Masters of Illusion

I have fond memories of growing up watching the original run of this show. Unfortunately, it seems that the producers of this new version seem to be suffering from extreme adhd. It took me a couple of episodes to realize that it wasn't a clip show. It has been overly edited, with really bad cameras and cutaways that often cut just slightly too late allowing the TV audience to see a flash of how the tricks work. Another problem is that the acts are almost carbon copies of the original series...no innovation. Same tired tricks that were explained in the secrets revealed series. Most rushed with little craft.

While it may contain more performers than Penn and Teller's Fool Us, it lacks the continuity and polish.

I checked out an episode because magicians Barry and Stuart were on it and I'm a huge fan. While some of the acts are decent (others seem like they're stuck in the 80s) I could not get past the constant background music that played through the entire episode. Not only was it mixed WAY too loudly, to the point of actually making it difficult to follow what the acts were saying, but it was cheesy; it killed the mood; it was distracting and was completely unnecessary in the first place.

It's a shame because this show could do a lot to promote magic, especially new and fresh acts, but the execution is just terrible. They need to fire their sound editor. It's OK to kill the music during a performance, and pick music that is more appropriate and less cheesy when there's a reason to have it.

The magicians who come in dont even try to impress the audience.. they just show some magic and run off the stage... this is supposed to be a better show than fool us but these people arent even trying. they seem to be funded a lot to even give a damn about the show. this is a really sad show. the producers and directors should be ashamed of themselves.. god given opportunity and they throw it in the trash.

Fun and Interesting, great show for family watching. Gives magicians an opportunity to show their skills and entertain and amaze viewers. Dean Cain always represents everything good about America , and doesn't disappoint here. My Kids and grandchildren love this show. I've been around way to long to be fooled by most "magic" but some of these entertainers surprised even me. The show is fast moving and never boring, the magicians don't over stay their welcome. Masters of Illusion is not Masterpiece Theater but it is a way to spend a small part of an evening of pure escapism. There isn't many Variety shows on television any more, the kind of stuff you would watch on the Ed Sullivan Show but this is one of them. Like I said "Great Family Show" , give it a chance if you are looking for a little fun, but don't take it too seriously.

It seems they intentionally want the show to appear cheesy, cheap with cheap acts, every now and again there is a winner but few and far between.