r/IAmA • u/hueypriest reddit General Manager • Sep 27 '11
Ask Penn & Teller Anything (Video IAMA)
Penn & Teller (@pennjillette and @mrteller) will be answering your top questions as of Wednesday 9/28 @ 12 midnight PT. They will record the video answers on Thursday 9/29 and the video response will be posted on Monday.
Check out their new show Tell a Lie and thanks to @discovery for helping to set this up.
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u/sjmarotta Sep 27 '11 edited Sep 27 '11
Thank you for doing this AMA.
I'm a smoker and was super stoked about your "second hand smoke is BS" episode.
Then I saw you "asked a question" at a skeptics conference where the member of the audience mentioned having sent your office a fax relating a bunch of medical studies which he claimed were good science and demonstrated that SHS is dangerous.
Your response was that you had the studies looked into and that you were planning on making a retraction or something in season 3, whatever happened with this issue?
I know that you (Penn) are a libertarian, and that much of your position on this must have had more to do with the idea that government intrusion is unnecessary and undesirable. But I would still like to know how you worked out the issue of:
How to deal with a show that you no longer fully agree with, and
What your position on second hand smoke is now that you might agree that it is dangerous.
Thank you.
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u/StarVixen Sep 27 '11 edited Sep 27 '11
On your show "Bullshit", was there ever a segment that you regretted doing? Whether because of backlash, or because of your own personal beliefs? Was there a segment you did that opened up doors to new interests, hobbies or causes? Thank you!
Edit: typo.
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u/sjmarotta Sep 27 '11 edited Sep 27 '11
I think they did an episode about how the danger of second hand smoke is BS. At a critical thinkers convention someone "asked them the question":
I sent you a fax with a bunch of medical studies showing that SHS is actually dangerous, what do you say?
And they (Penn) said that they received that fax and that new data suggests that SHS is a danger so they were going to post some sort of retraction in season 3.
That's all I know about that.
EDIT: since this comment got a lot of upvotes, I posted my own question specifically about the second hand smoke subject, here if anyone is interested.
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u/TheStatusFoe Sep 27 '11
Dammit. I lived so carefree for the last few years, breathing in all that free smoke while everyone paid upwards of $4 a pack. I guess the jokes on me. CMAO!
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u/Jigsus Sep 27 '11
They didn't post a retraction.
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Sep 27 '11
They said the very last episode of Bullshit will be how Bullshit is Bullshit.
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u/xylerium Sep 27 '11
Perhaps it was retracted?
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u/BustyMetropolis Sep 27 '11
I distinctly remember they did admit this fault in a later episode... looking for it now to make sure I'm not remembering wrong...
This is the Amazing Meeting stage Q&A where they addressed it, if anyone wants to see their original statement: link
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u/Phirazo Sep 27 '11
From what I understand, they've gone with a libertarian stance that a business owner has the right to run thier business as they see fit. Because wait staff should be willing to give up their health for a pay check.
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u/buciuman Sep 27 '11
What about the episode where you went against climate change? Do you regret that?
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u/unquietwiki Sep 27 '11
I still remember their calling out Gore, and using a midwestern meteorologist (vs a climatologist; interior regions are likely to be more conservative) as sops to call manmade CC a farce. I liked most of their other programs, but this was too much: I had to stop watching halfway through.
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u/pru_man Sep 27 '11
Same here. I'm a scientist (though not a climate scientist) and what data I've seen suggest a very strong correlation between human industrialization and population growth and global climate change. Sure, it has all happened before for other reasons and Earth survived. BUT, this time, it could take us out even if Earth survives again, which it undoubtedly will. So, I take the stance that, due to the very strong correlation with our activity, we may be able to mitigate some climate change by changing our behavior. If we're wrong, and the correlation is not causative, we're still working to reduce pollution, green-house gases, etc. We know we create greenhouse gases; we know local weather patterns are already growing increasingly volatile as models predict, so tearing it down in the way P&T did in that particular episode didn't seem appropriate. I seem to recall them setting up a few straw men as part of the arguments, and that ultimately causing me to shut it off.
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u/sjmarotta Sep 27 '11 edited Sep 27 '11
I wouldn't mind hearing what they have to say about this, but I want to point out that there is a large portion of the skeptical community which feels that man-made global climate change is BS.
An example would be Christopher Hitchens. While he says that the stakes are so high that we ought to behave as if we know that Global Climate Change is real, he says that he is very much on guard against what he perceives are the religious attitudes of most climate change believers.
Two of his points (published in Skeptic magazine) were:
They have an "end of days" scenario
Which will be brought about by our inherent original sinfulness (just existing and being human is the bad thing that is causing all the problems)
And there were some other points which I cannot remember off the top of my head right now. you should try to find his article, it is much better than I can reprint from memory. I only mention it to show that these skeptics are out there. here some more about that.
I know that when asked this question at a meeting of skeptics Penn said that he "wasn't sure what the science said", that he was looking into it more, but that "everything in his BS detector goes off" regarding the subject.
It would very much be interesting to hear what he has to say about this again.
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u/fabonaut Sep 27 '11
I love Christopher Hitchens, but this does not convince me at all and I don't understand why someone like him would be satisfied with such weak arguments. Even to refer to climate scientists as "they" (like a homogenous group) is a bit misleading, as there is not a single scientific entitiy or something similar that officially publishes studies in the name of climate science (so to speak). Climate science is an extremely heterogenous field consisting of various natural sciences (biology, physics and so on). The idea that the currently observed warming is the result of human influence is the underlying result of thousands of unique and different studies and the fact that all known natural causes for this effect have already been studied. Almost all known natural causes for climate change would currently cause a cooling effect under "normal" circumstances, yet the climate is warming. Human activity (the burning of fossil fuels) beautifully explains this.
