Punk'd

Punk’d

Title card (2003-2005)
Format Comedy reality, candid camera
Created by Ashton Kutcher
Jason Goldberg
Starring Ashton Kutcher
(2003-2007)
Various hosts
(2012-present)
Theme music composer Elizabeth Miller
Brian Friedman (Theme)
Ricky Friedman (Theme)
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 8
No. of episodes 64 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Jason Goldberg
Ashton Kutcher
David R. Franzke
Billy Rainey
Lois Clark Curren
Rod Aissa
Running time 30 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel MTV
Original run March 17, 2003 (2003-03-17)
(Original series)
March 19, 2012 (2012-03-19)
(Revival series) – May 5, 2007 (2007-05-05)

Punk'd is an American hidden camera/practical joke reality television series that first aired on MTV in 2003 and was created by Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg, produced and hosted by Ashton Kutcher. It bore a resemblance to both the classic hidden camera show Candid Camera and to TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes, which also featured pranks on celebrities. Being "punk'd" referred to being the victim of such a prank.

The series finale aired on MTV on May 29, 2007. The series culminated in early June with the Punk'd Awards.[1] Reruns began airing on TV Guide Channel in 2009 and PMC (with Persian dubbing) on November 20, 2010. Punk'd was a heavy recipient of many Teen Choice Awards.

In October 2010, Punk'd was reportedly being revived with Justin Bieber as the new host. Kutcher will remain as executive producer.[2]

MTV has revealed that the reboot/revival of the series will feature a different celebrity host each week. Confirmed celebrity guest hosts include Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Kellan Lutz, Bam Margera, and Dax Shepard, while celebrities that have been "punked" for the revival include Khloe Kardashian, Demi Lovato, and Tyler Posey. The series will return for it's revival on March 19, 2012.[3]

Contents

History and format

The pranks would be set at a variety of locations, public and private. The show's first prank was set at singer Justin Timberlake's home, where he was led to believe that government agents were seizing his home and valuables because of unpaid income tax. The prank was named by Time magazine as #3 in their list of 32 Epic Moments in Reality-TV History.[4] Kutcher would sometimes use real-life current events as elements in his pranks, as when he punked tennis player Andy Roddick, who was scheduled to appear on The Tonight Show, by convincing him that his automobile was trapped by the Los Angeles mudslides. Kutcher sometimes sets his pranks where his targets work, such as on the sets of movies, TV shows, and music videos. As one example, Kutcher pulled a prank on The Rock, who was filming the movie Be Cool, by convincing him that his trailer was destroyed. As another example, Kutcher punked Kanye West by convincing him that he could not shoot his music video for "Jesus Walks" on Sundays without a permit. Kutcher has also done holiday-themed pranks, as when he punked Beyoncé Knowles into thinking she knocked over a 50-foot (15 m) Christmas Tree, or when he pulled a prank on Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz into thinking he derailed a train at a Christmas festival. After the joke progresses to a point, usually with the celebrity having become angry or frustrated at the outrageousness of the situation, Kutcher or one of the actors will announce to the surprised victim that they just had a practical joke played on them, usually with use of the catchphrase, "You just got punk'd!", or by revealing a large sign or banner to that effect. Each half-hour episode usually features three pranks.

A frequent segment during the first two seasons was a Punk'd cast member pretending to interview celebrities at red carpet events, only to mock them instead. This segment closely copies what originated on The Howard Stern Show in the 1980s, when Stern and his writers began sending interns (most notably Stuttering John Melendez) to ask celebrities embarrassing questions on the red carpet.[5] During the first season then-fifteen-year-old Ryan Pinkston posed as a reporter from a children's television program, and would insult the celebrities.[6] During season two, the producers then chose a foreign interviewer accompanied by her interpreter who would then ask inane questions to the guests.

Failed "punks"

While the pranks most of the time are successful, some pranks actually have failed.

Controversy and conflict

Episodes

Celebrities who have been Punk'd

International versions

See also

References

External links