BBC TV's Panorama news program reported that the dreaded spaghetti weevil had been virtually wiped out and the Swiss were enjoying a bumper crop. On-air footage showed spaghetti being harvested from trees by pickers. The BBC received numerous inquiring calls from viewers on how to grow their own spaghetti trees.
BBC TV announced that while filming an upcoming documentary in Antartica, they had discovered Adélie penguins flying and migrating to South America to winter in the tropics. The video of the flightless birds flying posted on their website quickly became an internet sensation.
Sweden's National TV announced it was possible to view color pictures on black and white televisions. A technical expert demonstrated how stretching a nylon stocking over the screen allowed their new broadcast technology to take advantage of the prismatic nature of light. Thousands of viewers fell for the hoax with some claiming to have gotten color pictures.
Australia's TV news program This Day Tonight ran a segment on a new type of fishing rod that could be set to catch a particular type of fish. The report had an expert demonstrating the device and soon was catching fish to whatever setting he chose. Viewers calls poured in all wanting to know where to purchase one.
Comedy Central heavily promoted the April 1st premiere of South Park promising to reveal the identity of Cartman's father. The show began by stating that it had been an April Fools joke and the cliffhanger identity from the prior season would not be revealed. Irate fans sent over 1500 angry emails to the network; the identity of Cartman's father was subsequently revealed on an episode 3 weeks later.
BBC TV's Panorama news program broadcast an interview with a scientist who had claimed to have perfected a technology called Smell-O-Vision. He placed onions and coffee beans in front of his machine and asked viewers to call in when they got results. Viewers all across England called in with some claiming the onions made their eyes water.
Seattle's local comedy show, Almost Live started their April 1st show with a breaking news flash that the Space Needle had collapsed along with footage of the toppled tower. Both the Seattle 911 call center and the Space Needle were flooded with thousands of calls from concerned viewers.
Australia TV's news program This Day Tonight announced the country would be soon converting to metric time: 100 seconds-100 minutes-20 hours days, complete with an interview with the Deputy Prime Minster. The program received viewer calls about the conversion including inquiries on how to adjust your clock to the new system.
BBC TV's That's Life aired a segment about a new arrival at the London Zoo, a Lipra Loof. The animal delighted crowds as it was a natural mimic and a naturalist spoke in detail about the Eastern Himalayan animal. The animal's name is an anagram for for April Fool.
Norway TV 2's news announced a new rehabilitation strategy being tried by the government. Prisoners would be sent to see the movie, The Passion of the Christ and police officers would be on-hand afterwards to hear their confessions and accept their repentance.
Australia's TV news program, This Day Tonight ran a segment complete with scuba divers and architectural experts claiming that the Sydney Opera House was sinking in Sydney harbor.
BBC TV's sports program, Grandstand had a newsroom brawl break out behind the on-air announcer. The presenter continued to give sports news recaps as the fight escalated. Later in the show he apologized and showed an instant replay of the fight at the end of which the brawlers held a sign that read "April Fools".
Channel 7 News in Boston, MA announced breaking news about the eruption of Great Blue Hill claiming ash and lava destroyed nearby homes. The reporter linked the event to the eruption of Mount St. Helens. Government officials then commented on the seriousness of the situation. An April Fools sign was flashed at the end of the segment. By that time, local police were flooded with calls, residents had begun to flee and the news producer was fired.
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