The "end of days" scenario is mainly due to the simple fact that our media are organized in a capitalist society. Headlines are products and thus need to be sold. That headlines are sensationalized and simplified is sad, but it happens all the time and it concerns all topics. Plus, in order to take political action, you need to raise consciousness.
The last point is ridiculous. This notion may be found in some nutjob blogs, but in no peer reviewed scientific literature. Quite the contrary, it is made clear that we already possess the means to change our ways, we simply lack the will to do so.
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Sep 27 '11
I notice that you said "skeptical community" and not "scientific community"
Neither person you mentioned in your post (Christopher Hitchens and Penn Jillette) are scientists, let alone climate scientists.
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u/fireinthesky7 Sep 27 '11
The skeptic community can waver all they want. The scientific community, on the other hand, is pretty well convinced, and they have actual facts to back up their claims.
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u/mind_grapes Sep 27 '11
As awesome as Hitch is, he is in no way qualified to speak publicly on the science of climate change.
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Sep 27 '11
I don't think they actually went against climate change, they more or less said they weren't convinced either way yet.
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Sep 27 '11
It's odd how conveniently that lines up with their Libertarian free market ideologies.
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u/funkeepickle Sep 27 '11
What exactly is the libertarian solution to something like global warming? Assuming that the IPCC and climate scientists are correct in their views about climate change and the potential magnitude of its impact.
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u/cjet79 Sep 27 '11
Matt Ridley has excellent answers in "The Rational Optimist." He is more of an economist/biologist than a libertarian, but I know he has a good following in libertarian circles.
Here are some excerpts:
"In short, the extreme climate outcomes are so unlikely, and depend on such wild assumptions, that they do not dent my optimism one jot. If there is a 99 per cent chance that the world’s poor can grow much richer for a century while still emitting carbon dioxide, then who am I to deny them that chance? After all, the richer they get the less weather dependent their economies will be and the more affordable they will find adaptation to climate change."
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"The four horsemen of the human apocalypse, which cause the most premature and avoidable death in poor countries, are and will be for many years the same: hunger, dirty water, indoor smoke and malaria, which kill respectively about seven, three, three and two people per minute. If you want to do your fellow human beings good, spend your effort on combating those so that people can prosper, ready to meet climate challenges as they arrive. Economists estimate that a dollar spent on mitigating climate change brings ninety cents of benefits compared with $20 benefits per dollar spent on healthcare and $16 per dollar spent on hunger. Keeping climate at 1990 levels, assuming it could be done, would leave more than 90 per cent of human mortality causes untouched."
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"Remember I am not here attempting to resolve the climate debate, nor saying that catastrophe is impossible. I am testing my optimism against the facts, and what I find is that the probability of rapid and severe climate change is small; the probability of net harm from the most likely climate change is small; the probability that no adaptation will occur is small; and the probability of no new low-carbon energy technologies emerging in the long run is small. Multiply those small probabilities together and the probability of a prosperous twenty-first century is therefore by definition large. You can argue about just how large, and therefore about how much needs to be spent on precaution; but you cannot on the IPCC’s figures make it anything other than very probable that the world will be a better place in 2100 than it is today.
And there is every reason to think that Africa can share in that prosperity. Despite continuing war, disease and dictators, inch by inch its population will stabilise; its cities will flourish; its exports will grow; its farms will prosper; its wildernesses will survive and its people will experience peace. In the mega-droughts of the ice ages, Africa could support very few early hunter-gatherers; in a warm and moist interglacial, it can support a billion mostly urban exchanger-specialisers."
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u/Wazowski Sep 27 '11
What exactly is the libertarian solution to something like global warming?
If the free market demands a working ecosystem, then consumers will choose to live on planets not blanketed in greenhouse gasses.
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Sep 27 '11 edited Sep 27 '11
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u/Wazowski Sep 27 '11
Perhaps you misread my comment. I was trying to illustrate your point in a more satirical way.
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u/murrdpirate Sep 27 '11
I think people tend to forget that there is an actual difference between libertarians and anarchists. Libertarians do not believe in zero government, they just believe it should be as minimal as possible (i.e. only protect people from others doing harm to them).
Just like libertarians believe that the government should make it illegal to murder, steal, and dump toxic waste in your neighbor's backyard, they would also believe in making it illegal to turn the Earth into Venus, as that would harm people.
That's not to say there aren't free market solutions. Clearly, there has been an increase in demand from consumers for environmentally-friendly products. I'm not convinced that would be enough, but I'm also not convinced that people won't act environmentally unless everyone else agrees to also.
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u/Nuroman Sep 27 '11
But the increased "demand from consumers for environmentally-friendly products" isn't a strictly free market solution. The demand is only there because of all the scientific studies that are telling consumers this is an issue. Many, many of these studies have been funded by the U.S. Federal government and other governments around the world.
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u/buciuman Sep 27 '11 edited Sep 27 '11
Frankly when I hear "libertarian solution" or "socialist solution" to anything it's like hearing "what is the negative-number-lovers' solution to this equation".
If there is a solution it's certainly not based on a broadly defined, a prioric and ideological party doctrine.
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Sep 27 '11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmiknXoow7c http://walterblock.com/wp-content/uploads/publications/EconomicsandtheEnvironment.pdf (Chapter 5 for global warming)
For starters. Long watch, but if you want a worthwhile answer you have to be willing to take the time. Most libertarian discussions don't have talking point answers :/.
