When executive producer Kathleen Burns picks a victim to prank on the NBC Betty White television show “Off their Rockers,” she hopes the casualty will react in an entertaining way. It is the crew’s job to blend into the background and make sure the interactions they’re filming are genuine.
“You take a gamble and a lot of times people don’t react or don’t engage, and then we just move on to the next person,” said Burns.
The show, which has set up hidden cameras and microphones on the pier and on Pier Plaza in Hermosa Beach, features a cast of humorous elderly characters, such as Michael Yama, Ann Benson, Michael Alaimo and Reatha Grey. They set up goofy and awkward situations to prank younger people. The production team picks a ‘mark,’ gets in position and sets the elderly prankster loose.
“We don’t use actors or anything; the people we go up to are real people just living their lives,” Burns said.
After someone has been pranked, a producer follows for permission to use the footage on TV.
“Ninety-nine percent of people sign,” said Burns. “But it’s completely different every time.”
For a segment called “Eat and Run,” filmed at Pier Plaza, a camera overlooks the patio of a local restaurant with an elderly gentlemen sitting next to a table of two young women. The server brings him the check and he whispers, “watch this” to the ladies, then closes his eyes and slumps over. The server returns with the check, sees him slumped over on the seat and tries unsuccessfully to wake him up. After the server leaves, the elderly man opens his eyes and darts away while saying, “works every time!” The surprised women don’t know what to do.
“The cute thing is that it’s just playing with people, and it’s good hearted. It’s never mean,” said Burns. “A lot of times they just look twice back at our actors and a lot of times we’ll catch the audio and they’ll be like, ‘I can’t believe that just happened’ before they realize they’re on a show.”
The show has wrapped up its second season and is hoping to be picked up by NBC for a third.
“We would love to come back to Hermosa,” said Burns. “We love the environment. Pier Avenue is wonderful and there are lots of young attractive people walking around. Everybody seems to have a real positive attitude and you get good reactions because they’re happy. I mean, how can you be cranky in Hermosa?”
Burns recommended enjoying the moment if you happen to be picked as a mark.
“Some people see us down there and tune into the fact that we’re shooting something. Please just keep walking and don’t spoil it for other people who haven’t figured it out yet,” Burns said.
Crew members usually sit in the open while hiding equipment in a book or newspaper.
“Really, they’re holding a wireless handheld monitor,” said Burns. “We don’t have big trucks like in a regular TV show. We have to be really covert. People just think we’re sitting there listening to something on our iPhones.”
Burns has one last recommendation if you get pranked by a grandma.
“I would say have a sense of humor and appreciate the fact that you’ve been included in a very wonderful group of people,” said Burns. “Betty White is so proud of the show and the tone. Everybody just has a good time.” B
