Penn & Teller Fool Us Host
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Who is the host of Penn and Teller Fool Us?

Updated: Jun 6, 2023

Who is the current host of Penn and Teller Fool Us, and what happened to the original host?


Get ready for a magical twist! The host for Penn & Teller: Fool Us has been changed for its milestone tenth season! Who is the new host? Stay tuned as we reveal the details and information about the new enchanting host, who's sure to captivate you!


We'll reveal details about the host change, PLUS share our first-hand experience filming with the actress on her first week of taping at the Penn & Teller Theatre in Las Vegas.


Let's look at the host of Penn & Teller Fool Us!

penn and teller fool us host
Penn & Teller Fool Us Host
 

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Penn and Teller Fool Us host


Penn & Teller Fool Us is a television show where magicians perform tricks in front of the American magician-comedian duo Penn Jillette and Teller. The program has had two hosts since it debuted in 2011.





In this article, we will be looking at the host and history of Penn and Teller Fool Us.

 

Season 10 Announcement: Change for Penn & Teller: Fool Us Host


In 2023, fans of the hit magic competition series Penn & Teller: Fool Us were treated to an exciting announcement that promised to shake things up for the show's tenth season.


After years of captivating audiences with her charm and wit, Alyson Hannigan would be stepping down as host, leaving many to wonder who would fill her shoes. However, fans need not worry, as Alyson will continue to work her magic behind the scenes as a producer on the show.


Brooke Burke is the new host of Penn & Teller Fool Us
Brooke Burke is the new host of Penn & Teller Fool Us

On May 18, 2023, the series was renewed for a groundbreaking tenth season, and with this renewal came the big reveal of the new host. The anticipation was palpable as fans eagerly awaited the announcement, and they were not disappointed. The enchanting and talented Brooke Burke was named the new host for Penn & Teller: Fool Us.


Brooke Burke, known for her charisma and engaging personality, is set to bring fresh new energy to the show. With her extensive experience in hosting and television, she is sure to captivate both long-time fans and newcomers alike.





As we look forward to the tenth season of Penn & Teller: Fool Us, we can't wait to see the magical chemistry between Brooke, Penn, Teller, and the amazing magicians who will grace the stage.


Stay tuned for more updates and prepare to be spellbound by the new era of Penn & Teller: Fool Us with Brooke Burke at the helm!


 

What is Penn & Teller's Fool Us?


Penn & Teller Fool Us is a magic competition where magicians perform tricks and attempt to fool Penn & Teller.


If the magician duo can't figure out how the trick is done, the magician wins a trip to Las Vegas to perform as the opening act in Penn & Teller's world-famous stage show and a $10,000 cash prize.


Penn and Teller Fool Us is one of the longest-running shows on the CW. The show has caught the eyes of fans with its unique premise and excellent performances from magicians worldwide.


The show has had two hosts in its multi-season filming. Let's look at the current female host of Penn & Teller Fool Us.


 

Who is the current host of Penn & Teller's Fool Us?


Since its debut, Penn and Teller Fool Us has had two different hosts. Who is the current host, and what is she famous for?


Alyson Hannigan has hosted Penn & Teller Fool Us since its third season, which aired on the CW Network in July 2016. The show is filmed in Las Vegas at the 1475-seat Penn & Teller Theatre in the Rio Hotel & Casino. Alyson is famous for her performance as "Willow" in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series and her famous band camp line as Michelle in the American Pie movie.


In each one-hour episode of Penn & Teller Fool Us, the television program invites three magicians to perform their best tricks to fool the famous magic duo Penn and Teller.



Alyson introduces each magician's act and chats with them while Penn & Teller decide if they've been duped. Does Alyson like magic, and what does she think about the show?


What does Alyson think of the show?


Before Penn & Teller Fool Us was picked up by the CW Network in the United States, it had two seasons on ITV in the United Kingdom.


What does Alyson think of the show?


“My oldest daughter and I are huge fans of the show, so I am so excited to be hosting a program our whole family can watch together.” -Alyson Hannigan on hosting Penn and Teller: Fool Us.
penn and teller fool us host Alyson Hannigan
Alyson Hannigan reacting to a magician on Penn & Teller Fool Us
 

Filming Alyson's first week hosting Penn & Teller Fool Us


Despite averaging four million viewers for each episode, Penn & Teller Fool Us was cancelled in 2012 by ITV.


The CW Network renewed filming and produced every season since.



I appeared on the show and the first few days of filming in Las Vegas with their new host. We presented an illusion, and producers chose to film bigger acts first.


Everyone was nervous.


There were a few unexpected problems during our filming, and we had to restart three times.


After the producers directed filming to continue and we began performing the second time, the power went out. It was a very nerve-racking experience, especially with a packed theatre and two of the most famous magicians in the world.


Watch my performance on Penn & Teller Fool Us, Season 3 Episode 2:


Magician Ryan Joyce presents the Eclipse illusion on Penn & Teller Fool Us.


