# Penn & Teller **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 4, 2010, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller/534874 "2010-04-04T01:37:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller/534874/1 "2010-04-04T01:37:23Z")
Last week, SWMBO and I were in Las Vegas for a tournament. A friend surprised us with Penn & Teller tickets. I’m an amateur magician of sorts, and I was in total awe of them. They are so damn good, it’s almost scary. SWMBO was leery at first because they have a rep for some gory stuff, and yes, they didn’t disappoint us. Their version of sawing a woman in half was bloody but funny. At the end, she was a total P&T convert. And we got to meet them after the show, got our pictures taken with them (on a crappy cellphone camera, but better than nothing). They are just cool guys. Highly recommended. They’re at the Rio. ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller/534874/2 "2010-04-04T02:15:35Z")
Penn’s house in Vegas is something that has to be seen, it’s AMAZING! Unclviny ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller/534874/3 "2010-04-04T02:21:16Z")
Teller’s house is pretty neat too. ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller/534874/4 "2010-04-04T02:22:26Z")
Is the move to the Rio an up or a down? Seems to me they used to be on the Strip. I like to hear (and see) Penn Gillette, unlike his partner who is awfully quiet! 😉 ---
**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:** [April 4, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller/534874/5 "2010-04-04T02:36:12Z")
What was Teller like? He’s quite talkative, I’ve heard. I’ve seen him speak as well, especially when asked to discuss magic and its history. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller/534874/6 "2010-04-04T04:06:31Z")
> [@PhiloVance](#): > > Is the move to the Rio an up or a down? Seems to me they used to be on the Strip. I like to hear (and see) Penn Gillette, unlike his partner who is awfully quiet! 😉 Technically, The Rio is still on The Strip, AFAIK. At any rate, I saw them last July and it was great. A perfect blend of humor, magic, and showmanship. My favorite part was when Teller was doing very, _very_ good sleight of hand with a cigarette, while Penn narrated _exactly what he was doing._ Teller then _turned around_ so you could even **see** exactly what he was doing and nothing was hidden, still while Penn was narrating, and it was still so fucking impossible to follow along and spot when he actually had a real cig, when he was using the fake one, when he really dropped it, etc…because Teller is _ **that fucking good** _ at sleight of hand. Oh, and the part with the audience member using the video camera…fucking hilarious!!! 😃 > [@Mahaloth](#): > > What was Teller like? He’s quite talkative, I’ve heard. I’ve seen him speak as well, especially when asked to discuss magic and its history. That’s the funny thing, whenever he’s not “on,” he talks a lot. It’s weird, because you do expect him to be silent even after the show when they are _super awesome_ and mingle and have pictures taken with guests for free, but he’s all talky talk and it’s a little surprising at first. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller/534874/7 "2010-04-04T04:08:49Z")
I saw their show a few years ago. Got photos and autographs, and even chatted with them a tiny bit afterward. It was a great, great show, and they were really terrific people, judging by my brief interaction with them. Sounds like there’s new stuff from when I went, which I must make mental note of. I kick myself a little still for not figuring out the box trick when the actual prop was right in front of me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![oliversarmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/eb8c5e/32.png) [@oliversarmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oliversarmy)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller/534874/8 "2010-04-04T04:27:20Z")
It’s been several years since I saw them and I was not only dazzled by the show, the meet-and-greet after was amazing. They both were very friendly, amusing and willing to talk and pose for dumb tourist pictures. Teller was great, not to take anything away from Penn, but it was fun just talking with the guy. They may know a thing or two about marketing. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller/534874/9 "2010-04-04T04:46:22Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > At any rate, I saw them last July and it was great. A perfect blend of humor, magic, and showmanship. My favorite part was when Teller was doing very, _very_ good sleight of hand with a cigarette, while Penn narrated _exactly what he was doing._ Teller then _turned around_ so you could even **see** exactly what he was doing and nothing was hidden, still while Penn was narrating, and it was still so fucking impossible to follow along and spot when he actually had a real cig, when he was using the fake one, when he really dropped it, etc…because Teller is _ **that fucking good** _ at sleight of hand. [Looks simple, doesn’t it.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qQX-jayixQ) I think that was the first thing I ever saw them do, on a PBS show about magic in the 80’s or early 90’s. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2010, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller/534874/10 "2010-04-04T04:56:08Z")
