Vintage Penn & Teller on Creationism / Evolution

OK, the "Penn & Teller" title is somewhat of a misnomer, since this clip features only Penn.

Back in 1993 the TNT Network hired Penn & Teller to host a marathon of the 1960s TV show The Outer Limits. One of the episodes shown, from 1963, was called "The Sixth Finger." It was about a bloke who both evolves and devolves through scientific experimentation. Penn Jillette's comments concerning creationism/evolution during one of the commercial breaks in the segment are what appear here.

It was surprising to hear these comments aired, because at that time TV networks were ridiculously squeamish about wading into the whole creationism/evolution tar pit (pun intended). This was the first time I'd heard anything this bold within that realm on TV. Guess this one just slipped by the network.

Since Penn Jillette was soliciting public reaction, I've always wondered what sort of reaction his comments drew at the time. By posting this here I'll get a pretty good idea. Go at it, folks! (Sometimes the comments are more fun than the videos!)

Category:

Education

Tags:

• penn
• teller
• evolution
• creationism
• outer
• limits
• sixth
• finger
• tnt
• monstervision

[SamdeSquirell]

Evolution doesn't bother me, I know it's just a theory and therefore (by definition) not true. Now if no one minds I'm going to go fly to the shops, because gravity is only a theory as well. Now I know what you're thinking, I might get cold and sick if I fly this time of night, but don't worry about that - because germs are just a theory as well. When I get back home I'll watch some TV, when I change channel there might be white noise that God put there, because the big bang is just a theory...

[MaxAC40]

GRAVITY IS A MYTH - INTELLIGENT FALLING IS TRUTH

[Ichiboy900]

@Lehmann108 No, not true at all. Creationism is the assertion that all species are irreducibly complex, thus could not have came about little by little via evolution. Considering that evolution is scientific fact, creationism is treading within the realm of science and should be refuted accordingly.

[Lehmann108]

@Ichiboy900 Creationism or Intelligent Design are not scientific explanations, but philosophical explanations because they utilize metaphysical constructs which are, by definition, outside the realm of measurement and therefore outside the realm of science.

[Lehmann108]

@SamdeSquirell A theory is the best explanation based on facts which are measurable evidence. A fact is true or false. A theory is the explanation. To say that a theory is "not true" indicates that you don't understand how a theory functions.

[ratjoe24]

@Ichiboy900 i wasnt talking about penn (i am a big fan of him) i was talking about some of the people who commented in the video

[Ichiboy900]

@ratjoe24 When did they say that? They just said creationism is untrue.

[thetoddsmith]

@MaxAC40 That's awesome!

[deviantbreed]

@SamdeSquirell you had me for a sec, nice.

[deviantbreed]

@SamdeSquirell ...theory in scientific terms is FACT.