Penn and Teller on the Late Late Show

[Brown]

The boys made a brief appearance on the Late Late Show on November 30. Penn drove a rude-sounding phrase into the ground and mentioned briefly that he had been recently married.

The boys then did a simple trick with handcuffs and a piece of rope. What was great about the trick was that it illustrated the importance of presentation. The secret to the trick is easy. Ridiculously easy. You can find it in Cub Scout magic books. You can even find this trick described in some books that describe party stunts.

But the trick was presented in an entertaining and clever fashion, making it seem more mysterious than it really was.

The trick was basically this: Teller put on a pair of handcuffs, basically turning his body and arms into a big "ring." Penn threaded one end of the rope through the "ring" and gave both ends of the rope to the host. Suddenly, the rope was falling free, apparently passing through Teller's arm.

Teller did not open the handcuffs to perform the trick. In fact, Penn said (truthfully) that you don't even need handcuffs to do this trick. Handcuffs do offer some convenience, however, especially for a television presentation. And in this particular presentation, the handcuffs also provided a set-up for the big finish.

The big finish involved Penn inviting the host, Michael Ian Black, to perform the trick himself. After the host put one of the cuffs on his own wrist, Penn quickly linked the other cuff to a chain that was connected to an anvil. Penn then gave the host 50 keys (of which only one would unlock the handcuffs), and then Penn and Teller quickly fled the studio, running down the back stairs and making their escape in a waiting automobile.

 

[epepke]

The trick was basically this: Teller put on a pair of handcuffs, basically turning his body and arms into a big "ring." Penn threaded one end of the rope through the "ring" and gave both ends of the rope to the host. Suddenly, the rope was falling free, apparently passing through Teller's arm.

Hmm... Does this mean that discussing basic topology is forbidden here, because anyone with the slightest clue can figure it out?

 

[Brown]

I suppose we should not discuss topology here, as we might be giving away the secret to the trick. Intrerestingly, Penn used the word "topology" and the host said he did not know what that word meant. To his credit, Penn explained the concept rather well.

Teller performed the trick four times. The first time, the "secret" was hidden by a cloth. The second time, the "secret" was out in the open, but the audience's attention was misdirected elsewhere. Penn was instructing the host about holding the ends of the rope, but Penn was unable to complete his instruction, interrupting himself with "He's [Teller's] out already," as the rope fell free. Teller, of course, rolled his eyes in that coy way he does, as if to say "You weren't watching, were you?"

The third time, Teller performed the trick with no cover and with all attention focused on him. His hands skillfully concealed the "secret."

The fourth time, Teller showed the host how the trick was done. The audience could not see the "secret," however, because the host held up a cloth that shielded the audience's view. Penn described part of the trick, saying that Teller's handcuffs did not come off (an assertion with which the host, seeing the "secret," agreed) and that the trick was based upon sleight of hand.

By the way, the rude-sounding phrase Penn drove into the ground was: "Indeed I is, me old cock; long may your big jib draw!" According to Penn, this is a complimentary remark and a wish for good luck, and the network (CBS) aired it without censorship.

 

[Lavie Enrose]

The boys then did a simple trick with handcuffs and a piece of rope. What was great about the trick was that it illustrated the importance of presentation.

I just had to underline that last part....