# Penn & Teller: Fool Us, US run on CW **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 7, 2014, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015 "2014-08-07T07:25:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**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:** [October 11, 2014, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/121 "2014-10-11T12:42:54Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > The mask bit fooled me, but not Teller. The mask was nice, but I wasn’t fooled. More because you could tell the video stuff was pre-recorded and the guy did not really talk. It seemed very forced and I was really disappointed when the trick played out as I expected. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/122 "2014-10-13T15:01:43Z")
I caught on before the reveal, but pretty late in the game. I knew before Jonathan Ross, who was wondering why the black guy was walking back up to shake his hand. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/123 "2014-10-13T16:07:24Z")
It seemed to me that P&T revealed a whole lot more about how this trick was done than any of the others. I mean, not just hints & code words to clue the magician in that they knew, instead they flat out said how the ‘picking a random participant’ part was rigged AND demonstrated that none of the other numbers matched anyone and so forth. I wonder if that was because they didn’t like the trick/thought it was lame or some reason like that. It seemed a lot more disrespectful of the magician’s efforts. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/124 "2014-10-13T17:43:58Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > It seemed to me that P&T revealed a whole lot more about how this trick was done than any of the others. I mean, not just hints & code words to clue the magician in that they knew, instead they flat out said how the ‘picking a random participant’ part was rigged AND demonstrated that none of the other numbers matched anyone and so forth. > > I wonder if that was because they didn’t like the trick/thought it was lame or some reason like that. It seemed a lot more disrespectful of the magician’s efforts. I got the impression that Penn and Teller were really unimpressed with this trick, and that they were mad that it was a total farce, that no magic was needed since he controlled everything from the get-go, and nothing the person did made any difference. Which, upon typing that, sounds stupid since that’s kinda the base of all magic, but there was no SKILL involved, there was nothing, just a giant lie, vs a skilled entertainment piece ---
**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:** [October 13, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/125 "2014-10-13T17:59:26Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I got the impression that Penn and Teller were really unimpressed with this trick, and that they were mad that it was a total farce, that no magic was needed since he controlled everything from the get-go, and nothing the person did made any difference. > > Which, upon typing that, sounds stupid since that’s kinda the base of all magic, but there was no SKILL involved, there was nothing, just a giant lie, vs a skilled entertainment piece I’d seen the act before so I knew what would happen. I also knew P&T wouldn’t be thrilled with it. As you say, there was no skill involved. The quality of magicians on the show varied, but this act marked the bottom well below the next worst act. It’s not just the rubber suit reveal, it’s the lack of entertainment in the rest of the act, there’s no real suspense, it’s not even very clear what they were doing with numbers and destinations on the board. Had it all been entertaining before the ridiculous reveal P&T would have had a better reaction. ---
**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:** [October 13, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/126 "2014-10-13T19:39:23Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I got the impression that Penn and Teller were really unimpressed with this trick I also got this impression. Hardly the kind of trick that rises to the level of a major magician. Not a big deal at all. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/127 "2014-10-13T22:09:54Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > It’s not just the rubber suit reveal, it’s the lack of entertainment in the rest of the act, there’s no real suspense, it’s not even very clear what they were doing with numbers and destinations on the board. Had it all been entertaining before the ridiculous reveal P&T would have had a better reaction. I think what really ruins the trick, IMO, is the reveal undoes everything else. “Oh, he’s the magician. So that’s how he did everything.” The audience isn’t left with a sense of wonder except maybe by the mask, or how the selection worked. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2014, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/128 "2014-10-18T01:21:37Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > This week: Teller is a Blockhead > > First up: Daniel Kramer > > Daniel is a 10 year old boy. Daniel has a really charming act. He starts off by turning himself into a 10 year old boy. Then he tells a story about seeing a magician perform an amazing card trick where he takes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 cards, throws away 1, 2, 3 cards, and still has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 cards. Each time he counts that off and demonstrates the trick, very polished. He tells about going to the magic store - oops it’s the butcher. Then goes to the real magic store. Buys the trick. By now he’s performed it four times, but he says he’s finally ready to perform the amazing trick for us. Ready. And as he’s going through, he ends up with only three cards at the end, so he quickly tears them in half so he can count of six cards. I’m finally catching up with this series, and caught this episode tonight. Daniel is 15 (as they say in his introduction); he just looks young for his age. Very entertaining fellow though. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/129 "2014-11-21T22:27:01Z")
Thirteen new episodes have been announced, starting in summer. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2014, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/130 "2014-11-22T01:51:53Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Thirteen new episodes have been announced, starting in summer. Awesome. I was hoping this would happen when I heard the show was now airing in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/131 "2014-11-22T14:36:27Z")
Yes!!! I’ve been so hoping for this. I’ve rarely been so addicted to a show. Can’t wait! ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2014, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/132 "2014-11-23T11:54:39Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > I’m finally catching up with this series, and caught this episode tonight. Daniel is 15 (as they say in his introduction); he just looks young for his age. Very entertaining fellow though. Yes, it was pointed out. He’s 15, but one of his first jokes is he says he turned himself into a 10 year old boy, and that got conflated in my mind. I’m excited there will be new episodes. Filmed in the UK, or the US? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2014, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/133 "2014-11-25T01:57:18Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > I’m excited there will be new episodes. Filmed in the UK, or the US? According to Penn on his podcast (Penn’s Sunday School) it will be made in the US. ---
**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:** [November 25, 2014, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/134 "2014-11-25T03:24:01Z")
> [@Lord\_Mondegreen](#): > > According to Penn on his podcast (Penn’s Sunday School) it will be made in the US. I guess that is fine. I wouldn’t mind Jonathon Ross staying on as host. I figure they will replace him, though. ---
**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:** [June 19, 2015, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/135 "2015-06-19T01:22:47Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I guess that is fine. I wouldn’t mind Jonathon Ross staying on as host. I figure they will replace him, though. Wrong, you fool! It comes back July 6 with Jonathan Ross still as the host. ---
**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:** [July 8, 2015, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/136 "2015-07-08T04:01:09Z")
OK, so how does the suction cup card trick work? ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/137 "2015-07-08T04:15:21Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > OK, so how does the suction cup card trick work? I think Penn gave it away when he said something about his breath. I assume the cards stick together but when he puts the chosen card back he blows below it to break the suction. Now how did the rubricks cube get solved so quickly? ---
**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:** [July 8, 2015, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/138 "2015-07-08T05:05:54Z")
Yeah, the rubicks cube trick was awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/139 "2015-07-08T14:39:10Z")
Penn looked a lot older and thinner than last season. Has he been sick or just lost some weight? The Rubik’s cube trick was very impressive. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/140 "2015-07-08T15:07:25Z")
After seeing videos of people solving Rubik’s cubes in less than 10 seconds, and how well lubed his cubes (heh) seemed, it was not hard to figure out how he did it, but it sure did look cool. I like the F.U. trophy they are giving out this year 😃 Penn looked even grayer and thinner on WLIIA right after the show. Also, the trick P&T did at the end seemed to have been “inspired” by the one with the marshmallows they judged on _Wizard Wars_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015.md?page=8)