videos, showing how illusions work as mechanical effects, scientific principles and bravura performances. The performers who assisted the authors -- James Randi, Penn and Teller, Derren Brown, and, of course, Apollo Robbins -- are all justly famed for their skill, and the book is worth a read just for the insight it provides into their work. But it goes so much farther, providing both a theoretical underpinning in the neuroscience of perception and consciousness, and practical advice on how to apply this to your everyday life.

One interesting note: the authors mention a book called The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception, which reprints the secret (and long-lost) training documents that magician John Mulholland created for the Agency in 1952, which were used at the height of the Cold War by US spies to deceive their Soviet counterparts -- for example, details of how to use the "big move" of lighting a cigarette to disguise the "small move" of slipping drugs into a rival's drink. I haven't read this yet, but I've just ordered it.

Sleights of Mind: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals About Our Everyday Deceptions

https://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/sleights-of-mind-the-secrets.html

[steelcityreviews]

FRINGE REVIEWS 2022 - A Work of Fiction

Writer/Performer: Nicholas Wallace

Director: Luke Brown

Show dates, times and tickets available here: https://boxoffice.hftco.ca/event/866:614/

Content Warning: None but please be aware of an allergen alert: latex (balloons)

Nicholas Wallace first wowed audiences with his first Fringe appearance almost a decade ago. Since then, Wallace has become known for tricking the world’s greatest including Penn and Teller on their show Fool Us. He combines magic and story telling in exploring the fine line between truth and fiction in his newest creation a work of fiction. 

Through his charming presentation, Wallace guides his audience into participating in fascinating tasks in order to lure them into a state of wonder. The results were continuous awe and astonishment. Laughs of disbelief and applause filled The Staircase’s Brightroom and left us ready to sign our souls away to the sneaky scene-stealing Vincent. No spoilers. You’ll meet Vincent at some point, I am sure.

Wallace not only demonstrates his talent for illusion and wonder, he also weaves an interesting story about the difference between truth and fiction, including how we perceive our own memories and the world around us. Each segment of the story leads curiously into the next trick which circles back to Wallace acknowledging that we are all, in the end, works of fiction. 

Over the years, I have learned not to trust what my eyes see during any illusion based performance but Wallace still manages to charm audiences into believing the unbelievable. Even my partner has now trusted him twice to rifle through his wallet. Trust me, that is the highest praise imaginable. Highly recommend seeing this production. 

[sleepykittypaws]

2018 TV Holiday Premieres

Updated: December 30, 2018

ABC

Mickey’s 90th Spectacular (two-hour celebration of Mickey Mouse’s 90th birthday featuring music and appearances by Skylar Astin Kelsea Ballerini, Miles Brown, Anna Camp, Josh Gad, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Sage Steele, Luis Fonsi and Tori Kelly. Original Mouseketeers Bob Burgess and Sharon Baird will also appear) - Nov. 4

Mary Poppins Returns: Behind the Magic (Behind the scenes look at the upcoming feature film sequel starring Emily Blunt) - Nov. 22

I’m Coming Home (stars Kristen Chenoweth, Tiffany Haddish and Tyler Perry return to their hometowns for a documentary-style special produced by Whoopi Goldberg) - Nov. 22

The Great Christmas Light Fight (season 6 of the limited-run reality competition featuring outrageous holiday displays judged by Carter Oosterhouse and Taniya Nayak) - weekly starting Nov. 26

The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration (musical celebration from the Disney parks hosted by Jordan Fisher and Sarah Hyland, featuring Gwen Stefani, Meghan Trainor and Andrea Bocelli) - Nov. 29 

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Holiday Special (holiday fashion show featuring top models and musical acts Bebe Rexha, The Chainsmokers, Halsey, Kelsea Ballerini, Rita Ora, Shawn Mendes and The Struts) - Dec. 2

The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition (season 4 of the American version of the popular cooking contest, The Great British Baking Show, focused on holiday treats; hosted by Emma Bunton and Anthony Adams, with judges Sherry Yard and Paul Hollywood) - weekly starting Dec. 6

Dancing with the Stars: Holiday Special (special holiday-themed season finale of the series) - Dec. 9

CMA Country Christmas (annual musical celebration of the season, featuring Country artists performing original music and Christmas classics, hosted by Reba McEntire and featuring Tony Bennett, Dan+Shay, Brad Paisley and Martina McBride. Filmed in front a live audience in Nashville) - Dec. 10

The Year in Memoriam 2018 (Robin Roberts and Jimmy Kimmel pay tribute to the legendary stars and icons the world lost this year) - Dec. 17

The Year: 2018 (two-hour special looking at the most iconic moments of 2018, hosted by Robin Roberts) - Dec. 23

Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade (annual holiday parade/musical showcase taped in Disney World, Disneyland and other worldwide Disney Parks) - Dec. 25

Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest (47th annual Times Square New Year’s countdown) - Dec. 31 

NBC

A Saturday Night Live Thanksgiving (look back at 44 years of SNL Thanksgivings) - Nov. 21

Macy’s 92nd Thanksgiving Day Parade (official parade coverage, LIVE)  - Nov. 22 (also available on the NBC app and Verizon’s YouTube Channel)

The National Dog Show (annual pet competition hosted by John O’Hurley ) - Nov. 22

86th annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center (annual New York City tree lighting featuring musical performances, LIVE) - Nov. 28

A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy (musical special featuring real-life husband-and-wife John Legend and Chrissy Teigen) - Nov. 28 ***Review***

LEGO Jurassic World: The Secret Exhibit (original animated special set before first Jurassic World movie; A trio of dinosaurs needs to be moved to a new super-secret exhibit.) - Nov. 29 (Trailer) **Review**

Deal or No Deal: Happy Howie Days (a special $1 million dollar holiday offering of the game show which last aired 10 years ago) - Dec. 3

Saturday Night Live: Best of Christmas (holiday retrospective from the late-night sketch series) - Dec. 4

Penatonix: A Not So Silent Night (third holiday special with the a cappella group, featuring special guests Kelly Clarkson, the Backstreet Boys, Marren Morris, and Penn & Teller; filmed in Las Vegas) - Dec. 10

Darci Lynne: My Hometown Christmas (one-hour musical special starring the 13-year-old winner of 2017′s America’s Got Talent, singing and celebrating the season in her Oklahoma City hometown) - Dec. 11

Ho Ho Hollywood Game Night: Holiday Edition (one-hour holiday-themed game special) - Dec. 11

Ellen’s Game of Games Holiday Spectacular (holiday edition of game show hosted by Ellen Degeneres) - Dec. 12

Little Big Holiday Special (one-off return of the Steve Harvey-hosted series with holiday fan favorites) - Dec. 12

America’s Got Talent: Holiday (holiday edition of the popular series) - Dec. 17

Timeless: The Miracle of Christmas (the two-season NBC series gets a holiday-themed, wrap-up movie, starring the original cast, including Abigail Spencer, Matt Lanter and Malcolm Barrett; according to the release, “ride through the past, present and future, with a healthy dose of Christmas spirit”) - Dec. 20 **Review**

Christmas Eve Mass (from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, conducted by Pope Francis) - Dec. 24

NBC News Special: A Toast to 2018 (year-end review hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb) - Dec. 31

NBC New Year’s Eve (live from Times Square hosted by Carson Daly and Chrissie Teigen with special guest Leslie Jones) - Dec. 31

130th Annual Tournament of Roses Parade (LIVE parade coverage) - Jan. 1

CBS

The Thanksgiving Day Parade on CBS (unofficial parade coverage of the Macy’s parade hosted by Kevin Frazier and Keltie Knight, LIVE) - Nov. 22

Garth: Live at Notre Dame (LIVE concert with country singer Garth Brooks, broadcast from South Bend, Ind.) - Dec. 6

A Home for the Holidays: The 20th Anniversary (20th annual special celebrating foster children and their caregivers) - Dec. 21

The 41st Annual Kennedy Center Honors (celebration recognizing groundbreaking work in entertainment, featuring this year’s honorees: Cher, Reba McEntire, composers Philip Glass and Wayne Shorter, and Hamilton co-creators Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, Andy Blankenbuehler and Alex Lacamoire) - Dec. 26

FOX

MasterChef Junior: Celebrity Showdown (Thanksgiving-special battle with celebs and their kids, with money going to charity) - Nov. 22

FOX’s New Year’s Eve with Steve Harvey: Live from Times Square (New Year’s eve countdown special featuring special guests and musical performances from Sting, Robin Thicke, Florence + the Machine, Jason Aldean, Juanes and Why Don't We) - Dec. 31

CW

87th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade (tape-delayed presentation of the annual holiday parade, featuring Grand Marshal Nancy O’Dell, filmed Nov. 25 in Hollywood) - Dec. 14

iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2018 (holiday concert special featuring Shawn Mendes and Cardi B) - Dec. 16

Greatest Holiday Commercial Countdown 2018 (ET’s Kevin Frazier and Keltie Knight host this holiday countdown of the top 12 holiday commercials) - Dec. 18

Greatest Holiday Video Countdown (hosted by the Holderness family, taking a look at viral holiday video clips) - Dec. 18

Masters of Illusion: Christmas Magic (holiday special featuring well known magicians) - Dec. 23

Popstars Best of 2018 (musical special looking back at the year’s biggest pop hits, hosted by Elizabeth Stanton) - Dec. 28

PBS

Hanukkah: A Festival of Delights (documentary featuring American Jewish families from a variety of backgrounds along with actors William Shatner and Lainie Kazan, all sharing their personal Hanukkah experiences, plus archival film and images) - Nov. 25

Let’s Go Luna: Christmas Around the World (Christmas special of the preschool series) - Dec. 10

15th Annual Christmas with the Morman Tabernacle Choir (holiday concert with the famed choir, featuring Sutton Foster and Hugh Bonneville) - Dec. 17

Lidia Celebrates America: A Heartland Holiday Feast (chef Lidia Bastianich undertakes a cross-country journey to find traditional American holiday cuisine) - Dec. 18

Happy Holidays with the Boston Pops (one-hour music special showcasing the best of the New England holiday season) - Dec. 22

Call the Midwife Christmas Special (special holiday episode of the series, airing same day as in the UK) - Dec. 25

Nova: Apollo 8 (in-depth look at the Christmas Eve mission that circled the moon and perhaps saved NASA, featuring exclusive interviews with astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell and William Anders) - Dec. 26

Great Performances: Leonard Bernstein Centennial Celebration at Tanglewood (celebrate the legendary composer with the Boston Symphony Orchestra) - Dec. 28

ACL Hall of Fame New Year’s Eve 2018 (celebrate the induction of new Austin City Limits Hall of Famers: Ray Charles, Los Lobos and Marcia Ball, with performances by Boz Scaggs and Norah Jones; Hosted by Chris Isaak) - Dec. 29

Live from Lincoln Center: New York Philharmonic New Year’s Eve (LIVE concert performance to ring in the New Year) - Dec. 31 

Hallmark Channel

Hallmark Channel’s Christmas: First Look (Lacey Chabert gives a sneak peek at Hallmark’s 2018 Christmas movie line-up) - Jul. 21 (Watch Online)

Christmas: A Second Look Preview Special (Kellie Pickler hosts a follow-up preview to both the Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries’ Miracles of Christmas 2018 line-up) - Sep. 29 (Watch Online)

2018 Countdown to Christmas Preview Special (preview of the 22 new movies set to air during Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas, hosted by Kellie Pickler) - Oct. 20 (Watch Online)

Christmas at Pemberley Manor (holiday movie starring Jessica Lowndes and Michael Rady, an event planner crosses paths with a surly billionaire while organizing a small town Christmas festival) - Oct. 27 (On Location)

