The Magic Hour

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The Magic Hour was a talk show hosted by basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson that debuted on June 8, 1998 on syndicated television. The talk show was lambasted by critics and consumers alike, with many pointing to Johnson's lack of television experience. The show was cancelled after eight weeks on the air.

1 $10,000 Money Shot
2 Howard Stern
3 Cancellation
4 External links

[edit] $10,000 Money Shot

Considered the most memorable segment on the program was Magic's $10,000 money shot - at which point, band leader Sheila E would go, "10,000 dollars. Wooooo. 10,000 dollars. Wooooo."

[edit] Howard Stern

Perhaps the most memorable episode was the one that featured Howard Stern as a guest (along with Drew Carey and Playmate Karen McDougal). Booking Stern on the show was a risky move considering the radio personality had spent weeks ruthlessly mocking The Magic Hour on his popular morning show, but ratings had dropped off to a dangerous level and there was inherent drama and tension in a Stern-Johnson confrontation. Indeed, Stern was his usual crude self, making jokes about Johnson's pre-HIV womanizing and telling Johnson that even though he was HIV-positive, at least he had fun contracting the disease. Johnson was obviously offended. He was unable to produce a witty comeback, though in a future episode he had a chimpanzee give the absent Stern a raspberries.

[edit] Cancellation

After its cancellation, MADtv began to parody the idea of Magic Johnson having other types of shows, including game show host and judge.

In a memorable appearance on the Bob and Tom radio program, Johnson's sidekick Craig Shoemaker said Johnson was earnest, but ridiculed him for taking little interest in the program. According to Shoemaker, Johnson usually showed up at the studio shortly before the taping was set to begin, asking the staff, "So, what are going to do today?"