04x04 - 50/50 Chance

[bunniefuu]

[jazz music]

♪ ♪

[cheers and applause]

- From the Penn & Teller
Theater,

for Rio Hotel of Las Vegas,

here's our host,
Alyson Hannigan!

[jazz music]

♪ ♪

[cheers and applause]

- Welcome to "Fool Us,"

where magicians
from around the world

try to stump Penn and Teller.

Our two stars
are magic in every way,

even in the "Magic Mike" way.

That's right,
they have shredded abs

but choose
to keep them covered in suits

because they're very modest.

So let's bring out
our two studs,

Penn and Teller!

[cheers and applause]

Here are the rules of the game.

Magicians perform
their best trick

to fool Penn and Teller,

and if they do, Penn,
tell them what they win.

- Well, Alyson, they win
a chance to perform with us

right here on this stage,

a groovy trophy,

and a little bit of hate
right here in my heart

for the rest of their lives.

Now let's see
our first potential fooler.

- My name's Matt Johnson, and
I'm from Sheffield, England.

When I discovered tattoos,

I realized that I can carry
my scrapbook of my memories

wherever I go.

The "J" here
is for my brother Jonathan.

He has tubular sclerosis,
which causes seizures.

I've watched him literally
have three, four in a row,

go into a coma,
and can't breathe.

And that's why I do
the water escape.

What I experience in there

is kind of
what he goes through too.

So it's my way
of being closer to my brother.

He's the most courageous guy
I know.

So when I need
the inspiration--

and that last bit of oxygen--

that's what I think about.

[cheers and applause]

- Put your hands together

for the breathtaking
Matt Johnson.

[cheers and applause]

- Well, good evening, folks.
I'm from Canada,

but I originally grew up
in Sheffield, England.

And when I was a kid,

I had a poster
on my bedroom wall.

The gentleman in the poster
was arguably

the greatest escape-ologist
of all time.

His name: Harry Houdini.

Now, Houdini was famous
for many escapes,

but the one he was probably
most famous for--

and the most terrifying--
was the water t*rture cell.

In this escape, he would
suspend himself by his ankles,

turn himself upside-down,

and go into a tank of water
chained and shackled.

He'd attempt to make his escape
whilst holding his breath.

This evening, I'd like to try

my version of the water tank
for you and for Penn and Teller.

Now, I'll make no secret
of the fact

that I'll be attempting
to pick the handcuffs

and the lock around my neck

using this bobby pin.

However, the last lock,

the one that keeps
the lid closed,

that one's a little different.

Alyson, if you could join me
at the table, please.

I have here a glass.

It contains 20 keys.

Each one has
a red ribbon attached.

I also have a padlock.

This is the padlock

that will go through the lock
on the lid of the box.

Now, it's important to note,
Alyson,

that none of the keys
in that glass

will open the lock.

Now, I'd like you
to verify this

for the audience
and for Penn and Teller,

but obviously we don't have time
to go through all 20 keys.

So I'm gonna tip them out
on this cloth here,

and what I'd like you to do
is select three keys at random.

But please be sure and know

that you can choose
any key you like,

from the top, underneath,
the left or right.

I want you to be absolutely,
categorically sure

that none of the keys
open the lock.

So I want you to take three keys
at random now, please,

and place them here
on the table.

There's one, two,
third time lucky, three.

Now I'd like you to take each
one of those keys one at a time,

and try them in the lock,
if you would, please.

And you're going to verify
for the whole audience

that none of the keys
that you selected at random

open the lock.
The first one, no?

- No.
- Would you put it in the glass,

please?
Good, the second one?

Folks, she's trying this now.

That doesn't open the lock.
- No.

- And finally,
the third and final key.

Third time lucky?

Does that open the lock?

- No.
- No.

Drop it
in the glass, please.

In fact, the only key
that opens the lock is this one.

I keep it separate
for obvious reasons.

Alyson, would you verify
for everybody?

Take this last key, please.

Try it in the lock.

And does that one
open the lock?

- Yes.

- Good, leave the lock open.

Take the last key.

Place the lock on the table.

And now take the last key
and drop it in the glass.

Good.

Would you pick up the glass

with one hand underneath,
please, and one hand on top?

I'd like you
to shake up the keys.