Christmas Joy (movie starring Danielle Panabaker and Matt Long, based on the book by Nancy Naigle; a marketer reluctantly returns to run the family farm for her ailing aunt, then she and her one-time crush must organize the town’s cookie crawl) - Nov. 3 (Preview) (On Location) **Review**

Road to Christmas (holiday movie starring Jessy Schram and Chad Michael Murray; An assistant is charged with making sure her employer’s adult sons make it home for Christmas, but a blizzard interferes with travel plans) - Nov. 4 (Preview) (On Location) **Review**

It’s Christmas, Eve (movie starring and featuring three original songs by LeAnn Rimes: It's Christmas, Eve, The Gift of Your Love and You and Me and Christmas; also starring Tyler Hines. A school superintendent sent to cut costs at her hometown High School meets a handsome, single music teacher, who is desperate to raise enough money to protect his program) - Nov. 10 (soundtrack available Oct 12, featuring, The Gift of Your Love and You and Me and Christmas and It’s Christmas, Eve) (Preview) (On Location)

Christmas in Love (holiday movie starring Mary-Margaret Humes, Daniel Lissing and Brooke D’Orsay; A daughter tries to protect her family bakery, famous for its Kringle Christmas cookies, from a corporate takeover ) - Nov. 11 (Preview) (On Location)

Christmas at Graceland (movie starring country singer Kellie Pickler and Wes Brown, directed by Eric Close and set in Memphis and featuring both Elvis Presley’s music and his iconic Tennessee estate; Chicago exec returns to Memphis hometown at holidays on business and reunites with an old flame who rekindles her musical dreams) - Nov. 17 (On Location) (NOTE: Special world premiere at Graceland, Nov. 15)

Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa (movie sequel to 2017′s Christmas in Evergreen starring Jill Wagner, Mark Deklin, Holly Robinson-Peete, Andrew Francis, Barbara Niven, Rukyia Bernard and Ashley Williams; When she finds out Evergreen’s quaint General Store has been closed, a woman enlists the help of townspeople, and a little Christmas magic, to save it and a mysterious 25-year-old letter to Santa.) - Nov. 18 (Preview) Review

Reunited at Christmas (holiday movie starring Mike Faiola and Nikki DeLoach as a novelist struggling with writer’s block who returns with her boyfriend to her late grandmother’s house for the holidays and rediscovers the true meaning of Christmas.) - Nov. 21

Christmas at the Palace (holiday movie starring Brittany Bristow, Andrew Cooper and Merritt Patterson; A former figure skating champ is hired by a European monarch to coach his daughter for a Christmas skating pageant and finds himself falling in love at the holidays, but is she ready to be royalty?) - Nov. 22

Pride, Prejudice and Mistletoe (holiday movie starring Lacey Chabert and Brendan Penny, based on the book by Melissa de la Cruz; Christmas-themed, modern update of the Jane Austen classic, but with a role reversal that casts Chabert as Darcy, returning to her hometown to plan a holiday event with a rival restaurant owner and restore her relationship with her father) - Nov. 23

Christmas Everlasting (Hallmark Hall of Fame movie directed by Ron Oliver, who also helmed 2017′s The Christmas Train, based on the book The Second Sister by Marie Bostwick, starring Tatyana Ali, Dennis Haysbert, Patti LaBelle and Dondre T Whitfield; A corporate lawyer returns home after her sister passes away to settle her estate, not knowing her will stipulates she must live there for 30 days. While back in a place she never thought she’d return to, she discovers what she’s been missing.) - Nov. 24

A Shoe Addict’s Christmas (holiday movie starring Candace Cameron Bure, Jean Smart and Luke Macfarlane, based on the book by Nicole Harbison; in this modern take on A Christmas Carol, a holiday hater is locked in the department store she works in on Christmas Eve and visited by her guardian angel in the shoe department, before getting a glimpse of Christmases past, present and future.) - Nov. 25 *Review*

Mingle All the Way (holiday romance starring Brant Daugherty, Lindsay Wagner and Jen Lilley; In an effort to prove to her family that her app matching compatible couples for events, without romance, works, she uses it herself. When she’s matched with someone she’s already had disastrous encounters with, she’s forced to save face and make it work.) - Dec. 1 Review

A Majestic Christmas (holiday movie starring Jerrika Hinton and Christian Vincent; an architect returns to turn her hometown theater into a modern multiplex, much to her chagrin, as she tries to convince the theater’s owner that the playhouse, and the town’s Christmas traditions, are worth preserving.) - Dec. 2 (Preview)

Amy Grant’s Tennessee Christmas (holiday musical special, featuring musical experiences and holiday reminisces with singer Amy Grant) - Dec. 3

Meet the Peetes Christmas Special (special featuring Holly Robinson Peete and family) - Dec. 3 (Preview)

Homegrown Christmas (holiday movie starring Victor Webster, Lori Loughlin and Kate Isaac, who plays a CEO who returns to her hometown at the holidays to regroup after being forced to step down. There, she reconnects with her high school sweetheart when they’re forced to plan a dance together for the local high school.) - Dec. 8

Welcome to Christmas (movie based on the book The Trouble with Christmas by Debbie Mason, starring Jennifer Finnigan and Eric Mabius as a small town sheriff desperate to convince a resort developer to save their community by turning it into a Christmas vacation destination)- Dec. 9

Entertaining Christmas (holiday movie starring Brendan Fehr and Jodie Sweetin as a  daughter striving to impress her perfectionist cooking and crafting expert mother, and prove she’s worthy of taking over the family business, by creating the perfect Christmas for a young girl whose father is deployed) - Dec. 15

A Gingerbread Romance (holiday movie starring Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Duane Henry; an architect pairs with a local baker, and single dad, to build life-size gingerbread houses in hopes of getting a promotion) - Dec. 16 **Review**

Candace Cameron Bure’s Christmas Across America (holiday special, produced and hosted by Candace Cameron Bure, featuring Christmas celebrations from across the U.S.) - Dec. 17

Jingle Around the Clock (holiday movie starring Brooke Nevin and Michael Cassidy, a young advertising exec must ditch her holiday college reunion to work on a new Christmas campaign with a partner who doesn’t share her vision.) - Dec. 22

Christmas Made to Order (holiday movie starring Alexa PenaVega and Jonathan Bennett; an architect hires an event planner to help his family Christmas go off without a hitch.) - Dec. 23

When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing (4th holiday movie based on the television series, starring Lori Loughlin, Erin Krakow, Jack Wagner, Pascale Hutton, Kavan Smith and Paul Greene; A group of orphans become stranded in Hope Valley for the holidays with two mysterious sisters) - Dec. 25

A Midnight Kiss (holiday movie starring Carlos PenaVega and Adelaide Kane; a family of party planners has only one week to prepare for the biggest New Year’s Eve event of their lives, but when her brother breaks his leg and her parents have to leave, their daughter is forced to enlist outside assistance to get the job done.) - Dec. 29

2019 Winterfest Preview Special (preview special of the Winterfest movies set to air in January 2019) - Dec. 29

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Miracles of Christmas Preview Special (preview of the 15 new movies set to air during Hallmark Movie & Mysteries’ Miracles of Christmas hosted by Candace Cameron-Bure) - Oct. 14 (Watch Online)

Marrying Father Christmas (movie starring Erin Krakow, Niall Matter and Wendie Malick; sequel to 2017′s Engaging Father Christmas and 2016′s Finding Father Christmas, based on the book series by Robin Jones Gunn) - Nov. 4 (First Look)

A Veteran’s Christmas (holiday movie starring Eloise Mumford and Sean Faris; a decorated solider separated from her service dog returns home from Afghanistan and finds herself stranded in the town of Rivers Crossing for the holiday.) - Nov. 11 (Preview) (First Look) **Review**

Return to Christmas Creek (holiday movie starring Steven Weber, Tori Anderson, Stephen Huszar and Kari Matchett; after her app is rejected by Silicone Valley a young woman returns to her family’s hometown and, along with her childhood best friend, works to reunite her father with his pilot brother, who flies over the town each Christmas Eve dressed as Santa delivering toys to needy children) - Nov. 17 ***Review***

A Godwink Christmas (movie starring Kimberly Sustad, Paul Campbell and Kathie Lee Gifford, based on the book by SQuire Rushnell; an antiques dealer reluctantly gets engaged to her longtime boyfriend at Christmas, but her aunt invites her to Nantucket after sensing her reluctance) - Nov. 18 (First Look)

Last Vermont Christmas (holiday movie starring Justin Bruening, Catherine Corcoran and Erin Cahill; Parents decide to sell the family home—to their daughter’s high school sweetheart—telling their grown children at the holidays that this will be their last Christmas in Vermont.) - Nov. 19

Hope at Christmas (holiday movie based on the book by Nancy Naigle, starring Scottie Thompson and Ryan Paevey, who plays a school teacher that dreams of being a writer, with a holiday job as the local Santa, determined to make a little girl’s Christmas dreams come true) - Nov. 20

Christmas on Honeysuckle Lane (movie starring Alicia Witt, Mary McDonough, Laura Leighton and Colin Ferguson, based on McDonough’s novel, House on Honeysuckle Lane; siblings return home for one last Christmas before selling their family home after their parents’ passing, but a discovery changes everything) - Nov. 24 **Review**

Christmas Wonderland (holiday movie starring Kelly Hu, Emily Osment and Ryan Rottman; an overworked gallery owner returns to her hometown due to a family emergency to watch her niece and nephew, where she reunites with her high school boyfriend, now a teacher, and helps him plan the school’s annual Christmas Snow Ball) - Dec. 1

Once Upon a Christmas Miracle (holiday movie starring Lolita Davidovich, Aimee Teegarden and Brett Dalton, based on the true story of Heather Krueger and Christopher Dempsey; A dying woman receives a liver transplant from a kind stranger and, over three Christmases, they fall in love.) - Dec. 2

Memories of Christmas (holiday movie starring Mark Taylor and Christina Milian as Noelle, who returns to her late mother’s house for the holidays, and reluctantly regains her passion for Christmas through her mother’s love of the holiday and a handsome holiday decorator) - Dec. 8 *Review*

Time for Me To Come Home for Christmas (holiday movie based on the song by Blake Shelton and book by Shelton’s mother, Dorothy Shackleford, and Travis Thrasher, starring Josh Henderson and Megan Park; a country star and a small-town business woman returning to Oklahoma for Christmas are stymied by a snowstorm and decide to drive to their destination together, learning how much they have in common along the way.) - Dec. 9

Northern Lights of Christmas (holiday movie starring Ashley Williams and Corey Sevier, based on the book Sleigh Bell Sweethearts by Teri Wilson; when an aspiring pilot inherits a reindeer farm she finds herself overwhelmed until a mysterious stranger shows up to help at the holidays.) - Dec. 15

Small Town Christmas (holiday movie starring Kris Polaha and Ashley Newbrough; a first-time novelist’s book tour to promote her surprise best-seller takes her to the hometown of an old colleague who broke her heart and unwittingly helped inspire her novel.) - Dec. 16

A Christmas for the Books (holiday movie starring Chelsea Kane and Drew Seeley a life guru with a best-selling book all about finding love finds herself single at the holidays. When she’s asked to host a major holiday gala she’s got to find someone who will pretend to be her boyfriend, or risk being exposed as a fraud) - Dec. 20

Christmas at Grand Valley (holiday movie starring Danica McKellar, Brennan Elliott and Dan Lauria; A burned out Chicago art dealer wants to spend a quiet Christmas relaxing and rejuvenating in her favorite town, where she meets up a single dad and his kids who are reviewing the hotel they’re all staying in) - Dec. 21

Christmas Bells Are Ringing (holiday movie starring Emilie Ullerup and Josh Kelly; a photographer returns to Cape Cod to celebrate her father’s Christmas Eve wedding and finds an inspiring winter wonderland through the eyes of a local) - Dec. 22

