Penn explains why the show is called "bullshit!" and why they can not call people "frauds" or "liars" but can call them "assholes" and "motherfuckers". Penn and Teller expose psychics and their claims of talking to people who are dead and prove that they use cold reading, where they guess thingsby the persons appearance and what they say.
Penn and Teller expose alternative medicine for the bullshit it is.
Penn and Teller expose alien abductions and show how the rise of these occurences have happened after science fiction stories started up in the 1930s. They show that these people use it for profit by selling books, T-shirts and badges, they expose it as nothing but a load of bullshit!
Penn & Teller hope to clear the air about secondhand smoke. Also: they examine the baby-products industry.
“Sex, Sex, Sex” examines products that promise to enhance lovemaking. Also: the facts about aphrodisiacs, and a discussion of sexual techniques and myths.
The guys arrange to put three feng-shui consultants in the hot seat, and visit a feng-shui hairstylist. Also on tap: bottled water, and whether it tastes better and is safer than what comes out of the faucet.
The boys look at the evolution of “Creationism,” and travel to Georgia to listen in on a school-board debate on the topic.
In “Self-Helpless,” the boys (get up and) go after motivational speakers and examine whether their books, videos and seminars really work. Also, P&T get burned up over the motivational activity of firewalking.
The boys offer their perspective on “ESP” and sit in on a class in “remote viewing,” a popular exercise in which fully conscious people can use their innate sixth sense to glean information about a subject.
The guys get the skinny on diets and dish on nutritional claims about organic and fat-free foods.
The boys get some hands-on experience dealing with Ouija boards, and kill time discussing near-death occurrences.
The guys take a look at environmental concerns such as global warming, acid rain, species extinction and water and air quality. Also: the ecological watchdog organization Greenpeace.
The fur flies when the boys look into PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).
Terrorists! School shootings! Germs! Scared? Well, if you are, then you're probably making someone money by trying to feel safe.
The boys look into the business of love as they investigate industries that claim to help people searching for the perfect mate.
On this episode, Penn and Teller examine the war on drugs and find out some shocking information about the effects on drugs and what its doing to the economy.
On this episode, Penn and Teller trash the concept of recycling, they even try to mock the sorting of it.
Some believers of the Bible take a literal translation of its content. But how much of it can actually be factual? How could Noah have fit all those animals into a boat and why is there no historical or physical evidence to support the existence of Moses?
Penn & Teller try to determine whether claims about yoga and tantric sex are stretching the truth.
The guys face down purveyors of treatments and programs that are supposed to make people look younger. Included are examinations of diets, facial creams, Botox injections and plastic surgery.
On this episode, Penn and Teller have a heckuva time dealing with profanity.
The guys look into the effects of 12-step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, that are used to treat compulsive behavior. Also, they discuss whether alcoholism should really be considered a disease.
The guys get to the heart of the matter in the exercise vs. genetics issue and why sometimes “working out isn't working out.” Includes an interview with Jack La Lanne and a look at home-fitness videos and products.
On this episode, Penn and Teller have a few suggestions for hypnotists.
The guys examine “the most common surgery performed in America”, circumcision. Included are interviews with doctors, a rabbi, parents, a sexologist and pro-and-anti-circumcision activists.
The guys take a look at conspiracy theories concerning Sept. 11, the crash of TWA Flight 800, the JFK assassination and the death of Princess Diana.
A look at the effectiveness of therapy from psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental-health professionals, such as “life coaches.”
The guys take a second look at the legacies of such spiritual leaders as Mother Teresa, Gandhi and the Dalai Lama.
The guys go to school on colleges. Included: interviews with education and public-policy experts, administrative officials and civil libertarians.
On this episode, Penn and Teller sneak a peek at surveillance technology.
The guys examine the billion-dollar hair industry, which includes hair-care products, transplants, wigs and toupees.
The guys examine Americans' obsession with finding “the best” of everything, including household appliances, vacation getaways and automobiles.
The comic duo examines the Boy Scouts to determine whether or not members are happy campers.
