Hidden cameras capture light hearted, often hilariously absurd, but never mean-spirited pranks on an unsuspecting public.
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You've Got A Friend was a 2004 reality comedy show on MTV, produced by Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg. It was launched near the same time as their reality prank show Punk'd, and although successful in ratings, was cancelled at the end of the first season so they could focus on its more popular counterpart. The show filmed contestants having to tolerate a 'friend' for 48 hours, while filmed on hidden camera in their home and different public settings. The 'friend' would be a trained improvisational comedian, who would progressively torment the contestant, their friends and loved ones. The catch was that the friends and family of the contestant were unaware of the folie à deux. If able to endure the embarrassment caused by the irreverent demands of the friend, the contestant would win a cash prize.
The Real Wedding Crashers is an American prank/hidden camera series on NBC, inspired by the 2005 film Wedding Crashers, that premiered on April 23, 2007. The series was produced by Ashton Kutcher, Karey Burke, Rich Meehan, Jon Kroll, Jim Rosenthal and Jason Goldberg with RDF USA, the production company of shows like Wife Swap, in association with New Line Television, part of the studio that produced the film. No one among the show's main cast and crew were involved in the original film, nor were the cast and crew of the film involved with the series. It was announced on May 7, 2007, that the series would be pulled after three episodes. NBC subsequently announced on its website that a fourth episode would air on May 28, 2007. NBC announced on July 20, 2007 that the show was not renewed. The two episodes not aired on NBC have subsequently aired on the Style Network.
Fonejacker is a British comedy programme broadcast on E4 featuring a series of prank calls involving a number of different characters performed by British Iranian television actor Kayvan Novak. It first appeared in May 2006 and became a full series in 2007. In 2005 Kayvan Novak and Ed Tracy created, wrote and directed Fonejacker, a prank call show, as part of Channel 4 Comedy Lab. After making the pilot together they were given a Christmas special and a six-part series which began airing in the UK on 5 July 2007 on E4 and lasted 6 episodes. They went on to make a second series which began airing on 17 September 2008 on E4, and started on Channel 4 on 6 November 2008. Kayvan Novak said that he was "not sure there will be a third series of Fonejacker" but despite this, several websites reported in October 2009 that a third series would air in May 2010. In November 2009, the third series was officially announced, with the news that it would be called "Fonejacker 3D" and feature Kayvan Novak portraying both old and new Fonejacker characters face-to-face in the public domain. Renamed Facejacker, the new show began airing on 16 April 2010. Fonejacker won the BAFTA award for the "Best Comedy Programme" in 2008. Novak plans to create a film based on the show's characters, and is currently in talks with Film4 and Hat Trick Productions.
Hi-Jinks is a hidden camera show that premiered on Nick at Nite in 2005. The show is hosted by Leila Sbitani. The show gives parents a chance to play practical jokes on their children, in a similar fashion to Candid Camera. Taking a cue from Punk'd, each show features a prank that is conducted with the assistance of a known celebrity.
Repeat After Me is an American hidden camera comedy television series. Host Wendi McLendon-Covey instructs celebrities to interact with people via a remote ear piece.
Disaster Date is a hidden camera TV-show on MTV in which actors go on a blind date with a person. The series premiered on September 28, 2009, and is filmed in Los Angeles, California.
Prank Patrol is a children's television series that aired on YTV. Each week, Andy and a team of "ninjas" help kids pull off pranks on an unsuspecting victim. With the help of experts, pranksters convince victims of big-time pranks like incredible super powers, alien landings, or an intelligent gorilla.
Candid camera show in which unsuspecting members of the Irish public as well as some celebrities are accosted by such bizarre characters as the irascible Jake Stevens, Clifford the Orangemen and the desperate bride. All comic roles are played by comedians P.J. Gallagher, Maeve Higgins and Patrick McDonnell.
Benidorm Bastards is a Belgian comedy television series.
Six episode risqué hidden camera show, in which unsuspecting members of the Irish public are accosted by bizarre characters all over Ireland.
Patrick Groulx and his sidekicks come up with pranks to draw reactions from everyday people or expose them to offbeat behavior, as they capture the results on hidden camera.
Candid Camera is an American hidden camera/practical joke reality television series created and produced by Allen Funt, which initially began on radio as Candid Microphone June 28, 1947. After a series of theatrical film shorts, also titled Candid Microphone, Funt's concept came to television on August 10, 1948. The show last aired for 10 episodes in 2014 on the TV Land network. A documentary about Allen Funt is currently in the works by the Candid Camera crew. The format has appeared on U.S. TV networks and in syndication in each succeeding decade, as either a regular show or a series of specials. Allen Funt himself hosted or co-hosted almost all of the TV versions until a 1993 stroke from which he never recovered. His son Peter Funt, who had co-hosted the specials with his father since 1987, became the producer and host.
Ramez Jalal receives Arab and foreign stars to honor them in Morocco. The honoring is soon followed by explosions and fire at the tower.
Skunked TV is a children's television prank show on Discovery Kids. On this show, children are pranked by seeing animals do weird things. The host is Madai Zaldivar and the co-host is Chuck Cureau. The series ran in 2004 but canceled after one season of 15 episodes. According to TV.com it is on a hiatus.
Viva La Bam was an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. The show was a spin-off from MTV's Jackass, in which Margera and most of the main cast had appeared. Each episode had a specific theme, mission, or challenge which was normally accomplished by performing pranks, skateboarding, and enlisting the help of friends, relations and experts. Although partly improvised, the show was supported by a greater degree of planning and organization.
