Penn and Teller’s Libertarian Humor
Penn and Teller's outrageous comedy series Bullshit! may leave the audience in stitches, but there is also a clear political message behind their shenanigans.
Magicians Penn & Teller weren’t satisfied making millions howl over their nutty illusions and card tricks. No, they had a libertarian message to spread, and thus their Showtime series Penn & Teller: Bullshit!
The half-hour series dissects a variety of sobering topics made palatable by Penn Jillette’s pugnacious humor. And, naturally, the ever silent Teller is along for the ride, mugging away by his partner’s side.
The fifth season of Bullshit! arrives on DVD May 20, and with it the show’s trademark raunchy humor, stage sets straight out of a Lars von Trier film, and an occasional bare breast. It is a cable show, after all.
But the best reason to check out the 2-disk set is to see some sacred cows get tipped.
Penn and Teller: Bullshit! The Complete Fifth Season takes on Wal-Mart, obesity, illegal immigration and de-toxing among its litany of semi to very hot button subjects. So it’s a shame that some segments involve as much sleight of hand as the duo’s Vegas act.
Take immigration for example. They set up the debate like any honest high school teacher might, and then calmly let the anti-illegal immigration side have their say. The people chosen for this task aren’t exactly the best proponents for their side. Either that or their arguments have been reduced to rubbish in the editing room. Even CNN’s Lou Dobbs might rethink his position on illegal immigration listening to these porous defenses.
The pro illegal immigrant argument goes primarily to Nick Gillespie of Reason magazine fame. The noted libertarian begins with a calm dissection of the issue before resorting to … wait for it … calling anyone who disagrees with his immigration view racist. Actually, Jillette does that for him while Gillespie squirms at the description. But only for so long.
The deck has been stacked, and it’s a shame because the show’s format is ideal for exploding issues beyond the sound bites preferred by the 24-hour news channels and morning shows.
The frequently profane Jillette is a bully here, unwilling to listen to both sides of the issue. He actually complains when the Minutemen, who are depicted as a bunch of bored old timers, aren’t the ‘nuts’ he expected. He’s far more appealing dropping F-bombs at deserving targets. And to be fair, few hosts take as much pleasure in doing just that as Jillette does.
The comedy team stands on firmer ground when attacking the Americans with Disabilities Act, mainly for the sheer novelty of their target. Who could complain about handicap parking spaces and wider bathroom stalls? Why, Jillette, of course. This episode rails against the ADA for enforcing compassion – and creating a raft of unnecessary new laws in the process.
It’s a prime example of how libertarians can seem cruel to people on both the right and the left. Do you mean stores shouldn’t offer wheelchair accessible ramps and entrance ways? Jillette does trot out some ripe abuses of the act, although one mega-lawsuit the show spends plenty of time trumpeting is so cursorily described its hard to know what to believe. Even if you stomp your feet in disagreement, the segment offers a fresh critique on a subject most shows wouldn’t touch.
Bullshit’s Wal-Mart episode is even more complex – and satisfying. The duo dig deeper than we expect into the complicated issues surrounding the biggest big box store of them all, even if they come down hard on Wal-Mart’s side right from the start.
Jillette lets the store’s biggest enemies have their say, including left-wing filmmaker Robert Greenwald (Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price) and even does some post-interview fact checking to keep his guests honest.
The episode acknowledges the chain has suffered its share of PR black eyes, but ultimately we’re told its success is inexorably linked to capitalism. Heck, it’s good for Joe and Jane Sixpack, too. Best of all is a wraparound segment of a couple who make anti-Wal-Mart T-shirts. The pair paint an unflattering portrait of their views without Jillette saying a word.
Season Five really hits its stride while eviscerating the detoxification business. The potty humor gets pretty obvious, pretty fast, but Jillette finds such juvenile glee with every gag the laughter is infectious. We’re also invited into a colonic session with a volunteer who looks like he’d rather be dropped down an active volcano than submit to the treatment. And on what other show will you get a guided tour of an oversized colon?
Viewers who understand Penn & Teller’s biases before popping in either of the two disks of Penn and Teller: Bullshit! The Complete Fifth Season should have a rollicking time. Just know it’s not so chock full of the truth as its creators would have you think.
