Penn Jillette: Penn and Teller Are Not Lovers | Big Think
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Penn Jillette: Penn and Teller Are Not Lovers
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Penn and long-time partner Teller are best friends, but their relationship is based on respect rather than love.
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PENN JILLETTE:
Penn Jillette is a cultural phenomenon as a solo personality and as half of the world-famous Emmy Award-winning magic duo Penn & Teller. His solo exposure is enormous: from Howard Stern to Glenn Beck to the Op-Ed pages of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times. He has appeared on Dancing with the Stars, MTV Cribs, and Chelsea Lately and hosted the NBC game show Identity. As part of Penn & Teller, he has appeared more than twenty times on David Letterman, as well as on several other TV shows, from The Simpsons and Friends to Top Chef and The View. He co-hosts the controversial series Penn & Teller: Bullshit!, which has been nominated for sixteen Emmy Awards. He is currently co host of the Discovery Channel's Penn & Teller Tell a Lie and the author of God, No! and Presto!
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TRANSCRIPT:
Question: How would you characterize your relationship with Teller?
Penn Jillette: Business partners, I mean, the most important thing about our partnership is it's not based on cuddly love and affection. I mean, over 35 years, I mean, by many definitions he has to be my best friend. I mean, he's the person I talk to when my mom and dad died. He was there when my, you know, right after my children were born. He's all of those things but we're much more like two guys who own a dry cleaning business, you know, many of your show business partnerships start in love.
I mean, Lennon and McCartney had a love affair pretty clearly. Martin and Lewis had a love affair, Jagger and Richards had a love affair. And when that goes south, when all of a sudden love fades away, it becomes a huge explosion. I mean, Lennon and McCartney hated each other. And with working with Teller there was no real attraction. We didn't want to spend all our time together. We spent all our time together but we weren't dying to do that. What we wanted to do was do a show together and we had much more respect than affection.
And I think there's a lot to be learned from how much stronger respect is than affection. For one, we understand respect and we don't understand affection. So it's a little easier to get your mind around and be able to manipulate. And so when Teller and I don't like each other, when we're not getting along, it doesn't change much of anything. You know, it's like when you work at the 7-11, you don't quite get along with the guy who's cleaning the Slurpee machine that day. You don't care that much, your life goes on.
So he's become my best friend but in a very circuitous route through respect and through work.
Question: What do you and Teller each contribute to the partnership?
Penn Jillette: think if you were to picture what we do you'd probably be pretty right. I tend to have the responsibility for what I say. There are lines here and there that are Teller's-there are moments in the shape of the plot of things that are Teller's-but for the most part I'm in charge of what Isay. And for the most part Teller is in charge of the magic. Now there are great lines in the show that came from Teller and there are slightly clever magic moments that come from me and we do work together on things.
But those are really the responsibilities. If you wanted to break it down in really traditional terms I think you would see Teller is kind of the director... kind of directs the show and I don't care very much about staging, lights, how things look. In my mind I'm always doing a radio show.
Recorded on June 8, 2010
Interviewed by Paul Hoffman
Пікірлер: 301
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They are not lovers. It's raw, primal, sexual passion. There is no room for love.
@Proud_Troll
9 ай бұрын
You made me lol.
They are lovers, this is just a magic trick called MISDIRECTION!!
@neromauritzen8917
5 жыл бұрын
:)) I was thinking the same thing XD "Sleight of cocks" XD
@EatCheese11
3 жыл бұрын
Bullshit
@LokiScarletWasHere
3 жыл бұрын
Hi, rule 34. Having fun?
Dammit, I had written 19 chapters of a lusty tale with Penn and Teller... I guess I will just have to finish my story about Optimus Prime and Wall-E.
From the way he speaks about him its quite certain that they do not see eye to eye on many things but remain amicably close due to a working relationship.
Rule 34 You two are smackin hams, whether you like it or not.
@davidsaint6556
10 жыл бұрын
Smackin hams wtf?! lmao never heard that one
@salasvalor01
9 жыл бұрын
The South Park profile picture went perfectly with that.
@williamwilson6499
9 жыл бұрын
You need another fantasy to beat off to.
@mrpringle888
5 жыл бұрын
Link please.
@lofts2399
3 жыл бұрын
I love this comment section
They are professionals that's why they lasted together so long.
@matt_sexton
3 жыл бұрын
I hate and love this comment
@goldenhawx8652
2 жыл бұрын
This is a perfect comment!
Teller cowered as he heard the thunder clasping. Penn grabbed hold of his friend and held on tight in order to calm him down. Then they gazed into eachother's eyes ...
@blueprintmastermind
10 жыл бұрын
That's just being thunder buddies for life.
