Penn & Teller: Most difficult judgement in the history of Fool Us! Mellow with a camera trick

[@mellow.magicYT]

I'm overwhelmed! Thanks so much for all your support. Be sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more MAGIC like this! 🙃It means a lot to me that you share my vision of magic. 🙏🏻✨

[@Berzerkules]

Even if you didn’t fool Penn and Teller, this was an amazing act with just so much charm and wonder to it. You did an outstanding job

[@theartistbonez1930]

Fantastic act .

[@ObscurityIsBest]

It was most definitely a great performance! And it fooled me!

[@sailaab]

You were amazing!!!🙂👍🏼

[@adamzack9259]

wahh..its awesome tricks u have done..cant wait for the next show..congrats bro Mellow..thank you

[@MrJtseng1]

For those wondering (and many have explained already), the producing team includes magic experts (the judges) for whom the contestants are required to disclose how the tricks are done in advance. If P&T themselves (in this case) or P&T and the contestant (as seen in many heated moments in earlier seasons) cannot come to a clear agreement whether P&T explained the methods to a degree where everyone feels satisfied, they'll go to the judges. The judges tell Allison whether P&T's guess is close enough. This keeps it fair as the "coded speak" Penn uses can occasionally create some ambiguity as he doesn't want to reveal every method publicly. And also each contestant has a different threshold for how much in detail they want Penn to say before they feel satisfied.

[@seeps9353]

Just to add: The judges can hear P&T talking durring the interview.

[@krisrhodes5180]

"as seen in many heated moments in earlier seasons" I must see this! Do you know of some contestant names I could google in this regard?

[@seeps9353]

@@krisrhodes5180 The point of the show is to give upcoming magicians a chance to be seen. Winning means nothing as long as the person is appreciative, kind, fare and has a good routine. Early on some people came on thinking the trophy ment more than the exposure. So a few argued to try for the win, which backfired and made them seem ungrateful. Now it's well known, even with some people actually fooling them but leaving without a trophy so the audience doesn't feel like they're trying to cheat. Sometimes saying "You got me, you guys are the best." Is better than a win. Try searching for season one or two, then looking for magictions you've never heard of.

[@neonicon8500]

Did you just say that the contestants have to tell the judges how the trick is done beforehand.

[@MrJtseng1]

@@neonicon8500 yes. The judges(the producers), not penn and teller.

[@popofabulous]

I have a lot of German friends and laughed out loud when he said "Germans are a difficult audience." I can imagine putting on this beautiful routine and being surrounded by people just looking with a very serious expression on their faces. Thank you for showing us that trick and good luck!

[@twatmunro]

You know about the German sense of humour, right? It's no laughing matter.

[@screenteasing]

Normally I'm totally against stereotypical prejudice, but that's one of a few facts... It takes a lot to win our sympathy and even astonishing magic couldn't help it if we don't understand the mechanic used. We have humor, but it's most often pretty dark, similar to British humor.

[@greekstraycats]

I am German and I guess I am difficult audience 🙂

[@juliaalder2007]

I'm german and I freaked out. 🥳🥳🥳

[@spidersquid_]

Germans are just not very expressive, most just sit in awe

[@Ryan_Hayashi]

Congratulations Mellow! An amazing act and an excellent performance! My compiments. Ryan Hayashi

[@justcameforthecomments]

You know it's been a great act when you are being applauded by Ryan 😍

[@gggooding]

What would you know about it, Hayashi? Oh...yeah. My bad. You're Bruce Lecter; you know all. *Amazing* trick, Mello! You rock! And only joshin ya, Ryan; you're a god. Please don't smite me.

[@sailaab]

O wow!

[@sasawedx]

I still remember the most epic monologue in the history of magic.. my heart was pounding and i can feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins 🤣😁

[@SaylerT]

This was nice of you, Sir. Paying it forward like a professional.

[@DoFliesCallUsWalks]

i think ive never seen teller look so closely and seriously at any other trick. the gentleman loved it!

[@tillfroemmel]

Absolutely stunning and so thankful & proud to have been part of this journey! Mellow, what a great „camera trick“ - I am looking forward to the next upcoming projects with you 🤩

[@sharpo]

The decision by the judges sounds like a "photo finish" which means too close to call without serious scrutiny. I call that a win. Congratulations on your wonderful performance.

