Riccardo Berdini Blends Music and Mentalism in a Charming Fool Us Performance

 Riccardo Berdini turns two printed words and a short song into a mystery about memory in his appearance on Penn & Teller: Fool Us. The Italian performer brings a musical approach to a routine centered on host Alyson Hannigan.

His performance appeared in Season 4, Episode 7, “A Big Round of Applause for Alyson,” which originally aired on August 24, 2017. 

Berdini begins by asking Hannigan to remember two words. He then picks up his guitar and sings a short melody, presenting it as an enchantment that will replace those words in her mind. His playful references to music and his Italian accent set a lighthearted tone.

When Hannigan names the words she remembers, her answers differ from the words Penn and the studio audience saw. The effect creates the impression that her memory has been rewritten, turning a simple reading exercise into a puzzling moment. 

Berdini completes the story by singing his enchantment in reverse. With the supposed spell removed, Hannigan can once again read the words that everyone else recognizes. 

The musical presentation fits Berdini’s background. His official biography describes a career in musical theater before professional mentalism, including portraying Jean Valjean in an Italian production of Les Misérables. Now based in Los Angeles, he also performs regularly at Hollywood’s Magic Castle.

On his website, Berdini describes audience connection as central to his work. He presents mentalism as an opportunity to explore how people think and feel, drawing on theatrical presence and storytelling. That philosophy gives useful context to his choice of a musical memory experiment. 

Penn & Teller did not award him a trophy for this appearance, but Penn praised his magic. Hannigan neatly summed up the reception: “You didn’t get a trophy, but you charmed them.” 

For magic fans, the clip offers a compact example of combining different performance skills. The guitar supplies the musical framing, the words provide a clear mystery, and Hannigan’s participation gives the audience someone to follow through the experience.