April Fool's Day Jokes, Allen Funt, and Ashton Kutcher

Nobody really knows with any certainty how April Fool's Day originated, but Ashton Kutcher took pranking to a new level with his Punk'd program (2003 to 2007). The show was created by Jason Goldberg and Ashton Kutcher, and, like another prank-related program (Candid Camera, created by Allen Funt), Punk'd promised audiences a plethora of practical jokes played on ordinary and extraordinary people who found themselves in unusual or unexplainable situations.

Long ago, typical April Fools jokes involved the all-too-common whoopee cushion placed on someone's chair or tricking an unsuspecting somebody, who was hopefully gullible, by telling him his shoe laces were untied.

Perpetrators of April Fool jokes also told people they had food in their teeth, stains on their shirts, or liquid running down their chins. Another common phone prank included calling people to ask if their refrigerator was running, and when they answered yes, to tell them to run out and catch it.

Newer April Fool jokes find people engaging in all sorts of pranks, from popping off keyboard keys and changing them around (making life especially difficult for people who need to look at their keyboards to type), to exchanging salt for pepper or sugar, or ketchup for mustard.

Today April Fools jokes are often elaborate. With a little imagination, April Fool's jokesters can provide lots of humorous fun. Take a tip from Allen Funt or Ashton Kutcher - the element of surprise can make April Fools Day truly enjoyable. Even the program, Funniest Home Videos, provides some comic instructions in the art of April Fools jokes.

Numerous web sites devote themselves to the April Fool holiday. What follows is only a sampling of the types of April Fools jokes you can play on people (including some that may surprise you) with a link to the 100 top hoaxes of all time:

In a restaurant, when the waiter leaves your table, have everybody get up and change places.

While your spouse is sleeping, paint his (or her) toenails or put smudge-free makeup on his (or her) face. The Dracula look works really well!

If you have tile on your bathroom floor, cover the toilet seat in plastic. Don't forget to put the lid down. Remember, though - you will probably have to be the one to clean up the mess.

Discreetly wrap a piece of plastic on the faucet using a rubber band to hold it in place.

Look outside and ask your spouse or roommate, "Why are they putting a boot on your car?" or "What happened to your car?"

When you know your friend is at lunch, call his or her office and ask the secretary to leave this message: Please call Mr. Lyon (or Mr. Behr). Then leave the number for the local zoo.

Most people won't listen when they year, "Hello, you've reached Brookfield Zoo," and zoo personnel are experienced in these types of calls. They are likely to say things like, "I'm sorry. Mr. Lyon is in his den right now," or "Mr. Behr is probably hibernating."

Go to work before everybody else arrives and put company letterhead memos on the desks of fellow employees telling them, "BEWARE! - hidden cameras were installed in some of the equipment and furniture around the office last night." Don't forget to put one on your own desk as well. Act shocked and upset. Complain about how your privacy is being violated. Watch co-workers search their desks and office for hidden cameras.

Go to work before everybody else and change the clocks in the office 15 minutes ahead to convince everybody that they're late or that their watches aren't working.

If you work for a company that never pays attention to its suggestion box, put memos on co-workers desks in company letterhead telling them that today (finally) everything placed in the suggestion box will be addressed. Don't forget to add "April Fool" at the end.

Call in sick to work. Then show up and pretend you never made the call.

Surprise co-workers with comments like, "I'm not at all happy about the inspection we're having today, are you?"

Place a notice on your boss's desk stating that due to unforeseen circumstances, you are unable to perform the tasks assigned to you for the duration of the day - you have come down with a bad case of Looflirpa (April Fool spelled backward).

When co-workers leave to have a cigarette, lock them out of the building. When they try to return, tell them you will open the door only if they agree to quit smoking.

Post a sign on the women's restroom door, "Closed due to Looflirpa - use men's room." Post the same sign on the men's restroom door, changing "men's" to "women's."

Try paying for items at your local Convenient or 7-11 stores (or even classy high-end stores) with Monopoly money.

Call a random phone number and apologize for being late. Tell the person who answers the phone that you'll be arriving shortly. When you hear, "Who is this?" say, "I'm really hurt you don't know me."

Call a friend or relative and ask if it's OK for you to come over. When he or she says yes, say you'll be there as soon as you can get there. Make sure you make the call from the doorstep to your friend's home or apartment.

If you live with more than two people, crush some cereal on the counter or floor, and demand to know who made the mess (works especially well with children who will accuse each other of making the mess). Don't let things get out of hand and, after you explain what an April Fool's joke is, expect lots of April Fools jokes to be played on you.

When your spouse is taking a shower, sneak into the bathroom to replace the dry towel with a soaking wet one.

Ask a friend if she wants to see a trick. When she says yes, ask her if she has a $20 bill. When she hands it to you, walk away.

Be creative. Years ago, when the Chicago Medical Society offered helpful medical advice with the use of audiotapes that patients could request by tape number, I let a friend know that I had spoken with a dermatologist who told me he knew what was causing her skin rash. I told her that he wanted her to call the Chicago Medical Society and listen to tape number 43 (not the actual number - long since forgotten, so I made up one for this article). The tape she listened to was about masturbation.

Still thirsty for more ideas to help you decide which April Fool's Day jokes to play on unsuspecting victims? Read The Top 100 April Fool's Day Hoaxes Of All Time for inspiration.

Finally, thank you to those who responded to my email and offered suggestions for this article.

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