Derren Brown - Russian Roulette. What did you think?

[Tinker]

Still not quite sure which bullet it was. Found myself feeling ridiculously nervous watching it just in case it did all got wrong. Very clever (or obvious) to pick the most nervy bloke though. Anyone else watch? Think it was an awful thing to do or hugely entertaining?

[Tinker]

Anyone?

[CnR]

I didn't watch it. Felt it was bad TV to be honest. Not sure I agree with guns being used on TV as fun.

I gather it all went as planned though?

[Enid]

Did he die?

[WSM]

I didn't watch it either. I assumed it was all just a set up and therefore there'd be lots of 'oooooooooh' and 'ahhhhh' moments when he cocked the gun etc but that he would eventually come out perfectly fine. Agree with CNR with regards to the guns thing. I think it has the potential to encourage that sort of incredibly stupid behaviour in the real world.

[Rhubarb]

Yeah, pretty stupid but entertaining to watch! I personally wanted to see that smug grin blasted off his face, but alas it was not to be I guessed correctly that it would be in the first chamber too! Felt very sorry for the poor bloke who loaded the gun. Dunno what point Derren was trying to make exactly, apart from that he is a clever smart-ass who makes you want to punch him.
Beats lying in a glass box for 40 days though doesn't it?

[Enid]

I read something today by Jerry Sadowitz in the Guardian that said that David Blaines box gets taken away every night 'for cleaning' - is that true?

[Rhubarb]

They use a cherry picker to clean it. Apparently one of his 'team' looks just like him, same hair, unshaven look and clothes etc. I reckon they swap every time the box gets cleaned. They wouldn't let ITV check his urine sample.

[WSM]

They are all great big fat publicity scams. Seen one, seen 'em all IMO.

[janh]

I read that, too, Enid - it's here - is this really what they're doing? What's the point???

[Twinkie]

Message withdrawn

[SoupDragon]

Nope. Didn't watch it for all the reasons given - what a tw*t! Completely irresponsible and in bad taste IMHO.

[bossykate]

i'm disgusted by this "stunt". i'm thinking "the deer hunter" and "snuff movie" combined. disgraceful.

[WideWebWitch]

Irresponsible, sensationalist, lowest common denominator tv, I agree. Shouldn't have been broadcast IMO.

[Tinker]

Blimey, this obviously doesn't reflect well on me but thought it was great tv.

[jasper]

Tinker if it makes you feel any better I slightly fancy him .

[Tinker]

Wonder if he shops at Lidl.

[misdee]

didnt see it. but have seen some of his other things on mind control which i find fascinating.
wasnt the bloke meant to count out 1 to 6 after loading the gun? i guess that from his years of 'training' that the way the man said the numbers would have given something away to derren about which chamber the bullet was in.
i saw the other day on tv something about telepathay. two people in 2 seperate rooms, one looking at cards, one to say what the card was. the only way they knew when to say what card was being looked at was by a signal with a buzzer. it was so badly done that i could hear the difference in the buzzer noise between each card.

[ScummyMummy]

My sister fancies him too. She was cacking her pants while he played his silly game! Egged on by less than sensitive "OMG, he's gonna die" text messages from her dear sister, naturally. ROFL at Rhubarb's 1st post, btw.

I just assumed it wasn't real after watching "secrets of the fake magicians" or some such rubbish that was on a couple of weeks back. He's just a good actor and there was some indicator or mirror or something, I think. There's nfw they'd have broadcast it if there was even a tiny possiblity of a dead Derren resulting. I guess it is pretty irresponsible in terms of the message to vulnerable viewers but he did do about a million don't try this at home messages and I'm inclined to agree with Tinker that it was good tv trickery (though am feeling a bit guilty for thinking so having read the other points of view on here...)

[Tinker]

Wish I taped it now to study it again. Apparently, the bullet was in barrel no 1. Before the guy loaded the gun, he said the word 'one' about 6 times, thus suggesting that barrel to him. Of course they bloke could have been a plant all along but some of the things he does are very very clever. Like he knew which colour chair the 5 finalists would sit in, even had envelopes under the chair with their names in to 'prove' it.

[Tinker]

There was a 7 second delay 'in case the worst happens'. He definitely looked like he was cacking himself after he guessed incorrectly - could all have been deliberate again to heighten the tension. Certainly bloody worked.

Yes, I'm feeling rather guilty discussing it...

[ScummyMummy]

Now giggling at the idea of you carefully studying the tape for clues, Tinks.
He is a clever guy, I must admit. I'm terribly cynical about these things, though.

[ScummyMummy]

I definitely think that bit was deliberate to heighten the tension 'cos my sister made me go with her and see him live and he did the old crestfallen to heighten the tension malarky extremely convincingly, utilising the audience's glee when he seemed to get it wrong (and individuals' puffed-up confidence that this proved they were cleverer than him) to trick them into betting with him etc and they'd then go on to lose an elaborately planned trick.

[Tinker]

Oh I want to go and see him live now. The bit where he guessed the drawing that the bloke did was extraordinary until you think about it. He didn't do the eyes or a beard, saying things like 'he'll have drawn that' etc. Read somewhere else taht he probably chatted up a few of the contestants earlier planting subliminal messages.

The progamme where he mirrored the ad campaign was very good. I know it's all trickery really but I love being amazed and I love being scared, in the safest possible way

[ScummyMummy]

You'd love it then, methinks! I went under protest but I really enjoyed it, I must say.