Willl Ondrej Fool Penn & Teller a Fourth Time?

[@nunocampos1805]

So happy you came back a fourth time. You’re one of my all time favorite magicians on this show. Hope to see you a fifth time.

[@OndrejPsenicka]

That is so sweet of you. We'll see if I come up with something new. ;)

[@Noctew]

Penn once said in his podcast that the trick to being a good magician is to work harder than anyone would ever believe you would. And you did.

[@404_profile_not_found]

Here's my thoughts, or how I would achieve this: At most, one feed is dedicated to being "live" at any one time. He starts by asking what their reactions will be. At this point, all 6 feeds are pre-recorded and are playing. Then one feed switches to live so he can confirm the dynamic responses - 1 live, 5 pre-recorded, with the live feed switching to different windows. Then transition back to all 6 pre-recorded, with the sequence being significantly long. Throughout this time he is not live and writes down the responses on paper. Enough time is spent with the 6 pre-recordings in order to record individual reveals, which are then prepped for playing in sequence. Then the reveal happens, all 6 (or 5/6) newly-recorded reveals play and he prepares to come on stage. There are only a few moments he needs to record and queue up on that day. The most important part are aligning himself for a transition to be smooth, using onion-skinning techniques and a monitor to ensure he's aligned with a transition pose.

[@emergentform1188]

Cool theory bro, but how can he flip between recordings without it looking like there's been a cut?

[@404_profile_not_found]

@@emergentform1188 There were visible cuts. Another poster mentioned this: "- At exactly 3:17, you can see that there is a subtle cut in the video of the top right Ondrej. " When the transition between live and recorded has to happen, he moves into a transition pose, as I mentioned. Which means he moves himself into the same position that his recording starts at, so when the transition happens, there's no jarring cut. But at 3:17 you can see that one happens.

[@emergentform1188]

@@404_profile_not_foundAhh right on, much appreciated! The orchestration and timing that went into this is wild in that case.

[@IllusoryMaze]

@@404_profile_not_found I can't see the one mentioned, but immediately after that (when it returns to fullscreen) the bottom right clone has a transition that's not so smooth, and if you frame-by-frame you can actually see two Ondrejs at once. None of this is noticeable normally, there's constant misdirection to draw your attention away from the switches, and with six of them you are either actively hunting for them or you'll never catch them. I guess this is sleight of feed?

[@2-minutephysiatry506]

Wonderful explanation. What is the onion-skin technique, btw ?

[@t3hjnz]

This was so, so, so much fun to watch. Great performance and effect, Ondrej, and thanks for letting us watch you do that. Nobody was having more fun in that room than you, Penn, and Teller.

[@koolmagicguy]

That was PHENOMENAL! I have no idea how you did it. You could say it fooled the pants off of me. I got butterflies zooming all around me watching this.

[@OndrejPsenicka]

You are so punny! 😃

[@mkr10001]

Bit weird

[@JosefTrejbal]

Tvá vystoupení jsou vždycky zážitek. :) Díky, že takhle hezky reprezentuješ naši zemi.

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Moc děkuju. Plánuju ji důstojně reprezentovat i nadále. :)

[@Rebius]

@@OndrejPsenickaa ta super anglictina bez prizvuku, to se taky moc casto neslysi.

[@icesharkk6399]

the amount of coordination to perform that trick in the tight window of opportunity before transition is insane.

[@iambicpentakill]

"Don't make a move. I'll hit you in the face." LOL

[@OndrejPsenicka]

😅 I was scared!

[@magic_alon]

Ahhhhh ondrej! What a legend!!! Magnolia in real life! Remarkable 🔥

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Magnolia on steroids! 😎

[@RODGERGRUMMIDGE]

There was only ~25 sec between teller miming the slap and the reveal using the cards. In working out the method, P&T have often mentioned how important time is in working out methods. P&T would have realized that with only ~25 sec available, there were very restricted options for different possible methods. So it probably made it much easier for P&T to guess the method. Although, i am sure that even P&T might of doubted that anyone would use such a method because of the crazy amount of work required. For the fooler format, it is better to ensure that the set up allows for several plausible methods with the most unlikely method being the one used. So simply lengthening the time between the mimed slap and the reveal might have introduced some doubt into P&Ts guessing (and an FU trophy?) But a truely innovative and novel trick. You are in a class of your own. Well done on a fantastic effect. Congrats!

[@thomasking9524]

25 seconds? All TV is edited for time. Also, he didnt need to write anything. He could show one set of cards as someone sultaneously wrote the next cards.

