| Penn & Teller: Bullshit! | |
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| Created by | |
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| Presented by |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 8 |
| No. of episodes | 89(list of episodes) |
| Production | |
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| Running time | 28–30 minutes |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Showtime |
| Release | January 24, 2003 (2003-01-24) – August 12, 2010 (2010-08-12) |
| Related | |
| Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular | |
Penn & Teller: Bullshit! is an Americandocumentary comedy television series hosted by magician and political libertarian/skeptic duoPenn & Teller that aired from 2003 to 2010 on the premium cable channelShowtime.[1]
Penn & Teller: Bullshit! was hosted by professionalmagicians andskepticsPenn & Teller. Its format consisted of debating political topics, usually from anaturalistlibertariancapitalist point of view (the political philosophy then espoused by both Penn and Teller)[2] or aiming todebunkpseudoscientific ideas,paranormal beliefs, popularfads andmisconceptions. The hosts criticize proponents of what they perceive as nonsense and dishonesty, often citing ulterior political or financial motives. In the first episode, Penn said the aim of the show is to "hunt down as many purveyors ofbullshit as [they] can."[3] As indicated by the show's title, the program adheres to Penn & Teller's characteristically blunt, aggressive presentation. The show was nominated for 13Emmy Awards.
At the beginning of the first episode of the first season, Penn points out that the series will contain more obscenity and profanity than one would expect in a series dealing with scientific and critical inquiry, but explained that this was a legal tactic because, "if one calls people liars and quacks one can be sued... but 'assholes' is pretty safe. If we said it was all scams we could also be in trouble, but 'bullshit,' oddly, is safe. So forgive all the 'bullshit language', but we're trying to talk about the truth without spending the rest of our lives in court."[4]
Paranormal subjects of episodes includealien abduction,alternative medicine, literalexegesis of theBible, andextrasensory perception. Other episodes cover social issues, such as thewar on drugs,organic food,animal rights,gun control, andenvironmentalism. Penn & Teller approach the topics in the manner ofHarry Houdini andJames Randi (the latter of whom made multiple appearances on the show), who were known for debunking claims ofsupernatural powers.[5]
The show began airing its 8th and final season on June 10, 2010. As of its 7th season, it was Showtime's longest-running series.[6] The series achieved worldwide success, and was shown in countries includingArgentina,Australia,Bosnia and Herzegovina,Brazil,Canada,Colombia,Denmark,Finland,Iceland,Mexico,New Zealand,Norway,Republic of Ireland,Sweden,Venezuela and theUnited Kingdom.
The series premiered on January 24, 2003, and 89 episodes aired over the course of the series in the span of eight seasons, concluding on August 12, 2010.
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 13 | January 24, 2003 (2003-01-24) | April 18, 2003 (2003-04-18) | |
| 2 | 13 | April 1, 2004 (2004-04-01) | September 2, 2004 (2004-09-02) | |
| 3 | 13 | April 25, 2005 (2005-04-25) | August 1, 2005 (2005-08-01) | |
| 4 | 10 | April 3, 2006 (2006-04-03) | June 5, 2006 (2006-06-05) | |
| 5 | 10 | March 22, 2007 (2007-03-22) | May 24, 2007 (2007-05-24) | |
| 6 | 10 | June 19, 2008 (2008-06-19) | August 21, 2008 (2008-08-21) | |
| 7 | 10 | June 25, 2009 (2009-06-25) | August 27, 2009 (2009-08-27) | |
| 8 | 10 | June 10, 2010 (2010-06-10) | August 12, 2010 (2010-08-12) | |
In each episode, Penn and Teller debunk a chosen misconception such ascryptozoology, debate a controversial topic likegun control, or "expose the truths" of an organization likePETA. Sometimes their objective is not to completely dismiss the topic at hand but to decry certain aspects of the topic that they believe to be pernicious, misleading, unnecessary, or overemphasized. For example, in the case ofcollege they argue that while college is a great place to learn, drink beer or train for a career, the concept ofdiversity is "bullshit" when used as an excuse to restrictfree speech orselectively recruit to fill quotas. Or that "the casual asshole, or just plain dickhead, might do well in ananger management program" but teaching people they can relieve anger through attacking or screaming at inanimate objects is "bullshit", since this "venting" (as it's called in the industry) by an angry person in a social situation will lead to violence.
