History Series / PennAndTellerBullshit

* FanDisservice: A man showed his formerly circumcised penis in the "Circumcision" episode (he got its foreskin restored).
* {{Fanservice}}: Half of the episodes are loaded to the brink with full-frontal female nudity. And quite a few have fully naked ''men'' as well. Particularly exploited in the Vaccination episode where the anti-vaccination side depended upon porn stars to get their message across, Penn & Teller [[TakeThat had a topless woman stating that there was no correlation between vaccines and autism]].

** A gag that shows up several times in the anti-circumcision episode; [=N.O.C.I.R.C=][[note]]National Organisation of Circumcision Information Research Centers[[/note]], [=D.O.C=][[note]]Doctors Opposing Circumcision[[/note]], [=N.O.R.M=][[note]]National Organisation of Restoring Men[[/note]], and [=A.F.T.R.O.T.C=][[note]]Attorneys For The Rights Of The Child[[/note]].

*** {{Played with}} in the NASA episode. "NASA wants to travel the 35 million miles to Mars. Are they out of their fucking minds? We've heard from politicians, tourists and space-camp counselors, and they're all so enthusiastic." Cut to man in full flight suit. "And then there's this as... tronaut!"

*** At one point during a segment about hair removal via waxing, they used the catchphrase to lead into a video clip of a man getting his... well... getting waxed. Penn ecstatically asserted that [[BrickJoke multiple seasons of the show and every single use of the catch phrase was simply meant to be a lead-in to that one joke]].

** A regular target of the show. Bottled water and organic foods are but two examples. More generally, they also mock the "expensive is better" mindset that allows merchants to charge for unproven therapies like weight loss pills and toxin flushes.

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->''"You'll notice more obscenity than we usually use. That's not just because it's on Showtime, and we want to get some attention. It's also a legal matter. If one calls people liars and quacks, one can be sued and lose a lot of one's money. But "motherfuckers" and "assholes" is pretty safe. If we said it was all scams, we could also be in trouble. But BULLSHIT, oddly, is safe. So forgive all the bullshit language. We're trying to talk about the truth without spending the rest of our lives in court because of litigious motherfuckers!"''

* GodzillaThreshold: The episode "Death, Inc." has a priest show up on their show, on their side, furious about the funeral industry's financial exploitation of the grieving and emotionally vulnerable. Penn wastes no time pointing out that, given how infamously anti-religion this show is, his beef with the funeral industry has to be ''pretty huge'' if he's willing to go to them to get a platform to call the funeral industry out.

** As anti-religion as the show gets, "Death, Inc." had a Catholic priest on their side.

* ButtMonkey: Things conspire against Teller quite often.

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: The "War on Porn" episode opens with a flashback to TheSeventies, with Penn going to a porno theater and wishing that there was a way to access free porn from the comfort of his own home anytime he wants. His wish magically comes true, and he's suddenly [[TheInternetIsForPorn in the present day with access to the Internet]]. Penn believes that he wasted his wish on something too trivial, so he makes another wish, this time for Film/TheThreeStooges to come back to life. That wish is granted as well... sort of. Instead of an actual Three Stooges reunion, what Penn actually gets is the emergence of three [[HeteronormativeCrusader anti-pornography activists]] on which the episode will be focusing.

* PoliticalCorrectnessGoneMad: Addressed in the College, Reparations, and Sensitivity Training episodes. They pointed out that a lot of the materials used in sensitivity training courses was actually openly racist and/or sexist material masquerading as "diversity".

* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Many, though they're just as likely to mock people with anti-corporate sentiments (see the Wal-Mart and "environmental hysteria" episodes).

