# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/141 "2015-07-08T15:20:03Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Penn looked a lot older and thinner than last season. Has he been sick or just lost some weight? Yes… he was hospitalized with high blood pressure which motivated him to lose 105 pounds by dieting. ---
**Author:** ![stanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@stanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stanger)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/142 "2015-07-08T17:44:05Z")
I thought it interesting that Penn admitted to being fooled by the suction cup trick, but mentioned that Teller had done a similar trick and was not fooled by it. I recall hearing that the two don’t share all their secrets with the other, but I am sure quite a few people would be surprized to learn that Teller had not shared that one with his partner. I beiieve that Penn lost 103-pounds in 100 days. Quite a trick in and of itself. ---
**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 9, 2015, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/143 "2015-07-09T00:14:32Z")
> [@xizor](#): > > 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. > . If you figured it ou,would you please share? How did he do it? > [@stanger](#): > > I thought it interesting that Penn admitted to being fooled by the suction cup trick, but mentioned that Teller had done a similar trick and was not fooled by it. I think Teller did the trick before they met. Where did you hear they do not share their secrets with each other? ---
**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:** [July 9, 2015, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/144 "2015-07-09T02:24:59Z")
The millisecond cube solve was just turning over the cube to show 3 sides. As soon as he begins to turn the cube to show the other sides he starts scrambling it. Notice the regular pattern he shows just before the solve, he’s lined it up so the hidden sides are solved. He just lets it flip over as it drops from one hand to the other. I have to go back and look at the suction cup again carefully before I take a guess. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/145 "2015-07-09T02:58:12Z")
> [@xizor](#): > > 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_. They did the exact same trick on the original 2011 UK run of the show - it’s a variation of one they’ve been doing since a time [long before smartphones existed](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0qXf5c6v5k). ---
**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:** [July 9, 2015, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/146 "2015-07-09T03:04:34Z")
The trick that they did at the end is one I’ve seen before. I feel like I’ve seen it on the British version of Fool Us but maybe not. The trick is definitely on YouTube though. I have no idea how they do it! God I love this show 🙂 Eta: ninja’d ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/147 "2015-07-09T05:24:24Z")
> [@stanger](#): > > I thought it interesting that Penn admitted to being fooled by the suction cup trick, but mentioned that Teller had done a similar trick and was not fooled by it. > I recall hearing that the two don’t share all their secrets with the other, but I am sure quite a few people would be surprized to learn that Teller had not shared that one with his partner. I don’t think Penn really needs to know all Teller’s tricks. Teller is the magic brains of the duo. Not that Penn isn’t a talented magician, but he’s not in Teller’s class. He’ll tell you that himself. ---
**Author:** ![Zerc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/82dd89/32.png) [@Zerc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zerc)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/148 "2015-07-09T05:36:07Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > The trick that they did at the end is one I’ve seen before. I feel like I’ve seen it on the British version of Fool Us but maybe not. The trick is definitely on YouTube though. > > I have no idea how they do it! > > God I love this show : > Eta: ninja’d My guess is that when the audience member’s phone rings the first time the ringtone is recorded by the mic that Penn is holding. The box with the fish also contains a radio that then plays the sound of the ringtone. The phone is never in the fish but Teller has been hiding ever since Penn apparently threw it in the bucket and using sleight-of-hand makes it appear to come out of the fish. ---
**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:** [July 9, 2015, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/149 "2015-07-09T12:24:38Z")
> [@Zerc](#): > > My guess is that when the audience member’s phone rings the first time the ringtone is recorded by the mic that Penn is holding. The box with the fish also contains a radio that then plays the sound of the ringtone. The phone is never in the fish but Teller has been hiding ever since Penn apparently threw it in the bucket and using sleight-of-hand makes it appear to come out of the fish. Teller can shove the phone in the fish through the other side you never see just before he cuts off the head. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/150 "2015-07-09T13:58:33Z")
I really enjoyed the English version. Is there any legal way I can watch the US version? Is there going to be a DVD release? ---
