At the end of each episode, Penn & Teller perform a magic act of their own. A backstage judge or judges, versed in the techniques of the magic industry and privately informed how the trick is done prior to the show, makes any necessary calls whether Penn & Teller were properly fooled. If Penn & Teller are wrong, or cannot come up with how the trick was done, the magician wins a Fool Us trophy and the opportunity to later perform at one of Penn & Teller's Las Vegas shows. Teller notes that the doublespeak helps teach people new techniques without spoiling the trick.
Penn then reveals if they know how the trick was performed, typically using cryptic language, or they write down the method and present it privately to the magicians to confirm, so as to avoid publicly exposing the secrets behind the trick. Penn & Teller come out and take their seats towards center stage, and hopeful magicians perform (6 in the pilot, 4 in season 1–present) their acts in front of them with a live studio audience.Īfter each performance, Penn & Teller privately confer while the host interviews the magicians. Each episode starts off with the introduction stating the purpose of the series.
