George Plimpton's Famous April Fool's Day Joke
Clip: 5/16/2014 | 3m 11s
Plimpton's assistant was tasked with keeping his Sports Illustrated hoax going.
For the April 1, 1985, issue of Sports Illustrated, George Plimpton profiled Sidd Finch, an incredible rookie baseball pitcher for The New York Mets. The story was too good to be true, and Plimpton asked his then personal assistant at The Paris Review, the now famous author Jonathan Dee, to keep the joke alive while Plimpton was traveling. Dee recalls the hoax in this web exclusive from Plimpton!
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Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo...
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George Plimpton's Famous April Fool's Day Joke
Clip: 5/16/2014 | 3m 11s
For the April 1, 1985, issue of Sports Illustrated, George Plimpton profiled Sidd Finch, an incredible rookie baseball pitcher for The New York Mets. The story was too good to be true, and Plimpton asked his then personal assistant at The Paris Review, the now famous author Jonathan Dee, to keep the joke alive while Plimpton was traveling. Dee recalls the hoax in this web exclusive from Plimpton!
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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George Plimpton at the Helm of The Paris Review
Clip: 5/16/2014 | 2m 38s | Plimpton shaped the prestigious literary magazine with the flair of a kindly ringmaster. (2m 38s)
George Plimpton: Making a Success out of Failure
Clip: 5/16/2014 | 3m 11s | Journalist George Plimpton did not show early promise when he failed at Exeter Academy. (3m 11s)
Peter Matthiessen Interview About The Paris Review
Clip: 5/16/2014 | 1m 28s | Peter Matthiessen (May 22, 1927 – April 5, 2014) co-founded The Paris Review in 1953. (1m 28s)
Plimpton Gives Writer Jay McInerney His Debut
Clip: 5/16/2014 | 2m 17s | Plimpton published McInerney's first story ever in The Paris Review in 1982. (2m 17s)
Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself - Trailer
Preview: 5/16/2014 | 2m 8s | Journalist George Plimpton was a writer, Paris Review editor, amateur sportsman and more. (2m 8s)
Ric Burns on George Plimpton's Death
Clip: 5/16/2014 | 2m 10s | Documentary filmmaker Ric Burns describes the surprise of George Plimpton's death. (2m 10s)
Robert F. Kennedy: Friend and Admirer of George Plimpton
Clip: 5/16/2014 | 1m 55s | In this excerpt, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recalls his father's admiration for Plimpton. (1m 55s)
Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself - Preview
Preview: 5/15/2014 | 31s | Premieres Friday, May 16, 2014 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. Check your local listings. (31s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
Support for PBS provided by:
Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo...