In anticipation of 1st April, the day the media run wild and pass off fabrication and absolute nonsense as hard news, we have trawled the internet looking at the best hilarious hoaxes published in the media. As we had such a giggle doing it, we thought we would share some of them with you.
We don’t like to think that we are gullible but unfortunately it would appear that we are as year after year, the media take advantage of their position and our naiveté and show us up with an April Fool’s Day prank. Pure genius if you ask us – nothing wrong with laughing at ourselves!
Without further ado – the number one spot has to go to the absolutely hilarious classic – the Spaghetti Trees
Spaghetti Trees – the BBC’s spoof documentary broadcast on April 1st about spaghetti crops in Switzerland
The hoax Panorama programme, narrated by renowned broadcaster Richard Dimbleby, featured a family from Ticino in Switzerland carrying out their annual spaghetti harvest.
It showed women carefully plucking strands of spaghetti from a tree and laying them in the sun to dry.
Some failed to see the funny side as Panorama was supposed to be a factual programme but others, however, were so intrigued they wanted to find out where they could purchase their very own spaghetti bush.
We here at Komodo are still giggling now!
Google on the moon – In 2006, Google got in on the act and issued the below job vacancy posting. We would love to know how many applicants applied!!!
“Google is interviewing candidates for engineering positions at our lunar hosting and research center, opening late in the spring of 2007. This unique opportunity is available only to highly-qualified individuals who are willing to relocate for an extended period of time, are in top physical condition and are capable of surviving with limited access to such modern conveniences as soy low-fat lattes, The Sopranos and a steady supply of oxygen”.
Burger King – launches Left Handed Whoopers
In 1998, Burger King launched the left handed Whooper saying that people could get a Whopper for left-handed people whose condiments were designed to drip out of the right side. Not only did customers order the new burgers but some specifically requested the “old”, right handed burgers
It has to be said that this is PR at its best. The prank even included the participation of The Left Handed Club with spokesperson Lauren Milson commenting “We are delighted that Burger King has recognised the difficulties of holding a hamburger in your left hand that has a natural right bias to it. We urge all left handed hamburger lovers to visit their nearest Burger King and taste the difference for themselves.”
Smell-O-Vision
In 1965, the BBC aired an “interview” with a man who had invented a new technology called “Smellovision” that allowed viewers at home to experience aromas produced in the television studio.
To demonstrate, the man chopped some onions and brewed a pot of coffee. Viewers called in to confirm that they had smelled the aromas that were “transmitted” through their television sets.
Gullible or what?
The Archers Theme Tune
The BBC is at it again but this time BBC Radio 4 got in on the action. The Today Programme in 2005 announced in the news that the long running The Archers had updated their theme tune. Apparently, Radio 4 decided that it was time to give the 53 year old soap a facelift and to increase the appeal to younger audience, BBC Executives commissioned composer and musician, Brian Eno, to remix the existing tune
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Smell-O-Vision, Spaghetti Trees and Left Handed Whoppers
Posted by komodo-admin March 31 2010 08:35pm