“SIEGFRIED & ROY: THE ORIGINAL TIGER KINGS” LEADS JULY 2023 PREMIERES ON REELZ
[via press release from Reelz]
(Albuquerque, NM) Tuesday, June 27, 2023 — REELZ today announced its July 2023 premieres are led by new original documentary special Siegfried & Roy: The Original Tiger Kings about the legacy of llusion built by the famed master magicians before tragedy toppled their tiger empire. The iconic duo blended dazzling magic with an endless parade of tigers and other exotic animals onstage mere feet from captivated audiences. But behind the legacy and wildly lucrative brand there were lies spun to protect the illusion empire including early attacks by the big cats kept hidden from the press, the origins of the famous white tigers and the circumstances and aftermath surrounding the fateful attack that caused career ending injuries to Roy. Sharing his experience as former stagehand for Siegfried and Roy is Charles Flannery who was attacked by a tiger at the magicians’ sprawling compound while Big Cat Rescue CEO and Tiger King star Carole Baskin shares what she thinks about the Siegfried and Roy empire and veteran Las Vegas reporter Norm Clarke discusses how the big cat act transformed the town and redefined live entertainment. July 2023 premieres also include new episodes of hit documentary series On Patrol: Live Friday and
Saturday nights at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT.
“Our July premieres are led by a riveting story about one of the most famous and grand entertainment spectacles ever in the Siegfried and Roy magic show,” said Steve Cheskin, REELZ SVP of Programming. “The master magicians helped kick off tiger mania across the world and their magic wowed millions but the real stories intertwined with their groundbreaking legacy raise interesting questions for our viewers to consider.”
July 2023 premieres kick off with live action in primetime with new episodes of On Patrol: Live on Fridays and Saturdays at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT. On Patrol: Live follows live news-gathering protocols as its cameras document for viewers in real time the work of police officers on patrol from diverse departments across the country. Host and executive producer Dan Abrams, alongside Sgt. Sean “Sticks” Larkin (ret.) and Deputy Sheriff Curtis Wilson provide minute-byminute live analysis and context, offering unique insight into the experiences of men and women of law enforcement appearing on the show. Before every new episode of On Patrol: Live is a new episode of On Patrol: First Shift every Friday and Saturday night at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT featuring Abrams, Larkin and Wilson who provide updates of past stories covered by the show and present a look forward to the coming live episode.
An exciting and unpredictable live show was also a massive part of the draw for master illusionists Siegfried and Roy. The duo headlined their Las Vegas show for a staggering 23 years and 5,750 live shows becoming the highest-paid entertainers in Las Vegas history selling more than a billion dollars worth of tickets to awestruck audiences. Siegfried & Roy: The Original Tiger Kings on Sunday, July 9 at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT presents the story of the iconic duo from their early shows in small showrooms with small cats to their five-year $57 million contract to perform at The Mirage hotel and casino for 48 weeks of the year and the fallout after Roy was mauled on stage. Helping to tell the story of Siegfried and Roy is tiger expert Terry Gilley, world renowned illusionist Rick Thomas and longtime Las Vegas reporter Steve Friess.
Siegfried & Roy: The Original Tiger Kings premieres on Sunday, July 9 at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT. Las Vegas is a glamorous playground for spectacle and seeing the impossible and none signified that more than groundbreaking illusionists Siegfried and Roy. Renowned for blending magic with their astonishing killer-cat interactions their act set a new high bar for live show entertainment resulting in millions of tickets sold and billions of dollars made. But life in the ultra-exotic world of Siegfried and Roy may not have always been what it seemed as the magicians lived by the art of illusion off stage as well painstakingly crafting myths about their relationships with their tigers and even with each other. Then after building that empire based on smoke, mirrors and giant cats Siegfried and Roy’s longstanding world of illusions was destroyed by one fateful onstage encounter with a rogue tiger in front of a sold-out audience. That horrific attack shocked the world, unleashed a torrent of wild conspiracy theories and forever redefined their legacy. Siegfried & Roy: The Original Tiger Kings is produced by AMS Pictures.
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