[@iitstre_4550]

Honestly insane that he’s fooled them twice, let alone 3 times. You’re incredibly talented man, very impressed you risked it a fourth time

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Thank you, I really appreciate it!

[@moistoyster3776]

I think I get what P&T were getting at, but I don't understand how one would be able to switch from pre-recorded to real-time and back without some sort of obvious jumps or inconsistencies - unless the mention of the weeks and months was about practicing all six characters' EXACT timing, to include exact head position, alignment, tilt, no blinking, exact same smile, etc., so that any one frame was live at a time, but seamlessly goes back to prerecorded when another frame has to say something important. Which would actually be more impressive than the trick already looked.

[@kyler133]

Glad someone else here was thinking similarly.

[@OndrejPsenicka]

You can say that the method to this trick is at least as impressive as the effect itself. 😊

[@mdrlolcat]

Aside from training to replicate the exact same pose at the right moment, i believe you can most likely smooth out transitions between live/pre-recorded with technological tools like AI to make it seemless.

[@billyeveryteen7328]

The reason that switching from a still to a static image looks off or obvious is that most people will move or fidget or shift in some subtle way which becomes very obvious on camera. I think what Penn was getting at with how much work Ondrej put in is that he had to practice and rehearse remaining perfectly still so that the cuts wouldn't be obvious. It sounds like it should be easy, but being able to match cut while live is unbelievably difficult. But as Ondrej has shown us in the past with his previous routines, he's more than willing to put in the work.

[@tigerhugger66]

Ondrej you are my hero! I’ve loved all of your performances! I’m hurt you didn’t fool them this but I’m sure you’ll get them again!

[@gifgoldblum7940]

The ingenuity and skill behind this trick is impressive!

[@dougidoug]

That was a fantastic trick. The timing was just perfect. The other times you fooled them were great but this trick was just really special.

[@OndrejPsenicka]

It is very special to me, too. Took countless hours to get right.

[@dougidoug]

I can well imagine that it did. I liked it when one of you sneezed and one of you left. Just brilliant. I guess there is always the next time. Good luck.

[@juanchis.investigadorsonoro]

I just had to go back & watch the first three. Congrats! ❤

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Thank you! I hope you enjoyed them! 🙏

[@ottik5]

When covid time was in worse, Ondřej was presenting similiar trick in his online show Magnolia. It is perfect. Never expected, that i will see this trick again in Penn and Teller fool us. I'm looking forward for 52 lovers show.

[@Johnkiernanmusic]

I don’t care if you fooled them or not, this is absolutely excellent. 🎉

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Thank you, John! I appreciate it. :)

[@timo1672]

I got fooled, i have no clue, i love your work and you made my day better, thank you so much

[@emergentform1188]

Wow, this is so original, elaborate, and bewildering. Ondrej is legend.

[@OndrejPsenicka]

You are! Thank you so much! 🙏

[@stenlarsenfinnsson8239]

Just brilliant, hope to see you again 🙂

[@furrukhjamal00]

it fooled the pseinicka out of me when I saw this trick in one of your online shows and this trick was the reason I have asked you quiet a few times to put that show online so that I could watch it one more time.... and I still have no idea how this was done

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Haha, I don't know how exactly it works either anymore. 😄

[@venuswine9905]

⁠​⁠@@OndrejPsenickamaybe one of the other Ondrejs does

[@KiloShank]

Oh yeaaa, he's back. Always a spectacular act.

[@stefentan4430]

Well done, can't wait for your comeback next season!

[@markp44288]

I have been to Prague and the surrounding country twice, and the Czechs have a certain way about them, and Ondrej reminds me of how wonderful a place it is. Maybe it is the humor. He takes who he already is, and adds magic and puts on one great show!

[@ludeksmetana8696]

Na zdraví! Díky za nenápadné vnoření našeho krásného jazyka do videa 😉 Každopádně každé z vašich vystoupení v P&T stálo za to a mám je ve výběru toho nejlepšího z této show.

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Děkuju za milá slova. Vždycky se tam snažím něco “našeho” propašovat. ☺️🇨🇿

[@davidheilig]

I loved the magnolia show and so on, this trick was a wonderful reminder for the fact: You are so strong in both worlds - reallife & digital! Thanks for sharing. ❤

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Thanks David, thank you for being a part of the journey. ♥️🙏

[@welding_guy7524]

You are my favorite ever magician on fool us.. You have a wonderful smile and a magical personality.. thank you for your gift to the world 🙂❤️ Edit: I watched it again , you are a genius.. 🙂

[@jirilzicar5995]

Prostě ten nejpošahanější kouzelník ze všech musí být z ČR. Geniální počin :D

[@OndrejPsenicka]

😆 Mám radost, že vás to baví!