[keys jangling]

So, Alyson, would you verify

that you just took the only key

that opened the lock
and placed it in the glass

and mixed it up
with all the others?

Is that correct?
- Yes.

- Good.
So, therefore, no pressure,

but if this should go
horribly wrong at any point,

it is all...your...fault.

[laughter]

- Oops.
- Alyson, you can place

the glass on the table.
We'll take it from here.

Thank you so very much.

You can go over
to the side of the stage.

[applause]

Folks, I'd like you to put
yourselves in my position.

Imagine that you are locked
and shackled underwater

and you can't breathe.

Not only are you trying
to pick your restraints

while holding your breath,

but you're also trying to find
the only key to your freedom--

literally like trying to find
a needle in a haystack.

I also want you
to bear this in mind.

The escape you're about to see
is extremely dangerous.

Please do not try this
under any circumstances.

I've rehearsed for this escape
for about a year,

but anything
can go horribly wrong.

And one more thing.

As I duck under the water,
if you want to join in,

take a breath with me.

Wish me luck.

[applause]

[suspenseful music]

♪ ♪

[inhales deeply]

[exhales]

[inhales deeply]

[eerie atmospheric music]

♪ ♪

[intense percussive music]

♪ ♪

[suspenseful music]

♪ ♪

[intense percussive music]

[alarm blaring]

♪ ♪

[cheers and applause]

- Matt Johnson!

Whoo!

[cheers and applause]

There you go.

Air hug.

Wow!
- Okay, I'm good.

- So how do you train?

I mean, do you start
in a swimming pool?

- I actually train
breath-holding.

I'm not a free-diver,
but I train breath-holding.

And the only way to do it,
it's like going to the gym.

You just have to put in
the time, put in the effort.

That's literally the only way.

And you have to go through
the pain of the lungs burning.

That's all you can do, right?

And when I go under,

I really try and just picture
myself floating in the abyss,

getting deeper into the ocean.

Thinking burns oxygen,

and I don't want
to burn oxygen, so...

- All right, well,
let's hold our breaths

and see what the boys
have to say.

Penn, Teller?

- Oh, wow.

Great act, great act.

And even--even, uh,

with having seen
a few acts,

still nerve-wracking,
wonderfully nerve-wracking.

- I really, really
appreciate that.

- And what I want
to really hit,

because it's important
in an act that's this good,

is to let people know
what's real.

You know, Houdini used to offer
a large amount of money--

I don't know, make it up,
$1,000 or something--

for anyone that could prove
that he obtained air

while he was doing
one of these stunts.

In the tricks we've done,
we couldn't pass that.

You could.

There's no cheating at all
in the breath-holding.

There's no cheating at all
on the box.

You're really under water.

All of that is really real.

There's no cheating
on the danger.

It really is dangerous.

I want to skip over
the first part,

if you'll allow me,
because it's so good.

I don't want to go
into the lock-picking and stuff,

unless you want to push me.

There's a plot
called Bank Night

where usually you have
a bunch of different keys

that can open something.

And it's a psychic event

or it's usually done
to win $100.

Not that it's the same trick.

But that plot
of one key opening

when a bunch of them don't
is, uh,

is a nice plot
when done for $100...

is a wonderful plot
when done for your life.

Just terrific.
I also had to say

that we like the way you look.

We like your bald pate

that go very well
with the seven--

It was actually more
than seven keys.

But all the keys you had

go very well
with your bald pate.

- Uh...thank you.

Yeah, but no.

- No?
- No.

- No Mr. Bald pate.

- No Seven Keys of bald pate
at all?

- No, no.

- Well, then, can we try
a few of those keys?

[scattered laughter]

- These keys down here?

- Yeah,
the keys in the tank.

Yeah.

- In the tank?
- Yeah.

- I'd rather you didn't.
- Yeah?

[laughter]

- So are you convinced

Penn and Teller
have figured it out?

- Uh, yes.
- But you were fabulous.

[Alyson, indistinct]
- That's okay, that's okay.

- Matt Johnson,
thank you so much.

Thank you.

[cheers and applause]

We're just getting warmed up.

More tricks and illusions
coming up,

including one
from Penn and Teller.

Stay close.

[cheers and applause]

[jazzy music]

♪ ♪

- Welcome back to "Fool Us."