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u/gamelord12 Sep 27 '11
I remember in one of the early episodes of Bullshit, you said that people appear on your show to discuss their side of the topic that you are attempting to debunk because "they truly believe they're bullet-proof". Out of all of the topics that you covered on Bullshit, which is the one that you absolutely cannot believe that they thought what they were doing couldn't be debunked?
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Sep 27 '11
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u/gamelord12 Sep 27 '11
Well, in that episode I referenced, they said that many people know who they are and what they stand for, and while they don't tell the people they're interviewing what side they take, they said you can often tell which side they're going to take before the show even starts, and it's true. I believe the quote was "We're bias as fuck, but we always try to be fair." Now, I don't believe that they present their material in the most fair way, but they do always give the people on the other side a say.
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Sep 27 '11
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u/sjmarotta Sep 27 '11
I think you are right that they interview the stupidest people, but that is hardly their fault. They are interviewing people who believe that magnets help heal cancer and that 2012 will be the end of the world.
I read the text from the email you put in your post:
I’m a Producer on the critically acclaimed and 11 time Emmy nominated Showtime documentary/comedy television series, Penn & Teller: Bullshit, now in its seventh season.
In previous seasons, we have explored some of today’s most important issues including gun control, the death penalty, the redevelopment of Ground Zero, and the War on Drugs. And some of our guests have included current and former congressmen, former US Presidential cabinet members, Nobel Laureates, and countless scholars from America’s foremost Universities.
I am currently in production on a new episode on the subject of “XXXXXXX” The series shows both sides of the debate with every topic we cover. I'm very in speaking with you both to hear your views on this subject. I hope that we can interview you both for the program.
Please call me at your earliest convenience.
All the best, Aaron Yampolski
Aaron Yampolski Senior Producer Penn & Teller: Bullshit!
I think that you have to be pretty stupid not to at least know that they are going to make fun of you. Things that a smart person would think (especially if they already know that the positions they hold on issues like aliens or whatever are not thought of by most people as legitimate.):
The show is called Bullshit! I should find out more.
Maybe I should use that powerful research tool of mine, google.
Oh, look, youtube videos.
What are these people? skeptics? what does that mean? I thought it just meant: "fuddy-duddy who doesn't believe my stories even thought they are fun and make you feel like you're in the know"--I can never understand those kinds of people.
Oh, look, a link that says that the moon-landing was faked, I bet it was!
Nevermind, it's hopeless.
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u/circuslives Sep 27 '11
Some of the topics they cover are not so clear-cut. Obviously if you are being contacted for a show about ESP or alien abductions, you should know their stance on the issue. But what about their episodes on the environment, or circumcision, or prostitution, or Walmart? There are legitimate arguments for BOTH sides here--it isn't obvious which side Penn and Teller will take.
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Sep 27 '11
They gave you the name of the show. If you don't look into it, that's fine, but your fault. Ten minutes on the internet should give you a clear idea of what their show was and what they were going to say about topic XXXXXX.
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u/askheidi Sep 27 '11
Clearly, he did look into it. That's why he was contacted to be on the show but wasn't on the show.
I'm not sure that the shows do present both sides of debates. They may present the extremist side of a debate and pretend the legitimate opposition is ridiculous because the extremists are.
For instance, the prostitution episode. I actually am for the legalization of prostitution but because it would make a safer environment for the girls involved. Penn & Teller totally ignored the systematic problem of runaways and other teenage girls who are duped into prostitution and feel like it's the only way they can survive.
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Sep 27 '11
Penn & Teller totally ignored the systematic problem of runaways and other teenage girls who are duped into prostitution and feel like it's the only way they can survive.
How should they have addressed it? This problem isn't solvable, and legalization would protect these unfortunate souls just the same.
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u/trai_dep Sep 27 '11 edited Sep 27 '11
Most people are pretty damned ignorant of what deft editing can do, unless they're in the industry. Probably most subjects assume it'll be a fair debate with their compelling points included, rather than left on the cutting room floor. It's only after they see what's aired that they learn this lesson.
Err, unless they check this Reddit thread first. :P
Edit: of course, most of the subjects that Penn & Teller cover are bullshit. No denying that. I like most of their episodes. But I'm pointing out how powerful an editor is in this process.
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u/smoothsensation Sep 27 '11
It's annoying when people get pissy about getting scammed/fooled when they dont put an ounce of effort in preventing it.
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u/circuslives Sep 27 '11
The series shows both sides of the debate with every topic we cover. I'm very in speaking with you both to hear your views on this subject. I hope that we can interview you both for the program.
Just because the name of the show is called bullshit doesn't mean that they don't investigate their (Penn and Teller's) position on the issue as well. They have people on the show all the time that they agree with. A quick Google search will not provide you with a comprehensive list of their views on everything. Let's take the recycling episode for example. If you were contacted about being interviewed for recycling, would you assume that they would be debunking it???
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u/acepincter Sep 27 '11 edited Sep 27 '11
How do you know they were going to debunk you, and not that they wanted you to be a debunker?
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u/gamelord12 Sep 27 '11
And what was the topic? You know what show it is; you should know where they stand on the topic. It's pretty easy to figure out.
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Sep 27 '11
Which episode did they contact you about, if you don't mind me asking?
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u/bobwhiz Sep 27 '11
I'm guessing it was nutritional supplements/health gurus.
They interview in a straightforward way... very charitably... then edit it down so your crazy really shines through.
And they cut away in the middle of your answers for Penn to lambaste you.
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u/sjmarotta Sep 27 '11
I imagine it was the one about 2012, I know they did end up sending a couple on a vacation to south america to do "research" (involving dowsing rods, I believe) for that episode.
