Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

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CraigMitchell
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Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby CraigMitchell » January 9th, 2010, 6:37 am

Set your TV's ... Shawn Farquhar is on the Ellen Degeneres show on Thursday, January 14th ...

Congrats, Shawn!

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby mrgoat » January 9th, 2010, 10:15 am

Please let there be no music by Sting involved.

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby Pete Biro » January 9th, 2010, 12:27 pm

Why not?
Stay tooned.

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby Magic Mike » January 9th, 2010, 3:23 pm

Way to go, Shawn. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. I'll be watching!!

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby CraigMitchell » January 9th, 2010, 3:58 pm

Please can someone record and share online with those of us not in the US ...

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby mrgoat » January 9th, 2010, 4:13 pm

CraigMitchell wrote:Please can someone record and share online with those of us not in the US ...


That would be illegal, I wouldn't recommend discussing such activities in public.

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby Magic Newswire » January 9th, 2010, 4:22 pm

The really nice thing about this is Ellen's continued interest in magic, n spite of the segment that she did with Blaine which was a bit controversial RE: exposure. Good to see a talk show have magicians on so often!

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby Dustin Stinett » January 9th, 2010, 5:34 pm

Not to mention what happened when Neil Patrick Harris was on and did the comedy guillotine and she had to apologize the next day. Some folks may have been soured by that experience.

Dustin

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby Magic Newswire » January 9th, 2010, 6:37 pm

Ellen has had a number of magician's on since then, and personally, the reaction to that was just silly. I Poke with Shawn today and it appears that this will be the first of many appearances on Ellen. More details (obviously) at MagicNewswire.com

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby Joe Pecore » January 9th, 2010, 10:02 pm

Craig Mitchell, Most clips ends up on her website: http://ellen.warnerbros.com/search/?sea ... ce&q=magic
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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby CraigMitchell » January 10th, 2010, 3:36 am

Thanks, Joe. Great to see that Ellen shares a large number of episodes on her website ( without the usual geographic restrictions which normally prevents overseas vistors from viewing ) so all being well, hopefully Shawn's segment makes it to the site.

Should be fantastic coverage for him.

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby Magic Newswire » January 10th, 2010, 10:52 am

Here's a write-up from her siteprmoting Shawn's episode:

It's time to play a round of Ellen's favorite game: Blindfolded Musical Chairs! Laugh as audience members stumble and bump around looking for chairs without being able to see. They'd better keep an eye on their watches though, that's because the World Champion sleight-of-hand magician SHAWN FARQUHAR will be here to show Ellen his amazing tricks. Then, "Grey's Anatomy" star ELLEN POMPEO will be here to tell Ellen all about the show, her marriage and her new baby girl. Also, from "The Big Bang Theory," JIM PARSONS will be here all the way from... the other side of the WB lot. He plays a genius on the show, so we'll see how he stands up to Ellen's IQ test!

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby CraigMitchell » January 14th, 2010, 1:54 am

Ellen gives Shawn the 'royal' Canadian welcome ... check out the preview clip:

http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2010/01/edw ... 4_2010.php

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby CraigMitchell » January 14th, 2010, 11:48 am


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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby mrgoat » January 14th, 2010, 12:01 pm

The sealed deck was nice, but gosh, the beginning fell really flat for me? I detest XCM stuff anyway, but if you're going to do it, at least be bloody good at it. I can dig Dan and Dave, you know. But here, Shawn seems to be stuttering through this stuff. He seems to be inelegant and very conscious of what he is doing. There is no flow.

Also, he needs to be told not to riffle and snap the cards all the time, the sound was rather irritating.

Brilliant to get a gig on what I assume is a national show though and my, Ellen is looking quite saucy too!

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby Gary Kosnitzky » January 14th, 2010, 12:21 pm

"Ellen is looking quite saucy too! "

That made me laugh.

