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Practical joke involving completely blocking someone's doorway with phone books

A hack in progress in Lobby 7 at MIT

Female Stone louse, appearing in the highly reputed German medical dictionary Pschyrembel for 'quite a while'.

Melted ice pop, practical joke device

A practical joke^[1] (also known as a prank, gag, jape or shenanigan) is a mischievous trick or joke played on someone, typically causing the victim to experience embarrassment, indignity, or discomfort. Practical jokes differ from confidence tricks or hoaxes in that the victim finds out, or is let in on the joke, rather than being fooled into handing over money or other valuables. Practical jokes or pranks are typically lighthearted, reversible or non-permanent, and aim to make the victim feel foolish or victimized to a certain degree; however practical jokes may also involve cruelty.

The term "practical" refers to the fact that the joke consists of someone doing something physical, instead of a verbal or written joke. For example, the joker who is setting up and performing the practical joke might hang a bucket of water above a doorway and rig the bucket using pulleys so when the door opens the bucket dumps the water. The joker would then wait for the victim to walk through the doorway and be drenched by the bucket of water. Objects can also be used in practical jokes, like fake vomit, chewing gum bugs, exploding cigars, stink bombs, costumes and whoopee cushions.

In Western culture, April Fools' Day^[2] is a day traditionally dedicated to performing practical jokes.

A person who performs a practical joke is called a practical joker.^[3]

Famous practical jokes[link]

The American humorist H. Allen Smith wrote a 320-page book in 1953 called The Compleat Practical Joker (ISBN 0-688-03705-4) that contains many examples of practical jokes. A typical one, recalled as his favorite by the playwright Charles MacArthur, concerns the American painter and bohemian character Waldo Peirce. Peirce was living in Paris in the 1920s and "made a gift of a very big turtle to the woman who was the concierge of his building." The woman doted on the turtle and lavished care on it. A few days later Peirce substituted a somewhat larger turtle for the original one. This continued for some time, with larger and larger turtles being surreptitiously introduced into the woman's apartment. The concierge was beside herself with happiness and displayed her miraculous turtle to the entire neighborhood. Peirce then began to sneak in and replace the turtle with smaller and smaller ones, to her bewildered distress. This was the storyline behind Esio Trot, by Roald Dahl.

Modern and successful pranks often take advantage of the modernization of tools and techniques. In Canada, engineering students have a reputation for annual pranks; at the University of British Columbia these usually involve leaving a Volkswagen beetle in an unexpected location (such as suspended from the Golden Gate Bridge^[4] and the Lions Gate Bridge^[5]). A similar prank was undertaken by engineering students at Cambridge University, England, where an Austin 7 car was put on top of the Senate House building.^[6] Pranks can also adapt to the political context of the era.^[7] Students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are particularly known for their "hacks".^[8]

The 2003 TV movie Windy City Heat, is an elaborate practical joke on the film's star, Perry Caravallo, who is led to believe that he is starring in a faux action film, Windy City Heat, where the filming which is ostensibly for the films DVD extras is actually a documentation of the long chain of pranks and jokes done at Caravallo's expense.

Criticism[link]

Robert A. Heinlein wrote, "A 'practical joker' deserves applause for his wit according to its quality. Bastinado is about right. For exceptional wit one might grant keelhauling. But staking him out on an anthill should be reserved for the very wittiest." ^[9]

Books[link]

• The Complete Book of Outrageous and Atrocious Practical Jokes by Justin Geste (ISBN 978-0-385-23044-5)
• Cubicle Warfare: 101 Office Traps and Pranks by John Austin (ISBN 978-0-06-143886-8)
• The Compleat Practical Joker by H. Allen Smith (ISBN 978-0-89966-931-1)
• The Practical Joker's Handbook by Tim Nyberg (ISBN 978-0-7407-4198-2)
• Prank University: The Ultimate Guide to College's Greatest Tradition by John Austin (ISBN 978-0-307-33843-3)
• Prank the Monkey: The ZUG Book of Pranks by Sir John Hargrave (ISBN 978-0-8065-2780-2)
• Pranks by V. Vale and Andrea Juno (ISBN 978-0-940642-10-2)
• If at All Possible, Involve a Cow: The Book of College Pranks by Neil Steinberg (ISBN 978-0-312078102)
• Nightwork: A History of Hacks and Pranks at MIT by T.F. Peterson (ISBN 0-262-66137-3)
• The Official Handbook of Practical Jokes by Peter Van Der Linden