[@hankapsenicka9150]

You’re awesome and they’re great. 😊 Good luck for next time. 🍀🍀🍀

[@OndrejPsenicka]

They are, and you are. Love you.

[@nickschroeder8496]

Its always good to see you again on the show!

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Thank you, Nick. 🙏

[@tilkka_]

So proud of you friends! What an amazing multilevel performance that reminded me of some good ol' stooges from Magnolia!👏👏👏👏

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Some good old Tilkka level stooges, yes Sir! 😉

[@Telemergion]

MY GOODNESS.... you are great!

[@bryanmilestv]

Well done, Ondrej! Well written, presented and executed! Bravo! ⚡

[@JanSmetana]

Pecka, jako vždycky. Díky (za dobrou reprezentaci ČR) :)) Třeba si ponožky v sandálech zapamatují ;)

[@TorQueMoD]

That was a really cool performance. I really like the one clone getting up and walking across the screen of the other clones to go to the bathroom :) Well done.

[@thomasking9524]

Its sad so few people here understand the monumentality of what he did. Its easy to make some hand-waving claims. It is an order of magnitude harder to put the tech, planning, and hard work into actually pulling it off so smoothly. Marvelous!

[@EbnuSuryadhi]

Great performance!! Thanks for sharing

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Thank you so much, Ebnu!

[@MaverickCadaverick]

Hilarious & very well done! Love it!

[@d4m4s74]

I don't often see a magic trick that works because of screens that doesn't cheat with screens. Good job.

[@supitschillbro]

it is a screen cheat, just a particularly elegant one, if i’m correct in how it was accomplished

[@richgross144]

I love that routine. So hard to figure out when watching it because it's difficult to even have a clue what to look for!

[@OndrejPsenicka]

♥️ Thank you, Rich!

[@michaelloughnane]

love this trick - for a show like fool us, I feel like it runs into that sorta problem where like. if a disappearing and reappearing trick is so perfect that it has to be twins, you've figured it out it's twins. This trick only has one way it could ever be possible, and therefore by process of elimination you have to conclude it's that way. An absolutely incredible piece of performance art though!

[@ales.hrdlicka]

Proud of you as always ❤

[@fabiocecchelli9662]

The best magician ever!!! Greetings from Italy 🇮🇹

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Greetings to Italy, Fabio! Thank you so much!!!

[@fabiocecchelli9662]

@@OndrejPsenicka …think to have watched your three magic tricks on P&T Fool Us “…2 thousands, 7 hundres and 4 times…” …” don’t applaude “😆😆😆😆 What a Genius❤️

[@RichardJr1134]

I just watched this episode. It was 🤔 then😳 and finally😀on 🔥🔥🔥 & came to see the other 3 tricks from past seasons. What a great appearance the 6 of you were. Lol!! Outstanding performance!!! I can't wait to rewatch the past ones.

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Thank you, Richard! That's fantastic, I am really happy you enjoyed it. 🙏😊

[@JimmyIchihana]

Bravo! Loved it! Mega congrats on another wonderful performance!

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Thank you Jimmy! And congrats on yours! The Sky is The Limit! Fantastic idea and execution. 🙏♥️

[@AlexBoyer]

such a GREAT routine!!! LOVE IT!

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Thanks so much, Alex! ♥️ I am super happy you liked it. 🙏

[@VilgotMichelin]

This was truly amazing! Brilliant execution of a hilarious and great trick. ✨

[@OndrejPsenicka]

♥️🙏 Thank you, my dear friend.

[@kenpearce3269]

Good stuff! Very entertaining! Loved it! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Yay! Thank you, Ken! 🙏

[@simons2006]

Nádhera! Každé vystúpenie vo Fool Us úplne neuveriteľné! Len tak ďalej, štvrtá trofej čaká!

[@K3k5lp]

It was such a great performance as always 🔥🔥🔥

[@stevej1154]

Penn got the Sympathy For The Devil joke as you knew he would.

[@DMCmagic]

Maestro!! Multi-dimensionally magnificent my friend 🔥🔥

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Multi-dimensional love is pouring your way, good Sir. As always. ♥️🙏

[@chandlermiller3944]

Even if this was done by juggling between live and pre-recorded footage it still requires an immense amount of timing and effort. Either way, it was magic for me.

