History Main / PrankCall

* The B-plot of the ''Series/EvenStevens'' episode "Thin Ice" sees Louis and Twitty taking up prank calling, almost ruining Ren's chances for a date with her then-boyfriend at the time, Bobby. However, it [[PrankGoneTooFar goes too far]] when they prank Tawny and her father, saying they won $1 million[[spoiler:, but it turns out to be a setup to teach them a lesson: the Deans knew it was the boys the whole time, because they have caller ID]].

* The B-plot of the ''Series/EvenStevens'' episode "Thin Ice" sees Louis and Twitty taking up prank calling, almost ruining Ren's chances for a date with her then-boyfriend at the time, Bobby. However, it goes too far when they prank Tawny and her father, saying they won $1 million[[spoiler:, but it turns out to be a setup to teach them a lesson: the Deans knew it was the boys the whole time, because they have caller ID]].

* The B-plot of the ''Series/EvenStevens'' episode "Thin Ice" sees Louis and Twitty taking up prank calling, almost ruining Ren's chances for a date with her then-boyfriend at the time, Bobby. However, it goes too far when they prank Tawny and her father, saying they won $1 million, but it turns out to be a setup to teach them a lesson[[spoiler:, because the Deans have caller ID, therefore, they knew it was them the whole time]].

* At the end of the ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'' episode "Dumbells", this is the [[HereWeGoAgain new prank]] Heffer and Filburt take up after they confess to their [[DingDongDitchDistraction ding dong ditch pranking spree]][[spoiler:, even roping the judge presiding over their case into it]].

* At the end of the ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'' episode "Dumbbells", this is the new prank Heffer and Filburt take up after they confess to their [[DingDongDitchDistraction ding dong ditch pranking spree]][[spoiler:, even roping the judge presiding over their case into it]].

* ''Series/TheAmandaShow'' had a short sketch of a girl prank calling someone called Mr Oldman. The calls consist of her saying a bunch of random stuff to mess with his head, before asking him to do something ridiculous for an extended period (while still on the phone). The shorts usually end with Mr. Oldman complying with her orders, all while periodically screaming "YOU HAVE THE WRONG NUMBER!"

* Australian musician and alternative comedian Gregg Turkington also recorded an album of prank calls entitled ''Great Phone Calls'' which included the first appearance of his [[AntiHumor hilariously]] [[SoUnfunnyItsFunny unfunny]] stand-up comedian character Creator/NeilHamburger. Also notable for including "Music Of The Night", a brief prank call made by Music/MikePatton in which he tries to get saxophone lessons after midnight (the music teacher's ad apparently mentioned being available [[ExactWords "any time of day"]]).

For amateurs, at least, this has been [[DiscreditedTrope made largely extinct]] in RealLife because of [[TechnologyMarchesOn caller]] [[TropeBreaker ID]] and call-blocking features that allow telephone users to block calls from "Private"/"Unavailable"/"Unknown"/"Restricted" phone numbers (and thus averting potential for a PrankGoneTooFar). Prank Calls are usually considered a form of HarassingPhoneCall. Though the trope ''does'' live on for call-in talk shows and similar, where the caller doesn't care if their ID is known and often prank callers are seen as AllPartOfTheShow. [[EvolvingTrope The trope also lives on in the form of Prank]] ''Answers'', usually directed at telemarketers and scammers.

For amateurs, at least, this has been [[DiscreditedTrope made largely extinct]] in RealLife because of [[TechnologyMarchesOn caller]] [[TropeBreaker ID]] and call-blocking features that allow telephone users to block calls from "Private"/"Unavailable"/"Unknown"/"Restricted" phone numbers (and thus averting potential for a PrankGoneTooFar). Prank Calls are usually considered a form of HarassingPhoneCall. Though the trope ''does'' live on for call-in talk shows and similar, where the caller doesn't care if their ID is known and often prank callers are seen as AllPartOfTheShow.

* A ''WesternAnimation/TuffPuppy'' episode has Dudley prank calling Snaptrap by asking for Anita Bath (I need a bath). When Snaptrap repeats the name, Dudley yells, "You sure do!"

* {{Music/Beck}}'s BSide "Zatryricon" is an odd electronic instrumental overlaid with the sounds of RecordProducer Tony Hoffer calling up plastic surgery practices with such requests as getting hair removed from a tail he'd previously had grafted on by another surgeon.

* Many people on [=YouTube=] like to post videos of making prank calls to Indian scams that inquire about items like tech support, debt collection, or free vacations, as a way of harassing them and, for a short time, stopping them from getting another victim. Common tools employed by these [[FanNickname "scambaiters"]] are [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-j12NvUwhw voice acting or modulation to make the operator believe that they're talking to, say, an 80-year old grandma,]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq1uiinNM_Y replying to their emails with]] [[BrokenRecord just the word "OK",]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMsY4zrZ0ow or just outright]] [[MarathonLevel trying to waste as much of their time as possible, with a good goal being 2 or 3 hours.]]

* {{Crabgrass}}: In [[https://www.gocomics.com/crabgrass/2022/01/03 this comic]]. Miles prank calls someone using the running refrigerator joke. However, he then proceeds to tell the victim his real name and is about to give the phone number, forcing Kevin snatch the phone from Miles hand and hang up. Miles excuses himself with that he is bad at prank calls.

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]n

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

Contrast MistakenForPrankCall (the SubvertedTrope) when the character receiving the call thinks that they're being pranked.