‘Hypnotist’ Will Hold Your Attention

Mon., Feb. 19, 1996

John Martin New York Times Syndicate

His name is Paul McKenna, and this show is called “The World’s Funniest Hypnotist.”

There may be a funnier hypnotist on the planet, but it’s hard to imagine one.

Watch McKenna’s ABC special at 9, and you’ll see a group of 10 people totally under the influence. Their behavior is so bizarre that, at times, you may think they’re acting. But they’re not.

A good part of the hour is familiar comedy nightclub fair. McKenna has his victims carrying on like Elvis, dashing into the audience to stroke the head of a bald man, pretending to be a martial-arts expert and cavorting like fools.

What’s different are “scenes” played out with guest stars. There’s a “Dating Game” segment hosted by Chuck Woolery (“The Love Connection”) in which three hypnotized men try to intentionally lose because they’ve been given the hypnotic suggestion that their potential date, heavenly Gena Lee Nolin of “Baywatch,” is the last woman on earth they’d want to go out with.

Highlights

“Second Noah,” ABC at 8: More inconsequential family stuff proves this series won’t be around long. Noah (Daniel Hugh Kelly) plays an inappropriate role in the construction of Luis’ (Jeffrey Licon) Soap Box Derby entry. Ricky (James Marsden) and Darby (Joey Lauren Adams) almost break up. And Danny and Ranny (Jon and Jeremy Torgerson) decide to search for their birth parents.

“A Secret Between Friends: A ‘Moment of Truth’ Movie” (1996), NBC at 9: Once again, a movie of the week focuses on eating disorders. Katie Wright plays Lexi, a teenager living with her divorced mom (Lynda Carter). When the girl enrolls in a new high school, she picks up some deadly habits from a bulemic volleyball teammate (Marley Shelton).

It’s routine treatment, not helped out much by Carter’s overacting.

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