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Historical Timeline: Past, Present and Future.

For over 50 years Penn & Teller have defied labels—and at times physics and good taste– by redefining the genre of magic and inventing their own very distinct niche in comedy.

Timeline

Penn & Teller meet.
Penn & Teller meet.
1975
Penn & Teller meet through mutual friend Weir Chrisemer and start performing as The Asparagus Valley Cultural Society
The Mike Douglas Show.
The Mike Douglas Show.
1977
They make their TV debut on “The Mike Douglas Show.” Their long-running show is a hit in Philadelphia. P&T perform as a duo in small clubs and fairs across the country.
The San Francisco run.
The San Francisco run.
1980-1984
Their show continues multi-year runs in San Francisco and L.A. They appear on The
Merv Griffin Show.
Off-Broadway.
Off-Broadway.
1985
“Penn & Teller” opens Off-Broadway to rave reviews, breaking box office records. Bookings on “Saturday Night Live,” “Late night with David Letterman” and “Miami Vice” follow. They win an Emmy for their first TV special, “Penn & Teller Go Public,” and an Obie for their Off-Broadway show.
It’s tricky.
It’s tricky.
1987
“Penn & Teller” moves to Broadway and opens at The Ritz (Now the Walter Kerr) Theatre. They star in the RUN DMC video, “It’s Tricky.”
They get killed.
They get killed.
1989
Their first movie, “Penn & Teller Get Killed,” directed by Oscar nominee Arthur Penn is released and their first book, “Cruel Tricks for Dear Friends,” is published.
They try it at home.
They try it at home.
1990
The NBC special “Don’t Try This At Home!” airs in November with Penn driving an 18-wheeler over Teller as the centerpiece trick.
The Broadway return.
The Broadway return.
1991

Penn & Teller return to Broadway for a limited run.

Vegas debut.
Vegas debut.
1993

Penn & Teller make their Las Vegas debut at Bally’s.

On the air in the UK.
On the air in the UK.
1994

The UK series “The Unpleasant World of Penn & Teller” airs.

TV appearances.
TV appearances.
1996
Appearances on dozens of top-rated shows such as “Friends,” “Dharma & Greg,” “Home Improvement,” “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,” “The Drew Carey Show,” “Hollywood Squares” and “Muppets TONIGHT.”
The Simpsons.
The Simpsons.
1999

Penn & Teller make the first of two appearances as their animated selves on “The Simpsons.”

Penn & Teller at the Rio Las Vegas
Penn & Teller at the Rio Las Vegas
2001
They begin their long-running residency at Rio all-suite hotel & casino in Las Vegas,
which continues today, making them the longest-running headlining act in Vegas history. They take time off for a brief return to Broadway to appear in “The Rocky Horror Show.
Total Bullsh!t.
Total Bullsh!t.
2003
“Penn & Teller: Bullshit!” premieres on Showtime and runs for eight seasons, earning 13 Emmy nominations and a Writers Guild Award.
The Aristocrats.
The Aristocrats.
2005
Penn conceives and produces the acclaimed documentary “The Aristocrats.” The NBC
special “Penn & Teller: Off The Deep End” airs. They make a controversial appearance
on “The West Wing.”
Penn dances.
Penn dances.
2008

Penn dons his ballroom shoes to compete on ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars.”

Teller’s Play Dead.
Teller’s Play Dead.
2010
Teller co-writes and directs the acclaimed Off-Broadway thriller “Play Dead” and Penn’s book “God, No!” becomes a New York Times bestseller.
Fool Us debuts.
Fool Us debuts.
2011
“Penn & Teller: Fool Us” debuts on TV in the U.K. A hit American version premieres on The CW in 2014.
The walk of fame.
The walk of fame.
2012-2013
Penn competes on two seasons of “Celebrity Apprentice,” raising more than $1 million
for his charity, Opportunity Village, and creates a signature ice cream sold in Walgreens/Duane Reade stores. Penn & Teller are given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Tim’s Vermeer.
Tim’s Vermeer.
2014
Their acclaimed documentary “Tim’s Vermeer,” about a Texas artist’s quest to paint a
Vermeer, is released. They end a sold-out U.K. tour with a command performance for
Prince Charles at Windsor Castle.
Back to Broadway.
Back to Broadway.
2015

Penn & Teller make a triumphant return to Broadway for the first time in nearly 25 years.

More Vegas history.
More Vegas history.
2016

Penn & Teller become the longest-running headlining act in Las Vegas history.

The Big Bang.
The Big Bang.
2018

Teller becomes a recurring character on “The Big Bang Theory.”

More Appearances
More Appearances
2019
They appear as their animated selves and help the gang solve a mystery on Scooby-Doo. They continue to make appearances on top-rated chat and game shows like The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Jonathan Ross Show , Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and The Masked Singer.
Magic Goes Wrong
Magic Goes Wrong
2020

The Olivier-nominated Magic Goes Wrong, written and created with Mischief Theatre, plays London’s West End, setting box office records.

Finally, An Australian Tour
Finally, An Australian Tour
2022

Penn & Teller tour Australia for the first time and Penn sits in as a guest judge for Simon Cowell on Britain’s Got Talent.

The Rio, Extended and a UK Tour
The Rio, Extended and a UK Tour
2023

The Rio extends their contract through 2026 and they complete a sold-out tour of the UK. Fool Us becomes the longest-running magic show on American television.

50 Years of Magic
50 Years of Magic
2025-2026

Penn & Teller celebrate 50 years of partnership with a world tour.