In the first series, it was smoothly presented by Jonathan Ross, and the second and third seasons from that point on have been hosted by Fool Us Host Alyson.
Each episode starts off by introducing the purpose of the series. Penn & Teller come out and are seated at the center stage. They watch eager magicians will perform their act before them, in front of a live studio audience. Following each show, Penn & Teller privately discuss the show while the host questions the magicians. Penn & Teller then reveal their knowledge of how the trick was executed, typically using cryptic words or by noting down the procedure and presenting it privately to the magicians in order to verify, so as to avoid approaching public disclosure of the secrets behind the trick.
The third season will premiere the 4th of October, 2022.
What’s Happening with Penn & Teller— Fool Us?
In Penn and Teller— Fool Usthe magicians perform their magic routines in front of American comedians and magicians Penn & Teller. If a trick cannot be solved after each performance, the magician performing it receives an Fool Us trophy and a five-star vacation for a trip to Las Vegas. Season one was shot in Fountain Studios in London, England (for the first time), while season two onwards has been filmed in the Penn & Teller Theater in Las Vegas. Penn Jillette and Teller have been performing in the form of Penn & Teller since 1982.
Teller says that the doublespeak helps teach people new techniques without ruining the trick. Should Penn & Teller are wrongor are unable to come up with how they did it, the magician is awarded the Fool Us trophy and the opportunity to later perform at one of Penn & Teller’s Las Vegas shows. A backstage judge, who is well-versed in the art of magic business and intimately aware of about the method used to perform the trick ahead of the event, will make any needed calls to determine if Penn & Teller were properly fooled. In the final moments of every program, Penn & Teller perform an act of magic on their own.
The first season Jonathan Ross served as a temporary replacement for Penn and Teller’s hosting duties, but they were back for the next season. The film was shot in Fountain Studios in London, England for its first season, before moving to Penn & Teller Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada for the second season, and later seasons.
Magicians appearing on Penn & Teller: Fool Us are usually skilled sleight-of-hand performers and illusionists. Magicians typically increase the mystery of the way they perform their trick by using mirrors and smoke or creating confusion through discussion. Through the use of mirrors and smoke, or by causing confusion through conversation, magicians usually increase the mystery of the method by which their trick is performed. The legendary mentalist Jon Finch described that, Penn and Teller indeed do have a good relationship with the magicians that appear on their show. Certain acts, like the ones from Eric Jonesare invited to perform with Penn Teller’s Las Vegas illusion show. In season three, the magicians with the highest ratings who fooled Penn & Teller were invitedback to perform on a special episode of Fool Us in which they each have the chance to perform their trick one more and attempt to fool Penn and Teller again for a further $15000 prize. The magicians are also required to perform during an intermission during Penn& Teller’s live Las Vegas show, where viewers aren’t aware that the illusion is being performed for them. Teller remains hushed throughout the the show, however they do communicate through subtle gestures between them. They have been known to talk with magicians performing and request them to repeat certain actions or give more details.
Penn and Teller are known for their contributions to the art of magic, such as publishing books about deceitand creating instructional videos on techniques for playing cards, and traveling with their own show of magic known as Penn and Teller: Fool Us.