Derren-gement
I slightly exaggerate, on stage, the extent of my fascination with/hero-worship of Derren Brown (I do this for comic effect, the way I exaggerate pretty much everything else). But it’s true that I do think he’s one of the most inspirational and imaginative entertainers on TV/in the world, so I am greatly looking forward to watching him on Channel 4 at 10pm. I hardly ever make a point of watching anything, because I’m never in and I tend to sort of sloppily catch up with things weeks after they’ve been on. But I have the luxury of a night in tonight ALMOST AS IF DERREN PLANNED IT THAT WAY.
Anyway – from the little I know about tonight’s show, it involves him making a positive difference to one person’s life by overhauling his confidence, culminating in (during the show) the person having to intervene in what he believes is a genuine emergency on a plane. I don’t think any of this spoils the fun, because this much has already been revealed in general publicity. To judge from Mr Brown’s previous TV specials, though, there will be an atmosphere and sense of danger about the whole thing which very few people are able to conjure. People have criticised him in the past for doing live/semi-live TV specials which didn’t quite work, but for me, that’s all part of the fun. Not many people can leave so many viewers thinking ‘hang on, what happened there? Was that meant to happen?’ and so on.
But anyway anyway anyway. The point is, both the subject of the show (making someone more confident) and the overriding theme (it’s good to use your skills to make a difference, even to just one other human) are relevant to this blog. The latter theme is pretty much exactly the same as my – oddly-sized, as a couple of people have remarked – novel. And the former is something which many readers of the blog will find interesting. The recent Can I Help You? questions included a lot of comments from people struggling with some area of their confidence. It’s no accident that people like this are drawn to (a) online communities and (b) me, since I talk about it probably more than any other comedian. And indeed more than most people in most fields generally, because admitting you’re not sure if you are a bit shit tends to be seen as professional suicide in a lot of areas of life.
So – I’ve no idea what tonight’s DB show will consist of really, or if it’ll be any good, but if you feel like it, lots of us could all watch it, and then we can discuss it. See what I mean?
Enjoy it!
Posted by Rachael on September 10, 2010
I got an encyclopedia of guilty pleasures for christmas and Derren Brown is in it, I don’t feel guilty for loving him though. He’s just great isn’t he?
Posted by amycool on September 9, 2010
Just watched this on the iPlayer and thought it was wonderfully brilliant! It must have been a logistical nightmare to make but I think it was well worth it. As for thinking, “I would never do that”, I get the same feeling, but then I’m incredibly lacking in suggestibility, and never knew what people were talking about when they said peer pressure.
The message was just lovely and made me feel slightly weepy, just like a similar message in some of Dawkin’s books did. There’s no reason to do crazy things all of the time, but it’s so important to remember how lucky we are to have been born (statistically speaking) so as not to waste the life we’ve found ourselves in.
Even if it turns out the whole thing was a set-up, I wouldn’t care, as it may just inspire somebody to do something nice for a stranger or go for that job they’d always been too scared to apply for.
Posted by Lydia on September 9, 2010
I think I might watch that on iplayer. I’ve never really seen much of what Derren Brown has done. I saw him pull off a chicken’s head and put it back on once, though.
Posted by Laura on September 9, 2010
I bloody love Derren Brown. I was lucky enough to see him live last year (or the year before, I lose track…) and it was freaky. The man is the very definition of a genius.
Posted by MusicalLottie on September 9, 2010
I don’t watch Derren Brown because psychological manipulation makes me VERY uncomfortable – I have no doubt that he is exceedingly intelligent and a great showman; it’s just not my cup of tea! That said, the article to which Ben Draper posted a link was very interesting, though it did nothing to make me feel any more comfortable with Derren Brown’s tricks …
Speaking of catching up on things, Weeny Dancers on iPlayer now has subtitles so I can go and catch up on the next episode
Posted by Corey on September 9, 2010
I’m torn on Derren Brown……I think he’s a great showman and always enjoyed his shows until the lottery one…….I don’t like the way he said it wasn’t a screen trick when it had to be…….and I don’t buy all the people he gets to appear on thses things either…..including the guy last night, I think he was an actor as well……BUT…to me it almost doesn’t matter if he was real or not because the show had a lovely feel to it and did give the impression that any of us can do whatever we want we’ve just got to step up every now and again……….so with that in mind…I loved the fact that it will help some of us out there to do something we wouldn’t have otherwise have done…….which is pretty much what TYSIC is all about!!
Posted by Paul on September 9, 2010
Speaking a little flippantly – and at risk of spoiling the end for anyone who didn’t watch it – you’d have to say that The Krypton Factor would have been a lot different if they’d had a flight simulator of that quality available to them!
More relevant to the discussion, I missed the first quarter hour of the show, and therefore may have missed a salient point or two. And while it was very impressive seeing the guy’s change in attitude/behaviour, it was a little hard to grasp how or why some of those set-up situations turned out like they did. A cab just happens to turn up as you find a wallet and some keys on the street? Wouldn’t you find that just a little odd? And wouldn’t you then just post the keys and wallet through the door if no one was home?
Like I say, maybe I missed a point or two. And maybe I’m less willing to get involved in things than I’d like to acknowledge. Either that or I realise Ican get so lost in my own little world that I probably wouldn’t notice a wallet and some keys however obviously you tried to place them on the pavement (I missed a £5 note lying right next to my car the other day).