**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 9, 2015, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/151 "2015-07-09T14:34:18Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > If you figured it ou,would you please share? How did he do it? My take was the same as TriPolar, solve the three sides not seen by the audience and flip it around. But also keep the cube lubed enough to manipulate it with just a finger or two. It was very apparent how easily it moved. Then pre-set the cube while doing your pre-trick talking to be 3-4 moves from solved. Then placing it into the bag, or around his back, allows him a few finger flicks while the cube is hidden and wow, solved cube. ---
**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:** [July 9, 2015, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/152 "2015-07-09T15:05:37Z")
I’m not sure about the plunger. Penn gave a big hint about a breath, though I’m not positive what that means. I suspect some sticky stuff, wax or post-it-note glue is involved, but perhaps there’s something else. I did notice that when he showed just two cards and the top one was not stuck to the bottom one, the top one was bent a little, so it didn’t quite lie flat on the bottom card. Then he pushed it down to lift both together. Then when he lifted 15 cards there was a bit of crimp at the edge of one card, maybe the 15th or 16th. I recall both P&T both talking about the invisible thread trick long ago, I think a bit of wax on a card to make it pop up which is why I’m thinking of sticky stuff. None-the-less, Penn’s comments during the trick, and about it’s quality and originality afterword were far greater praise than simply fooling them. ---
**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:** [July 9, 2015, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/153 "2015-07-09T15:09:48Z")
> [@xizor](#): > > Then pre-set the cube while doing your pre-trick talking to be 3-4 moves from solved. Then placing it into the bag, or around his back, allows him a few finger flicks while the cube is hidden and wow, solved cube. That could just be it, but it’s possible he had a device on his back to pop up a pre-solved cube. However, he was so good and fast at the manipulation he may have just done what you say, a couple of quick spins before actually tossing it over his shoulder. Although not difficult to see possible ways all of it could be done, I’m simply impressed with his quick solving skills done with barely a glance at the cube pattern. Very impressed. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/154 "2015-07-09T16:22:27Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > That could just be it, but it’s possible he had a device on his back to pop up a pre-solved cube. However, he was so good and fast at the manipulation he may have just done what you say, a couple of quick spins before actually tossing it over his shoulder. Although not difficult to see possible ways all of it could be done, I’m simply impressed with his quick solving skills done with barely a glance at the cube pattern. Very impressed. I didn’t see the trick…I mean illusion, but I recall someone quickly solving it by slapping “solved” stickers on the cube. ---
**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:** [July 9, 2015, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/155 "2015-07-09T17:11:24Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > I didn’t see the trick…I mean illusion, but I recall someone quickly solving it by slapping “solved” stickers on the cube. I’ve done solves that just moved the individual stickers on the little faces just to fool people, and also make their cubes unsolvable (the first ones were made with stickers). But in this case he’d need one big sticker for each face and he begins to spin it again right after the solve. Not impossible to have one three faced thingy to cover the cube for his reveal that is easily snatched away, but he’s so adept with the gizmo that I don’t think he needs to do that. I think it’s a pre-loaded cube, maybe not normal patterned to make 3 sides look very scrambled while the other 3 appear solved. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2015, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/156 "2015-07-09T21:14:54Z")
Both these guys make my skin crawl for some unknown reason. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/157 "2015-07-10T03:18:07Z")
I think cube guy used a variety of techniques, actually. Sometimes he simply solved them, but I’m pretty sure there were at least 3 cubes involved, not just two. He definitely forced a cube on Penn at the beginning, and I think he switched the one he gave to teller to a pre-set one. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/158 "2015-07-10T17:46:40Z")
I have two questions- what’s to stop one of the prestidigitators from just saying “No, that’s not it.” when P&T have actually guessed correctly? Next- why so few female practitioners? ---
**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 10, 2015, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/159 "2015-07-10T18:23:05Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I have two questions- what’s to stop one of the prestidigitators from just saying “No, that’s not it.” when P&T have actually guessed correctly? On the British version, they alluded to a magic expert backstage who was told/shown the secret of the trick beforehand. ---
**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:** [July 10, 2015, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015/160 "2015-07-10T18:36:38Z")
In the case of quibbling over details they avoid actually revealing the secret but if they think the magician is lying about the technique they can push harder and reveal more. Besides which I don’t know that they win anything, and a magician who claims to have fooled P&T and they say he hasn’t then he’s not gonna get much mileage out of that claim. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-us-run-on-cw/695015.md?page=9)