Michael O’Brien performs “The Best Linking Ring Routine You Have Ever Seen!” Penn and Teller Fool Us

[@sidleyparkhermit6391]

It was a pleasure to watch, plus you got Penn to finally put a ring on Teller after all these years. That's worth some kind of trophy in my book.

[@OBrienMagic]

Thanks so much!!! Yup, i should get a “sleight of forefead” trophie haha

[@presto709]

@@OBrienMagic Just watched this today, Great routine. I often read and enjoy your posts at the Cafe. - Magic Mike

[@OBrienMagic]

Alright! Stereo surround sound good? Aspect ratio ok? We lookin good??? Cool!

[@aaabbb-py5xd]

I saw a notification from your earlier video and then saw the update notice, thanks 😁

[@frednorthupjr-seattle]

For what it’s worth, this performance is brilliant in mono, too. 👍🏼

[@becamicusack3598]

Thanks!

[@undeadOtter]

lmao much better. last one sounded like it was recorded on a potato hahahaha. no offence.

[@walteromondi9259]

I want to learn magic... Can you teach me?

[@RichardP539]

This is the most amazing rings version I've ever watched...and probably ever will watch. I'd love to see this in person some day.

[@toring61_52]

His presentation was drab. I saw a street magician do the rings at a farmers market in Boise ... Impressive as long as it has a good presenter..

[@RichardP539]

@@toring61_52 Is it ok with you if I just like things?

[@OBrienMagic]

@@toring61_52 this comment was drab do better

[@OBrienMagic]

Thank you richard. Hopefully someday i can meet you!

[@jamesdominguez7685]

For most of the routine, I was thinking "Nicely presented, charming patter, but familiar stuff" and then you did BOTH holes of the bottle opener, and that's when my jaw fell open. I know a lot of the methods you used, but that one move boggled my mind. Excellent work!

[@OBrienMagic]

Haha thank you! I think the interesting thing is most people forget i linked the ring on then handed it out to teller to examine. That was overshadowed by the forehead link and the bottle opener link lol. Still, thank you!

[@theelysium1597]

@@OBrienMagic Yea, handing out the rings was the most eye catching thing for me as well. Such a great effect! But by that of course you excluded one possibility of how it was done which made it easier for Pen & Teller to guess. However, a really nice routine! I loved it and so smooth!

[@sinekonata]

You can tell Teller's jaw dropped too there. Yeah it's a masterpiece.

[@erwinekkel9676]

Amazing! This is the best storytelling in magic ever. And very nice trick. Great job.

[@OBrienMagic]

Awwww super kind thank you!

[@ClubRemy]

Loved this. Yours was one of the most natural feeling presentations I've seen on Fool Us and I've pretty much watched every episode.

[@OBrienMagic]

That means EVERYTHING to me!

[@danquaylesitsspeltpotatoe8307]

@@OBrienMagic Do you think they didnt realise what you showed was not in the trick?

[@misofac]

As an enthusiastic amateur magician I'm on a level where I could reasonably follow your steps but at the same time be dead certain I wouldn't pull them off so smoothly without insane amounts of practice. Of course, Matthew Garrett deserves the credit for coming up with all those props -- and there's a lot of them! ;) The amount of inspiration that went into creating this routine is insane. Knowing what is done during the routine only adds to my admiration. The whole thing is just delightful. When you hand out those fully examinable props to spectators (both "your wedding ring" interlocked with another full ring and the finale with the ball bearing) you create really powerful magical moments. Kudos both to your mentor for coming up with the trick and to you for your lovely performance!

[@Me_Sean]

Thank you for the reupload!

[@OBrienMagic]

I am glad. You guys when kinda ape ish about it lol

[@Sara.T90]

I'm not gonna read anyones comment because I'm sure some ...... would have explained how you did this trick. Instead I would just like to say thank you for making me feel like a little kid again (I'm actually 31 but still). You might not have fooled Penn and Teller but you fooled me. Thank you!

[@OBrienMagic]

You have no idea how happy that makes me to hear! Wow thank you so much!!!

