'The Magic Hour' is not so magical

TV REVIEW

By Aurora Mora, On-line Forty-Niner

June 11, 1998

Earvin "Magic" Johnson, the former Laker and NBA superstar, joined the ranks of late night television with his show "The Magic Hour." It debuted Monday on Fox at11 p.m.

The show followes the same format as other late night talk shows. The band plays, the host steps onto the stage, the audience applauds; the host spews a few words and then introduces the band and his sidekick. After much trivial conversation, he takes a seat.

The only thing out of the ordinary was the show's host, Magic Johnson, known for his trademark smile and fantastic feats of greatness on the basketball court.

Johnson's music director is Shiela E. and his unwitty sidekick is Craig Shoemaker. Arnold Schwarze-negger and Whitney Houston were among the first guests of The Magic Hour. There was also a guest named Ray Wold who set himself on fire.

The show is in desperate need of some hokus-pokus to bring forth some entertainment. The show is flat, stale and monotonous.

Conversations between the interviewer and inter-viewee were forced and awkward. Schwarzenegger and Johnson talked about who had more money. The audience knows both of these men are multimillionaires, so who cares?

Johnson's second interview with Houston was less awkward, but strained none the less. Houston at one point got up and started vacuuming the rug to demonstrate her favorite chore. Fortunately, that only took about 30 seconds.

Johnson did not do well his first outing as host. Maybe he should have some of his NBA friends come on the show and slug it out a la Jerry Springer style.