Ryan Seacrest Walking Off New Jersey Radio Show Over "Gay" Question

It's now apparent that what seemed to be an uncomfortable on-air interview for Ryan Seacrest at Jersey 101.5 (WKXW-FM) was really a hoax. The "Jersey Guys" admitted to the stunt on Friday. Earlier in the week, the following was blogged: Original Report - According to Carl Barbati at Trentonian.com: "After a minute or two of niceties, [Craig] Carton asked Seacrest whom he'd rather spend the night with, past 'Idol' singers Clay Aiken or Kelly Clarkson...'Ryan, are you a homosexual?' With that, Seacrest was headed for the door..."

June 24, 2005

Radio Listener Sues DJ After He Promises She Has Won "100 Grand"

DJ Slick, from WLTO-FM (Hot 92) is sued by a listener who thought she won $100,000 in a radio contest only to find out the DJ was only prepared to award her a "100 Grand" candy bar. (Full story)

April 1, 2004

Portland Pet Owners Fooled By DJs

The "Mark and Dave Show" convinced gullible listeners that they would be fined up to $150 if their dogs, cats and ferrets weren't buckled into seatbelts. The local animal shelter received 50 calls and the sheriff's office got 30 calls asking if the information was real.

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April 1, 2004

Howard Stern Fakes His Own Demise

In the midst of indecency hearings in Washington and under the gun, Howard Stern began his show this day with the manager from his New York City flagship station announcing Stern's show had been removed from all the pressure. Afterwards, 2 other DJs played music for an hour promising "all the fun without the filth". Listeners from around the country called the show to complain until Stern finally came on and announced it was just a prank. He said, "We are back for anybody who was stupid enough to fall for that."

October 8, 2003

Canadian DJ Fools Paul McCartney in On-Air Prank

Paul McCartney was duped by a Canadian DJ into thinking he was speaking with Prime Minister Jean Chretien. The two conversed for several minutes on-the-air at CKOI before the DJ, Marc Audette, finally told the ex-Beatle he was being "pranked". McCartney immediately threatened to sue - but just as quickly admitted he was just kidding. McCartney's spokesperson said, "He took it all in good spirits."

August 5, 2003

Show Admits To Crop Circles

WKQI-FM in Detroit, Michigan got some attention this week when the "Buck Head Show'' claimed responsiblity for crop circles found by a farmer two weeks ago. Members of the show say they got a wild hair up their butts after leaving a club in Pontiac at 3 A.M. on July 14th. They claim planks of wood and rope were all they needed to create the hoax. Meanwhile, the farmer who discovered them doesn't buy their story. He said if it's true, then they ought to pay him for the damage!

June 18, 2003

Castro Duped By Prank Call

Enrique Santos and Joe Ferrero of WXDJ-FM come back with a new prank as they fool Fidel Castro on the phone, pretending to be Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Castro got pissed.

April, 2003

Airborn Kitty

Cleveland DJ, Shane French, got a lot of attention when he told his audience he had tethered a cat to helium balloons and it was flying out of control through the sky. Faked "reports" from listeners added to the mayhem. The cops showed up and shut the fun down after two hours. About a week later, a Denver DJ pulled off the same stunt, inspired by French.

January 12, 2003

"Ian Stables' Fake Tom Cruise Date"

Ian Stables, a DJ at 91ZM, Auckland, New Zealand, fooled a listener into thinking she was going to have a dream date with actor Tom Cruise. Becky Forsey and five other listeners were taken on a 6 1/2 hour car trip to New Plymouth where she was told Cruise would be. Alas, it was a hoax. Forsey had to fork out $150 bucks to get home. She was pissed.

January 6, 2003

"Santos and Ferrero's Castro Call"

Two Miami Radio hosts called Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and fooled him into thinking Fidel Castro was calling. Enrique Santos and Joe Ferrero from WXDJ-FM, used real soundbites from the Cuban dictator and played them over the phone in a simulated conversational manner

June 14, 2002

"Bruce Da Moose's STD Call"

"Bruce Da Moose" from WBTT-FM, Fort Myers, Florida, telephoned a woman on-the-air (Adrienne Breidigan) and tricked her into disclosing pesonal information and then told her that she had been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease. She sued for unspecified monetary damages.

September, 2001

"The Clear Channel Offensive Song List"

Shortly after the tragedy of September 11, 2001, a real memo took on the makings of a hoax. A Program Director of a Radio station in the Clear Channel chain of stations, circulated a memo with a suggested list of songs that might touch raw nerves following 9/11 either because of title or content. Soon, rumor began to swirl that the memo's suggestions was a programming edict for all stations in the company. Clear Channel denied this.

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