Neal Justin's TV picks for July 7-11: 'Penn & Teller: Fool Us,' 'Shark Alley,' 'Hollywood Game Night,' 'Conan'

July 2, 2015 at 5:37PM
Teller, Jonathan Ross and Penn Jillette on "Penn & Teller: Fool Us."
Teller, Jonathan Ross and Penn Jillette on "Penn & Teller: Fool Us." (Marci Schmitt — THE CW/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Fool's gold

"Penn & Teller: Fool Us" has an intriguing setup: Watch budding magicians try to outfox the world-famous duo with a cutting-edge trick. Those who manage to stump the pair get a chance to perform in Vegas (and presumably get all the leftover Twinkies that Penn Jillette has given up since going on a serious diet). But there's a big problem. If the judges do indeed figure out the sorcerer's secrets, they keep the solution to themselves, which is a little like a winning contestant on "Wheel of Fortune" announcing that she's figured out the quote — without actually saying it out loud. Penn & Teller may be remaining loyal to the magicians' code, but in the process, they're playing a shell game with the audience. 7 p.m. Mon., WUCW, Ch. 23

Jaws of death

The waters get murky as Nat Geo Wild kicks off its third annual SharkFest with "Shark Alley," a look at how fin-feathered friends hunt down afternoon snacks during the world's most populous sardine runs. Look for more ocean drama during prime-time hours throughout the week. 7 p.m. Sun., Nat Geo Wild

Parlor games

John Legend, Chrissy Teigen and Jane Krakowski are among the celebrities joining host Jane Lynch for the Season 3 premiere of "Hollywood Game Night." Let's hope these contestants spend less time than their predecessors on tepid jokes and more time actually trying to win a game of charades. 9:01 p.m. Tue., KARE, Ch. 11

Nerd nation

Conan O'Brien continues to ratchet up the frequent-flier miles with his show, "Conan," airing for four straight nights from San Diego's Comic-Con. That means that the late-night series will make a rare Saturday night appearance. Look for cast members from "The Walking Dead," "Game of Thrones" and "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2" to stop by his booth to pick up their free stress balls. 10 p.m. Wed.-Sat., TBS

Neal Justin


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