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Penn & Teller: Bulls--t! (Showtime)

common sense media says

Unscientific debunking for laughs; adult material.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this show is a comedy -- it is as much about humor as it is about "reality." It's less about establishing fact than it is a platform for name-calling, showmanship, and the hosts' views. Its target audience will find it hilarious, while its targets may well find themselves ambushed. Also, while some episodes are rated TV-14, others have had ratings for more mature audiences -- you may want to check before you view.

Positive messages: Uses humor and questionable science to attack ideas, institutions, and widely cherished beliefs.
Violence: When the topic calls for it, the imagery pulls few punches.
Sex: Full frontal near-nudity and sexual topics -- in some episodes.
Language: Major league cursing in many scenes: "f--k," "ass," "s--t," and so on.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: The dangers of secondhand smoke were downplayed in one episode.

More on Penn & Teller: Bulls--t!

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about the nature of skepticism, and how facts are proven or disproved. What's the difference between an opinion and a fact? How could you go about investigating something for yourself? What types of sources are more credible than others? Why? Also, does the show want viewers to laugh with people who hold the views being debunked, or at them? Can we disagree with or laugh about an idea without laughing at (or disrespecting) those who believe in it?

What's the story?

What's the story?

In Showtime's PENN & TELLER: BULLS--T!, the two famous magician-comedians debunk ideas they believe to have questionable basis in fact. From UFOs, ESP, and Ouija boards to feng shui and life coaching, to such venerated institutions as the Boy Scouts, the Endangered Species Act, and the Bible, almost any type of subject matter seems fair game to Penn Jillette and his silent partner, the one-named Teller. In each episode, the debunking duo generally ridicules the subject matter through skits, stunts, and commentary. Other elements include stock footage and interviews with proponents, experts, and sometimes victims of the featured idea or trend. And they also set up "experiments" that are more satirical than scientific; famously, in an episode about bottled water, they presented a variety of bottled waters with various brand names to people who were asked to select their favorite brand. Only after a winner was chosen was it revealed that the brand names were fictitious -- all the bottles had been filled by the garden hose behind the studio.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

The series' choice and treatment of topics is likely colored by Penn and Teller's own political and personal beliefs. They don't set out to investigate a complete situation or consider arguments opposing their own. Instead, they present a premise (that topic X is bulls--t) and set out to prove it. The results are often amusing, and sometimes even hilarious, but the humor comes before the pursuit of objective reality. Possibly to avoid liability, Penn slings around phrases like "ignoramus," "a--hole," "spineless bastard," and "state-funded knucklehead" to describe those whose views are being targeted. (Teller is always silent; that's part of the team's act.) Apparently, these phrases are only seen as vulgar abuse, while phrases like "liar" and "fraud" open doors to legal action for defamation or slander.

Penn and Teller's humor is smart, pointed, and inventive. Those who enjoy it may well find this show a laugh riot -- and those who can approach the ideas tackled here with an open mind might find themselves thinking differently about something they hadn't considered before. That's Penn and Teller's schtick -- they are the illusionist masters of disillusion. Just remember that they also use illusion to make their disillusionist point. Perhaps we'd be paying them the highest compliment by applying healthy skepticism to the views they support.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-14
Network: Showtime
Genre: Reality TV
Where to watch: Showtime

This review was written by Brenda Kienan
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

 
Pick your episodes.
It's truth, not just attacking people like the "common sense" reviewer says. They are clearly a bleeding heart liberal. Stil, pick and choose which episodes you figure are right for your kids. Obviously you shouldn't watch the war on porn episode with 10 year olds. Just use common sense.

BranislavDJ
teen, 17 years old
 
Show opens your eyes.Only too much nudity,even for me.


kid, 12 years old
 
Parental Advisory: jason-space-haddad's rating
should be TV-MA because it says bulls--- on the title. In my opinion, people over 18 will watch this.


teen, 14 years old
 
Parental Advisory: jason-space-haddad's rating
should be TV-MA because it says bulls--- on the title. In my opinion, people over 18 will watch this.


kid, 11 years old
 
Parental Advisory: jason-space-haddad's rating
should be TV-MA because it says bulls--- on the title. In my opinion, people over 18 will watch this.

Jon Hardwick
teen, 13 years old
 
rips on activist and sesitives perfectly
its shows what is bulls--t in life it makes activist look dumb and speaks the truth.

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