Movies[link]

Films in which practical jokes are featured include:

• One Hundred Men and a Girl (1937)
• Carrie (1976)
• Porky's (1982)
• April Fool's Day (1986)
• Men at Work (1990)
• Dirty Work (1998)
• Super Troopers (2001)
• Jackass: The Movie (2002)
• Windy City Heat (2003)
• Jackass Number Two (2006)
• Jackass 3D (2010)

Radio[link]

• The Howard Stern Show
• The Jerky Boys
• The Phil Hendrie Show
• Rickey Smiley
• Roy D. Mercer
• Touch-Tone Terrorists
• Tube Bar prank calls

Television[link]

People[link]

Some people have developed reputations as pranksters in addition to other work, or in some cases have made pranking their primary work. Many pranksters are comedians or entertainers, while others engage in pranks connected to social activism or protest movements.

Fictional characters[link]

See also[link]

• Dreadnought hoax
• Gag name
• Pieing
• Pranknet
• Prank call
• School prank
• Senior prank
• Snipe hunt
• Student prank
• The Yes Men
• Yippies

References[link]

Mario Lopez
Lopez at the 81st Academy Awards, February 20, 2009
Born	Mario Michael Lopez, Jr. (1973-10-10) October 10, 1973 (age 38) San Diego, California
Occupation	Actor, host
Years active	1983–present
Religion	Roman Catholic
Spouse	Ali Landry (m. April 24, 2004 - May 8, 2004; annulled)
Website
mariolopez.net

Mario Michael Lopez, Jr. (born October 10, 1973)^[1] is an American television host and actor who has appeared on several television series, in films, and on Broadway. He is best known for his portrayal of the character A.C. Slater on Saved By The Bell, which he also portrayed as a regular on Saved by the Bell: The College Years. He has appeared in numerous projects since, including the third season of Dancing with the Stars and as a celebrity guest host for the syndicated entertainment news magazine show Extra. He currently hosts America's Best Dance Crew for MTV.

Early life[link]

Lopez was born in San Diego in 1973 to Mexican parents, the son of Elvia, a telephone clerk, and Mario Michael Lopez, Sr., who worked for the municipality of National City.^[2] He was raised in a large Catholic family with a younger sister Marissa.^[3][4][5] Lopez was a high school wrestler. In 1987, his freshman year, he took 7th place at the State tournament.^{[citation needed]} He graduated from Chula Vista High School in 1991.

Acting career[link]

Lopez's professional career began in 1984 when he appeared as younger brother Tomás in the short-lived ABC comedy series a.k.a. Pablo.^[6] That same year, he was cast as a drummer and dancer on Kids Incorporated. In March 1987, he was cast as a guest star on the popular sitcom The Golden Girls as a Cuban boy named Mario who faces deportation. In 1989, Lopez was cast as A.C. Slater in the popular television sitcom Saved by the Bell, a role which lasted five years. Lopez's character was a masculine, athletic student, helping to garner the actor a sizeable teenage-girl fan base. After Saved by the Bell ended in 1993, Lopez went on to reprise his role as A.C. Slater in the short-lived spin-off series Saved by the Bell: The College Years.

In 1997, Lopez starred as Olympic diver Greg Louganis in the television movie Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story. The following year, he was cast as Bobby Cruz in the USA Network series Pacific Blue. Lopez left the series after two seasons and went on to guest star on Resurrection Blvd., Eve, and The Bad Girl's Guide. In March 2006, Lopez joined the cast of the daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful playing the role of Dr. Christian Ramirez. On July 18, 2006, he was released from his B&B contract.^[7] Later that year, he guest-starred as a plastic surgeon who drives Christian Troy to jealousy when he sees him naked in the shower in an episode of FX Network's Nip/Tuck during the show's fourth season, which began in Fall 2006. He also made an appearance on The George Lopez Show as a police officer in late 2006.