A discussion on the (mostly) pros and cons of prostitution, featuring the guys "paying" a visit to a "personal-service escort" and stopping at a Nevada brothel. Also: interviews with a Bible scholar, a civil-rights lawyer and directors of outreach programs for prostitutes trying to get out of the business.
The guys tackle the death-penalty issue, and do so with an abundance of gallows humor. Includes interviews with prosecuting attorneys, death-penalty advocates and those against.
The guys examine the "science" of cryptozoology, which explores the myths and legends of fabled creatures such as Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. Included: interviews with a biologist, an anthropologist and a natural-history researcher.
The guys take a look at the fiasco that has taken place in the last 5 years in planning to rebuild the "Ground Zero" area.
Many African Americans believe that they should be paid by the government for the slavery brought upon their ancestors. But since this happened so long ago, are they justified? Just how effective are the casinos set up by Native Americans to help for the lost of their land? And what about reparations for a more recent incident such as the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II?
There is a general consenus that Americans are ruder today than ever. Is this true? The contemporary standards of etiquette date back to a time when they were developed for very different reasons, so what is the real purpose behind manners and why do some enforce them so dearly?
The guys do a study of numbers and how statistics can be manipulated into fitting certain agendas.
The guys set out to discover if abstinence makes the heart grow fonder, and what effect it has on one's mental health.
It has been said time and time again that America is the heaviest country in the world, and that something must be done as soon as possible in order to ensure the long-term health of its citizens. However, Penn and Teller aren’t so convinced that obesity is the problem that people claim that it is; they’ll meet with a wide array of experts in order to figure out whether one’s weight is a reflection of their health. Later, in the first ever Fat Guy Olympics, Penn and Teller see whether or not a skinny person is a better athlete than a fat person.
Wal-Mart has frequently been criticized for the strong-arm tactics that they’ve employed in order to keep their prices low, though Penn and Teller have called bullshit on such claims and they reveal the truth behind the company that millions of consumers have benefited from. They’ll meet with a young woman who wouldn’t likely be employed if it weren’t for the company, along with a wide array of people who have diverse opinions.
Penn & Teller look at women's breasts and society's response to them. In New York City, we meet a young mother who inadvertently tested corporate tolerance for breast-feeding in public. Further south, in Daytona Beach, Florida, we meet a woman who challenged the rights to flash her breasts in public. We also meet a breast cancer survivor who is not a supporter of those ubiquitous Pink Ribbons. And, down in the valley of porn, we find a topless porn star/mother of two who philosophizes on the benefits of the La Leche League.
Penn & Teller expose the truth behind our supposedly toxic insides. We find out about "colonics" and those "cleansing" diets including today's diet darling, the "Neera Super Cleanse." An actual Parasitologist - a scientist who studies parasites - tells us the truth about the parasites among and within us. A visit to the world's largest inflatable walk-through colon rounds out the episode.
What's not to like about the Americans with Disabilities Act? After all, it is supposed to improve life for the handicapped. Penn and Teller interview businessmen and women, along with some handicap advocates, who say that the act is a huge asset to greedy lawyers who file frivolous lawsuits against whole towns, claiming that the businesses are infringing the rights of the handicapped. The end result is that fewer handicapped people end up getting hired, and hence the ADA defeats its own purpose.
Penn and Teller claim the act is far too broad, and individual businesses, not the government, should be able to dictate who they will cater to.
Mount Rushmore is usually seen as a symbol of American pride and ingenuity. In an episode that will have American patriots enraged, Penn and Teller interview a native tribesman who sees the monument as a symbol of American sacrilege and imperialism, while Penn and Teller themselves say it is little more than an elaborate tourist trap envisioned by a white supremacist.
Penn and Teller explain the necessity of nuclear power in modern society, advocating that it is both cleaner and safer than the alternatives such as coal. Advocates from the pro-nuke side and anti-nuke side are interviewed. Along the way, they debunk the myth of hybrid car fuel efficiency by having two lesbians take a road trip across southern california.
