University of Tennessee TV Hoax
In 1993, Joey Skaggs was invited to present a lecture called "The Media: Politics, Power and Persuasion" at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. When the local NBC affiliate called to interview Skaggs before his presentation, Skaggs sent Assistant Professor Beauvais Lyons, whose art also involved hoaxing (he is the creator and curator of the Hokes Archives, a collection of mock-archaeology). Later, during Skaggs' lecture presentation, the inevitable question came up -- "What's next?"
Skaggs walked over to the television monitor he had been using to show clips of his work, and popped in a tape of the professor Lyons as Skaggs on the NBC affiliate. Needless-to-say, the audience screamed with delight.
Immediately after the lecture presentation, the NBC affiliate was besieged with calls and early the next day came out looking for the real Skaggs to interview him for a retraction.
This was a no-brainer hoax, but it was a good example of some of the issues brought forth in Skaggs presentation, that is, how easy it is not to question and to take things on face value.
© 1997 Joey Skaggs