Unless I've been tricked,

I believe we are about to meet
our next potential fooler.

[light music]

- Siegfried interview,
take one.

- My name is Siegfried Tieber,

like magicians
Siegfried and Roy,

but Siegfried is my real name.

I promise.

My father was born and raised
in Austria.

That explains the name.

My father met my mother
in Colombia.

That explains the hair.

My parents,
they moved to Ecuador,

where I was born and raised.

That explains the accent.

I deeply believe
that magic is an art form.

I think that magic

has tremendous power
and potential

to generate intimate,
extraordinary experiences.

Even if it's
a simple playing card

being lost in the deck
and found,

the idea is
to create an experience

that all of us can enjoy.

[cheers and applause]

- Give it up for the magically
twisted Siegfried Tieber!

- Penn, Teller, would you guys
mind joining me over here?

And Alyson, would you also
join over here, please?

The quintessential magic trick

consists of finding
a playing card

after it has been
hopelessly lost in the deck.

We magicians are on
that never-ending quest,

constantly looking
for the ideal,

truly impossible card trick.

In my mind, it would look
something like this.

Penn, Teller, I need each of you

to select one playing card
completely at random.

Sounds good?

Once you take one,
it is essential

that I don't see it.

Please be extremely paranoid.

Okay?

You have two big screens
over there.

Don't even show them
to the screens.

Keep them to yourself, okay?
- Okay, sure.

- Alyson, while they look
at their cards,

I'll look at you,
you look at me,

you make sure I'm not peeking,
okay?

Lovely.

Penn, I'll go through
the cards like this.

At any moment, please say stop.

- Stop.

- That one?
- Yes.

- Please take it, look at it,
remember it.

Teller, take the next one,
please.

Don't show them to anybody.
Keep those in mind.

Alyson, I'm still on you, right?

Penn, you remember your card?

- Yes, I do.
- Put it back, please.

Teller, would you?

Thank you.

I'm not peeking.

Alyson, I was looking at you
the whole time, right?

- Yes.
- Nice!

Sometimes people think

that the cards have
tiny little marks on the backs

which allow me to distinguish
them from one another.

Even if they did,
which they don't,

I was looking at you
the whole time.

Now the cards
are lost in the deck, right?

Yes?
Under these conditions,

could I possibly know anything
about your cards?

- No.
- Yes!

Yes, yes, yes.

I know that they are
approximately in the middle,

where you called stop.

So before we go any further,
please cut,

and complete the cut.

- Okay, I've cut...

and completed the cut.
- Thank you.

Teller, just in case,
cut and complete the cut.

However!

You might cut near the top,
near the bottom,

at any point you want.

[laughter]

Ooh, sneaky.

Ooh-hoo-hoo.

Now, under these conditions,

could I possibly know
anything about those cards?

- No.
- Yes!

- I know, I know that they
are next to each other, right?

Because you left your card
in the deck.

You put yours on top.
You cut the deck,

altering the position
of the cards,

but they might still
be next to each other.

The only way to be absolutely
sure that they are separated

is to deal the cards
one by one by one

into separate piles like this.

If we would cut the cards again,

even if we would
shuffle those cards,

they might still
end up together.

But this way, one card
definitely ends up in one pile,

the other card
definitely ends up

on the other pile, right?

- Right.
- Right?

- Now, we don't even know
whose card is where,

but they are
definitely separated.

Under these conditions,

could I possibly know
anything about your cards?

- No.
- No!

Exactly, no, no.

- Finally got one right.

- Finally, yes, you got it.

Now they are lost.

Penn, Teller, leaning--

don't tell me, don't tell me
which card you selected.

Simply tell me
whose card is there.

Alyson, I'll look at you

so they don't think
I'm following their gazes.

Penn, Teller,
whose card is there?

- It's mine, sir.

- Yours is there.
- Yes, it is.

- Okay, that means, Teller,

your card must be
one of those.

I won't even touch them.

Penn, think of your card.

- I am.
- You are.

Don't say it out loud.
Don't move your lips.

Simply think of it.
- I'm thinking of it.

- And look deeply
into my eyes.

[laughter]

I love saying that.
[giggles]

[laughter]

Ooh!

[chuckles mysteriously]

Penn, there are red cards

and black cards
in a deck of cards.