There is a wide variety of groups who want to eliminate porn from the people. From radical feminists who blame porn on violence, to rabid right wingers who believe it causes addiction, and even Donna Rice, a former boy toy claims that porn is harming the children. They've convinced the government to look into it despite no proof to their claims. We’ll reveal the naked truth behind this latest battleground for regulating the internet and your free speech.
Penn and Teller expose the lies of new age medicine.
Penn and Teller investigate and expose the "bullshit" involving America's space agency, NASA.. They look into different aspects of the organization, Including into their failures, funding, benefits, and the potential benefits of further research.
The boys look into theories pertaining to dolphins, such as if the mammals are evolutionary superior and whether they have a "special" energy.
The guys take a look at the sleep industry and exactly how far a person will go and pay to receive a good night's sleep.
The guys look into the recent 'green' movement, where improvements are made to the environment and ecosystem, or does it? Can it be just a largely bogus and hypocritical philosophy that links sanctimonious politics to an "ethical" lifestyle?
The guys delve into the area of sensitivity training and expose their roots in political correctness, an increasingly litigious culture, and the suffocation of free speech.
Penn & Teller take a look at the lengths we go to protect our children from outside dangers, such as child abduction, Amber Alert, not to mention dirty water, filthy air, toxic toys. But while all these safety measures are in place, why are our parks empty and kids no longer ride their bikes to school? Meanwhile, more of our children are on anti-anxiety drugs than ever before.
Penn and Teller attempt the "Bullshit" behind the concept of "World Peace". Including research unto Pro-war and Pro-peace movements in America. Penn and Teller also discus whether the United Nation is simply Bullshit, or if they actually make a difference in the world.
Penn and Teller expose the "Bullshit, bogus, bog off, and billycock" dealing with living in the past and using nostalgia as a fantasy tool. Included, Penn and Teller remember previous (fictional) episodes they've recorded in the past, including a 1980's show, a 1950's bohemian beet nick show, and a show taking place in1584, near Renaissance age.
On the seasons seven premier, Penn and Teller expose the 'Bullshit' behind the people who market and exploit other gullible people by treating them with unorthodox methods to achieve orgasms. Featuring undercover at a 'sex class', interview with the inventor of a 'remote control' orgasm machine, and other segments.
The guys research whether the alignment of the stars, moon and the sun have any impact on our destiny. Penn and Teller send their crew out to interview and document professional astrologers and science professors (Including an astronomer) on their respective fields of work. They also send a test subject to get her horoscope read by two different astrologers.
Penn and Teller test the ages old theory that playing video games can lead to violent teens. The guys hand a nine year old video game enthusiast a semiautomatic weapon to examine what he does with it. Also included are interviews with attorneys (Jack Thompson), authors, and individual citizens against video games. Penn and Teller argue that advocacy against violent video games, or as others call it "war on video games" is "bullshit".
Penn and Teller discus the various reasons why the 2012 apocalypse prediction is "Bullshit". Interviews include a Belgium author who claims that he has actual proof that the 2012 apocalypse prediction is real; a researcher in Mississippi who claims that a mysterious planet is on a collision course with Earth; and Two investigators, Shannon McCabe & Paul Dale Roberts, of HPI (Haunted & Paranormal Investigations International) go to Mexico to see if there is any truth to the mystery of 2012.
Truthfully, the guys are up in arms over the negativity caused in people's lives from the use of a polygraph test, many who will speak in this episode. Included: interviews with a polygraph examiner, a decorated army veteran whose life was 'destroyed' by a polygraph test; a young couple who will be tested by a polygraph; and a former police officer who claims he can train anyone to pass a polygraph test, and tests this technique on two volunteers for the show.
Penn and Teller discuss organic foods and whether they are more healthy and easier on the environment, and whether claims of the cost of organic foods being pesticides free, hormones free, and anti-biotic free are actually worth it. The guys interview several individuals with different backgrounds. A pair of hippies who only use organic products, an organic food lobbyist, an organic farmer, scientists, researchers, an organic chef who is 107 years old and credits his age for eating organic foods, and two organic food skeptics. They also conduct a scientific test to see if ordinary people can tell the difference between organic and non organic produce.