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby mrgoat » January 14th, 2010, 12:27 pm

Well I'm a Brit, not seen her since the sitcom went off air, years ago. She looks better now than she did then.
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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby CraigMitchell » January 14th, 2010, 12:51 pm

Ellen is internationally syndicated - exposure is massive

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby mrgoat » January 14th, 2010, 1:21 pm

CraigMitchell wrote:Ellen is internationally syndicated - exposure is massive


Well it's not on any channels I have access to Mr Mitchell, pardon my ignorance concerning her worldwide syndication deals.

I only said that I fancied her.

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 14th, 2010, 1:36 pm

She is cute, but boys are not on her agenda, goat. You'll have to make due.
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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby Mark.Lewis » January 14th, 2010, 2:34 pm

I suppose I should comment on this. This chap was lecturing in Toronto and I was there but of course I never watch lectures since I know everything anyway. I therefore have nothing to say about it.

Regarding the television programme I am somewhat in agreement with the goat person. He did indeed look very ill at ease and very nervous. I have always said the key to appearing on television is to look as relaxed as possible and act as if you own the place. But it should be quiet acting. Not over anxious.

I agree about the riffling and snapping but that was probably nerves. I think new to television performers should beware of the long shots. Not because of anything being exposed but when the performer is seen from a distance they often look terribly nervous sitting on the edge of their seat looking terribly self concious. I have seen this several times even with quite big names. It is especially noticable if there is a host present (as there was in this case) who looks terribly relaxed in comparison.

If there are other people in the picture who are perfectly used to being on television you have to look as relaxed as they are especially if you are viewed with a long shot. Something for Shawn to work on the next time he is on TV.

On the other hand I am not going to be too critical for one good reason that transcends all my objections. And the goat's objections too. He went over very well for whatever reason and the enthusiastic audience response was very apparent. In fact I am wondering if they were rented from L & L. But the audience response is all that matters. Or nearly so anyway.

I was quite impressed with Ellen, more for what she didn't say rather than what she said. I have seen TV celebrity hosts time after time interrupt the performer and never shut up. They always seem to want to steal the limelight and of course the performer is too intimidated to shut them up.

Ellen knew how to be quiet and help the perfomer do his thing. I am afraid that Shawn would have died a terrible death if he had a more impolite host. Ellen is to be congratulated for her courtesy in simply being quiet and letting him do his thing.

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 14th, 2010, 3:05 pm

These days I'm hesitant to critique anyone's work on TV because if I went on TV the result would be only an entertaining heart attack followed by being carried off on a stretcher. That would be me, dead.

That said, I think Shawn works far too fast, diminishing the effect of each item because he just keeps piling it on. This is not unique to his appearance here, but something I've seen him do before. Also, he spends too much time looking down at his hands when he's working, and only looks up at the spectator's face for any length of time if he's not doing anything with his hands.
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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby Mark.Lewis » January 14th, 2010, 4:25 pm

I agree 100% with Richard. In fact I forgot to mention that I thought he was a mite too fast. Television is an intimate medium and does not relate well to too much sound and fury. Neither does it relate well to somebody going a million miles an hour. Still the audience seemed to love it.
I bet the chap has never been on television before. I could be wrong but he gave me that impression.

I found Shawn's speed quite unusual since I have always said that Canadians talk slow, walk slow and especially think slow. When I first came to this country to rip off the masses I had to slow down so they could keep up with me. I gave that up though and figured that since the place was part of the British Empire it should adhere to British standards and they would have to keep up with me rather than the other way around.

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby skmayhew » January 15th, 2010, 3:33 pm

I think Mr Farquhar did an excellent job. This is the best magic on TV performance I've seen in a long, long time.

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby Dustin Stinett » January 15th, 2010, 4:17 pm

I enjoyed it, though I do agree with Richard about his pace (and I too would be D-E-D dead!). At first I thought that the opening with pairing off cards from a shuffled and cut deck wasto mea tad too strong. After that, the audience might be thinking, What cant you do with a deck of cards? Thats why Martin Nash always closed with pairing off the deck. But, the sealed deck settled the question: It killed!

I also thought Ellen was terrific. She is following in the mold of Johnny Carson when it comes to magicians, and I like that. And yes, shes looking great these days, but (if I may say) I do prefer her girlfriend!!!

Dustin

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby Tim Ellis » January 15th, 2010, 7:28 pm

We just saw Shawn on Ellen her in Australia last night.

