Media Pranks - The Art of the Prank

August 2, 2008January 15, 2019

Dummy Fakes Story about a Faker [English & German]

Submitted by Uwe Wolff, July 25, 2008:

Tom Kummer was a “journalist” living in L.A. who came up with the most incredible celebrity interviews for German magazines. He was a star and even the most serious papers were after him to publish his interviews. Only — he faked them all. After this was revealed and he was busted, he tagged his doings as “borderline journalism”. Not bad, he?

This was years ago and it caused an earthquake in the German media scene. One editor-in-chief lost his job, others had to go as well.

Now, a lifestyle magazine from Berlin called Dummy published a story on faker Tom Kummer, still living in L.A. and surviving as a paddle tennis trainer. The article was about a night out with Bruce Willis, Gwyneth Paltrow and Tom Kummer who introduced the author to the celebrities. Nice article, very nice. Only, it was fake and the media went for it again.

The editor-in-chief of Dummy, who wrote the piece, declared in a blog, that he never went to L.A., never met Tom Kummer and never had a night out with Willis and Paltrow. The fake story on a faker was eagerly lapped up by other media.

Link: Medienlese

image: blog.dummy-magazin.de

April 4, 2008January 15, 2019

Flying Penguins Documentary Prank/Ad on BBC

From Scott Beale of Laughing Squid, April 2, 2008:

The Flying Penguins Documentary hosted by Terry Jones, was a brilliant and well produced April Fools Day prank by BBC to promote the BBC iPlayer.

Here”s a behind the scenes look for the Flying Penguins Documentary prank.

April 4, 2008January 15, 2019

Financial Foolery

April Fool’s Gag Pranks Financial Media
by Katy Marquardt
U.S. News & World Report
April 1, 2008

As I was enjoying my own April Fool’s joke this morning””which involved a fake E-vite to a lame smoothie party””hedge fund manager Doug Kass was pranking the financial media. In his early market commentary, “Time to Buy the Bull?” the typically bearish Kass announced he was raising his year-end targets for the S&P 500:

While I initially expected a 5% to 10% decline in the S&P 500 this year, my new year-end S&P target is 1,666, for a gain of 26% from current levels. I might be low.

The Big Picture gives a rundown on which news organizations fell for the stunt (all links are now wiped clean).

cartoon: inkcinct.com.au

April 1, 2008January 15, 2019

Project for Public Spaces: Faking Places

From Deborah Thomas:

The Project for Public Spaces, presents their astounding accomplishments in their April 1 newsletter. Here are a few highlights. For the full spectrum of victories in their effort to create more livable cities, visit here.

Los Angeles now a pedestrian paradise
Los Angeles–A bicyclist pedaling leisurely down Wilshire Boulevard spots a friend strolling down the sidewalk and pulls over to chat. A tall, tanned man wearing a Versace suit stops in the middle of a crosswalk to flirt with a blonde woman in a short skirt and high heels. Welcome to rush hour in L.A. (Click on headline to read the full story)

AAA shifts focus from autos to pedestrians
ORLANDO – AAA is re-branding itself the American Amblers Association to reflect its changing role in helping people enjoy the nation’s parks, playgrounds, public markets and greenways. (Click headline to read the full story)

Rush Limbaugh: Living the Good Life in Copenhagen
COPENHAGEN – In his first interview since moving here, reformed global-warming denier and ex-radio show host Rush Limbaugh said he has secretly vacationed in Copenhagen for years. (Click on headline to read the full story)

March 19, 2008January 15, 2019

Eunicure: Who’s Nuts?

Posted by Dan Savage on the Stranger, thanks Angela:

If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off!
March 12-13, 2008

That”s the motto of Eunicure, a loosely affiliated group of “board-certified urological surgeons” that offers hope””in the form of castration””to homosexuals that have failed to control their desires through prayer, meditation, or other non-scalpel-based interventions. From the Eunicure website”¦

Q. Isn”t the Eunicure extreme?
The Eunicure is not for everyone and should be no one”s first choice. Only if all other forms of treatment have failed to eliminate your homosexuality should you consider what Eunicure offers. However since the rate of AIDS and suicide is so much higher among homosexual men than among those without such an orientation, the Eunicure method can and does save lives.

Q. Is the procedure painful?
The procedure is conducted under a local anesthetic and post-operative pain management is taken very seriously. That said, there will be some discomfort after the procedure that should pass in a week or so.

Q What can I expect after the procedure is complete?
The main effect will be a complete lack of sexual desire of any kind. While loss of testosterone may entail side-effects such as the potential for loss of body hair, positive side-effects may also include the retention of head hair that might have been lost due to the effects of testosterone. It is a common misconception that a man”s voice will rise, but that is false. There are some reports of hot flashes and loss of bone density.

Q is the procedure reversible?
No. The Eunicure procedure is something that requires serious thought and we suggest counseling because there is no going back. While testosterone injections can reverse some of the effects, they cannot completely replace what you will be losing.

This can”t be real, right? Eunicure”s website seems like a cross between www.GodHatesShrimp.com and Donnie “God Hates a Fag” Davies. And wouldn”t any surgeon that castrated an otherwise healthy man””even if the castrated dude was a self- and ball-hating homo””be running the risk of losing his license? And this question from the Eunicure fact sheet makes me think the website is a spoof”¦ Continue reading “Eunicure: Who’s Nuts?”