Penn & Teller: Bullshit!
Penn and Teller host Bullshit!
Genre	Infotainment
Starring	Penn Jillette Teller
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	59 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Randall Moldave Star Price (2003-2006) Eric Small Mark Wolper Michael Goudeau
Running time	30 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	Showtime
Original run	January 24, 2003 – present
Links
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

Bullshit! (also known as Penn & Teller: Bullshit!) is an American, Emmy-nominated documentary television series, running since 2003 on the premium cable channel Showtime. It is hosted by professional magicians/comedians Penn & Teller. While many episodes aim to debunk pseudoscientific ideas, supernatural beliefs, popular fads and misconceptions, some episodes are devoted purely to promoting a libertarian political view on certain issues. It criticizes proponents of such things, often citing ulterior or financial motives. The stated aim of the show is to apply critical thinking to misconceptions, and as is indicated by the show's title, the program inherits Penn & Teller's characteristically blunt, aggressive presentation. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Penn Fraser Jillette (born March 5, 1955 in Greenfield, Massachusetts) is an American illusionist, juggler and comedian known for his work with fellow illusionist Teller in the team known as Penn & Teller. ... Teller (born Raymond Joseph Teller on February 14, 1948) is an American magician, best known as the smaller, silent half of the comedy magic duo known as Penn & Teller. ... This is a list of all Bullshit! episodes. ... Michael Goudeau is a juggler and an ex-circus clown. ... Showtime is a subscription television brand used by a number of channels and platforms around the world, but primarily refers to a group of channels in the United States. ... January 24 is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... An Emmy Award. ... A documentary is a work in a visual or auditory medium presenting political, scientific, social, or historical subjects in a factual and informative manner. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Showtime is a subscription television brand used by a number of channels and platforms around the world, but primarily refers to a group of channels in the United States. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A comedian, or comic, is an entertainer who amuses an audience by making them laugh. ... Penn (left) & Teller Penn & Teller are an illusionist and comedy duo from the United States. ... A pseudoscience is any body of knowledge purported to be scientific or supported by science but which fails to comply with the scientific method. ... Look up Supernatural in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... See also Libertarianism and Libertarian Party Libertarian,is a term for person who has made a conscious and principled commitment, evidenced by a statement or Pledge, to forswear violating others rights and usually living in voluntary communities: thus in law no longer subject to government supervision. ... are you kiddin ? i was lookin for it for hours ...

Supernatural subjects in previous episodes include alien abduction, alternative medicine, and ESP; other episodes cover social issues such as the War on Drugs, gun control, and recycling. The abduction phenomenon is an umbrella term used to describe a number of hypotheses, claims or assertions stating that non-human creatures kidnap individuals—sometimes called abductees—usually for medical testing or for sexual reproduction procedures. ... Alternative medicine describes practices used in place of conventional medical treatments. ... Extra-sensory perception (ESP) is defined in parapsychology as the ability to aquire information by paranormal means. ... Massive mark-ups for drugs, UK Govt report Prevalance of drug use 1991-2006 The War on Drugs is an initiative undertaken by the United States with the assistance of participating countries, which is intended to combat the illegal drug trade —to curb supply and diminish demand for certain psychoactive... Gun Politics, the political aspects of gun control and firearms rights, has long been among the most controversial and intractable issues in American politics. ... The international recycling symbol. ...

Penn & Teller's objective is similar to the objectives of Harry Houdini and James Randi (who has appeared more than once on the show), who are known for debunking claims of supernatural powers.^[1] Harry Houdini (March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926), born Erich Weisz, was a Hungarian-American magician, escapologist, stunt performer, as well as an investigator of spiritualists, and an amateur aviator. ... James Randi (born August 7, 1928), stage name The Amazing Randi, is a stage magician and scientific skeptic best known as a debunker of pseudoscience. ... Debunkers are scientific skeptics who attempt to disprove and pursue what they consider to be false, unscientific, bizarre or abnormal claims. ... Look up Supernatural in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

The show is currently in its fifth season in the United States.^[2] The series has achieved worldwide success, being shown in countries such as Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Mexico, New Zealand, Sweden, Colombia, Finland and the United Kingdom.

