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Further to the concern about exposure on the show, I just read this comment on Twitter:

"Why are all the random audience members already mic'ed up on Penn & Teller"

Cold. You're getting colder.

I think my studying is paying off... i could follow all of the tricks last night.... yay

me_simon wrote:Further to the concern about exposure on the show, I just read this comment on Twitter:

"Why are all the random audience members already mic'ed up on Penn & Teller"

Cold. You're getting colder.

LOL!!! If that's what the Twitterati want to think, then I say we should just let then get on with it!!

btw - spotted myself on telly last night.. we were there when Alan Hudson did his bit.....

me_simon wrote:Further to the concern about exposure on the show, I just read this comment on Twitter:

"Why are all the random audience members already mic'ed up on Penn & Teller"

Er, probably because they cut out the boring bits where a sound engineer brings the microphone and transmitter pack, fits it to the spec, tests it and gives the OK to carry on. If done once on screen it might show the random nature of the selection but after that it would be very off-putting. The specs I saw selected were truly random but they were asked just before the effect if they'd be happy to take part, their participation was explained and, in a sense, they were auditioned for TV suitability. Unless there was a lot of jiggery pokery beforehand, there were no 'arrangements' made to make the performer or the effect look good.

Mandrake wrote:

me_simon wrote:Further to the concern about exposure on the show, I just read this comment on Twitter:

"Why are all the random audience members already mic'ed up on Penn & Teller"

Er, probably because they cut out the boring bits where a sound engineer brings the microphone and transmitter pack, fits it to the spec, tests it and gives the OK to carry on. If done once on screen it might show the random nature of the selection but after that it would be very off-putting. The specs I saw selected were truly random but they were asked just before the effect if they'd be happy to take part, their participation was explained and, in a sense, they were auditioned for TV suitability. Unless there was a lot of jiggery pokery beforehand, there were no 'arrangements' made to make the performer or the effect look good.

That's what surprised me with the comment. You just assumed everyone would know the show is edited to make it punchier. But no, not ol' Sherlock Holmes on Twitter. The "randoms" were mic'ed up. Solved! Next case, please.....

Only just seen it and may not bother watching again! Pif was funny as always but i did not enjoy the show. I hate to negative and i really respect the other performers but i think the exposure has gone too far.

The fact that the shows are edited together, and this one didn't have anyone who fooled them in, likely tells us that the other shows will only have 1 each if any, otherwise they would have put it in this episode.

I have to say I wasn't at all impressed with anyone except John, who was easily the best so far.

There were some bad camera angles as well, particulary in Soma (sp?) 's routine with the phones which were incredibly obvious, and even Teller's Misers dream just before the end with the fish there was a REALLY telling clue if you go back and watch his right hand :p.

The biggest clue on Teller wasn't even his fault. When Ross was saying his goodbyes, some idiot flashed a camera on close up of the tank, aimed through the water, off the mirror at the back, and showing some laughing idiot in the audience in the reflection.

I thought Piff was brilliant. The deadpan style works great (he had me from "I used to live by the sea but I moved") and VDP is a really good trick. Not sure what American audiences would have made of him.

Soma.....what the hell was that? I kept asking - out loud but to myself mind you - when was his trick going to start? I mean...how could the producers have okayed his gumpf? It wasn't a trick performed in the hope of fooling Penn & Teller, it was a routine performed to try and get more bookings. Respect to his ability but Jeezus it fell flat for me.

That Alan chap...quite entertaining but can't believe he delivered the 'If this has worked...' line. If its magic, its going to work isn't it? And we know it isn't magic because there's no such thing, but the idea that there is, and you can perform it, is what you're supposed to be putting across....isn't it?

The last chap, whose name escapes me, had some balls to carry off his routine. I thought I knew what he was doing, then I started thinking of other methods because I was certain he wouldn't have the brass gonads required to do it on TV, in front of P & T, with the hope of getting to LV. Respect. Even if his dress sense made him come over like Brian Harvey's bigger brother.

I don't think this episode will do much to help the ratings (do these ratings include the views on ITV's outrageously awful player?), as I think acts like Soma and Alan feel old school, edge-of-the-pier to people who might be expecting expecting the intense, brooding persona of David Blaine, such is his impact on magic. I'm not saying I agree of course, I'm just putting it out there as a possible reaction by the lay public.

Actually, ironically, the viewing figures were up from last week, and laymen seemed to enjoy it more than the other two episodes.

John just posted a newspaper article reviewing the show, which was good news all around.

http://www.metro.co.uk/tv/reviews/868137-penn-teller-fool-us-saw-piff-the-magic-dragon-steal-the-show

Grimshaw wrote:(do these ratings include the views on ITV's outrageously awful player?)

Nope, just those people with the BARB boxes attached to their tellies

I loved Piff, he completely stole the show. It's something different and I loved his humour

Piff was great live, I am still trying to get some people to see him with me tomorrow in london town.

What was missed in the cut with Piff was how amazed Teller was with it, well both but Teller LOVED the act it would seem.

Grimshaw wrote:I thought Piff was brilliant.

Seconded.Thirded and I'll keep on going......

He's doing a 3 week run at this years Edinburgh Festival - tickets are getting booked tomorrow. Great act.

Aye - I think we might be along to one of the Edinburgh shows on the strength of his turn.