Punk'd
Encyclopedia
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. 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.
After a three year hiatus, Punk'd resumed production for a ninth season on August 26, 2011. For the ninth season, each episode will feature a different celebrity host 'punking' a different celebrity target. It has been revealed that the season premiere will follow Justin Bieber punking Taylor Swift
.
'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. 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 video
s. 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 feet (15.2 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. 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. During season two, the producers then chose a foreign interviewer accompanied by her interpreter who would then ask inane questions to the guests.
Hidden camera
A hidden camera is a still or video camera used to film people without their knowledge. The camera is "hidden" because it is either not visible to the subject being filmed, or is disguised as another object...
/practical joke
Practical joke
A practical joke is a mischievous trick played on someone, typically causing the victim to experience embarrassment, indignity, or discomfort. Practical jokes differ from confidence tricks in that the victim finds out, or is let in on the joke, rather than being fooled into handing over money or...
reality television series that first aired on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
in 2003 and was created by Ashton Kutcher
Ashton Kutcher
Christopher Ashton Kutcher , best known as Ashton Kutcher, is an American actor, producer, former fashion model and comedian, best known for his portrayal of Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show...
and Jason Goldberg
Jason Goldberg
Jason Goldberg is an American film and television producer. Goldberg is the producer of the films Guess Who and The Butterfly Effect and executive producer of the shows Beauty and the Geek and Punk'd...
, produced and hosted by Ashton Kutcher. It bore a resemblance to both the classic hidden camera show Candid Camera
Candid Camera
Candid Camera is a hidden camera/practical joke reality television series created and produced by Allen Funt, which initially began on radio as Candid Microphone June 28, 1947...
and to TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes, which also featured pranks on celebrities
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
. 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. Reruns began airing on TV Guide Channel
TV Guide Channel
TV Guide Network is an American cable network owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation....
in 2009 and PMC
Persian Music Channel
PMC is a free-to-air satellite TV network owned by Persian Media Corporation and headquartered in Dubai Media City. Launched in 2003, the network is devoted to Persian music videos from ex-pat Iranian singers and also Iranian singers in Iran. Arabic, Kurdish and Turkish hit songs are also shown on...
(with Persian dubbing) on November 20, 2010. Punk'd was a heavy recipient of many Teen Choice Awards
Teen Choice Awards
The Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with...
.
In October 2010, Punk'd was reportedly being revived with Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber
Justin Drew Bieber is a Canadian pop/R&B singer, songwriter and actor. Bieber was discovered in 2008 by Scooter Braun, who came across Bieber's videos on YouTube and later became his manager...
as the new host. Kutcher will remain as executive producer.
After a three year hiatus, Punk'd resumed production for a ninth season on August 26, 2011. For the ninth season, each episode will feature a different celebrity host 'punking' a different celebrity target. It has been revealed that the season premiere will follow Justin Bieber punking Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
Taylor Alison Swift is an American country pop singer-songwriter, musician and actress.In 2006, she released her debut single "Tim McGraw", then her self-titled debut album, which was subsequently certified multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America...
.
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 TimberlakeJustin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
'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
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine as #3 in their list of 32 Epic Moments in Reality-TV History. Kutcher would sometimes use real-life current events as elements in his pranks, as when he punked tennis player Andy Roddick
Andy Roddick
Andrew Stephen "Andy" Roddick is an American professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. He is currently the second highest-ranked American player, behind Mardy Fish....
, who was scheduled to appear on The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
, 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 video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s. As one example, Kutcher pulled a prank on The Rock, who was filming the movie Be Cool
Be Cool
Be Cool is a 2005 crime-comedy film adapted from Elmore Leonard's 1999 novel of the same name and the sequel to Leonard's 1990 novel Get Shorty about mobster Chili Palmer's entrance into the film industry.The film adaptation of Be Cool began production in 2003. It was directed by F...
, by convincing him that his trailer was destroyed. As another example, Kutcher punked Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
by convincing him that he could not shoot his music video for "Jesus Walks
Jesus Walks
"Jesus Walks" is a hip hop song by American rap artist Kanye West. It was released on May 25, 2004 as the third single from his debut album, The College Dropout. The song is built around a sample of "Walk with Me" as performed by the ARC Choir. "Jesus Walks" was well-received by music critics, who...
" on Sundays without a permit. Kutcher has also done holiday-themed pranks, as when he punked Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
into thinking she knocked over a 50 feet (15.2 m) Christmas Tree, or when he pulled a prank on Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008...
