Evangeline Lilly To Be "Punk'd"

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - MTV's celebrity prank show "Punk'd" will end after its upcoming season, during which unsuspecting victims will include Hilary Swank, Magic Johnson, Evangeline Lilly and Nelly Furtado, the network said Monday.

This isn't the first time such an announcement has been made. In December 2003, following the show's second cycle, executive producer Ashton Kutcher said he was pulling the plug. Speculation immediately arose that it was a ploy to lower the guard of celebrity targets; indeed, "Punk'd" returned in April 2004.

However, MTV Networks Music Group entertainment president Brian Graden said Monday that the show is officially finished this time, but that there might be future collaborations with Kutcher on other projects.

MTV plans to debut the entire final season -- all eight episodes -- back-to-back in a "Sneak Peek Marathon" starting at 1 p.m. April 7. The series then premieres at 9 p.m. April 10 as part of a new Tuesday night block that also will include "Scarred" at 9:30 p.m., "Real World/Road Rules Inferno" at 10 p.m. and "Living Lahaina" at 10:30 p.m.

Graden said it was unlikely that most viewers would watch the entire "Punk'd" marathon, but he hoped it would generate buzz for the show.

As a tribute to the final season, Kutcher will host a special "Punk'd Awards" honoring all eight seasons at 9 p.m. June 5. Kutcher created "Punk'd" with fellow executive producer Jason Goldberg.

Source: Hollywood Reporter