Happy and Friends Yule Log (visual “Yule Log” featuring Happy the Dog and other cute canine and feline friends) - Dec. 24-25

Lifetime

It’s a Wonderful Lifetime Preview Special (holiday preview special hosted by Melissa Joan Hart) - Nov. 17 (Watch Online)

My Christmas Inn (holiday movie starring Tia Mowry-Hardrict, Rob Mayes, Jackee Harry, Tim Reid and Erin Gray, shot on location in Utah; A San Fran ad exec inherits a small-town Alaska inn at the holidays and falls in love with the town, and a handsome architect she meets there) - Nov. 21 (Preview) **Review**

A Christmas Arrangement (holiday movie starring Nicky Whelan, Miles Fisher, Julie McNiven, Leslie Easterbrook, and Daphne Zuniga; when a flower shop owner enters a holiday floral show that features a $5,000 grand prize, she finds a worthy rival, and love blossoms) - Nov. 21

The Christmas Contract (holiday movie starring One Tree Hill alums Hilarie Burton, Robert Buckley, Danneel Ackles and Antwon Tanner with an original song from Tyler Hilton; also starring Jordan Ladd, Cheryl Ladd, Bruce Boxleitner and Jason London; A women not wanting to face her newly-coupled ex during a hometown Christmas celebration, so she hires her best friend’s brother to pretend to be her boyfriend) - Nov. 22 (Preview) ***Review***

'Tis the Season: A One Tree Hill Cast Reunion (holiday special featuring the cast of One Tree Hill plus special guests) - Nov. 22

Poinsettias for Christmas (holiday movie starring Bethany Joy Lenz, Sharon Lawrence, John Schneider, Lauren London and Marcus Rosner; Daughter comes home to help on her family’s poinsettia farm as a disaster looms as the plants aren’t ready for the holiday.) - Nov. 23 (Preview) ***Review***

Every Other Holiday (holiday movie starring Schulyer Fisk, David Clayton Rogers, Dee Wallace and Abby James Witherspoon; Daughters scheme to reunite their estranged parents by getting the whole family to spend Christmas together at a family farmhouse) - Nov. 23 ****Review****

Every Day is Christmas (holiday movie starring Toni Braxton, Towanda Braxton, Gloria Reuben and Michael Jai White; Modern take on A Christmas Carol where a humbug money manager sees her past, present and future collide.) - Nov. 24 (Preview)

Christmas Harmony (holiday movie starring Kelley Jakle, Chandra Wilson, Adam Mayfield and Sally Struthers; When her pop star boyfriend breaks up with her at Christmas, a young woman returns to her hometown at the holidays and rediscovers her own dreams.) - Nov. 24

Jingle Belle (movie starring Tatyana Ali, Cornelius Smith Jr, Loretta Devine, Valarie Pettiford, Keshia Knight Pulliam and Tempestt Bledsoe; high school sweethearts once known for their flawless Christmas duet are reunited to work on the pageant they once starred in) - Nov. 25 (Preview)

Christmas Perfection (movie starring Caitlin Thompson, James Henri-Thomas and Robbie Silverman; A Christmas control freak finds herself transported into a magical Christmas village where she learns “the perfect Christmas” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be) - Nov. 25

A Very Nutty Christmas (starring Melissa Joan Hart, Barry Watson, Marissa Winokur, Conchata Ferrell and Rizwan Manji; Hart plays a workaholic baker who’s just been dumped and decides to “give up on Christmas” when a magic nutcracker comes to life; filmed on location in Conn.) - Nov. 30 (Preview) ****Review****

A Twist of Christmas (holiday movie starring Brendon Zub, Vanessa Lachey, Rick Fox and Christian Convery; Single parents accidentally switch their kids Christmas gifts and must work together to fix the mix-up or the holiday will be ruined.) - Dec. 1 *Review*

The Christmas Pact (holiday movie starring Kyla Pratt, Jarod Joseph, Kadeem Hardison and Jasmine Guy; Childhood besties have kept their Christmas pact intact since they planted a tree together at age 8, but now life is getting in the way of their annual traditions.) - Dec. 2 (Preview)

Christmas Lost and Found (holiday movie starring Tiya Sircar, Ed Ruttle and Diane Ladd; A big city event planner is guilted into spending the holidays with her grandmother, but when she accidentally trashes the heirloom family ornaments, she ends up finding out what the season really means.) - Dec. 7 ***Review***

Santa’s Boots (holiday movie starring Megan Hilty, Fiona Vroom, Marc-Anthony Massiah, Noah Mills, June Squibb and Patricia Isaac; A young women returns home for Christmas to find her family’s store on brink of bankruptcy. To help out she fills in as one of Santa’s helpers where she meets a charming store St. Nick, who mysteriously disappears just before the holiday, leaving behind just his boot.) - Dec. 8 **Review**

A Christmas in Tennessee (holiday movie starring Rachel Boston, Andrew Walker, Patricia Richardson and Caroline Rhea; When a developer tries to turn their town, including the family-owned bakery, into a ski resort, the mom-daughter baking duo set out to stop him with a little Christmas magic.) - Dec. 9 ***Review***

Christmas Around the Corner (holiday movie directed by Megan Follows, starring Alexandra Breckenridge, Jamie Spilchuk and Jane Alexander; A woman escaping her city life during Christmas discovers her Vermont holiday rental requires her to run an attached bookshop, where she unexpectedly falls in love) - Dec. 14

Christmas Pen Pals (holiday movie starring Michael Gross, Sarah Drew and Niall Matter; Creator of a dating app heads home for the holidays following a devastating breakup where she runs into her high school love while running the town’s Christmas Cupid pen pal program.) - Dec. 15

Hometown Christmas (holiday movie starring Beverley Mitchell, Stephen Colletti, Erin Cahill, Melissa Gilbert and Danny Boaz; High school sweethearts return to their hometown and find their parents have fallen in love, filmed on location in Louisiana) - Dec. 16

Freeform

The Truth About Christmas (holiday movie starring Kali Hawk, Damon Dayoub and Ali Ghandour; a political consultant famed for her spin finds herself unable to lie after a run in with a toy store Santa on the way to meet her mayoral candidate boyfriend’s family for the first time) - Nov. 25 (Trailer) ****Review****

Life-Size 2: A Christmas Eve (movie starring Tyra Banks, Francia Raisa and Gavin Stenhouse, Christmas-themed sequel to the 2000 Wonderful World of Disney film) - Dec. 2 (Teaser, Trailer)

Pop Up Santa Special (viewers are surprised with special Christmas gifts by Freeform’s “Pop Up Santa”) - Dec. 3

Disney Fairy Tale Weddings: Holiday Magic 2 (second special featuring Christmas weddings at Disney parks hosted Stephen “tWitch” Boss and Allison Holker and featuring a performance by Martina McBride) - Dec. 8

No Sleep ‘Til Christmas (holiday movie starring real life husband and wife Dave and Odette Annable as a pair of insomniacs who come to depend on one another even though one of them is engaged to someone else; also starring Sheryl Lee Ralph) - Dec. 10 (Trailer) Review

ION

A Wedding for Christmas (starring Vivica A. Fox and Cristine Prosperi; an assistant for a top wedding planner returns to her hometown to plan her sister’s Christmas wedding, only to run into her childhood sweetheart) - Nov. 25

Christmas Cupid’s Arrow (starring Elisabeth Harnois and Jonathan Togo; After Holly’s younger sister announce she’s pregnant, the college professor signs up for a dating service, determined to find a mate, but maybe the guy she’s looking for is fellow faculty member, and single dad, David, who she’s planning the winter formal with) - Dec. 2

Rent-an-Elf (holiday movie starring Kim Shaw and Sean Patrick Thomas; Type-A Ava runs a full-service holiday planning company called Rent-an-Elf, but finds herself wanting to share the Christmas she plans for a single dad and his son, until his ex-wife returns for the holidays) - Dec. 8

A Snow White Christmas (starring Carolyn Hennesy and Liam McNeill; stuck with her evil stepmother for the holidays, Bianca Snow tries to make the best of it, bonding with the decorator, much to her stepmother’s chagrin, who tries to hypnotize Bianca into forgetting about her inheritance) - Dec. 9 (Trailer)

Country Christmas Album (starring Hannah Barefoot and Evan Gamble; a country singer tries to save her career by reluctantly agreeing to make a Christmas album with a former teen heartthrob) - Dec. 15

A Christmas in Royal Fashion (starring Cindy Busby and Diarmaid Murtagh; a PR assistant is put in charge of a charity Christmas fashion show sponsored by the royal family of Edgewater, when the prince confuses her for her boss and falls for her, the assistant is too scared to tell him the truth) - Dec. 16

UP

Beverly Hills Christmas II (a.ka. This Is Our Christmas; sequel to 2015′s Beverly Hills Christmas starring Margaret O’Brien, Ronn Moss and Kira Reed Lorsch; when a Beverly Hills family suffers financial hardship at the holidays, they’re in need of a true Christmas miracle) - Nov. 3

The Christmas Switch (holiday movie starring Jackie Seiden, Ashley Wood, Oana Gregory; Two moms swap bodies and have to figure out how to switch back before Christmas) - Nov. 4

Chandler Christmas Getaway (movie starring Malinda Williams, GregAllen Williams, DeEtta West and Victoria Rowell, fifth in the series that began with 2013′s Marry Me for Christmas; The Chandler family heads to a cabin for Christmas) - Nov. 11

Christmas on the Coast (movie starring Julie Ann Emery and Burgess Jenkins about a New York novelist known for holiday romances who spends the holidays in a resort locale, and finds herself with her own Christmas romance) - Nov. 18 (Twitter, Trailer)  (available on DVD Nov. 6)

Christmas Catch (movie starring Yanic Trusedale, Genelle Williams and Emily Alatalo; a detective goes undercover over the holidays and might just be falling for the man she’s sent to watch) - Dec. 2

Christmas with a Prince (holiday movie starring Kaitlyn Leeb, Nick Hounslow and Charles Shaughnessy; a doctor finds herself taking care of a handsome, spoiled prince after he breaks his leg skiing; also available on DVD) - Dec. 9 (Trailer)

Christmas on Holly Lane (holiday movie starring Karen Holness, Jamie M Callica and Giles Panton; lifelong friends come together to save a house they cherish at the holidays) - Dec. 16

Hometown Holiday (holiday movie starring Kevin McGarry, Sarah Troyer and Stephen Huszar; a record exec goes to a country holiday wedding in hopes of signing a social media celeb, but falls for a small town girl instead, also available on DVD) - Dec. 23  (Trailer)

TV One

A Special Night of Rickey Smile for Real (the comedian hosts a special holiday comedy and cooking extravaganza) - Nov. 20

Merry Wish-Mas (movie starring real-life husband and wife Tamela and David Mann, as former high school sweethearts reunited for the holidays amidst family drama) - Dec. 2 (Clip)

Living by Design Holiday Special (brother and sister Jake and Jazz Smollett bring viewers into their home for a spectacular Christmas dinner)- Dec. 9

Coins for Christmas (movie starring Essence Atkins, Stephen Bishop, TC Carson and Kelly Price, as herself; the story of a single mother, struggling to make ends meet after the IRS freezes her bank account. Doing odd jobs to survive, she ends up working for a pro football player two weeks before Christmas, and the two change each other’s lives.) - Dec. 16 (Clip)

INSP

Christmas on the Coast (movie starring Julie Ann Emery and Burgess Jenkins about a New York novelist known for holiday romances who spends the holidays in a resort locale, and finds herself with her own Christmas romance) - Nov. 25 (Twitter, Trailer)  (available on DVD Nov. 6)

BYU TV

Shoelaces for Christmas (movie based on the book by Craig S Buehner, starring Bailey Chase, Mia Topalian and Austin Grant; A selfish teen learns the true meaning of service after receiving devastating news at the holiday) - Dec. 2

Christmas Under the Stars (concert featuring Train and The Band Perry) - Dec. 16

15th Annual Christmas with the Morman Tabernacle Choir (holiday concert with the famed choir, featuring Sutton Foster and Hugh Bonneville) - Dec. 20

Disney Channel/Disney Jr.

