Unraveling the Magic: Penn & Teller Reflect on Their Iconic ‘SNL’ Season – A Vegas Experience

A new documentary about “Saturday Night Live” dives into an overlooked chapter of Penn and Teller‘s journey. Before they became legends, the duo made seven appearances during a particularly rough season: 1985-86. This was a time when “SNL” struggled with low ratings and harsh criticism, almost leading to its cancellation.

This difficult era is called “The Weird Year,” featured in the documentary series “SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night,” which just launched on Peacock. In the film, Penn Jillette candidly remarks, “The ‘Weird Year’ is the polite way to put it. It was the bad year.”

The season kicked off with Madonna as the host and Simple Minds performing their hit “Alive and Kicking.” Madge introduced the duo humorously, warning parents, “Don’t hire these two guys for your kids’ party.” Their performance included the famous water-escape act with **Teller** submerged, while Jillette raised his voice an octave. The routine ended dramatically with Teller “dying” underwater, much to the audience’s delight.

While that first episode seemed promising, the season was chaotic and almost wrecked the show during its 11th year. The show’s creator, Lorne Michaels, had returned after a brief hiatus, bringing back original cast members along with a fresh ensemble. This included notable names like Anthony Michael Hall, Randy Quaid, Robert Downey Jr., and Nora Dunn. Despite all that talent, the season was a mess and didn’t recover until Dana Carvey and Phil Hartman joined in the following year.

Penn and Teller didn’t return after that tough season, but as “SNL” celebrates its 50th anniversary, so does their career. Recently, they wrapped up a series of eight shows at the Sydney Opera House and are set to continue touring in Australia through early February. They will perform at Radio City Music Hall later this year, marking their first appearance at that legendary venue.

Meanwhile, the magician duo’s long-running series “Fool Us” will air a special episode celebrating the 50th anniversary of “SNL.” Guest star Piff the Magic Dragon joins the fun. After years since their time on “SNL,” Penn and Teller have truly embraced their unique style.

Kenny Chesney just announced multiple concert dates, and there’s chatter about Zac Brown Band (ZBB) also performing at the Sphere this year. ZBB recently joined Chesney on his 2024 tour, creating speculation about a possible co-headlining show.

In a previous podcast appearance, Zac Brown expressed excitement about playing at the Sphere, calling it “the greatest canvas ever created.” As they prepare for these performances, fans can expect something special from both artists at such a remarkable venue.

Switching gears, Imagine Dragons recently performed their first headlining concert at The Venetian Theatre on New Year’s Eve. They had a personal connection to the venue, having filmed their “Follow You” video there back in 2021.

When Collective Soul took the stage at the same theatre soon after, it reminded me of that music video. The video features Kaitlin Olson and Rob McElhenney surprising a friend with a concert, adding a fun context to the venue’s history.

While we’re on the subject of good vibes, I caught a show by Mojo Juju at Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails in the Cosmopolitan. The band delivered a high-energy performance with captivating covers of classics by Guns N’ Roses and The Cranberries.

For any fans of live music, it’s a thrilling time in Vegas with a mix of established stars and exciting newcomers making their mark.