Got an idea for a prank? Can you top CollegeHumor.com's Amir Blumenfeld, Streeter Seidell?

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By BOB ANDELMAN

For a good time, try typing www.CollegeHumor.com into your web browser’s window.

You’ll find an endless stream of short videos that will do anything from brighten your day to cause you to hurt yourself from laughing too hard.

I love a good laugh and websites has become really expert at providing humor in easily digestible bites that we can share with friends and family at the push of a button. Humor is what puts the viral in video.

Joining me today are CollegeHumor.com writer-comedians Amir Blumenfeld and Streeter Seidell. They came to my attention in a recent Wired magazine feature by Jason Tanz on hoaxes; the pair is world renowned for pulling elaborate pranks on one another. I’m hoping to learn a little about their site and what makes a good stunt.

That, and how they haven’t killed each other in the process of getting revenge.

STREETER SEIDELL AUDIO EXCERPT: "We were just doing this for fun and the enjoyment of our friends. The first was when I was doing a standup show and Amir told the audience not to laugh at me. And to heckle me. It was a horrible experience." 

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You can LISTEN to this interview with AMIR BLUMENFELD and STREETER SEIDELL, pranksters at COLLEGEHUMOR.com, by clicking the audio player above!

Copyright 2010 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Mike Sacks, AND HERE'S THE KICKER humor writer: Mr. Media Radio Interview

I wouldn’t mind spending a day or two in the shoes of Mike Sacks.

During the day—and probably quite a few nights—he is a mild-mannered writer for Vanity Fair magazine.

When he’s not doing that, he’s been interviewing some of the smartest, funniest writers around for his new book, And Here’s the Kicker: Conversations with 21 Top Humor Writers On Their Craft.

AUDIO EXCERPT: "A lot of them are shy and socially awkward. They get used to you and know you do your research. But if I met them at a party, it would have been a car wreck."

As a writer myself, this book was irresistible to me; the chance to eavesdrop on Sacks’ Q and A with the guys—and one woman—behind everything from “The Office,” Borat and “Saturday Night Live” to MAD magazine, The Onion and M*A*S*H.

Even if you’re not a writer, this is a rich vein to mine for laughs and insight into your favorite pop culture icons.



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You can LISTEN to this interview with MIKE SACKS, Vanity Fair writer and author of AND HERE'S THE KICKER, by clicking the BlogTalkRadio.com audio player above!

Copyright 2009 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Onion News Network: A Little CNN, A Little Howard 100

This looks like the start of something fun: The Onion newspaper has launched an online video channel. Its style suffers a little from CNN, its credibility offers echoes of Fox News, and its gravitas is nothing short of Howard 100 News. If you get all your fake news from Jon Stewart and "The Daily Show," you'll want to get a little more from The Onion.