April Fools: PBS KIDS Sprout's Launch Day Disaster

UPDATE (4/2/2025): For my April Fools day prank yesterday, I decided to tell you about Sprout anniversary stunts that never existed for what would've been the network's 20th this year, inspired by ToughPigs' prank in 2019, where they reviewed forgotten Sesame Street anniversary specials for the show's 50th that year. This story in particular is inspired by BBC Two in the UK's launch night breakdown in 1964, while the part with Mariah Carey is inspired by The Disney Channel's launch on April 18, 1983 with Donny Osmond.

Do you remember the day PBS KIDS Sprout launched on September 26, 2005? Probably not, because that afternoon, after launch day festivities hosted by Mariah Carey that day before 6AM, there was a breakdown and a blackout. During The Birthday Show (then unnamed) with Kevin, before Mr. Mailman came into the seen, the Cuckoo Clock ident played, except it was the last part, where the Sprout logo comes out of a clock, and the screen was frozen. When Kevin came back, he was sitting in his chair and feeling tired, asking the offscreen camera crew "Anything ... else?." There was nothing else. After a few minutes, a screen appeared reading "PBS KIDS Sprout will return shortly" and accompanied by slow piano music, playing until 6AM the following day, when Boohbah came on. There was no breakdown on Sprout after that, and it's safe to say that they learned their lesson.