# Penn & Teller Fool Us - New Season **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [June 18, 2019, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666 "2019-06-18T01:14:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2019, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666/161 "2019-08-28T09:01:52Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > Johnny Magic: Could it be that the SOUNDS of pigs, rain, a train, a piano were communicated to her (via the chair, etc.), rather than the WORDS, allowing her to answer honestly that nobody “told” her those answers? I think this has to be it. The picture looks to be pre-printed so it has to be a prearranged set of answers that she is relaying. Since her eyes are closed, she must be hearing cues that the audience cannot. But knowing the show’s disdain for instant stooges, she probably isn’t hearing someone _explicitly_ (that is, verbally) tell her what to say. IMHO this is awfully close to instant stooging anyway and so I’m surprised the producers allowed the trick. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2019, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666/162 "2019-08-28T15:43:32Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > How does the trick where the guy can/can’t lift Penn’s daughter at the end work? > > He is quite big/strong appearing, and presumably is not a stooge - I don’t think there’s anything fancy (like electromagnets) involved, just a trick of taking away his leverage somehow by holding herself away from him? You have it. She only has to stand a little further away and lean the right way to make it impossible to pick her up. You can see her take a couple of steps back right after the guy puts her down the first time. Some very big strong guys have beat this trick, but usually the bigger the man the higher his center of gravity making it even more difficult. ---
**Author:** ![Crossbreed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@Crossbreed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crossbreed)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666/163 "2019-09-10T07:01:30Z")
I could not find this thread in the Cafe Society sub-forum list (on page one _or_ two). Is there some kind of glitch…? ---
**Author:** ![Crossbreed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@Crossbreed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crossbreed)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666/164 "2019-09-10T07:02:53Z")
It reappeared after the previous post. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666/165 "2019-09-10T07:16:51Z")
> [@Crossbreed](#): > > It reappeared after the previous post. Magic! (But seriously, it reappeared because you bumped it to the top when you posted. By default, threads will fall off the main page(s) if they haven’t seen any new posts in ten days. You can change it by using the “Display Options” menu on the bottom of the forum page.) ---
**Author:** ![Crossbreed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@Crossbreed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crossbreed)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666/166 "2019-09-10T19:56:41Z")
Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666/167 "2019-09-10T20:03:42Z")
Anyone else feel a little uncomfortable with latest episode? The guy kind of forced the woman volunteer to ride him and touch Teller’s butt. I don’t know but it seemed to cross a line. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2019, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666/168 "2019-09-10T21:09:27Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Anyone else feel a little uncomfortable with latest episode? The guy kind of forced the woman volunteer to ride him and touch Teller’s butt. I don’t know but it seemed to cross a line. She was not forced in any way. Maybe she was embarrassed but she was not at work or even out in public, she volunteered to go on stage to perform in a magic act, something that often requires some physical contact. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666/169 "2019-09-11T00:28:57Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Anyone else feel a little uncomfortable with latest episode? The guy kind of forced the woman volunteer to ride him and touch Teller’s butt. I don’t know but it seemed to cross a line. Yeah, it was awkward - maybe some (or even most) volunteers would happily play along and grab Teller’s ass, bear hug Penn, and jump on the guy’s back, but she REALLY didn’t seem into it - touching the guys as little as possible - and did you notice how she kept wiping her hand on her pants, as if to clean it? Sure, she was not technically “forced” to do anything - but it was also highly unlikely she was going to stop and refuse to go along on stage in front of the audience, cameras, etc. In the era of calling out the inherent power imbalances that allow gross old men to take advantage of attractive young women, I was surprised to see it, honestly (of course I’m not saying she was harmed or abused or anything like that, but it seemed a little tone-deaf in the #metoo era.) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666/170 "2019-09-11T01:55:44Z")
How’d that guy get the signed pea in the walnut shell? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666/171 "2019-09-11T02:06:10Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > How’d that guy get the signed pea in the walnut shell? I assume he put it there :). Nobody examined that walnut, I think it was partially open to allow the pea to be inserted and then would close tightly enough to appear to be an unopened walnut. He probably did that move when he pulled the wallet out of his jacket. ---
