FACTOID # 43: Japanese and South Korean kids are the best in the world at science and maths.
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

FACTS & STATISTICS    Simple view

  1. Select countries to view: (hold down Control key and click to select several)

     

     

    Compare:

     

     

  1. Select fact or statistic: (* = graphable)

     

     

     

  2. (OPTIONAL) Compare to statistic: (both need to be graphable)

     

     

     

  3. View result as:

     

       
(OR) SEARCH ALL encyclopedia, stats & forums:   

Encyclopedia > Prank phone call

A prank call, also known as a crank call or hoax call, is a form of practical joke committed over the telephone. As with all practical jokes, there is a thin line between humor and harassment, and the person receiving the call is not likely to find it funny. A popular practical joke is to completely block someones doorway while they are in the room. ... The telephone or phone (Greek: tele = far away and phone = voice) is a telecommunications device which is used to transmit and receive sound (most commonly voice and speech) across distance. ... Humour (Commonwealth English) or humor (American English) is the ability or quality of people, objects or situations to evoke feelings of amusement in other people. ... Harassment refers to a wide spectrum of offensive behavior. ...


Even very prominent people have fallen victim to prank callers, as for example Queen Elizabeth II, who was fooled by Canadian DJ Pierre Brassard posing as Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, asking her to record a speech in support of Canadian unity ahead of the 1995 Quebec referendum. Two other particularly famous examples of prank calls were made by the Miami-based radio station Radio El Zol. In one, they telephoned Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez and spoke to him, pretending to be Cuban president Fidel Castro. They later repeated the prank, except that they called Castro and pretended to be Chávez. Castro reacted to the prank by calling them "bastards". El Zol was also fined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor) (born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen independent nations known as the Commonwealth Realms. ... Pierre Brassard is a radio broadcaster from Radio CKOI-FM (Montreal, Canada), famous for his phone call hoaxes. ... Jean Chrétien (born January 11, 1934), was the twentieth Prime Minister of Canada, serving from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This article is about the city in Florida. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (IPA pronunciation: ) was born August 13, 1926. ... The FCCs official seal. ...

Contents


Prank calls in popular culture

Prank calls are generally done for the amusement of the pranksters themselves. However, many pranksters record the calls to share the joke with an audience. Some performers such as the Jerky Boys have produced albums of prank calls. The television show Crank Yankers is a series of real-life prank calls re-enacted by puppets for a humourous effect. The Jerky Boys were an American comedy troupe whose routine consisted of prank calls and other related situations (such as fast food drive-through speakers). ... Crank Yankers is a United States TV show produced by Adam Carolla, Jimmy Kimmel and Daniel Kellison that features actual prank calls made by show regulars and celebrity guests which are re-enacted onscreen by puppets. ... Elmo, a popular puppet from Sesame Street. ...


The group Prank Machine had nearly 200 calls available entirely free to the public on their web site before it was closed as the result of legal action put forth by one Emilia Seldon. This was considered to be the first major action of its kind. Some of the more controversial calls can still be found through various sources, and the site has since reopened at a new location, although the content and format have been drastically altered, presumably due to legal constraints. A website, Web site or WWW site (often shortened to just site) is a collection of webpages, that is, HTML/XHTML documents accessible via HTTP on the Internet; all publicly accessible websites in existence comprise the World Wide Web. ...


There is a small but lively prank call community on the radio. Some of it is around a SHOUTCast radio station called "PCU: Prank Call Underground Radio". The radio station plays a stream of various prank calls. There are also several live shows run by people known as KDK, Zolar, Sean Ward, Billy Mira, Carlito, Reclude, and others.


Also, Michael Biggins (whose real unpreferred name is Michael Bigansky) has a website known as Blackout's Box. The website is devoted to prank calls, other forms of entertainment and discussions on philosophy. Biggins hosts a radio show on Thursday nights dedicated to these pursuits.


Examples of prank calls

Some examples of well-known prank calls are:

Caller: Do you have Prince Albert in a Can?
Receiver: Yes, I do.
Caller: Then you'd better let him out!
Caller: Hello! Is your refrigerator running?
Receiver: Yes, it is.
Caller: Then you'd better go catch it!

(The first example appeared in Family Guy in the episode "Fifteen Minutes of Shame," where Stewie and Brian prank call the show "Diane" when the rest of the Griffin family were on stage. The second one was parodied on The Simpsons, with the response being "as a matter of fact, my refrigerator wasn't running! Your timely phone call saved me from a great deal of unnecessary spoilage! Thank you, anonymous young man!" In addition, the first two prank calls were used on episodes of Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, the latter one in "Partying Is Such Sweet Soireé", and the second in "Bloo's Brothers".) Prince Albert is a brand of pipe tobacco sold by John Middleton, Inc. ... Family Guy is an American animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane for FOX in 1999. ... The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening. ... Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends is an American animated television series created and produced by animator Craig McCracken, who also created The Powerpuff Girls. ...


