Stay Tuned

The Daily Star, Oneonta, N.Y., Friday, October 20, 2023 20 By Caroline Collacutt TV Media Magic makers: Say "abra- cadabra" and "alakazam" as the curtain lifts for an all-new season of magic when Season 10 of "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" premieres Friday, Oct. 27, on the CW, welcoming an all-new face to the famed Penn and Teller stage. While Alyson Hannigan ("How I Met Your Mother") bid farewell to the series at the end of its ninth season, she also set the stage for her enchanting replacement: Brooke Burke ("Melissa & Joey"), who is slated to take on the role of host, offering fans just the same flourish of excitement and insight as she joins the magicians on their journey to find the best in the biz. The series — filmed at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas — follows as the famed illusionist/comedian duo, Penn and Teller, welcomes hopeful magicians and illu- sionists to the hotel's stage. Asked to perform their best stunts, the illusionists will ide- ally (and hopefully) fool even greats like Penn and Teller. Four magicians perform their routines each episode, and following, Penn and Teller put their heads together and see if they can solve the trick behind the magic, then recre- ate the act for its original per- formers. If the duo can repli- cate the illusion, the game is over. Alternately, if they find themselves fooled, the magi- cian in question will earn themselves a "Fool Us" trophy, alongside a five-star trip back to Las Vegas to perform as the opening act in Penn and Teller's highly popular show, also held at the hotel. Seeing as a magician never tells their secrets, however, when the time comes to guess whether the duo has figured out the trick correctly, the an- swer must be presented with- out revealing any illuminating details to the audience, mean- ing Penn and Teller make their guesses via cryptic clues and descriptions, or through super- secret notes, shared only with their fellow magicians. After all is said and done, Penn and Teller then go on to perform their own illusions, wowing not only their compet- itors but also viewers at home, as they bend reality into some- thing more magical. Filled with awe, wonder and delight, "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" premieres its 10th season, Friday, Oct. 27, on the CW. Artistry abounds: With boundless creativity and a taste for experience, artist and restaurateur Michael Chow has left his impression far and wide. Now, director Nick Hook- er ("Everything is Copy," 2015) tells his story from start to fin- ish, as the feature-length docu- mentary, "AKA Mr. Chow," pre- mieres Sunday, Oct. 22, on HBO. "Born Zhou Yinghua, he tri- umphed over trauma, loss and prejudice through acting and art before crafting a new iden- tity as restaurateur Mr. Chow," HBO describes. "After decades as a successful businessman and celebrated host to artists, actors, musicians, designers and models, Mr. Chow has turned to painting and once again redefined himself — this time, as the artist M." Mr. Chow now has locations worldwide, serving authentic Beijing cuisine alongside cre- ative original recipes, such as their infamous Chicken Satay and Ma Mignon. While offer- ing a unique dining experi- ence, Mr. Chow restaurants consider a meal to be, accord- ing to the website, "a social event meant to be experi- enced with others." They go on to explain: "Food is shared in a communal setting. Dishes are served 'family style' to ensure all guests get a taste of every- thing. The principles of Chi- nese cuisine are entrenched in a theory of harmony, dictating that all facets of the senses are stimulated equally. A balance of tastes, textures, fragrances and colors is presented to en- hance and accentuate the other." Since opening its flagship London location in 1968, Mr. Chow has now opened res- taurants in Beverly Hills, Ca- lif., New York City, Miami Beach and Las Vegas. Now expanding to Middle Eastern diners, as the franchise is set to open its newest location later this year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Serving famous clientele such as The Beatles, Federico Fellini, Frank Sinatra and Jeanne Moreau, the Mr. Chow restaurant empire is certainly one of Chow's crowning achievements — but not his only. "AKA Mr. Chow" is also set to dive into the visionary's lat- est endeavor: his art — a tal- ent the man is returning to af- ter a 50-year hiatus. Currently, Chow — now 'M' — dabbles in painting, sculpture, poetry and installation pieces, like his immersive experience, "The Blind Room, Global Warming for all Seasons." His next exhibition — "Bridges" — is scheduled to run from November to January of this year, at the Waddington Cus- tot in London, England. Dive into a life filled with artistry, when "AKA Mr. Chow" premieres, Sunday, Oct. 2, on HBO. realtalk Penn Jillette, Brooke Burke and Teller in "Penn & Teller: Fool Us"

• Cover