Show format

In each episode, Penn and Teller debunk a chosen misconception such as cryptozoology or debate a controversial topic like gun control. Cryptozoology is the search for animals that are rumored to exist, but for which conclusive proof is missing. ... Gun politics fundamentally involves the politics of two related questions: Does a government have valid authority to impose regulations on guns? And, assuming such authority, should a government regulate guns and to what extent?[1] The answer to these questions and the nature of the politics varies and depends on...

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" for mobile phones admits that there is no proven link between mobile phone radiation and brain cancer, but assures viewers that "you can't be too safe" (mobile phones use conventional radio waves for communication, which are non-ionizing radiation). When he states his background is in advertising, not medical science it is implied that he knows his product is useless, but exploits people's fears to turn a profit.^[3] A Greenfield-type tower used in base stations for mobile telephony A modern mobile phone (Samsung) Mobile phone radiation and health concerns have been raised, especially following the enormous increase in the use of wireless mobile telephony throughout the world (as of August 2005, there were more than 2 billion... A brain tumor is any mass created by an abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells either found in the brain (neurons, glial cells, epithelial cells, myelin producing cells, etc. ... Non-ionising radiation (or in American English non-ionizing radiation) refers to any type of electromagnetic radiation that does not carry enough energy to ionize living material - that is, to completely remove an electron from an atom or molecule. ... Commercialism redirects here. ... See drugs, medication, and pharmacology for substances that are used to treat patients. ...

A second consecutive interview with another proponent is often started with the phrase: "And then there's this asshole..."

Penn Jillette has stated that those being interviewed know which show the interview is for. 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 a Penn & Teller: Bullshit! baseball cap.^[4]

Opponents are then interviewed and they offer rebuttals to the proponents' arguments. These are usually experts, celebrities, or sometimes speakers from the Center for Inquiry, James Randi Educational Foundation, and the Cato Institute.^[4] <drini ☎> 14:27, 15 August 2005 (UTC) Categories: Possible copyright violations ... James Randi (born August 7, 1928), stage name The Amazing Randi, is a stage magician and scientific skeptic best known as a debunker of pseudoscience. ... The Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Institutes stated mission is to broaden the parameters of public policy debate to allow consideration of the traditional American principles of limited government, individual liberty, free markets, and peace by seeking greater involvement of the...

Penn and Teller conduct informal experiments, which are admittedly unscientific at times. For example, in the episode "Bottled Water", diners in an upscale restaurant are presented with a variety of apparently fancy bottled 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.^[5] This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

In one of their more serious experiments during the "Conspiracy Theories" episode, Teller fires a rifle at a melon to demonstrate that when a human head is shot, it is likely to be forced in the direction opposite to the bullet's trajectory in order to discredit a John F. Kennedy conspiracy theory which points out that the fatal gunshot rocked JFK toward the shot.^[6] President Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy, Nellie Connally, and Governor John Connally, shortly before the assassination. ... JFK redirects here. ...

Penn and Teller often use skits and stunts performed on-set or through stock footage which combine reasonable argument with straightforward, entertaining ridicule. For example, the "Sex, Sex, Sex" episode may be satirizing the media's obsession with sex appeal by having the hosts constantly surrounded by naked actors and actresses.^[7] ...