[@ichigo_nyanko]

I missed the code words, I'm a budding magician so I normally get them but it went right over my head this time.

[@sfurules]

Both my ears LOVED this

[@grayskindablue]

I’m learning VERY basic tricks, and was in total awe. I’ve watched so much magic, and never seen such a worn-out classic get so interesting. The mix of skill + getting some real crowd laughs is hard to come by. I write down ideas for tricks to develop, for the day I’m good enough to perform them, if that ever happens. I’m chronically ill and a few years ago when I started doing long hospital stints I’d binge watch magic to stay sane, and learn what I can. (Certainly not in a pity me way, I’m good, that’s just where it started.) So at 25 now I’m very late to magic and doubt I’ll ever be the one able to do them all. I mostly wanna learn a few fun things to assist in stand-up. But I was rewatching a 15 second bit of this over and over like “I think I know how he’s doing that, I think my silly linking ring bullet points and sketch would look crazy if I could do that.” Maybe I’ll get to tell you about it one day! Anyway, big ups on the performance man, can’t wait to see what you do next

[@UnbiasedMagicReviews]

Awesome performance. Few people probably appreciate the hard work that went into the prep for this.

[@YogueDaddy]

This routine is absolutely perfect to me. The vibe, the technique. It's just mesmerizing!

[@sinekonata]

Yes. Only the bottle apparition needs a little work. Holding a cap with the middle finger is pretty off :D

[@bendyparanormal]

The linking rings usually bore me. This routine broke the mold and didn’t bore me. Nicely done.

[@StuffByBez]

an amazing series of tricks. I love how you kept doing it - not just with different methods (not that I knew any of them) but also with slightly different effects. Loved it. Thoroughly entertaining. My favourite bit was the bottle opener. I'd love to see this in person one day.

[@crateer]

Insane routine! Very well done, you melted not only the bearing, but also my brain 😂

[@dungeonrobot]

Fantastic routine and incredible visual effect. The image of the ring passing through the various items was incredible

[@iamsushi1056]

Linking rings are harder to pull off impressively, well done

[@OBrienMagic]

Thank you so much!!!

[@TinkerTailorSoldier1]

You still showed P&T something they haven’t seen before. That’s still impressive. Very nice routine.

[@DrDurf]

Love this video! I’ve watched Michael several times and he is one of the best!

[@SB_3.1415]

wow just wow, I don't think I will see linking rings profermed any better than this in my entire life!

[@JoshyKel]

Never seen a better routine for this. Awesome

[@TitoTimTravels]

Beautifully done. It is even more amazing that you found something great to do with those small rings. I had a mentor that insisted on teaching me the full Symphony of the Rings by Dai Vernon, on 12 inch rings. A nice piece, but too long, and very outdated. In all my years, I have never actually performed the full symphony... why would I? This is a great new approach to what was becoming a tired old prop.

[@OBrienMagic]

Thank you so much Tito! I was taught this routine by my mentor Matthew Garrett who developed the effect. I agree, its one hell of a ring routine.

[@Acaykath]

The ball bearing was pretty obvious.... A lot of palming and switching done for several of the tricks. But I have no idea how the bottle opener was done. I could understand one side being done, just with the standard method, but when you added the other... That was the mind blowing part of your act.

[@SvenskSork]

I like this one allot, it has class, looks totally flawless and makes me care for a trick I normally would not bother with watching. Its a classic =D

[@undeadOtter]

That was beautifully done. Very Elegant.

[@edblitch3549]

Michael O’Brien rocks 🍀

[@OBrienMagic]

No Ed…. YOU rock!!!!

[@pjhelbig]

Fooled or not, this was impressive as hell. Damn!!!

[@draksig12]

I love it when a magician takes an old trick that everyone knows and makes it their own with enough changes to fool the layman.

[@thereignofdando]

This is one of those tricks where I have a fair idea in all of the sleights that went on, but I could never do it. Awesome effect.

