A couple weeks ago, The Duke had the distinct pleasure of meeting Derren Brown after the psychological illusionist's utterly stunning show at The Waterfront Hall in Belfast. I don't recall much of what he said, although there is a nice picture to prove that the event took place, and that it wasn't just some suggestion put into my skull via his onstage bantering. I do, however, recall that he was incredibly charming.
Really, man, there ain't a nicer motherfucker in the world of magic is what I'm guessing.
Anyway, on Monday night Channel Four in the UK broadcast the latest of Derren's ratings-hogging feats of wonderment, in the form of the hour-long special, Derren Brown - Séance.
Unlike the antics of, say, David Blaine, Derren's stunts actually have a point to them most of the time, and a nigh-on astronomical level of entertainment value.
I mean really, what would you rather watch? A fella playing Russian Roulette or a bloke sitting in a box for three months. I mean, seriously David Blaine.
That Russian Roulette carry-on actually did as much to sully Derren's reputation in some quarters as it did to enhance it. Turns out he wasn't using live rounds, don't you know.
These folks obviously miss the fact that a blank fired against one's temple would undoubtedly kill any motherfucker, even if said motherfucker is fit to convince a bloke that he's invisible, or make a medical student stick a needle through his skin.
He couldn't feel a damn thing, man. What the hell?
Anyway, the séance malarkey was finally approved by Offcom, the TV Watchdog types, and on night of the show, The Duchess and I, I being The Duke, sat down with the required accessories and prepared ourselves for a touch of the old televisual spookery.
The show was something of a history-books-contender anyroad, even if it had been a load of old toss. This is the first time, y'see, that a séance has been televised in the UK.
Even though you American folks are able to devote an evening to trying to conjure Princess Diana or whoever via the ouiji board and so on, us folks seem to be more cautious when it comes to invoking the spirits of our ancestors.
Anyway, man, if I was gonna yack to a dead royal I'd talk to Henry VIII. I mean have you saw that guy? He must've weighed 30 stone, and yet he had eight wives, no less, before he popped his overweight clogs.
What gives, man? How can a guy that overweight and with such awful facial hair be so blasé when it comes to the females that he can just go around chopping their heads off when he feels like it? I'd want some answers to those historicalised questions, is what I'm getting at.
Article comments
1 - Chris Kent
Just goes to show El Senor Duke, there be no telling what the hell the olde land puts on the telly these days. Sounds a bit like bad reality programming to me.....which us folks in the states get force-fed on a daily basis.....
OK, TV seance reminded me of a long-time law in England banning any reference to magic, wtichcraft, etc....for many, many years due to supposed Satanic attachments. This be true Mr. Duke? Also heard this ban was only recently lifted (last 10 years or so), which could possibly explain first-ever seance on the tube?
Also remember Johnny Carson on the old Tonight Show had a supposed medium as a guest. Guy claimed he could bend metal, etc...just by thinking it. Ol' Johnny, a former magician himself, tricked his host and put a surprise table of metal, etc. before him, asking the poor sod to do his work. Guy blushed and said the conditions were not right, then angrily left the stage during a commercial break.......
Ol'Johnny, we miss ya!
2 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
Folks, i seriously embaressed by how awful this piece turned out to be. Honest to god, i am cringing so much right now. And its a shame, becuase this derren brown fella is honestly the most talented performer on telly at the minute, and crud like this does him, the show, and blogcritics a disservice. Methinks The Duke needs a day or two off.
Sorry folks.
Oh, and Chris, thank you good sir. Alawys a pleasure. Great Johnny anecdote there. Im not 100% as to the reasons for the ban on telly-related withcraft, but i'll try and find out. All through this programme, and at the end, the channel announcers went out of their way to remind us that it was an Entertainment programme, and shouldn't be taken seriously or whatever, at least as far as the ouiji boards go.
3 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
this comment was left by jadester, and sadly got lost amidst the turmoil of my trying to post this article! i found this just now in my SPAM inbox! (spam! from blogcritics! come on, AOL!) and so now put it back here. Thank you Jadester. Sorry this got lost.
JADESTER
The Duke De Mondo: Loveable literate redneck, occasional double-poster =+P
I agree that Derren Brown is rather cool. The way he doesn't make such a fuss about everything he does (unlike, let me see now, wossisname, David something?) is especially good.
He doesn't make out he's got some uber power, he's just practised his stuff so much he's perfected it. He THE man!
4 - Chris Kent
Well shit,
Now I be wishing I lived in England to see this modern-day Houdini!.....;)...Will someone please tell him to come to America!
5 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
Chris, seriously, the man is a genius. Let me relate what he did on tonights show (although it was a repeat); he got 9 genius chess players together, 2 of which were grandmasters, and set them in a circle, each with a chess board. he then went round and played each of them, moving on to the next after each move until all the games were finsihed. He ended up beating over half of them, and admitted he was terrible at chess. How? He lined them up so that basically 8 of the 9 were facing each other, and simply had them playing against one another. All he was doing was noting the move made against him by the fella on one side, memorising it, and then repeating it when he got around to the fella on the opposite side, if that makes sense. So really, he was only playing one person, the 9th, and he was the weakest player of them all. Unbelievable.
check out http://www.derrenbrown.co.uk for a better description and whatnot of his mind-bending antics.
6 - Chris Kent
Fascinating El Senor Duke......
I shall check out the link. I still think there's a catch in all this, but I love a good magician......:)
7 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
chris, if that what your after, you wont be dissapointed. however, i just noticed that the site what i linked to, whilst very good, is perhaps less suited to your current staus with regards mr brown. better, perhaps, is http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/M/mindcontrol/
which is devoted to his current series, and features video clips and brief descriptions which hint at how he achives the results. brilliant stuff!
8 -
sceance is fixed what ever photo you choose it will allways hit jane i recored it haha!
9 -
sceance is fixed what ever photo you choose it will allways hit jane i recored it haha!
10 - Chris
It is amazing that someone can learn Derren Brown secrets in 3 days. Have you seen www.DerrenBrownExposed.com ? They sell the best NLP course around including all Derren Brown secrets. I bought the course last Sunday and used my mom as a subject. My father was so much amused with the results that he wants to read the course now too (I dont want to think WHY!!!). You can re-program your subjects your mind that she/he will do almost anything you programmed her/him to do. In my case, I programmed my mom to give me 50 pound and after minutes she brought fifty pound happily to me (She normally moans even for a fiver) in case I need to go out with my mates. Me and dad was amazed! It is so much fun. Try it www.DerrenBrownExposed.com ... You wont regret!