@trikillerx
9 жыл бұрын
Turd Ferguson Teller cowered as he heard the thunder clasping. Penn grabbed hold of his friend and held on tight in order to calm him down. Then they gazed into eachother's eyes ... Then both slowly moved their faces closer to each other. Their lips touched and their tongue intertwined in a passionate kiss ...
What I heard was 'Teller and I are best friends by default.' That's true friendship right there XD
Teller thumbed down this video
Really we were all thrown off because one of you were always getting the silent treatment.
Penn has a voice that stands out wherever he goes. But Teller... He has a silky smoothness that seems to come from somewhere else than from that small, awesome man. It's just awesome the first time you hear Teller speak. It blows your mind.
I've noticed this with room mates. If you start as friends and decide to split an apartment, odds are good things will come to a head and the apartment will split. If you start as room mates, you'll end up becoming better friends and any tiffs you have, you can fall back on being room mates. I've had two room mates, both were good friends, and every time we ended up getting on each other's nerves, usually over the other's SO. We're still friends, but having been room mates has severely impacted that relationship in a negative way.
Penn's a fantastic performer and personality and a great magician, Teller is a brilliant magician, comedic genius, ladies man, and scoundrel. Together they're just so freaking amazingly fantastic it transcends either of their individual selves.
I love that: "In my mind I'm always doing a radio show". Penn, the quintessential showman, and Teller, the genius magician.
"In my mind I'm always doing a radio show." That has to be a headstone quote for somebody.
They may not not started out with mutual affection, but, as Penn said in one of his books, they started talking 40 years ago and have never stopped. They work together to create something that sometimes crosses the line from entertainment to art. Clearly, they love each other now, but aren't lovers. The American Life segment with Teller (and Penn) along with Penn's webinar, "Penn's Sunday School," from last summer where he talked about Teller going into the hospital and the watch he had inscribed are worth a listen. Both of those broadcasts kind of negate Penn's assertion that they're like people running a dry cleaner together.
@naritruwireve1381
2 жыл бұрын
Do you remember which episode of "Penn's Sunday School" it was by any chance?
Mr. Nolisten: "OK, I understand. But you still bang, right?"
Penn was surprisingly casual with this answer. Like, the question didn't even bring up the idea that they could be lovers, but he just said it anyways with the assumption that other famous male duos were also lovers at some point. And he was just so nonchalant about it! That kind of question would normally be answered with offense and disgust, because it's really personal and gross, but Penn is just open about people thinking it was a possibility.
Well said.
This guy is always such a joy to listen to.
god i love this man...
Could you ah... like, link me there? To the first of 19 chapters?
I commend him for answering that question seriously
Any specific videos, maybe?
I’ve always wondered if part of the secret of the Act is that Penn Is a slightly better magician than he’s given credit for.
One is the MC and one is the DJ. It's a pretty straight forward partnership, I'd say.
Teller speaks allot. There are numerous videos on KZread of him teaching magic with a microphone explaining the concepts.
Always had this question...does Teller get any slice of Penn's voice-over work. Seems he should since his persona is generally mute and therefore, he's ineligible for some of the work Penn's done. Any insight would be appreciated.
"We don't understand affection" They must be two very lonely men!
When he means love he doesn't mean homosexuality obviously.
@DARhumpedyhump He meant platonically. All the pairings he mentioned, he meant they were close friends and loved each other as you would a very close friend. "Love affair" is just his flowery way of describing that.
Teller talks; I talked with him outside their show in Vegas. He's a really nice guy.
@samuelsixvids That's true, but Penn is also too damn good to be anyone's assistant. He's so incredibly humble though and I've seen him call Teller the "brains" of the operation in at least 5 different recordings.
So true...
Too many people today have no concept of respect . What it is to give respect or how to receive respect.
Zyborggian Dude, you have no idea how many people thought/still think they are lovers. XD And it's an open secret that Teller is not into women. They do have great chemistry so you can't blame people for wondering about that. And Penn obviously doesn't have a problem with people thinking that maybe there was something between them either or he wouldn't be talking that matter-of-factly about it. It isn't so, they are not lovers, but I think it is great how absolutely un-homophobic he is. Only a guy very comfortable with his sexual identity and respectful towards his best friend who is gay can be that relaxed about it.
@Zyborggian
10 жыл бұрын
I can't fucking believe that as a fan of Penn and Teller's magic and their bullshit show and as a member of the LGBT community myself that I didn't know Teller was gay until you told me that just then. What the fuck is wrong with me lol
@Trampadoo
10 жыл бұрын
Zyborggian lol That guess just shows how protective he is of his stage persona which is kind of asexual/sexy in an odd way. XD But I think it makes both even more awesome if that is even possible.
