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MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SEMINAR SERIES, THE: CARD TRICKS AND COCKROACHES: PENN AND TELLER ON TV {LONG VERSION}

Summary

One in this series of seminars conducted by The Museum of Television & Radio. In this seminar, moderated by the Museum's television curator Ron Simon, unorthodox magicians Penn & Teller talk about bringing their unique sensibility to the television medium.

Simon begins the seminar by screening a compilation tape highlighting the duo's television work, including clips from the following programs: "Penn & Teller Go Public" (1985); "Late Night with David Letterman" (1985); "Saturday Night Live" (1986); "Penn & Teller: Don't Try This at Home" (1990); and "The Unpleasant World of Penn & Teller" (1994). The antic magi then join Simon onstage for discussion of the following topics: their early feelings of apprehension about working in television (due, in part, to a bad experience on a talk show); a detailed account of an infamous appearance on the Letterman show in which they released live cockroaches on the horrified host's desk; working with television directors; the genesis of "The Unpleasant World of Penn & Teller" which ran in Great Britain; the very different approaches they take towards performing live and performing for TV; and their feelings about "magicians" like David Copperfield and Doug Henning. Audience questions lead to comment on the following topics, among others: interactive media projects; why Teller does not speak in the act; how the two got together and how they have been able to maintain their relationship for almost 20 years; working with G. Gordon Liddy in "Penn & Teller's Invisible Thread"; magicians they admire; their desire to work against the audience's ingrained prejudices towards magic shows; their current feelings about doing television; the supposed controversy over their giving away of "trade secrets" during performances; Janet Reno's attacks on violence in the entertainment media; and future film and Broadway work.

Details

  • NETWORK: Paley
  • DATE: June 10, 1994
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:24:40
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:33012
  • GENRE: Seminars
  • SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
  • SERIES RUN: N/A
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Ron Simon … Moderator
  • Penn Jillette … Guest
  • Teller … Guest
  • Penn & Teller