Penn and Teller often close with an impassioned ethical plea against the subject matter near the end of the show as to why this particular belief is harmful and should be resisted. The presenters distinguish between believers (often saying that they would like to believe also and showing compassion to this group) and those they see as charlatans, at whom they direct anger.^{[citation needed]}

Since their act is not normally associated with a frequent use of profanity, Jillette explains this choice in the opening episode: if they referred to people as frauds or liars, they could be sued for slander, even in the face of overwhelming evidence of chicanery, but as "vulgar abuse" is not legally considered slanderous, referring to them as assholes or motherfuckers ostensibly expresses an opinion rather than a statement of fact and is legally safer for them.^[8] It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with deception. ... It has been suggested that civil trial be merged into this article or section. ... In English and American law, and systems based on them, libel and slander are two forms of defamation (or defamation of character), which is the tort or delict of making a false statement of fact that injures someones reputation. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Motherfucker (also existing in countless contracted forms e. ...

Title

Due to the show's title being considered a mild obscenity, the series is often listed in newspaper television listings under the alternate title B.S. Some printings of the show's DVD releases also carry this alternate title. Dish Network lists the show as Penn & Teller: Bulls***! DISH Network is a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service that provides satellite television and audio programming to households and businesses in the United States, owned by parent company EchoStar Communications Corporation. ...

In the "Profanity" episode, Penn tells the viewers that the original title for "Bullshit!" was intended to be "Humbug!" 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 due to "humbug" not having as much of an impact as the more profane, more informal word, "bullshit." It is also discussed during the profanity episode that calling something "humbug" was considered profane at one time on the same level as calling something "bullshit" today.

When discussing Bullshit! on his radio show, Penn would either break the word in half, usually with a clap and a slight pause, for example "Bulls *Clap* Hit", or change it to Bullshot. In an episode of the public radio programme Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, Penn refers to the show as "Bushlit". Penn Radio is a one hour long talk radio show hosted by Penn Jillette and Michael Goudeau and produced by Happy Jack and Patrick. The show is broadcast on the Free FM brand radio stations (usually) live with theme music by Mike Jones. ... Wait Wait. ...

When discussing the title with the Showtime producers, Penn stated, "You can't make a show about bullshit, and then wimp out on the title."^{[citation needed]}

During the "Profanity" episode, Penn and Teller themselves did not use any profanity, even changing the name of the show to "Humbug!" for that episode. At one point, Penn suggests the use of the phrase "Jesus 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. (See Wikiquote's transcription of the quote.)

Episode list

Main article: List of Bullshit! episodes

This is a list of all Bullshit! episodes. ...

Criticism

Allegations of bias

Many critics accuse Penn and Teller of being biased in their approach to debunking their opponent's arguments. For example, Chaz Miller, who was interviewed for the "Recycling" episode, said that Bullshit! attempts to exclude certain information if it does not favor the show's position.^[9] However, during an episode dedicated to questioning the factual accuracy of the Bible, Penn Jillette said that Bullshit!'s approach is support for viewpoints that they feel are honest and well educated. Also during the episode on Creationism, Penn claims that the Bible states that the Earth is the centre of the universe. The Bible does not state this, although the Catholic and Orthodox Churches held this view for many centuries. This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library of Congress. ...

In the episode "Family Values" Penn said, "... we're fair and we never take people out of context. We're biased as all fuck. But, we try to be honest."^[10] Still, some critics sympathetic with the duo's over-arching message have expressed regret that they can occasionally slip into the same sensationalism as their targets, including validating their points with pundits who possess dubious qualifications. This was summed up in a review by Slate which stated: "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 out the window."^[11] Slate is an online news and culture magazine created in 1996 by former New Republic editor Michael Kinsley and owned by Microsoft (as part of MSN). ...

While Penn and Teller are self-professed as skeptics, critics have been quick to note that Bullshit! is not dedicated to fact-based debunking or inquiry. An otherwise favorable review by The Onion A.V. Club noted: Skepticism (Commonwealth spelling: Scepticism) can mean: Philosophical skepticism - a philosophical position in which people choose to critically examine whether the knowledge and perceptions that they have are actually true, and whether or not one can ever be said to have absolutely true knowledge; or Scientific skepticism - a scientific, or practical... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. ...

