I am constantly amazed by Penn & Teller. They break every Vegas headliner rule. One of the most important traditions in Vegas entertainment is to avoid divisive political issues. I doubt Criss Angel, for all his cartoon edginess, would ever voice an opinion on something as controversial as abortion. Yeah, I am serious. Headliners stay clear of controversy. Two examples from this century. George Carlin fired by MGM Grand for being in his words to me “too dark.” And, Linda Ronstadt booted from Aladdin for expressing admiration from the stage at her concert for Michael Moore.
One more example: Terry Fator at the Mirage pulled a joke about President Obama shortly after his show opened last year. The joke was innocuous; yet, Fator told me no joke was worth making any member of his audience uncomfortable.
So, what is Penn doing on Larry King agreeing with former Richard Nixon lackey Ben Stein about the controversial new health care law? In fact, why is a magician being consulted on health care at all? Again, I doubt Criss Angel would have been invited.
George Clooney gets to talk about issues on television because he is really famous and people like to look at him. Penn is slightly less pleasing to the eyes, but has proven informed and interesting enough over the years to speak to the times as what used to be called a public intellectual. And, it makes total sense that the great thinker from Vegas is a graduate of clown college.
I watched that segment on CNN. They get him on the show probably because he has a Libertarian type viewpoint. And in the past, he has shown up and is very good with his opinions. Although, at times, I don’t agree with them, he still is entertaining to watch and he offers a different perspective. And I’m pretty sure that’s why CNN has him on there from time to time.
I also had the displeasure to watch one panel discussion on CNN that was a total disaster. They had Mr. Steve Wynn on there and he acted like he knew shit from shinola, but the moment he opened his mouth, you could tell he didn’t have a clue.
The panel consisted of: The Governor of Michigan (Democrat), The Governor of Indiana (Republican), a representative from the Democratic Committee and Mr. Steve Wynn. Just at a glance, most people were thinking…which one don’t fit? You guessed it: The casino owner.
And they were asking what States are doing to fix things. Of course, Mr. Steve Wynn used it as an occasion to crack on President Obama, every Democrat in sight and about how he takes care of his employees and pays them well…that President Obama needs to pay more attention to jobs rather than health care, blah blah. And you knew that his main goal was he was pissed off that he was going to get taxed.
I would much rather see Mr. Penn Jellette on a panel than that asshole. Mr. Steve Wynn was a complete embarassment to the entire State of Nevada, and he needs to just run his casino and stay out of politics. Because he comes off as a grumbling, doddering old man set in his ways, someone clearly used to getting his way and, if you dispute him, you need to hit the highway.
That panel show with Steve Wynn in the above comment was not CNN, but Fox.
Thanks, mike_ch, for the correction. Now, I think of it, it kinda makes sense if it was ClusterFox News then.
Still my original point is valid. I’d much rather listen to Mr. Penn Jillette on CNN than Mr. Steve Wynn on MoFeaux News.
I didn’t think Carlin got fired for being too political. I just thought he had become a bitter, mean spirited, old man who quit trying to be funny. But, he was outspoken to the end.
I absolutely love that they got Penn Jillette on there to speak from a *real* libertarian perspective… not the stolen-from-libertarians, Republican Party/Fox News, part-time libertarian talking points that don’t have any real legs.