Proponents of the topic make their case in interviews; however, they often end up appearing fallacious or self-contradicting. For example, in "Safety Hysteria", a manufacturer of "radiation guards" formobile phones admits that there is no proven link betweenmobile phone radiation andbrain cancer, but assures viewers that "you can't betoo safe" (mobile phones use conventional radio waves for communication, which arenon-ionizing radiation). When he states his background is inadvertising, notmedical science, it is implied that he knows his product is useless but exploits people's fears to turn a profit.[7] A second consecutive interview with another proponent is often started with the phrase: "And then there'sthis asshole..."
Penn Jillette has stated that those being interviewed know what show the interview is for and its purpose. One episode shows a video crew from the show going into a building to perform an interview, and Jillette points out that a member of the crew is wearing aPenn & Teller: Bullshit! baseball cap.[8] Opponents are then interviewed and they offer rebuttals to the proponents' arguments. These are usually experts, celebrities, or sometimes speakers from theCenter for Inquiry, theJames Randi Educational Foundation, or theCato Institute.[8]
Penn and Teller often conduct informal experiments. For example, in the episode "Bottled Water", diners in an upscale restaurant are presented with a variety of apparently fancybottled water brands. After the diners praise and pick a favorite, it is revealed that each bottle was filled by the same garden hose behind the restaurant.[9] In one of their more serious experiments during the "Conspiracy Theories" episode, Teller fires a rifle at a melon wrapped in one-inch fiberglass tape to demonstrate that when a human head is shot, it is likely to be forced in the direction opposite to the bullet's trajectory. This demonstration was aimed at discrediting aJohn F. Kennedy conspiracy theory that points out that the fatal gunshot rocked Kennedy toward the shot through the use of simple principles of physics (i.e., "back and to the left", the fallacious belief that a shot from behind would cause a head to jerk forward is used as evidence that JFK must have been shot from the grassy knoll, in front of the vehicle). Penn and Teller look over the scene of the aftermath of the experiment to which Penn comments, "Second gunman my aching ass..."[10]
Penn and Teller often have skits and stunts performed with them on set or use stock footage to combine reasonable arguments with straightforward, entertaining ridicule. For example, the "Sex, Sex, Sex" episode may be satirizing the media's obsession withsex appeal by having the hosts constantly surrounded by naked actors and actresses.[11] Penn and Teller often close episodes with an impassioned ethical plea against whatever they are debunking, summarizing how this particular belief is harmful and should be resisted. The presenters distinguish between believers (often explaining that Penn and Teller themselves would like to believe these things are true, and showing compassion to the people who do think the things are true) and those they see as charlatans out for money or to advance a political agenda, at whom their anger is directed. For example, in their premiere episode, they debunk the idea that psychics can talk to the dead. While expressing the utmost sympathy towards people who are desperate for a chance to speak to a loved one who has died, they explain that charlatans take advantage of this love to get money from people, and deliver false messages that have nothing to do with the genuine character of the departed.
During the October 31, 2010, episode of Penn Point,[12] Penn alluded toBullshit! no longer being on Showtime, saying "it's wherePenn & Teller's Bullshit! used to be", while referring toShowtime.[12]
In an interview published November 3, 2010, by theAtlantic City Weekly, Teller states, "We are in the process of making a decision to continue with Showtime or move on to a new show onDiscovery Channel."[13] In April 2011, Jillette announced on Twitter thatBullshit! had ended and the duo would appear in a new Discovery Channel series, originally titledPenn & Teller: Secrets of the Universe[14] but ultimately airing asPenn & Teller Tell a Lie.[15] On the July 21, 2013 episode of Penn Jillette's podcast showPenn's Sunday School, he mentioned he would like to bringBullshit! back, as he felt it was more important than ever, but Showtime's new management wanted a clean break and HBO would not associate with a previous Showtime show. He suggestedNetflix as a possible return platform.[16]
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Since the show's title contains an obscenity (by common standards in the United States), the series is often listed in newspaper television listings there under the alternate titleB.S. Some printings of the show's DVD releases also carry this alternate title.Dish Network andDirecTV list the show asPenn & Teller: Bulls...!Comcast Digital Cable lists the show as "Penn & Teller: Bull!" Netflix lists it as "Penn & Teller: Bullsh*t", while theiTunes Store lists "Penn & Teller: BS" (though one of its graphic icons for it has "BULL SH T" with Teller standing about where the I should be). Showtime's former website displayed the title "Penn and Teller".[17]
In the "Profanity" episode, Penn tells the viewers that the planned title forBullshit! wasHumbug! This, Penn goes on to say, relates their skepticism (and TV show) to Harry Houdini's reactions to the popular misconceptions of his day; but the idea was scrapped becausehumbug had less of an impact than the more profane, more informal word,bullshit. It is also discussed during the profanity episode thathumbug was considered as profane at one time asbullshit today. During that same episode, Penn and Teller themselves did not use any profanity, even changing the name of the show toHumbug! for that episode. At one point, Penn suggests the use of the phraseJesus Christ! by a non-Christian is not profanity, but as Teller apparently drops a bowling ball on his foot just as he mentions the phrase, his yelling of the expression makes its use ambiguous. (SeeWikiquote's transcription of the quote.)
