Candid Camera creator Allen Funt Before celebs got "Punk'd" by Ashton Kutcher (turning the show's moniker into a transitive verb), there was "Candid Camera." Starting in 1948, Allen Funt's hidden camera playfully captured average Joes in not-so-average situations "caught in the act of being themselves." It's the granddaddy of reality shows and one of the longest-running. With writers and collaborators like Woody Allen, Buster Keaton, and Fannie Flagg, it's no wonder the show was an instant hit. Viewers tuned in to see hilarious reactions to talking mailboxes, pianos that moved across the stage, and breaking bowling pins. Beyond the entertainment value, the show's archives have been used as a study in human behavior. For instance, if you were riding in an elevator and everyone else got on facing the back, would you turn around? An up-close and amusing lesson on the pressures of conformity! The technology and pranks may have become more elaborate since Allen Funt's early days, but human nature pretty much stays the same. Suggested Sites... Candid Camera - history of the show and cast with episodes from the classic '60s run. Punk'd - video highlights of celebrities getting Punk'd by Ashton Kutcher. Jump the Shark: Candid Camera - seems most agree here that the show never really "jumped." Viewers share their memories.

Directory categories: Candid Camera, Reality TV Shows, Practical Jokes and Pranks, Punk'd

Archived under: Eavesdropping, Entertainment, Jokes, Reality TV, TV

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