[@jamesdominguez7685]

Yeah, for me most FU acts fall into either "I have no idea" or "I spotted the method but I would NEVER be able to pull it off myself". This one is mostly the latter, except the double-linking on the bottle opener, which genuinely amazed me.

[@thelorddrinian]

thanks for the update. the sound was a bother before....

[@SuperKillbill1234]

great routine..ty

[@gewhiz1494]

Amazing. Especially the bottle opener part.

[@AncientPixel_AP]

I wish there would be (or is there?) a method with the linking rings where each quarter of the ring has a different color :)

[@hailsagan8886]

I've always enjoyed illusions. Good job

[@marctompkins3001]

Penns ring is exactly what my wife gave me 37 years ago. A circular cluster of six diamonds, with the seventh diamond in the nucleus of the cluster.

[@bentaylor4203]

I love this routine!

[@dmr778810]

To disappoint you, 2:28 has some video stuttering problems.

[@Rand0m411]

Most impressive ring routine I've ever seen

[@lukassnakeman]

I love the linking rings trick because the answer is so obvious, the ring has to come apart at some point, but even though you know the answer you still don’t know how it’s done. And that’s magical

[@ailurophile4341]

Amazing work! You're epic.

[@jeremyramoshabaad]

Magical 🧙‍♂️ 💍

[@jacobtheokay3403]

I don’t like the linking rings as a general rule(that’s sacrilege in magic, I know.) This, however, was fantastic. So good, dude! Just curious, how nervous were you in the days leading up to this?

[@billsteinback7512]

that was awesome.... have no idea how you did all of that..... but I did see something with the beer.....

[@ToeTag1968]

The boys are always so respectful of the people on their stage. Of course they knew what was going on, but the show isn't so much about fooling them as it is showcasing talented magicians from many fields of study. Rings aren't my thing, but kudos to you.

[@MrMurphyum]

Beautiful performance! I don't consider myself as a magician just yet, but im on the right path. I must say tho I have a pretty good idea how you did it, except one: Penn's ring! Did you have a perfect duplicat? Honesly I don't know. Wery vell done!

[@Piper_____]

Wow. That was incredible. The ball bearing and the bottle opener were super impressive. I came out of that at the end with only the word “wow.” In my mind, and solidly convinced (even though I know it can’t happen) that you honestly had a pair of permeable rings. The ball bearing happened, and all I could think was “no way.”

[@Milamberinx]

Just a hint: the ball bearing didn't happen.

[@HOTD108_]

​@@Milamberinx Then how do you explain the ball bearing being on the ring then?

[@Milamberinx]

@@HOTD108_ that’s a ball bearing, and a ring with a ball bearing on it. Two separate things. He’s also got a ring with his wedding ring on it, a normal ring, and a trick ring.

[@lvl300mrmime]

That was excellent!

[@cslloyd1]

wow. I am no magician, but I did own some linking rings. this is incredible

[@gnehsse]

"And when I’m old and I’ve had my fun, I’ll sell my inventions so that everyone can be superheroes. Everyone can be a super! And when everyone’s super: No one will be."

[@bernlin2000]

That was so beautiful, truly an art form, constantly making the audience keep guessing, and keep getting surprised.

[@jazzymichael]

Nice

[@sinekonata]

here's no way they knew every detail as this was an intricate masterpiece. They would work it out eventually, of course, but right there, they clearly had to be surprised a few times. They should have given it to you, frankly, knowing the gist of it is not enough imo.

[@OBrienMagic]

I appreciate you my friend! Thank you!

[@Dayta]

i knew maybe around 10% ok lets not go too bold on this one let say i knew about 5% of the moves and even those 5% ive known and noticed i couldnt dream of a smoother way of execution ... and when it comes to the rest 95% moves i propably dont even have the ability to count due to me not seeing them at all makes it kinda hard :D this was indeed as the title sai the best linking ring routine ive ever seen i love the idea that penn and teller lets magicians upload their performance on their channel but i would add them all up in a playlist to publish the playlist suporting the chanel of each magician like that it would be easyer to find and not take like this 1 year to accidently stumble across yet another great magician i would have otherwise missed

[@OBrienMagic]

Such a kind comment! Thank you! Maybe you can make a playlist and put all the fool us episodes in it? :)

[@julievanderleest]

Okay I gotta be honest… my boyfriend had a hat like that and he looked 20 years older. I felt like I was dating my grandpa, or a 2 year old boy. Not really sure.🤪Needless to say I was not a fan. However, the hat works for you! It actually fits your head. Honestly! The ring trick is probably my favorite of all the magic tricks. One classic I could never figure out.