* AffablyEvil: Rodney Coronado comes across as this during the [=PETA=] episode, despite the violent nature of his crimes, including arson and domestic terrorism. When called by the show, his response is friendly and polite. Penn calls him a "cool dude," then adds "[[YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame too bad he's a fucking arsonist]]".
* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: "Holier Than Thou" is devoted to these, offering less-than-stellar interpretations of some revered public figures. Specifically: [[invoked]]
** They argue that Mother Teresa was a corrupt, social-climbing media darling who cared more about courting politicians and furthering [[ItsAllAboutMe her own "spiritual journey"]] than about improving the lives of the poor (which, they claim, she actually did very little of), and that she was not above using shady business practices to keep her charities profitable.
** They argue the Dalai Lama is, when you look past his espoused peaceful platitudes, just the ousted dictator of an oppressive Third World theocracy who wants to exploit his position as a "spiritual leader" to regain his lost wealth and power. In other words, he's not that different from the oppressive Chinese authorities that he claims to be against.
** While acknowledging UsefulNotes/MahatmaGandhi was a wise political leader who did much to improve the lives of his fellow Indians and demonstrated using non-violent tactics to prove a point, they argue against his 'saintly' reputation by pointing out he openly despised the native black population of South Africa (where he began his career as an attorney), [[ValuesDissonance though they mention his racism wouldn't have been seen as objectionable at the time he espoused these views]]. He also [[ArsonMurderAndJayWalking engaged in some weird sexual and hygienic practices]], among them giving young girls enemas and sleeping naked with them (a test of his celibacy).

* AnimalWrongsGroup: The focus of the PETA episode is about how the organization is quite corrupt, either not condemning or outright supporting terrorism in the name of animal rights, and how they ultimately kill more animals than they save.

* {{Hypocrite}}: Given the nature of the show, this is to be expected.
** One of the most blatant examples is PETA. Penn & Teller pointed out least three important hypocrisies during the episode.
*** They picket veterinarians and animal shelters for euthanizing animals, while euthanizing even more animals themselves.
*** They're supposedly against animal testing, even in medicine. They've gone as far as to supporting people and groups that has been declared as domestic terrorists for firebombing animal research facilities and giving researchers violence and death threats, yet they're perfectly fine in allowing their members take insulin developed through animal testing.
*** They also call themselves ethical while condoning violence if they believe it suits their narrative and supporting said terrorist groups.
** In the Swearing episode, one woman suggested saying santa vaca instead of cursing. Santa vaca means holy cow in Spanish, which would be offending to Hindus. She had no problem with that, since it wasn't relevant to ''her'' religion. She actually explicitly spells out in a later segment that she doesn't consider it cursing if you use the name of a god or religious figure you don't follow ("Buddha!"); Penn speculates on whether it goes both ways and a non-Christian swearing with Jesus Christ's name is perfectly polite.
** A couple of Wal-Mart protestors go on at length about how the company is exploiting their underpaid workforce and undermining their dignity. Then they proudly show off their merch... which is all blatantly classist "jokes" about how poor Wal-Mart shoppers are stupid inbred hicks.

* ManufacturingVictims: The show has an episode on 12-steppers, where they argue that the method is nothing more than brainwashing and religious indoctrination. It doesn't help at all against alcoholism, and at worst it can get people hooked on the AA movement.

* OnlySaneMan: In the War on Drugs episode, after listening to the arguments of its supporters, Penn claims, "Is everyone fucking high but us?"

* SinisterMinister: The Vatican and "Holier Than Thou" episodes.

* StrawmanPolitical: This tends to apply to pretty much anyone on the opposite side of their argument, regardless of political affiliation.
** The guests on the opposition side are espousing beliefs that tend to be more radical about their point of view, whereas supporting guests are usually more moderate. Penn has summed up the tone of their show with the phrase "fair and extremely biased" several times during the show. They are "fair" in that they allow people to express their opinions and/or ideas fully without dicking about in the editing or putting words in anyone's mouths that they didn't intend to be there. But they're "extremely biased" in that P&T steamroll over the opposition with their own side without a chance for rebuttal or explanation. Penn summed it up in the "Families" episode, where he said "we're biased as all fuck, but we try to be honest".
** Also "biased" in that they pick and choose the "experts" from each side. For example, using only the extreme minority of climatologists who are skeptical of climate change for "their" side - and completely ignoring the vast majority of climatologists in favor of university protesters for "the other".
** {{Discussed}} in the Vatican episode. Since they are generally going against the mainstream position, ideas that are generally considered impolite to question, and/or extremely influential groups, they feel that this is already their own counter-argument. They don't see any point in taking part of their thirty-minute show when the opposition has had centuries to make their arguments.
*** They further added that they could not get an actual Vatican official to agree to appear on the show, and discussed the theological idea that papal statements ([[{{Pun}} Papal Bull]] as Penn calls it) are directly inspired by God instead. The idea being that going by the Catholic Church's own theology, any church statement that has not been later reversed or superceded should be fair game for criticism against them.
** It's painfully obvious that they cherry-picked representatives on both sides in ''War on Drugs''. They used reasonable people (albeit one with a shady past) on the marijuana legalization side and smug strawmen on the anti-drug side.
*** Even in that episode, the worst offender was Robert S. Weiner from the Drug Czar's office and House Narcotics Committee, i.e. defending drug policy is his entire job and this is the best he can do.
** They sometimes have strawmen on their side, but the context makes them more sympathetic than the opposing side. For example Ted Nugent in the PETA episode is very blunt with his arguments, but he's an entertaining LargeHam about it. See also PowerBornOfMadness.

