Gene's "Fox and Friends" Interview Invitation

Somebody decided to pull a practical joke on Gene, and he fell for it hook, line, and sinker. Last night, the following comment was left on Gene's blog:

Mr. Chapman,

My name is Janice Harvey, and I am a producer for the television show "FOX and Friends" on the FOX News Channel. Our senior producer, Matt Singerman, would be interested in speaking with you about appearing on our show.

I am sorry to communicate with you via this format, but I have been unable to find your email address or phone number on your website. If you are interested, then please contact me at your earliest convenience at the number or email below.

Thank you,
Janice Harvey
phone: (212)301-3813
email: friends@foxnews.com
Janice Harvey | Homepage | 01.11.07 - 10:55 pm | #

Okay, let's review. That email address is the address for show suggestions, not to anyone in particular affiliated with that show. The telephone number is real, but it is there for the same purpose.

Most tellingly, Matt Singerman hasn't been with Fox & Friends since October 2005, according to press releases. He now works for TV Guide Channel. He also wasn't senior producer even when he was with Fox & Friends, he was Executive Producer.

A real television producer, journalist, etc would never leave a blog comment asking someone to contact them for an interview. This is for several reasons, not the least of which is that they would have no way of confirming that the caller really was Gene Chapman. Furthermore, Gene's phone number and email are on his blog, for anyone who cares to look, and Doug's phone number is there too.

However, Gene and Doug don't bother to research, preferring instead to leave blog comments with asinine and easily answered questions. It's therefore no surprise that Gene and Doug would assume that other "important people" also don't take the time to do basic research. It's also telling that Doug has taken to responding to commenters by saying "We report. You decide". That just happens to be the slogan for Fox News.

Clearly, somebody is messing with Gene. There can be no doubt about it. It's actually a pretty good practical joke, especially since Gene and Doug both jumped at the alleged opportunity. Accordingly, the following responses to "Janice" were left on Gene's blog comments section:

Janice Harvey,

Thank you very much for stopping by and leaving Gene a reader comment. Gene will be calling you.

.
Doug Kenline | Homepage | 01.12.07 - 2:33 am | #

followed by

Hi Janice,

Please feel free to call me at 972-872-0784.

I'll get Doug to read me your phone number today, so I can give you a call. I don't have a pen on me right now.

Gene Chapman
ChapmanForPresident08.com
gene chapman | 01.12.07 - 7:10 am | #

Others immediately recognized it was a fake - and tried to warn Gene and Doug - but as usual, Gene and Doug assumed they were smarter than everybody else, and ignored those warnings. Gene then posted it to the main blog as a fact.

Chapman Invited On Fox and Friends

I've just been invited to be on "Fox and Friends." I'll keep you all updated.

Gene Chapman
ChapmanForPresident08.com

After that, somebody (or maybe several people, acting either individually or in concert) decided to have even more fun with Gene. I had no hand in this, incidentally; I just sat back and watched the show. First, he heard from somebody pretending to be from Good Morning America:

Mr. Chapman

This is Tom Cibrowski, executive producer of ABC Good Morning America.

I understand Janice Harvey with Fox wants you on the air. Come to us Mr. Chapman. We have a bigger audience and much, much better view from our studios.

Thank you,
Tom Cibrowski
phone: 212-456-5900
Tom Cibrowski | Homepage | 01.12.07 - 7:01 pm | #

Then, he heard from somebody allegedly representing several CBS News programs:

Mr. Chapman:

This is Michael Bass
Sr. Exec. Producer, The Early Show, The Saturday Early Show and CBS Morning News.

Forget ABC and Fox. You have got to come to us. We'll even let you perform an exorcism of our building and light yourself on fire if you want. We are close to Central Park, so great view of the trees as you burn yourself to a cinder.

Give me a call.
Phone: 212-975-2824
Anonymous | 01.12.07 - 7:05 pm | #

Then, it was time for all the alleged news programs to fight over the Gene interview:

Hey Mike. Screw you. We want him.
Tom Cibrowski | Homepage | 01.12.07 - 7:08 pm | #

No way Tom. Stick to Dave Price and his cutsey stuff. Chapman's ours.
Michael Bass | Homepage | 01.12.07 - 7:10 pm | #

Hey boys! We asked first. We got dibs!
Janice Harvey | Homepage | 01.12.07 - 7:11 pm | #

Then, late night talk shows allegedly got into the act:

Hi Gene. Jeff Ross here with Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

It looks like you have some tought choices to make on who you are going with in the morning. But for evening/late night this should be a no brainer, even for a guy diagnosed with Dysthymic Disorder.

Come to us Gene, we'll cheer you up! You may have to, you know, sign some waivers that if you decide to commit suicide by self-immolation your estate will not hold Conan, the show, NBC Universal or our parent GE liable.

Plus, if you do decide to ignite yourself, you'll have to do it outside in Rockefeller Center, as NYC has a strick no smoking policy in workplaces and offices.

And there may be a pre-taping psych screening, but we make everyone do that. Really, everyone. Seriously, it is not just you.

Let us know buddy! We can get you on Tuesday!

Jeff Ross
Executive Producer
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
LateNight@nbcuni.com
Jeff Ross | Homepage | 01.12.07 - 7:33 pm | #

I personally think Gene's weirdness would be better suited for David Letterman, but I'm a Letterman fan from back in the "Guy Under The Seats" and "Monkey Cam" days, so I'm probably not completely unbiased.

Finally, even The Ghost of Edward R. Murrow had to get in on the act:

Mr. Chapman:

So serious is your campaign I have personally come back from the dead to have a special from beyond the grave edition of See It Now to interview you.

CBS News has changed a great deal since I was alive and on air, so there is a matter of you agreeing, in writing before hand, not to light yourself on fire on air.

However, in something they are calling the "Janet Jackson exception" you are permitted to show your nipples. Well, one.

Since I am dead, I have no, what do you call it, email? So please post your reply.

Respectfully,
Edward Roscoe Murrow
Edward R. Murrow | 01.12.07 - 9:28 pm | #

I have to say, this practical joke is diabolical. It is also some of the funniest stuff I have seen, hands down. You can't buy this kind of comedy. Stay tuned, I'll update the blog if there's any must-see additional interview bids, or fallout from the Chapman campaign.