Room 401
Encyclopedia
Room 401 was a hidden camera
/reality television series on MTV
, executive produced by Ashton Kutcher
and Jason Goldberg
. It was named after the room Harry Houdini
died in at Detroit's Grace Hospital in 1926. The show also used some of his famous acts.
Room 401 took unaware victims into the center of pranks that played like mini horror movies. From the reanimation of the dead, to chain-saw mishaps, each episode contains four "scares" or pranks. The show was hosted by Jared Padalecki
from the CW
's Supernatural
.
. They previously produced the network television special "T.H.E.M. - Totally Hidden Extreme Magic
" which also used the concept of magic with hidden cameras. Rico and Chris along with fellow Magic X
members Cyril Takayama
, Justin "Kredible" Willman
, and Rico's sister Lisa are featured in the show.
Co-Executive Producers: Rico de la Vega, Chris Gongora
Producer: Gentry Stanley
Executive Producers: Ashton Kutcher
, Jason Goldberg
, Karey Burke, Billy Rainey, Lois Curren, Mary L. Aloe
Associate Producers: Ryan Colston
Consulting Producers: Brett Dos Santos
Supervising Producer: Mark Herwick
Cast: David Minkin
, Mark Cirillo, R.J.Cantu, Oscar Torres
, Lou Volpe, Arnaud Collery
, Lisa De La Vega, Rico De La Vega, Chris Gongora, Michael Grasso, Derek Hughes, Ambria Miscia, Thomas Nealeigh, Rebecca Ocampo, Robert Lyon Rasner, Amro Salama, Cathy Shim, Michael Stellman, Cyril Takayama
, Shirley To, Dawson Van Pelt, Luke Van Pelt, Justin "Kredible" Willman
, Rob Zabrecky
, Daniel Zacapa
Magic Consultants: David Minkin, Derek Hughes, Robert Lyon Rasner, Michael Stellman
The game progressed to a closing point, reopening as the ARG Nowheremen
.
. They shot an entire season with Brent, but they never used any of the episodes. His voice can still be heard on the original promos.
Hidden camera
A hidden camera is a still or video camera used to film people without their knowledge. The camera is "hidden" because it is either not visible to the subject being filmed, or is disguised as another object...
/reality television series on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, executive produced by Ashton Kutcher
Ashton Kutcher
Christopher Ashton Kutcher , best known as Ashton Kutcher, is an American actor, producer, former fashion model and comedian, best known for his portrayal of Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show...
and Jason Goldberg
Jason Goldberg
Jason Goldberg is an American film and television producer. Goldberg is the producer of the films Guess Who and The Butterfly Effect and executive producer of the shows Beauty and the Geek and Punk'd...
. It was named after the room Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini was a Hungarian-born American magician and escapologist, stunt performer, actor and film producer noted for his sensational escape acts...
died in at Detroit's Grace Hospital in 1926. The show also used some of his famous acts.
Room 401 took unaware victims into the center of pranks that played like mini horror movies. From the reanimation of the dead, to chain-saw mishaps, each episode contains four "scares" or pranks. The show was hosted by Jared Padalecki
Jared Padalecki
Jared Tristan Padalecki is an American actor. He grew up in Texas and came to fame in the early 2000s after appearing on the television series Gilmore Girls as well as in several Hollywood films, including New York Minute and House of Wax...
from the CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
's Supernatural
Supernatural (TV series)
Supernatural is an American supernatural and horror television series created by Eric Kripke, which debuted on September 13, 2005 on The WB, and is now part of The CW's lineup. Starring Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester and Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester, the series follows the brothers as they...
.
Episode 1
- Getting Crabby: Two women witness a man (played by comedic magician Justin "Kredible" WillmanJustin KredibleJustin "Kredible" Willman is an American actor, magician and entertainer. He currently hosts two Food Network series, Cupcake Wars and Last Cake Standing, and The Hub series, Hubworld,. and will also host the upcoming Scrabble Showdown for The Hub...
) pull his chest apart and crabs come out. - The Claw: A woman wants her friend to win her something from a claw machine, but the claw doesn't work, so a maintenance man (played by magician/actor Rob Zabrecky) sticks his hand through the glass and pulls out a rat.
- He Sees Dead People: Two crime scene cleaners go to a crime scene and one of the men witnesses the dead man's spirit (played by magician David MinkinDavid MinkinDavid Minkin is an American magician. He was a cast member on the MTV series "Room 401" produced by Ashton Kutcher. Among Minkin's other television appearances was a segment which aired on American Idol and which was filmed in Los Angeles with the show's contestants visiting the Magic Castle.In...
) sitting up from his body. - Lend a Hand: Two men go to work at a meat factory and one of the men witnesses his co-worker lose his hand in a fryer then it's right back on.
Episode 2
- Ice Carving: An accident with a chainsaw operator (played by magician/actor Rob ZabreckyRob ZabreckyRob Zabrecky is an American songwriter, actor and magician. His career began as a musician while being the front man for the band Possum Dixon. He later found success as a magician and actor....