[@Ares78987]

Except it wasn’t too close to call. The judges called it a loss. That’s not a win. You either fool them or you don’t. He didn’t. Good performance but that’s not what you call a win.

[@Kyrelel]

Not sure why it even went to the judges, as the studio director mistakenly showed a camera angle showing how it was done.

[@smithryansmith]

@@Kyrelel where was that?

[@roccoVAL]

@@smithryansmith when he asked her to mixed the photos she starting flipping them lol

[@sferguson1130]

Incredible originality and creativity. A trophy would be a nice feather in the cap. I’m sure I speak for a lot of people though, when I say I could honestly care less, if P&T are fooled or not 🤷‍♂️ That aspect, as far as I’m concerned, was just a concept to sell the network exec’s for a show. Ultimately, it allowed them to create a platform, for incredible magic to be showcased, around the world, and your performance, was the epitome of what the show is truly about.

[@dr.floridamanphd]

That was pretty much their pitch. Two of the greatest minds in modern magic judging other magicians’ acts to see if they could figure it out quickly. But, as Penn has said previously, it was also their way of being able to see the best magicians in the world so they could admire their work.

[@Sourcoolness]

Teller has said he felt they needed an objective measure of success to reward contestants for rather than just picking their favourite acts.

[@Awtsmoos]

How did he do this

[@michaelrichter9427]

That is the closest to the line I've ever seen a non-fooler get. When the *judges* complain that it's a hard call, you're doing very well! Brilliant trick and a wonderfully low-key presentation. I loved this.

[@tillfroemmel]

I totally agree! Well done written!

[@edojayakusuma8209]

Who is the judges? I am not familiar with this new format

[@DampRaccoon]

That's only because there were a few ways he could have done it and they had to stick with one guess. If they were fooled, they would have instantly known it was the "other" method.

[@DampRaccoon]

@@edojayakusuma8209 Judges see the performance in advance and know how it was done, but it remains a secret from P&T. So, they listen to P&T and know if they're on track or not. P&T only get around one guess at the trick.

[@isabellekoschi1271]

It's so great to finally see the results of all the time and work that went into the making! That routine will always be one of my favorites - and now it was on Fool Us! 🤩 So glad for you! 🤗

[@sailaab]

Indeed

[@cvdinjapan7935]

The camera crunch was the icing on the cake!

[@jonathandawson3091]

Also what allowed P&T to guess the technique.

[@notablemind]

Amazing story telling in this performance. For me, this was a very touching act, very emotional.

[@a24396]

The intro was really a touching and beautiful sentiment. And the trick was amazing! I'm sure your dad would be very proud of what you've accomplished.

[@LeslieJayBoschPhoto]

opposed to his mother?

[@a24396]

@@LeslieJayBoschPhoto He didn't mention his mother but he specifically DID mention his dad. And I'm quite sure his dad would be proud of the talent and capability shown here.

[@gteaz]

Alison: "The judges are unsure?" Penn: "We're taking this to supreme court." Supreme court: "You fooled them!"

[@sailaab]

😄

[@JCO2002]

Supreme court: We don't care unless you're pregnant.

[@pat3464]

@@JCO2002 the Supreme Court don't care if you're pregnant either they told the said it's the States problem now

[@JCO2002]

@@pat3464 Of course. I keep forgetting the US isn't a real country like a Sweden, Germany, France, or Canada.

[@WWTormentor]

That Polaroid brought back a lot of childhood memories. Thank you for sharing

[@markd.falcone8002]

Magic is not about fooling people but entertaining them and keeping them amazed and wondering..... you succeed in both of those categories... Thank you.

[@keithnaylor1981]

Still as incredible one year on, and looking just as impossible as when I first saw it. I can’t see any way this can be done. I can think of only two acts which failed to get a trophy despite being totally incredible and deserving. This is one of them.

[@drdennsemann]

Sehr coole Performance, hab mich wirklich unterhalten gefühlt und der emotionale Aspekt mit den Polaroids, Kindheitserinnerungen und deiner Familie war wunderschön! Meiner Meinung nach einer der besten Auftritte bei P&T!

[@Awtsmoos]

How was it fine

[@Awtsmoos]

Done

[@f52_yeevy]

This was such an original and beautiful routine and you felt truly honest and open, beautiful!!

[@Awtsmoos]

How was it done

[@OnceUponReddit]

I love the idea of this.