Anyway. Once it got to the point of deciding whether to help on the plane or not, everything else seemed a bit irrelevant (as a viewing experience) because I put it all to the back of my mind and suddenly found myself wondering if I would be able to step up and offer to help in the same situation. And I guess the fact that the programme made me do that – and I’m still not sure what the answer is – regardless of how believable I found the rest of the show, probably means it was a success.
Posted by Ben Draper on September 9, 2010
An interesting article about one of Derren’s earlier TV series, for anyone who is interested in how some of the stuff is done and what makes Derren so special.
http://www.ferretbrain.com/articles/article-303
Posted by Misha on September 9, 2010
I’m afraid I didn’t watch it, but I did go out and do seeing people. Also, Derren Brown scares the shit out of me, don’t know why, so I hope I might be forgiven.
Posted by Heather Jones on September 9, 2010
Not sure what I made of that Derren show. Not as suspicious as my psychology degree-studying son, but still uneasy. On the other hand, the guy, Matt did seem to have his life enhanced by the various manipulations (?), and his whole family seemed very happy about the changes in him.
Posted by Helen on September 9, 2010
I thought it was, in every single way, so very brilliant. Especially liked how the end was a focus on ‘look what humans can achieve’. Thought provoking and fascinating stuff.
Posted by Laurs on September 9, 2010
I was out tonight so missed this, though I am hoping and praying that it’ll be on 4OD so I can watch it when I get home from work tomorrow!
I love Derren, he is amazing.
Posted by heatherooo on September 8, 2010
Normally I love Derren Brown. I was sadly disappointed with this effort. A rubbishly staged story, all to make a pretty basic kind of message. Or at least, that’s my interpretation of it… Sad times.
Posted by Ally on September 8, 2010
This show sounds interesting, I may have to look it up. And I’ve finally worked out my finances enough to let me buy your book, which I am very much looking forward to reading!
Posted by Kathryn on September 8, 2010
I missed the first bit due to my school prize night thing, and my brother won’t let me watch the end because he’s watching the best of 1995 on espn classic.
My friend properly loves him. So much so that she forces me to watch whenever he’s on tv and dragged me to see him live. Which turned out to be amazing, and she caught a frisbee and got to go up on the stage. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her happier than when she was allowed to touch Derren. We then stood outside the venue for about an hour (on a school night…) waiting for him to appear so that she could get a picture. It was fun, and he was very lovely. Most of his stuff makes my head hurt though- I just need to know how he does it…
Posted by lisan66 on September 8, 2010
I’m not watching it…but it’ll be on some kind of internet tv thing, right? I hope so.
Oh and I saw you earlier on an ad on Comedy Central for something. And I was like “IT’S MARK WATSON!” My dad was confused…but it was exciting! I should stop rambling now
Posted by Kate B on September 8, 2010
I’m so annoyed I’m not watching it! But sadly I still have two and half outstanding essays due for tomorrow morning so I think I’m pulling an all nighter. With any luck I’ll be able to watch it when I get home tomorrow night.
Hope everyone enjoys it! God, Derren Brown is awesome…
Posted by Anji on September 8, 2010
It’s ok I’m watching it. But can’t be on twitter too. But one out of two isn’t bad. Enjoy!
Posted by Ivan (@ivanbrett) on September 8, 2010
Really looking forward to this evening’s episode. I love Derren Brown, especially his debunking of all things Psychic. But his whole demeanour and talent is incredible.
Posted by fuzzy_ducky (Laura) on September 8, 2010
What I want to know is…. how he did the lottery trick. Anybody know? Was it real or fake? I’m probably naive but … meh,…
SO yes.. 13 minutes and counting. Come on Derren… We’re waaaitttinggg
Posted by Rachel/Pandora on September 8, 2010
I LOVE Derren. Proper love. He won me over on his first tour in 2003 when he was still dyeing his hair and wearing hilarious shades of velvet. I usually have no clue how he does things, but that’s part of the fun of him being an illusionist, isnt’t it? You’re not supposed to know. I don’t know how he managed to guess my birthday, star-sign and the name of my guinea-pig when I was picked in one of his shows. Not a clue. But that’s what makes him amazing.
In relation to most people’s aim of increasing their optimism, Derren once did a stunt in Trick or Treat about the power of negative thinking. It ended in a poor girl thinking she’d electrocuted a cat, simply because she’d been told not to. Dwelling on this negative instruction over time led her to hit the big red button, and ‘kill’ the cat. He then explained to her if she used the power of this thought in a positive way, she could achieve great things. I think when they caught up with her later on she’d started getting involved in lots of activities that she’d always wanted to try, but felt she couldn’t. And being POSITIVE changed that.
So there you go. Be optimistic or cats will die.
Posted by Chris on September 8, 2010
Can we get a hashtag on this and have a geeky twitter discussion live in 20 mins?
Posted by Anji on September 8, 2010
Thanks for the reminder! Sky is being set via the iPhone now. So if we could hold the discussions until I’ve watched that’d be fab – or just give a heads up so I don’t read anything before I’m ready – that might be fairer, don’t wanna hold everyone up!
I know I’m rambling! It’s something I’m rather good at!
Posted by James Walker on September 8, 2010
I like both Derren Brown & discussions so this will be ideal.
What about a pre-discussion?
I thought the whole ‘being one-out’ during the Roulette section of the Casino ‘Events’ show was deliberately planned, somehow. (Sure I could’ve worded that better.)
Everyone expected him to get it right, but the shock hit more than getting it right ever could have.
Anyone else think that?
I could be very wrong here. Or I could be right. We will never know (we may one day know.)
Posted by Dawn on September 8, 2010
So glad you’re able to watch Derren Brown!
Enjoy:)