I think that you're thinking
of a red card.

Is that correct?

- Right, and double right.

- Hmm.
- 50-50 chance.

But it's going well.

If it's red, it could be
either hearts or diamonds.

I think that you're thinking
of diamonds.

- Yes!
- Yes!

- Again, 50-50,
but two in a row.

Penn, out loud,

which card are you thinking of?

- 8 of Diamonds.

- Yes!



[cheers and applause]

One down, one to go.

Teller, I left those cards there
a few moments ago.

I haven't even touched them,
right?

Please, think of your card.

Don't say it out loud.

I think...that you're thinking
of a red card.

Is that correct?

- [snaps fingers]
- Hmm.

- I think that you're thinking
of hearts.

Is that correct?

- [snaps fingers]
- Hmm.

- I think I already got it.

I think I already know it.

I will simply take the card out

for dramatic effect.

[laughter]

Keep in mind that you selected
a card completely at random.

I was looking at you
the whole time.

You put it back in the deck
before I even touched them.

I promised you
an impossible card trick,

but if this works...

I'll be very impressed
myself.

Teller, I made a decision.

I cannot change my mind now.

I think that you are thinking
of the 8 of Hearts.

Yes? 8 of Hearts!

[cheers and applause]

- Siegfried Tieber,
ladies and gentlemen!

Whoo!

- Thank you very much!
- Yes!

I appreciate it.
- So is this...a character

or is this the real you?

- No, this is...me.

- Yeah?
- Yeah. [laughing]

- Okay. And, uh,

and do you interact
with the audiences a lot?

Like, you know, would you
just normally

take three members
of the audience or--

- Oh, yes, oh, yes!

I would take as many
people as I can.

I wanted to invite
all of them up here,

but they didn't let me.
- Oh...yeah.

I don't think we have
enough microphones for that.

That would be hard.
- What I love most in the world

is what we magicians
refer to as close-up magic...

- Mm-hmm.
- And the closer

that people can be,
the better, yeah.

- Okay. Well, speaking
of close,

let's see how close
we can get to these guys.

Penn, Teller?

- Well, you know, people forget

what's really important...

[clears throat]
Generally in life,

and specifically
for this show in magic.

Uh...presentation is everything.

It's just absolutely everything.

That trick--you could not
have gotten more out of it.

It was just wonderful.

Every moment of that
was just funny...

[cheers and applause]

Entertaining, amazing.

Absolutely love you
and your whole style.

What's important in magic
is presentation.

What's important in the world
today is a lot of things--

of course world peace
and health and stuff like that.

One of the things we're obsessed
with now is alternative energy.

We can't just keep burning
carbon, you know?

So we're looking into
nuclear power.

We're looking into--
we're looking into wind power

and solar power, and then
there's good old hydropower,

you know, the waterfall force,

the force of the waterfall
coming down like that,

and I think you know what
I'm talkin' about,

don't ya, Siegfried?
- All right.

I know he's using
code words...

Um...
[laughter]

Or he's giving--

he's getting excited
for Earth Day.

But, uh...
[laughter]

Do you understand
what he's--

- I think y-y-you are...

trying to say that

I'm using some kind of

waterfall force like
to influence you

to make certain decisions?

- I think there was
something like that, yeah.

- If--If...what I think
you implied is correct,

that has absolutely
nothing to do with it.

- I think you guys guessed
the wrong thing.

- It really wasn't...
a waterfall force.

- You could have called stop

at the very beginning
or at the very end

or at any point at all.
- Okay, I have another guess.

I'm gonna take another bite
at this apple.

Is it possible, then...
that you fooled us?

- [laughs]
- Yes!

- Is that possible?
- Yes, yes!

We have a fooler!
- Is that the answer?

[cheers and applause]

Whoo!

- Beautiful. Beautiful.
- Yay!

- Pleasure!
It's an honor of mine!

Ah! I'm not allowed
to swear, but...

Nice! Thank you for--aah!

[cheers and applause]

Thank you very much!
- Siegfried Tieber!

- Thank you!
- Thank you.

[cheers and applause]

- Fool 'em once,
shame on them.

Fool 'em twice--
wouldn't that be awesome?

Let's see if it happens again
when we come back.

[jazzy music]

♪ ♪

[jazzy music]

- Welcome back to "Fool Us."

