Product Description

: Self-proclaimed pit-bulls of truth, Penn & Teller use their trademark humor, knowledge of carnival tricks, and hidden cameras to blow the lid off popular notions about second hand smoke ,self help products, diet claims, creationism, TV psychics, Feng Shui, bottled water and more!!!!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4026 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-03-30
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
• Original language: English, Spanish
• Number of discs: 3
• Running time: 364 minutes

Amazon.com
In the investigative tradition of master illusionist and early 20th-century ghostbuster Harry Houdini, magicians Penn Jillette and partner Teller debunk the paranormal in their wildly entertaining Showtime series, Penn & Teller: Bullsh*t!. The first season of this unusual show finds the garrulous Penn and silent Teller taking aim, over 13 episodes, at such perennial hokum as "Talking to the Dead," "ESP," and "Ouija Boards." But they also go after a couple of contemporary, exploitation-driven industries they believe con vulnerable people in the same way phony mediums rip off the bereaved and "regression therapists" lead on would-be alien abductees.

One of these industries is the network of charlatans promising sexual enhancement through bigger breasts or male genitals; the other is the publishing world's raging river of self-help books. But our boys don't stop there. Just to make sure each viewer comes away impeached at least once for championing a sacred cow, Penn and Teller take on creationists, anti-smokers, vegetarians, extreme environmentalists, and feng shui enthusiasts. Everyone is bound to feel a little offended at some point in this boxed set's 360 minutes, but P&T offset their indignation with wily humor and the occasional, dazzling trick.

"Talking to the Dead" doesn't dwell on Houdini's penchant for exposing the fakery behind old-fashioned seances. But it does attack today's celebrity mediums, especially the Sci-Fi Channel's John Edward, whose off-screen methods for gathering useful, private information about his audiences are revealed. "Alien Abductions" seeks reasons behind claims of extraterrestrial probing of human orifices, but saves most of Penn and Teller's wrath for those who profit from others' delusions. "Near Death Experiences" challenges assumptions about glimpsing the afterlife, and "Alternative Medicine" weighs in on the ever-sensitive subject of non-medicinal remedies for illness.

The most fun episode, by far, is "Sex, Sex, Sex," which is adorned by a lot of beautiful, naked men and women milling about while Penn and Teller chase down sundry hucksters, including a hypnotherapist who claims she can enlarge naughty bits through subconscious suggestion. This engrossing, three-disc set is rounded out by a number of delightful special features, including entertaining outtakes and a bonus "Ghost Segment." --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

CREATIONISM - Y SO SCARED OFF DISCUSSING?
I could see points in many episodes. The thing I wish folks to keep in mind as they watch the supposed hidden camera shots and the enormous amounts footage of people supporting P & T's point of view is that even P & T edit stuff out so it sounds more in thier favor. No, they dont present the whole truth and nothing but the truth. But... what they do show is entertaining, and some grains of truth are there. Just keep your head on as you watch and don't get brainwashed by them, either. The Creationsism one I noticed however had a lot of folks who were against creationism, bashing it. Im all for debate but debaters need to tell you why their side is valid, not just bash their opponent. You could convince someone their opponent sucks but that doesnt mean they themselves don't suck also. I needed some positives with those negatives. It also smelled of segregationalism. P & T were saying Creationism has no place in the classroom/ society. I don't see why a view is more acceptable than another and why both views should not be allowed presentation. Creationism got all our forefathers through thousands more years than evolutionism has. I also don't believe that Creationists are "out to do away with science". Creationists do not say science does not exist nor do they wish do put it into extinction. They just want thier voice heard also. (How scary!) Apparently, Orvell was right - "all are created equal, but some are more equal than others." You dont like political commercials were all they do is mud sling other candidates, how is this any better?

Watch to be entertained, not to learn
These guys produce a funny, creative show but their arguments are pretty lame and their logic is more sensational than thoughtful. They start off on any subject with an opinion in mind, then search for and massage evidence to support that conclusion. The most egregious example of this, to me, is their show on AA--they pick a loud and articulate woman to support their view and then a meek and nervous guy to speak for the opposition. That kind of cherry-picking is typical, like when they use outtakes of an environmentalist stumbling over her words to make her seem poorly informed and overly emotional, then cut to a slick guy at the CATO institute without explaining its right-wing nature or corporate funding (they call it "libertarian"). Even when I agree with them, such as in the case of the Creationism episode, I find myself annoyed at how they load their debate in favor of their pre-arrived conclusions.

Maybe it's obvious that a couple of TV magicians are in no position to argue anything--but they are superior showmen and they know how to convince their audience regardless of how stupid and shallow their arguments are. And being on tv itself gives them the imprimatur of authority. While I find them entertaining and enjoyable, I just hope they stay on Showtime with a miniscule audience--moving to a bigger forum would just lower American discourse even further than it already is. The world doesn't neeed a secular Ann Coulter.

The Best Show On Television
I can't get enough of this show. I have watched it over and over.

I love the way they expose all the stupidity in America.

My friend, who used to believe in psychics, has now been converted thanks to them. And the way they layout how psychics are harming and taking advantage of people is eye-opening.

They are not afraid of any subject. I would highly recommend this book if you are tired of all the bull* being spued by the mainstream media.

Everyone has become so polite that they are afraid to speak out against anything. Penn and Teller obviously fear no one!

I used to think of myself as a liberal, but after watching this show, I think I am a libertarian! Who knew.