Snow Place Like Home (holiday special based on the Elena of Avalor series) - Nov. 24 (Disney Jr.)

A Very Muppet Babies Christmas (holiday special based on the series) - Nov. 30 ***Review***

Ducktales Last Christmas! (special holiday episode of the rebooted series, featuring the voices of Danny Pudi, Bobby Moynihan, Ben Schwartz and David Tennant; Scrooge avoids the pressures of the holidays by traveling back in time with a trio of fun-loving ghosts to crash history's greatest Christmas parties.) - Nov. 30 (Trailer)

Disney Parks Presents a 25 Days of Christmas Holiday Party (holiday season kickoff special featuring music from Gwen Stefani, Brett Eldredge and Asher Angel) - Dec. 1 (available on DisneyNOW app starting Nov. 23)

Doc McStuffins Christmas Special (special holiday episode of the Disney Jr. series; Doc and the toys travel back in time to the North Pole to save Christmas) - Dec. 2 (Disney Jr.) (Trailer)

Nancy and the Nice List (animated special based on the Fancy Nancy series; When Nancy struggles to make Santa's Nice List, she learns the true meaning of Christmas.) - Dec. 14 (Disney Jr.)

Nickelodeon

The Loudest Thanksgiving (holiday special of the animated series) - Nov. 12

Spacebob Merrypants (new holiday special episode of SpongeBob Squarepants) - Nov. 25

WGN

Uncle Dan’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (LIVE coverage of Chicago’s Thanksgiving Day parade) - Nov. 22

CNN

New Year’s Eve Live (LIVE coverage of the events in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, hosted by Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen) - Dec. 31

TBS

Elf Pets: Santa’s St. Bernards Save Christmas (original animated special featuring the Elf on the Shelf, also available on DVD) - Nov. 17 (Trailer)

Full Frontal Presents Christmas on I.C.E. (commercial-free comedy special benefiting KIND, an organization dedicated to helping migrant children in detention; special guests include Adam Rippon) - Dec. 19 (Trailer, Clip)

BET

Throwback Holiday (holiday movie starring Jennifer Freeman, Robert Ri'chard and Rhyon Nicole Brown.; A harried mom in a shaky marriage wishes her way back to high school for a life do-over at the holidays) - Dec. 16 (Trailer)

BET Her

One Crazy Christmas (holiday movie starring Carl Payne, Terri Abney, Junie Hoang, Anton Peeples, Kiana Dancie and Tammy Townsend; filmed on location in Houston) - Nov. 17

VH1

RuPaul’s Drag Race Holi-slay Spectacular (one-off holiday special of the RuPaul-hosted series featuring all-star cast members in a holiday competition to be crowned the “Christmas Queen”) - Dec. 7 (Trailer)

TLC

The 12 Pops of Christmas (holiday-themed special with Dr. Pimple Popper, dermatologist Dr. Lee) - Dec. 13

Ovation

2018 National Christmas Tree Lighting (live musical performances and the official lighting of the National Christmas tree, in front of the White House, LIVE) - Dec. 2 (will also air on REELZ)

Food Network

Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge (three episode cooking competition, hosted by Giada De Laurentiis) - starting Nov. 4

Holiday Baking Championship (holiday baking contest series hosted by Host Jesse Palmer, along with judges Nancy Fuller, Duff Goldman, and Lorraine Pascale) - starting Nov. 5

Christmas Cookie Challenge (cookie baking contest series hosted by Eddie Jackson, with judge Roe Drummond) - starting Nov. 5

Giada's Holiday Handbook (Giada De Laurentiis shares tips and tricks for pulling of holiday parties) - Nov. 11

Worst Cooks in America: Thanksgiving Redemption (special cooking challenge) - Nov. 11

Barefoot Contessa: Cook Like a Pro Thanksgiving Special (special primetime episode of the series with guests Jennifer Garner and Nigella Lawson helping Ina Garten cook their favorite Thanksgiving side dishes) - Nov. 17

Macy’s Thanksgiving Cake Spectacular (parade themed cake contest, hosted by Martha Stewart) - Nov. 18

Holiday Wars (three teams of cake bakers compete to create the most outstanding Christmas cake possible, hosted by Jonathan Bennett with judges Shinmin Li and Jason Smith) - Nov. 25

Holiday Gingerbread Showdown (four episode series featuring master Gingerbread makers competing against one another to create holiday delights, hosted by Marcela Valladolid with judges Kerry Vincent, Molly Yeh and Adam Young) - Nov. 25

Crazy Christmas Cakes (five cake artists from across the country bake elaborate holiday cakes) - Dec. 1

Gingerbread Giants 2 (special episode following five competitors at the annual National Gingerbread House Competition in Asheville, N.C.) - Dec. 23

Holiday Baking Championship: Homecoming (6 past Holiday Baking Championship winners return to the kitchen for a one-off competition to prove who is the best of the best holiday bakers ) - Dec. 24

Cooking Channel

Holiday Cookie Builds (limited episode holiday reality show featuring Salt Lake City gingerbread masters Brenda Nibley and Alisha Nuttall) - starting Nov. 9

SyFy

Santa Jaws (movie starring Reid Miller, Courtney Lauren Cumming and Jim Klock; comic book author’s Christmas killer shark somehow comes to life and begins menacing his friends at the holidays) - Aug. 14

Discovery ID

The Thanksgiving Ambush (true crime special, featuring the story of an Oklahoma couple ambushed in their garage two days before Thanksgiving) - Nov. 22

Animal Planet

AKC National Championship Dog Show  (dog show with hosts Mario Lopez and Shawn Johnson) - Jan. 1

POP

Schitt's Creek Holiday Special (special one-off holiday episode of the series starring Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara) - Dec. 19

Bravo

WWHL: O Come OG Faithful (Watch What Happens Live holiday episode featuring original Housewives Vicki Gunvalson, NeNe Leakes, Ramona Singer, Bethenny Frankel, Teresa Giudice and Kyle Richards to deck the halls and spill some tea ) - Dec. 20

TruTV

Impractical Jokers: Staten Island Holiday Spectacular and After Party (starring Joe Gatto, James "Murr" Murray, Brian "Q" Quinn and Sal Vulcano, a two-hour special taped live at Staten Island's St.George Theater, benefiting Toys for Tots) - Dec. 6

HGTV

House Hunters: Home for the Holidays (limited-run series featuring Christmas-loving home buyers looking for a new home to spend the holidays in) - weekly starting Nov. 27

White House Christmas 2018 (look at the decorations and design that adorn the White House for the holidays) - Dec. 9

HGTV Dream Home 2019 (look at the latest HGTV Dream Home which will be given away in a sweepstakes, in Whitefish, Montana) - Jan. 1

BBC America

Dr. Who: Who Year’s Day (stand alone episode of the long-running series, currently starring Jodie Whittaker; As the New Year begins the Doctor must save planet Earth from a terrifying evil.) - Jan. 1

BBC One

Zog (animated special based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, starring Tracey Ullman and Kit Harington) - Dec. 25 UK (US airdate TBA)

RTEjr

Hopscotch and the Christmas Tree (original animated special, based on the book of the same title) - Dec. 24, Ireland (US airdate TBA) (Trailer)

Discovery Family

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic “Best Gift Ever” (the pony friends are on an adventure to find the best gift ever for each of them ) - Oct. 27 (Trailer)

Oxygen

Homocide for the Holidays (season three of the true crime series that features Christmas crimes) - weekly starting Dec. 9

CMT

Dolly & Friends: Making of a Soundtrack (documentary special on the making of Dolly Parton’s latest album, the soundtrack for the movie Dumplin’) - Nov. 29

Get TV

The Soul and Spirit of Christmas (original music special featuring CeCe Winans, BeBe Winans, Koryn Hawthorn and Take 6) - Nov. 23

Me TV 

Pastor Greg’s Reboot: Hope for Christmas (Christmas movie shot in upstate New York, a reboot of the 2004 film starring Kevin Sizemore; a veteran turned pastor get stuck in an elevator with non-believers at the holidays ) - Dec. 2 on WBBZ (all others check local listings, airdate may vary and may not be available on all affiliates)

Hulu

Into the Dark: Flesh & Blood (Blumhouse-produced horror anthology with each monthly movie taking place on a different holiday; On Thanksgiving, teenager Kimberly tries to move on from her mom’s unsolved murder to cure her agoraphobia, but begins to suspect she’s in danger from her seemingly doting father.) -  Nov. 7

Pixi Saves Christmas (2018 animated special from Spain) - Dec. 1

Into the Dark: Pooka (Blumhouse-produced horror anthology with each episode taking place on a different holiday; When a struggling actor agrees to dress up as a cartoon character at the holidays, he finds himself developing a distinctly different personality when he’s wearing the suit. ) -  Dec. 7

Into the Dark: New Year, New You (Blumhose produced horror anthology with each episode taking place on a different holiday; As an Instagram “influencer” looks to make her mark outside social media, a New Year’s weekend with her girl group turns dark) - available now 

A Very Terry Christmas: Get Cozy With Terry Crews (Terry Crews paints a Christmas tree in front of a fire) - available now

Netflix

The Land of Steady Habits (dark comedy/drama starring Connie Britton, Charlie Tahan, Ben Mendelsohn and Edie Falco; Sick of his job in finance a man leaves his wife and Westport, Conn. enclave in search of a more “real” life at the holidays) - available now (Trailer)

Christmas with a View (holiday movie starring Vivica A Fox, Kaitlyn Leeb, Patrick Duffy and Scott Cavalheiro; a fancy new head chef makes a splash at a ski resort, but not everyone is excited about his arrival; based on a Harlequin novel) - available now (Trailer)

The Holiday Calendar (original holiday movie starring Kat Graham, Quincy Brown and Ron Cephas Jones, about a magical advent calendar that seems to predict the future) - Nov. 2 (Trailer) **Review**

The Princess Switch (original holiday movie; Christmas-set take on The Prince and the Pauper, starring Vanessa Hudgens and Sam Palladino) - Nov. 16 (Trailer) ***Review***

Puppy Star Christmas (children’s holiday film in the continuing Pup Stars franchise, starring David DeLuise, Makenzie Moss and Denisse Ojeda; the just-married dogs are spending their first Christmas with their new pups and planning a very special Christmas treat.)  - Nov. 20 (Trailer) (NOTE: also available via DVD on Nov. 22)

The Christmas Chronicles (original movie produced by Chris Columbus, starring Kurt Russell, Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Judah Lewis; family holiday comedy about two brothers who, while trying to prove if Santa is real, crash his sleigh in Chicago, and must get the big guy back on track or Christmas is cancelled) - Nov. 22 (Trailer) ***Review***

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic “Best Gift Ever” (the pony friends are on an adventure to find the best gift ever for each of them) - Nov. 25  (Trailer)

Angela’s Christmas (animated special based on the children’s book by Frank McCourt) - Nov. 30 (Trailer) **Review**

A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding (original holiday movie; wedding-themed sequel to 2017′s A Christmas Prince, starring Ben Lamb and Rose McIver) - Nov. 30 (Teaser, Trailer)

Great British Baking Show: Holidays (two-episode Christmas special of The Great British Bake Off, which aired in the UK in 2016, but has never been seen before in the U.S.) - Nov. 30 ***Review***