Penn and Teller don't wanna
get fooled twice in one night,

but this next performer
has different plans.

Take a look.

[boom]

- Hi, my name is Jason Fields,

codename: Jafo.

I was in the Navy for six years.

I held a top secret
security clearance.

I repaired computer systems.

Within a computer system,
things are very structured,

and there's always a way
to create the solution

to the problem you wanna solve.

The reason I love magic

is because it also speaks
to my right brain.

The computer aspect
is all left brain.

I like using that
technical aspect

to solve some problems
within magic.

I spend a lot of my time
perfecting things

that the non-magician
will never see.

They'll never understand
what I've done to create this.

I just want a chance to present
what I do to other magicians

who can truly appreciate
what I've done.

This message will self-destruct

now!

[cheers and applause]

- Enjoy the close-up magic
of Jafo!

[quirky, upbeat music]

♪ ♪

[applause]

[coins clatter]

[cheers and applause]

- Thank you.
Thank you.

Well, I guess the question
of the day

is where did all of this
come from?

Where did this come from?
I get asked this question a lot,

and tonight, for your show,
I will answer that question.

But I do require the assistance
of two enthusiastic volunteers.

Gentlemen, please join me now.

[applause]
Thank you!

Mr. Penn, if you would,
this seat.

Over here.
Pleasure to meet you.

Thank you very much,
Teller, for joining us.

I actually thank you both
very much

for being on my show tonight.

[laughter]
Before we get started,

Mr. Teller, would you
hold on to the glass?

Make sure it's okay,
check it out,

and if there's anything
unusual,

just sound it right out,
let us know.

Don't hold back.
And while he's doing that,

do me a favor--
take a look at the coins,

and please, by all means,
take this marker

and write a big old, like
a letter, number, symbol, shape.

Make it big and bold,

and on that particular coin,

uh, I need you
to faithfully reproduce

the entire ceiling
of the Sistine Chapel

in exquisite detail.
That'd be wonderful.

- You want something on
every coin or just one of them.

- All four coins.
You're initials will be fine.

Uh, how's the glass?
Looking good?

It's straight legit.

Now, real briefly,
I did tell you that

I would say
where the coins came from,

but does anybody know?
Anybody?

From my pocket.
[laughter]

Don't look so disappointed
out there,

but the--the glass is
a different matter entirely.

I got this from the hotel bar,

but I'll return it
after the show

and they'll never know.
You guys won't tell, right?

Our little secret.
Okay.

And let's see--oh, this is cool.

No, no, you guys can't really
see from where you're sitting,

but Penn has drawn
some rather crude vulgarities.

I, uh--I like your style, sir.
Very nice.

But all teasing aside,
let me show you what's more--

I guess what's more important
than the marks placed

upon each of the coins
is watch what happens

as I wave the wand.

[glass clinks]
[applause]

See I thought I heard that too.
- Me too.

- I guess it makes sense because

if the coins came
from the pocket,

they should go--
okay, let's do the--

let's do the second coin
and move along here.

Actually, I need a huge favor
from you, Teller.

Would you give a gentle tap
on the hand

and have you say
the magic word.

The word is "go."
- Go!

- "Go," he says.
Did you tap?

He tapped, and...
[exhales quickly]

It is gone.
[glass clinks, applause]

It is gone,

and yet I assure you...
[snaps]

It has not traveled far.

Now, for the third coin,
we'll do something

a little bit out there,
a little bit different.

I will use my pinching fingers
and you can see

the mark placed upon the coin
up to the last one.

Actually, I need to borrow
your magic pinching fingers.

Actually, would you
hold on to that very tightly.

You feel it?
You got it?

Don't let go because
if he lets go too soon

All is lost.
No pressure.

Would you place the final coin
into the outstretched hand?

You can see it into
the tightly clenched fist,

and that coin will travel
from the hand

through the spatial ethers...
[glass clinks]

Joining the ones before,

leaving one coin left.

And here it is.

May I please?
Thank you so much.

You can probably feel the coin
right there.

You can feel that.
- I can, yes.

- Absolutely wonderful.
Guys, watch, listen.

[glass clinks]
[exhales quickly]

[applause]
Well, I suppose we have

a little mystery,
and the question really is:

What is in the pocket?

