LAS VEGAS – Penn & Teller, the bad boys of magic, have spent most of their career playing with knives, guns, livestock and fire-eating showgirls. It’s no wonder they’re a hit in Vegas.

Now celebrating five years of performances at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, the duo’s unique blend of magic and comedy has brought them acclaim and the praises of critics. But ask them, and they’ll simply tell you they are “a couple of eccentric guys who have learned how to do a few cool things.” Those things, like catching bullets in teeth, making money appear out of thin air and swallowing 100 embroidery needles, led to David Letterman’s proclaiming the pair “evil geniuses.”

“We love performing at the Rio and in such a kick-ass theater, which coincidentally is named the Penn & Teller Theater. I want to die performing at the Rio; I mean of old age, not during the bullet trick,” joked Penn Jillette, the larger, louder half of the duo.

Performing together for over 30 years, combining Teller’s silent and occasionally creepy magic with Penn’s carnival barker zeal and juggling expertise, the pair have created an entertainment success story that went from the streets to small clubs to national theater tours and television appearances. Among others, Penn & Teller have lent their peculiar humor to “Late Night with David Letterman,” “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “Today” and series such as “Friends,” “West Wing,” “Home Improvement” and “The Simpsons.”

And after three decades together, they show no signs of slowing down. Their latest project, “Penn & Teller: Bullshit!” for the Showtime network, begins its sixth season in early 2008. The controversial show, which has received 11 Emmy nominations, including two at this month’s ceremony, and the Writer’s Guild award for Outstanding Comedy/Variety Series, tackles the frauds and fakes behind such topics as talking to the dead, alien abductions and feng shui.

Penn & Teller’s live show has been called: “Pure entertainment and demented originality,” (Newsweek); “Hilarious! Mind-bending! Mind-boggling!” (New York Magazine); “One of the best evenings at the theatre one can have,” (Chicago Tribune). They perform in the Penn & Teller Theatre at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino nightly (except Fridays) at 9 p.m. Tickets are $75 and $85 for VIP/Ampersand Seating, and are available by calling (702) 777-7776.