[@rosacampos9374]

You fooled the pants out of me too! Sneaky sneaky man! Hope to see you again at Magic Live this year! And. A 5th time on fool us!

[@OndrejPsenicka]

♥️ We’ll see what the future brings! But yes, I’ll definitely see you in Vegas!

[@W-I-C-K-E-D]

Fantastic performance from a renowned Prague Magician...Czech ✅

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Yes! Another czech off my bucket list!

[@GaryFerrao]

It's always a pleasure to watch you man!~ Great work, probably you're better off with live performances?

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Maybe, but I love doing both equally. :)

[@yaoitiddieexpert1486]

Sorry was Penn's code saying that ondrej just had like, 30000 versions of each panel so that they could get every possible combination?

[@martin8934]

not fooled but amazed about the execution.

[@falcoproudneck]

This was the beat reaction to being busted by P&T I have ever seeing. So impressed with the code language used

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Yes, I was very impressed.

[@Prof5680]

Allison was so natural with this job, like everything was a flow. She never forced anything, or fake laughed for no reason. U never see someone's impact until there gone😢❤

[@ethanpederson]

I have the same thoughts.

[@Clifton100]

Brooke is a much more sexy and beautiful, tasty treat.

[@nugnug501]

Really cool effect, and I love the idea of using Zoom as part of a magic trick. Here's how I believe it's done... The live Ondrej is switching around between the different boxes. - At 3:09, Ondrej is in the top right. We know because he repeats the F-word - At exactly 3:17, you can see that there is a subtle cut in the video of the top right Ondrej. Now, the top right is pre-recorded - We know at 3:42 that the top middle one is the real Ondrej because he says "like a slap in the face" - At 4:57, we can see that the top middle Ondrej is still in the camera shot, and yet Ondrej walks onto the stage. This means that the real Ondrej came from the empty top left The reveal at 4:16: I believe that Ondrej simply pre-recorded a lot of different possibilities. The top left and top middle could've stayed the same (it's just "WORD THAT RHYMES WITH"), and for the top right, he pre-recorded a lot of different possibilities. Because it's "rhymes with" and he didn't guess the exact word, he could've recorded a lot fewer videos. The cut at 3:17 is when he switched from the live version to the pre-recorded variant that reveals "DUCK!" If Penn chose a different word, he would've switched it with a different pre-recorded video. For the Teller part, the bottom left could've stayed the same ("LIKE A"), and for the bottom middle and bottom right, he also pre-recorded a lot of possibilities. I don't see the cuts here (probably cut out of the final take by the producers), but it's probably done the same way, where he has a lot of pre-recorded possibilities, and then just swaps the video with the right choice. The trick is similar to his last performance -- Ondrej is more than willing to spend hours upon hours recording many different variants of a video, with the final variant chosen based the real-life outcome. Anyway, great trick! :)

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Thank you! I appreciate you spending so long getting such a detailed description! Clearly, you are not far from the truth. ;)

[@ГригорийДонов-я6д]

The greatest revenge arc in the history of magic

[@mloxard]

This was a lot different from the usual ones :D

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Thank you for noticing!

[@nitedk]

Very impressive!

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Thank you! 🙏

[@2-minutephysiatry506]

Superb trick !!

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Thank you! 🙏

[@viopsadmin]

I usually don't like technology tricks. Using phones to turn back time or pulling a real object off a computer screen with a picture of that object, etc. But this one, this trick, was so good! Loved it! No idea how you did it. Super entertaining. Great. Very well done!

[@diegorubio2509]

Your tricks and personality are awesome! Greetings from Mexico.

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Thank you! Greetings to Mexico! ✨

[@zatli6277]

Hezky homeoffice oblek, musime jim tam prinest trochu nasi kultury do te USA 🤣 Pobavilo, jako vzdy, hlaska "thank me", pecka 😄

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Ano, jen ať se poučí o naší cultural fashion! 😎

[@neaituppi7306]

Interesting Pstrategy.

[@muntedfinger]

I adore this routine, so clever and funny

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Thank you! ☺️

[@deniszeman4824]

Bylo to skvělé

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Děkuju, Denisi! Brzy na viděnou. :)

[@leamael00]

For those who struggle pronouncing his name, it's pronounced "Ondrej Psenicka". You're welcome !

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Thank you for finally breathing some clarity into this age old puzzle! 😊 Thank you!

