Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular
Encyclopedia
Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular was a weekly American
television
variety show
hosted by Penn and Teller that appeared on the FX Networks from August 10, 1998 - June 30, 1999. The show's aim was to revive the genuine variety shows from the past, such as The Ed Sullivan Show
, where, as Penn put it, you could see Pavarotti
singing an aria
, followed by a man with trained performing housecats. Although Pavarotti never performed, the housecats were featured.
, the tattooed lady who ate bugs, and her husband, the Enigma (also covered with tattoos), who swallowed swords
and lightbulbs, and had two horns surgically implanted into his forehead. Although the content of the show was sometimes purposely shocking and outlandish, its varied format ensured that eventually something would come along to interest the viewer and keep him watching. Often celebrities appeared performing previously unknown talents, such as actor French Stewart
singing and dancing Hooray Pornography, Andy Dick
tap-dancing, or Jerry Springer
singing while the dancers fight behind him a la The Jerry Springer Show
.
Musical highlights were Fred, an old-time barbershop quartet, singing I Want To Be Sedated, Michael McKean
as a distraught Edgar Allan Poe
who breaks into a disco extravaganza with the Eight Deadly Sin Dancers, and comedian Carlos Alazraqui
transforming the tradition of Irish River Dancing into a bizarre S&M spanking fantasy, the brainchilds of writer Martin Olson
. Outstanding straight musical acts like Dr. John
and John Popper also appeared. In one impressive performance, Popper jammed on the harmonica while Penn narrated a story and Teller illustrated it with brilliant card tricks. Other off-beat performers included comedians Kevin Meaney
, Don Novello
, Otto and George, Bobcat Goldthwait
, Eric Idle
,and Martin Mull
.
Each show opened with a solo Penn and Teller performance, many of which were classics and among the best television performances they ever produced. Some of their pieces, like "Cuffed to a Creep" where Penn finds himself handcuffed to a bizarre stranger (Teller) on a park bench, and "Balloon of Blood" in which Penn eloquently describes the strength and vulnerability of humanity, were borrowed from their stage show, while others, like Teller's unforgettable Hitchcockian
"zippo lighter" piece, were written especially for the TV show.
The FX network chose not to renew the show after the first season.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
hosted by Penn and Teller that appeared on the FX Networks from August 10, 1998 - June 30, 1999. The show's aim was to revive the genuine variety shows from the past, such as The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
, where, as Penn put it, you could see Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti
right|thumb|Luciano Pavarotti performing at the opening of the Constantine Palace in [[Strelna]], 31 May 2003. The concert was part of the celebrations for the 300th anniversary of [[St...
singing an aria
Aria
An aria in music was originally any expressive melody, usually, but not always, performed by a singer. The term is now used almost exclusively to describe a self-contained piece for one voice usually with orchestral accompaniment...
, followed by a man with trained performing housecats. Although Pavarotti never performed, the housecats were featured.
Description
Sin City Spectacular (SCS) was an hour long program that featured many acts on the program that were bizarre, sideshow-type performances. These type of performances included KatzenKatzen
Katzen the Tiger Lady is the stage name of a bodily modified female performance artist and tattoo artist, whose full body tattoo theme is that of a tiger....
, the tattooed lady who ate bugs, and her husband, the Enigma (also covered with tattoos), who swallowed swords
Sword swallowing
Sword swallowing is an ancient performance art in which the performer passes a sword through the mouth and down the esophagus towards the stomach...
and lightbulbs, and had two horns surgically implanted into his forehead. Although the content of the show was sometimes purposely shocking and outlandish, its varied format ensured that eventually something would come along to interest the viewer and keep him watching. Often celebrities appeared performing previously unknown talents, such as actor French Stewart
French Stewart
Milton French Stewart , better known by his stage name French Stewart, is an American actor, best known for his role as Harry Solomon on the 1990s sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun.-Early life:...
singing and dancing Hooray Pornography, Andy Dick
Andy Dick
Andrew R. "Andy" Dick is an American comedian, actor, musician and television/film producer. His first regular television role was on the short-lived but highly influential Ben Stiller Show. In the mid-1990s, he had a long-running stint on NBC's NewsRadio...
tap-dancing, or Jerry Springer
Jerry Springer
Gerald Norman "Jerry" Springer is a British-born American television presenter, best known as host of the tabloid talk show The Jerry Springer Show since its debut in 1991...
singing while the dancers fight behind him a la The Jerry Springer Show
The Jerry Springer Show
The Jerry Springer Show is a syndicated television tabloid talk show hosted by Jerry Springer, a former politician, broadcast in the United States and other countries...
.
