An age-old prank was successfully pulled off in a moment that no one saw coming — or even recognized in the moment.
It happened during the latest meeting of Virginia’s Henrico School Board on Aug. 26, led by Chair Roscoe D. Cooper III. As public board meetings go, Cooper invited a pre-submitted list of town residents to speak on current issues affecting their community. As names are called, the person may approach the podium and share their comments.
But this recent meeting included an unusual number of names apparently absent on that day. Cooper announced the names carefully: Phil McCracken, Eileen Dover, Suk Mahdik, Ophelia McCaulk, Don Kedick and Wayne Kuhr.
Had the Cooper perhaps read the list a bit faster, he might have realized the prank afoot.
Lucky for those of us outside the New Bridge Learning Center Auditorium in Richmond last Thursday, the Henrico School Board films their meetings for posterity.
The minute-long clip of Chair Cooper reading the list has already more than 663,000 views on YouTube — far and away exceeding their channel’s average view count of just a few hundred.
Viewers were quick to point out the video’s similarity to the classic “Simpsons” bit, in which Bart calls Moe’s Tavern asking to speak to patrons with names such as “Mike Rotch” and “Anita Bath.”
“The audible question in ‘Phil McKraken?’” said one fan of Chair Cooper’s delivery, “that is Moe level straight man.”
“Love to see the younger crowd getting involved in community politics,” said another.
“The kids that submitted these names are the future of the US I hope for,” echoed one admirer, presumably referring to young fans of the 31-year-old animated series.
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