Lopez and Courtney Mazza have a reality show on VH1 called Mario Lopez: Saved By the Baby which premiered on November 1, 2010.^[8]

[edit] Dancing with the Stars

In the fall of 2006, Lopez signed on as a contestant on the third season of Dancing with the Stars on ABC with professional partner and then-girlfriend Karina Smirnoff who was making her series debut. They finished in second place, losing to the team of Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke, despite scoring higher than them on average and despite "breaking all the rules" when he broke the hold on both his 2nd and 3rd week during his Quickstep and Tango.

Hosting duties[link]

In 1992, he hosted his first series on NBC called Name Your Adventure.

He hosts the MTV reality show America's Best Dance Crew and MTV's Top Pop Group. Lopez is both the host (with Carmen Palumbo) and co-executive producer of Sí TV's Dating Factory.

On August 28, 2010, Lopez hosted the Pageant of the Masters^[9] in Laguna Beach, California.

On February 06, 2012, Lopez co-hosted The Wendy Williams Show.^[10]

Stage career[link]

Lopez made his Broadway debut on April 15, 2008, in the revival of A Chorus Line in the role of Zach.^[11][12]

Books[link]

Lopez has published two non-fiction books so far. The first one, Mario Lopez Knockout Fitness, was published in 2008 and written together with Jeff O'Connell (who had previously written a fitness book with LL Cool J). A cookbook, Extra Lean, with various recipes followed in early 2010 and became a New York Times bestseller.^[13] A third book, Extra Lean Family, followed in May 2011. He plans to release a children's book entitled "Mario and Baby Gia" which will be released by Celebra Children’s Books (a division of Penguin Books), on September 27, 2011. The book will be about Lopez and his infant daughter Gia.^[14]

Personal life[link]

Lopez is a Catholic who goes to church every week.^[3] He married Ali Landry on April 24, 2004, in a Catholic ceremony at the Las Alamandas resort outside Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.^[15] Two weeks later their marriage was annulled.^[15] He dated Karina Smirnoff, his DWTS partner, from 2006 to June 2008. Since the fall of 2008, Lopez has been in a relationship with Broadway dancer Courtney Laine Mazza. In March 2010, it was announced that Lopez and Mazza were expecting a child.^[16] A daughter, Gia Francesca Lopez, was born on September 11, 2010, in Burbank, California.^[17][18] The couple became engaged over the 2011-2012 New Year's weekend.^[19]

Filmography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikinews has related news: Mario Lopez favored to win Dancing with the Stars

• Mario Lopez at the Internet Movie Database
• Mario Lopez at the Internet Broadway Database

The Cab
The Cab performing at Utah's E Center on 10/16/08.
Background information
Origin	Las Vegas, Nevada
Genres	Pop rock, power pop, alternative rock, pop punk
Years active	2004–present
Labels	Z-entertainment
Associated acts	Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, Hey Monday, The Academy Is
Website	www.thecabrock.com
Members
Alexander DeLeon Alex Marshall Joey Thunder
Past members
Frank Sidoris Bryan Dawson Charles Henry Cash Colligan Ian Crawford Paul Garcia Andy Pugh Alex Johnson

The Cab is an American Alternative band from Las Vegas, Nevada. Their debut album, Whisper War, was released on April 29, 2008. They have been called "The Band You Need to Know 2008" by Alternative Press magazine. They were also featured in the '100 Bands You Need To Know in 2010' by the magazine and were one of the three bands featured on the cover page, along with Never Shout Never and Hey Monday. Their second album Symphony Soldier was released on August 23, 2011,^[1] with its first single "Bad" released to iTunes July 11, 2011^[2] and announced by the band on July 18. The Cab funded the entire album by themselves and left their Fueled by Ramen/Decaydance label, self-releasing Symphony Soldier. AbsolutePunk gave an extremely positive review with a rating of 95%, calling the album a "masterpiece."^[3] The pre-orders featured eleven packages, ranging from $10 to $9,999 and are now available as packages on the band's webstore.^[4][5] Symphony Soldier is digitally available on iTunes,^[6] and only available as physical CDs from the band's webstore.