Penn and Teller discuss and take on the U.S. taxing system. The guys meet with congressmen in Washington D.C., who are willing to talk about the taxing system of the U.S. They explain why taxing is so confusing and complicated. They look into the morality and practicality of the American tax payer system. They also interview several Boston Tea Party reenactors, a former IRS executive, an investigative reporter, Huffington Post founding editor, two taxing enthusiasts, Senator Ron Paul and several other congressmen.
The guys find themselves on unfamiliar area when they look into the lawn care industry. Penn and Teller take issue with lawns, and why they believe instead of it being a symbol for freedom, it's being used to keep everyone exactly the same. Includes a case where a man's unkempt lawn landed him in prison; and a visit to a neighborhood where only one strain of grass can be used there. Interviews include: A man who loves lawns, a man who hates lawns, a person who enforces lawn laws, a person who payed the ultimate price for letting his lawn die, two different men who have invested interest in lawn care, and a good Samaritan. They also travel to a lawn-care convention.
Penn and Teller discuss why they believe why people getting worked up and scared by stressful situations is bullshit. Penn and Teller take a skeptical view of stress and how the modern man feels the need to "cure" what should be considered a normal, everyday part of life, and not a lucrative market. They attempt to document the progress of three individuals trying to cure their stress problems by three different methods. First a man who tries to relieve his stress by going to an aroma therapist to attempt to 'sniff is his stress away'. Second, a teacher who tries to relieve her stress by testing if she has adrenal fatigue the which could lead to her stress problem. And third, an overworked business woman goes to the day spa to reliever her stress problem. Faux medicine and treatments to combat stress is further investigated. Interviews include: Several medical doctors, and tennis legend John McEnroe.
Penn and Teller head to Rome to learn about the Vatican's inner workings.
With a notable recurrence of serious injuries, cheerleading is far from the safest activity. These hazards could be curbed if only it could be recognized as a sport. The reasons it hasn't reach into outdated perceptions and the old fashioned pursuit of profit.
Fast food gets a bad rap. Linked to obesity, heart disease, and diabetes, it's generally considered unhealthy. But despite some of its benefits, there are naysayers who want to impose laws and regulations against the industry that may wind up hurting those they claim to be trying to help.
Martial arts is a popular means of self-defense. It also doesn't come cheap, but it does come with some legal and moral issues, and even a certain level of hazard to the practitioner.
The media, technology, and even the support of homosexuality has been the blame of the rise of teen sex, all despite the fact that teens have been doing it forever. This blame game has gotten so ridiculous to the point that even minors have been registered as sex offenders.
Who wouldn't want to get money easy and with little effort? Many sign onto multi-level marketing companies thinking that a heavy profit is waiting just around the corner. The reality is that these systems are designed so as to make someone else rich, leaving you to make very little.
It's no secret: the contents of Area 51 are secret. This leaves it open to the minds of the public to fill in the blank with tall tales of alien technology experiments. The truth is out there... and it's fairly mundane compared to whatever you've seen in movies or television.
A mountain of evidence contrary to prison population shows major flaws in the American criminal justice system. From prosecutors aiming to earn a reputation to the iffy science behind forensics, tax payers are often being rewarded with innocent people being put behind bars for crimes they didn't commit, either because they didn't do it or because there wasn't a crime in the first place.
Unlike most other countries, America treats its senior citizens with very little respect. From driving skills to smell, the elderly are subject to negative stereotypes that try to peg these still active members of society as useless.
There's a fine, yet distinct line between a healthy self-esteem and narcissism. Even children are being pumped with the idea that they are special and unique, but adults struggle with their worth and there is no shortage of "specialists" who are there to try and give their ego that extra little push. The problem, however, maybe the rewarding in the absence of trial and error people go through to discover their true potential and place in the world.
When an article in a British medical journal made a link between the MMR vaccine and the rise in autism, it eventually built into a criticism of vaccinations from parents. Unfortunately, this paranoia has clouded the fact that the evidence was conducted unethically with no actual basis for its claims. And with ignorant spokespeople not bothering to investigate the science of immunization, there maybe a much greater threat: the spread of the diseases the vaccines were designed to stop in the first place.