History Main / CandidCameraPrank

** This ''Morning Zoo'' prank call went very very wrong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRmAyyvAcZY

* Inverted by comedian Tom Mabe, who plays pranks on people who call ''him'' - namely, [[AcceptableTargets telemarketers]].

* Allen Funt's ''Series/CandidCamera'' is pretty much the definer and TropeNamer of the genre. It did both ordinary people and celebs. Its CatchPhrase, "Smile, you're on Series/CandidCamera," is well known around the world.

* ''Series/ScareTactics''. Like ''Candid Camera'', but innocent people are tricked into extremely frightening situations. There's been at least one lawsuit by a victim, but the show wasn't stopped until 2013.

* ''[[WebAnimation/{{Eddsworld}} Eddsworld]]'': [[Main/ParodiedTrope parodied]] in [[Recap/{{Punchd}} Punch'd]]

* ''[[WebAnimation/{{Eddsworld}}]]'': [[Main/ParodiedTrope parodied]] in [[Recap/{{Punchd}} Punch'd]]

* An episode of ''Anime/MagicalAngelCreamyMami'' has Megumi set one of these up to try and trick the title character into revealing her SecretIdentity.

In fact, given the number of pranks that involve a total waste of time on the part of the prankees - for example, the time ''Series/CandidCamera'' managed to turn around people at the border to one state, saying the state was "full" - there might be a question as to how much this whole pranking costs people. (At the very least, it's likely to make a few people late for important appointments.)

This stuff isn't just confined to television since radio has done its fair share; in fact, ''Series/CandidCamera'' was originally a show called ''Candid Microphone''. Radio has the advantage in that everyone in the world is already set up with an audio device at home; i.e., the telephone.

--> '''Omar:''' ''[grinning]'' One of these days you'll stop falling for that, Max. Until then, the Anger Album continues to grow.

* The basis for the ''Website/SCPFoundation'' entry [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-2030 SCP-2030]], "LA U GH IS F UN," describing an anomalous program that shows up in places like streaming sites and DVD rental kiosks. The "pranks" shown tend to be [[BodyHorror nightmarish]] and surreal, with the victims reacting appropriately, only for them to suddenly be relieved and act like whatever horror they just witnessed was a totally normal joke once the host unveils himself (often via even more gore and madness). It's worth noting that all the identified individuals shown in the series are either missing or presumed dead.

* ''WesternAnimation/CreatureComforts'' (both versions) was a weird sort of Candid Camera Prank in that the victims knew it was happening - they were told at the time that they were being recorded for a TV show and will be animated as an animal. Where the prank comes in was that neither character designers nor animators ever met the people being recorded. They wanted them to base appearance and performance on voice alone, so they were isolated from the process of recording so they wouldn't get any preconceived notions before setting to work. So there was an even chance you'd either be surprised to find out just how owlish you were, or offended that someone equated you with a gorilla. Thank God for anonymity, eh fellas?

* The basis for the ''[[Wiki/SCPFoundation SCP Foundation]]'' entry [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-2030 SCP-2030]], "LA U GH IS F UN," describing an anomalous program that shows up in places like streaming sites and DVD rental kiosks. The "pranks" shown tend to be [[BodyHorror nightmarish]] and surreal, with the victims reacting appropriately, only for them to suddenly be relieved and act like whatever horror they just witnessed was a totally normal joke once the host unveils himself (often via even more gore and madness). It's worth noting that all the identified individuals shown in the series are either missing or presumed dead.

* ''Series/ImpracticalJokers'' does this, with the twist of the pranksters often being as much the butt of the joke as the unsuspecting public.

* ''WesternAnimation/CreatureComforts'' (both versions) was a weird sort of Candid Camera Prank in that the victims knew it was happening - they were told at the time that they were being recorded for a TV show. Where the prank comes in was that neither character designers nor animators ever met the people being recorded. They wanted them to base appearance and performance on voice alone, so they were isolated from the process of recording so they wouldn't get any preconceived notions before setting to work. So there was an even chance you'd either be surprised to find out just how owlish you were, or offended that someone equated you with a gorilla. Thank God for anonymity, eh fellas?
** It's doubtful that they weren't told that they would be rendered in {{Claymation}}, but it might be a surprise to find out exactly how.

* Attempted in ''Manga/HowHeavyAreTheDumbbellsYouLift'', when the tv show writer Kutaro Deire and his producer set up a women's punching machine contest with a million yen prize and rig it with a champion prize fighter disguised as an old lady-and then it backfires on them when [[StoutStrength Hibiki breaks the machine with her punch]], as the prize was ''not'' in the budget. At least ''their'' reaction granted them good ratings...