Now when I reach my hand
into this pocket,

people get a little suspicious.

Penn, would you take
your dainty pinching fingers,

reach in, just grab the--
just be careful.

Be gentle, actually.
I saw the drawings.

Just grab the rim of the glass

and pull the whole thing
straight up,

and very gently pour the coins
onto the table,

and please verify
for our audience,

yes or no,
are those the same coins?

- Those are the same coins.
- You better believe it.

Thank you.
Thank you so much.

Appreciate it.
Thank you very much, Teller.

Thank you.
[applause]

- Oh!

Whoo!
- Alyson.

- That was very--
nice to meet you.

- Thank you so much, thank you.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I--

- That was very impressive.

To do that
with them sitting so close.

- Mm.
- That is very brave.

- Uh, this is something
I've been working on

for just about 20 years
of my life,

and I've been working
for a while to--

to get to this point
where I can be on this stage

and show Penn and Teller--

actually, believe it or not,

I've wanted more to show Teller

because magic is
one of those things where,

you know,
you work and work and work

to do things that's invisible
to the non-magician,

and I love many
of Teller's coin routines.

So I think
if there's anyone in magic

who could appreciate
what I've done with this,

he's the guy, yeah.
- Well, speaking of love,

boys, what did you think?
- Ah.

- We were just talking about
how it's classic coin magic,

and it really is.
Although, I do believe

that you added
the signing of the coins.

That's not classic,

and really helps it
tremendously.

That makes the effect
much, much better

to know that those are
the same coins that start out.

- Yes.
- I-I love that.

Uh, Teller does
a lot of reading

of magic books, and--
- Uh-huh, sure.

- But, you know,
when you read stuff in books,

and I know--I'm sure you have
this experience,

You always wonder
when you read something that's

really clever and really smart,

would that really work?
- Mm-hmm.

- And Teller was happy
to see it does,

and beautifully,
and beautifully.

- Wonderful.
- And it's so hard, you know,

to find out how to compliment
people over and over again.

We have so many great acts
on the show,

but one of our producers
is Pete Golden,

and he's quite the surfer,

and I think
if he were seeing this act,

he would just say
it was totally tubular.

- Wow, wonderful.
- So wonderful, wonderful

over-the-top act.
Fabulous.

- Well, thank you very much
for your--

thank you very much
for your time, thank you.

- Oh, so you understand
that they know how you did it?

- Sure, oh, yes.
- All right.

Well, thank you so much.

You were wonderful.
- Thank you.

Jafo, ladies and gentlemen.
- Thank you, gentlemen,

everybody.
- Thank you.

[cheers and applause]

We've got more
of the best magic on TV.

Stick around.

[jazzy music]

♪ ♪

[jazzy music]

♪ ♪

- Welcome back to "Fool Us."

If you're just tuning in,

Penn and Teller
have been fooled once

and it could happen again.

Here's our next trickster.

[boom]

- My name's
Jessica Jane Peterson,

and I'm from
Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

I started
in my families magic show.

My mom was
a magician's assistant

and my aunt and uncle
were magicians.

My first trick was a cane that
levitated and danced around.

That was what made me want
to be a magician.

The day after
I graduated high school,

a circus sideshow was in town
and I ran away with the circus.

I learned how to do
a straightjacket escape.

I learned fire-eating,
how to walk on broken glass,

I had knives thrown at me


I mix real danger
or real effects

with magic and illusion.

I think as performers,
if you get beat up,

it means you're doing it right.
[laughs]

[applause]

- Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome

the big-top talent
of Jessica Jane Peterson.

[cheers and applause]

[quirky upbeat music]

♪ ♪

[cheers and applause]

[cheers and applause]

[cheers and applause]

- Thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen,

you may wonder
how a girl like me

ended up with such
a dangerous profession.

When I was a kid,

my parents took me
to the state fair.

I, of course,
loved the rides and the games,

but what really caught my eye
was the circus sideshow.

We saw a strong man,
an electric lady,

even a sword swallower,

but my favorite act was
the fire-eater.

When she came on stage,
I was captivated.

I could feel the heat
of the flames from my seat.

She had such confidence
and grace.

I knew one day

I wanted to be like her.

Well, that day came
years down the line

when I was performing my magic
at that same fair,

and that same sideshow was back.

