to find TV magic shows utterly pointless (and irritating)?

[HouseOfBamboo]

wtf is the point? There is AMPLE scope for hidden effects, props, duplicitous camera angles. That's how TV works ffs.

And we're supposed to sit there like a bunch of idiots and go woooooo aren't they clever ?

[grumpy, scratchy, bah humbug]

YANBU - most 'magic' is crap. Have seen Penn and Teller live though and they were fantastic! I love it when they show you how things are done - it's really clever stuff.

Penn and Teller are the only magicians who I have ever enjoyed - they are genuinely entertaining.

I can't stand the smug card trick brigade.

was just thinking the same.

Can't stand magicians - just boring.

It's got Lenny henry on it- can't get past that so if you add in magic it's not something I feel enticed by.

It's a bit of a shame for no social life types - from scd merlin to this- roll on sky Atlantic next week.

8 yr olds love it
but yes not my cuppa tea

The Magicians is officially crap. I can't stand Lenny Henry and the format is totally lame. Did you see Fool Us a few weeks ago with Penn & Teller? Brilliant TV - I hope they come back with a series. I also saw Penn and Teller at Hammersmith last year and they were phenomenal. I love going to see live magic with DH. Going to see Derren Brown for the third time in April and can't wait.

YANBU completely agree.

ROFL, ggirl - my 8 yr old DS is watching this absolutely transfixed !

Oh you are so not being unreasonable!

It's all godawful, and I'm including Penn and Teller in that, because they freak me out.

That thing with the bloke whose head dropped down to his chest earlier, you never saw him filmed from behind or below the waist. Yes they cut to a RL audience 'reacting' - but they could have been acting or watching another show entirely. So what's the point. Grr.

Penn and Teller cut through the self-regarding bollocks of 'illusionists' and are therefore great.

The thing on the TV tonight is hugely unimpressive but some magicians are... well, just magic. One of my friends from my teenaged years was the son of the late Pat Page, a hero and mentor of Derren Brown. Mr P was a member of the Inner Magic Circle, was consultant to several TV shows from magic shows to Poirot and also advised many up and coming magicians. He travelled the world performing his art and didn't TV need cameras to cover up what he was doing.

That lovely, modest gentleman wasn't just a great magician, he was a genius.

Wouldn't be so bad if they didn't have these fucking awful actors 'presenting' it.

Ego central.pah.

YANBU. I hate magic.

I love good magic shows, but this is dreadful,and the two Scottish guys particuarly so. They drone on too much,so by the time they've finished their spiel the audience has lost interest.

TheCowardlyLion - you and me both, my 8 year old DS adores this programme lol. Im on here reading stuff and he was telling me about it every 5 minutes.

I found that Lenny Henry thing atrocious though DCs seemed to like it. But the Penn and Teller show last Saturday night was great. I'm not big on magic either. I think it's a boy thing TBH. But the show last week was the first thing in ages we've all sat down and watched together without someone on FB or complaint it was boring. It's a series so should be on again tonight. Itv 8 pm.

I love Penn and Teller but really struggled last week to avoid watching and worse, listening to Jonathan Ross.

Penn and Teller look bored as well they might be... the magic tricks presented by members of the public were by and large rubbish and overdone and that Ross bloke just everywhere. I hate him.

I won't be watching tonight, I'm going to indulge in a couple of episodes of Jonathan Creek. Now there was a magician...

not seen any magic since brit got talent

oh i loved jonathan creek