** '''Norman freaking Borlaug''', who Penn outright calls the greatest human being who ever lived. Borlaug's research into genetic engineering for food has been estimated as saving over a billion lives.

** Jack [=LaLanne=] in ''Exercise vs Genetics''.

** In general, the show does this a ''lot''. They strive to debunk large concepts in 25 minutes while making time for comedy, counterarguments, and skits like the "Bullshit Experiments." While they do interview experts in their field, they're almost always rather radical or particularly crazy (and funny) experts.

* DueToTheDead: The so-called-therapist who tells a widow "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26sFopHSqYI luckily he died]]" --regarding her deceased husband, [[HappilyMarried a nice man]] but not entirely supportive of her career -- made a very tasteless joke but is far from the worst individual depicted on the show.

* EnemyMine: Straight-up [[DefiedTrope defied]] in "Holier Than Thou", when they call the Dalai Lama's somewhat shady background to the audience's attention[[note]]He was part of the wealthy ruling priest class in Tibet (which was an oppressive Third World theocracy before the Chinese took over), and he has been involved in several attempts to win Tibetan independence through violent means with CIA backing.[[/note]] and remind them that the simple fact that he hates China doesn't necessarily make him a good person.

* ExpensiveGlassOfCrap: Basically the plot to the bottled water and the "Best" episodes. In most cases, because the person indulging thinks they're getting the best, whatever they're eating will be predisposed as tasting better. Notably, one of the guests who actually was a food expert ''did'' obviously notice and was trying to be polite in front of his host (who was in on it).

* {{Fanservice}}: Half of the episodes are loaded to the brink with full-frontal female nudity. And quite a few have fully naked ''men'' as well.
** Exploited in the Vaccination episode where the anti-vaccination side depended upon porn stars to get their message across, Penn & Teller [[TakeThat had a topless woman stating that there was no correlation between vaccines and autism]].

* SocietyMarchesOn: In the United States, there have been a few changes to policy that make the show seem somewhat dated, and this is likely to increase as time goes on.
** "Family Values": A majority of the episode is spent arguing for gay marriage, since the idea of "the perfect American family" is constantly changing. The Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide on June 26th, 2015.
** "Boy Scouts": Effective January 1, 2014, boys identifying as gay were allowed to become boy scouts. Effective July 27, 2015, the BSA board rescinded the national ban on gay leaders and volunteers, though individual local troops are still allowed to ban them.
** The term "libertarian" has been co-opted by the right wing fringe of the Republican party since the show went off the air, making the duo's use of it to describe their own stance seem like YouKeepUsingThatWord.[[note]]Although, in reality, it's more like [[YouKeepUsingThatWord the Republicans Keep Using That Word.]] Penn & Teller use it correctly.[[/note]]
** Earlier seasons make reference to George W. Bush as being the current President.
** In the episode on the Vatican, knowing that Pope John Paul II was in failing health, they lampshade this trope. As John Paul II appears on screen, a caption comes up that reads "If this guy is dead by the time this episode airs, just imagine we're talking about his replacement."
** This is discussed in the "Profanity" episode. They originally wanted to call the show "Humbug" in honor of their inspiration, but ended up having to change it to the modern equivilant. In Houdini's time "humbug" was as rude and offensive as "bullshit" is today, but over time it decayed to the point that people mostly don't even remember that it was ''ever'' anything but a silly old word.