Christian Toto is a freelance writer and film critic for The Washington Times. His work has appeared in People magazine, MovieMaker Magazine, The Denver Post, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Scripps Howard News Service. He also contributes movie radio commentary to three stations as well as the nationally syndicated “Dennis Miller Show” and runs the blog What Would Toto Watch?
 |
 |
 |
Podcasts |  PJM Home |
Pajamas Media appreciates your comments that abide by the following guidelines:
1. Avoid profanities or foul language unless it is contained in a necessary quote or is relevant to the comment.
2. Stay on topic.
3. Disagree, but avoid ad hominem attacks.
4. Threats are treated seriously and reported to law enforcement.
5. Spam and advertising are not permitted in the comments area.
The clause regarding "hate speech" has been deleted because readers criticized it as being too loosely defined. We agreed.
These guidelines are very general and cannot cover every possible situation. Please don't assume that Pajamas Media management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment. We reserve the right to filter or delete comments or to deny posting privileges entirely at our discretion. If you feel your comment was filtered inappropriately, please email us at story@pajamasmedia.com.
20 Comments
1. NukemHill:What? You mean “Bullshit” might be, er, umm, bullshit?
May 20, 2008 - 8:47 am 2. NukemHill:You’re going to be doing an awful lot of moderating on this thread!
May 20, 2008 - 8:48 am 3. Ratatosk:Ha. Penn and Teller’s point… is that any ‘major’ issue is Bullshit. We know the normal, popular Bullshit that gets spat out by the MSM, Bullshit! the show simply shows you the other side of the Bullshit coin… the Bullshit Other Side.
This is not intended to be Fair and Balanced News, its Bullshit! In a society where people gulp down pile after pile, Penn and Teller try to remind them of what their eating… How frustrating it must be to see people just gulp down their serving of Bullshit as well. More than anything, Bullshit! begs:
Think For Yourself, Schmuck!
May 20, 2008 - 9:17 am 4. teqjack:Yes, they have a bias, enough that I occasionally cringe a bit.
But also yes, they are looking beyond the junk uncritically spouted elsewhere. And they state right up front that the show is entertainment, albeit it uses topics that are in the “news”.
May 20, 2008 - 9:43 am 5. Bill:To sanitize the P&T line from one of the earlier seasons’ episodes.
“We are as biased as fudge.” But you know where they stand. I can live with that.
May 20, 2008 - 9:59 am 6. Bill Perron:I met Penn Jillette at an audition twenty five years ago, I found him to be boorish then, and in all susequent meetings at the Magic Castle or in Vegas he always was the same arrogant self centered oaf. He is a cultish follower of the radical ignorance monger and “thought nazi” James Randi, the guru of all professional pseudo skeptics.
May 20, 2008 - 9:59 am 7. MrPeach:To Bill Perron:
You say all that as if it’s a bad thing.
And what the heck is a “pseudo skeptic”?
Boy some of you magic dudes really have a stick up your collective asses about P&T. Could it be that they’re more successful than almost all of you – put together? And beating on Randi? Misguided at best.
May 20, 2008 - 10:16 am 8. Bill Perron:Mr.Preach, you are obviously under the delusion that anyone who knows Randi and Penn for what they really are has a stick up their ass. My what an incrediblly foolish thing to say, but that is what one expects from delusional brainwashed Randibots….. Please ask Randi why he runs spouting profanities from the ten thousand dollar “Honesty Challenge” Your hero hypocritically taunts others with his disingenuous publicity stunt challenge, but cowardly runs from a truly legitimate challenge. If you really care about the truth please ask him why he runs. I bet you won’t because you are afraid of the truth about the 80 year old hunchback…. As for being a success I have already exceeded my wildest dreams, and I did it with talent, persistence, and honesty, not at the expense of others. Ignorance of subject matter isn’t always bliss, sometime it makes one look really stupid when they comment on subjects they have very little knowledge of. My advice to you is educate yourself before you spout off and remove all doubt of your ignorance.