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 voiceover rejoinders can score points without inciting a real argument.^[12]

Secondhand smoke

Robert Todd Carroll, author of The Skeptic's Dictionary, originally sided with the show's conclusion that there was no link between secondhand smoke and cancer. Yet Carroll switched sides after further investigation into the studies. Carroll concluded that the studies were biased, and consequently decided that secondhand smoke does have negative effects on people.^[13] Robert Todd Carroll (1945-), Ph. ... The Skeptics Dictionary is a web site with a collection of cross-referenced skeptical essays by Robert Todd Carroll, PhD. It primarily exposes claims that its editors consider pseudoscientific. ...

At The Amaz!ng Meeting 3 the duo was asked about the evidence for this episode being faulty. Penn Jillette, with Teller standing at his side, said regarding this episode they were "wrong" and the next season would add a notation. Penn went on to describe that new studies do show a correlation between health risks and secondhand smoke.^[14] The James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1996 by magician and skeptic James Randi after his departure from CSICOP in 1994. ...

Global warming

See also: Global warming controversy.

The alleged threat of human-caused global warming was challenged in the "Environmental Hysteria" episode. A section of this episode tries to humorously show the "ignorance" of environmental movement by gathering hundreds of signatures to outlaw dihydrogen monoxide (water) at a Greenpeace rally. Critics argued that the show presented no scientific representatives, who are in fact in consensus on global warming.[1]. The global warming controversy is a debate about the specific causes of the increase in global average air temperature since the mid-1800s, the prediction of additional warming, and the consequences of that warming. ... Global mean surface temperatures 1850 to 2006 Mean surface temperature anomalies during the period 1995 to 2004 with respect to the average temperatures from 1940 to 1980 Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earths atmosphere and oceans in recent decades and the projected... Dihydrogen monoxide (DHMO) and hydrogen hydroxide (HOH) are technically accurate but rarely-used names for water. ... Greenpeace protest against Esso / Exxon Mobil. ...

In the episode, Jerry Taylor from CATO claims that scientists predicted an ice age in the 1970s. Penn and Teller interview figures such as the statistician Bjørn Lomborg and critic Patrick Moore.^[15] Lomborg is the author of the controversial book The Skeptical Environmentalist. The episode also disputes current levels of species extinction. Bjørn Lomborg Bjørn Lomborg (born January 6, 1965) is an Adjunct Professor at the Copenhagen Business School and a former director of the Environmental Assessment Institute in Copenhagen. ... Dr. Patrick Moore, born 1947 in Winter Harbour, B.C., Canada, is a founding member of Greenpeace, although he now criticizes the organization. ... The Skeptical Environmentalist: Measuring the Real State of the World (Danish: Verdens Sande Tilstand, literal translation: The Real State of the World) is a controversial book by political scientist Bjørn Lomborg, which argues that claims made about global warming, overpopulation, declining energy resources, deforestation, species loss, water shortages, and... The Dodo, shown here in illustration, is an often-cited[1] example of extinction. ...

Trivia

• During the "Conspiracy Theories" episode, the crew interviewed a number of people at Dante's bar in Portland, Oregon, during a weekly open-mike show called Ground Zero Lounge. One of the fellows in the bar that night was a man in a black beret, dubbed "Beret Dude" by Penn and Teller. He made a number of bold assertions, among them that the Kennedy assassination was an industrialist conspiracy to enforce the compliance of future presidents with the will of Big Business. The rant he gave was, almost verbatim, a rant given by Bill Hicks in a comedy routine from the album Rant in E Minor on Track 31 "The Elite". Also, in this rant, he claims that twelve men are behind the presidency.

• There were plans to make an episode focusing on Scientology, but Showtime executives rejected this idea so as to avoid provoking any legal action from the Church of Scientology. Matt Stone and Trey Parker, friends of Penn and Teller, were motivated by this incident to create their own long-planned, controversial South Park episode lampooning Scientology, "Trapped in the Closet".^[16]

• Cathe Jones, who supplies the animals on the show, and Mike Jones, Penn and Teller's pianist, met through their work on the show and married.

