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''Wizard Wars'' is a
reality competition Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 19 ...
show in which teams of magicians create and perform original magic routines before a live studio audience. Their acts are judged on creativity, deception, and showmanship. Vegas headliners
Penn & Teller Penn & Teller, Penn Jillette and Teller, are American magicians, entertainers, and scientific skeptics who have performed together since the late 1970s. They are noted for their ongoing act that combines elements of comedy with magic. The duo ha ...
head up the judging panel, alongside magic critic Christen Gerhart and World Champion of Magic
Jason Latimer Jason Latimer (born March 7, 1981), known by the stage name LATIMER, is an American illusionist. In 2003, he became one of four Americans ever to win the title Grand Prix "Best Overall" at the World Championships of Magic. In 2012, Latime ...
. ''Wizard Wars'' also features four "home team" magicians—the "Wizards"—who return every week to take on new teams of "challengers." Wizards include street magician
Justin Flom Justin Flom (born April 29, 1986)Linking Ring Magazine Volume 87 Number 5 May 2007 is an American magician. He is best known for his YouTube series and television show Wizard Wars in which he performs magic with ordinary objects. Along with his vi ...
, stage illusionist David Shimshi, mentalist Angela Funovits, and con man Gregory Wilson. The series premiered August 19, 2014 ''Wizard Wars'' was created in 2012 by Vegas-based magic consultant
Rick Lax Rick Lax (born April 17, 1982) is an American author, entertainer, and magician. Early life and education Born in Detroit, Lax's interest in magic began at age 5, inspired by David Copperfield. After attending Michigan State University and the ...
and street magician
Justin Flom Justin Flom (born April 29, 1986)Linking Ring Magazine Volume 87 Number 5 May 2007 is an American magician. He is best known for his YouTube series and television show Wizard Wars in which he performs magic with ordinary objects. Along with his vi ...
. Flom filmed the original ''Wizard Wars'' pilot in Lax's apartment, on a $15 budget. The competing magicians created routines with placemats, beach balls, colored erasers and fake oranges. Flom's YouTube video, featured on Wired.com and BoingBoing.com, caught the eye of production company A. Smith & Co., who worked with Lax and Flom to sell the show to the Syfy network. Flom now stars in the show as a "Wizard"; Lax works behind the scene as a producer and magic consultant. Notable magicians appearing on ''Wizard Wars'' include Kyle Marlett, Las Vegas headliners, Murray SawChuck, Tommy Wind, Nathan Burton, Greg Dow and John Stessel, ''America's Got Talent''s Leon Etienne, and Naathan Phan. Over a million people watched the ''Wizard Wars'' series premiere. The episode highlighted Canadian illusionists Chris Funk and Ekaterina, who ended up losing the "Wizard War" to "Wizards" Gregory Wilson and Justin Flom. Speaking on behalf of Flom and himself, Lax said this of the Internet-to-series premier journey: “The most unlikely part of the YouTube-video-to-Syfy-show transition was that the original ''Wizard Wars'' vision stayed in shape...Everyone told me, ‘Hollywood is going to tear your idea apart,’ but that didn't happen. Only thing that happened was the magic got bigger and better.” ''Wizard Wars'' maintained "very solid ratings" and was renewed for another six episodes. In these six episodes ("Season 1.5") former Challenger Billy Kidd joins the cast as a full-fledged Wizard.


Behind-The-Scenes

In August 2014
Wired (website) ''Wired'' (stylized as ''WIRED'') is a monthly American magazine, published in print and online magazine, online editions, that focuses on how emerging technologies affect culture, the economy, and politics. Owned by Condé Nast, it is headquar ...
offered viewers a behind-the-scenes look at Season 1 of ''Wizard Wars''. ‘Behind the Scenes of a Reality Show Where Magicians Fight for Fame
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Episode list


Season 1 (2014)


References


External links


Syfy channel ''Wizard Wars'' page
{{Penn & Teller 2010s American reality television series American television magic shows 2014 American television series debuts 2015 American television series endings Syfy original programming