[@glowingfish]

This reminds me of the guy who did sponge magic...it's the most basic props and it should be simple...but there was a lot of novelty and charm in what is supposedly a well-known trick.

[@OBrienMagic]

I agree 100%! It isn’t the props, it is the person using them and the story they tell!

[@mikhailjackson]

2:29 - is this part of the video intentionally to be lagged.

[@OBrienMagic]

No

[@jaykrappenshitz4992]

I'm glad ya got to get on stage with two of the absolute best performers on any stage. Let's call it what it is: exposure. The split ring act couldn't ever fool those two. Probably happy to put ya out there to get ya started and able to put "Fool Us" on your resume.

[@Mike-we3rb]

How are the rings split tho. He gave it to them and let them hold them and tug on them

[@jaykrappenshitz4992]

@@Mike-we3rb Thanks, I made the edit to make it more clear of what I meant to say

[@joewas2225]

Ring magic usually bores me but this was great.

[@OBrienMagic]

Thank you!

[@thelorddrinian]

wow.

[@AlexHamilton86]

Says he's Irish, starts talking about Belfast FML

[@OBrienMagic]

I am well aware of the difference between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Sinn féin and all that. Calm the f down boyo.

[@munchy2973]

You can see once he give the ring with the ball on it he take the ball off before he gives it to penn but great trick

[@yawattYT]

I would love to see someone do this at a bar haha!

[@661Justice]

Okay, he wins. I know a lot of the methods, but OMG!

[@YaBoiMoustafa]

Pretty cool. I think I’ve watched so many Fool Us acts that I’ve ruined a lot of magic for myself. I’m assuming there were multiple rings involved alongside multiple different gimmicked hoops. If I’m wrong about the rings or the hoops then I’m impressed

[@SunsetWingman]

Best part of stainless rings is that you can't see when they are being rotated

[@Toiletman24]

How

[@ku8721]

Hmmm I have an honest question about this..... WHY IS TELLER WEARING A MICROPHONE?!?!

[@OBrienMagic]

This!!!!!! Lol

[@Joytaze]

Once I saw a comment saying that the producers back stage who know how the trick is done, can hear the conversation Penn and Teller are having while discussing how the trick is done. In that way they can intervene when the magician thinks Penn and Teller got it when they actually don't.

[@MegaWtfamidoing]

So are your family from Belfast?

[@OBrienMagic]

I have family from all over ireland. Not 100% sure where exactly my family originated from though. I know some live as far up as belfast and as far down as cork

[@GaryJr530]

Wait...if the ball melted on the ring..how did you throw it up at the end 😂

[@KonradTheWizzard]

Simple: melt it back out of the ring. It's a special Quick-Melt-Steel [tm] Self-Healing(R) ball bearing. Not exactly cheap, but you can order them from any Irish spaceship warf. 😋

[@Prestigiazioneit]

Beste Ever!!!

[@TorQueMoD]

Wow! I've already watched this performance before, but it's simply amazing! Best linking rings trick I've ever seen in my life! I love how much Penn and Teller enjoyed it, even if you didn't fool them :)

[@Liriq]

Physics would like a word with you

[@tapanjoshi5110]

🏆

[@TheJovan211]

I don't get it how this didn't fool them... These guys are mental 😁 Really amazing performance!

[@TheBarcaFUN]

That's Paul Giamatti!

[@nasapayrollsystem8701]

An irishman , drinking , onstage Who'd have thought it eh?

[@fooboomoo]

The true Lord of the Rings

[@guysontop7433]

Wow I didn’t know dwarves can be mages… aren’t they usually priests?