[@MrMadwyn]

This is how I would do it. The camera is a modified one, it’s a digital Polaroid camera in a film shell. All the photos in the basket were shot with the camera previously, so you can print them anytime. The question is how did the magician know which photo to print? Remember the card trick “pick a card”? I guess that’s the key.

[@Siebensinn7]

Beautiful, Emotional and Suprising. Bravo!

[@krumplethemal8831]

This is a card trick done with a photo.. That's how they know the solution but it's the execution of the trick where the confusion was.

[@kma3647]

It doesn't matter if you fooled them. I suspect you know that. What matters is that you created a beautiful illusion and a great story to amaze the audience. It takes a lot of creativity and finesse to take the technical aspects of what you did and make it art! Great performance!

[@user-wq9mw2xz3j]

everybody knows it matters of your fool em

[@mycroftsanchez901]

A great routine that went to 'VAR' ! Really enjoyed this one,

[@TendoTheGoat]

Am I the only person who thought that at the end he was going to take a picture of P&T with the audience behind them….but instead crumbled it up lol

[@TedSchoenling]

one of the great acts that didn't get past a couple of masters. It amazed the rest of us though. Well done, great story, wonderful effects.

[@MsTwissy]

I’m American and I was gasping out loud alone in my room! Do we all wear our hearts on our shoulders?

[@st.ricardomilos5117]

"This is my money shot." Lol nice one

[@adrianmcgachie]

Your dad will be watching, and so proud of you! Amazing magic!

[@setamonkeytoy]

what a gorgeous routine! That was such an emotive effect, the memories, the camera. I love a polaroid camera, I loved the finish, I just loved it! I've watched this show since the much less comely Johnathan ross was presenting it, and this was one of my favourite acts. I'll subscribe so I hope I'll be seeing magic evolve to sorcery lol

[@franshartman4378]

Your dad IS watching and applauding your magic. 👏🏻🙏🏻

[@Ka1hal]

What an amazing plot and what a great delivery. Hats off to you, sir

[@chialor1945]

This is a beautiful show.

[@Mike0193Azul]

Love camera magic 📷🔮 This whole vibe along with the background scene reminds me of The Evil Within 2, such a fantastic game with beautiful camera tricks. Amazing performance! Would love to see reappearance on the show 📸🎥

[@hungfao]

As soon as someone pulls out a modern prop like a Smartphone my interest drops quickly and I usually drop out. But this was old technology. I stuck around. I'm glad I did. Very entertaining throughout.

[@goffe2282]

I have absolutely no clue how this is done (as usual). I really enjoyed both the technique and the banter on this one. Really nice and it felt personal.

[@testman9541]

My bet is that the key lies in the true nature of those new "polaroids"🥳

[@kkarx]

@@testman9541 IMO all of the photos were double faced except the desired one and there were multiple copies of this photo. Could she see that there were more copies of the same photo? Sure but it is very unlikely she would notice that and then she concentrated on black side.

[@testman9541]

@@kkarx It is more an "on demand" thing I think... All you need is to know which one was handed. And you have classical and modern ways of'doing this AFAIK

[@musthavechannel5262]

Sorry but when a magician come out with gadgets and lots of them, they can never fool anybody. Everything is done by the gadget and the magician is just an embarrassment. Just look at the way the "stranger volunteer" pickups up that photo from the basket. Who does that kind of "four fingers and a thumb" pick except for magicians (and their assistants)

[@bernhardma6367]

I think the photos in the box with photo on the upside have been all different and the photos with the backside up have been all the same.

[@richardb8446]

Who and where are the judges? Can someone explain please?

[@matthewao]

Such a beautiful, poetic routine!

[@anthonyvinson5081]

Wonderful routine! Original and entertaining. Well done, sir!

[@LachimusPrime]

Wow! First time I've ever seen it thrown to the judges!

[@morbidmanmusic]

That was a beautiful, artful piece.

[@antichrist4485]

Having Allison put her hand on her ear like shes really listening to judges is the best magic lol 😂 like seriously wth jaja

[@jaredscott367]

yeah that part is fake as hell. what a joke!

[@seedsoflove7684]

There are judges, i think.

[@melltenfys]

Amazing performance! The story telling is really lovely and I hope this opens doors for you even if you didnt fool them.

