Would-Be Pranksters Warned Against April Fool’s Calls
English.Chosun.com, Korea
April 1, 2008

The Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Management Department on Monday warned pranksters could face a fine of up to W2 million if they make bogus calls on April Fools’ Day (US$1=W990). It asked people against such pranks, warning callers can get easily be located with advanced technology. Thanks to state-of-the-art equipment, the number of prank calls on April Fools’ Day has dropped from 68 cases in 2002 to 10 in 2007. The department said prank calls cause waste the time and energy of firefighters and rescue workers and delay rescue work for people who really are in danger.

image: Legal Juice

Submitted by Steve Lambert:

Longmont Potion Castle is the pseudonym of a prank caller based out of Texas that puts out some of the most bizarre and hilarious material I’ve ever heard. He uses audio effects that speed up and slow down his voice, disorienting the caller on the other end, sometimes even repeating back what they’ve just said. One of the tricks he uses is calling retail stores asking detailed and mundane questions about a specific item he never actually names and always staying friendly (referring to people as “partner”) and sounding reasonable.

Click here to listen. Track 2 is my favorite.

Here’s a video of the subjects of his calls as he’s making them.

Also, speaking of bizarre, hilarious, and prank calls, here’s one from Tim and Eric where they call iPod Tech Support because they’re having problems with microphones:

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Submitted by Steve Lambert — who’s teaching the Culture Jamming course at Hunter College in New York — from one of his students, Angela Ferraiolo:

Analyze This: Hoaxer Haunts Earnings Calls
‘Mr. Herrick’ Queries CEOs Using Jargon; The Question Is, Why?
by Betsy McKay
Wall Street Journal
February 16, 2008

Some big companies have had a surprise during their earnings conference calls this quarter — and it has nothing to do with the weak economy.

At least seven times just the past three weeks, a mystery caller has cleverly insinuated himself into the normally well-manicured ritual of the quarterly calls. As top executives of publicly traded companies respond to securities analysts’ questions about their balance sheets, he impersonates a well-known analyst to get called upon. Then, usually declaring himself to be “Joe Herrick of Gutterman Research,” he launches into his own version of analyst-speak.

“Congratulations on the solid numbers — you always seem to come through in challenging times,” he said to Leo Kiely, president and chief executive officer of Molson Coors Brewing Co., on February 12, convincingly parroting the obsequious banter common to the calls. “Can you provide some more color as to what you are doing for your supply chain initiatives to reduce manufacturing costs per hectoliter, as you originally promised $150 million in synergy or savings to decrease working capital?” (more…)

Argentina Answers To the Crazy Call Of Dr. Tangalanga
by Matt Moffett
The Wall Street Journal
December 15, 2007

Phone Prankster Spouting Nonsense Delights Crowds…

Buenos Aires — Last month, 700 people turned out at a nightclub to celebrate Julio de Rizio’s 91st birthday. Mr. de Rizio himself provided the entertainment, using a telephone hooked up to the audio system.

He dialed a convenience store and, in a tone that was civility itself, inquired about closing time. “I’m asking because I’m going to rob you at 3 a.m.,” he told the startled clerk.

Mr. de Rizio then made harassing calls to a middle-aged comic-book collector and to a fellow who was offering his services as pop vocalist. He got him to belt out a few bars — badly off-key. Finally, he called a handyman who had advertised that he would take care of “everything your husband doesn’t have time to fix.” Mr. de Rizio went off on a bawdy riff about not having time to satisfy his wife. He asked the flustered handyman whether he could fix that.

Mr. de Rizio, known by his stage name, Dr. Tangalanga, has won fame and fans throughout Latin America for making prank phone calls. His devotees call him “the telephone avenger” for the verbal pummeling he inflicts on inept or unscrupulous service providers — quack healers, tarot card charlatans, butchers with heavy thumbs and builders who misfire their caulk-guns. (more…)

The Let’s Paint TV Prank Call Extravaganza (9:25), with the legendary John Kilduff and his inspiring public access show. He paints while jogging on a treadmill, blends a drink and takes your calls live.

Thanks uber.com

Bogus Beckham Bends Truth in L.A. Calls
August 2, 2007

Los Angeles (AP) — An imposter pretending to be soccer superstar David Beckham made a dozen crank calls to county offices to chat about charity work and drop names of celebrity friends, officials said.

… Clerk Maria Saenz and student worker Susana Guillen, avid fans of the real Beckham, “were just jumping up and down” after the first call, Saenz said.

Officials realized the calls were a hoax after Department of Children and Family Services staffers grilled the caller.

“It just smacked of bogusity,” department spokeswoman Louise Grasmehr said. (more…)

From Fonejacker.tv, a fan site for the British television comedy show Fonejacker starring Kayvan Novak. From Wikipedia: “Each episode begins with the definition of the word ‘fonejack’, being to seize control of a telephone conversation by farce especially to divert it from reason and logic.” In this episode, the caller is trying to buy a “Doovdé”.

Check out other episodes on YouTube here.

via Neatorama & BoingBoing

This video is from Tom Mabe:

Check out more Tom Mabe assorted pranks from ebaumsworld.com.

Tom Mabe is most well known for his crusade against telemarketers. In a reversal of the “prank call” his reputation has been made pranking telemarketers who call him to peddle their wares. Have a listen to several here.

Crossballs: The Debate Show

In 2005 Matt Besser produced this show on Comedy Central where unsuspecting debate show pundits made fools of themselves debating absurd characters.

http://www.mattbesser.com/crossballs.php

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