About a week and a half ago I flew into LA right after the P&T show to do another “season” of Identity. NBC had ordered 7 episodes, so we were scheduled to shoot 3 games a day. We shot 15 games and it’ll turn into 8 or 9 shows, so we’re at least one ahead. While I was doing ID, I flew up to Frisco to do a show for Microsoft and then back to Vegas to do a show at the P&T theater so we wouldn’t miss a Saturday night show. Greed will end my life. It really wasn’t bad. EZ and I used my little bit of time off to go to the set of “24” and hang with the cool writers on the show and see CTU and hold Jack’s gun. I also had a little time to go to Showtime and pitch “Not Penn Jillette” which is a goofy talk show that I’ll be doing a live pilot for in May. Yeah, that was the day off.

The days on ID are really really long, but I’m treated so well, it’s easy. I was a little smarter this time, I ate really right, sat down when cameras weren’t rolling, and kept drinking tea. I really like this gig. I couldn’t have done it without a year of the radio show, and it’s made my P&T show better. I’ve learned to do other things. There are game show host skills that I can use in P&T. Also, P&T are really benefiting from the NBC publicity machine and prime time ads. It was a good kind of hard work. EZ and the kids came with me to LA. I’m so glad they’re still young enough that we can drag them around like a camcorder. They came to the set every day and hung out in the dressing room so I could see them a little. I had a great entourage, with Spicoli, Krasher, and Farley taking good care of me. I love my director and producer, so it was a good time. NBC seemed very happy.

They didn’t do the Jump the Shark “Penn’s Friends Identity” but they did sprinkle friends all over. They all did great and it’s fun to look up there and see a face I know. The last game Teller was on the board. There are a few new rules, and a new set, and it was a lot better this time. We’re all learning to do the show. I like it.

We start airing this Friday at 9 right after “1 vs 100” and then we’ll be at 8pm. Hey, it’s a prime time TV show. It seems we’ll see a bump in the P&T box office with lots of people who hadn’t heard of us before and I really like that. I have a lot of press that Glenn set up because of the show, so I’ll be all over the place.

It was a good time. “Game Show Host,” is that my identity?

Penn

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