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IMDb Polls
Outrageous April Fools TV Hoaxes
urbanemovies
Which April Fools hoax perpetrated by a television program do you think is the most outrageous?
Discuss the topic here.
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Spaghetti (2015)
Swiss Spaghetti Harvest Hoax: 01 April 1957
BBC TV's Panorama news program reported that the dreaded spaghetti weevil had been virtually wiped out and the Swiss were enjoying a bumper crop. On-air footage showed spaghetti being harvested from trees by pickers. The BBC received numerous inquiring calls from viewers on how to grow their own spaghetti trees.
Hugo Weaving in Happy Feet Two (2011)
Flying Penguins Hoax: 01 April 2008
BBC TV announced that while filming an upcoming documentary in Antartica, they had discovered Adélie penguins flying and migrating to South America to winter in the tropics. The video of the flightless birds flying posted on their website quickly became an internet sensation.
Jim Carrey, Damon Wayans, David Alan Grier, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Kelly Coffield Park, and Kim Wayans in In Living Color (1990)
Instant "In Living Color" Television Hoax: 01 April 1962
Sweden's National TV announced it was possible to view color pictures on black and white televisions. A technical expert demonstrated how stretching a nylon stocking over the screen allowed their new broadcast technology to take advantage of the prismatic nature of light. Thousands of viewers fell for the hoax with some claiming to have gotten color pictures.
River Monsters (2009)
Dial-O-Fish Hoax: 01 April circa 1970's
Australia's TV news program This Day Tonight ran a segment on a new type of fishing rod that could be set to catch a particular type of fish. The report had an expert demonstrating the device and soon was catching fish to whatever setting he chose.
Viewers calls poured in all wanting to know where to purchase one.
Matt Stone and Trey Parker in South Park (1997)
Cartman's Father Reveal Hoax: 01 April 1998
Comedy Central heavily promoted the April 1st premiere of South Park promising to reveal the identity of Cartman's father. The show began by stating that it had been an April Fools joke and the cliffhanger identity from the prior season would not be revealed. Irate fans sent over 1500 angry emails to the network; the identity of Cartman's father was subsequently revealed on an episode 3 weeks later.
Steve Martin and Daryl Hannah in Roxanne (1987)
Smell-O-Vision Hoax: 01 April 1965
BBC TV's Panorama news program broadcast an interview with a scientist who had claimed to have perfected a technology called Smell-O-Vision. He placed onions and coffee beans in front of his machine and asked viewers to call in when they got results. Viewers all across England called in with some claiming the onions made their eyes water.
Almost Live! (1984)
Space Needle Collapses Hoax: 01 April 1989
Seattle's local comedy show, Almost Live started their April 1st show with a breaking news flash that the Space Needle had collapsed along with footage of the toppled tower. Both the Seattle 911 call center and the Space Needle were flooded with thousands of calls from concerned viewers.
Christopher Lloyd in Back to the Future (1985)
Australia Converts to Metric Time Hoax: 01 April 1975
Australia TV's news program This Day Tonight announced the country would be soon converting to metric time: 100 seconds-100 minutes-20 hours days, complete with an interview with the Deputy Prime Minster. The program received viewer calls about the conversion including inquiries on how to adjust your clock to the new system.
Tommy Chong in Zootopia (2016)
The Lirpa Loof Hoax: 01 April 1984
BBC TV's That's Life aired a segment about a new arrival at the London Zoo, a Lipra Loof. The animal delighted crowds as it was a natural mimic and a naturalist spoke in detail about the Eastern Himalayan animal. The animal's name is an anagram for for April Fool.
Jim Caviezel in The Passion of the Christ (2004)
New Criminal Rehabilitation Strategy Hoax: 01 April 2004
Norway TV 2's news announced a new rehabilitation strategy being tried by the government. Prisoners would be sent to see the movie, The Passion of the Christ and police officers would be on-hand afterwards to hear their confessions and accept their repentance.
Sydney 2000: Games of the XXVII Olympiad (2000)
Sydney Opera House Sinking Hoax: 01 April circa 1970's
Australia's TV news program, This Day Tonight ran a segment complete with scuba divers and architectural experts claiming that the Sydney Opera House was sinking in Sydney harbor.
David Ismalone and Jawed Berni in Brawl (2012)
Newsroom Brawl Hoax: 01 April 1989
BBC TV's sports program, Grandstand had a newsroom brawl break out behind the on-air announcer. The presenter continued to give sports news recaps as the fight escalated. Later in the show he apologized and showed an instant replay of the fight at the end of which the brawlers held a sign that read "April Fools".
The Eruption of Mount St. Helens! (1980)
Eruption of Mount Milton Hoax: 01 April 1980
Channel 7 News in Boston, MA announced breaking news about the eruption of Great Blue Hill claiming ash and lava destroyed nearby homes. The reporter linked the event to the eruption of Mount St. Helens. Government officials then commented on the seriousness of the situation. An April Fools sign was flashed at the end of the segment. By that time, local police were flooded with calls, residents had begun to flee and the news producer was fired.
Recent poll activity
me-92576
voted for
Jim Carrey
,
Damon Wayans
,
David Alan Grier
,
Keenen Ivory Wayans
,
Kelly Coffield Park
, and
Kim Wayans
in
In Living Color (1990)
lironos
voted for
Jim Caviezel
in
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
stvegarth
voted for
Spaghetti (2015)
mariojacobs
voted for
Tommy Chong
in
Zootopia (2016)
BugsNobody
voted for
Spaghetti (2015)
PegahSazvar01
voted for
Spaghetti (2015)
ginky-68089
voted for
Christopher Lloyd
in
Back to the Future (1985)
pelle-sveden
voted for
Jim Carrey
,
Damon Wayans
,
David Alan Grier
,
Keenen Ivory Wayans
,
Kelly Coffield Park
, and
Kim Wayans
in
In Living Color (1990)
michaelmccann-17701
voted for
The Eruption of Mount St. Helens! (1980)
wildcard97
voted for
Jim Caviezel
in
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
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