I searched but can't find that this show has been discussed before. I really dislike it -- rapid fire, trick-trick-trick. I think some of the audience are paid actors.

I'm happy that so many of our friends are getting some exposure, but I don't think it does much for magic otherwise.

Just awful. Opinions?

Well, it's a venue that gives a lot of magicians work, so it's good from that angle. But I agree--I don't enjoy the presentations at all. It makes everything very generic and interchangeable, and for me basically unwatchable. I suppose there are reasons for doing it the way it is. I guess there's the fear that the channel will be changed if there isn't a new act every 2 minutes. But I think that's a mistake.

I'm reminded as a theater director that when it seems like things are going too slowly, sometimes the thing to do is paradoxically slow down rather than go faster. Adding context and meaning--which takes time--speeds up understanding and increases attention.

For me, the magicians' spots on Penn & Teller are the model of how to present a magic segment on television.

I criticize it, but I like it. I don't take it too seriously, but think of it as television tapas: a little of this, a little of that, not too much of anything, and pretty soon you're pleasantly full.

Part of why I like it is because, even though they haven't been smart enough to book me on it (yet) there is never an episode where I don't have at least one friend on the show. So every time I tune in there is someone I like. Last night I turned it on and saw Jeff McBride, Chipper Lowell, Bill Cook and Adam Wylie, all of whom I know. What's not to like about that?

If I were to criticize anything, it would be the cuts and edits, which I don't think are the best for magicians. But Gay Blackstone has put together a successful show.

That said, I agree that Fool Us is a much better show.

To me as a watcher of television I do not like it and have watched twice. It removes most charector from the acts my view.

Just an opinion and not a criticism.

I agree that "Fool Us" is a better presentation of magic for the public. It takes time to look at magic as artful. Penn always finds something positive to say, so that there's a sense of appreciation for the performer's efforts even when the effect is pretty weak.

Never watch the television.

I agree with Dana, just glad to have any magic on TV. Speaking of Jeff McBride, he was on both MOI and Fool Us! Love Penn and Teller's show much more with a better mix of close up and stage! Some day (just a dream), I'd like to see a show just featuring amateur street magicians! Lynn

Why?

Fair question (re amateur street magicians)! It's similar to attending an open mic of music or comedy. I first saw Robin Williams at an open mic at the Holy City Zoo in San Francisco! You just never know what you may find! Of course, a live open mic is not the same as a TV show. But I'll take a TV show, yeah! Lynn

Have you been to open mic nights? Do you have any idea the amount of stuff you would have to sit through to get that 5 minutes?

Sorry that sounds like even more of a disaster when you explain it.

LOL, I've played and listened in open mics (music) since 1968!! Disaster for you, but not me! Much has been learned in trading ideas (lately in jazz settings). btw, the Robin Williams' opewn mic set I saw was a bit longer than 5 minutes. He did an impersonation of the entire Godzilla movie, including the scientist, his girlfriend, Raymond Burr and Godzilla (long before John Belushi got the idea). Since the Japanese movie was dubbed in English, he even mimiced the way foreign language dubs don't match the English words. It was unbelievably funny, even when a drunk tried to heckle him! Lynn

Well there is a reason that open mic nights are featured on slow nights and that they have not sprung to prominence as a thing. Maybe their popularity in your view is not shared by the rest of the world?

I'm pretty sure any amateur open mic thing like that would just be a lower budget version of the "Most Ridiculous Auditions" from any of the "Whatever's Got Talent" shows.

In other words, not flattering to the magic world at all.

Maybe we could televise open mic nights. That's the ticket. A reality show version of lame acts by uninteresting people. Something new!

I recently attended an open mic jazz jam at the Octopus Literary Salon in Oakland. The musicians were all top notch, except maybe for myself. None were recording stars (hey none of us were rappers!). None were really popular. All were pretty familiar with jazz standards (or you just couldn't get on the bandstand), but had original things to contribute. This is not a reality show (what's real about these shows anyway?). There were no judges. It wasn't a gong show, America's Got Talent or the Voice, where money gets thrown at what agents believe will bring in more money, bottom line. But I would love to see something like these jazz jams on TV when I can't make it... but I know it won't happen because there's no money in it. I must add finally that all open mics are not the same! Lynn

Not by a long shot. I have also noticed that those who participate enjoy them more than audiences in general.

I was always told that early in your career... you need a place to be bad. Basically a place to learn in front of a receptive audience with low expectations. Most open mike nights (at least in major cities) are considered workshops for comics. A finished set you see most pro comics do on stage is honed from hundreds of trials in an open mike setting where there are lowered expectations. Guys will go from one open mike night to another (many times on the same night) to hone and perfect their act. Jay Leno constantly showed up (usually unannounced) at the Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa beach to workshop material. It's the same with the Comedy Store on Sunset on weeknights. You would frequently find famous comedians working on unperfected material and seeing what worked. Televising it would defeat the main goal of why comics did it.