List of Penn & Teller: Bullshit! episodes

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This is a list of all Penn & Teller: Bullshit! episodes.

Contents

[edit] Season 1: 2003

# Title Air date Focus and synopsis
1-01 Talking to the Dead January 24, 2003 Examines psychics claiming to be able to talk to the dead, alleging their techniques are little more than cold reading.
1-02 Alternative Medicine January 31, 2003 A look at chiropractic medicine, reflexology, magnet therapy, and a trip to an alternative medicine fair that ends in an operation at a crowded mall.
1-03 Alien Abductions February 7, 2003 This show features three days spent at a UFO convention and a visit to an alien abduction group therapy session. It also explores the psychological explanations, and the influences of pop culture, on the typical abduction story.
1-04 End of the World February 14, 2003 Attacks persons predicting the end of the world, with special focus on the Left Behind series and extreme survivalist methods.
1-05 Second Hand Smoke / Baby Bullshit February 21, 2003 Critiques concerns on second-hand smoke and the usefulness of baby education products.
1-06 Sex, Sex, Sex February 28, 2003 Attacks penis and breast enlargement products, questions the usefulness of aphrodisiacs.
1-07 Feng Shui / Bottled Water March 7, 2003 Seeks to disprove Feng Shui as a science while challenging claims on the quality of bottled water.
1-08 Creationism March 14, 2003 Examines the scientific validity of creationism and intelligent design, with focus on a Georgia school board debate.
1-09 Self-Helpless March 21, 2003 Attacks various forms of self-help programs.
1-10 ESP March 28, 2003 Attacks people claiming to possess and teach Extra-sensory perception.
1-11 Eat This! April 4, 2003 Attacks various weight loss diet products and plans while questioning organic foods and GM food concerns.
1-12 Ouija Boards / Near Death Experiences April 11, 2003 Challenges the Ouija board and investigates the nature of near-death experiences.
1-13 Environmental Hysteria April 18, 2003 Question mainstream opinions on various environmental issues, including global warming, with a criticism of Greenpeace and Julia Butterfly Hill.

[edit] Season 2: 2004

# Title Air date Focus and synopsis
2-01 P.E.T.A. April 1, 2004 Offers criticism toward the animal rights movement, and particular attention to the P.E.T.A. organization, and its apparent ties with the Animal Liberation Front.
2-02 Safety Hysteria April 8, 2004 Examines recent hysteria over the possibility of danger due to terrorism, questions the connection between Mad cow disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, as well as school violence.
2-03 The Business of Love April 15, 2004 Seeks to debunk the popular concept and the selling of everlasting love by dating services and pop psych love experts, and questions monogamy.
2-04 War on Drugs April 22, 2004 Questions the constitutionality of the "War on Drugs" and common allegations against the medical value of Cannabis.
2-05 Recycling April 29, 2004 Debunks aspects of recycling, including the increased cost of certain forms of recycling, the detrimental effect that certain forms of recycling have on the environment, and debunks numerous myths regarding landfills.
2-06 The Bible: Fact or Fiction? May 6, 2004 Debunks claims that the Bible is historically and factually accurate.
2-07 Yoga, Tantric Sex, Etc. May 13, 2004 Offers criticism on numerous activities in the New Age movement, including: yoga, Tantric sex, cartomancy, medicinal herbs and vortices, (especially the Sedona Vortices).
2-08 Fountain of Youth May 20, 2004 Offers criticism of addiction to plastic surgery, chelation, human growth hormone as an anti-aging agent, and details about the problems involved with botox.
2-09 Death, Inc. August 8, 2004 Debunks many claims made by businesses which offer funeral services, and investigates the validity of cryonics as a method of preserving a human body.
2-10 Profanity August 12, 2004 Attacks the idea that certain words are inherently offensive and thus are (or should be considered) taboo, and questions the constitutionality of the FCC's broadcast standards on profanity.
2-11 12 Stepping August 19, 2004 Questions the effectiveness of 12 Step Programs, with a focus on Alcoholics Anonymous.
2-12 Exercise vs. Genetics August 26, 2004 Debunks the claims made by various commercial exercise products that promise more than they deliver, as well as investigating the methods gyms use to maximize profits.
2-13 Hypnosis September 2, 2004 Examines the various promises made by professional hypnosis, and debunks the possibilities of "mind over body".

[edit] Season 3: 2005

# Title Air date Focus and synopsis
3-01 Circumcision April 25, 2005 Argues against the alleged medical benefits of circumcision, and describes the negatives of the procedure.
3-02 Family Values May 2, 2005 Argues that the "traditional" husband-and-wife family is a relatively recent creation. Supports gay marriage and polyamory, and also attacks the idea that homosexuals can be "cured".
3-03 Conspiracy Theories May 9, 2005 Arguments against the 9/11 conspiracy theories, Apollo Moon Landing hoax accusations, and Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories.
3-04 Life Coaching May 16, 2005 Argues against life coaching, demonstrating that life coaches often have minimal training, that the programs achieve few real benefits, and that the life coaches prey on people's insecurities.
3-05 Holier than Thou May 23, 2005 A critical view of Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi and the Dalai Lama.
3-06 College May 30, 2005 Opposition to political correctness, speech codes, and diversity requirements, especially on college campuses.
3-07 Big Brother June 13, 2005 Opposition to surveillance and unwanted government encroachment on the private lives of U.S. citizens.
3-08 Hair June 20, 2005 Opposition to hair fashion and fads.
3-09 Gun Control June 27, 2005 Against gun control laws.
3-10 Ghostbusters July 11, 2005 Accuses "ghost hunters" of conducting pseudoscience. Dr. Steven Novella appears.
3-11 Endangered Species July 18, 2005 Criticism of the U.S. Endangered Species Act and highlights its unintended consequences.
3-12 Signs from Heaven July 25, 2005 Debunks and explains imagined supernatural "signs".
3-13 The Best August 5, 2005 Criticism of people who engage in the pursuit of needless luxury.