[@HTOP1982]

Video-looping, but very well done.

[@teaoanimar]

What's considered the "magic trick"? The being on 6 cameras at once? Or the correct thing written down? The first, though it might be complex visual effects doesn't feel like a "magic trick" any more than superman flying in movies or Gandalf sitting next to Frodo. The second seems trivial since the cards are off camera and could've been written afterward. Hell we don't even know if the cards really said anything or were just blank cards with visual effects putting words on them in the feed.

[@Vidyut_Gore]

What the fuck? HOW? I'm hooked.

[@zhenis.aitzhanov]

Great act

[@chasmkek]

You are one of my favourite foolers (3 times!!! 👀) Still an amazing performance even if it didnt fool them!

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Thank you SO much!

[@ssbbshadowplayer1]

Awesome magic trick! You've fooled me!

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Yay! Thank you! :)

[@heatshield]

Unreal, man. So cool. 👊😎

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Thank you! 👊😊

[@jacksonbollock]

Did they definitely have the method? Penn didn't seem to be using a code (unless it totally passed me by). Anyway, congrats on another phenomenal piece. This must have taken months to get right.

[@jump3775]

příště to určitě vyjde

[@JohnnyNJones]

You must’ve been running around like crazy to get this trick done behind the scenes

[@Jason-33W]

Aww, his daughter is beautiful - what a great guy.

[@OndrejPsenicka]

🥰

[@goldeneddie]

Wow, P&T got it wrong! No Penn, it wasn't like the other trick where Ondrej had to 'repeat every choice!' I think Penn drew a blank with that explanation! Wink-wink! They got it wrong and man, that was so classy of Ondrej to smile and agree to their misguided guess. A class act, Sir. "Discretion is the better part of valour".

[@craigstaley352]

They have judges who know how it is done. If they got it wrong, then the judges would let them know.

[@OndrejPsenicka]

😉😁

[@TheDrCork]

Great trick. Just one question: was any of the Пшеничкаs a live feed or were they all pre-recorded?

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Thank you! What do you think?

[@TheDrCork]

@@OndrejPsenicka maybe sometimes. Either that or you just recorded all the words 😂

[@MagogCZ]

Love it ❤

[@OndrejPsenicka]

♥️🙏

[@oliverhughes610]

Always love to see you Ondrej! Such creative and fun tricks.

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Thank you so much, Oliver! 🙏

[@ronja993]

I loved it !! 😊

[@deniszeman4824]

I also

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Děkuju, Ronjo! :)

[@KeedMally]

Guru always the best for me 💫💫💫💫

[@zantas-handle]

I feel like the code speech showed that Penn actually did not know how the trick was done. And when you said: "I'm sure they do" it seemed like you were also a little surprised because Penn's comments did NOT indicate understanding the trick! I thought you were very gracious though, and made the most professional choice accepting that THEY think they knew how it was done!

[@ConstantlyDamaged]

There was some not-actually-code in there, just nicely obfuscated. The process in place is that when the act is done, Penn and Teller have to explain to their producer how they think it was done. The producer will confirm or deny them right then. Nothing is left to chance anymore. They will then quickly hash out what code words to use to tip off the magician that they were caught or make up incorrect ones to use if they want to make a bit more of a show of things. The latter bit, in the past, has been the undoing once or twice, where the act thought Penn and Teller knew how it was done, and took the loss, but had actually won.

[@zantas-handle]

@@ConstantlyDamaged Ah, I see! That's reassuring to hear. Thanks for that thoughtful reply - well explained and much appreciated my friend!

[@OndrejPsenicka]

Exactly. :)

[@massigamer6396]

you are amazing bro

[@OndrejPsenicka]

You are

[@Okinawatrip]

"Thank me", overlooked joke that I thought was pretty funny.

[@differentman1878]

I don't understand. He put the cards off screen. So... they could have been switched in middle. Unless it was all pre-recorded

[@Bensmith-v9n]

They edited out Allison from the old clips? :o

[@joseph.westbury]

🔥🔥🔥

[@hungfao]

I know how it's done and as Penn said --- a LOT of work.

[@strohhutxP]

Any chance you're performing in Vienna?

[@OndrejPsenicka]

No plans yet.

[@meksound]

wow great trick

[@stephenspackman5573]

That was really fun, though sadly it falls in the category of tricks that only work if people don't know the technology. In fact, I fear I could (if I wanted to put in the effort, ahem) do it somewhat better and with much less effort on the day. Thinking up the idea, though, that was clever.