Review: Celebracadabra, Week 4, Walkaround

C. Thomas Howell Shines but the Show Cheats Viewers

In a show segment, an audience member falls asleep during a magic performance. And likewise, viewers could have simply slept through this show because of the lumbering pace and the fact that the outcome didn't matter. There were moments but no payoff.

Walkaround Magic
This week, the contestants had to perform walkaround magic, the kind that magicians often perform in restaurants and at corporate events. A twist, the audience was a group of seniors at a retirement community.

The seniors were an unusual audience choice. Did the producers arrogantly think that seniors would be funny? Or did they think that walkaround magic would be too similar to the "David Blaine" style street (close-up) magic in week one?

Coach Swaps
After winning last week, Kim Wyatt got to keep her coach, Murray. Meanwhile, the others had to trade: Lisa Ann Walter inherited Rocco and Hal Sparks teamed with David Regal and Silly Billy with C. Thomas Howell. Conflict was initially built on Rocco’s negative opinion of female magicians and his arrogant attitude, which initially perked interest, but seemingly went nowhere.

The best performer this week was Howell who presented the most engaging personality, and with the exception of his performance in the "face-off," was the most successful at this magic genre.

Stage or Close-Up?
Walter performed with lots of fire, which certainly gets attention. She remained engaging, although her warm and comedic style may work better with tutelage from Silly Billy. Sparks mastered a coin vanish and impressed the judges.

Meanwhile, Wyatt was burdened by an inappropriate selection of tricks and encountered problems with her handkerchief effect. Overall, Wyatt was the most nervous and her presentation showed it.

Wyatt's tricks were more suitable for stand-up than traditional walkaround. The props didn't fit into pockets and resets were too lengthy.

I take no issue with Wyatt carrying around a bag of props. I often do this at my restaurants where I perform for regulars who have seen me, in a few cases, dozens of times. I have to carry lots of material to accommodate their request when they ask "what do you have for us this week?" Meanwhile, for corporate gigs where no one has seen me before, I do carry everything that I need in my suit pockets.

The Dirty Trick
The show was only 45 minutes in when the judging occurred - far too early to end the show. Wyatt, the lowest scoring magician of the week, was saved and the remaining three had to participate in a magic face-off with a trick apiece. No one was going home, but a winner would be declared.

Fascinating, for such a surprise, each contestant had a trick on them.

While I understand that a show's producers can do anything that they please, not eliminating a contestant and negating the show's results broke a promise with viewers. Why are we even watching a competition where the outcome can be so grossly manipulated?

Furthermore, how can we be expected to vest interest into contestants when incidents such as this can occur? Was Wyatt deemed the biggest draw and too important to the show to lose? Did the producers feel that the genre this week was of little interest or the series was going flat and needed to pull a stunt?

Other Thoughts
By performing for seniors, the contestants demonstrated a paramount magic rule, never under estimate your audience. While the producers liked to show the segment of the senior dozing off, I've found seniors to be astute and responsive crowds. Keep in mind that many of these people play cards daily, and for all practical purposes, are card counters.

A magic trick was referred to by its marketed name, but after searching, I found that it wasn’t available on sponsor Ellusionist's site. I was looking forward to pointing out blatant product placement, but this apparently was not the case. Thus far, Ellusionist has held to its promise not to reveal secrets.

If you haven’t heard ,the show is moving to a new time slot, Thursday nights, which begins this week. This week, the competition moves back to the stage.

More Reading:
Review: Celebracadabra - Week Three
Review: Celebracadabra Week Two - Kids Magic
Review: Celebracadabra - Week 1, Street Magic
What Makes a Great Magician?