When discussingBullshit! on his radio show, Penn either broke the word in half, usually with a clap and a slight pause (Bulls[Clap]Hit), or change it toBullshot. He frequently referred to howCriss Angel's showMind Freak had "the perfect title, everyone knows what you mean and you can advertise", which they could not. On an episode of the public radio programWait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, Penn referred to the show asBushlit.
Plans to make an episode focusing onScientology were believed to have been rejected by Showtime executives to avoid provokinglegal action by theChurch of Scientology, though Penn later revealed on his radio show that this was not true, commenting that he has slight interest in dealing with Scientologists despite being critical of their practices.Matt Stone andTrey Parker, friends of Penn and Teller, were motivated by this to create their own long-planned, controversialSouth Park episode lampooning Scientology, "Trapped in the Closet".[18] Another planned episode onairport security has been rejected from every season's topic list: "It turns out, to shoot anything on airport security, you are violating federal law. You're not allowed to shoot anything there," said Penn.[19] He has done radio, film and print regarding airport security, but has been unsuccessful adapting it for television.
During a Q&A session atThe Amaz!ng Meeting of 2005, he said that the episode about conspiracy theories did not coverHolocaust denial, since it should have its own episode.
In addition to paranormal and pseudo-scientific claims, Penn & Teller take a skeptical view of government authority.[20] In various episodes of their show, they have heavily criticized both theInternal Revenue Service and theEnvironmental Protection Agency, as well as taken stances against regulations or prohibitions on things such as guns, drugs, tobacco, prostitution, nuclear energy, nudity, and profanity. Penn & Teller are bothH. L. Mencken research fellows with theCato Institute, alibertarian think tank.[21][22]
In the episode "Family Values", Penn acknowledged his and Teller's biases, saying, "We're fair and we never take people out of context. We're biased, but we try to be honest."[23] Still, Dennis Cass ofSlate magazine has criticized the duo for resorting to the samesensationalism as their targets, stating in a review of the series, "One of the unwritten rules for winning an argument against an inflammatory, irrational opponent is to calmly adhere to a loftier set of rhetorical standards. Penn and Teller showily throw this notion into the trash."[24]
Noel Murray, in an otherwise favorable reviewThe A.V. Club, opined that Penn & Teller, despite beingskeptics, are not dedicated to fact-based debunking orinquirydata retrieval, commenting:
Bullshit! isn't journalism, exactly. The show is one-sided by design: P&T's field interviewers rarely confront their subjects with the evidence against them, preferring to let the crackpots ramble on so that Jillette's voice-over rejoinders can score points without inciting a real argument.[25]
AtThe Amaz!ng Meeting 3 Penn and Teller were asked about the evidence for theirsecondhand smoke episode being faulty. Penn Jillette, with Teller sitting at his side, said "What we talked about during the show was where the stuff was there", meaning that he was using the data that the government had when they instituted the ban, then said regarding this episode they were "very likely" wrong. Penn went on to describe "a new study that came out of England, just recently, that seems to have more stuff about it" and "right now, as I sit here, there probablyis danger in secondhand smoke". He went on to say that this was a small portion of the program, and their main point was their opposition to "outlawing" smoking in privately owned businesses, which they still "stand behind 100%".[26]
Robert Todd Carroll, author ofThe Skeptic's Dictionary, originally sided with the show's conclusion that there was no link between secondhand smoke and cancer. But Carroll changed his conclusions after further investigation into the studies. Carroll concluded that the studies cited by Penn and Teller were biased, and unbiased studies find secondhand smoke does cause disease.[27]
During an interview on the January 31, 2007, episode ofThe Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, Teller said that the final episode of the show would be about "the bullshit of Bullshit!" and would detail all the criticisms that they themselves had of the show;[28] however, the series ended before such an episode could air.
Penn & Teller: Bullshit was nominated for 21 awards, winning two. TheWriters Guild of America bestowed an award upon the program in 2004 recognizing excellence in its writing quality, and it received an award from theIndependent Investigations Group in 2008, recognizing the show's contribution to public understanding ofscientific skepticism andrational thinking.
Through its run,Penn & Teller: Bullshit! garnered thirteenPrimetime Emmy Award nominations, fiveWriters Guild of America Award nominations and aDirectors Guild of America Award nomination.
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