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The Non-Controversy Controversy

The article’s opening line is clever but belied by the actual story.  “Copperfield is no Penn pal,” says The New York Post‘s Gossip Column.

We are guessing it has something to do with Penn & Teller’s upcoming NBC Special.  Got to stir the stink — especially during Sweeps Month.

The columnists don’t let up, though.  “David Copperfield and Penn Jillette’s greatest illusion may be their supposed friendship.”

The faux controversy surrounds to Penn Jillette’s reaction to Mr. Copperfield’s plans to impregnate a girl on stage.  Mr. Copperfield added, “Naturally, it will be without sex.”

Mr. Jillette snapped back “The only way Copperfield can reproduce is with a cheesy magic act.”

Okey Dokey.

Before we go on we should note this controversy was less than a tempest in a teapot.  There was only one paper covering it.  Sure, the story was re-printed in The Las Vegas Review-Journal, but that’s about it. 

We’re guessing Mr. Jillette made the comment to The New York Post Gossip Columnist or someone tight with the paper.

The Post contacted Mr. Copperfield in Paris, was read the quote and asked for a response.

We’re kind of proud the way the peripatetic Mr. Copperfield responded.

“Penn invokes my name whenever he needs publicity, which is often. We’re actually pals. Privately, he treats me like a king. In fact, his nose is blacker than his fingernails from being up my a– for 20 years. If his reputation were as big as his gut, he wouldn’t need to include me in his press release.”

Copperfield added that Penn is “not a bad guy,” but he prefers the silence of his partner, Teller, who “doesn’t talk out of both sides of his mouth.”

Mr. Jillette wanted to be sure to keep the “Bad Boy of Comedy” rep going.  He told The Post he does his baby-making the old fashioned way, “censored.”

So where are we in the libretto? 

Oh, yeah, we need to make sure the subtle dig wasn’t lost on The New York Post readers. 

The columnist suggests Mr. Copperfield may be gay by pointing out he has denied the very allegation in the past. 

Can we stop for a second?

We have no problem with anyone trying to create publicity.  As we say in Montreal or Paris, “il n’ya pas de quoi,” t’aint nothing but a thing.

But is it necessary to take cheap-shots at someone’s sexual lifestyle?

But then again, as they say in Paris, “Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose” or “Same different clowns.”

Mr. Copperfield confronted such attacks in the past and apparently he’ll have to continue to do so. It is a shame Mr. Jillette, NBC, and The Post believe Mr. Copperfield’s lifestyle is anyone’s business or matters.  But Penn Jillette, the NBC publicity machine, or The New York Post, are sure you’ll be salaciously intrigued and want to watch Penn’s special…
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November 8th, 2005 | Category: Magic News | Leave a comment

Reflections on Our Point

Light Patina at Work

Sometimes, late at night, when we are all alone, we become reflective. 

We do not become shiny; although we do sweat sometimes but not so much as to make us shine.  But that sweat is more of a cold sweat sufficient to soak our light blue, latex poncho and knee-high socks that we like to wear when we reflect. Perhaps you too have a favorite poncho for your reflective moments. 

If so, please do not send us pictures – they are still monitoring our email.  

We digress. 

Tonight, as we reflect on all that is magic, one word comes to mind: The Professor’s Nightmare.  This rope trick is, to quote an anonymous source from a big book, “cunning, baffling and powerful.”

It is inscrutable.  We know, have tried many times to scruit it but have failed. 

Do you remember your first time — with or without your special poncho?

If you are like us, you were probably standing on the customer-side of a glass case filled with tricks, covered with a light patina of dust.

(We mean to say the tricks were covered with dust not you or your poncho of reflection. “Light Patina” was, ironically, Lulu Hurst’s real name.  She changed it when she entered show business as The Georgia Magnet ? the woman who could not be lifted.  Her sister, Thin Patina could be picked up by anyone with a good story and a beer – or just a beer or just a good story about a beer.) 

If you are like us, you watched with your good eye as the three unequal ropes became the same length and then returned to their original unequal lengths. 

Sure, we know there was a story to it but the imagery alone was sufficient to sell the trick. 

How upset were you when you learned the ropes were un-gimmicked and nothing was added or removed from the props? 

We never read instructions.  We like to look at the trick, view the gimmick(s), and figure it out. 

We often regret tossing aside the instructions to The Professor’s Nightmare.  In fact, we still don’t know how it is done but we are too proud to ask. (We are apparently not too proud to admit our other failings in public). 

We figure the secret to The Professor’s Nightmare has something to do with the sweat of one’s hands causing the rope to elongate and then immediately shrink.  We’re not sure, though. 

Despite our sweating and tugging; we have been unable to do anything but soil the ropes and offend the other bus passengers with the furtive jostling beneath our light blue poncho and grunts of discouragement.

(Ironically, Grunts of Discouragement was the name of our very first traveling illusion show and the only one we performed while still a conjoined triplet.  Many found it offensive we actually chose to be surgically conjoined with Mr. and Mrs. Toll.  Critics said it was a publicity stunt and that we could have donated our spleen to the conjoined husband and wife (we think they were married) without actually becoming one body with them.  Hindsight is 20-20 and when we were with Mr. and Mrs….
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November 8th, 2005 | Category: Magic Stories | Leave a comment