Some people refer to Penn & Teller as magicians, but unlike many traditional magicians, they let the audience know their tricks are just illusions and sometimes even show them how they are done. They also add another element to their act that many magicians do not – comedy. Penn is the talkative one; Teller rarely says anything, but still adds a lot to the act. They like to perform tricks that can be both clever and gory and they like to expose fakes. Many of their illusions are shocking, but chances are, if you see them, you will never forget them. They are also known for inventing “tricks,” then showing the audience how they did them, earning them the nickname of the “bad boys of magic.” While they specialize in illusions, they also like to expose those that they feel try to pass off illusions as the real deal including psychics, astrologers, and others involved in the paranormal.
Penn & Teller started out as street entertainers at the famous San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf in the early 70s. They were once part of a three-man act, along with Weir Chirsamer, called the Asparagus Valley Cultural Society. This act was far less edgy than the Penn & Teller act as we know it today, although they do continue to perform some of the tricks. Their Penn & Teller Go Public special, for which they won an Emmy, aired on PBS in 1985. They also drew rave reviews for their off Broadway show. Their appearances on shows such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with David Letterman, and Saturday Night Live helped make them a household name by the beginning of the early 1990s. Perhaps their greatest exposure is in Las Vegas, Nevada where they have appeared at the Rio Hotel and Casino six nights a week for the past five years.
Penn & Teller have also written three books: “Penn and Teller’s Cruel Tricks For Dear Friends,” “Penn and Teller’s How to Play with Your Food,” and “Penn and Teller’s How to Play in Traffic.” Their books can be purchase at Amazon.com.