Crackle Blog

In January of 2008, Penn Jillette started ranting on Crackle about Magic Underpants, and people started tuning in, watching, arguing and debating. Two years later we're sad to announce that Penn is moving on. As Penn Says comes to a close on Crackle, I wanted to express my thanks, and that of the Crackle audience, to Penn, an obnoxious loudmouth who has been entertaining us all for years.

While Penn and I have never formally met, he and I have had a long history together. You see, I was a teenage magician. My weekends were spent wearing a green waistcoat, a sparkled derby and a tie all while lugging 100 pounds of props and performing at backyard birthday barbecues. I was deep into the craft of magic, and I went out of my way to watch, meet and talk with magicians everywhere I went.

Penn and I first spoke to each other in 1992 when I was 14. He made an appearance on a local radio show and I called in. Penn asked me about my act, and asked if I used a bunny. I told him no because my father was allergic. That's when he asked me on air, "Are you sure he isn't lying to you?" ... and that's what got me hooked on Penn.

My Dad was supportive of magic, and while he wasn't lying about the bunny, he wasn't a huge fan of magic shows. He's a computer engineer. A quiet, down to earth, MIT educated guy. Pulling yards of silk out a fake thumb never really appealed to him. When he was that age he constructed an oscilloscope from scratch. Yet, Dad bought me a copy of the Penn and Teller book How to Play with Your Food, and when he presented it to me he even performed a trick from it -- "Linguini a la Stigmata." A hilarious trick to a 14 year old, but it’s probably not for the religious or the mysophobic.

Buy the book. Try it out.

Soon after, I saw Penn and Teller live on stage. I think it was December of '92, and we’d had a record-breaking snowstorm. My father, sister and I braved the storm immediately after a performance of the Christmas nativity (an odd coincidence in hindsight) to see them at the Worcester Memorial Auditorium. It was cold, wet and the place was only about three quarters full -- but it was one of the greatest shows I've ever seen.

They performed Blastoff, Shadows and a number of other tricks that I still see them perform when I catch their current Las Vegas act.

The crowning achievement of the evening was their climactic effect. The duo stripped naked and put on two huge genital covering t-shirts. They then produced scarves, flowers and top hats from nowhere. Then … blood. Buckets of blood. Streaming down their shirts, pouring out of their hats. Just two near naked men, in t-shirts, soaked in fake blood. It was hilarious and mystifying, and I wanted to be just like them (not so much the naked part). They took their bows, and almost immediately they were out in the lobby, signing autographs, and wiping fake blood onto ticket stubs. I still have mine.

Over the years, I caught their live shows, watched their TV appearances and I proudly own a copy of their cult movie, Penn and Teller Get Killed -- you have no idea what you're in for until you see it yourself.

Eventually my act changed and I started swallowing razor blades and eating live rats on stage. Then, my love of magic transformed into an educational pursuit of acting, film, television and writing. Penn is part of the reason why I'm living in Los Angeles and working at Crackle today.

With that, I want to thank Penn for Penn Says because asking questions and challenging the establishment has lead to me living a more interesting life. Besides, Penn Says helps fund Crackle, which pays my wages and allows me to have this job … did I mention you can get his Best of Rants: Religion on DVD?

But now Penn is moving on to other things. In fact, Penn has been nominated for a Webby, and a great way to say farewell to the man is by voting for him as "Best Reality Host."

So go vote, and before you do, watch all the Penn Says on site and find your favorite moments, and share them with us below ... these days I have a bunny to feed.

CJ - Crackle Blog Editor