May 20, 2008 - 12:11 pm 9. Bill Perron:MrPreach, do you really think making a career at the expense of others is admirable? A pseudo skeptic is anybody who says they are skeptical then prove their skeptism is false because they have an agenda that only supports their beliefs. ….. Your comment about sticks and asses is lamentable, you should hang your head in shame, an intelligent person welcomes various opinions and insights, even if they are contrary to their own views…… As for success, I have already exceeded my wildest dreams, and I did it not at the expense of others as professional pseudo skeptics do. I did it with talent, persistence, honesty, and guidence from a Higher Power. Misguided? Not me, perhaps you are looking in a mirror with that statement.
May 20, 2008 - 12:24 pm 10. Dan Irving:Mr Perron,
“I met Penn Jillette at an audition twenty five years ago, I found him to be boorish then, and in all susequent meetings at the Magic Castle or in Vegas he always was the same arrogant self centered oaf. He is a cultish follower of the radical ignorance monger and “thought nazi” James Randi, the guru of all professional pseudo skeptics.”
So – ripping on them in this comments section makes you any less a boor? Truly classy.
“Mr.Preach, you are obviously under the delusion that … blah blah blah
Nice strawman and ad hominem. Again – you show just what a class act you really are. What’s that about a plank in you eye? Heed your own advice.
May 20, 2008 - 12:46 pm 11. Bill Perron:Never ceases to amaze me how little minds can dish out thought nazi mentality, but as soon as someone tosses it back at them the little narrow minds scream foul, You guys are such transparent elitists you ought to run for office on the democratic ticket. Dan Irving you are a class act yourself, hypocrite !!!! Since when did the truth become so distateful that it compelled you to stick your chubby nose where it didn’t belong ??
May 20, 2008 - 4:12 pm 12. Jack:I live in an area that has been substantially changed by illegal immigration. It has improved my neighbourhood, which was about 90% black when I moved in. The only stability here is that provided by example by hispanic families and certain people who insist on basic standards.
May 20, 2008 - 4:51 pm 13. Xanthippe:What the hell happened here?
May 20, 2008 - 8:49 pm 14. TC Rider:I saw their Vegas show at Christmas. It was pretty obvious that audience members invited on stage were shills.
The show was ok, but not as good as I’d hoped.
Surprisingly, you can take your kids to it. No topless, no profanity and he leaves the atheism at home.
May 21, 2008 - 11:08 am 15. susan:Shills? You’ve got to be kidding. Which trick do you think they used a shill? I am in the industry and I’m 100% sure they have NEVER used a shill.
May 21, 2008 - 7:25 pm 16. chrisk:So we all agree that when the show takes our side we like it and when it doesn’t we don’t like it as much, or not at all?
May 22, 2008 - 7:52 am 17. Gozer the Carpathian:*Chuckles*
Isn’t that true with everything Chrisk? We like what agrees with us and hate what doesn’t?
I’ve enjoyed the Bullshit! show now and then. I really liked the Walmart one because it called the idiots with the T-shirts what they were, idiots!
In the end though it has a bias and they admit it. I just wish “real news” did the same.
May 22, 2008 - 10:16 pm 18. Charlie:I think Bullshit is one of the best shows on TV. It is comedy, so people should see it that way as opposed to serious journalism. People wanting the more serious libertarian viewpoints would be wise to check out Reason magazine or the Cato website.
May 24, 2008 - 5:17 am 19. rebelBodhi:Libertarianism is more insidious and disturbing than even the neo-con mentality running wild with our democracy today… The funniest thing is that what libertarians say sometimes makes sense, and you might think, ‘hm, sure the market probably would balance that out.. eventually.’ For example, the FDA. You hear people from the CEI or like-minded think tanks criticize the FDA, saying the market would ensure quality and effective drugs far more effectively. Hm, I seem to remember hearing that radium used to be a popular cure for just about everything. Cocaine was in children’s medicine, as was opium, etc.. The world has always been a libertarian paradise–until very recent history. Dickens’ England and the Robber-Baron era US were libertarian’s vision manifest, and look back on how great it was. They’re like a kid wondering why Dad has to work every day when there’s a roof over his head and food on his plate. P&T is bullshit, and so is their philosophy.
Jun 5, 2008 - 6:45 pm 20. Wayne:Let me share a quote from Bill Perron’s own website: “A free spirit whose personality will instantly warm and lighten all souls he encounters”
From the bitter name-calling rant above, it seems that Mr. Perron has quite a credibility gap.
Sep 29, 2008 - 9:35 pm