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u/TheCodexx Sep 27 '11
They're not all out of context. Some of them say some nutso things.
They've gotten quite a few activists who are absolutely convinced they're right. Jack Thompson went on the show to slam video games for violence. Guy was disbarred for his behavior (unrelated to the show) and they made him look like the fool he is. I find it hard to believe that nobody else on the show was just a strong believer. A lot of the rest were con artists, like the "psychics", who would never admit they were just scamming people out of their money.
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u/gcmandrake Sep 27 '11
In Penn's book (God, No!), he states that outside of a professional context, he and Teller almost never socialise. Has this always been the case? Did you do more non-work related things together when you first started as a double act? Is it just that you get burn-out from being together so much of the time?
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u/slartbarg Sep 27 '11
I have to imagine that they do spend a LOT of time together professionally and so they prefer to just spend time with their family when they're not working.
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Sep 27 '11
They are constantly doing shows. I saw them at the Rio in Las Vegas last weekend; Penn said that they've been located there for 10 years (they stopped touring after the TSA took all the fun {and civil liberties} out of air travel). And the show was maybe 1.5 or 2 hours long, and then they were hanging out in the hallway taking photos with fans after that. I'm sure they spend lots of time in rehearsal. And they also shoot Bullshit! They spend a lot of time together. Just because they don't play Xbox all night doesn't mean they aren't friends.
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u/PoopasaurusRex Sep 27 '11
Has a trick ever gone horribly wrong on stage, to the point where you couldn't recover? Has a trick ever gone horribly wrong without the audience having the slightest clue?
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u/fistilis Sep 27 '11
In case they don't end up answering this, most magician's have "outs". I met Harrison Greenbaum in college (he does more standup now but he is an AMAZING magician) and saw him "mess" up a trick. I was the only person in the audience who realized that he intended something else to happen as the trick was still hilarious and very entertaining.
He said this was the reason you have to practice and he would personally not do a trick on stage unless he practiced it every day for about three years. At that point you get to a point where you really don't have to think about the trick at all and you are just watching the audience and have the ability to joke or do one of your outs if something goes wrong
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Sep 27 '11
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u/fistilis Sep 27 '11
I agree and yet disagree at the same time. One of my favorite things about music is improvisation. Maybe it is the same with magic, I wouldn't know, but I am betting in magic you are rehearsing EXACTLY what you are doing (and then trying to nail it on stage). With music my favorite part about live music is a solid improvised lead.
I'll give you an example. I had been practicing for a show for a few weeks and had some solid leads worked up. I went on stage and played them as rehearsed, which went well enough, but then the leader looked at me and said "take another verse". Now I was forced to do play something that I had never played before. It was much more enjoyable for both me and the audience.
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u/TexSC Sep 27 '11
Penn did a recent interview with a radio show where he describes a trick that went incredibly wrong when Penn was so sleepy he dropped a hankercheif somewhere it wasn't supposed to go. I can't quite find it, though. I think it was posted on /r/libertarian.
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Sep 27 '11
Yup, as pointed out, it was on O&A. The trick they were doing involved a 90 degree mirror box, which allows them to work behind without anyone in the audience being able to see. Penn dropped something near it, and started freaking out. Teller told him to let it go, but for some reason, Penn reached down to pick it up, at which point the audience saw the lower part of his arm disappear behind the mirror box, blowing the whole gag. The best part was that an assistant (on stage, but hidden from the audience) sees this and starts yelling at Penn right in the middle of the act.
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u/JonMEdwards Sep 27 '11
I like how any chance of reviving the act (and succeeding acts) is lost when the assistant thinks it's a good idea to yell.
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u/turkatheist Sep 27 '11
It was on Opie and Anthony that he mentioned it. The story is also in his new book. (which was awesome by the way).
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Sep 27 '11 edited Jan 23 '19
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u/Poofster Sep 27 '11
Follow up question: Has Teller broken his silence to keep the audience in their seats?
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Sep 27 '11
In one of their books (I forget which one - maybe Cruel Tricks?), Teller talks about an old trick that they were doing, I think on SNL, involving being either upside down or sealed into a water chamber. There is always an "out" in such tricks, but Teller noticed at the last moment a problem with the escape mechanism (that would basically dump the water instantly out onto the floor). He realized it would be non-functioning, but they were going on live in just a few seconds. He decided to proceed and I don't think he mentioned it to anyone until after it was all over. I remember being terrified as a read it.
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u/N-e-i-t-o Sep 27 '11 edited Sep 27 '11
Hey guys, thanks a ton for agreeing to do this AMA. I love your show Bullshit (especially the bottled water episode, don't get me started on THAT bullshit), however in the 2002 episode "Environmental Hysteria" you took a pretty anti-global warming stance. In it, Penn said "they must remember we are still gathering information..... we are not sure yet!".
In the nine years since this episode has aired and more and more scientific studies being released, are you still unsure about global warming? Thanks!
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u/Sylocat Sep 27 '11
Even in 2002, the science was already pretty much settled, and P&T had to bring on some hacks to deliberately obfuscate the issue in order to present a "balanced" viewpoint.
There's a reason they haven't retracted any of it even after they were called out on it.
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u/neuralstate Sep 27 '11
Which do either of you find more satisfying, the designing and planning of a great illusion or the reaction of the audience when you fool them with the illusion?
I feel that magic, of the caliber you perform, is an intellectual exercise in exploiting people's preconceived notions. Does it sadden or deflate you at times when you realize how easily people can be manipulated and fooled?
