Jonathan Ross is a very annoying and overpaid man, exceptionally overpaid. He took the BBC for a ride for years as a ‘contractor’ presenter, fleecing the licence fee payer and corporation for millions. His move to ITV was unlamented by ‘thetvreviewguy’ who thinks stars like Ross add little value for the viewer. And yet, ‘Fool Us’ (ITV), with Penn and Teller, is a great TV show, a return to Saturday night fare at its best and a magic programme that allows the real stars, i.e. the magicians, to take the limelight with Ross shutting his all too mouthy gob for most of the programme. The format sees amateur magicians try and fool Penn and Teller with the prize on offer being a slot in Vegas backed by P&T. The two guys are genuinely funny and always ‘big up’ their guests whether they manage to guess how the trick is done or not. Penn, the chatty one, is a good old-fashioned ‘roll-up, roll up’ showman and Teller is terrific as the silent partner; together they make for a really talented and hilarious double act. The beauty of good magic is in being totally baffled as to how something’s done; Penn is a noted rationalist and never claims what he does is more than an illusory. ‘Fool Us’ brings us Muggles into their world and allows us an insight into the ways and means of pro-magicians. Well worth tuning in for, despite Jonathan Ross.
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