What happens when the biggest stars in the world get too high on the Hollywood hog? When their bank accounts start swelling bigger than their heads? Master prankster Ashton Kutcher is there to punk 'em down to earth.
Monstrous frights meet hilarious reveals on this hidden-camera prank show as real people become the stars of their own full-blown horror movie.
A gameshow hosted by Ant and Dec filled with stunts, sketches, and special guest appearances.
Unsuspecting people witness science fiction inspired pranks with alien abductions, hauntings, and other paranormal events.
This hidden-camera series follows four lifelong friends -- Brian "Q"' Quinn, James "Murr"' Murray, Joe Gatto and Sal Vulcano -- who take dares to an outrageous level. To find out who is best under pressure, the guys compete in awkward and outrageous hidden-camera hijinks with the loser performing what is deemed to be the most-mortifying challenge yet.
Anthony, a real temp, is hired at Rockin' Grandma's Hot Sauce (a fake company) for its annual retreat - the final one for the company's CEO Doug before retirement. Doug's son Dougie Jr. struggles to prove his leadership abilities while a polished private-equity team courts the company for acquisition.
The inner workings of an American jury trial through the eyes of one particular juror, Ronald Gladden. Gladden is unaware the entire case is fake, everyone except him is an actor and everything that happens — inside the courtroom and out — is carefully planned.
A comedic talk show from an alternate reality featuring unstable hosts, a variety of celebrities—both real and fake—and unusual studio action.
Join sadomasochistic superheroes Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, and the rest of the Jackass crew as they terrorize your TV screens and everyone that gets in their way (especially themselves) with their own sick and twisted interpretation of physical entertainment. Their brand of pranks, goofball antics, and unabashed brutal comedy are sure to bring new meaning to the phrase "Don't Try This At Home!"
Second City Television is a Canadian television sketch comedy show offshoot from Toronto's Second City troupe that ran between 1976 and 1984.
Trigger Happy TV is a hidden camera/practical joke reality television series. The original British edition of the show, produced by Absolutely Productions, starred Dom Joly and ran for two series on the British television channel Channel 4 from 2000 to 2003. Although Channel 4 is owned and operated by the Channel Four Television Corporation, he made a name for himself as the sole star of the show, which he produced and directed with cameraman Sam Cadman.
A narrative series set in a limitless magical reality full of dynamic, hilarious characters and celebrity guests presenting sketches performed by a core cast of black women.
An un-scripted comedy show in which four guest performers improvise their way through a series of games, many of which rely on audience suggestions.
A zany sketch comedy featuring many wacky characters hosted for kids and by kids.
Yankerville's puppet citizens -- voiced by celebrities and stand-up comedians -- make real calls to real people, whether they like it or not. They make all the crank phone calls you wish you'd made when you were a kid.
Loving parodies of some of the world's best-known documentaries. Each episode is shot in a different style of documentary filmmaking, and honors some of the most important stories that didn't actually happen.
Nick Cannon and an A-list celebrity lead a team of improv comedians as they compete against each other.
Burning Love is a scripted comedy series which is a web spoof of the television shows The Bachelor, The Bachelorette and Bachelor Pad. Depending on the season, the show either follows a man or a woman who is looking for the perfect mate from a pool of contestants, or has contestants living together in a mansion competing for a cash prize. Ben Stiller is executive co-producer. Season 1 showcases fireman Mark Orlando as the bachelor. Season 2 of the series, which premiered in February 2013, stars June Diane Raphael reprising her role as season 1 contestant Julie, now the bachelorette given the chance to find the perfect man. Season 3 also premiered in 2013 and starred former contestants from Seasons 1 and 2 competing for a $900 prize rather than for love.
Key & Peele is an American sketch comedy television show. It stars Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, both former cast members of MADtv. Each episode of the show consists of several pre-taped sketches starring the two actors, introduced by Key and Peele in front of a live studio audience.
The Kids in the Hall is a Canadian sketch comedy group formed in 1984, consisting of comedians Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald, Bruce McCulloch, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson.
Satirical sketch comedy set and filmed in Portland, Oregon that explores the eccentric misfits who embody the foibles of modern culture.
Go behind the curtains as Kermit the Frog and his muppet friends struggle to put on a weekly variety show.
This partially unscripted comedy brings viewers into the squad car as incompetent officers swing into action, answering 911 calls about everything from speeding violations and prostitution to staking out a drug den. Within each episode, viewers catch a "fly on the wall" glimpse of the cops' often politically incorrect opinions, ranging from their personal feelings to professional critiques of their colleagues.
Wonder Showzen is an American sketch comedy television series that aired between 2005 and 2006 on MTV2. It was created by John Lee and Vernon Chatman of PFFR. The show is rated TV-MA. The show's format is that of educational PBS children's television shows such as Sesame Street and The Electric Company, parodying the format with adult-oriented content. In addition to general controversial comedy, it satirizes politics, religion, war, sex, and culture with black comedy. Every episode begins with a disclaimer, accompanied by the sound of someone screaming "Don't eat my baby!", which reads: "Wonder Showzen contains offensive, despicable content that is too controversial and too awesome for actual children. The stark, ugly and profound truths Wonder Showzen exposes may be soul-crushing to the weak of spirit. If you allow a child to watch this show, you are a bad parent or guardian."