**Author:** ![cluck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cluck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cluck)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666/172 "2019-09-11T02:30:32Z")
**Season 6, Episode 11** (September 9, 2019) Scott Green: Hardboiled egg puns. I guess something was up with the dice, so was it really “free range” choice? Matt Donnelly: The Mind Noodler. I didn’t find anything offensive about this, but I did sense how uncomfortable she was, which kind of made it funnier. Of course if the dudes were young and hotter, I’m sure she wouldn’t have any problems playing along. The punchline to the trick didn’t really feel worth the effort, though. Doc Dixon: Pea and walnuts (_fooler_). Funny banter and solid illusion. I could tell by his professional demeanor that he was going to unnerve P&T and get under their skin. I feel like he got an FU on a technicality, but it’s been awhile since there’s been a fooler on the show anyway. Sangsoon Kim: Shoe boxing. I found this kind of underwhelming and I don’t know why. Sometimes it’s P&T’s muted reaction that causes me to become less impressed by a performance. Penn & Teller plus Mo’Nique: Linking rings. I’m struggling to find anything to say about this. Not a very exciting episode overall. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666/173 "2019-09-11T02:54:04Z")
> [@](#): > > Scott Green: Hardboiled egg puns. I guess something was up with the dice, so was it really “free range” choice? I think Alyson freely shuffled the eggs, he noted where the raw one was and gave her a die that would not turn up that particular number - later he swapped out for a normal die which he could show had all 6 numbers on it. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2019, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666/174 "2019-09-11T05:24:00Z")
I liked the Sangsoon Kim act. I friggin looooove bian lian (Chinese quick changing masks) and I don’t care that it’s a well-known art and not a trick. It amazes the heck out of me every time. I think it was cool to see him use it in a different way. I liked all the acts this week. Looks like the theme was “comedy acts”? I think they all seemed sharp, no weird storylines (“when I was a kid I loved looking at differently painted boxes and they would talk back to me…” or some shit) and they all entertained me. I too was put off by the way Donnelley treated his audience helper. I don’t think she would have felt any weirder about touching a Chippendale’s ass than she would about Teller :-/ Also we’ve seen plenty of audience helpers and Alyson and Jonathan Ross as helpers and I can’t remember a time where a helper had to touch anyone’s butt or “ride” anyone so I’m not exactly sure how those are typical requests for magic assistants. But, I’m hoping the show got clearance from her and it’s all good and I’m more weirded out than she is. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666/175 "2019-09-12T04:25:58Z")
> [@cluck](#): > > I did sense how uncomfortable she was, which kind of made it funnier. Really? Would you find it funny if it were your daughter/sister/wife/etc. who was visibly uncomfortable when asked to grope/body hug/straddle some strangers on stage? > [@cluck](#): > > Of course if the dudes were young and hotter, I’m sure she wouldn’t have any problems playing along. Yeah, it would be impossible for a female to prefer not to physically interact while in the presence of hot, young males. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666/176 "2019-09-12T06:59:42Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > Yeah, it was awkward - maybe some (or even most) volunteers would happily play along and grab Teller’s ass, bear hug Penn, and jump on the guy’s back, but she REALLY didn’t seem into it - touching the guys as little as possible - and did you notice how she kept wiping her hand on her pants, as if to clean it? She was just wiping sweat off her palms. You can see her do this once or twice before she’s even asked to do anything. ---
**Author:** ![cluck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cluck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cluck)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666/177 "2019-09-12T09:50:55Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > Really? Would you find it funny if it were your daughter/sister/wife/etc. who was visibly uncomfortable when asked to grope/body hug/straddle some strangers on stage? > > Yeah, it would be impossible for a female to prefer not to physically interact while in the presence of hot, young males. I always find it amusing when people take offense on part of other people. She was a volunteer/willing participant, it was a gag, the audience laughed. Also, does anyone care that Teller never gave consent to have his buns groped? He didn’t even say a word, for cripes sake! 😛 And yes, it would be objectively less “creepy” if some flirty hot guy asked her to do the same thing. It’s a fairly common double standard. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666/178 "2019-09-12T17:06:53Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > I think Alyson freely shuffled the eggs, he noted where the raw one was and gave her a die that would not turn up that particular number - later he swapped out for a normal die which he could show had all 6 numbers on it. My thought was that he swapped egg #1 for a raw one sometime after Alyson shuffled, and the die simply had no 1 on it. Your way works too - six different rigged dice and he is able to identify the raw egg by sight. I noticed that when it was down to two eggs and he told Alyson to pick one, he didn’t specify whether he would break _that_ egg or the other one over her head. It was always going to be egg #1 being broken last no matter what. Sangsoon Kim kind of underwhelmed me too. He may have been technically great, but the act was so scattered and frenetic that it was hard to follow. A couple of times I missed the trick entirely because I didn’t know where to look; I just heard the audience applaud for something I didn’t see happen. Not ideal. Doc Dixon was great. Just outstanding sleight of hand. I pretty much knew what he would be doing, but damned if I could catch him at it. Donnelly was OK. Very fun presentation but ultimately a fairly weak trick. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666/179 "2019-09-12T17:55:10Z")
On the dice… Doing “in my head statistics” I think there is over 70 percent chance that if you rolled a die four times that there would be at least one duplicate number. This didn’t happen on the show. Either he was lucky, they edited out the duplicates or it wasn’t random. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666/180 "2019-09-12T19:03:37Z")
FWIW, I’m fairly certain that the egg dice trick is exactly the same as [Mark Shortland’s trick](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gtfiNoby7Y) from the very first season. The raw egg is subtly marked in some way, the magician sneaks a peak to see where it is, and switches the die with one that has the correct missing number. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666.md?page=10)