'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
Anagnorisis
Anagnorisis is a moment in a play or other work when a character makes a critical discovery. Anagnorisis originally meant recognition in its Greek context, not only of a person but also of what that person stood for...
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
John Melendez
John Edward Melendez , commonly known as "Stuttering John," is an American television writer and former radio personality. Prior to his work on television as a writer and announcer, Melendez was a regular on-air personality on The Howard Stern Show...
) to ask celebrities embarrassing questions on the red carpet. During the first season then-fifteen-year-old Ryan Pinkston
Ryan Pinkston
Ryan James Pinkston is an American actor and model.-Life and career:Pinkston was born in Silver Spring, Maryland of Greek descent. Before he became an actor, he was involved in karate competitions, having been inspired by watching the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers...
posed as a reporter from a children's television program, and would insult the celebrities. 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.- In December 2003, Kutcher attempted to "punk" then-WWEWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
wrestler Bill GoldbergBill GoldbergGoldberg earned a scholarship to play for the University of Georgia Bulldogs football team where he served as a defensive tackle. He was taken in the 11th round, with the 302nd overall selection, in the 1990 NFL Draft....
by having a truck run over an exact replica of his prized motorcycle, but the stunt went wrong when the truck clearly missed the bike. When the bike spontaneously exploded without any visible reason, Goldberg realized what was going on, and asked, "Who do I get to kill first?" as Kutcher revealed himself, knowing the joke had failed. It aired on the Season two finale. - Michael VartanMichael VartanMichael S. Vartan is a French-American film and television actor. He is probably best known for the role of Michael Vaughn on the American television action drama Alias...
and Pamela AndersonPamela AndersonPamela Denise Anderson is a Canadian-American actress, model, producer, author, activist, and former showgirl, known for her roles on the television series Home Improvement, Baywatch, and V.I.P. She was chosen as a Playmate of the Month for Playboy magazine in February 1990...
both deny ever being fooled. Anderson's punk involved convincing her that a porn movie was being shot in her back garden. She explained that she realized it was a prank when she confronted a nude model on the premises. - Kutcher has claimed that he himself is "unpunkable." In the first season, he was "punked" as he had to keep walking through the metal detector at MTV Studios. It went off again and again despite the strip-searching and repeated pat-downs by the guard. They got Ashton all the way down to his underwear. The second time, his crew attempted to punk him using Britney SpearsBritney SpearsBritney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
, but Kutcher got wise to the plot and convinced Spears to help him turn the tables on his own crew.
Controversy and conflict
- On The Late Show with David Letterman, Kutcher mentioned "punking" David SpadeDavid SpadeDavid Wayne Spade is an American actor, comedian and television personality who first became famous in the 1990s as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and from 1997 until 2003 when he starred as Dennis Finch on Just Shoot Me!. He also starred as C.J...
in one of the show's first episodes. However, Spade refused to sign the release papers. The same prank was then used on Seth GreenSeth GreenSeth Benjamin Green is an American actor, comedian, voice actor, and television producer. He is well known for his role as Daniel "Oz" Osbourne in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as Dr. Evil's son Scott in the Austin Powers series of comedy films, Mitch Miller in That '70s Show, and the voice of Chris...
for the same episode. - AliasAlias (TV series)Alias is an American action television series created by J. J. Abrams which was broadcast on ABC for five seasons, from September 30, 2001 to May 22, 2006...
star Michael VartanMichael VartanMichael S. Vartan is a French-American film and television actor. He is probably best known for the role of Michael Vaughn on the American television action drama Alias...
reportedly refused to sign the release after being punked by Kutcher, preventing the prank from airing. However, Vartan denies ever being punked, and claims that the story was completely false. - American PieAmerican Pie (film)American Pie is a 1999 teen comedy film written by Adam Herz. American Pie was the directorial film debut of brothers Paul and Chris Weitz, and the first film in the American Pie film series...
star Shannon ElizabethShannon ElizabethShannon Elizabeth is an American actress and former fashion model. Elizabeth is well known for her roles in comedy films such as Scary Movie, American Pie, and Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back. She is also well known for her work in horror films such as Thirteen Ghosts, Cursed, and Night of the Demons...
filed for divorce from her husband Joe Reitman, a year after her appearance on the show. She was reportedly furious over his involvement in the prank, which involved leading Elizabeth to believe that they had been filmed on a celebrity pornPORNPorn is a common short form for pornography. It may also refer to:* Progressive outer retinal necrosis, a disease of the retina* PORN, a French industrial rock band...
tape. - During his interview of Kutcher for InterviewInterview (magazine)Interview is an American magazine which has the nickname The Crystal Ball Of Pop. It was founded in late 1969 by artist Andy Warhol. The magazine features intimate conversations between some of the world's biggest celebrities, artists, musicians, and creative thinkers...