I wasn't the only one who was anxious. After our performance concluded, Alyson joined me to begin the interview while Penn & Teller privately discussed our act. After several attempts to deliver her line, I grabbed her hands and said, "You got this."


She smiled, thanked me, took a deep breath and nailed her line.


It's a moment I'll never forget.

 

Who was the First Penn & Teller Fool Us host & why did they switch?


Who was the original host of Penn & Teller Fool Us? What happened to him? He seemed charming, down to earth and relatable, but then mysteriously replaced.


Here's what we know.


Who was the original Penn & Teller host?


The original host of Penn and Teller Fool Us was actor Jonathan Ross. He hosted the first two seasons with the magician duo.


Ross is an English host, actor, film critic, and comedian who has hosted several other shows besides Penn & Teller's Fool Us.


His career started in the early 1980s as a radio DJ for the BBC Radio 1 network. He is best known for his chat shows Friday Night with Jonathan Ross and The Jonathan Ross Show. He is also known for being married to Jane Goldman, who worked as a writer and producer on Stardust and the X-Men: First Class movies.


As fans of Penn and Teller's magic tricks show, we were left wondering what happened to the original host.


Why did Penn & Teller Fool Us change hosts?


When Alyson Hannigan replaced the first Penn & Teller Fool Us host, Jonathan Ross, in season three, no official statement was released. The reason why the show changed hosts remains a mystery but is believed to be mutual since filming moved from London, England, to Las Vegas.


Penn stated on his podcast that Ross could not continue filming in Las Vegas.


 

Is Alyson Hannigan Teller's daughter?


Alyson Hannigan is a host on the show Penn & Teller's Fool Us, and sometimes it seems like she's related to the silent magician Teller.


But no, she's not! Alyson Hannigan is not Teller's daughter.


Here's Alyson's biography and career in television and movies.


 

Alyson Hannigan biography


Alyson Hannigan is an American actress and television presenter born on March 24, 1974, in Washington, DC.


Her career began in 1986, and she gained fame in her early years for starring as Willow Rosenberg in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Michelle in American Pie movie and Lily Aldrin in How I Met Your Mother.


host of penn and teller fool us
Alyson Hannigan, Host of Penn & Teller Fool Us

In addition to her TV ventures, Hannigan provides the voice of Claire Clancy in the Disney Junior animated series Fancy Nancy, and since 2016, she has hosted Penn & Teller Fool Us.


As for her personal life, Hannigan married Alexis Denisof, her Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel co-star, on October 11, 2003.


The couple lives in Encino with their two daughters: Satyana Marie and Keeva Jane.


Here are a few interesting facts about the actress and Fool Us host.


Alyson Hannigan facts


Here are a few interesting facts about the actress and Fool Us host.

  • She studied clarinet in her junior high school years.

  • On October 11, 2003, Alyson Hannigan married her Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-star Alexis Denisof.

  • When she was four years old, Alyson Hannigan began appearing in commercials.

  • Hannigan's big-screen debut was in the 1986 film Impure Thoughts, playing Patty Stubbs. Her first significant role was not until 1988 when she starred along with Kim Basinger and Dan Aykroyd in My Stepmother Is an Alien.

  • In 1997 she started appearing in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and featured in 144 episodes.

  • In 2005, Hannigan began playing Lily Aldrin on the television series How I Met Your Mother.

Alyson Hannigan's biggest television and movie roles


Here is a list of some of Alyson Hannigan's biggest movies and television shows:

  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV) 1997-2003

  • Angel (TV) 2001 - 2003

  • American Pie (Movie) 1993

  • American Pie 2 (Movie) 2001

  • American Wedding (Movie) 2003

  • That '70s Show (TV) 2004

  • How I Met Your Mother (TV) 2005-2014

  • Fancy Nancy (TV) 2018-2022

See Alyson Hannigan's full filmography on IMBd here.


 

Conclusion


Alyson Hannigan is the actress who played Willow on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Lily Aldrin on How I Met Your Mother, and Michelle Annabeth Flaherty Levenstein in the American Pie movie.


Alyson has hosted Penn & Teller Fool Us since season three in 2016 and filmed at the Penn & Teller Theatre in the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.


Each episode features three magicians attempting to fool the famous magician duo. Alyson Hannigan introduces each magician's act and chats with them briefly while Penn & Teller work out their method.

 

That's It!


Hit the ❤️ below if you got value from this article, and share your questions and comments.


If you are a big fan of Penn & Teller Fool Us, check out the episode guide and complete list of foolers.


 

What to read next:


Ryan Joyce is the Executive Director of the Ontario OWOW Magic Festival. Ryan is a professional magician, entertainer and speaker who has performed over 5000+ shows worldwide. He has appeared on Penn & Teller's Fool Us, Canada's Got Talent and every Canadian national television network. He has over 10+ million views on YouTube, Facebook and social media and is trusted by Fortune 500 companies to deliver world-class performance.


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