Biography[link]

Band members Alexander DeLeon and Cash Colligan first began playing music together at Liberty High School (Henderson, Nevada) and recorded demos as a duo which they put up on their MySpace page.^[7] At this time, future guitarist Ian Crawford went to school in Auburn, WA and started out playing his guitar in talent shows and getting them put on YouTube. DeLeon asked drummer Alex Johnson, who was playing in a local hardcore band, to join The Cab. In late 2005, it became a full band with guitarist Paul Garcia, guitar/pianist Alex Marshall, and drummer Alex Johnson, playing its first show at The Alley in Las Vegas. The band signed to local label Olympus Records in January 2006^[8] but released no material. After giving a demo to Spencer Smith and Jon Walker of Panic! at the Disco at a Cobra Starship/Boys Like Girls/Cartel show,^{[citation needed]} Smith helped them sign to Decaydance Records in May 2007.^[9] Shortly after this, the band's members graduated from high school.^[10] During this time they decided to replace Garcia with Ian Crawford, who moved from Washington to join the band.^[11] In August 2011, The Cab gained a new guitarist, Frank Sidoris, and drummer, Dave Briggs.

Blender named them #420 on their Top 100 Hot Report in September 2007, before they released any official material.^[12] The group has toured with Panic! at the Disco, We the Kings, Metro Station, Cobra Starship, There For Tomorrow, Charlotte Sometimes, Forever the Sickest Kids, Dashboard Confessional, Plain White Tees, The Hush Sound, and others. In February 2008, their touring van turned over in Wisconsin, but none of the members were seriously injured, and they only missed one tour date.^[13] In March 2008, the band played SXSW.^[14]

Their Matt Squire-produced first album, Whisper War, was released on April 29, 2008, featuring Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco and Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy on "One of Those Nights," co-written by Stump and the first single from the CD.^[15][16][17] The video for "One of Those Nights" features members of both Panic! at the Disco and Pete Wentz and Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy. By February 15, 2008, the featured song from the album, "I'll Run", received over 300,000 hits on the band's MySpace page.^[18] On October 30, their third single, "Bounce", was revealed in a new music video on the Fueled by Ramen page on YouTube. This song peaked at #69 on the defunct US Billboard Pop 100 chart.^[19]

On May 7, 2008, Whisper War debuted on the US Billboard 200 at #108,^[20] placing it at #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart for new and developing artists.^[21]

The Cab began the Dance Across the Country Tour with The Hush Sound, Steel Train and The Morning Light on July 7 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The "Why So Serious? Tour" began in September with support from This Providence, Hey Monday and A Rocket to the Moon. In October, they also joined Panic! at the Disco, Dashboard Confessional, and the Plain White T's on the Rock Band Live tour.

Their songs "Bounce" and "One of Those Nights" are featured as downloadable tracks in Rock Band 2, although "One of Those Nights" is an alternate version than that of the one on "Whisper War".

The Cab has appeared on Punk Goes Pop 2, covering Rihanna's "Disturbia". In February and March 2009 the band toured with We the Kings, There for Tomorrow and Versaemerge on the "Secret Valentine Tour". On May 1, 2009, the band performed an entire set dedicated to Queen.^[22]

After a short break, they toured with We the Kings, Forever the Sickest Kids, Nevershoutnever! and Mercy Mercedes on the "Bamboozle Road Show Tour". Shortly after, the band announced their first national headlining tour, called the "What Happens In Vegas..." tour, with the support of The Secret Handshake, A Rocket to the Moon, Eye Alaska, Anarbor, The Summer Set, and My Favorite Highway. The tour began on June 18 and ended on August 9.

On June 1, 2009 lead singer Alex DeLeon announced on his blog^[23] that guitarist Ian Crawford had decided to leave the band. Although DeLeon did say that Crawford had decided to leave due to creative differences, there seemed to be no animosity between him and the band. For their upcoming "What Happens in Vegas..." tour, The Cab announced that their friend Bryan Dawson would be replacing Ian Crawford, who is now the touring guitarist of Panic! at the Disco.

