Embarrassing Lesson: Duped Reporter Learns The Hard Way

Charleston Post and Courier ^ | 4/21/03 | James Scott

[marshmallow]

And the name which the reporter fell for: Heywood Jablome

[mewzilla]

This doesn't surprise me a bit. I've talked to some of the reporters at a couple of my local papers. Gernerally speaking, I know more about what they cover than they do. What's more, that fact doesn't bother them.

[okkev68]

Didn't he have a brother - Phillip McCrevis? Or was his name Harry, Harry Paratestes.

[big gray tabby]

This is one of my favorite types of humor. Heywood Jablome was quoted in the New York Post at one time, so this guy shouldn't feel too bad.

I was stopped on Wall Street for a quote and gave my name as Mike Rotchreeks, but it never made the paper.

[Billthedrill]

Hilarious! The protester's real name was Hugh Janus. Pat Mygroine and Harry Paratestes told me so.

[annyokie]

LOL I worked with a guy who would get our little 18 year old receptionist to page "Mike Hunt" at least once a month. She never caught on.

[mewzilla]

Yes, he should feel bad. Come on, the guy's supposed to be a professional and he falls for Heywood Jablome. Sheesh.

[Xenalyte]

Second time that's happened in a few years. A New York Post reporter fell for it back in the summer of 2000 - I remember 'cause my evil-minded co-worker found it uproarious, as did I.

It sparked my interest in prank-call names (which I use at the Festival on patrons) - my current favorites are A. Nicholas Fivepennies and Heidi Salami.

[lsee]

Thanks for posting the bogus name...I was thinking of a dozen others I've heard and wondered which one it was.

When I was a sweet young thing working behind the counter at a hamburger joint, it was a favorite prank among the crasser members of the public to give the counter girls bogus names to call out. I was naive and actually announced a few before my older, wiser friends told me that names like "Ben Dover" should NOT be announced over the loudspeaker!

[Howlin]

:-)

[isthisnickcool]

I bet my cousin Jack Meoff will find this funny.

[mikegi]

His brother is "Jack Inhofe".

[Desecrated]

Went to high school with a guy named Mike Hawk. He was always late and the teacher, not realizing, would say "Where is Mike Hawk?" or "Mike Hawk is late for class again!"

Ah those were the days....

[Egregious Philbin]

LOL I worked with a guy who would get our little 18 year old receptionist to page "Mike Hunt" at least once a month. She never caught on.

I went to school with a guy by that name, no fooling. Cruel parents - poor kid, he never had a chance.

[wbill]

Humph. I was always more partial to Phil Latio.

Friend of mine signed up for a seminar in college as Hugh G. Rection. The professor in charge had no clue. Sick of the joke, the friend finally fessed up after the first day.

[avg_freeper]

I've heard that this guy is one of our local (Atlanta) 99X morning radio jockeys.

[annyokie]

My husband was in the Army with a guy named Dick Head. Talk about cruel.

[wbill]

Teacher in HS was named Richard Small. The kids only called him Dick behind his back.

He was also 6'6". Didn't get much trouble from anyone.....

[Xenalyte]

Remember when we'd get a substitute, and we'd give fake names? For some reason, no poor sub ever caught on to the fact that there is no such person as Mike Hunt.

[annyokie]

There is a contractor here in our little burg named Dick Mount.