Well both of them are based off of a book called "Arabian Nights", which is why characters such as Aladdin, Jafar, and even the Genie (named Ugo in Magi) have the same names but different roles. But I grew up with Aladdin, too, so whenever the genie comes on screen me and my friends pretty much always call him Robin Williams.
But the show gets better. Not that I would try to get you to watch the show if you've already decided on it, but I've personally made it a policy to give a show at least two to three episodes before giving up on it. After all, there are so many things that aren't as good at the beginning because they have to set up the plot, characters, etc.