# Penn & Teller's schtik - I don't get it. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 31, 2010, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-tellers-schtik-i-dont-get-it/548657 "2010-07-31T04:34:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sehmket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Sehmket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sehmket)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-tellers-schtik-i-dont-get-it/548657/21 "2010-07-31T22:55:15Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Missed the edit window - it also looks incredibly like the ‘Miser’s Dream’ that Sehmket linked to, only it’s ever so slightly different. Let me know if you can spot the difference. > > [spoiler]Oops. I lied - they’re the same. > > Is THIS your card?[/spoiler] Whoops, guess I should be paying closer attention to other posts before I link to things! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-tellers-schtik-i-dont-get-it/548657/22 "2010-08-01T00:00:37Z")
> [@Sehmket](#): > > I want to add in another voice for it not really being funny - but a standard magician trick of diverting attention from the real magic. > > My husband does some slight-of-hand, which means I do a lot of help in the vein of, “No, no… that’s too obvious, you’ll have to palm two from you left pocket a step back…” Right now he’s working on The Miser’s Dream, a classic slight-of-hand routine. We’ve watched almost every version of it on YouTube, and in all of them, we can say “Oh, he has two palmed there, and he’s grabbing one from there, and he’s already swapped hands there…” Except for Teller’s. It’s just stunning, and we’ve been spending the last few days dissecting it, and we still don’t understand every step. > > [http://youtu.be/IPzHQuqpfCo](http://youtu.be/IPzHQuqpfCo) 1:53 is amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-tellers-schtik-i-dont-get-it/548657/23 "2010-08-01T01:10:58Z")
I read somewhere that at a magic convention they once performed as “Teller & Penn”, doing each others traditional roles. At one point Teller is supposed to have paused from talking non-stop to say, “Wow, this is harder than I thought…” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-tellers-schtik-i-dont-get-it/548657/24 "2010-08-01T01:32:46Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Actually, it’s the big loud one who plays the assistant. No, the big loud one _is_ the assistant. But he _plays_ the magician. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-tellers-schtik-i-dont-get-it/548657/25 "2010-08-01T05:05:22Z")
> [@3trew](#): > > I would suggest that you take your question directly to them. There is no possible way that could go hilariously wrong. I would certainly not pay to see it. I would especially not pay with the money from your wallet, which Teller sent me because I posted this. I think I’ve been whooshed. I certainly did not understand it. Thanks for the feedback, folks. I’ve never seen more than 5 minutes of their magic act, so my largest exposure to them has been “Bullshit”. The silence doesn’t work well on Bullshit, but I guess it is such a part of their act that to change it for “Bullshit” wouldn’t work. I don’t know much about their magical act, or their talent level, so it sounds from most of you that replied that they are very good, and Teller isn’t as annoying on stage as he is during the show. Which is good, because it is so awkward on the show that I wouldn’t go see a magic act by Penn and Teller. Maybe that would be worthwhile ---
**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:** [August 1, 2010, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-tellers-schtik-i-dont-get-it/548657/26 "2010-08-01T05:12:03Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > Thanks for the feedback, folks. I’ve never seen more than 5 minutes of their magic act,… [This](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qQX-jayixQ) is a version of the first trick I ever saw them do, and I still think it’s a great example of their style. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-tellers-schtik-i-dont-get-it/548657/27 "2010-08-01T05:14:12Z")
I don’t think Teller’s silence hurts P&T:B! at all. You’re the only person I’ve ever heard who’s had an issue with his not talking. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-tellers-schtik-i-dont-get-it/548657/28 "2010-08-01T11:06:32Z")
Stink Fish Pot, I think that _Bullshit!_ is the least interesting thing that Penn and Teller have done. Their usual on-stage act is that Penn talks and distracts you from having any chance of noticing how Teller is doing his magic tricks. Penn can only talk so much, since the magic tricks are the real point in their act. _Bullshit!_ consists of a documentary on the application of skepticism to some prominent subject. Penn narrates the documentary while Teller does magic tricks in the background. To whatever extent the documentary is good, it isn’t helped by Penn’s narration. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-tellers-schtik-i-dont-get-it/548657/29 "2010-08-01T11:25:37Z")
While I’ve got all o’ you magic admirers in the same thread together, can I ask if any of you will explain how to do a particular trick I’ve seen done with a Zippo lighter, whereby the magician flicks the lighter on, ‘steals’ the flame between his finger and thumb, and then puts it back on again? I’ll then have another bash when the finger and thumb on my left hand has healed. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-tellers-schtik-i-dont-get-it/548657/30 "2010-08-02T21:21:26Z")
