Derren Brown’s Faith Healers

The recent Derren Brown special on Faith Healers was an interesting dip into the murky world of those who exploit people who have religious faith. Anyone who was interested in the program can follow it up by reading James Randi’s book The Faith Healers, published by Prometheus Books. The book gives a history of the subject and an analytical survey of faith healing in modern America.

Something to watch for in the near future is a Channel 5 program called Impossible hosted by Philip Escoffey. The show will be in a reality TV/game show format apparently. This continues the trend that has been present for some time now. BBC’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, BBC’s The Magicians and ITV’s Penn & Teller: Fool Us have all had a reality TV/rise to the challenge aspect to the them. The Derren Brown special on Faith Healers was just that, pushing Nathan, sometimes unwillingly, through his paces to meet the aim set by Brown. The last Derren Brown series, in which people were trained/mentored to tackle challenges, from escapology to being a quiz whiz, is another example.

I, for one, hope this trend fades. It detracts from the real point of interest which is magic and mentalism. I believe that the choice to do that, unfortunately, lies in the hands of those that hold the purse strings to make any of these programs and not with the performers.

ITV to bring out rival magic show to the BBC's 'The Magicians'

It's only been a short while since the BBC announced they are to make a new magic series The Magicians, in which magicians will compete against each other. Well, ITV1 has announced they are to make a similar series called Penn & Teller: Fool Us. Another coincidental similarity is that both series are being hosted by comedy presenters. Lenny Henry will host The Magicians and Jonathan Ross will host Penn & Teller: Fool Us. Which series will be the better? I hope they're both good. I hope this is the beginning of a comeback for magic on both channels. I can only wait and see.

ITV's Demons

Jill was eager to watch the new ITV series Demons. She enjoyed the first episode but I lost interest very quickly. The reason is because it’s Buffy The Vampire Slayer all over again. Strangely, Jill never liked that program but now she likes a program which has the same formula. A teenager turns out to have the ability to slay vampires, etc., and it is his/her destiny to do so regardless of what he/she wants. In Buffy it is an American girl with an English mentor telling her how to be a slayer. In Demons it is an English boy with an American mentor telling him how to be a slayer. Both have a teenage friend or friends who require rescuing. Both have a single parent that they must keep in the dark about their adventures. Both are students.

It’s only an educated guess but I think we can expect Demons to cover the same ground as Buffy did. Continual teenage angst about trying to find a happy balance between academic studies, romantic interests, a difficult relationship with a parent who doesn’t understand the reasons for their child’s mysterious behaviour, trying not to lose friends because of not having time for them due to all that slaying going on or through their being kidnapped or attacked by evil entities; eventually, when the same plotline starts to wear thin on those topics, the scriptwriters revert to the old favourites such as a clichéd parallel universe story or just change some of the cast members, etc.

I wonder if the production company asked and received permission to use a scenario similar to Buffy?