[@justcameforthecomments]

Super geiler Act, viel Erfolg dir beim nächsten Mal! Hätte mir gewünscht, es hätte dieses Mal schon geklappt!

[@SerendipityChild]

That's really cool and creative :) Asks the assistant a yes/no question and she says "correct" .. he mentions the German audience is a little less emotive than perhaps other places. 😂 checks out

[@snapshopped]

It's so true what he says about the German audience. As a teenager and student I also performed juggling and magic in Germany, but the audience's reaction was always the same: Clapping their hands and saying: "Great trick, how did you do that? Can you do you it again? Can you show another one?" And that's all.... Sad sad sad. That's what got me out of performing in this country....

[@MrAlice]

I usually have a slight idea of whats going on, but this act absolutely fooled me. I cant even begin to guess how you did it, fantastic act!

[@johncuervo3019]

Because it's bullshit. He didn't do it in stage

[@XenonRaider]

@@johncuervo3019 You must be such a sad person. I feel sorry for whoever has to bear you daily

[@johncuervo3019]

@@XenonRaider just your mom and she loves me

[@grayskindablue]

@@johncuervo3019 they took plenty of protocols to make sure their standards were upheld to for the show. Even if they didn’t, P&T did know (enough) of how it was done, confirmed by their expert panel of judges. They wouldn’t have been able to successfully decide one way or the other if it was editing. Like what - the guy would’ve had to lie about how he did the trick, P&T would’ve had to guess wrong, and his later reveal would be that he lied and it was edited? That doesn’t make any sense.

[@PetroicaRodinogaster264]

I have no idea either. I usually don’t try to figure it out. But I did with this but every trick, I had no idea…guess it was magic.

[@TheRagingPlatypus]

I Iive in Germany. When he described Germans...I laughed. He was being very kind. Hostility and stoic are the words that come to mind when I think of Germans.

[@michaeljacobs9532]

This was amazing! Thank you!!!

[@reneecarter6702]

What a fun and sweet guy 🎩 🪄 📸 I loved his show ❤️

[@mikeallmon1]

this dude is very talented!!

[@SixTough]

Amazing video quality, it was a pleasure to watch

[@CONTRATI]

Keep it up brotha. you fooled me. i like magic and love to watch videos on my days off. so today you got my LIKE. cheeers from, New York City.

[@TeslaFamilyTravels]

Loved loved loved the use of the Polaroid camera! Brought back so many memories of my childhood and it was such a great act. You fooled me!

[@gavinator354]

forgive me if im being obtuse, but isnt the trick just ensuring that all the face down polaroids are the same image? we never get to see the others so it seems like a pretty simple technique

[@probablynotmyname8521]

The transitions were wonderful, i can only imagine how long you practiced at making them so smooth.

[@thorstenvonmarnitz5079]

Wie geht der Trick mit dem erscheinenden Zauberwürfel im Intro ?

[@b4ph0m3tdk9]

Wonderful rutine all the way through. You fooled me! Good job!

[@yiuqwfj]

Your career is really cool, man, from graphic design to film making to magic performance. I can only wish I had a life as interesting an adventurous as yours 🙂

[@seanfaherty]

You could make it more interesting just by trying. In fact, all the failures are the interesting parts. Nobody likes it when it’s too interesting but it makes us appreciate success more

[@MilesMagic1]

Cool. I was looking forward to see this routine since years. True art piece. Don't understand theyr decision.

[@StardustX24]

Infrared contacts and handheld photo printer made to look like a Polaroid? Loved it btw.

[@ianwilliams2696]

I'm not sure how the decision was reached. I couldn't pick up on any comment from Penn that indicated he knew how it was done.

[@yago8672]

They almost tell the secret hahahaha

[@ianwilliams2696]

@@yago8672 It's very well disguised. Normally I can understand enough to believe that they haven't been fooled but in this case it appears to me like they say nothing!

[@DavidWilliams-nm5jv]

A wonderful illusion. Well done!!

[@patrickungaro1447]

Watching this really made me want to watch Dominic Monaghan prank Elijah Wood

[@sharatsharma8273]

Top magic.loved it.👌

[@mercedeswilkins9085]

Teller face at 4:54 says it all

[@kenpearce3269]

Very entertaining! Keep up the great work! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@magicalmiller]

Really REALLY great ideas here. You should be proud of what you created.