Only this time,

when they left town,

I left with them.

You see,
the circus sideshow has a way

of leaving its mark on you.

Let me show you what I mean.

This is a newspaper article
about that very sideshow

that I saw when I was a kid.

Penn, hello, love.
- Hi.

- How are you?
- Very well, thanks.

- Good, good.

As I run the scissors
up and down the article,

please say stop at any time.

- Stop.
- Right there?

- Yeah.
- Now, I'm going to cut

wherever you say.
- Okay.

- So we can raise the scissors
up a little, down a little,

or stay right there.
- Down just a little bit.

Down a little.
- Just a little bit?

- Yeah.
- Right there?

- Right there, sure.
- All right.

Now I don't wanna go
anywhere near that article,

so I'm gonna need
someone to help me out.

Ladies and gentlemen,
put your hands together

for the lovely Alyson!

[cheers and applause]

both: Hi.

- Could you please
pick up that paper for me, love.

- Sure--ah, oops.

- That's right.
Just pick up that paper

and hold onto it, all-righty?
- Okay.

- All you gotta do
is hold the paper.

- All right.
- That's right, boys.

The redheads are teaming up.
[laughter]

Now, Alyson, a moment ago...
- Mm-hmm.

- We cut a piece
off a newspaper clipping.

- Yes.
- That piece fell to the floor

and you now have it.
- Yes.

- Penn, where we cut was
completely your choice, correct?

- That's correct.
- Alyson, look at the paper.

Are there a bunch
of different words on it?

- Yes.

- All right,
look at the top line

of the place that Penn cut to.
- Mm-hmm.

- Don't say anything yet,
but look at the first word

of the top line
of that clipping.

I want you to burn that word
into your mind.

Have you got it?
- Yes.

- Ladies and gentlemen,

I told you the circus sideshow
has a way

of leaving its mark on you.

Alyson, for the first time,

say your word aloud.

- "Time."

- What is it?
- "Time."

- T-I-M-E, "time"?
- Mm-hmm.

- Watch.

[dramatic tone]

- Wow.
[cheers and applause]

- "Time."

- Jessica Jane Peterson!

[cheers and applause]

Wow.
- [laughs]

- That's so cool.
- Thank you so much

for helping me.
- That's very impressive.

- I'm glad you enjoyed it.
- Absolutely.

How long have you been
eating fire?

- I have been eating fire
for about ten years now.

- Wow.
- Yeah.

I joined the circus sideshow
when I was 17 years old.

- That's incredible.
- Yeah, yeah.

- Take me through that
very first one?

- Okay,
the very first time I ate fire,

I was performing magic
at a fair up in New Jersey.

It's a true story,

and the circus sideshow was
right across the midway from me,

so I went inside
and I got baptized by fire.

I literally stuck my tongue out

and they put the torch
on my tongue,

and that was the first time
I ate fire, yeah.

[laughs]
- Oh, my goodness.

- And I've been doing it
ever since.

- And have you ever
tasted anything since?

- Barbecue tongue?
Does that count?

[laughter]
- There you go.

Let's see if Penn and Teller
are fired up by your act.

- Ooh.
- All right, Penn, Teller.

- Well, uh, Jessica, as, um--

as I think you know,
I'm also carny trash...

- Yes, yes.
- And I'm--

the reason that
I'm in show business

is seeing a fire-eater
when I was a child,

and I-I became a fire-eater,
and love seeing it,

and what you have in your act is
just an incredible amount

of confidence
and grace and style

and it's just beautiful...
- Thank you.

- How everything
flowed together.

I mean, the--the final trick
is actually two tricks.

It's two
completely separate tricks

that you've put together
into one trick

that just seems seamless,
you know.

And the trick on your arm,

the final revelation there,
is a trick--

you know, Teller's been
reading magic books.

He started out with magic.
I started out with carny.

Back when--since he was a child,

and that was actually presented
in a children's book of magic

to be done
with cigarette ashes

because children playing
with cigarettes

is such an entertaining thing
in the '50s.

[laughter]

But, uh, it really shows you

that in the right hands,
even a trick that's--

that's from an old magic book
can be just wonderful,

and I think the fact that you
had the right word there

after I moved the scissors
up and down and changed it

must have had people's minds
at home just going upside down.