I thought he did a great job. Well routined and a great selection of effects.

Yes, he was fast, but that's TV.

When Sue-Anne did a spot a few months ago on a live show with the regular magician from the program, the 5 minute segment was pushed back repeatedly and suddenly became a two and a half minute segment a few moments before they went on.

The producers expected (and got) every single effect in half the time.

I do enjoy slower, more deliberate magic pieces, but to capture and hold the interest of non-magic fans on TV you do often have to work at a somewhat breakneck speed.

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 15th, 2010, 8:48 pm

Ellen is looking at Shawn's face, or trying to, but she's looking at the top of his head because his eyes are locked on his hands unless his hands aren't doing any sleights. Then he looks up.
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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby Joe Pecore » January 15th, 2010, 9:15 pm

He also did a mismade torn and restored effect with Ellen's publicity photo after the commercial break, which wasn't on the clip available on her website.
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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby Dustin Stinett » January 15th, 2010, 11:59 pm

And more kudos to Ellen for, shall we say, assisting with that effect as well as she did. (Im surprised its not on the clip.)

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby CraigMitchell » January 16th, 2010, 3:15 am

I found a clip of the second section of Shawn's performance featuring the torn & restored card:

http://img85.yfrog.com/i/ellen.mp4/

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby mrgoat » January 16th, 2010, 6:24 am

Took him a while to ditch!

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby Seuss » January 16th, 2010, 8:32 am

Dustin Stinett wrote:I also thought Ellen was terrific. She is following in the mold of Johnny Carson when it comes to magicians, and I like that. And yes, shes looking great these days, but (if I may say) I do prefer her girlfriend!!!

Dustin


I think you mean her hot wife. If you are referring to Portia de Rossi that is, they were married 2 years ago.
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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby Jim Maloney » January 16th, 2010, 5:46 pm

You may have heard that, but they haven't.

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby The Slow One » January 16th, 2010, 10:11 pm

Amazing card stuff...i agree 'twas a little fast, but he probably had to fit a large routine into a short time window. But dang..signed card in sealed card box...in the spectator's hand...amazing. Kudos to Farquhar.

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby Roberto » January 16th, 2010, 10:29 pm

Richard Kaufman wrote:She is cute, but boys are not on her agenda, goat. You'll have to make due.


Richard, that was hilarious! Now I have to blow out the Muscle Milk I squirted out my nose when I read that, lol.

Wow! That sealed deck effect Mr. Farquhar did for Ellen was excellent!


Roberto

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby Ryan Matney » January 17th, 2010, 4:50 am

Dustin,

I'm not sure the torn and restored effect works the way you are thinking. Shawn teaches the torn and restored photo in his lectures. It is impromptu and does not require any advance work on the part of the spectator.
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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby amp » January 17th, 2010, 8:32 am

I think Shawn Farquhar did a great job. He performed four tricks in 5 minutes and 53 seconds which is very good for a guest spot.
Ellen was good but her staff is a pain to work with.
We receive many calls from Ellen show for my son Eli.
I think the reason they didn't used him was time.
A few years ago he was performing his 6 minute act. But I think it was too long they didn't say why. Now when Oprah called her staff was very nice . Ellen not so nice.
I hope Shawn had a better experience.

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Re: Brilliant news - Shawn Farquhar on Ellen

Postby Mark.Lewis » January 18th, 2010, 1:07 am

Tim Ellis wrote:We just saw Shawn on Ellen her in Australia last night.

I thought he did a great job. Well routined and a great selection of effects.

Yes, he was fast, but that's TV.

When Sue-Anne did a spot a few months ago on a live show with the regular magician from the program, the 5 minute segment was pushed back repeatedly and suddenly became a two and a half minute segment a few moments before they went on.

The producers expected (and got) every single effect in half the time.

I do enjoy slower, more deliberate magic pieces, but to capture and hold the interest of non-magic fans on TV you do often have to work at a somewhat breakneck speed.


Dearie me. Young Timothy has a lot to learn. Television is the LAST place you should operate at breakneck speed.



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