Natale A Cinque Stelle (a.k.a. Five Star Christmas; Italian Christmas comedy starring Massimo Gini; when the Italian P.M. secretly meets up with his mistress during a Budapest Christmas trip, things quickly go awry.) - Dec. 7 (Trailer)

Free Rein: The Twelve Neighs of Christmas (original special one-off holiday episode of the teen series; Bright Fields prepares for its Mistletoe Ball) - Dec. 7

Nailed It! Holiday! (original one-off, holiday baking-themed special episode of the series) - Dec. 7 (Trailer) *Review*

Super Monsters and the Wish Star (original animated special based on the series) - Dec. 7

Neo Yokio Pink Christmas (original animated special created by Ezra Koenig and starring Jaden Smith and Jamie Foxx) - Dec. 7 (Twitter preview, Trailer)

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: A Midwinter’s Tale (original special holiday stand-alone episode of the series featuring Sabrina and her coven telling ghost stories around the fire for the Winter Solistice) - Dec. 13 (Trailer)

Prince of Peoria: A Christmas Moose Miracle (original special holiday one-off episode of the tween series; A snowstorm threatens the Festival of Lights) - Dec. 14

Aggretsuko: We Wish You a Metal Christmas (original holiday special of the Japanese anime-style series) - Dec. 20 (Trailer)

Watership Down (original animated mini-series of the classic Richard Adams novel, featuring the voices of James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, Ben Kingsley and John Boyega; a BBC co-production) - Dec. 25

Netflix New Year’s Eve Countdowns (19, new, original countdowns based on kids and tween Netflix shows that can be watched anytime. New countdowns based on: Alexa and Katie, Prince of Peoria, Pinky Malinky, Motown Magic, Larva Island, Beat Bugs, Skylanders Academy, Super Monsters, True and the Rainbow Kingdom, Tales of Arcadia, All Hail King Julien, Boss Baby, Spirit Riding Free and Fuller House) - Dec. 26 (Trailer)

Taylor Swift reputation Stadium Tour (original concert film featuring the last stop of Swift’s latest tour) - Dec. 31 (Trailer)

Amazon Prime

Bigfoot (animated movie directed be Evan Tramel; An evil Yeti steals Santa’s naughty list and uses it to banish Santa from the North Pole) - available now

Clara’s Ultimate Christmas (family movie where a young vlogger documents her “ultimate Christmas” but everything goes awry when her dad has to leave for a business trip and her dog runs away right before Christmas Eve) - available now (Trailer)

Crawford the Cat’s Christmas (animated special aimed at preschoolers, directed by Russ Harris) - available now (Trailer)

Dead by Christmas (holiday slasher film starring Holly Bonney; Reunited for the holidays, a group of friends raised together in a troubled Louisiana orphanage are stalked by a killer from Christmas past) - available now (Trailer)

Discarding Santa (”found footage” mockumentary about a Kentucky town that outlawed Santa) - available now (Trailer)

Madness Farewell (black comedy about a suicidal comedian in Los Angeles who, unable to do the deed herself, hires a hit man; starring Charlene DeGuzman ) - available now (Trailer)

A Raunchy Christmas Story (very R-rated “comedy” in the Cinemax-after-dark vein) - available now

Straight no Chaser: Live in New York Holiday Edition (a cappella group’s Christmas concert, filmed live in New York City) - available now

A Unicorn Christmas (animated special featuring the voices of Alicia Condrey, Aisha Ricketts and Yasmin Palmer) - available now

Pete the Cat: A Very Groovy Christmas (animated holiday special, based on the book series; Pete and the gang try to find the Christmas Cat to get cool gifts) - Nov. 20 (Trailer)

Arty’s Holiday Masterpiece (animated holiday special, based on the Creative Galaxy series; Arty makes a Christmas ornament for his family, but it comes to life and runs away) - Nov. 20

Max’s Christmas (animated special based on the Max and Ruby storybook) - Dec. 1

YouTube

Ken Jeong Cracks Christmas (original special featuring the comedian and celebrity friends on the ultimate quest to uncover the pop-culture myths behind the world's most celebrated holiday.) - Dec. 12 on the Buzzfeed YouTube Channel (Trailer)

Nick Offerman’s Yule Log (Nick Offerman silently drinks whisky in front a fire) - available now on Lagavulin’s My Whisky Official YouTube Channel (age restricted due to depiction of alcohol); Ten Hour Version

A Very Terry Christmas: Get Cozy With Terry Crews (Terry Crews paints a Christmas tree in front of a fire) - available now on America’s Got Talent YouTube Channel

MUSEO (Spanish language movie starring Gael Garcia Bernal, Leonardo Ortizgris and Alfredo Castro; the true story of small-time, seemingly inept crooks who stole priceless Mayan artifacts from Mexico's National Anthropology Museum on Christmas Eve 1985) - TBA (Trailer)

Holiday Spectacular (family movie from Brat Studios, starring Annie LeBlanc and Mackenzie Ziegler; the story of an estranged family that is brought back together for the holiday season at the mall) - Dec. 21 on the Brat YouTube channel (Trailer)

Sony Crackle

A Prayer for Mr. T: The SuperMansion Thanksgiving Special (adult, stop-motion animation special holiday episode of the streaming series, featuring the voices of Chris Pine and Bryan Cranston; The annual Thanksgiving turkey competition between Titanium Rex and Dr. Devizo goes awry when Rex’s turkey transforms into a nightmarish bird monster.) - Nov. 15

Britbox

Upstart Crow Christmas Special (U.S. premiere of the special Christmas episode of the series) - Dec. 7

Would I Lie to You Christmas Specials (U.S. premieres of the special Christmas episode of the game show) - Dec. 7

QI Christmas Specials (U.S. premiere of the special Christmas episodes of the game show) - Dec. 7

The Snow Queen (U.S. premiere of the 2005 BBC animated movie based on the classic tale, starring Patrick Stewart) - Dec. 7 

Mr. Stink (U.S. premiere of the 2012 BBC movie starring Hugh Bonneville, based on the popular children’s book) - Dec. 7

Mary Berry’s Absolute Favorites (holiday special featuring The Great British Bake Off’s Mary Berry) - Dec. 12

Clash of the Santas (US debut of the 2008 BBC movie) - Dec. 15

The Lights Before Christmas: Luminous London (Britbox original, “slow TV” holiday-themed special) - Dec. 19

Swingin’ Christmas (Michael Parkinson presents the John Wilson Orchestra with special guests, including Seth McFarlane) - Dec. 22

Hold the Sunset Christmas Special (U.S. premiere of the special Christmas episode of the series) - Dec. 23

Mock the Week Christmas Special (U.S. premiere of the 2018 special Christmas episode of the comedy news show) - Dec. 24

Click & Collect (2018 BBC movie starring Stephen Merchant and Asim Chaudhry as neighbors making a cross country journey to get the perfect toy for Christmas) - Dec. 24

Carols from Kings (LIVE coverage of the celebration of Christmas from The Chapel of King’s College Cambridge) - Dec. 24

The Queen’s Christmas Message 2018 (annual holiday message delivered by Queen Elizabeth II to her subjects via the BBC) - Dec. 25

Emmerdale Christmas Special (U.S. premiere of the 2018 Christmas episode of the British soap) - Dec. 25

Casualty Christmas Special (U.S. premiere of the 2018 Christmas episode of the British soap) - Dec. 25

Holby City Christmas Special (U.S. premiere of the 2018 Christmas episode of the British soap) - Dec. 25

EastEnders Christmas Special (U.S. premiere of the 2018 Christmas episode of the long-running British soap) - Dec. 25

Coronation Street Christmas Special (U.S. premiere of the 2018 Christmas episode of the long-running British soap) - Dec. 25

The Last Leg New Year’s Special, LIVE (aired at same time as in UK) - Jan. 1

Shudder

The Dinners of Death (Joe Bob Briggs Thanksgiving meal-themed marathon which he calls, “the best deadly-dinner movies in history”) - Nov. 22

A Very Joe Bob Christmas (Job Bob Briggs-hosted Christmas horror movie marathon) - Dec. 21

Funny or Die

The 2019 Rose Parade Hosted by Cord and Tish (Live coverage of the Rose Parade with commentary by Cord Hosenbeck and Tish Cattigan, a.k.a. Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon) - Jan. 1

On Demand/Digital/DVD

Sick for Toys (horror movie starring Camille Montgomery, Jon Paul Burkhart and Justin Xavier; Sad sack nice guy accepts a Christmas dinner invitation from a beautiful woman only to find out she and her brother are not what they seem) - Sep 4 (Twitter, Trailer)

Battle of the Bulge: Wunderland (war movie starring Steven Luke, Tom Berenger and Mikeal Burgin; true story of the Christmas 1944 battle that was amongst the WWII’s deadliest offensives, available via digital and DVD) - Oct 2 (Trailer)

The Least of These: A Christmas Story (starring Tayla Lynn and Emma Faith; a homeless single mother is befriended by a feisty waitress and a store Santa in this tale of holiday love and forgiveness, shot on location in Fayetteville, Ark.; available via digital and DVD) - Oct. 22 (Trailer) 

Christmas Break-In (A blizzard strands nine-year-old at school at the start of Christmas break. When bad guys kidnap the school janitor, it’s up to the kid to save him; starring Danny Glover, Denise Richards and Cameron Seely, filmed on location in Minnesota; available via DVD) - Nov. 1 (interview)

A Christmas Village (A cynical cookbook author facing a scandal helps a single father reinvigorate his struggling Christmas theme park in hopes of getting some good PR; starring Madeline Leon and Neil Paterson; available via iTunes) - Nov. 1 (Trailer)

Best Thanksgiving Ever (starring Jay Seals, Eric Roberts and Heather Adair; Raunchy Thanksgiving-themed sex comedy supposedly based on a true holiday; this one has been floating around festival circuit for a while, but this is first time it’s widely avaiable via iTunes) - Nov. 6, Rated R (Redband Trailer)

Christmas Manger (movie starring Andrea Logan White, Steve Young and Tara Reid; A widower and his estranged foster daughter are forced to spend the holidays together after an injury leaves him unable to live alone. Can faith reunite them?; Available via DVD) - Nov. 6

Lez Bomb (movie written by and starring Jenna Laurenzo, with Kevin Pollack, Bruce Dern, Cloris Leachman and Steve Guttenberg; comedy about a lesbian determined to come out to her quirky family over Thanksgiving, but a series of mishaps may foil her plans; available via digital and blu-ray) - Nov. 9 (digital) / Jan. 8 (blu-ray) (Trailer)

Mrs. Claus (holiday horror slasher film starring Brinke Stevens, Helene Udy and Kaylee Williams) - Nov. 13 (Trailer)

A Christmas Carol (Scottish version of the classic tale, where Scrooge is a billionaire obsessed with profits, starring Stuart Brennan; available on iTunes) - Nov. 16 (Trailer)

Elliot: The Littlest Reindeer (starring Josh Hutcherson, Morena Baccarin, John Cleese, Samantha Bee and Martin Short; international animated film about a miniature horse who dreams of being one of Santa’s reindeer; available via digital) - Dec. 1, Rated PG (Trailer, Twitter) ****Review****

Holly Star (written, directed and starring Michael Nickles, with Katlyn Carlson and Brian Muller; A broke puppeteer returns home for the holidays and gets caught up in a treasure hunt with her paintball-obsessed best friend, her tango-dancing grandmother and a childhood sweetheart. Shot on location in Portland, Maine; available via DVD/digital) - Dec. 4, Rated PG (Trailer)

All the Creatures Were Stirring (holiday horror movie starring Constance Wu, Amanda Fuller and Jonathan Kite; a couple wander into a movie theatre on a Christmas Eve date to be greeted by a series of bizarre holiday tales of woe; available via digital and DVD) - Dec. 4 (digital) / Dec. 7 (DVD) (Trailer)

Smallfoot (starring Channing Tatum, Zendaya, Gina Rodriguez, James Corden and Danny Devito; animated Yeti adventure where the mythical beasts discover humans actually exist; available via DVD and digital) - Dec. 4 (digital) /Dec. 11 (DVD/blu-ray), rated PG (Trailer, Website, Twitter) ****Review****

I’ll Be Next Door for Christmas (crowd-funded movie starring Nicole Sullivan, Atticus Shaffer, Juliette Angelo and Kirrilee Berger; 16-year-old embarrassed by her Christmas-crazy family, tries to trick her long distance boyfriend by hosting a calmer Christmas celebration in the empty house next door; available via digital) - Dec. 4, Rated PG (Website, Trailer, Clip)

Little Women (modern-set take on the classic Louisa May Alcott novel, starring Lea Thompson; available via DVD and digital) - Dec. 18, rated PG-13 (Trailer)

[katiezstorey93]

A cruise Boat magician’s Keys

Whens did you last meet with a magician? For the majority of us chances are thin on the floor. The last place I expected to meet one was at sea — on a luxury cruise ship. On reflection I realised the tales of enchantment are synonymous with the ocean.  

