April Fools Radio Pranks. Would North Dakota Approve? (GALLERY)
April Fools Day was once ruled by radio!
Our stations would relentlessly barrage our listeners with BS all day long! Some pranks were elaborate, others were as simple as a little playful deception. Do you know who doesn't like anything playful?
The Federal Communications Commission.
Do you know who doesn't want to rock the boat with the FCC? Every Radio Company on the planet!
Including mine.
So, when the FCC grew tired of our Fools Day shenanigans they issued one of their party pooper proclamations
The FCC’s rule against broadcast hoaxes, Section 73.1217, prevents stations from running any information about a “crime or catastrophe” on the air, if the broadcaster (1) knows the information to be false, (2) it is reasonably foreseeable that the broadcast of the material will cause substantial public harm and (3) public harm is in fact caused. Public harm is defined as “direct and actual damage to property or to the health or safety of the general public, or diversion of law enforcement or other public health and safety authorities from their duties.” If you air a program that fits within this definition and causes a public harm, you should expect to be fined by the FCC.
It is critical that the FCC ends any statement issued with the word "fined"?
The last place a broadcaster wants to be is in the boss's office explaining why inciting an April Fools Day riot cost the station $25,000 in fines and cost you your job. Honestly, it doesn't have to be a riot, could just be a client with hurt feelings.
So you might not hear me pranking you on the air...but, I may have already saran-wrapped your toilet bowl.
Let's celebrate classic radio pranks and after the gallery, I'll share some harmless pranks you can do yourself!
CLASSIC RADIO APRIL FOOLS DAY PRANKS
Those were the days. Alas...
OK, here are some "harmless" pranks from best life online that you can try yourself
Tape a harmonica under someone's front bumper.
Leave an envelope filled with glitter on their desk
Instead of caramel apples, leave caramel onions in the breakroom
Fill a doughnut box with broccoli
Put bubble wrap under a rug
Like the classic "kick me" sign, put a PLEASE HONK sign on someones car
Attach an air horn under their office seat.
Mix M&Ms, Skittles, and Reeses Pieces in one big bowl in the breakroom.
Go ahead and google your own April Fools Day pranks and good luck out there.