Article: Harvard student pulls pranks professionally with new business

Matthew F. Quirk
University Wire
05-03-2001
(Harvard Crimson) (U-WIRE) CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Because the deal with his investors hasn't been signed yet, B.J. Novak '01 can't say too much about his plans for after college.

"But," he says, "don't be surprised if there's a blimp crash."

Surprise is his business. Venture capitalists are paying the young comedian to make pranks -- and they're not interested in joy buzzers and fake vomit. Novak's at work on a new business, designing large-scale hoaxes that will seize national media attention to spotlight a sponsor's name.

With financing from the New Millennium Entertainment Fund and a long history of making public spectacle at Harvard University, ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!