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Prank calls is a recorded-comedy genre built around telephone calls made under false pretenses to provoke humorous reactions. Performers adopt characters, accents, and absurd premises, then record and edit the calls into self-contained comic sketches. While rooted in radio stunts, the genre evolved through underground tape trading, album releases, and broadcast/television shows. It emphasizes improvisation, vocal acting, and timing, and often adds post-production—bleeps, music stings, and punch-in edits—to heighten the comedic arc. Because real people are involved, ethical considerations and consent laws are central to the practice; reputable releases typically obtain permission or anonymize participants.