@jellyfishattack
8 жыл бұрын
Zyborggian I love Penn and Teller too. I have a terribly useless degree in the Classics, including Classical and Medieval Latin, history, literature, basically everything except the ancient Greek language itself. In my experience, 100% of University Latin, Greek, Classics professors seemed to be gay, the Roman Law prof didn't seem to be gay, but then he was really a Law prof who only taught one course in the Classics. A little bit sad for me, since even the students were gay (I didn't exactly end up dating any of them): but since Teller was a Latin Prof I would guess he is gay. Teller, gay, straight, bi, is rather attractive. Oddly enough, high school Latin, Greek, and Classics teachers seemed all straight.
@dogpetdog
5 жыл бұрын
yeah that's never been confirmed. so lets no go down that road. theres a moment in a magic act where teller rubs up against a girl and makes like he enjoys it, so stop with this shit
@blacksowrd53
5 жыл бұрын
@@Zyborggian don't believe random statements on the internet. Teller has a wife and there's no official statements confirming any claims in the comment above
Hmm, magic tricks through a radio-show. You could do anything! See this building? HUZZAH now it's gone! *people around the radio are baffled*
"Cruel and Sudden, hast thou since Purpled thy nail in blood of innocence? Wherein could this flee guilty be, Except in that drop which is suck'd from thee?" -John Donne
i still love the irony that the guy called Teller isn't the one who does the telling (or talking) in the act. I guess off stage he does tell people what to do.
Teller does talk. He's not mute. His character doesn't talk (most of the time).
One thing obvious was that they weren't brothers. Their hight and size gives it away.
who ever said they were?
"As a Christian.."
Don't worry fangirls and fanboys, Teller is still not interested in the ladies so half of your fantasies are still valid. ;D Anyway, that really seems to be secret of their great partnership. I can imagine how bad things would have become if they had started with affection and love and then lost that. That hurts much more than having a professional partnership based on respect where affection developes with time and stands on solid ground.
@frostxlegendzx5798
5 жыл бұрын
Trampadoo teller has a wife and a kid
@neromauritzen8917
5 жыл бұрын
Frost xLegendzx No he doesnt! That does not make any sense! :P (update:I checked facts, he does NOT have a wife, or a kid for that matter, you fucking liar! >:( )
Yep.
This is actually a quote from a article that separates the conservative views and liberal views on everything ranging from gun control to abortion. i found the debate interesting so just putting it out here.
Pause the video at 2:01 and look at the suggested videos.
@meaturama Penn is the tall portly fellow and teller is the shorter slimmer one.
If you didn't get it, its suppose to be Penn scratching his head in the thumbnail
Sandvich makes me STRONG! Where is it?
by "love affair" is he meaning romantic love? so john lennon and paul mccartney were romantically in love, he's saying?
@meaturama The one talking is Penn.
Glad to have you here Mika...though you might hate the politics.
Talking to Teller would be somewhat awkward.
While I'm not a Christian and don't believe in a god of any nature, I'm glad there's someone out there making sense of homosexuality in the Bible. Having never really studied the Bible verse by verse, I was under the assumption that it was impossible to both accept the Bible as true and support homosexuality without being inconsistent. I'm glad that someone's doing it, cause I sure can't stand to read that book for more than a few minutes.
Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up Dissension But love covers over all wrongs.
Missed the point.
Are you kidding? Even jizzing on a blanket is a better love story than twilight...
Still not convince...Have Penn and Teller gone camping together?
love them both
Agreed. Teller is a really good magician while Penn is something else.
I don't think he meant lovers as in sex partners as you think, but with affection and great friendship :-)
Was this not obvious?
Martin and Lewis? Lenon and McCartney? Jagger and Richards? Are any of those true?
Teller is more so the Brains of the operation, their both great magicians but it seems as though Teller puts most of it together.
sort of like Adam and Jamie from Mythbusters
@pugzmcstewson5603
6 жыл бұрын
Nah sadly they aren’t even friends at all
@erikw3105
2 жыл бұрын
As in professionals working together regardless of friendship? Yes I think you're right. But P&T grew into a close friendship over the years while Adam & Jamie remained only "business" partners. Same scenario, different outcome I guess
Penn is a great communicator
A puddle in the road getting hit by a taxi is a better love story than Twilight.
Penn: we no gay Comment Section: yes you gae
Nothing changed. What was so supposed to happen?
I was waiting for "it's just sex", if only for the comedic potential.
Why is TELLer the silent one?
@Ad-Hoc43
7 жыл бұрын
Action speaks louder than words
@lordkrishnastolemyheart5485
5 жыл бұрын
When he was a new magician, he done shows for college frat houses. He found out if he didn't talk, drunken wild college boys wouldn't heckle him and throw beer bottles at him. As well as they paid more attention to his performance.
Welp, there goes my fanfic.
