In general I’m not big into April Fool’s Day. Those that know me pretty well are usually surprised to hear that. I tend to be a fun-loving guy who likes to laugh a lot. I guess it can be surprising when I say that I have a tough time coming up with April Fool’s pranks, or jokes, that are good.
Sure, stoopid April Fool’s jokes are a dime a dozen. Usually it’s based on a lie that isn’t hard to detect as a lie. Everyone has an uncomfortable laugh and then gets on with the day. Worse yet is a made up tragic story that causes wailing and sobbing only to be replaced by fists flying when the truth is revealed.
However, I do have one story of a joke that I actually planned out and pulled off that wasn’t half bad. This is that story.
It was years ago in Roswell, New Mexico. I was the main Weather Anchor on the 6:00 and 10:00 news on KBIM-TV. I brought my son and daughter to work with me on April Fool’s Eve along with the suit and tie that I was going to wear the next night. I used a photog to shoot the video. By the 6:00 o’clock news on April Fool’s night, I was ready. I instructed my director to mess with the clipping on the weather wall shortly after I started my weather and then roll tape once I walked off camera. It worked brilliantly. Here’s what the viewer saw that night in 1993:
We came out of the commercial and I got 10 or 15 seconds into the weathercast when I started to fade in and out on the air. I turned to the camera said, “something’s not right, I’m gonna go check this out.” I then walked off camera and out the studio door with the camera following behind. I walked into the control room and up to the “director” and it was my 4 year old son and 10 year old daughter. My son had the headsets on and my daughter was at the controls of the switcher. I looked at ‘em and said, “I know it’s your first time directing and all, but can you please try and get it right?” They said in unison, “OK Dad. NOT!”
I then walked back into the studio shaking my head and went on with the weather.
Fun times! Great team work between a news photog, director, tape op and my kids. My only regret is I didn’t save a copy.
Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my brother Chris! Seriously.