From Odysseus’s encounters with spirits and sirens in Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, to Tia Dalma, sorceress and Voodoo Queen at the Pirates of the Caribbean films, legends of sirens and mermaids come along with classic functions of seafaring fiction such as Moby-Dick and Treasure Island and sailors’ tales of storms, sea monsters and Davy Jones’s locker. Alchemy and mystery is felt in cruise-ship names, also — MSC Fantasia Carnival Magic and Disney Wonder leave lots.  

R Paul Wilson. Brooding.

To get close-up magician R Paul Wilson, who I met on Crystal Serenity, the outer reaches of the imagination are something of a stock-in-trade. Born in Cyprus and raised in Singapore, until his parents moved to Scotland (his very broad Scots accent is loud and clear), the author, director and producer for television and film was analyzing sleight of hands and conjuring because he was eight years old and currently spends some of his time in sea acting for small groups of cruise passengers.

“I was invited to take part in Crystal Cruises’ Magic Castle At Sea programme in a time when I needed to write my novel and create several different jobs,” says Wilson. “Hence that the cruise ship job was originally a way to manage a glamorous five-star ‘workplace’ while performing magic, which I love. Who could say no!”

Wilson is a member of The Magic Castle in Hollywood, a favorite club and performance place for magicians who include family names such as Derren Brown, Dynamo and Penn & Teller. Practitioners like Steve Martin, Orson Welles, Cary Grant and Johnny Carson, of magic, also have passed through its doors.

The author of numerous publications Wilson has worked using celebrities such as Ray Liotta, Gabriel Byrne, Thandie Newton, Ben Affleck, Jamie Foxx and Alicia Keys on jobs.

His resumé is equally striking and a little bit scary: “Paul has arguably pulled more cons than anyone in history… Paul has ripped away businesses, pulled casinos down and scammed hundreds of actual people in his assignment to expose con games and safeguard the public.”

Therefore it was with some trepidation that Wilson and I first met, on board at one of his intimate performances. Approximately 15 of us were ushered down a corridor old promotional posters of Houdini. Where we had been invited to sit at a round table, heavy curtains parted to reveal a quiet room. Wilson’s reverence for the heritage of magic is apparent. “A lot of what I do is based on classic effects and methods so this is a great way to set the mood,” he explains.

Crystal Serenity gives a stage for R Paul WilsonCharge:© Michel Verdure/Michel Verdure

As we all leant in in close quarters, the air became charged with expectancy. Wilson is a existence that is hot and humorous, and there’s something mesmeric. Using nothing more than a simple deck of cards and a few cups, he left his audience dumbfounded using a series of illusions that culminated in him making lemons out of thin air.  

“I vary my stuff regularly and that I find that distinct groups gravitate to unique effects,” he says. “The thing we love most about what I do is your closeness. I bring them as near as possible and make certain they like every impossible moment.”

There was much scratching of heads and debating among his crowd, which lasted into the night and next day. The consensus was that because we had been so close it looked as if it really was magic — where else could these items have appeared out of?  

Wilson’s particular new pared-back magic makes it all the more prominent − there is no Las Vegas-style showboating, technical wizardry or dazzling lights, only the guy himself.  

Magic tips created simple

inside this series, we show you the way you can master eight easy yet show-stopping magic tricks that you wow your family and friends with in home. Suggestions incorporate the disappearing coin and the rubber band.

At one point in the night, he began making cards “jump” through the deck, and which makes it look as if the cards are shifting suits before you. Everyone in the room stared as though they’d stepped onto the set of The Matrix.  

What’s next for this hustler about the seas? “I am working on my second novel and a feature film as writer/director,” says Wilson. “Along with my next cruise is going to be to Stockholm through St Petersburg.”

He disclosed as soon as I asked him to talk about some secret about magicians. “There’s nothing up our sleeves,” he said. And just he was gone.  

Source

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/articles/magician-r-paul-wilson-works-his-magic-at-sea/

from network 8 http://www.cheap-discount-mexico-cruises.com/a-cruise-boat-magicians-keys/

[twooldguysemporium]

How Did They Do That? Types Of Magic Tricks

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How Did They Do That? Types Of Magic Tricks

  Summary: There are many kinds of magic tricks, but most fall into one of a few categories. Oftentimes, a magician will specialize in one or a few areas. For those who employ a range of techniques, they will often develop some type of persona or specialty act to differentiate themselves from other performers. Just as other entertainers often find a niche, so too do magicians.

While no type of magic is particularly easy, some types are common for beginning magicians, such as learnin…

Keywords:

  Article Body: There are many kinds of magic tricks, but most fall into one of a few categories. Oftentimes, a magician will specialize in one or a few areas. For those who employ a range of techniques, they will often develop some type of persona or specialty act to differentiate themselves from other performers. Just as other entertainers often find a niche, so too do magicians.

While no type of magic is particularly easy, some types are common for beginning magicians, such as learning sleight of hand tricks. Most magicians know a core base of tricks, and then develop their particular repertoire from there.

Magic is based on illusion and mystery, and all types of magic tricks employ this mystery. This is what is so alluring about magic! Secrecy is of course another major element of magic. Practicing magicians are very selective about who they share their secrets with. People who work with magicians are often required to sign contracts stating they will not share the magician’s secrets with anyone else.

What types of tricks do magicians perform? The following list is a basic overview of magic tricks that are commonly associated with the practice of magic.

Sleight of hand tricks are those that involve skilled hand movements where objects seem to appear and disappear in the hands of the performer. One of the oldest sleight of hand tricks originated in Ancient Egypt. In this trick, the performer hides balls under turned-over cups. As the performer moves the cups around, the balls change positions under the cups. The observers try to watch and guess where the balls will appear, but the magician fools them every time!

Sleight of hand tricks are used with a variety of objects, including card, coins, balls, and other objects. Some magicians have even used live animals. A magician skilled in sleight of hand can perform magic almost anytime, anywhere.

Illusions are those where the seemingly impossible becomes possible. Some of the better known illusion tricks include those where a woman is sawed in half and levitation tricks. Other illusions involve making people, animals, or objects reappear. David Copperfield, a modern-day magician, has made such large objects as the Statue of Liberty and a jet airplane disappear in front of live audiences.

Escape magic is just as it sounds. The most famous escape artist was Harry Houdini, who performed a number of daring escapes in front of large audiences in exotic locations. Suspended high in the air, Houdini would be handcuffed and placed inside locked or otherwise sealed containers and emerge moments later. Escape magic is intriguing not only because of the amazing feat, but also because of the danger involved.

Mentalists are another form of magicians who appear to read the minds of strangers. In front of live audiences, mentalists will recreate drawings done by audience members that are unseen to the magician, but visible to the audience. They will also read the minds of strangers and perform an array of amazing mental tricks. The mystery of the mentalist lies in the performance in front of a live audience. Some mentalists in modern times have even created tricks for television where they seem to read the minds of viewers!

How and where magicians perform varies a great deal as well. Street magic, close-up magic, and stage magic all offer amazing performances in vastly different settings. Street magic is as it sounds, performed outside and in the spur of the moment. Street magic often includes sleight of hand tricks, although a variety of magic is performed this way. One of the most famous current-day street magicians is David Blaine, who performs a wide range of card tricks, disappearing acts, and even levitation on the street.

Close-up magic is performed indoors or out, and often involves such things as card or coin tricks. It is performed just as it sounds–in close range. The audience is small, and the magician sits or stands in the middle, which adds to the allure–when people surround the magician, he or she has little room to “hide” anything. Additionally, when the audience is so close, one might assume the observers could easily see the magician’s tricks–but this isn’t the case!

Finally, stage magic is just as it sounds–magic performed onstage. These magic tricks date back in history to the 1700s, and are often very elaborate performances. Stage magicians offer an extensive range of tricks from sleight of hand to making large objects float or disappear. Oftentimes large animals are involved. There are a number of present-day famous stage magicians, including Siegfried and Roy, David Copperfield, and Penn and Teller.

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[vrheadsets]

It’s Time to Break a Leg on Samsung Gear VR

The secretive and fantastical world of magic has long enthralled the public, with magicians like Penn and Teller, David Copperfield, Houdini and many more becoming famous worldwide for their acts of illusion. Now Samsung Gear VR owners can delve into that world of mystery now that Apelab has released its interactive story Break a Leg.

This initial release is actually a pre-cursor to a larger narrative and videogame due to release later this year, with players drawn into the world of Harry Edward Jonas Pablo the 15th, the titles host and former illusionist. Divided between puzzle phases and performances on a stage, players take on the role of an illusionist who has been kidnapped by an unknown species and forced to perform in front of a highly demanding audience.

Apelab created Break a Leg using its narrative tool SpatialStories which the studio built to create interactive animation Sequenced that premiered at Sundance in 2015. In a press release the team explains some of the development behind Break a Leg, saying: “The title started as a Google Project Tango prototype back in 2013 when the team was already exploring mobile interactions with 6DOF configuration. When mobile headsets started to get controller support the team jumped at the opportunity to build a full fledged adventure based on the initial premise.”

Ever since Sequenced was released Apelab has expanded SpatialStories functionality completely upgrading it to support high-end roomscale, mobile + controller and AR configurations. The team is also experimenting with voice commands and IBM Watson as a tool to bring more life to the characters and the environment, all of which will be available inside the SDK release roadmap.

Break a Leg is free to download now for Samsung Gear VR, and when further details are released regarding the videogames full story VRFocus will let you know.

from VRFocus http://ift.tt/2tsTAAg

[viralhottopics]

Adobe Summit 2017: Bad habits in marketing that need to end immediately

Image: JULIA ROBINSON/MASHABLE

Its day two of the Adobe Summit in Las Vegas and it’s time to reflect upon everything weve learned in the past 24 hours. The opening song used to introduce John Mellor, Vice President of Strategy, Alliances & Marketing at Adobe, had some very fitting lyrics that fit the subject matter at hand: “the world won’t change if you stay the same.”

The theme of this session was less about product this time, less about tech and more focused on inspiration and reinvention. Mellor proved to have a few more tricks up his sleeve.

Image: julia robinson/mashable

“I have spent the last two months mastering magic, began Mellor. I’m about to blow your minds and pull a rabbit out of my hat.”

In true Vegas fashion, Mellor decided to channel the magician inside of him with an admittedly silly trick pulling a fake rabbit out of a hat. However, it wasnt until Penn & Teller took the stage and proved to us how magic is actually done that the message came through: Give the audience what they want and never stop dazzling them.

