University Relations Prank Video Now Ready for Prime Time

On April 1, 2010 University Relations managing editor Charlie Alison played a joke on his colleagues. He remodeled the 8^th floor lobby of their Hotz Hall office to make it look like the 9^th floor Housing Office, got a friend to act as front desk receptionist, then arranged for a hidden camera to videotape the confusion.

“What can I say, it was early in the morning,” said Amanda Ryan, manager of creative services, who had trouble finding her floor. “I was pressing the right button, but to no avail, so I assumed something must be wrong with the elevator. Thankfully, I wasn’t the only one who fell for Charlie's trick.”

“I think she was the only one who tried riding up on a different elevator,” said Alison.

You can see the full video for yourself at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzbulqH0I4g. Thousands already have.

By tonight that number could be in the millions.

The prank will be featured on TruTV’s 20 Most Shocking Practical Jokers Gone Wild – 6 at 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13. TruTV is carried on Cox Communications channel 50 in Northwest Arkansas, channel 41 in Fort Smith, and channel 48 in Siloam Springs. Check your local provider for other listings.

“I had not yet joined the university when the video was made,” John Diamond pointed out. He’s the associate vice chancellor for University Relations. “I wouldn't call it 'wild', and the only thing 'shocking' was that anybody fell for it. But when I saw it I thought it was very clever and very funny. Beyond that it displays the skill and creativity that everyone in university relations puts in everything they do. And now that we have moved to Davis Hall, none of them can get confused about the office disappearing.”

Practical Jokers producers contacted university relations about using the video last spring.

“I had to get everyone to sign releases and everything,” said Dawn Mabry, assistant to the associate vice chancellor. She worked directly with the show’s staff to get the video on the air. “It was kind of exciting. I was feeling like a big time Hollywood agent.”

Will Gisler shot the video and John Cooper edited it. They are the video team for university relations.

“I never dreamed my video would be on national tv,” said Cooper.

“John’s young,” said Gisler.

TruTV paid the university $800 to use the video in the program.

“I didn’t get a cent,” said Alison.

“April Fool,” said all of his colleagues in unison.