I hate the way they work the cameras and the way they ruin the show with needless fake drama. Jonathan's injury is a dramatic element to use but when the Pendragons performed you didn't care because the performance blew you away. I like that they have little choice but to stick with the one camera view of the Pendragons. There are other acts where the drama is the only thing to cling to. I think the producers forget that when the television audience is doing the judging they can only judge on the product the producers show on television.

The camera work irritates me far more. I want to scream at the television, "Hey, I am the audience too, let me see what they see!" One camera, one act. You can't even enjoy the group dance numbers because they rarely show the whole group in the frame. 'So You Think You Can Dance' might the worst show in that regard. Emmy winning choreography that we don't even get to see in it's entirety.

Go Pendragons!

Agreed, jo.

Fred Astaire, who was a star on the Broadway stage beore he started making films, always insisted that his entire body be photographed when he danced (no closeups of feet, etc.) and when you see his work on film today you realize that his dance numbers, with whatever partner he used, were filmed using the longest (in time) possible shot. No frenetic 5-second cuts between the male and the female, feet, people watching in admiration, none of that crap. He just danced.

The frantic cutting from here to there during every act shows that the producers and director have absolutely no idea how to present and shoot entertainment, and it means they have a very cynical and distrustful view of the intelligence of the audience. For all I know, they're right, but I suggest that stillness is sometimes better than movement.

When you get tired of today's reality-variety shows, check out an old Fred Astaire musical and see how this kind of performance should be photographed.

Go Pendragons!

As a further thought, I've seen magic acts on television totally ruined by those quick cuts.

Just to make up an example, suppose the illusion is that a magician will walk through a plate glass window. They'll start with the magician, cut to the window, cut to the audience, cut to the magician's assistant, cut to the window, cut to the audience again, cut to the magician, and by the time the trick is done, you have no idea what you saw because the cuts don't make any sense or have any dramatic value, and because everyone knows that every cut in a taped show offers an opportunity for trickery.

Anyone can make an elephant vanish if they show an elephant, obscure it with a puff of smoke, cut, remove the elephant, shoot magician standing in front of empty cage as smoke clears.

Some trick.

Sidebar thought: I've been reading some biographies of Houdini and to me the real magic about him (and all magicians) aside from physical dexterity is the lengths they will go to in order to produce the illusion.

Houdini could dislocate his shoulder to get out of a straitjacket. He'd have his wife kiss him just before he was locked in a jail cell, and transfer a key to him via mouth. In short, he'd do anything to produce the desired effect. To me, that's the magic.

More notes later regarding your post Dax! I just wanted to stop in and say thank you all...and I bought my first GLOBE!(magazine) We are featured in the center..of this weeks issue, page 10 and 11 or so. Gotta love it! I've just learned Barack Obama has a love child.

btw, I have the pdf. file..if it is ok to post it?

First of all,
I would like to tell you that I'm a huge fan of yours and Jonathan's magic. I have enjoyed your illusions for many years. In fact I don't know if you'd recall this show but it was many years ago when I was a child.

It was a magic show that featured you and Jonathan as the "Good" magicians and some other magician as the evil magician at a place called "Pulsations" near Philadelphia, PA.

That was the first time I'd ever seen you perform. Since then I've taken every chance to watch you on various TV Specials.

Anyhow, enough of my gushing over you, I actually do have a question. I've watched the AGT shows hoping to catch additional glimpses of you. I did manage to see you hugging the sword swallower as he got cut and Jonathan wishing him well, but unless I missed something I didn't see what "The Pendragon's" fate was? Did you make it to the semi finals? I hope so, because I would love to get to see more of your act.

Regards,
Bruce

This is Jeff Abraham - I am looking forward to talking with you all about GEORGE CARLIN

Hey! Hey! We've been hearing good stuff about you. But that's OK. We didn't take any of it seriously. We're also looking forward to getting together with you for your unique experiences with a man who was truly a comic genius.