Other examples

Often times, pranksters attempt to use wordplay to get their victims to unsuspectingly use vulgarities. This was attempted by the Plutonians in an episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, asking the Mooninites for "Michael Hunt." Oglethorpe, still finding humor despite his mistake, didn't realize he was supposed to ask for "Mike Hunt" (my cunt). In response to this, the Mooninites called back asking for "Holden McGroin" (holding my groin). Aqua Teen Hunger Force (also known as ATHF or simply Aqua Teen) is an American animated television series shown on Cartoon Network as part of its Adult Swim late-night programming block. ...


The Simpsons: prank calls to Moe's Tavern

During the early years of The Simpsons, a popular recurring gag involved Bart making prank calls to Moe's Tavern. The calls usually followed a set pattern: Bart would ask for a non-existant person, Moe would shout loudly for the person Bart asked for, Moe catching on only after the bar (usually) erupts in uproarious laughter, and Moe threatening violent revenge upon catching the perpetrator. Moe never seemed to realize that it was Bart who made the calls. The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Moe Szyslak (pronounced SIZZ-lack, as opposed to the Polish pronunciation, SHISS-lack) is a fictional character on the animated series The Simpsons, voiced by Hank Azaria. ...


"People" whom Bart has asked for include:

  • Jacques Strappe – (jock strap)
  • Ivanna Tinkle – (I wanna tinkle)
  • Heywood U. Cuddleme – (Hey, would you cuddle me?)
  • Amanda Huggennkiss – (A man to hug and kiss)
  • Mike Rotch – (My crotch)
  • Al Coholic – (Alcoholic)
  • Bea O Problem – (B.O. problem)
  • Seymour Butz – (See more butts)
  • Anita Bath – (I need a bath)
  • Homer Sexual – (A Homosexual)
  • Lee V. Mediately - (Leave immeadiately)
  • Ura Snotball - (You're a snotball)
  • G.I. Manidiot - (Gee, I'm an idiot)

One backfire on this formula was a call to "Hugh Jazz" (huge ass), as there turned out to be a person in the bar named Hugh Jazz. Another backfire was when Homer was running the bar and didn't know how to carry out the prank when Bart asked for Ollie Tabooger (I'll eat a booger). Body odor, Bromhidrosis or body odour is the smell of bacteria growing on the body. ...


Reaction

It is possible that caller ID will reduce the number of prank calls. However, most telephone companies currently permit callers to withhold caller ID if they do not wish the called party to know their identity. Caller ID (Caller Identification or CID) is a telephony intelligent network service that transmits the callers telephone number to the called partys telephone equipment during the ringing signal or when the call is being set up but before the call is answered. ...


Sometimes the joke can be taken too far, especially if the prankster succeeds in making his victim believe the scenario is real. Prank call comedian Jim Florentine (who mainly takes incoming calls from telemarketers and turns the tables by performing pranks on them) has had the police called on him on more than one occasion for taking his jokes too far. During one call, Florentine tells an insurance agent that, rather than pay to keep an elderly woman alive, he is going to go to the hospital and smother her with a pillow. After the call, the agent called 911 and gave them Florentine's number and the address on file, and the police arrived at his home with guns drawn. However, when the police showed up and discovered it was actually a prank, the officer simply asked, "Don't you think you're a little old for this?" Jim Florentine is an American comedian best known for his work as the character Special Ed on the television show Crank Yankers. ... Telemarketing is a form of direct marketing where a salesperson uses the telephone to solicit prospective customers to sell products or services. ... Agency is an area of law dealing with a contractual or quasi-contractual relationship between at least two parties in which one, the principal, authorizes the other, the agent, to represent her or his legal interests and to perform legal acts that sometimes bind the principal. ... Events Autumn - Charles the Simple argees to the Treaty of St. ...


Criminal offense

Prank calls range from annoying hang-ups to false calls to emergency services or bomb threats. Prank calls that waste the time of emergency services are a criminal offense in most countries. Emergency services are services that deal with emergencies and other aspects of Public Safety. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Common stereotype of a criminal A crime in a broad sense is an act that violates a political or moral law. ...