Will you be bringing your show Fool Us to U.S. audiences? I really enjoyed the U.K. version.
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u/Raktoras Sep 27 '11
Have you ever not been able to master a trick? As in, you knew the specifics, but couldn't perform it because it was too hard or quick or something along those lines?
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u/Tr3v0r Sep 27 '11
you just described my sex life.
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u/ehrlics Sep 27 '11
Allow me to instruct you in the only sex technique you will need to know
NOTE This content blatantly stolen from /r/gifs
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Sep 27 '11
Is the helmet absolutely necessary, and can this be done in front of a toilet instead of a beach?
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Sep 27 '11
Illusion, Raktoras. A trick is something a whore does for money.
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u/evisceratoredge Sep 27 '11
I'd like to ask the same question as Raktoras, knowing precisely what constitutes a trick.
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u/Chicken2nite Sep 27 '11
Having recently rewatched the Bullshit episode on taxes, I was once again annoyed by the simplistic take on it insofar as saying that progressive taxation represents "taxation without representation" even though millionaires are very represented in congress, as well as there being a congress of representatives now filled with many who signed a pledge to never raise taxes ever as if that's an adult approach to lowering the deficit.
Anyways, for a question I'll ask this: if deficit spending is stealing from grandchildren, why isn't spending cuts on long term infrastructure and education? Why are tax cuts that add to the deficit not viewed in the same light by libertarians such as yourself?
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u/feureau Sep 27 '11
Follow up question: If
a. no taxation without representation
b. congress are pretty much there for the millionaires
c. shouldn't the 99% not pay taxes due to lack of representation?
EDIT: Btw, if you caught it: [sic]
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u/Druuseph Sep 27 '11 edited Sep 27 '11
Why were your sources for Penn and Teller Bullshit! always involved in someway with the CATO institute? I understand your libertarian leanings but doesn't the tie to a think tank group funded by an oil giant undermine the skeptical nature of your show? Isn't it a bit suspect that you would do episodes that looked at alternative energy and environmentalism negatively using experts from a institute funded by an oil company?
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u/MrNnamdi Sep 27 '11 edited Sep 27 '11
As a teenager, my parents sent me to rehab for smoking pot (rehab was for any drug 'problem', from coke addiction to my case). I was there for sixth months, and it was one of the worst experiences of my life. Place was a homophobic-scam, I saw many families take out second mortages to keep their children there, when they were getting no help (I am being literal. They received no care) and there were equivalent government programs that were much cheaper (I'm Canadian) which parents were not told of.
My question: Do you, being a libertarian, oppose or support such institutes for teens, especially when said actions (smoking pot) are not dangerous to anyone else and the programs are for profit, but the offender is still underage?
Edit Wording of first paragraph.
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u/sjmarotta Sep 27 '11 edited Sep 27 '11
You travel in skeptical circles a lot. I think I've seen you (at various times) on stage with Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Aayan Hirsi Ali, The Amazing Randi, and many others; and I've heard you praise Matt and Trey (Parker and Stone) on Larry King as well...
Would you mind giving us a short list of some of your personal free-thinking heroes and say a thing or two about your favorite(s)?
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u/permutation Sep 27 '11
What was your most drastic shift in personal belief while researching a topic for Bullshit?
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u/howdareyou Sep 27 '11 edited Sep 27 '11
I don't think that's how the show works. Seems to me they have an opinion and go about showing how their opinion is correct. Overwhelmingly I've agreed with them, but a few episodes have left me scratching me head.
edit:typo
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Sep 27 '11
I'd imagine some things though, while under investigation, they may have learned something that previously was unknown, that may have caused their beliefs to shift slightly, if not massively
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u/faleboat Sep 27 '11
I have so vehemently been aggrivated by a presentation of theirs that I had to re-evaluate my thoughts on issues where I previously agreed with them, because I realized just how much counter evidence they ignore in their shows. Perhaps that was their intent.
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u/dieyoubastards Sep 27 '11
The only P&H:B! show I've seen is the fast food one, which was just... completely retarded. It didn't make any sense, and ignored all evidence to further their agenda.
I'm told the other episodes are much better.
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u/feureau Sep 27 '11
This question is relevant to my interest. Also, I must point out that they have a crack research team (not a research team on crack) on Bullshit to research their topic. It made me kinda feel if P&T never actually researched anything and was on the show only to present some stuff.
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u/garblesnarky Sep 27 '11
Related: what percentage of the conclusions reached in Bullshit episodes agreed with your expectations?
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u/SVENGAL1 Sep 27 '11
@Penn In a recent Forbes interview, you have been quoted as saying "What makes me libertarian is what makes me an atheist — I don’t know." What (if any) were the profound events in your life that led to your skepticism?
@Teller Not sure where you stand on any topics so I ask that, using Charades, what was the funniest moment in your life? We'll try to guess.
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u/ptanaka Sep 27 '11
FUCK YES: "TELLER: Using Charades, what was the funniest moment in your life? We'll try to guess."
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u/waltzingaround Sep 27 '11
How much backlash have you received from the magician community for revealing how certain tricks work (cups and balls and your "Blast Off" performance) and also demonstrating how sleight of hand works? What is your goal in revealing these tricks to your audience?
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u/karateexplosion Sep 27 '11
Penn - any government or political backlash on your TSA "crotch-grabbing" blog? reference
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u/karateexplosion Sep 27 '11
First off, LOVE what you do. Haven't seen you live (yet), but really enjoy following your online stuff (blog, videos, etc). Big fan.
My question is for Penn ... your video blog about "Penn Gets a Bible" got a LOT of momentum in Christian circles. Considering your own personal theological stance, what were your thoughts on how popular this video became and how much it was used by conservative Christian teachers?