I’m going to put it out there that I love P&T. I haven’t seen them do something yet that I haven’t enjoyed. Some things I have liked more than others, but I’ve never seen them and said, “Gosh, that was dumb.” ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-tellers-schtik-i-dont-get-it/548657/31 "2010-08-03T15:54:42Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > While I’ve got all o’ you magic admirers in the same thread together, can I ask if any of you will explain how to do a particular trick I’ve seen done with a Zippo lighter, whereby the magician flicks the lighter on, ‘steals’ the flame between his finger and thumb, and then puts it back on again? I’ll then have another bash when the finger and thumb on my left hand has healed. There’s a quirk to Zippo lighters; you can “snuff” the flame without putting it out, then re-light it with a small hand motion. It’s shown in this video: [Squeeze It Lit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E95oZRfxa4). It’s also explained in detail here: [“Twilight Zone”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOSE9q9_gKw). ---
**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:** [August 3, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-tellers-schtik-i-dont-get-it/548657/32 "2010-08-03T16:01:45Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > It’s shown in this video: [Squeeze It Lit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E95oZRfxa4). Wow, some people think they’re a lot cooler than they actually are. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-tellers-schtik-i-dont-get-it/548657/33 "2010-08-03T16:08:01Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Stink Fish Pot, I think that _Bullshit!_ is the least interesting thing that Penn and Teller have done. Their usual on-stage act is that Penn talks and distracts you from having any chance of noticing how Teller is doing his magic tricks. Penn can only talk so much, since the magic tricks are the real point in their act. _Bullshit!_ consists of a documentary on the application of skepticism to some prominent subject. Penn narrates the documentary while Teller does magic tricks in the background. To whatever extent the documentary is good, it isn’t helped by Penn’s narration. Agreed. I do enjoy many episodes of _Bullshit!_, but the quality is pretty variable, and it’s really not a good showcase for what Penn & Teller are about. (Which is first-rate magic performances.) ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-tellers-schtik-i-dont-get-it/548657/34 "2010-08-03T16:53:31Z")
> [@3trew](#): > > Penn is a huge man who takes up more psychic space than Cthlulhu. Just wanted to read that again… ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-tellers-schtik-i-dont-get-it/548657/35 "2010-08-03T17:40:26Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > Thanks for the feedback, folks. I’ve never seen more than 5 minutes of their magic act, so my largest exposure to them has been “Bullshit”. The silence doesn’t work well on Bullshit, but I guess it is such a part of their act that to change it for “Bullshit” wouldn’t work. In the stage show, Penn is annoying - on purpose. He’s big and loud and pulls of a very funny version of “I think I’m funnier than I am.” Its almost certainly worth watching some YouTube of their act. Its very good. Both are - by almost all reports - really nice guys to their fans as well. I know people who knew them way back on the RenFaire circuit and they had a good reputation for being good guys back then. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-tellers-schtik-i-dont-get-it/548657/36 "2010-08-03T18:17:00Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > > [@Max\_Torque](#): > > > > It’s shown in this video: [Squeeze It Lit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E95oZRfxa4). > > Wow, some people think they’re a lot cooler than they actually are. hehe. Asking about that trick made me think about that video, which dates from the era when having your own website was still A Big Deal, probably 15 years ago. The video was made to promote [zippotricks.com](http://zippotricks.com), which I’m pretty sure folded around 2005. ---
**Author:** ![Notchimine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bcef8e/32.png) [@Notchimine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Notchimine)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-tellers-schtik-i-dont-get-it/548657/37 "2010-08-03T18:32:13Z")
> [@Serenata67](#): > > I’m going to put it out there that I love P&T. I haven’t seen them do something yet that I haven’t enjoyed. Some things I have liked more than others, but I’ve never seen them and said, “Gosh, that was dumb.” I absolutely love them. To the point of seeing them multiple times in Vegas as well as being addicted to their Showtime series. One time after an afternoon of heavy drinking on the strip, I sat down to see the show. I tried for a very long time to control the urge to rid myself of several Cosmos to no avail. I worked my way to the aisle, proceeded up towards the back and spotted Teller who, as part of the routine, was hiding inconspicuously in the shadows of the theater. I mouthed “I am soo sorry” and he whispered back with a wink, “no problem”. I always felt quite honored to hear him actually SPEAK! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-tellers-schtik-i-dont-get-it/548657.md?page=1)