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Someone recommended I watch ‘Reality Hell’ a few weeks ago, and although I am not a huge fan of prank shows I thought I would give it a go as it’s related to my favourite of all the TV genres.

I enjoyed around half the episodes I saw and hated the other half.

I love a good pranking, don’t get me wrong – but no matter how real they actually are the responses always seem faked to me when you see them on TV.

I have pulled pranks in my time, I love getting my other half – but my pranks are usually pretty lame, I don’t exactly have the best imagination! That doesn’t matter though because at least I know the reactions I get are real and I enjoy even the slightest real chuckle from a loved one more than a huge eloborate reaction from a stranger in front of TV cameras.

Now, I just came across a Prank Call site a few days ago that I plan to make use of. As the name suggests they allow you to prank call your loved ones – all you need to know is their phone number. They have a big database of calls that you can select from to find that ideal prank and you can listen to them before you commit so you know exactly what you will be sending.

There’s one about illegal downloading that will be ideal for my other half so I am going to send it him tonight when he gets back from work – I might even win a Wii, ipod or flip for sending it as they currently have a competition running where every time you prank someone you get an entry into their competition, FUN!

Having said that about American shows and their product placements, that isn’t to say it doesn’t happen in UK shows – they just have to be much more subtle about it. Take the last series of The Biggest Loser UK where the Kettlebell was used and praised most episodes – pieces to camera from the trainers and contestants talking about how wonderful a piece of equipment it was. I wonder how many people rushed out to buy one after the show, I know it’s on my Christmas list this year.

I wonder how many people go out and buy the products they pimp on The Biggest Loser USA, assuming they are the best weight loss products just because Jillian and Bob say so? Being from the UK product placement is still pretty unusual to me, despite the amount of American TV I watch – so when they do them they stand out a mile, whereas I guess most America’s hardly notice at all.

I understand the need for it and have no objections really, I just think that some shows need to be very careful about what they are pimping and I would love to know what sort of effect they have on sales.