* LogicalFallacies: Frequently used by the supporters of the topics they attack. For example in the 'War Against Porn' episode they call out anti-porn campaigners for drawing solid conclusions from their own speculations and mostly appealing to [[AppealToConsequences adverse consequences]]; "STOP THE FUCKIN' TAPE! She ''doesn't have any studies''? So Gail ''is'' just making shit up."

** They argue the Dalai Lama is, when you look past his espoused peaceful platitudes, just the ousted dictator of an oppressive Third World theocracy who wants to exploit his position as a "spiritual leader" to regain his lost wealth and power. In other words, he's NotSoDifferent from the oppressive Chinese authorities that he claims to be against.

* PetTheDog: While they're generally merciless against people they disagree with, they're far more polite and easygoing on [[PapaWolf Mark Klaas]] in ''Death Penalty'', since he supports it because his daughter was raped and killed.

To do this, P & T interview proponents of different views in the fields they debunk, then add facetious voice-overs that mock whichever side they disagree with and introduce the people who make money from it as "assholes". They occasionally throw in some non-scientific experiments and point out official policies, rules, and methodologies of various organizations that point out the hypocrisy of said organizations. Since both Penn and Teller identify as [[{{UsefulNotes/PoliticalIdeologies}} Classic Liberals ('Libertarians')]], they never fail to [[AuthorTract use the show to advocate their viewpoint]] -- but [[UnreliableNarrator they admit their bias]] and insist that the viewer should make up their own mind based on the information presented.

* ClimateChange: Comes up in "Environmental Hysteria" and "Being Green". Penn says the theory of man-made global warming might be true, but expresses some cynicism about it ("UsefulNotes/AlGore must be right. He won the Oscar. That's a science prize, isn't it?").

** The guests on the opposition side are espousing beliefs that they legitimately hold, but they tend to be the more radical about their point of view, where the supporting guests are usually more moderate. Penn claims that they don't ambush people with false pretenses, or take them out of context with tricky Creator/MichaelMoore editing, though we sort of have to take their word for it. Penn has summed up the tone of their show with the phrase "Fair, and extremely biased" several times during the show and NUMEROUS times outside of it. "Fair" in that they allow people to express their opinions/ideas fully without dicking about in the editing; "biased" in that they then steamroll over them with their own side without a chance for rebuttal or explanation. Which, as is often claimed, seems a little less than fair.

* BeeAfraid: In one episode, Penn goes off on a tangent about the phrase "opening a can of worms", since if you actually do that, you get some worms, but it's not very annoying or troublesome. A better phrase would be "you shouldn't open that can of ''bees''", because when you do, you get '''BEES!!'''.

* GlobalWarming: Comes up in "Environmental Hysteria" and "Being Green". Penn says the theory of man-made global warming might be true, but expresses some cynicism about it ("UsefulNotes/AlGore must be right. He won the Oscar. That's a science prize, isn't it?")

-->'''Teller''': Mother ''fucker''!\\

* VisualPun: Often used as a way of GettingCrapPastTheRadar -- for instance, talking about multi-level marketing in front of a giant pyramid (asking their lawyer why they can't use "that word," no less), or alternative medicine in front of a flock of ducks.

* NarrationEcho:
-->'''Penn:''' ''[narrating]'' Wait a minute! [Gandhi's] sleeping naked with the girls? And the girls are naked too? \\

* NostalgiaAintLikeItUsedToBe[=/=]NostalgiaFilter: {{Deconstructed}} in the "Good Ol' Days" episode. Three fans of ''Series/LeaveItToBeaver'' met Ken Osmond (who played Eddie Haskell on the show) and told him how much they preferred the world as seen in the 1950s sitcom to the modern world. Notably the three fans were not born when the show was made. Haskell himself was far more critical of the 1950s than they were and thought they were idealizing a world that never existed. He did admit the 50s were pretty nice for middle class white males. Not so much for everyone else.
** They also point out several people talking about how life be was simpler several decades ago. Even though the people are talking about different decades, Penn points out in thing they all have in common: the people talking were children at the time. So of course things seemed simpler back then.