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u/sandmyth Sep 27 '11
Has anyone gotten mad about you two revealing the secrets to some of your tricks? (examples http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8osRaFTtgHo cups and balls and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQNtNxV0YWg blast off) Also what are your thoughts on the "masked magician" that revealed a lot of major tricks on TV?
Second questions: are you aware that your sega CD game has turned into a cult hit, and people play the desert bus game for charity? http://desertbus.org/the-rules-of-desert-bus/
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u/Optimash_Prime Sep 27 '11
Sweet. I've got a couple, but I think I narrowed it down.
How well do you get along with other magicians, from the a-list like Chris Angel and The Amazing Johnathan, to regular everyday street magicians?
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u/queensolver Sep 27 '11
Yeah! Additionally, are there magic conferences or secret-magic clubs that you guys all hang out at?
Also: Do you guys hate Val Valentino?
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u/IIoWoII Sep 27 '11
lol.. Chris Angel "a-list". Its video editting, not 'magic'.
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Sep 27 '11
Which performance on "Fool Us" had you most perplexed?
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u/Wanderlustfull Sep 27 '11
This is an excellent question I'd love to see answered. Corollary: Are there any performances on Fool Us that you subsequently figured out at some point after the show once you'd said the performer had fooled you?
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u/websnarf Sep 27 '11
I'm assuming most of the tricks they were fooled by ... they weren't fooled for very long. I know I've figured out a few of them myself (the Mathieu Bich one, and I think I've got the dinner plate, guy selection one) after giving it sufficient thought.
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u/viralizate Sep 27 '11
I think they might answer John Archer, I remember they saying later, that they were sort of surprised the he tricked them.
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u/andtheniansaid Sep 27 '11
i would love it if that guy just took a 1 in 5 chance, and pulled it off like a motherfucker
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u/earnose Sep 27 '11
Sub-question, were there any acts that you loved so much that you were disappointed not to be able to invite to Vegas because the trick wasn't as brilliant as the performance?
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u/radiohead_fan123 Sep 27 '11 edited Sep 27 '11
Magicians that actually fooled Penn and Teller on "Fool Us":
[Graham Jolley on 18.06.2011]
[Morgan & West Episode 5 Part 4]
[Richard Bellars second attempt Episode 4]
[John Archer Episode 1 Part 4]
[Benjamin Earl Episode 1 Part 6]
[Mathieu Bich Episode 2 Part 2]
[Nick Einhorn - Episode 5 Part 2]
Edit: I posted this a few months ago to r/magic (link to original) with youtube links but they're all dead now. Sorry about that, no mirrors.
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u/loki00 Sep 27 '11 edited Sep 27 '11
To Penn, What is the meaning of the red nail polish? I've seen the question asked, but never answered. I'm sure its something personal, and I can respect that if you don't want to answer, but its something I would love to know.
To Teller, Why did you start the no talking "schtick" and what was it like to break that the first time you did an actual talking interview?
EDIT: There, I have removed the controversial @ symbol's in my post, I hope this makes things a bit better for everyone.
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u/jooes Sep 27 '11
Why did you start the no talking "schtick"
He started it because he found that when he was younger and just starting out, people would always give him crap if he was talking when he was performing but then when he was silent they wouldn't say a thing. I guess it's easier to heckle a talkative person than it is a silent one. Hence the quiet act.
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u/eggbabies Sep 27 '11
This is a quote from the (now defunct) Penn & Teller FAQ: "When Teller first began performing at fraternity parties in his college days, he discovered that if he didn't speak, the frat boys would set down their cups of beer, remove their hands from their girlfriends' breasts, and pay attention to what he was doing. "
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u/Bayhewmat Sep 27 '11
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penn_Jillette#Red_fingernail
Or maybe it's something completely different. Who knows.
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u/Sarutahiko Sep 27 '11
Penn said on an interview that it's for his mother, who passed away.
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Sep 27 '11
I have a lot of respect for Teller. Him not talking shows a lot of control. It must be a big sacrifice having to stand in the shadow of Penn all the time.
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u/jhaluska Sep 27 '11
Penn has addressed this many times. Teller talks and more or less runs the show while off stage. The running inside joke is the only time Teller shuts up is when he is on stage.
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u/kcg5 Sep 27 '11
He talks at the end of the show. They both sign for all comers after their show, and he talks. Cool guy
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u/yawgmoth Sep 27 '11
Dude, everyone stands in Penn's shadow. That guy's huge.
What I mean to say is, he's physically a very large man. Standing in his shadow is very easy.
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u/crybaby5 Sep 27 '11
He's not so much Penn's shadow, but rather balances him out I think. Penn talks, Teller illustrates his point he's making with a trick or visual metaphor (they do this a lot on Bullshit)
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u/CoreInversion Sep 27 '11
On P&T:Bullshit, they said teller doesn't talk because when he was getting started, he discovered people heckled him less and paid more attention when he didn't speak. I forget which episode that was from, though...
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Sep 27 '11
Is there ever anything you wanted to do but were not allowed to do because it was too controversial?
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u/Arcuru Sep 27 '11
"We haven’t tackled Scientology because Showtime doesn’t want us to. Maybe they have deals with individual Scientologists—I’m not sure. And we haven’t tacked Islam because we have families." - Source
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u/n3onlights Sep 27 '11
I feel like that second part shouldn't be making me laugh
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u/ogenbite Sep 27 '11
More from Penn on Islam: "...I think the worst thing you can say about a group in a free society is that you’re afraid to talk about it—I can’t think of anything more horrific."