) leaves an ice sculptor alive, but in two pieces. - Jar Head: While cleaning a warehouse two guys find a mysterious head preserved in a jar that blinks and talks (played by magician/actor Rob ZabreckyRob ZabreckyRob Zabrecky is an American songwriter, actor and magician. His career began as a musician while being the front man for the band Possum Dixon. He later found success as a magician and actor....
). - He Gone!: A supernatural taxi driver disappears after being pulled over by the police. Note: This prank was featured in VH1VH1VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's special "40 Greatest Pranks 2". - Lose Your Head: A guy on the bus (played by Japanese street illusionist Cyril TakayamaCyril TakayamaCyril Takayama is an American-Japanese illusionist of Japanese and French descent. He is perhaps best known for his magic performances around Japan.-Early life:...
) is barely able to hold onto his head. Note: This prank was featured in VH1VH1VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's special "40 Greatest Pranks 2".
Episode 3
- Beauty Is Only Skin Deep: A young woman is pushed underneath the waters of a hottub and emerges elderly.
- Return to Sender: A man in a diaper comes out of a small, strange box on a worker's first night on the job.
- Fasten Your Seat Belts: A man is pulled through an airplane turbineTurbineA turbine is a rotary engine that extracts energy from a fluid flow and converts it into useful work.The simplest turbines have one moving part, a rotor assembly, which is a shaft or drum with blades attached. Moving fluid acts on the blades, or the blades react to the flow, so that they move and...
in front of a woman's eyes, and then comes up to her two minutes later, completely unharmed. - Scrubbing In: A man has poisonous fish (fuguFuguis the Japanese word for pufferfish and the dish prepared from it, normally species of genus Takifugu, Lagocephalus, or Sphoeroides, or porcupinefish of the genus Diodon. Fugu can be lethally poisonous due to its tetrodotoxin; therefore, it must be carefully prepared to remove toxic parts and to...
) and another (played by magician David MinkinDavid MinkinDavid Minkin is an American magician. He was a cast member on the MTV series "Room 401" produced by Ashton Kutcher. Among Minkin's other television appearances was a segment which aired on American Idol and which was filmed in Los Angeles with the show's contestants visiting the Magic Castle.In...
) goes through his stomach and pulls out the poisonous fish.
Episode 4
- Out for Blood: This blood bank worker watches in horror as a man doesn't have the time to wait for a nurse to draw his blood.
- Just a Trim: One woman finds a new reason to stay away from hair driers.
- Move to the Back of the Bus: A delivery man magically survives getting slammed by an oncoming bus.
- Current Events: An ominous article in the newspaper leaves two girls scared out of their minds.
Episode 5
- Hit the Nail on the Head: Safety takes a vacation at this construction site.
- Gutterball: You should always watch your hands near the bowling ball dispenser.
- I See Dead People in High Def: Something is very wrong with the TVs in this warehouse.
- He Likes It Hot: Be careful with the wasabi at this sushi restaurant.
Episode 6
- Spare Some Change?: A cab full of friends has a run-in with the most aggressive beggar ever.
- Bump in the Night: A group of night hikers comes across a mysterious, crying girl.
- Pull It Through: Plumbers hate using a snake to unclog drains. This plumber really hates it.
- Crazy Laundry: A mental health inmate takes his cues from the movies and escapes in a laundry bin.
Episode 7
- Cupid's Arrow: A crossbow range really isn't the best place for a first date.
- Hand-full: A meat-packer learns his lesson about wearing jewelry around giant food processors.
- Cracked Mirror: When cleaning out a dead person's apartment, don't look in the mirrors.
- The Fake I.D.: This girl's I.D. gets cut up, but it's nothing that a little rubbing can't take care of.
Episode 8
- Good Cop, Bad Donut: You can usually find a cop eating donuts, you don't usually see a cop coughing them back up.
- The Miracle Worker: Some people can do amazing things when others are in distress. Like walking on water...
- Don't Fall Apart: Liquid nitrogen freezes pretty much anything it touches instantly, even people. Note: This prank was featured in VH1VH1VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's special "40 Greatest Pranks 2". - Very Bad Things: While setting up for a bachelor party some guys think they might have killed the stripper.
Magic X
The show was Created by Rico de la Vega and Chris Gongora of Magic XMagic X
Magic X is a collective group of magicians dedicated to reshaping the way magic is perceived and performed.-The beginning:Magic X began in 1995 at an IHOP in Hollywood, California by friends, Enrico de la Vega and Chris Gongora. The two met while they were both Junior Magicians at the Magic Castle...
. They previously produced the network television special "T.H.E.M. - Totally Hidden Extreme Magic
THEM (TV series)
"T.H.E.M." was a short-lived TV series. On the show, a gang of street magicians set up various scenarios to lure unsuspecting targets. After the team bewildered their victims, they would reveal themselves to the target as one of T.H.E.M.The members of T.H.E.M...
" which also used the concept of magic with hidden cameras. Rico and Chris along with fellow Magic X
Magic X
Magic X is a collective group of magicians dedicated to reshaping the way magic is perceived and performed.-The beginning:Magic X began in 1995 at an IHOP in Hollywood, California by friends, Enrico de la Vega and Chris Gongora. The two met while they were both Junior Magicians at the Magic Castle...
members Cyril Takayama
Cyril Takayama
Cyril Takayama is an American-Japanese illusionist of Japanese and French descent. He is perhaps best known for his magic performances around Japan.-Early life:...