Image: Julia robinson/mashable

The Adobe Summit is particularly interesting with the way they teach lessons through highly specific market research, breathtaking visuals and celebrity speakers. Heres what we learned about tech and marketing trends at day two of the summit.

Stop ignoring the little guys

The days first speaker was Pam El, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at the National Basketball Association. El took the stage and immediately made her love for the NBA clear by praising teams around the country and speaking about basketball superstars Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.

“These guys are popular, started El. Their kids are popular, their friends are popular and their friends’ kids are popular.”

Not only does El love the people she works with, but also those who live and die by the NBA. One billion people tuned in last year to watch our games thats one out of every seventh person on earth.

She went on the say that the NBA is the number one most followed league on social media, with 3.9 billion YouTube views and 32 million Facebook fans. Why? Because they love, love, love their fans and they constantly make sure the fans know it.

Image: julia robinson/mashable

While some brands out there are too wrapped up in their own affairs to pay attention to the people who love them the most, the NBA never forgets who got them where they are.

“It’s through technology that we interact with our friends on a global level, said El, who spoke of the numerous advertisements and TV spots NBA Replay Center, NBA InPlay and NBA League Pass are for people who want to watch basketball anytime and from anywhere.

That sentiment was shared during a breakout session with Bertrand de Coatpont, an author for Adobes Digital Marketing Blog, who spoke about three important points to always keep in mind when a niche audience is involved.

Image: julia robinson/mashable

Optimize for regions, niches and device segments, combine automatic and manual content curation techniques, and build learning into the fabric of the community, he said.

He also stressed the importance of choosing the dedicated audience over a more vague crowd and how its better to have a few, niche communities dedicated to certain topics. Far too many brands are forgetting about even alienating their core fan base, in favor of trying to reach a broader market. Its a trend we need to see go away in 2017.

Dont ignore the numbers

Data played a huge part in some of the sessions during day two and the same sentiment was brought up again and again: Youd be crazy to ignore data in marketing. We spoke with Nitzan Tamari, VP Marketing and Strategy for SimilarWeb, a company thats built on data.

If youre looking at your data and youre not looking at it in context, it isnt really helping. Tamari continued by speaking of the pitfalls of siloed data which is when one department isolates vital pieces of data from the rest of an organization, hindering the use of said data to those who need it the most.

Stop making content that isnt quality

Back on stage we met David Fischer, VP of Business and Marketing Partnerships at Facebook. Fischer brought up, perhaps, one of the most important points in the Adobe summit: make relevant content that speaks to the consumer.

He spoke about three specific companies that are absolutely killing it in the content world: Airbnb, Royal Caribbean and Inspiralizer.

Fischer explained that some of the best commercials this year have been the ones that speak to the current political environment like Airbnbs “We Accept” commercial, where a parade of multinational, multicultural faces graced the screen alongside inspiring words of acceptance and tolerance.

Not only did Airbnbs spot respond to the air of intolerance sweeping the nation, but the way it was built and cut responded to the way people took ads in. It was edited for mobile and featured a barrage of quick cuts perfect for the fast-paced mobile environment.

Royal Caribbean used Facebook Canvas to create an immersive experience packed with stats about their cruises an initiative that inspired people to spend an average of 70 seconds on Royal Caribbeans page. Thats a long time in the digital space.

“You’ve got to adapt to the times we’re living in. If you build great content, you can pull people in, said Fischer. One of the most inspirational stories was Inspiralizer a three-person company that created quality content on a micro scale.

Image: julia robinson/mashable

Using a simple (and cheap) foam board with some marble paper, they created a backdrop for their product that made it look like it was in a super fancy kitchen. They gave their audience what they wanted: a great product that looked good, too.

That little DIY shoot tripled their click through rate, proving Penn & Tellers point from earlier: Its all about the illusion.

Read more: http://ift.tt/2nskSDn

from Adobe Summit 2017: Bad habits in marketing that need to end immediately

[captainlenfan]

New Post has been published on https://leosmagic.space/types-of-magic-tricks-how-they-do/

Types Of Magic Tricks - How They Do

There are many kinds of magic tricks, but most fall into one of a few categories. Oftentimes, a magician will specialize in one or a few areas. For those who employ a range of techniques, they will often develop some type of persona or specialty act to differentiate themselves from other performers. Just as other entertainers often find a niche, so too do magicians.

While no type of magic is particularly easy, some types are common for beginning magicians, such as learning sleight of hand tricks. Most magicians know a core base of tricks, and then develop their particular repertoire from there.

Magic is based on illusion and mystery, and all types of magic tricks employ this mystery. This is what is so alluring about magic! Secrecy is of course another major element of magic. Practicing magicians are very selective about who they share their secrets with. People who work with magicians are often required to sign contracts stating they will not share the magician’s secrets with anyone else.

What types of tricks do magicians perform? The following list is a basic overview of magic tricks that are commonly associated with the practice of magic.

Sleight of hand tricks are those that involve skilled hand movements where objects seem to appear and disappear in the hands of the performer. One of the oldest sleight of hand tricks originated in Ancient Egypt. In this trick, the performer hides balls under turned-over cups. As the performer moves the cups around, the balls change positions under the cups. The observers try to watch and guess where the balls will appear, but the magician fools them every time!

Sleight of hand tricks are used with a variety of objects, including card, coins, balls, and other objects. Some magicians have even used live animals. A magician skilled in sleight of hand can perform magic almost anytime, anywhere.

Illusions are those where the seemingly impossible becomes possible. Some of the better known illusion tricks include those where a woman is sawed in half and levitation tricks. Other illusions involve making people, animals, or objects reappear. David Copperfield, a modern-day magician, has made such large objects as the Statue of Liberty and a jet airplane disappear in front of live audiences.

Escape magic is just as it sounds. The most famous escape artist was Harry Houdini, who performed a number of daring escapes in front of large audiences in exotic locations. Suspended high in the air, Houdini would be handcuffed and placed inside locked or otherwise sealed containers and emerge moments later. Escape magic is intriguing not only because of the amazing feat, but also because of the danger involved.

Mentalists are another form of magicians who appear to read the minds of strangers. In front of live audiences, mentalists will recreate drawings done by audience members that are unseen to the magician, but visible to the audience. They will also read the minds of strangers and perform an array of amazing mental tricks. The mystery of the mentalist lies in the performance in front of a live audience. Some mentalists in modern times have even created tricks for television where they seem to read the minds of viewers!

How and where magicians perform varies a great deal as well. Street magic, close-up magic, and stage magic all offer amazing performances in vastly different settings. Street magic is as it sounds, performed outside and in the spur of the moment. Street magic often includes sleight of hand tricks, although a variety of magic is performed this way. One of the most famous current-day street magicians is David Blaine, who performs a wide range of card tricks, disappearing acts, and even levitation on the street.

Close-up magic is performed indoors or out, and often involves such things as card or coin tricks. It is performed just as it sounds–in close range. The audience is small, and the magician sits or stands in the middle, which adds to the allure–when people surround the magician, he or she has little room to “hide” anything. Additionally, when the audience is so close, one might assume the observers could easily see the magician’s tricks–but this isn’t the case!

Finally, stage magic is just as it sounds–magic performed onstage. These magic tricks date back in history to the 1700s, and are often very elaborate performances. Stage magicians offer an extensive range of tricks from sleight of hand to making large objects float or disappear. Oftentimes large animals are involved. There are a number of present-day famous stage magicians, including Siegfried and Roy, David Copperfield, and Penn and Teller.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

#5yrago Sleights of Mind: the secrets of neuromagic

Last month, I blogged a fascinating profile of Apollo Robbins, a stage pickpocket with an almost supernatural facility for manipulating attention and vision to allow him to literally relieve you of your watch, eyeglasses, and the contents of your wallet without you even noticing it, even after you've been told that he's planning on doing exactly that.

The profile mentioned that Robbins had consulted on a book called Sleights of Mind, written by a pair of neuroscientists named Stephen L Macknick and Susana Martinez-Conde (a husband and wife team, who also hired science writer Sandra Blakeslee to help with the prose, to very good effect). Macknick and Martinez-Conde are working scientists who had a key insight: the way that magicians manipulate our blind spots, our attention, our awareness, our intuitions and our assumptions reveal an awful lot about our neurological functions. Indeed, conjurers, pickpockets, ventriloquists and other performers are essentially practicing applied neuroscience, working out ways to systematically fool our  perceptions and make seemingly impossible things happen before our eyes.

The book is a marvellous read, a very well-balanced mix of summaries of published scientific insights into visual and attention systems; accounts of the meetings between illusionists and scientists that the authors organized; histories of magic tricks; exposure of psychic frauds and fakes; and a tale about the couple's quest to craft a neuroscience-based magic act that would gain them full membership to the exclusive Magic Castle in Los Angeles.

I really can't overstate the charm and delight of Sleights of Mind -- from the introduction to the extensive footnotes, it is a truly great popular science text on one of my favorite subjects. The accompanying website is full of supplemental videos, showing how illusions work as mechanical effects, scientific principles and bravura performances. The performers who assisted the authors -- James Randi, Penn and Teller, Derren Brown, and, of course, Apollo Robbins -- are all justly famed for their skill, and the book is worth a read just for the insight it provides into their work. But it goes so much farther, providing both a theoretical underpinning in the neuroscience of perception and consciousness, and practical advice on how to apply this to your everyday life.

One interesting note: the authors mention a book called The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception, which reprints the secret (and long-lost) training documents that magician John Mulholland created for the Agency in 1952, which were used at the height of the Cold War by US spies to deceive their Soviet counterparts -- for example, details of how to use the "big move" of lighting a cigarette to disguise the "small move" of slipping drugs into a rival's drink. I haven't read this yet, but I've just ordered it.

Sleights of Mind: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals About Our Everyday Deceptions

https://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/sleights-of-mind-the-secrets.html

[mostlysignssomeportents]

#6yrsago Sleights of Mind: the secrets of neuromagic

Last month, I blogged a fascinating profile of Apollo Robbins, a stage pickpocket with an almost supernatural facility for manipulating attention and vision to allow him to literally relieve you of your watch, eyeglasses, and the contents of your wallet without you even noticing it, even after you've been told that he's planning on doing exactly that.

The profile mentioned that Robbins had consulted on a book called Sleights of Mind, written by a pair of neuroscientists named Stephen L Macknick and Susana Martinez-Conde (a husband and wife team, who also hired science writer Sandra Blakeslee to help with the prose, to very good effect). Macknick and Martinez-Conde are working scientists who had a key insight: the way that magicians manipulate our blind spots, our attention, our awareness, our intuitions and our assumptions reveal an awful lot about our neurological functions. Indeed, conjurers, pickpockets, ventriloquists and other performers are essentially practicing applied neuroscience, working out ways to systematically fool our  perceptions and make seemingly impossible things happen before our eyes.

The book is a marvellous read, a very well-balanced mix of summaries of published scientific insights into visual and attention systems; accounts of the meetings between illusionists and scientists that the authors organized; histories of magic tricks; exposure of psychic frauds and fakes; and a tale about the couple's quest to craft a neuroscience-based magic act that would gain them full membership to the exclusive Magic Castle in Los Angeles.

I really can't overstate the charm and delight of Sleights of Mind -- from the introduction to the extensive footnotes, it is a truly great popular science text on one of my favorite subjects. The accompanying website is full of supplemental videos, showing how illusions work as mechanical effects, scientific principles and bravura performances. The performers who assisted the authors -- James Randi, Penn and Teller, Derren Brown, and, of course, Apollo Robbins -- are all justly famed for their skill, and the book is worth a read just for the insight it provides into their work. But it goes so much farther, providing both a theoretical underpinning in the neuroscience of perception and consciousness, and practical advice on how to apply this to your everyday life.