[@Awtsmoos]

How did he do it

[@thesmokingburrito9097]

That was pretty groovy. Loved it

[@riteshmittal5095]

magical moment .. very beautiful magic .. man.. keep up the good work.

[@samwisegamgee6532]

I really like this routine, and your style, your name is very well chosen^^.You send really good vibes during your show.

[@greatvedas]

This is such a brilliant one. Very impressive.

[@DatRaccoon1215]

I really enjoyed this trick great work 😊

[@penguinfrozen3738]

Shaize really good mello keep it up

[@RobertBallMagician]

You did a wonderful performance 👍😊👍😊👍

[@Yue117]

Great act, at the end when you break the camera, it was very unexpected and surprising.

[@tennisdrummerboy]

A captivating performance. Loved it.

[@SethiozProject]

hmm this one is bit suspiciuos, were there any actual camera edits involved and is this why Penn and Teller couldn't decide? I wish all magicians would just use 1 continious camera angle, if they need to show something up close, then just put picture on picture

[@tillfroemmel]

No camera edits, this is part of the ‚official rules‘ of performing in front of Penn&Teller, even when it’s a pre-recorded thing. While the recording was done, there were a few producers who took proof of it.

[@stevesmith291]

That's what Mark Wilson insisted on. Mark Wilson was the star of The Magic Land of Alazazam, the first regular TV series of magic.

[@S.Y.S.64738]

Well... You fooled me. Cool trick.

[@8o8inSquares]

Such a beautiful trick man, well done!

[@magicjana155]

Wow🤩that was really impressive, well done👏🪄

[@TimTurbo]

Aus Neugierde, waren bei deinem Auftritt eigentlich Schnitte gesetzt, also mehrere verschiedene Takes aneinandergereiht, oder war das alles eine unterbrechungslose Live Performance mit Liveschnitt? So oder so sehr schön anzuschauen das ganze, hat mir sehr gefallen :)

[@UgoavecunHmagie]

So great Magic with a Polaroid man, greetings from an other Polaroid Magician from France !

[@chrisfrye3084]

Great trick, just wanna give you some subtle feedback if you don't mind! Lighting angles can give away part of your trick, just be wary of them ;) Loved the performance!

[@circuito77]

Really nice act, original and funny. Keep up the good work.

[@nofunintended4495]

This actually reminds me of Teller's rose routine. It is somewhat obvious how it is done but the performance. The theater. The mysticism are so well done it is still enrapturing.

[@freshfalcon3996]

Beautiful and magical performance!!

[@PhilippBoettcher]

Toller Auftritt. Herzlichen Glückwunsch Mellow

[@zhenis.aitzhanov]

Very good act. It’s amazing

[@FlatEarthMath]

Fantastic act! You fooled me, and entertained me even more. Blessings to you. :-)

[@enfortro]

That was sensational. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@dhy5342]

Well, he fooled me!

[@nikolaistriebel7265]

Such a fantastic Act 😍 The real final would have fooled them!!

[@oliverl.9004]

I only heard 2 seconds of him speaking and knew instantly, he is german

[@Rafael-ft1hu]

I loved the performance and the plot. I a very very beautiful routine

[@JohnnyBfromOKC]

I cant believe I actually figured one out! Brilliant idea! You're a great Magician! If you had not crushed the camera (which added great visual effect btw) and somehow swapped it for a real Polaroid camera.. I think you would've fooled them

[@Atlessa]

Can you give me a hint? I have SOME ideas but I'm not completely convinced how it works.

[@jonathandawson3091]

Yeah, crushing the camera immediately gave it away and would put anyone who's trying to guess on a narrow track.

[@bernhardma6367]

@@Atlessa I think the photos in the box with photo on the upside have been all different and the photos with the backside up have been all the same.

[@kampkrieger]

I think the backside of the photos have something written on it in UV or whatever we can not see or an RFID tag or something the guys camera can detect. Then he placed a tiny monitor inside the polaroid camera which shows the corresponding pic and the camera does the normal polaroid thing. That is how I would have done it.

[@davidfanning1600]

I wasn't fooled but thought it was nicely done. I am LEGION.

[@Tuegi1]

Sehr cool geworden! Gratulation!!! 😊👍

[@k.c.8345]

Excellent performance and trick! 👏 I have a few thoughts how it was done. I'm no expert. But that makes the trick better for me. Because i would love to know how close I am to being correct...