_While You Were Out_ redecorated the backstage green room. Penn Jillette helped out a little with painting. The reveal was a little weird because Teller didn’t speak. I don’t know if they are in the same theater or not. Is Wonderland a name of a theater? > **[TV Guide, TV Listings, Streaming Services, Entertainment News and Celebrity News](https://www.tvguide.com/?tvobjectid=191888&more=ucepisodelist&episodeid=4086544)** > > Find local TV listings, watch full episodes of your favorite TV Shows and read the latest breaking news on TV shows, celebrities and movies. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller/534874/11 "2010-04-05T19:42:53Z")
The best thing is that you get to meet and talk to them. They are very generous in that regard. (And they’ve been at the Rio for years and years. We saw them at Bally’s but that was over 10 years ago.) My dumbass experience was I was wearing a Sigfried and Roy cap from the Mirage when I met them; Penn said “oh hey, neat hat.” I assumed he was being bitchy and said “Uh Uh, I just bought their _hat_, but I PAID to see you.” He stared at me blankly for a minute and said “No, I mean it’s a NEAT HAT.” D’oh! (It is a neat hat, with a leopard skin brim. I still have it.) ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller/534874/12 "2010-04-05T19:51:07Z")
> [@PhiloVance](#): > > Is the move to the Rio an up or a down? Seems to me they used to be on the Strip. I like to hear (and see) Penn Gillette, unlike his partner who is awfully quiet! 😉 I saw them at the Rio about 6 years ago, so they’ve been performing there for at least that long. They put on a great show, and they’re fun to meet, too. I was aware of how tall Penn is, but it’s something else when you’re standing next to him - that man is enormous! Teller stood with us in line for awhile and talked to us, which was pretty cool. He’s a really nice guy, very friendly. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller/534874/13 "2010-04-05T19:54:01Z")
They’ve been at the Rio since 2001. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller/534874/14 "2010-04-05T19:54:09Z")
I saw them at the Rio and still don’t know how the goldfish got there. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller/534874/15 "2010-04-05T19:57:20Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I think that was the first thing I ever saw them do, on a PBS show about magic in the 80’s or early 90’s. Was that the one with “Casey at the Bat” and Teller trying to escape the straightjacket by the end? CLASSIC! ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller/534874/16 "2010-04-05T20:43:29Z")
> [@Lanzy](#): > > I saw them at the Rio and still don’t know how the goldfish got there. I was up pretty close when I saw them at the Rio 6 weeks ago, and that was unquestionably the slight-of-hand trick that impressed me the most. One simple premise, two fishbowls, and an absolutely incredible trick. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller/534874/17 "2010-04-05T20:47:05Z")
Oh, and [here it is](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPzHQuqpfCo). ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller/534874/18 "2010-04-05T20:58:08Z")
I saw them back in 91’ on their Refrigerator Tour. Good stuff. They did their meet & greets back then also. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller/534874/19 "2010-04-05T21:04:39Z")
> [@voguevixen](#): > > Was that the one with “Casey at the Bat” and Teller trying to escape the straightjacket by the end? CLASSIC! I’ve seen that one, too, but I don’t think it was the same show. I seem to remember the PBS show having a more historical/academic/Great Performances vibe. (Although I may be confusing that with another show I remember from the mid/late '90s.) I remember a card trick they did at Times Square on _Saturday Night Live_, and the Casey at the Bat trick. I’m pretty sure they were from three different occasions, with _Looks Simple, Doesn’t It_ being the first. I saw them at the Rio about a year-and-a-half ago, and I’m glad they still do that. Flash and spectacle are all well and good, but there’s something about a virtuoso solo that can be absolutely riveting. I have a theory on the goldfish one, but I’m not certain and I wouldn’t want to ruin the trick for anyone in case I’m right. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller/534874/20 "2010-04-05T21:22:52Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I saw them back in 91’ on their Refrigerator Tour. Saw that show at the Chicago Theater. > [@](#): > > Good stuff. > They did their meet & greets back then also. In Penn’s case, drenched in fake blood. I later saw them at Bally’s where they opened with the World’s Largest Card Trick (involving fork lifts). Never seen them at the Rio, but I really should. I seem to recall the Rio’s cocktail waitresses having the most amazing outfits. I wouldn’t say Rio is on The Strip. To me, that means “has an entrance on Las Vegas Blvd” not “has a shuttle bus pickup point on Las Vegas Blvd”. It’s as far away as the Palms or the Hilton. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller/534874.md?page=2)