''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 h ...

head up the judging panel, alongside magic critic

Christen Gerhart Christen Gerhart is one of the judges, with Penn & Teller and Jason Latimer, on the magic contest reality television series ''Wizard Wars'' on the Syfy channel. Gerhart is a magician and magic news reporter on a weekly magic-themed web show call ...

and World Champion of Magic Jason Latimer. ''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 Angela Funovits (born July 29, 1987) is an American magician, mentalist, and dermatologist. She has made television appearances in the United States and elsewhere. Biography Funovits was born and raised in Avon Lake, Ohio. She became interested ...

, 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

. 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. WizardAngelaFunovitz

Notable magicians appearing on ''Wizard Wars'' include Kyle Marlett, Las Vegas headliners, Murray SawChuck,

Tommy Wind Tommy Wind is a magician from Staten Island in New York City. He has performed in many of his own original shows, combining illusion with rock and roll music, in New York City, Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Las Vegas, Nevada. Tommy began h ...

, Nathan Burton, Greg Dow and

John Stessel John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Seco ...

, ''America's Got Talent''s Leon Etienne, and

Naathan Phan Naathan Phan (born August 20, 1988) is an American magician and internet personality. Phan is a member of the Academy of Magical Arts. Early life He was born in Irvine, California. When he was 1 year old, he moved to Glasgow, Scotland, where ...

. 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 editions, that focuses on how emerging technologies affect culture, the economy, and politics. Owned by Condé Nast, it is headquartered in San F ...

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