[edit] Season 4: 2006

# Title Air date Focus and synopsis
4-01 The Boy Scouts April 3, 2006 Protests the Boy Scouts of America not allowing homosexuals or atheists to join as a government-funded organization. Claims the control of the Boy Scouts by the Mormon church as the source of the discrimination.
4-02 Prostitution April 10, 2006 Pro-legalization of prostitution. Debunks various myths on the dangers of the profession.
4-03 The Death Penalty April 17, 2006 Argues against capital punishment, from pragmatic and moral viewpoints.
4-04 Cryptozoology April 24, 2006 Concerning mythological creatures such as Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster. Cites the belief and study of these creatures as motivated by money as it creates tourism and royalties from film and video distribution.
4-05 Ground Zero May 1, 2006 About the dragging of feet in rebuilding at the World Trade Center site, and lack of (family approved) memorials.
4-06 Pet Love May 8, 2006 Concerns people obsessing about pets, anthropomorphizing pets, projecting their own feelings onto the pets, as seen in things like Neuticles and cat shows.
4-07 Reparations May 15, 2006 Mostly against reparations, including reparations for slavery, although not against reparations to people directly affected such as Japanese internees.
4-08 Manners May 22, 2006 Pro rational manners that make sense, against arbitrary manners.
4-09 Numbers May 29, 2006 How numbers in statistical surveys can be used to deceive and how one can be scammed.
4-10 Abstinence June 5, 2006 Argues that abstinence-only sex education is ineffective and often misleading. Also looks at the healthiness of being sexually active.

[edit] Season 5: 2007

# Title Air date Focus and synopsis
5-01 Obesity March 22, 2007 Attacks claims of the emergence of an obesity epidemic and weight loss products.
5-02 Wal-Mart Hatred March 29, 2007 Defends Wal-Mart against various criticisms.
5-03 Breast Hysteria April 5, 2007 Investigates societal attitudes towards women's breasts, supports public breast-feeding and recognizing flashing as free speech.
5-04 Detoxing April 12, 2007 Attacks various detoxification programs and asserts the actual health benefits of colonoscopies for people 50 years or older.
5-05 Exorcism April 19, 2007 Skeptical commentary on the usefulness and scientific validity of exorcisms.
5-06 Illegal Immigration April 26, 2007 Skeptical commentary on various "Minutemen" border patrol projects and the American government's plans to build a wall to keep illegal immigrants out.
5-07 Handicapped Parking May 3, 2007 Criticizes the Americans with Disabilities Act for attempting to legislate compassion, and points out the law's negative consequences.
5-08 Mount Rushmore May 10, 2007 Investigates the origins of Mount Rushmore and attempts to highlight the positive and negative aspects of patriotism.
5-09 Nukes, Hybrids, and Lesbians May 17, 2007 Advocates the use of nuclear power, criticizes hybrid cars, and follows lesbians on a blind date.
5-10 Anger Management May 24, 2007 An angry attack on mainstream anger management programs, likening their purveyors to charlatans.

[edit] Season 6: 2008

# Title Air date Focus and synopsis
6-01 War on Porn June 19, 2008[1] The duo examines the "war on porn," a crusade by various special interest groups to restrict free speech and regulate the Internet.
6-02 New Age Medicine June 26, 2008 Penn and Teller take a skeptical look at New Age medicine and its outrageous, unsupported claims of healing despite a heap of evidence that it doesn't work.
6-03 NASA July 3, 2008 TBA
6-04 Dolphins July 10, 2008 TBA
6-05 Sleep, Inc. July 17, 2008 TBA
6-06 Being Green July 24, 2008 TBA
6-07 Sensitivity Training July 31, 2008 TBA
6-08 TBA TBA, 2008 TBA
6-09 TBA TBA, 2008 TBA
6-10 TBA TBA, 2008 TBA

The 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike caused the series to be put on hold, however writing and production was resumed when the strike ended. Season 6 began on June 19, 2008. [2] [3] The season will include episodes on topics from dolphins to pornography.[1]

[edit] External links

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Cling, Carol (2008-05-12). Debunking Duo. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved on 2008-05-14. “When the show's new season begins June 19, the series will become Showtime's longest-running program, reports P&T spokesman Glenn Alai.”
  2. ^ Audrey, webmaster of pennandteller.com (August 15, 2007). Is There Gonna Be A B.S. Season 6?. Penn and Teller Bulletin Board. “Well..it's official....look for an all-new season of "Penn & Teller: Bullshit!" coming in 2008 on Showtime.”
  3. ^ Penn & Teller: On TV. Penn and Teller official website. Retrieved on 2008-01-14. “Look for an all-new season of Penn & Teller: Bullshit! coming in 2008 on Showtime.”