Just flipping 'em right out.
- [laughs]

- It was just a wonderful,
wonderful routine

all the way through,

and I just wanna use
your own words back at you,

just confidence and grace,
but we think we have

a pretty good idea
how you did it.

- Yeah, yeah.
Definitely.

- So whatever he said
you understand?

- They definitely know,

but I hope
I entertained you guys.

- You sure did.
It was fabulous.

Thank you so much.
It was wonderful.

- Absolutely.
You certainly entertained me.

- Thank you.
Both: Thank you so much.

- Jessica Jane Peterson!

[cheers and applause]

It's time for Penn and Teller
to take center stage.

Only tonight,
we're splitting them up.

Penn is going
to head out on the town.

We'll see where he's going
when we come back.

[jazzy music]

♪ ♪

[jazzy music]

- This next Penn and Teller
trick is Teller's favorite

because it involves
sending Penn out of the building

while he gets to stay here
in our luxurious stage.

Now, at a soon to be disclosed
location on the Las Vegas Strip,

let's check in with Penn.

[cheers and applause]

- Now it's time
for Penn and Teller's

world's most extravagant
card trick.

We could do a card trick
in the studio,

but, no, we're out
on the Las Vegas Strip.

That's extravagant,
and that also means two crews.

So we're doing an extravagant
card trick for you.

How about a card trick for,
well, not just for one person,

we'll find a couple.
I'm gonna find a--

oh, you've got your hands up.
Sure, come on.

Come on.
And what's your name?

- Kally.
- Hello, Kally.

And you are a couple?
- Yeah, Mike.

- Mike.
Hello, Mike--Mike, Kally.

We're gonna do a card trick
for you, okay?

Now we have decks
we use all the time,

we've used hundreds of times
for different tricks.

We're gonna start
with a brand new deck

because this is extravagant.

So there--go over there
and buy yourself a deck,

and here's--this is CW's money.

Uh, give it all to them.
Give a nice tip.

Live large in Las Vegas.

They're living in Las Vegas.

They're buying a deck of cards
right there.

Okay, open it up if you can.

Come on--yeah, come on up here
in the shot here, yeah.

Open it right up here.

We don't--we don't need the box.
Never gonna use those again.

It's extravagant.

Okay, shuffle 'em up
if you like.

Now, I'm not gonna
touch the cards at all.

I want you guys to decide
on one card.

So go over there
where I'm not looking,

and decide the two of you
any way you wanna pick it.

Random or fan them out.
Anything you wanna do.

Now Teller is back in the studio
with three computer monitors.

He only needs an iPhone,
but it's extravagant.

He's got shopping
and other stuff he's doing,

but there's one app on there

that'll tell
what card is missing

from a perfect card fan.

The only thing I have to do
is a perfect card fan.

I think I'm up for it.

You guys got a card?
- Mm-hmm.

- You got one?
Pull it out of the deck.

Hold it against your chest.
Don't let me see it at all.

Okay, now how did you pick
that card?

- Just chose it.
- You chose it at random?

- No, just chose it.
- You chos--you actually

looked at it, right?
Looks pretty good to me.

You chose one card.
You looked at it, chose it,

and you both agreed on
what that card would be, right?

Take the card,
put it back in the deck,

and then give those cards
a shuffle.

See, nothing in my hands,
nothing in my hands.

Give the cards a shuffle.
[laughter]

You've--you've done well enough.
- [laughs]

- Um, now concentrate
on the card.

Think about it hard.
I want you to do this together.

We're gonna do this
telepathically, okay?

So, first think of the number
and then the suit.

Number and then the suit.

Like 4...

That is an expen--
that's expensive.



Is that right?


- Yes.
- 4 of spades.

Nicely done.
Beautiful job.

- Wow.
- Beautiful job.

That's pretty extravagant, huh?

You get to keep a deck of cards
with you when you go,

and look at that.

We rented the whole sign.
Whole sign's ours.

Back to Alyson and Teller,
and who knows,

I might helicopter home.

[cheers and applause]

- Ah, well, now that our cart is
full of world-class magicians,

we're gonna check out right now,
but we'll be back

with a new shipment of magic
next week.

Good night from Las Vegas.

[gasps]
Ooh.

Thank you.
[cheers and applause]