One such hoax call occurred in Perth, Australia, on New Year's Eve 2002, when a drunken teenager called the new anti-terrorist hotline to report a bomb threat against the New Year's Eve fireworks celebration. The threat was taken seriously, and the celebrations were about to be canceled, when police discovered that no such threat existed. The teen was arrested for deliberate false reporting. Perth is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Western Australia, and is the fourth largest city in Australia, with a population of approximately 1. ... New Years Eve is a celebration held the day before New Years Day, on December 31, the final day of the Gregorian year. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ...


Tension was also caused in December 2005, when a Catholic Church-owned radio station in Spain played a prank on Bolivian president-elect Evo Morales. The hoaxer pretended to be Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, congratulating Morales on his election and saying things like, "I imagine the only one not to have called you was George Bush. I've been here two years and he still hasn't called me." The Bolivian government protested to Spain, and the real Zapatero called Morales and apologized. The Spanish government in turn summoned the papal nuncio in protest. Juan Evo Morales Ayma (born October 26, 1959 in Orinoca, Oruro), popularly known as Evo (IPA: ), is the President of Bolivia, and is considered to be the countrys first indigenous head of state in over 450 years since the Spanish Conquest. ... (born August 4, 1960 in Valladolid) is the President of the Government of Spain. ...


In the United States of America, the Telecommunications Act makes some prank calls a felony with penalties of up to two years in prison and possible fines (depending on severity). However, such penalties are rarely carried out. As an example, the Chicago, Illinois shock jock Erich "Mancow" Muller, after being criticized for the extensive use of prank calls on his radio show, broadcast the sarcastic remark: "Reality check for you people: Chicago's the murder capital of America. The police don't care if you get a prank call." There are several laws called the Telecommunications Act Telecommunications Act of 1996 The Canadian Telecommunications Act This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ... A felony, in many common law legal systems, is the term for a very serious crime, whereas misdemeanors are considered to be less serious offenses. ... Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Official website: http://egov. ... A shock jock is a slang term used to describe a type of radio broadcaster (sometimes a disk jockey) who attracts attention using humor that a significant portion of the listening audience may find offensive. ... Mancows 2003 book, on sale at amazon. ...


Moreover, to make a prank call that falls afoul of the Telecommunications Act, 47 U.S.C. 223 (a)(1), the call must be done with the intent to "annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass". Arguably then, if the intent of the call is to amuse, confuse, or simply to engage the call's recipient, there is no violation of the Telecommunications Act.


Greek culture of prank calls

Outside the US, prank phone calls are often driven by a more hard-line approach.


In Greece, many pranksters are considered "Kafroi" (Κάφροι), an extension of the Zamanfou philosophy that emphasizes on the lack of respect for established guidelines of behavior. This philosophy is used by the "Kafros" to create an unsettling climate for the victims of their pranks. Often times, wordplay and dual meanings are used to deceive the victims into believing situations or statements in a very harsh and dramatic way, resulting in emotions of anger and despair, purely for the sake of amusement. The factual accuracy of this article is disputed. ...


The most famous of these pranksters are "Fousekis" (Φουσέκης), followed by "Lentis" (Λέντης) and "Barc0de". All three are widely popluar among the youth and are considered to be "underground". The recordings of their pranks were widely circulated, initially in tape format, and later converted into digital format. All three have created a style of humor that is often followed by imitators trying to make a name for themselves by surpassing them. These pranksters are not related in any way, are from different eras, and have distinct styles of humour that have over the years created a fan base for each one of them.


See also

A celebrity prank call is a type of prank call in which the prankster records sound clips from a particular celebrity, and plays them back to unsuspecting victims. ... This is a list of prank call comedians: Ralphige Bum Bar Bastards Bart Simpson Captain Janks Claxton Crank Yankers Guido Hatzis Immortal Jerky Boys Kerpal Mark Knopfler Roy D. Mercer Strong Bad Tom Green Tom Mabe Touch-Tone Terrorists Lucius Tate Jim Florentine The Rubber Bandits Roy Wood, Jr. ... The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening. ... Moe Szyslak (pronounced SIZZ-lack, as opposed to the Polish pronunciation, SHISS-lack) is a fictional character on the animated series The Simpsons, voiced by Hank Azaria. ... Louis Red Deutsch (1890-1983) was a heavyweight boxer and later the owner of the Tube Bar, a tavern in Jersey City, New Jersey that he started in 1933 after the repeal of Prohibition. ... Telephone scatologia is the making of obscene telephone calls for sexual pleasure. ... The PLA Logo. ... Dead Ringers is a UK radio and television comedy impressions show broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and BBC2. ...

External links



 

COMMENTARY     


Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here
Your name
Your comments
Please enter the 5-letter protection code

Want to know more?
Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 


Lesson Plans | Student Area | Student FAQ | Reviews | Press Releases |  Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms.