Ashton pulls plug on ''Punk'd'' -- or does he?

After two seasons, Ashton Kutcher says he’s pulling the plug on his practical joke series, ”Punk’d.” As Johnny Knoxville did with his ”Jackass,” Kutcher says he wants to end his MTV show before it jumps the shark. ”We have had an incredible time doing the show and have decided to stick with the old adage of ‘leave ’em wanting more’ and that’s how we feel with the show,” producer-star Kutcher said Friday, according to the Associated Press. The final celebrity victim of Kutcher and crew’s elaborate gags was Beyoncé Knowles, in the episode that aired Sunday.

Of course, given the nature of the show, it’s hard to tell if Kutcher really means it or if the announcement is just a ruse to get celebrities to let down their guard while he prepares a third season. MTV fueled the rumors, with a mention on its website that said a third season of ”Punk’d” would premiere in March. But if it is a gag, MTV is playing along, having removed the mention of a third season from its website on Monday morning and issuing a statement saying: ”Today is a sad day for MTV, but probably a happy day for Hollywood. Celebrities can rest a little easier knowing that the Punkings have ceased.” That probably won’t stop stars from watching their backs.