On August 19, 2009, bassist Cash Colligan announced that he would also be leaving the band.^[24] The news of Colligan's split first appeared on The Cab's official MySpace blog. Colligan's departure, like Crawford's, seemed to be amicable as the band wrote, "We wish him the best and I'm sure he'll be no stranger at a Cab show or anytime we're back in town." The same day Colligan posted his own explanation for leaving the band on his official MySpace blog. He wrote, "I'm proud as a founding member of this band to say the things I've done, the people I've met and the friends I've made. After five years it's time for me to take a mental nap. Being home I can collect my thoughts and move forward." Colligan went on to say that he would be settling down in Las Vegas and that now is just not the right time for him to be touring on the road.

In a blog Deleon posted after Cash decided to leave the band he said, "Thank you again to everyone for your unending support, you've made the tour and this summer one we'll never forget. We hope to see everybody again soon. We are happier than ever and have so many songs we are dying to show you guys! Get ready... the best is yet to come."

They announced they will be featured in the Alternative Press Tour 2010 and Warped Tour 2010. On January 16, 2010, Alex DeLeon announced via Twitter that "Bryan is going to be a father!". Bryan later confirmed, and confirmed his leave from the band, saying via his own Twitter that he "wanted to thank everyone for the support and love in this crazy time. Love you all now watch out the guys are gonna do great things, promise." A day later, Alex DeLeon announced that The Cab are looking for a new guitar player: "Anyone know any guitar players? serious submissions only. Here is your chance. We need someone who can really play. Big shoes to fill." They were recently featured on "The Real World".

The Cab was on the "Ap Tour" in March–May 2010. They played songs off Whisper War and are also performed a song, "Locked Up", from their new album.

On March 5, Alex DeLeon posted on his Twitter account "singing on the las vegas house of blues stage tonight. it's been too long. been craving the lights. can anyone guess with who?" Later that night he appeared on stage with former Cab bassist Cash Colligan's new band Play For Keeps. DeLeon sang guest vocals on the Play for Keeps song "Just Like the Movies" live, where normally Travis Clark from We the Kings sings on the recording.

On June 22, 2011, The Cab announced on their website that they were departing from their label Fueled by Ramen and Decaydance Records before finally releasing their new record, Symphony Soldier. The first single from the record is "Bad," which debuted on Sirius XM Radio.

Symphony Soldier was released on August 23, 2011.^[1] with its first single "Bad" released to iTunes early July and announced by the band on July 18. AbsolutePunk gave an extremely positive review, calling the album a "masterpiece."^[3] The Cab guitarist alumnus Ian Crawford played guitar for the album. It features several guest artists co-writing, including Pete Wentz, Bruno Mars and Adam Levine.

The band toured with Simple Plan, Forever The Sickest Kids, and Mariana's Trench in the fall of 2011.

The band co-headlined the "Everything's Fine Symphony Soldier" tour during January and February 2012 with best friends The Summer Set. Supporting acts were He Is We, Days Difference, and Paradise Fears.

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

• Whisper War (2008)
• Symphony Soldier (2011)

Singles[link]

• "One of THOSE Nights"(Feat. Brendon Urie and Patrick Stump) (2008)
• "I'll Run" (2008)
• "Bounce" (2008)
• "Take My Hand" (Remix feat. Cassadee Pope) (2009)
• "Bad" (2011)
• "Angel With A Shotgun" (2011)
• "La La" (2012)

EPs[link]

• Drunk Love (2006)
• Glitz and Glamour (2006)
• The Lady Luck EP (2009)

Members[link]

Current members[link]

• Alexander DeLeon – lead vocals (2004–present)
• Alex Marshall – piano, guitar, backing vocals (2005–present)
• Joey Thunder – bass (2009–present)

Touring members[link]

• Dave Briggs – drums (2011–present)^[25]

Former members[link]

• Ian Crawford – guitar, backing vocals (2007–2009)
• Cash Colligan – bass, backing vocals (2004–2009)
• Alex Johnson – drums (2005–2011)
• Paul Garcia – guitar
• Bryan Dawson – guitar (2009)
• Charles Henry - guitar (2010-2011)
• Frank Sidoris – guitar (2011–2012)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Friends or Enemies
• Official Site
• Official Street Team
• Brazilian Fansite
• Alex DeLeon's Blog