Penn & Teller: Fool Us
Encyclopedia
Penn & Teller: Fool Us is a British entertainment comedy television programme. Hosted by Jonathan Ross
, Fool Us is a magic
competition show, which challenges magicians to perform in front of American magician/comedian
duo Penn & Teller
. If they can fool Penn and Teller, they win a five-star trip to Las Vegas to perform as the opening act in Penn & Teller's world famous show at the Rio Hotel & Casino.
and 1/17 Productions. The episodes began airing in June 2011. The eight episodes were filmed in a ten day filming block..
The pilot episode aired on January 7, 2011, and featured a total of six magicians, with a further three non broadcast segments appearing as extras on the ITV website. The pilot was 90 minutes long. In the pilot episode, both John Archer and Benjamin Earl managed to fool Penn & Teller.
Other Competitors – Not Broadcast on ITV
, but available on the ITV
website
Episode one aired on June 18, 2011 at 8:00pm. In this episode, mind-reader Graham Jolley managed to fool Penn & Teller.
Episode two aired on June 25, 2011 at 8:00pm. In this episode, French card-magician Mathieu Bich managed to fool Penn & Teller.
Episode three aired on July 2, 2011 at 8:00pm. In this episode, no-one managed to fool Penn & Teller.
Episode four aired on July 9, 2011 at 8:00pm. In this episode, Illusionist Richard Bellars managed to fool Penn & Teller.
Episode five aired on July 16, 2011 at 9:00pm. In this episode, British Mentalist Nick Einhorn and Victorian magicians Morgan & West managed to fool Penn & Teller.
Episode six aired on July 23, 2011 at 9:00pm. In this episode, Swedish illusionists Brynolf & Ljung managed to fool Penn & Teller.
Episode seven aired on July 30, 2011 at 9:00pm. In this episode, Shawn Farquhar and Etienne Pradier managed to fool Penn & Teller.
Episode eight aired on August 28, 2011 at 9:00pm. In this episode, Lee Hathaway managed to fool Penn & Teller.
Filmed but not shown are:
, who will produce a local version.
Jonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross may refer to:* Jonathan Ross , English television and radio personality* Jonathan Ross , United States Senator, Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court* Jonathon Ross , former Australian rules footballer...
, Fool Us is a magic
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
competition show, which challenges magicians to perform in front of American magician/comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
duo Penn & Teller
Penn & Teller
Penn & Teller are Las Vegas headliners whose act is an amalgam of illusion and comedy. Penn Jillette is a raconteur; Teller generally uses mime while performing, although his voice can occasionally be heard during their performance...
. If they can fool Penn and Teller, they win a five-star trip to Las Vegas to perform as the opening act in Penn & Teller's world famous show at the Rio Hotel & Casino.
Production
The pilot of Fool Us was first commissioned by John Kaye Cooper, the controller of entertainment for ITV. The pilot aired on 7 January 2011. In February 2011, it was announced that due to good viewing figures, a series of eight episodes had been commissioned, and would produced by from September FilmsSeptember Films
September Films, a UK independent television and film production company, is a division of UK independent production and distribution group DCD Media...
and 1/17 Productions. The episodes began airing in June 2011. The eight episodes were filmed in a ten day filming block..
Episode List
- The Pilot Episode
The pilot episode aired on January 7, 2011, and featured a total of six magicians, with a further three non broadcast segments appearing as extras on the ITV website. The pilot was 90 minutes long. In the pilot episode, both John Archer and Benjamin Earl managed to fool Penn & Teller.
- Ali CookAli CookAli Cook is an English magician, comedian, actor and film producer originating from Yorkshire.Cook is known best for writing and starring in seven British television magic shows for Channel 4, Channel 5, and Sky1, produced by Objective Productions.Cook is a respected headliner on the British stand...
– British Close Up & Stage Magician - Richard Bellars – British Close Up & Stage Magician
- Michael Vincent – British Close Up & Stage Magician
- John Archer – British Magical Comedy Entertainer
- Benjamin Earl – British Illusionist
- James More – British Stage Magician & Illusionist
Other Competitors – Not Broadcast on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
, but available on the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
website
- Morgan & West – British Close Up & Stage Duo.
- Damien O'Brien – British Street Magician.
- Noel Qualter – British Close Up Magician.
- Episode 1
Episode one aired on June 18, 2011 at 8:00pm. In this episode, mind-reader Graham Jolley managed to fool Penn & Teller.
- High Jinx – British Illusionist & Circus Duo
- Jon Allen – British Street Magician
- Daniel Massey – British Illusionist
- Graham Jolley – British Mind Reader & Mentalist
- Episode 2
Episode two aired on June 25, 2011 at 8:00pm. In this episode, French card-magician Mathieu Bich managed to fool Penn & Teller.