Musical highlights were Fred, an old-time barbershop quartet, singing I Want To Be Sedated, Michael McKean
Michael McKean
Michael John McKean is an American actor, comedian, writer, composer and musician, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Squiggy's friend, Leonard 'Lenny' Kosnowski, on the sitcom Laverne and Shirley; and for his work in the Christopher Guest ensemble films, particularly as David St...
as a distraught Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
who breaks into a disco extravaganza with the Eight Deadly Sin Dancers, and comedian Carlos Alazraqui
Carlos Alazraqui
Carlos Jaime Alazraqui is an American actor, comedian, impressionist and voice actor. He is best known for his role as Deputy James Garcia on the Comedy Central series Reno 911!. His voice-over work includes the role of Bobbi Fabulous on Phineas and Ferb, the Taco Bell chihuahua, Denzel Q...
transforming the tradition of Irish River Dancing into a bizarre S&M spanking fantasy, the brainchilds of writer Martin Olson
Martin Olson
Martin Olson is a comedy writer, television producer, stage director and composer. He is also a playwright and poet known for comedic and unusual subject matter and known as an original member of the notorious "Boston Comedy Scene."...
. Outstanding straight musical acts like Dr. John
Dr. John
Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, Jr. , better known by the stage name Dr. John , is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist, whose music combines blues, pop, jazz as well as Zydeco, boogie woogie and rock and roll.Active as a session musician since the late 1950s, he came to wider...
and John Popper also appeared. In one impressive performance, Popper jammed on the harmonica while Penn narrated a story and Teller illustrated it with brilliant card tricks. Other off-beat performers included comedians Kevin Meaney
Kevin Meaney
Kevin Gerard Meaney is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He has been involved in a number of television programs, having been featured on Dr. Katz, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Garfield and Friends, Rocko's Modern Life, London Underground, and Duckman, among others...
, Don Novello
Don Novello
Don Novello is an American writer, film director, producer, actor, singer, and comedian. Novello is best known for his work on NBC's Saturday Night Live, from 1977 until 1980, and then 1985 until 1986, often as the character "Father Guido Sarducci". Novello has appeared as "Sarducci" on many...
, Otto and George, Bobcat Goldthwait
Bobcat Goldthwait
Robert Francis "Bobcat" Goldthwait is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and film and television director. He is commonly known for his energetic, ravenous stage personality, his dark, acerbic black comedy, and his gruff but high-pitched voice.- Early life :Goldthwait was born in Syracuse,...
, Eric Idle
Eric Idle
Eric Idle is an English comedian, actor, author, singer, writer, and comedic composer. He was as a member of the British comedy group Monty Python, a member of the The Rutles on Saturday Night Live and author of the play, Spamalot....
,and Martin Mull
Martin Mull
Martin Mull is an American actor who has starred in his own television sitcom and acted in prominent films. He is also a comedian, painter, and recording artist...
.
Each show opened with a solo Penn and Teller performance, many of which were classics and among the best television performances they ever produced. Some of their pieces, like "Cuffed to a Creep" where Penn finds himself handcuffed to a bizarre stranger (Teller) on a park bench, and "Balloon of Blood" in which Penn eloquently describes the strength and vulnerability of humanity, were borrowed from their stage show, while others, like Teller's unforgettable Hitchcockian
Hitchcockian
Hitchcockian is a general term used to describe film styles and themes similar to those of Alfred Hitchcock's films.-Characteristics:Elements considered Hitchcockian include:*The cool platinum blonde....
"zippo lighter" piece, were written especially for the TV show.
The FX network chose not to renew the show after the first season.
Crew
- Bruce Gowers, Kent Weed, Ron de Moraes, Directors
- Michael L. Weinberg, Supervising Producer
- Paul Buccieri, executive producer
- Robert Weiss, executive producer
- Carole Propp, coordinating producer
- Penn & TellerPenn & TellerPenn & Teller are Las Vegas headliners whose act is an amalgam of illusion and comedy. Penn Jillette is a raconteur; Teller generally uses mime while performing, although his voice can occasionally be heard during their performance...
, co-executive producer / writers - Martin OlsonMartin OlsonMartin Olson is a comedy writer, television producer, stage director and composer. He is also a playwright and poet known for comedic and unusual subject matter and known as an original member of the notorious "Boston Comedy Scene."...
, producer / writer - Colman deKay, writing supervisor
- Jamy Ian Swiss, writer
- Michael GoudeauMichael GoudeauMichael Carey Goudeau is a juggler and an ex-circus clown who graduated from the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College...
, writer - Gary StockdaleGary StockdaleGary Stockdale is an American musical composer and a two-time Daytime Emmy winner. He has composed music for television shows such as Sabrina, the Teenage Witch; They Came from Outer Space; To Tell the Truth; Comedy Central’s Last Laugh; Cowboy U; Hayley Wagner, Star!; A Home for the Holidays , and...
, Composer, Music Director - Bruce Ryan, production design
- Birgitte Mann, costume design
- Tiger Martina, choreographer
- Skip Burrows, property master, special effects
- John Monarch, Production Manager
- Veronica Garrison, Las Vegas Production Coordinator
- Mark Mc Quown, construction coordinator
- Kieran Healy, lighting
- Laurie D. Muslow, talent executive
Nomination
- Sin City Spectacular was nominated for Emmy for Outstanding Music and Lyrics for the 1999 Emmy Awards51st Primetime Emmy AwardsThe 51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were held Sunday, September 12, 1999. The awards show was hosted by Jenna Elfman and David Hyde Pierce. It was broadcast on Fox...
.