This spot aired exactly four years ago, on September 3, 2018, in season five of Penn and Teller Fool Us. They named the episode The Fool Us Zone, after my spot.
Season nine begins on October 14th, 2022. A little bird tells me that there will be some good coin magic airing this season! In the meantime, enjoy my spot (which is taught in Rubinstein Coin Magic).

https://youtu.be/S0gByeq1MjU

Stories can enhance magic and this is a great example. Well done! In fact, the magic and the story worked together to create a very interesting, compelling story that even included a message. Those of us who are old enough to remember The Twilight Zone know that the plots always included a message of one sort or another. So good on you for keeping with the theme.

The other thing I liked about the routine was the easy to grasp plot and the lack of too many "hand washing" moves. I've noticed that some coin magic seems to be reverting away from natural actions towards unnatural actions and grips. While the "eye candy" that results is interesting to magicians, I don't think it plays as well for the general public.

Doc, I enjoyed this back in 2018 and I enjoyed it again today. As another long, LONG time fan of Twilight Zone, I was particularly taken by that black and white homage to the show's opening, complete with the similar-sounding score. How did you put that together? Did the producers help you with it, or did you do it all on your own?

The producers loved the story, and wanted it to look like the way the show begins. So, they created the intro and a basic script to fit (which I changed a bit for the flow). We had to call the spot the Fool Us Zone instead of The Twilight Zone for copyright reasons (and they named the episode after my spot). However, I only had 2 days to pace the intro so that the words matched the visual. It was hard because I couldn't watch the screen and they turned off the music as soon as I began, but it worked out ok!
Once the visual ended and the lights changed, I was able to begin with my routine.

It was very classy.

I agree...very classy, indeed!

Wow, it has been some years since my first appearance on Fool Us back on 9/3/2018. This experience was both enjoyable and eye opening. It took place a few months before I was diagnosed with Amyloidosis, and started by having a friend of my wife who was a stewardess, getting us an upgrade for the plane trip to first class. Going to Vegas in style! However, as soon as I got on the plane my blood pressure dropped dangerously low (from my amyloidosis, but didn't know that at the time, I thought I screwed up my blood pressure meds), so I spent the entire trip drinking water to get my bp up and couldn't eat the wonderful food that first class provided. By the time we got off the plane my bp seemed ok but I had a bad case of vertigo. We got to the hotel, and Bob Kohler happened to be outside. Nice to see an old friend. He had no idea I was watching the world spin as we chatted. Fortunately I was feeling better by the next day, when I had rehersals with Mike Close, Johnny Thompson, and the crew. However, they decided to raise the table on me, which made my decision to change the way to hide the copper coin using matting (it was usually done another way as outlined in my book, but I thought my technique would fool them) very difficult. I ended up having to modify the move that night because it was impractical to perform it
the usual way with my hand at chest level.
I remember having a conversation with Mike Close after the rehearsal where he said that the producers just want a good show, and I should forget about the fooling part as that is only a gimmick to have the show on the air. The real reason for the show is just to present good magic. He said that they don't need to understand the technique I was going to use to try to fool them,they could just say that I ditched the coin. I guess I still really wanted to try, knowing that they would know the standard structure. I decided to stick with my matting concept and spent the entire evening trying to make the move work with the higher table.
They also hit me with a script I had to learn based on their Twilight Zone intro. I had to memorize it in a day, and coordinate my words with their video. That was hard because during the filming I wouldn't be able to see the video, but fortunately it went well during the taping!
The next day they took me to a Twilight Zone themed miniature golf course (it's Vegas, baby!) and to a Veterinary hospital to film the spot used for the introduction to the act. That was a lot of fun! My wife Karen and I got in later to see a taping of the show, and it relaxed me to see that one guy screwed up a rubiks cube trick, and they had him just do it over. Allison also flubbed a line, and she got to do it again. That relaxed me as I realized that even if I screw up, I might be able to fix it.
The day of the show I was in a holding room with the other people set to perform that day (not the same people on my episode, as they splice the acts up into different episodes so that there would only be one fooler per show and that each episode would be balanced on the type of magic (not all cards, etc). That is why Allison and the guys always wore the same clothes - so there would be continuity when they splice up the acts into different episodes.
I finally go up to do my spot, and although no one realizes it, after they finish the guys talk a lot longer while Allison talks to you - they just splice out the unnecessary questions to tighten it up. I was waiting for them to explain how I ditched the coin, but when they didn't mention it I had to ask. Probably a big mistake because their answer gave it away to the magicians who were initially fooled. Oh well, live and learn. I later watched the spot when it aired and saw there was a slight flash on the copper coin from the studio lights at the worst possible moment, that some astute
magicians noticed when they watched. Penn and Teller had an ipad at their seat so they could see the close up camera shot even though they are like 20 feet away. They also talked for about 5 minutes after my question before they spoke, so maybe they just figured it out. It looks like they talk for 5 seconds on the show, as the extra time was spliced out. Oh well.
After I got off stage I was taken by the staff and told to wait in some hallway, why I had no idea. All of a sudden Penn and Teller walk down the hall (I guess they were on break), and I soon realized I was waiting outside their dressing rooms! They shook my hand and Teller told me how much he enjoyed the trick and smooth it was, which course, was for me a highlight, and then they took me to the lobby where my wife was waiting for me. What a great experience!
At some point after the show aired, there was a YouTube clip put up by someone, and I was shocked to read the comments - antisemetic stuff, things like, " my six year old brother could do a better job", etc. stuff that Trolls write. Fortunately they took down that clip, and years later I got permission to put it on my own channel. Here is is if you didn't go back to the beginning of this thread. Btw, this version performwd on the show along with the patter is in Rubinstein Coin Magic along with the original way I did it, and some other variations. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/S0gByeq1MjU?si=34hvjKfSTESJl1Qw

Wow, when I originally watched this, I would never have guessed everything you had to deal with behind the scenes.

I know I was entertained (especially by your Rod Serling impression).

I'll have to re-watch with your commentary in mind. Do you have any stories from your second appearance?

Thanks. I do have a story, and I will be glad to share it in the coming days.