Posted on: May 6, 2010 Posted by: Jay NeuFutur Comments: 0

Penn & Teller have been a comedic powerhouse for well over twenty years by this point, and their show, Bullshit!, has been on the air since 2003. Where some of the earliest episodes seemed to have the duo provide the pros and (many) cons of major issues such as alien abductions, second hand smoke, and feng shui, the seventh season seems to focus on a little bit more specific of topics. This means that organic food, taxes, lie detectors, and video games (among other topics) are broached, with Penn & Teller coming down on one specific side of the issue.

I have to wonder if some of the episodes do not seem to pull out the more wild side of debaters just for good television, though. In “The Apocalypse” episode, for example, Penn & Teller have such a massive burden of proof that it seems almost like a death sentence to be on screen portending some sort of cataclysmic world event. However, there are episodes in which both sides of the argument seem to have fairly intelligent talking heads. “Organic Food” showcases how there are significant benefits for those individuals that do purchase organic foods, but Penn & Teller pull out a number of different studies and researchers that argue the obverse side.

What seems to me to be the only drawback to a solid season is that Penn & Teller never seem to be wrong; whatever side that they deem correct is ultimately the side that is given more face time along with a lack of berating. I understand that it may be hard, for example, to showcase any proper benefits or accuracy of astrology, but what about something like the tax system? At some point, there are benefits and negatives to the tax system, but perhaps the United States system is the best that can currently be achieved without a complete overhaul? Penn & Teller come down against this system, but fail to address some of the more positive projects leading forth from tax revenues. Penn & Teller: Bullshit! Is a fun show, replete with cursing and positive sexuality, but one wonders what the “losing” side may actually have to say, given the same amount of camera time and research that the other team receives. Pick up this season if you missed its original run on Showtime, and check out the Eighth Season, when it premiers on June 10th, 2010.

Rating: 7.0/10

Penn & Teller: Bullshit!: The Seventh Season (DVD Set) / 2010 CBS | Showtime / 251 Minutes / http://www.paramount.com/homeentertainment / http://www.sho.com/site/ptbs

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