Nickname: Location in Multnomah County and the state of Oregon Coordinates: Country United States State Oregon County Multnomah County Incorporated February 8, 1851 Government  - Mayor Tom Potter Area  - City  145. ... Official language(s) None Capital Salem Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 9th  - Total 98,466 sq mi (255,026 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 2. ... Basque style Beret Black beret with military emblem A beret (pronounced in English, except in American English in which it is pronounced ) is a soft round cap, usually of wool felt, with a flat crown, which is worn by both men and women. ... William Melvin Hicks, better known as Bill Hicks (December 16, 1961 – February 26, 1994), was a controversial American stand-up comedian, satirist, and social critic. ... Rant in E-Minor is an album by comedian Bill Hicks, posthumously released in 1997 through Rykodisc. ... Scientology is a system of beliefs and practices created by American pulp fiction[1][2] and science fiction [3] author L. Ron Hubbard in 1952 as a self-help philosophy. ... The Church of Scientology is an international network devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. ... Matthew Richard Stone (born May 26, 1971) is an Emmy-winning American animator, film director, screenwriter, actor and voice actor. ... Randolph Severn Trey Parker III (born October 19, 1969) is an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning American animator, screenwriter, film director, voice actor, actor and musician. ... South Park is an American, Emmy Award-winning[1] animated television comedy series about four fourth-grade school boys who live in the small town of South Park, Colorado. ... Trapped in the Closet is episode 912 (#137) of the Comedy Central series South Park. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Mike Jones, born August 11, 1962, has appeared onstage with Penn and Teller for the last four years, and continues do play with them during their nightly show in Las Vegas. ...

Awards and nominations

Awards won

Writer's Guild of America

• Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series (2004)

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is the collective bargaining representative, or labor union, for writers in the motion picture and television industries. ...

Awards nominated

Writer's Guild of America

• Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series (2005)
• Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series (2006)

Emmy Awards

• Outstanding Reality Program (2005)
• Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming (2005)
• Outstanding Reality Program (2004)
• Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming (2004)
• Outstanding Main Title Design (2003)
• Outstanding Main Title Theme Music (2003)

Director's Guild of America

• Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs (2006)

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is the collective bargaining representative, or labor union, for writers in the motion picture and television industries. ... An Emmy Award. ... Directors Guild of America (DGA) is the labor union which represents the interests of film and television directors in the United States motion picture industry. ...

References

November 29 is the 333rd (in leap years the 334th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... July 21 is the 202nd day (203rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 163 days remaining. ... January 24 is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 8 is the 98th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (99th in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 18 is the 108th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (109th in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 7 is the 66th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (67th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 9 is the 129th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (130th in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 28 is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 24 is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... July 21 is the 202nd day (203rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 163 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 2 is the 122nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (123rd in leap years). ... It has been suggested that April Fools Day be merged into this article or section. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Slate is an online news and culture magazine created in 1996 by former New Republic editor Michael Kinsley and owned by Microsoft (as part of MSN). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... July 21 is the 202nd day (203rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 163 days remaining. ... April 12 is the 102nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (103rd in leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Onion is a parody newspaper published weekly in print and online. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... Robert Todd Carroll (1945-), Ph. ... November 2 is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 59 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... July 21 is the 202nd day (203rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 163 days remaining. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... (Redirected from 13 January) January 13 is the 13th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean [1]. // Coated in ice, power and telephone lines sag and often break, resulting in power outages. ... January 31 is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... September 14 is the 257th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (258th in leap years). ...

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Bullshit!

• Official Showtime website (USA access Only)
• Penn & Teller: Bullshit! at the Internet Movie Database
• TV.com episode guide
• Bullshit! It's No Bull - Perry DeAngelis' review of the show
• Fridays with Mr. Media: The Star Price/Penn & Teller: Bullshit! Interview by Bob Andelman