- Mark Shortland – British Card Illusionist
- Mathieu Bich – French Card Illusionist
- Young and Strange – British Street Stage Illusionists
- Daniel Madison – British Card Illusionist
- Episode 3
Episode three aired on July 2, 2011 at 8:00pm. In this episode, no-one managed to fool Penn & Teller.
- Piff The Magic Dragon – British Illusionist
- Soma – Hungarian Close Up Magician
- Alan Hudson – British Close Up Magician
- Damien O'Brien – British Street Magician
- Episode 4
Episode four aired on July 9, 2011 at 8:00pm. In this episode, Illusionist Richard Bellars managed to fool Penn & Teller.
- Daniel Kramer – British Card Magician
- Romany, the Diva of MagicRomany, the Diva of MagicRomany, the Diva of Magic is a professional magician.She was featured on the cover of The Linking Ring magazine in August 2007.She was mentored by professional magician and teacher, Jeff McBride,...
– Burlesque Dancer And Magician - Alan Rorrison – British Illusionist
- Richard Bellars – British Illusionist
- Episode 5
Episode five aired on July 16, 2011 at 9:00pm. In this episode, British Mentalist Nick Einhorn and Victorian magicians Morgan & West managed to fool Penn & Teller.
- Cubic Act – French Illusionists
- Nick Einhorn – British Mentalist
- Michael Vincent – British Street Magician
- Morgan and West – British Street Magicians
- Episode 6
Episode six aired on July 23, 2011 at 9:00pm. In this episode, Swedish illusionists Brynolf & Ljung managed to fool Penn & Teller.
- GazzoGazzo (magician)Gary 'Gazzo' Osbourne is a British street magician. An expert in cons and scams he moved to the US in the 1980s where he befriended the legendary Walter Irving Scott...
– British Street Magician - Colin Mcleod – British Mentalist
- Keelan and Charlotte – British Quick Change Artists
- Brynolf & Ljung – Swedish Illusionists
- Episode 7
Episode seven aired on July 30, 2011 at 9:00pm. In this episode, Shawn Farquhar and Etienne Pradier managed to fool Penn & Teller.
- Shawn FarquharShawn FarquharShawn Farquhar of Coquitlam, British Columbia is a magician who holds the current title "Grand Prix World Champion of Magic" from the International Federation of Magic Societies....
– Canadian Close Up Magician - Manuel Martinez – Cuban Illusionist
- Etienne PradierEtienne PradierEtienne Pradier was born on 13 January 1965 in Saint-Vallier, Drôme, France. He has lived for 25 years in Wye near to Ashford, United Kingdom. Etienne is now recognized as one of the best magicians in the world...
– French Card Magician - Chris Dugdale – British Illusionist
- Episode 8
Episode eight aired on August 28, 2011 at 9:00pm. In this episode, Lee Hathaway managed to fool Penn & Teller.
- Lee Hathaway – British Cabaret Act & Close Up Magician
- Jack Taperell – British Close Up Magician
- Laura London – British Mentalist
- Paul & Martin DanielsPaul DanielsPaul Daniels, born Newton Edward Daniels on 6 April 1938, is a British magician and television performer. He achieved international fame through his television series The Paul Daniels Magic Show, which ran on the BBC from 1979 to 1994.-Early life:...
– Renowned British Magicians
Filmed but not shown are:
- Chris Cox – British Mindreader
- James Brown – British Stage Magician - See the clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ovIyytb_Cw
- Marc Oberon – British Card Magician
- David Masters – British Illusionist
- Noel Qualter – British Close Up Magician
- David Jay – British Illusionist
International Broadcast
- In AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, this programme commenced airing on ABC1ABC1ABC1 was a United Kingdom based television channel from Disney using the branding of the Disney owned American network, ABC.The channel initially launched exclusively on the British digital terrestrial television platform Freeview on 27 September 2004. On 10 December 2004 it was launched on...
each Saturday at 9:25pm from 1 October 2011. It has also been sold to BBC WorldwideBBC WorldwideBBC Worldwide Limited is the wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation, formed out of a restructuring of its predecessor BBC Enterprises in 1995. In the year to 31 March 2010 it made a profit of £145m on a turnover of £1.074bn. The company had made a profit of £106m...
International Versions
The format has been sold to Ukraine broadcaster STBSTB (Channel)
STB is a Ukrainian commercial television network. Today, the coverage area of the network is 85% of Ukraine's territory. It is broadcast in all oblast centers and all Ukrainian cities with a population greater than 50,000...
, who will produce a local version.