Alan Abel is a royal pain in the ass, and someone I have known for almost 30 years.
He’s a professional media hoaxer, whose triumphs over a long career include fooling The New York Times into prominently (and prematurely) running his obituary, establishing a phony school for street beggars and fronting an organization to put clothes on domestic animals. The latter stunt was orchestrated with his friend, Buck Henry.
There’s something seriously off-kilter about Abel, maybe a bit sociopathic, but I’ve been fascinated by him ever since he fooled me into believing that he was a down-and-out member of the unemployed named “Omar” who instructed other penniless people in the art of pandhandling. This was before I worked for The Journal News, but this paper has been hoodwinked by Abel at least twice with that very same hoax.

A few years ago, Abel’s very normal and talented daughter, Jenny, produced a documentary about her trickster dad, called “Abel Raises Caine.” I’m in it, as are other people who’ve crossed paths with the guy, and despite everything, don’t hate him. (Many past and present TV and newspaper assignment editors really, really hate him.)

Jenny’s film has won many wards, and now she informs me that it is available on DVD. I recommend it because it’s fun and also because as I said, I’m in it. For a taste, click onto the “trailer”:http://abelraisescain.com/view_trailer.htm.

If you want to order it for a holiday gift, click on “Abel”:http://abelraisescain.com for more information. And remember, a sucker is born every minute.