, actor Brad PittBrad PittWilliam Bradley "Brad" Pitt is an American actor and film producer. Pitt has received two Academy Award nominations and four Golden Globe Award nominations, winning one...
advised Kutcher not to prank his Ocean's ElevenOcean's Eleven (2001 film)Ocean's Eleven is a 2001 American comedy-crime caper and remake of the 1960 Rat Pack caper film of the same name. The 2001 film was directed by Steven Soderbergh and features an ensemble cast including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Andy García, and Julia Roberts. The film was...
co-star George ClooneyGeorge ClooneyGeorge Timothy Clooney is an American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. For his work as an actor, he has received two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award...
, a notorious expert prankster himself. Pitt told Kutcher, "Don't do it. Don't ever go near it. Clooney will kill you and everything you love. I know it's tempting, but don't do it." - Talk show host Ellen DeGeneresEllen DeGeneresEllen Lee DeGeneres is an American stand-up comedienne, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and was also a judge on American Idol for one year, having joined the show in its ninth season....
has stated that she does not wish to be Punk'd, and is so paranoid that she often assumes she is being Punk'd whenever any suspicious or out of the ordinary mishap occurs, as when, for example, a valet gives her the wrong car when leaving a restaurant, which Kutcher's crew members did to Simon CowellSimon CowellSimon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
during the Season 5 Premiere. - ScrubsScrubs (TV series)Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...
star Zach BraffZach BraffZachary Israel "Zach" Braff is an American actor, screenwriter, producer, comedian, and director. Braff first became known in 2001 for his role as Dr. John Dorian on the television series Scrubs, for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award and three Golden Globe Awards.In 2004, Braff made his...
was involved in a prank with teenagers vandalizing his car. Braff was so furious that he almost proceeded to, in his own words, "pummel" a twelve-year old. - Allegedly, New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
Center-fielder Alex RodriguezAlex RodriguezAlexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez is an American professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Known popularly by his nickname A-Rod, he previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.Rodriguez is considered one of the best...
was Punk'd, but the tape was destroyed, per his request
Celebrities who have been Punk'd
- List of celebrities who have been Punk'd by name
International versions
- An IcelandIcelandIceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic version of the show, Tekinn, hosted by Auðunn BlöndalAuðunn BlöndalAuðunn Blöndal is an Icelandic television personality, actor and comedian. He is best known as the co-host of the comedy shows 70 mínútur and Strákarnir, and as the host of Tekinn, the Icelandic version of Ashton Kutcher's show Punk'd...
, premiered on Sirkus TV in fall 2006. - A NorwegianNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
version, Lurt av Karlsen hosted by Jan Fredrik KarlsenJan Fredrik KarlsenJan Fredrik Karlsen is a Norwegian artist manager and television personality.Karlsen has worked in the Norwegian music industry since his late teens working for popular Norwegian comedians/singer/songwriters Herodes Falsk and Tom Mathisen...
, premiered on TV2 4. march 2010. - A Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
version, Whatever Things!, was hosted by Edison Chen, in which he pranked famous Asian artists like Vanness Wu. - A DutchNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
version, Gotcha was hosted by Georgina Verbaan for the first season and Tatum Dagelet for the second. - An ArabArabArab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
version called الكاميرا الخفية (The Hidden Camera). - An IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Version called MTV Bakra was initiated by Cyrus BroachaCyrus BroachaCyrus Broacha is a TV anchor, Theatre Personality, Political Satirist, columnist and author. He is also a stand-up comedian and prankster, best known for his show Bakra on MTV and his show The Week that Wasn't on CNN-IBN.-Early years:...
airing from 2007. - In IraqIraqIraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
there was a show, Put Him in BuccaPut Him in BuccaPut Him in Bucca is an Iraqi television program airing on the network Al-Baghdadia TV. It is hosted by Ali al-Khalidi. The show's name is a reference to Camp Bucca, an American-built detention facility near Umm Qasr that was in operation from 2003 until 2009.The program, which has been compared to...
, where fake bombs were planted in celebrities cars and they were threatened with prison.