This week at the Magic Castle

Wow, Darryl is back in town, Robert Baxt and Arthur Trace are in the Peller too.

This Year Winners of the Academy of Magical Arts Arards

Although I did not go, I feel it's important to announce the winners.

Close-Up Performing Fellowship - Bob White

Stage Performing Fellowship - Franz Harary

Special Fellwoship - Jules Fisher

Literary Fellowship - Stan Allen

Creative Fellowship - Dean Dill

Lifetime Achievement Award - John Daniel

Masters Fellowship - Lance Burton

Award of Merit - William Scott Anderson

Junior Achievement Award - Jeffery Black

The member-voted award winners are:

Lecture - David Regal

Stage - Dana Daniels

Palour - Andrew Goldenhersh

Close-Up - Suzanne

The 2010 Magician of the Year is Topas

TV Events for Magic

The Simpsons: The Great Simpsina
Sunday, April 10th, 8 p.m. E/P, FOX
With their 22nd season now on the air, The Simpsons has turned to magic as a plot device for an episode titled "The Great Simpsina." When Lisa is forced to run into what appears to be an empty old house, she is startled when the owner shows up. When the old man is revealed to be The Great Raymondo, a famous magician, Lisa begs to be taught the tricks of the trade. Thus, Lisa Simpson becomes The Great Simpsina.

Cover: The Simpsons™ ©2011 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Make Believe
Tuesday, April 12th, 7:30 p.m. E/P, Showtime
The film documentary that follows contestants on their road to the 2009 Teen Stage Competition at the World Magic Seminar debuts April 12th on the Showtime network. The teenage conjurors are Hiroki Hara of Japan; Bill Koch, Krystyn Lambert, and Derek McKee of the US; and Siphiwe Fangase and Nkumbuzo Nkonyana from South Africa. The film also airs on April 16th (11:30 a.m.), 18th (10 a.m.), and 24th (11 a.m.), as well as other showings on Sho 2 and Showtime Showcase. Click here for a listing of dates and times. Make Believe is also slated for limited theatrical release in May.

From iTricks: Gary Darwin Back Home After Leg Amputation

Gary Darwin Back Home After Leg Amputation

Gary Darwin, a staple of Las Vegas underground magic scene is out of the hospital and back to doing what he does best after a scary medical emergency that saw his leg amputated.

According to Rick Lax’ story in Las Vegas Weekly,Darwin (a diabetic) stepped on a screw which led to a series of complications and ultimately the surgery. Darwin credits the strength of his community in helping his get back to normal.

“When Lance [Burton] heard I was in the hospital, he came over and slept on the floor beside me. All night long. He followed me to surgery. And when I got out, there were 20 magicians in my room to misdirect me from the pain.”

• I know we were all wishing the best for Gary when we were at World Magic Seminar and I am glad that he is home.

Penn & Teller, Ricky Jay, David Copperfield Lend Voices To This Week’s Simpsons Episode

Lisa Simpson becomes the apprentice of an old magician and somehow David Copperfield, Ricky Jay and Penn & Teller somehow get involved. At least that is the plot on the next episode of The Simpsons Sunday. All four magicians lend their voices (or lack thereof) to this week’s installment of the veteran cartoon series.

Penn talked about the experience on his series Penn Point in August of last year. BEWARE, he has a FOUL MOUTH that uses IMPOLITE LANGUAGE.

The Simpsons airs this Sunday at 8 p.m. on FOX.

This Week at the Magic Castle

Its an amazing week at the Castle. Check out Aye Jaye and Farrell Dillion in the Palace and my pal Rafael Benatar in the close up room.

tommEE pickles to perform for the Children Hospital

Hope is planned for June 5th 2011 and tommEE will perform his magic. Children's Hospital Los Angeles is a nonprofit, academic, pediatric medical center. They provide the highest quality healthcare for children who are the sickest and most seriously injured in this region and beyond. Each year, they treat more than 93,000 children who need care that is so complex, it can only be provided by medical experts. They provide care in more than 100 medical specialty and subspecialty areas. They are a research hospital and believe that it is through research that they can improve the delivery of care to the children of the future.