One interesting note: the authors mention a book called The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception, which reprints the secret (and long-lost) training documents that magician John Mulholland created for the Agency in 1952, which were used at the height of the Cold War by US spies to deceive their Soviet counterparts -- for example, details of how to use the "big move" of lighting a cigarette to disguise the "small move" of slipping drugs into a rival's drink. I haven't read this yet, but I've just ordered it.

Sleights of Mind: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals About Our Everyday Deceptions

https://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/sleights-of-mind-the-secrets.html

[steelcityreviews]

The Surprise Show

Performances: Every Wednesday night at 8pm during the month of September 2019. The Brightroom at The Staircase Theatre (27 Dundurn Street North, Hamilton. Please note: this part of the venue is not wheelchair accessible)

An evening of veteran and aspiring artists and performers trying new material is something that is right up my alley. I love being part of a semi-workshopping experience and providing feedback on that creative process. I was impressed with The Surprise Show hosted by Nicholas Wallace, an illusionist and storyteller, who has reached some significant recognition not only in Ontario but on shows like Penn and Teller: Fool Us and America’s Got Talent. 

Wallace leads the evening with some fascinating illusion and engages us with his unassuming charm, though you’re not quite sure if you can trust him because the jaw dropping reveal is coming when you don’t expect it. Wallace also hosts other performers in the community who give us a sample of their talents. This particular evening we were treated to an intriguing story about Lil’ Bastard (the infamous car belonging to 50′s film actor James Dean) and subsequent stories of the tragedies surrounding the car. REALLY interesting and storyteller Luke Brown of Flat Earth Global Productions sells the conspiracy and mythos well. Following that was some stand-up comedy from Ryan Sim whose brand of Hamilton-based humour is relatable but could use a bit of polish to land his narratives. Finally, there was a hilarious animation video (a father-son effort) from Wallace’s young son who tells a story about animals with a very unexpected twist. 

Overall, a really entertaining evening with several moments of disbelief, whimsy and humour. The Surprise Shows run every Wednesday evening for the rest of the month. Each Wednesday will have new guests and will showcase different pieces of material. Be a part of trying something new and a little unexpected. That’s the true joy of theatre and entertainment. 

For more information:

https://www.facebook.com/events/371144273578779/

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Sleights of Mind: the secrets of neuromagic #4yrsago

Last month, I blogged a fascinating profile of Apollo Robbins, a stage pickpocket with an almost supernatural facility for manipulating attention and vision to allow him to literally relieve you of your watch, eyeglasses, and the contents of your wallet without you even noticing it, even after you've been told that he's planning on doing exactly that.

The profile mentioned that Robbins had consulted on a book called Sleights of Mind, written by a pair of neuroscientists named Stephen L Macknick and Susana Martinez-Conde (a husband and wife team, who also hired science writer Sandra Blakeslee to help with the prose, to very good effect). Macknick and Martinez-Conde are working scientists who had a key insight: the way that magicians manipulate our blind spots, our attention, our awareness, our intuitions and our assumptions reveal an awful lot about our neurological functions. Indeed, conjurers, pickpockets, ventriloquists and other performers are essentially practicing applied neuroscience, working out ways to systematically fool our perceptions and make seemingly impossible things happen before our eyes.

The book is a marvellous read, a very well-balanced mix of summaries of published scientific insights into visual and attention systems; accounts of the meetings between illusionists and scientists that the authors organized; histories of magic tricks; exposure of psychic frauds and fakes; and a tale about the couple's quest to craft a neuroscience-based magic act that would gain them full membership to the exclusive Magic Castle in Los Angeles.

I really can't overstate the charm and delight of Sleights of Mind -- from the introduction to the extensive footnotes, it is a truly great popular science text on one of my favorite subjects. The accompanying website is full of supplemental videos, showing how illusions work as mechanical effects, scientific principles and bravura performances. The performers who assisted the authors -- James Randi, Penn and Teller, Derren Brown, and, of course, Apollo Robbins -- are all justly famed for their skill, and the book is worth a read just for the insight it provides into their work. But it goes so much farther, providing both a theoretical underpinning in the neuroscience of perception and consciousness, and practical advice on how to apply this to your everyday life.

One interesting note: the authors mention a book called The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception, which reprints the secret (and long-lost) training documents that magician John Mulholland created for the Agency in 1952, which were used at the height of the Cold War by US spies to deceive their Soviet counterparts -- for example, details of how to use the "big move" of lighting a cigarette to disguise the "small move" of slipping drugs into a rival's drink. I haven't read this yet, but I've just ordered it.

Sleights of Mind: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals About Our Everyday Deceptions

https://boingboing.net/2013/02/11/sleights-of-mind-the-secrets.html

[captainlenfan]

New Post has been published on https://leosmagic.space/types-of-magic-tricks-how-they-do/

Types Of Magic Tricks - How They Do

There are many kinds of magic tricks, but most fall into one of a few categories. Oftentimes, a magician will specialize in one or a few areas. For those who employ a range of techniques, they will often develop some type of persona or specialty act to differentiate themselves from other performers. Just as other entertainers often find a niche, so too do magicians.

While no type of magic is particularly easy, some types are common for beginning magicians, such as learning sleight of hand tricks. Most magicians know a core base of tricks, and then develop their particular repertoire from there.

Magic is based on illusion and mystery, and all types of magic tricks employ this mystery. This is what is so alluring about magic! Secrecy is of course another major element of magic. Practicing magicians are very selective about who they share their secrets with. People who work with magicians are often required to sign contracts stating they will not share the magician’s secrets with anyone else.

What types of tricks do magicians perform? The following list is a basic overview of magic tricks that are commonly associated with the practice of magic.

Sleight of hand tricks are those that involve skilled hand movements where objects seem to appear and disappear in the hands of the performer. One of the oldest sleight of hand tricks originated in Ancient Egypt. In this trick, the performer hides balls under turned-over cups. As the performer moves the cups around, the balls change positions under the cups. The observers try to watch and guess where the balls will appear, but the magician fools them every time!

Sleight of hand tricks are used with a variety of objects, including card, coins, balls, and other objects. Some magicians have even used live animals. A magician skilled in sleight of hand can perform magic almost anytime, anywhere.

Illusions are those where the seemingly impossible becomes possible. Some of the better known illusion tricks include those where a woman is sawed in half and levitation tricks. Other illusions involve making people, animals, or objects reappear. David Copperfield, a modern-day magician, has made such large objects as the Statue of Liberty and a jet airplane disappear in front of live audiences.

Escape magic is just as it sounds. The most famous escape artist was Harry Houdini, who performed a number of daring escapes in front of large audiences in exotic locations. Suspended high in the air, Houdini would be handcuffed and placed inside locked or otherwise sealed containers and emerge moments later. Escape magic is intriguing not only because of the amazing feat, but also because of the danger involved.

Mentalists are another form of magicians who appear to read the minds of strangers. In front of live audiences, mentalists will recreate drawings done by audience members that are unseen to the magician, but visible to the audience. They will also read the minds of strangers and perform an array of amazing mental tricks. The mystery of the mentalist lies in the performance in front of a live audience. Some mentalists in modern times have even created tricks for television where they seem to read the minds of viewers!

How and where magicians perform varies a great deal as well. Street magic, close-up magic, and stage magic all offer amazing performances in vastly different settings. Street magic is as it sounds, performed outside and in the spur of the moment. Street magic often includes sleight of hand tricks, although a variety of magic is performed this way. One of the most famous current-day street magicians is David Blaine, who performs a wide range of card tricks, disappearing acts, and even levitation on the street.

Close-up magic is performed indoors or out, and often involves such things as card or coin tricks. It is performed just as it sounds–in close range. The audience is small, and the magician sits or stands in the middle, which adds to the allure–when people surround the magician, he or she has little room to “hide” anything. Additionally, when the audience is so close, one might assume the observers could easily see the magician’s tricks–but this isn’t the case!

Finally, stage magic is just as it sounds–magic performed onstage. These magic tricks date back in history to the 1700s, and are often very elaborate performances. Stage magicians offer an extensive range of tricks from sleight of hand to making large objects float or disappear. Oftentimes large animals are involved. There are a number of present-day famous stage magicians, including Siegfried and Roy, David Copperfield, and Penn and Teller.

[captainlenfan]

New Post has been published on https://leosmagic.space/types-of-magic-tricks-how-they-do/

Types Of Magic Tricks - How They Do

There are many kinds of magic tricks, but most fall into one of a few categories. Oftentimes, a magician will specialize in one or a few areas. For those who employ a range of techniques, they will often develop some type of persona or specialty act to differentiate themselves from other performers. Just as other entertainers often find a niche, so too do magicians.

While no type of magic is particularly easy, some types are common for beginning magicians, such as learning sleight of hand tricks. Most magicians know a core base of tricks, and then develop their particular repertoire from there.

Magic is based on illusion and mystery, and all types of magic tricks employ this mystery. This is what is so alluring about magic! Secrecy is of course another major element of magic. Practicing magicians are very selective about who they share their secrets with. People who work with magicians are often required to sign contracts stating they will not share the magician’s secrets with anyone else.

What types of tricks do magicians perform? The following list is a basic overview of magic tricks that are commonly associated with the practice of magic.

Sleight of hand tricks are those that involve skilled hand movements where objects seem to appear and disappear in the hands of the performer. One of the oldest sleight of hand tricks originated in Ancient Egypt. In this trick, the performer hides balls under turned-over cups. As the performer moves the cups around, the balls change positions under the cups. The observers try to watch and guess where the balls will appear, but the magician fools them every time!

Sleight of hand tricks are used with a variety of objects, including card, coins, balls, and other objects. Some magicians have even used live animals. A magician skilled in sleight of hand can perform magic almost anytime, anywhere.

Illusions are those where the seemingly impossible becomes possible. Some of the better known illusion tricks include those where a woman is sawed in half and levitation tricks. Other illusions involve making people, animals, or objects reappear. David Copperfield, a modern-day magician, has made such large objects as the Statue of Liberty and a jet airplane disappear in front of live audiences.

Escape magic is just as it sounds. The most famous escape artist was Harry Houdini, who performed a number of daring escapes in front of large audiences in exotic locations. Suspended high in the air, Houdini would be handcuffed and placed inside locked or otherwise sealed containers and emerge moments later. Escape magic is intriguing not only because of the amazing feat, but also because of the danger involved.

Mentalists are another form of magicians who appear to read the minds of strangers. In front of live audiences, mentalists will recreate drawings done by audience members that are unseen to the magician, but visible to the audience. They will also read the minds of strangers and perform an array of amazing mental tricks. The mystery of the mentalist lies in the performance in front of a live audience. Some mentalists in modern times have even created tricks for television where they seem to read the minds of viewers!

How and where magicians perform varies a great deal as well. Street magic, close-up magic, and stage magic all offer amazing performances in vastly different settings. Street magic is as it sounds, performed outside and in the spur of the moment. Street magic often includes sleight of hand tricks, although a variety of magic is performed this way. One of the most famous current-day street magicians is David Blaine, who performs a wide range of card tricks, disappearing acts, and even levitation on the street.

Close-up magic is performed indoors or out, and often involves such things as card or coin tricks. It is performed just as it sounds–in close range. The audience is small, and the magician sits or stands in the middle, which adds to the allure–when people surround the magician, he or she has little room to “hide” anything. Additionally, when the audience is so close, one might assume the observers could easily see the magician’s tricks–but this isn’t the case!

Finally, stage magic is just as it sounds–magic performed onstage. These magic tricks date back in history to the 1700s, and are often very elaborate performances. Stage magicians offer an extensive range of tricks from sleight of hand to making large objects float or disappear. Oftentimes large animals are involved. There are a number of present-day famous stage magicians, including Siegfried and Roy, David Copperfield, and Penn and Teller.