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u/CSBro Sep 27 '11
How much time, effort, and money goes into developing a new trick from initial idea to the stage show? Also, how many often do you fully develop a trick and go, "wow, this sucks...let's scrap it?"
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u/tooshybutt Oct 05 '11
The video has been uploaded. It can be found here: http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/penn-teller-top-10-reddit-questions.html The original post should be updated.
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u/Mister_Slick Sep 27 '11
Hey guys, here's one. If show business never became successful, where would you be right now? Is there a line of work you would have become involved in?
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Sep 27 '11
Once on the Last Call with Carson Daly, David Cross did a magic trick before Penn came on. Penn then laid into David Cross in what I vaguely remember being awesome. Was this on purpose or were you seriously upset about what he'd done?
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u/deliciouscakeforall Sep 27 '11
Penn/Teller- Has a trick ever been called out by a member of your audience before? Was it because you performed the trick poorly or was the individual just crazy good? How did it make you feel?
PS- Really love you guys!
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u/GuyWithNoEyes Sep 27 '11
What do you think of David Blaine, Criss Angel and other contemporary street magicians?
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Sep 27 '11
Was there ever a BS episode that you didnt fully believe in? For example, after doing the Mother Teresa episode, do you still see her as a bad person like in the show, or do you personally view her as a good person, despite what was scripted
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u/sleepybandit Sep 27 '11
On your show "Fool Us" you describe that being in the business for so long creates a situation where nothing is surprising or interesting. What are some things in life (magical or not) that have astounded you?
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u/relevant_rule34 Sep 27 '11 edited Sep 27 '11
Having started as performance artists, what motivated you two to become outspoken skeptics and focus on the debunking of popular misconceptions?
By the way, here is a picture of Penn, Teller, Jamie and Adam Savage from Mythbusters fooling around with a naked redhead in bed - NSFW
edit: fixed image
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u/phallacious Sep 27 '11
They must have met Rebecca Watson in an elevator. This is the Real Elevatorgate. The rest was all smoke and mirrors.
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u/friednoodles Sep 27 '11
@ Both Penn & Teller: I've seen the Magic & Mystery Tour. Its one of my favorite documentary. The look on Teller's face when he got fooled by the Egytian's Cups and Balls guy was one of my favorite moment in the documentary. I'm sure those moments are far and in between for you guys now.
Had there been any tricks (recent and in the past) that had the two of you completely baffled?
Also which trick is your favorite to perform?
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u/Taylor34 Sep 27 '11
Big fan here, on your show Bullshit, what was the most interesting thing you learned and/or the hardest thing to believe on the show?
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u/Smilax Sep 27 '11
- (To both) What is your favorite trick that you've ever seen?
- (To both) favorite trick you've ever performed to a big live audience?
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u/GreatCosmicBlort Sep 27 '11
Who do you like better, Union Stagehands, or non-union stagehands, or do you care?
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Sep 27 '11
What ever happened to Bullsh!t? I understand that it was basically cancelled, but it was a really quiet affair - it just fizzled out and disappeared. I'm a big fan of the show, and it's really disappointing that you never had a chance to give it a proper send off.
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u/Legendid Sep 27 '11
This isn't a question but this is quite possibly the only chance I'll ever get to tell you this, and hopefully you'll enjoy it.
In the year 1997 I was seven years old. I was hanging out at a friend's house with a couple of other guys (all of them considerably older than me, around 12 years old) when one of them suggests watching Penn & Teller. His older brother had taped it on VHS some nights before. I said yes, not knowing what 'Penn & Teller' was. The taped started rolling and at the beginning I really liked it, thought it was a great magic show. Then came the famous 'catch-bullet-by-the-mouth' act. I had never seen anything like that before and it scared me a bit. But then came the terror. I remember that you guys took huge knives and cut into your forearms until blood spilled out. The seven year old me immediately started crying and ran out the front door. They didn't exactly have these sort of things on Turtles or Power Rangers. This was the most scared I had been in my life.
Many years later I was watching Friends at home and hadn't thought about that terrifying scene for a long time. Joey was chilling in his apartmen when suddenly (dunndunn-duunnn) that big man who had massacred my childhood entered and all these feelings and memories rushed back.
Anyways, after that I looked up who that man was and started watching your show and have been a big fan ever since. I don't know why, but I thought you'd enjoy this.
ps. I haven't yet found the video of that bloody act online. Anyone knows where it is?
tl;dr: Penn & Teller gave me the scare of a lifetime when I was seven years old. Many years later, the scare came back when watching Friends.
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Oct 05 '11
I just got done watching their video response. It was good and very detailed (37 minutes for 10 questions). I understand why there was the censor beep--and that Penn had no idea how annoying it would be--but damn... that was a whole lot beepin.
It was funny when he shit on that Chris Angel walking-on-water-on-the-plexiglass video. And their idea to have Teller stand on the stream of a giant firehose on stage sounded badass. You'd think they would just go ahead and build the waterproof / heavy-load bearing stage they want so badly.
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u/greenRiverThriller Sep 27 '11 edited Sep 27 '11
Don't pull any punches... What was the worst show you both ever played together? Also, a special -brofist- to Teller for simply being awesome.
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u/tbonevig Sep 27 '11
Penn, I heard on TV somewhere that you had some sort of sex dungeon constructed in your home. Is this true, could you elaborate on it?
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u/johnwalkerjunior Sep 27 '11
How much 'bullshit' about Bullshit have you discovered since your last show, and of the 'bullshit' of Bullshit what would you consider your biggest error or mistake?
