LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Penn Jillette and Raymond Joseph Teller started performing magic collectively on the streets of Philadelphia in 1975. Fifty years later, that partnership remains to be going robust.
An early assessment of Penn & Teller’s magic present known as them “a brazen assault on the temple of magic,” in keeping with CBS Mornings. Now they’re probably the most revered magic acts on the earth and probably the most beloved resident headline acts in Las Vegas historical past.
The duo has gained the “Las Vegas Magicians of the Year” award 9 instances and usually carry out a record-breaking present on the Rio Lodge and On line casino, which was as soon as known as “The single best show in Vegas,” by the Los Angeles Instances, in keeping with the duo’s web site.
As a part of the celebration of fifty years, the duo took to CBS Mornings to speak about their upcoming tour and shock the hosts with slightly magic, although perhaps not in the way in which Gayle King was anticipating.
“We were hoping Gayle [King] would do a card trick for us,” Penn mentioned on the present, which might be watched in full at this hyperlink. “But it’s okay, I’ll talk you through it.”
“This was when I was in Vegas as a showgirl,” Gayle joked as she confirmed off her shuffling expertise.
Penn directed Gayle to fan out the playing cards face up on the desk as she requested Teller to consider a card, any card.
“Write the name of your card on your arm,” Gayle instructed Teller after a lot route from Penn. After gathering up the playing cards and inserting the deck again on the desk, she (and Penn) proudly proclaimed that she would discover Teller’s card.
It was the 9 of spades! …however a shake of Teller’s head proved that to be false.
“That’s OK, that would be too easy,” Gayle mentioned, parroting Penn’s phrases earlier than throwing the 9 of spades away, proclaiming the 5 of hearts to be Teller’s true card. This, too, would show to be false.
Penn then directed Gayle to as soon as once more unfold out the playing cards, grabbing the one she had minimize the deck to and pulling it out. It was the Jack of Diamonds.
It was time for the massive reveal: Teller confirmed off his arm the place he had written down the cardboard he picked, and the cardboard Gayle chosen was right!
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 24: (L-R) Penn Jillette and Teller attend the Penn & Teller: 50 Years Of Magic Panel throughout 2025 Comedian-Con Worldwide: San Diego at Hilton Bayfront on July 24, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Picture by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Photos)
“When you started all those years ago, you couldn’t have thought you’d be together at Radio City Music Hall?” Gayle requested following the magic trick. Radio Metropolis Music Corridor is the primary cease on Penn & Teller’s 50 Years of Magic Tour on Aug. 21.
“Not Radio City Music Hall, but we started out as business partners,” Penn explained. “We thought we did better stuff together than we did separately, and we wanted to just do our show. We never really had a venue in mind; We just wanted to do our show anywhere we could.”
“But how do you have a partnership when one doesn’t talk? How does that work?” Gayle requested Teller, who famously doesn’t communicate in the course of the duo’s magic act.
“I think that’s actually the secret to working,” Anchor Tony Dokoupil joked as Teller nodded enthusiastically.
“Why do you think people still love magic so much, and they love especially what you guys do?” Anchor Vlad Duthiers requested.
“Magic is a way for us to think about how we decide what’s true,” Penn said. “It’s a playful way to think about how we determine, how we share our reality that’s around us. And that’s more important today than any time. To decide what’s trickery and what’s real is a really important thing to think about.”
Tickets for Penn & Teller’s 50 Years of Magic tour might be discovered right here. Tickets for the Rio present might be discovered right here.