[@OBrienMagic]

😂😂😂

[@aaabbb-py5xd]

Wow, looks like you finally found someone shorter than you, which sounds like your junior is even more handicapped, but don't lose hope though, maybe some mage somewhere will one day grant you a fix. On second thought, sike.

[@marctompkins3001]

We still don’t have an live audience. I am wondering if anyone had made vaccines mandatory for the live taping.

[@OBrienMagic]

There was no live audience there either. Only P&T and Alyson. The applause is added in post haha

[@marctompkins3001]

@@OBrienMagic okay you completely avoided my questions, meaning they told you not to answer any vaccine issues. It was a great allusion that will keep my head wondering on for quite a while. The steel ball barring was the highlight.

[@kgapaneseschoolgirlb]

@@marctompkins3001 I know this was a year ago but come on dude, he literally told you there wasn't an audience. That defeats the purpose of the question.

[@marctompkins3001]

@@kgapaneseschoolgirlb I believe that you misunderstood my statement. I can see that there is no live audience. While other venues still continued, some areas of different States are wide open…..

[@kgapaneseschoolgirlb]

@@marctompkins3001 It's a lot easier to add in sound effects in post rather than have an audience regardless of whether or not people (which by now would have likely had one of the vaccines) are vaccinated or not. If they were in a state that was completely open and not in lockdown, they may have had an audience they may not have. It's clear to see that regardless of whether they had the vaccine or not, production went on without the audience. The few people who were on the stage in close proximity were vaccinated. So there's not much of a problem. Show' s sometimes didn't have an audience before than pandemic, some won't have them during or after. It's not completely unheard of, and it's not bad to be overly cautious, as it is to be underpinned.

[@marazo]

Only thing that takes away from this trick is the fact that the magician has to put his hands into his pockets way too many times... I mean, it's essential for the tricks to be performed, yes, but it starts to catch viewers attention... Raises some suspicion...

[@marcelnz]

as soon as you started withe rings, I already knew you didn't fool them. What were you thinking?

[@OBrienMagic]

I was thinking I wanted to get on TV to share my passion with the world. I could give 2 cares if I fooled them or not.

[@cliveedwards2958]

@@OBrienMagic ok I have studied magic purely as an art form..I know most techniques, though I cant do them..this was seriously brilliant and I honestly have no clue beyond the standard linking rings thimg..I tip my hat to you sir..brilliant and Slick and great patter too !!

[@ThomasMuirAudionaut]

So Irish you dress like an 19th century English railway manager.

[@OBrienMagic]

GRMA Thomas!

[@casualobserver620]

His "slight of hand" needs considerable work. Like the bottle behind the hat. The awkward holding of the hat as he picked up the bottle behind the podium.

[@OBrienMagic]

*Sleight of hand.

[@casualobserver620]

@@OBrienMagic My magic is slight of verbiage.

[@NoName-fj3pi]

@@casualobserver620 Seems he took that personally responding to correct.

[@Findalfen]

My wild guess is that magnetism is involved, but of course I'm probably wrong.

[@OBrienMagic]

Good guess! Though the only magnets involved are my magnetic personality ;)

[@Findalfen]

@@OBrienMagic Haha perfect reply!

[@MrGrock4279]

Don’t know how you do the ring jumping on the ring but know how you do the ball never seen that one it was awesome

[@91vanced14]

That's not an Irish accent 🤣

[@OBrienMagic]

Thats how everyone speaks in donegal innit?

[@sagargurung6200]

Okay now empty your pockets 😜

[@lordrslingAOE]

Did it fool anyone?

[@herberar]

Mmmm!!!! This guy is constantly reaching into his pockets selecting the rings he is going to show. Come on!!!

[@OBrienMagic]

Next time i wont do that. Ill just magically switch between rings like teal magic lol

[@maizegod6840]

This was terrible

[@CrustedPork]

Hey...I can hear this one with both of my ears! Woooo!

[@timh2356]

That´s great. Could I get a link to your LinkedIn profile? Get it? Link? LinkedIn?