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u/Warlaw Sep 27 '11
Mr. Teller, do you really own a zombie apocalypse compound? If so, could this compound be used for other apocalypse scenarios such as a super volcano or a nuclear holocaust?
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Sep 27 '11
Can you at least give us a hint at how the flower illusion "Shadows" works?
I swear, that damn illusion keeps me up at night.
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u/RC-Roi92 Sep 27 '11
I actually DON'T want to know this one. It's too wonderful. It really illustrates magic as an art.
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u/m4n715 Sep 27 '11
After seeing that video I think it looks pretty simple.
Unless there's something I missed then the flower, vase, and stand are all one unit that have narrow cables that when activated drop the parts of the flower in time with the movements on the shadow-screen.
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u/SuperSecretAgentMan Sep 27 '11
Penn: How/When did you get the idea for your 'Hydro-therapeutic Stimulator"?
Surely there must be a story behind this...
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u/Kerzy Sep 27 '11
(@penn or teller )What would you classify your biggest accomplishment to date? Do you have any groundbreaking illusions you are working on?
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u/Meg4Freedom Sep 27 '11
Would you consider moving to NH and joining the Free State Project?
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u/Fizzbit Sep 27 '11
Penn - You are quoted as never having a drop of alcohol or taken any drug (I assume this to mean illegal drug) and you will leave if anyone in your company chooses to partake. Is there a specific reason for this? I can certainly understand avoiding the acrid aroma of recreational smoke, but what is so offensive about being around someone who is having a beer?
Teller - You're seriously the most chill dude I've ever seen. If the showbiz industry suddenly flopped for you, you could work as a stand-in for one of those British Guards. And now the question - Are you ever tempted to break face? Is a situation just so funny or outrageous or maddening that you can't maintain the chill silence?
And for both: I haven't watched Bullshit in awhile so I'm not even 100% sure if it's still on the air, but has there ever been a subject that you won't do a show over either due to the taboo or difficulty to find a middle ground? If so, is there a subject that you would love to cover if social stigmas (and Shotime) would allow?
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Sep 27 '11
Dear Penn and Teller:
My friends and I have a theory and are hoping you can confirm or deny it for us. As I'm sure many have noticed, Teller doesn't talk, but his mouth is always slightly open. We are beginning to suspect that Teller is actually the world's greatest ventriloquist and that Penn isn't a real person but actually just PennBot 3000. Our suspicion is that this would be the longest, greatest magic trick ever pulled off, with Teller pulling in two paychecks to boot.
Many times in Penn and Teller's Fool Us you can clearly see Penn being very animated, while teller sits there, his head slightly moving around with his mouth ajar. The trick is even more impressive when you think of the Houdini under water card trick.
So Teller, come clean with us once and for all. Penn is just a robot and you're a ventriloquist, right?
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u/violt Sep 27 '11
Hey, Penn & Teller! Big fan here as well. My question is: Why you never made an episode on Casinos (Vegas or in general). Theres so much bullshit potential... almost like in religion. Is it somehow related to the fact that you as a live performers base a lot of your work there?
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u/theneonwind Sep 27 '11
Teller, can you at least say "Reddit"? I guarantee you it will be one of your most famous performances. Heck, maybe step outside the cameras view and say it. Then ya know, it's still mystical or mysterious. We know you've voice acted. Come on! PLEEEEEAAAASE!
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u/kopin Sep 27 '11
In "Fool Us", when you suggested that technique X was being used and the contestant denied it, how could you tell the contestant was being honest?
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u/EmptyFriend Sep 27 '11
the contestant has to show the trick beforehand and explain how it works to a 3rd party (i believe it is the guy who is basically penn & teller's mentor). he is the judge of whether they guessed correctly or not.
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u/j0e Sep 27 '11
Do you feel bad for giving up all your integrity and becoming a Cato Institute shill, now that the Koch brothers (Cato founders) are so clearly behind most of the country's problems?
Seriously, I was a huge fan all the way back to the 1980's when I first saw you on David Letterman and bought your book. But when you started doing anti-global-warming infomercials (aka Bullshit) and your names appeared on the Cato website I was really sad. How could such brilliant artists and iconoclasts sell out so completely? What a giant disappointment.
On the other hand your recent Fool Us shows have been good.
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u/KnavishSprite Sep 27 '11
If you had a time machine that could take you back to any point in, say, the last 200 years, when would you go back to? A performance by the Great Lafayette? Hang out with Houdini? Woodstock?
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Sep 27 '11 edited Sep 27 '11
On your show "Fool Us", are you worried that the ability to pause, rewind, and slowdown video to decipher tricks will diminish the ability to perform magic? Also, on the show you tend to use jargon not normally familiar with the laymen, but it is easy to google and figure out what you're talking about. I'd say the vast majority of the acts that don't fool you guys I'm able to figure out how they did it regardless of whether you give it away or not yourselves.
So do you worry that recording technology with your show "Fool Us" might take away some of the "magic" in magic acts today?
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u/EYEsoar Sep 27 '11
if you were to challenge David Blane in some form of performance magic, what would you want the terms to be?
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u/RevWaldo Sep 27 '11
IIRC the final show was supposed to be "Bullshit! is Bullshit!", where you point out the show's built-in biases and how it was in no way objective. E.g. "experts" defending the debunked topic were chosen in a "That's our Hitler!" manner and their interviews were edited to make them look even more foolish. Since that show is probably not going to happen, can you speak to this, and give some examples where this occurred?
(Not knocking the show in any way! Loved the show! But I knew better than to treat everything you said as gospel.)
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u/[deleted] Sep 27 '11 edited Sep 27 '11
[deleted]