A new TV series, Houdini & Doyle, starts Monday, May 2 on FOX at 9 PM ET/PT. It's fiction, but it's well done. I've been covering it like crazy on my blog. I have a full Episode Guide with plot details, news, and (eventually) links to reviews of every episode. I've also done from promotion with FOX. Check my guide and check out the show!

http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/p/episode-guide.html

John thanks for the heads up on this!

My pleasure. I've reviewed the first episode below (the UK version, which was a little different). More to come.

http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2016/03/......ies.html

This was awesome. I missed the first episode.

Here is a soft news story on Houdini designed to promote the series -

http://video.foxnews.com/v/4885330933001......ow-clips

While I know the show is purely fiction, there are a few things about it I found annoying in it's inaccuracies...first, this takes place in 1901, and Harry had been married to Bess for five years at that time...the show seemed to imply that he had something going on with his assistant (the very personal back rub scene)...furthermore, they had his mother with him in Europe, and at some gala affair, where she wore a formal evening gown, as he introduced her to some European big shots...anyone that did any rudimentary research into Houdini would have known his mother was a Rebbetzin, the wife of Harry's father, who was an orthodox Rabbi, and would not have been traveling with him, or attending any event such as that...she was an elderly woman by then, and a bit on the frumpy side...pretty much the same as my grandparents, that came to America to leave the pograms behind...trust me when I say that even at that time Europe was not a safe place for those of the Jewish persuasion...there were a few more historical inaccuracies (I sorta know this because I'm a History major trying to get my MA, even at this late stage)...sorta ruined the show for me...yeah, I know this is picky, but every time one of those inaccuracies creep into script it just bugged me...besides, another murder-a-week show set in London, over 100 years ago, doesn't seem likely to be well received...I don't think I will continue watching it...

PS - For those that enjoy it please don't let me distract you from that enjoyment...maybe I'll have to take another look at it...

Actually, Cecelia Weiss did travel to Europe with the Houdinis at this time (so did Bess's mother), and Harry did hold a "royal" reception just like this for her in Budapest, although it was attended by relatives, not Tesla. :p

I laid out the real story of Houdini & Doyle here:
http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2016/04/......yle.html

Reviewed episode 2 here:
http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2016/05/......-of.html

Ahhhh...I forgot they went back to Hungary...old age memory is starting to fail me...either that, or I've been drinking too much......funny thing, my grandfather was from Budapest...came to the US in 1920...the fact that the show portrayed it as being in London threw me off...

Here's something that blew my mind recently. While I knew the mothers came to Europe, I recently saw some pics of HH in Russia and there was Mama with him! In Russia in 1903. Don't think this has ever been revealed.

Episode 3 review here. Thought this was a darn good episode:
http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2016/05/......dei.html

It seems to me that the show is really hitting it's stride and getting better every week!

I dunno...very low ratings and getting lower...I don't think 's gonna make it...

http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/houdin......ratings/

Hmm, for some reason, I thought I saw the year "1906" at the beginning of an episode, not 1901. The water torture cell wasn't performed by him until 1912, and of course, he was married to Bess in 1894. I enjoy the show just fine as a show, but the actor who portrays Harry sounds a bit too much like Ross from Friends, which is a tad annoying. The stories are okay, but I'll be surprised if the show gets picked up for another 10 episodes here.

I have been watching with interest. It certainly NOT accurate historically, I do find it entertaining. I would rather see this than another doctor, police or CSI drama!!

I couldn't agree more, however, the studio execs still strive for the lowest common denominator, believing most of their audiences to be morons...don't forget that Newton Minnow said, "But when television is bad, nothing is worse. I invite you to sit down in front of your television set when your station goes on the air and stay there without a book, magazine, newspaper, profit and-loss sheet or rating book to distract you--and keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that you will observe a vast wasteland," essentially, pablum for the masses (couldn't find the source for that one)...

I've been enjoying this series from many angles, even given historical flaws. The last episode had Houdini believing in aliens, while Doyle was NOT into the paranormal. Just fun writing. Even some silliness. On occasion, I find a surprise... eg Houdini had a flashlight... turns out they were invented around the turn of the century!! But just some silliness... ie where would he buy proper batteries in London? It's a little like watching "Django Unchained" which had lots of true history mixed up with oddities (eg. Jamie Foxx wearing sunglasses!). The ONLY thing I wish from Houdini and Doyle is to see more card magic! Lynn

I enjoy the show, but I would like to see at least on trick or escape in each episode. Houdini was a worker, and a great publicity person. He did not take months off to hang with friends, and solve mysteries. Even if it was all movie magic, at least it was Houdini doing what he was famous for.