"Crank Yankers" (2002) TV series 2002-????

Creators:

Adam Carolla
Daniel Kellison
Jimmy Kimmel

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

2 June 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Comedy

Tagline:

Screw the innocent.

Plot:

A show with real 'crank' phone calls to real victims. Puppets are added as the 'actors' to give visual support to what is happening in the phone calls.

Plot Keywords:

Puppet | Telephone Prank | Shock Humor | Vulgarity | Puppet Nudity

US TV Schedule:

Thur. Jan. 7

4:30 AM

COMEDY

Cast

Artie Esposito	...	Puppeteer (72 episodes, 2002-2007)
Paul McGinnis	...	Puppeteer (68 episodes, 2002-2007)
Victor Yerrid	...	Puppeteer (62 episodes, 2002-2005)
Biz Markie	...	Announcer (42 episodes, 2004-2007)

Also Known As:

Crank Yankers (Germany) [de]

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:TV-14 | Canada:13+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Comedy Central

Trivia:

Before any episodes aired and the show was still being written, the original title of the series was 'Prank Puppets', but a Comedy Central lawyer approached executive producer Adam Carolla and said that the show's name would have to be changed. She said the title (despite the premise of the show) 'implied spite and malice' and that it was a 'legal liability'. Neither Adam, nor the rest of the crew really believed that argument, but they reluctantly changed the name anyway.

Quotes:

Special Ed: Lady, do you play with your vagina?
Backwoodsman: Lady, who you callin' a lady when yer talkin' to a man?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Shady National Convention (2004) (TV)

Very Funny Prank Call Show

This is one of the few Comedy Central shows I like. There's no rhyme or reason to this program, except to bug people with prank calls. Unlike the prank calls you might make, these guys are actually talented and skilled comedians, and the characters they have crafted are memorable. This stuff is far superior to the prank call phenomenon that likely inspired it, "The Jerky Boys." My favorite is, of course, Special Ed, whose voice and mantras are simply hilarious. Other good characters include the perverse yet exaggeratedly upper-crust Niles Standish, the old man Elmer, and Birchum, the Vietnam vet. Kimmel, Carolla, Sarah Silverman, Wanda Sykes, and even "Family Guy's" Seth McFarlane lend their voices to these roles. All of these guys are gifted mimickers and put their acting talents to the fore for a simple childish game of prank calls. If you want to watch a funny Comedy Central show, watch this.