Reality show makes magic celebrity style
Derek Hughes trains celebrities to do magic on VH1's "Celebracadabra."
Alyssa Zehnpfennig
Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: Lifestyle
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In the fifth grade, he traded a chemistry set he got for Christmas for a friend's Hollywood Magic Kit.
After enduring open-heart surgery later that year, he spent the majority of his recuperation time practicing his new craft.
As years passed, he took acting lessons to improve his magic and convinced a string of T.G.I. Friday restaurants in his native Minnesota to allow him to perform.
Two years after graduating from college, Hughes moved to Los Angeles and starred in a sitcom that also featured Jaleel White (Steve Urkel from "Family Matters").
He also trained at The Groundlings and worked with Nicole Kidman's acting coach.
Later, Hughes developed a "Punk'd" meets "Twilight Zone" show called "Room 401" with Ashton Kutcher, before being handpicked by Adam Sandler for a role in "Mr. Deeds."
But none of this could compare to the fame and glory he found competing on VH1's upcoming "Celebracadabra."
Well, not exactly.
Hughes, who only occasionally indulges in episodes of "Rock of Love," admits that "doing a reality show is a little against my morals."
But he said "Celebracadabra," which premieres later this month, was surprisingly fun. And it afforded him an insider look at L.A.'s famed Magic Castle, which graced the box of the Hollywood Magic Kit that sparked his passion as a child.
The show's premise is simple.
Hughes and other professional magicians are paired with celebrities (or pseudo-celebrities) with no experience in magic.
In each episode, the magicians coach the celebrities through new challenges: street magic, large illusions and escapes.
Upping the ante, celebrities have only 24 hours to learn their routines.
VH1 had initially asked Hughes to audition as the show's host, but he wasn't quite what they wanted. So when producers later asked him to be a coach, he hesitated.
"At the time, my ego was a little bruised. I thought: I don't want table scraps," he said.
But once he was on board, Hughes enjoyed the process of filming the show.
Because the magic community is relatively small, he knew almost all the magicians and judges. Furthermore, the celebrities' ineptitude proved a confidence booster, giving Hughes an appreciation for just how challenging his work can be.
"I feel better about being a magician now than I did before the show," he said.
The eclectic roster of celebs includes Carnie Wilson, Hal Sparks, C. Thomas Howell and Kimberly Wyatt of the Pussycat Dolls.
Hughes said they took their work very seriously. Christopher Reid, Kid of the '80s/'90s hip-hop duo Kid 'N Play, was particularly enthusiastic.
Working with celebrities who are past their prime (or never made it there) poses obvious risks.
Hughes said it was those accustomed to reality television who tended to cause the most trouble. Conditioned to produce constant drama, they were always searching for conflict.
Though Hughes tried to stay on the periphery of any squabbles, he recalled accusations of sabotaging props. Because he was conducting business in a professional manner (or because of confidentiality) Hughes declined to give details on behind-the-scenes antics, but said the show is "campy and fun."
"If you're a fan of magic and you're a fan of entertainment, this show is worth watching," he said. "You're going to see people failing miserably … it doesn't take itself too seriously."
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