The Genii Forum

Neil Patrick Harris did a stellar job hosting the Tony Awards last night. He was poised, professional, punctual. (As always.) What does this have to do with magic other than he is a member of this club? I think it's a reminder of how we can learn about presentation through others' performances, magic related or otherwise. Staging and blocking - which can be learned - and stage presence - which I don't believe can be learned, but in some cases might be developed over time - are so important to make the difference between a magic performance and a magical one.
A reminder to the not-so-great magicians ( who most likely won't listen anyway ) that there's a wealth of knowledge out there. Re-read your Tommy Wonder, Giobbi, Hollingworth. There's Win The Crowd, Maximum Entertainment, Our Magic. Oh, and Derren Brown, Jim Steinmeyer, Bob Fitch, Harlan Tarbell. Heck, I know this has been discussed before, but I felt like sending it out there. Even a hobbyist like me needs to be reminded that there's more than just effects.
Congratulations Mr.Harris - thanks for a great show, and Happy Birthday this week!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6S5caRGpK4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkSpdvmXwDo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlc8XphOlhA

Dude, he's not just a member, he's the PRESIDENT.

OK, that's funny.

And also a client?

Or is that too old?

Doug Thornton wrote:Neil Patrick Harris did a stellar job hosting the Tony Awards last night. He was poised, professional, punctual. (As always.) What does this have to do with magic other than he is a member of this club? ...

Perhaps that spending much more time working with solid scripts, directors, a production crew and performing will get you further than you might expect.

Right... when I won the Grand Prix at a PCAM and First Place at SAM for my stage act, I utilized a director... Emile Clifton, magician, actor and director.

So far, the only major movie star to be on The Magic Castle's Board of Directors was Cary Grant!

I guess Starship Troopers was not a major movie?

I doubt it!

Starship Troopers was a major and very expensive film, but it was considered a financial and critical failure. It did not make Neil a movie star. But a star he has become, nevertheless!

Apparently some people have forgotten a little film classic called Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle.

No, but I'm trying.

Harold & Kumar was certainly an important piece in his current stardom, but I don't think that his cameos in those two movies would qualify him as a "movie star".

But this is nitpicking -- NPH is a major force in the entertainment business right now. He's hosted both the Tonys (twice) and the Emmys to rave reviews. He performed the opening number at the 82nd Academy Awards (where he joked, btw, "I know...what am I doing here?"). He's starred on TV, Broadway, and in a highly acclaimed Internet show. He's won Emmys and People's Choice awards, and been nominated for a host of others. And he seems to be universally loved by both audiences and colleagues.

He may not technically be a "major movie star", but, as Richard noted, he's definitely a star. And he's awesome.

NPH joked about TV star vs. movie star with Hugh Jackman during the awards. See the second link in the first post "Tony Awards 2011 - Hugh Jackman & Neil Patrick Harris - Dueling Hosts"

And a Happy Birthday to NPH. He turned 38 today :)

NPH will return in "A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas", this holiday season.

Not many people can take a leave from a White House staff position to do a film then come back to the job. Interesting folks in that film. Link

I finally watched the show last night. NPH was great (as I expected, which was the only reason I DVRed it). The NPH/Jackman duo was great. That said, my favorite part of the evening was John Leguizamos monologue.

On another magic-related note, I will also mention that I was very disappointed that Paul Shaffer, when talking about first coming to Broadway to do a show in 1974, that he didnt mention that it was The Magic Show with Doug Henning.

Dustin

"Starship Troopers" is certainly an interesting film. At the time I saw it, I didn't know who Neil Patrick Harris was.

Concerning Gary Grant. Although Grant was a major movie star, it is interesting that he never won an Academy Award. However, Grant did receive an Honorary Oscar in 1970. Grant did a lot of comedies, and that genre doesn't usually earn Oscars.

Who we like in show business seems to be a matter of taste. I could never understand why Michael Jackson had so much appeal. This is true even though Jackson and I had the
same singing teacher: Seth Riggs.

I never considered Jackson to be a great singer. The singer I consider to be truly great is Jussi Bjoerling!

to me, Neil will always be Doogie Howser, MD ;)