Phone numbers for use in TV shows, films and creative works

nomilk | 210 points

In the early days of the Internet, there was this website with a list of payphone numbers from all over the United States. In my state, there were only three entries, and my home phone number was one of them. It was listed as being outside a publicly traded chain restaurant.

On occasion, radio stations would do bits where they would call a random payphone from the website. My house was called 3 times for the same bit by different radio stations. Within a month apart, I spoke to two different stations from New Zealand. MoreFM was one of them, but I don't remember the other. I do remember that that were very disappointed when I told them I had just spoken to MoreFM a month prior. Also MoreFM was the only station that didn't end the bit when I explained it was not a pay phone

waltbosz | 13 hours ago

Ages ago I did work for VFX house. We got a few numbers for the film and maintained an OGM on those lines for like 12 years.

I love when film has a real world tie in

Edit: more media should do this. Fun Easter eggs on IP or numbers from the film.

edoceo | 8 hours ago

Seeing 770-555-5555 on screen has always been a huge pet peeve for me. It really kills the suspension of disbelief for me.

iambateman | 12 hours ago

I was once on a bus and I could hear some teenagers talking. One asked a girl for her phone number and she told him a number starting with 07709, the UK's "555". I only knew that because a Doctor Who episode had recently used the same prefix.

billpg | 4 hours ago
benjojo12 | 14 hours ago

If youre watching an Australian show and see a mobile phone ring and it shows the callers number, ring it. You'll likely annoy someone who works on the show.

ThaFresh | 11 hours ago

If Jenny's number was 555-5309 I don't think it would have worked in a song.

jolt42 | 14 hours ago

The test prefix for test or example DOIs is 10.5555, following the American phone number convention. I have 10.5555/12345678 seared in my muscle memory.

afandian | 3 hours ago

Does this mean 634-5789 is a real number?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuC0T-_ONIA

rererereferred | 13 hours ago

Futurama used the alien alphabet to get around this because, as the commentary said, they didn't want to use another 555- number.

nullhole | 13 hours ago

Wow! Had no idea. I wonder how do they monitor if they use these for setting up an account for some offers.

MinimalAction | 13 hours ago

For any website registration that asks for a phone number I put in one of these for my area.

Marsymars | 14 hours ago

This is dope, will be nice to see how many robo crawlers are crawling these numbers.

ram_rattle | 8 hours ago

Always use theses in testing don't ask me how I know.

L-four | 14 hours ago

"The song's title, "777-9311", was Prince guitarist Dez Dickerson's actual telephone number at the time the song was written. Once the song became a hit, the phone calls started coming in, and Dickerson ended up having to change his phone number." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/777-9311

lapcat | 13 hours ago

* in Australia

degamad | 11 hours ago

I don’t see Beachwood 4-5789 on that list.

PlunderBunny | 14 hours ago

For a good time call (303) 499-7111

01HNNWZ0MV43FF | 13 hours ago

this only applies in country code 61. most folks here would be in another numbering plan:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_telephone_country_code...

riffic | 9 hours ago

[dead]

taccal | 12 hours ago

[flagged]

melaticantik | 13 hours ago