Man! In a country as populated as America 120,000 is a pretty shitty ratio!
I dont know that feel
He is probably a good listener...
so he can talk, then.
i remember i was in the supermarket and this father and his son, who was about eight or nine, were walking along and the son kept asking his father why he couldn't get a dress like his sister, saying 'she gets to have pretty things' why couldn't he?. And the macho father's going 'you're a boy, boy's don't like dresses.' It was kind of funny and tragic. I could see all the cliched bullshit that their lives were going to be.
This is respectable but also a bit heart breaking. Damn.
@ryancalhoun2910
2 жыл бұрын
Why?
When did Penn attack religion? I've heard him make arguments against religion, but he's never actually burned a mosque. How can you possibly say that he has attacked it? What did he do?
Yes, what a relief that you, as a Christian, can continue watching an outspoken atheist figure, because he's of the correct sexual orientation. I guess you could say that makes him more attractive to you.
Those who have actually built orphanage are consider great people. I respect and admire that. Yes you are correct about the number of people on the waiting list to be adopt but how many are actually being adopted. Now for the statistics. All American Life say that in 2012 there was 1.2 million abortion. According to American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry only 120,000 children are being adopted. 1 million children and adolescent on the adoption list but only 10% get family.
I've decided to continue writing it so I'll send you the rough copy... for science. The unofficial title is "Penn & Teller: Hocus Poke us" I've also considered "Penn & Teller: In The Rear End" tell me which one you like best. I'm seeing if I could commission a deviant artist to make a (Very) graphic novel anyway it should release soon. Be on the lookout for "Like A (Beta) Version" starring Optimus Prime and Wall-E also.
Star of Bethlehem=Caesar's comet.Comet is the etymology of Greek "kometes",or star with long hairs.This is why medieval depictions of Jesus have long hair unlike an actual Judean.(wiki/Comet etymology)There was no need to travel to Bethlehem for tax/census takers come to the household.No historian records Herod slaying newborns even though there were historians that would have loved to."Cast the 1st stone",and "Handle snakes/drink poison" only appear after 10th century.
i think you're a little confused about the meaning of those words you're using.
Yes, but you see, Twilight failed do much as a romance that even this Bromance relationship is more heartwarming, sincere, interesting, and maybe even more romantic than the shiny vampire trilogy. :)
sad the twilight reference is a fail to me it sounds like this teller is penns brother from another mother but hell to me i have brothers and ya bromance aint a slight its family
So since, and I quote, "Exodus, Deuteronomy, Leviticus are all Old Testament laws of Moses, which Christ fulfilled and ended" That mean homosexuality is 100% alright and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. Also The Ten Commandment is obsolete.
I, fangirl that I am, am going to be the tut-er here. We all know that love has so many meanings that we can't understand them. We need to quit bothering these guys. There are allot of 'man love' partners that are will to indulge us.
He even go on saying if any breaks one of the commandments and teaches others to do so will be least favorite in the kingdom. Those who do the opposition will be call great in the kingdom. This was all said long before Christ Death. Matthew Matthew 5:19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
"the ONLY treason there is against mankind." So you think murder is less "treasonous" than homosexuality?
"He rendered the law inoperative, along with its commandments and regulations." They just basically told you the 10 commandments are obsolete and yet some how i am lying to you that is hilarious.
When there is neither validation or invalidation of something, there is no logical reason to believe in it. You are right in that one way in which I define myself is that I reject the claim that there is a god, but that in no way encompasses my being. Given that you are making a statement about the universe (that there is a god, and that more specifically he is your interpretation of the Christian god) without evidence, while I am doing no such thing, it is your position that is weak.
"Yo asserted that i was claiming that Penn had physically attacked religion and offered burning a mosque as your example" Incorrect. I asserted nothing. I responded to "And even though Penn has his moments, attacking religion...", and offered burning a mosque //as an example of what an attack might be//. I'm not asserting, I'm not insinuating, I'm not accusing, I'm not being condescending - I'm asking a question that you have yet to answer clearly and directly
So basically what Penn is saying is that Teller is the magic, and he's the mouth.
penn should have played the lizard from the amazing spiderman
teller is the man! although they are both brilliant, teller is the designated genius.
It doesn't answer it, though. Saying he attacked religion, and then saying that there are things he does and does not understand about religion in no way explains how he was attacking. No, you will not say good riddance. You will identify specifically what Penn Jillette did and/or said that was an attack on religion ~As a side note, two of my 22 videos have any relation to religion, so you can in no way say it's a favorite.
What does God resurrecting you as angel in the afterlife have to with not having to know the scriptures. Mat 22:30 just explain what God can do with his powers. Mat is the first book in the New Testament, so the scriptures must of reference the Old Testament.