, Justin "Kredible" Willman
Justin Kredible
Justin "Kredible" Willman is an American actor, magician and entertainer. He currently hosts two Food Network series, Cupcake Wars and Last Cake Standing, and The Hub series, Hubworld,. and will also host the upcoming Scrabble Showdown for The Hub...
, and Rico's sister Lisa are featured in the show.
Credits
Host: Jared PadaleckiJared Padalecki
Jared Tristan Padalecki is an American actor. He grew up in Texas and came to fame in the early 2000s after appearing on the television series Gilmore Girls as well as in several Hollywood films, including New York Minute and House of Wax...
Co-Executive Producers: Rico de la Vega, Chris Gongora
Producer: Gentry Stanley
Executive Producers: Ashton Kutcher
Ashton Kutcher
Christopher Ashton Kutcher , best known as Ashton Kutcher, is an American actor, producer, former fashion model and comedian, best known for his portrayal of Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show...
, Jason Goldberg
Jason Goldberg
Jason Goldberg is an American film and television producer. Goldberg is the producer of the films Guess Who and The Butterfly Effect and executive producer of the shows Beauty and the Geek and Punk'd...
, Karey Burke, Billy Rainey, Lois Curren, Mary L. Aloe
Associate Producers: Ryan Colston
Consulting Producers: Brett Dos Santos
Supervising Producer: Mark Herwick
Cast: David Minkin
David Minkin
David Minkin is an American magician. He was a cast member on the MTV series "Room 401" produced by Ashton Kutcher. Among Minkin's other television appearances was a segment which aired on American Idol and which was filmed in Los Angeles with the show's contestants visiting the Magic Castle.In...
, Mark Cirillo, R.J.Cantu, Oscar Torres
Oscar Torres
Oscar Torres is the name of:*Oscar Torre, actor*Óscar Pérez Torres, Venezuelan politician*Óscar Torres, Venezuelan professional basketball player...
, Lou Volpe, Arnaud Collery
Arnaud Collery
Arnaud Collery is a French comedian, actor and filmmaker living in Los Angeles. Married.-Filmography:* The Dream of Alvareen * Les Anges malicieux * 3 Wise Women * Gilmore Girls * Rush Hour 3...
, Lisa De La Vega, Rico De La Vega, Chris Gongora, Michael Grasso, Derek Hughes, Ambria Miscia, Thomas Nealeigh, Rebecca Ocampo, Robert Lyon Rasner, Amro Salama, Cathy Shim, Michael Stellman, Cyril Takayama
Cyril Takayama
Cyril Takayama is an American-Japanese illusionist of Japanese and French descent. He is perhaps best known for his magic performances around Japan.-Early life:...
, Shirley To, Dawson Van Pelt, Luke Van Pelt, Justin "Kredible" Willman
Justin Kredible
Justin "Kredible" Willman is an American actor, magician and entertainer. He currently hosts two Food Network series, Cupcake Wars and Last Cake Standing, and The Hub series, Hubworld,. and will also host the upcoming Scrabble Showdown for The Hub...
, Rob Zabrecky
Rob Zabrecky
Rob Zabrecky is an American songwriter, actor and magician. His career began as a musician while being the front man for the band Possum Dixon. He later found success as a magician and actor....
, Daniel Zacapa
Daniel Zacapa
Daniel Zacapa is an American trilingual actor, community activist, and ex-class A San Francisco Giants baseball player. He played the role of Detective Taylor in the 1995 David Fincher film, Seven...
Magic Consultants: David Minkin, Derek Hughes, Robert Lyon Rasner, Michael Stellman
Room 401 Puzzle
There is a puzzle linked to Room 401. During parts of the show for one or two screens Ashton Kutcher appears on screen holding a sign; the sign is a clue for the puzzle. There are 4 clues per show. On the first episode you are given a link to http://www.43475359616771.com/ where the puzzle begins. The entire ARG can be found at http://www.401wtf.com . New information is slowly being discovered, but there has also been documents found in undisclosed websites stating the puzzle only leads you back to the start. Rumours have also been heard that the puzzle upon completion shows information on tricks Houdini performed and how to perform them.The game progressed to a closing point, reopening as the ARG Nowheremen
Nowheremen
Nowheremen is a Social Reality Game and web video series that is centered around the fictional disappearance of Derek Francis Border. Players must solve interactive puzzles and treasure hunts across various mediums, including clues that are embedded within the video series. As users discover...
.
Trivia
The original host for this show was comedian Brent WeinbachBrent Weinbach
Brent Weinbach is an American stand-up comedian and performer based in San Francisco, California. He is known for his experimental style and abstract, deadpan delivery. Weinbach regularly performs stand-up at the Comedy Death-Ray shows at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in Los Angeles and has...
. They shot an entire season with Brent, but they never used any of the episodes. His voice can still be heard on the original promos.