Author: Charlie Todd

Charlie Todd is a New York based actor, comedian, and prankster. He is the founder of Improv Everywhere, a New York prank collective that has been profiled by The New York Times, SPIN Magazine, and Rolling Stone (where his work was named "Hot Comedy" in the Hot List Issue 2005). Charlie has given interviews about his pranks to news outlets around the world including The Guardian in London, German Public Radio, and NHK TV in Japan. He brought Improv Everywhere to Aspen, Colorado in 2006 as part of HBO's US Comedy Arts Festival. Charlie is a teacher at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, where he has written, performed, and directed comedy for the past five years. He has created many shows at the UCBT including PAID PROGRAMMING, FOUND ON CRAIGSLIST, and THE MP3 EXPERIMENT (all of which were Time Out New York critic's picks). He currently performs at the theatre every Saturday with the house team Reuben Williams and every Thursday with the UCBW, a ridiculous wrestling league he created. Charlie has made appearances on LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN, BEST WEEK EVER and VH1's 40 GREATEST PRANKS. He has worked on pilots for ABC and TBS, and he will soon appear in the THIS AMERICAN LIFE pilot on Showtime. Charlie was named one of the "10 Funniest People You've Never Heard Of" by New York Magazine.
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Happy April Fools’ Day from Improv Everywhere

Follow-up submitted by Josh Jasper, April 15, 2009:

  • News reporter makes vague legal threats on company’s blog, claims it’s his version of “performance art”
  • Local News station uses IE clip from You Tube, then claims copyright infringement for IE putting up the news clip on You Tube

    • From Charlie Todd of Improv Everywhere:

    30 Improv Everywhere agents found a random funeral in the obituary section of the newspaper and turned it into the best funeral ever. We picked a man who had very few surviving relatives and then showed up to his funeral to make it truly awesome

    Edited by Matt Adams:

    Go here more info, pictures & commentary.

    Related posts:

    1. April Fools 2011: Pranks Around the Web
    2. Fox TV Whoops It Up on April Fools Day
    3. St. Stupid”s Day Parade
    4. 5th Annual Occidental Fools Parade
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    Improv Everywhere: Subway Art Gallery Opening

    From Charlie Todd of Improv Everywhere, March 18, 2009:

    For our latest mission, 50 Improv Everywhere agents created an art gallery opening on the 23rd Street subway platform in Manhattan. We put up 30 placards next to objects in the space (pipes, electrical boxes, signs, advertisements), transforming them into works of art. The gallery included a bar, a coat rack, and a cellist. Enjoy the video first, and then visit here for photos, text from our placards, and reports from the agents involved.

    There should be one or two big missions this spring / summer. New Yorkers, make sure you’re on the NY Agents List to get the details.

    Related posts:

    1. Improv Everywhere: Ballroom Crosswalk
    2. Improv Everywhere: Spinning Beach Ball of Death
    3. Improv Everywhere: Star Wars Subway Car
    4. No Pants 2010 Details for Cities in 13 Countries Around the World
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    Improv Everywhere: No Pants 2k9

    From Charlie Todd of Improv Everywhere, January 10, 2009:

    No Pants 2k9 NYC Reports

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    The 8th Annual No Pants! Subway Ride went off without a hitch today in New York. It”s tough to count, but we”re guessing we had between 1,200 and 1,500 participants. Riders were divided up and dispatched to 4 separate train lines. The high was 30 degrees and there was a nice steady stream of snow.

    We hope to have a video ready in just a few days along with a complete report. For now, enjoy the flickr sets from our official photographers:

    Agent Ilya Chigirev”s set / Agent Brian Fountain”s set / Agent Ari Scott”s set, / Agent Katie Sokoler”s set

    Thanks to everyone who came out to participate, including those who came out for the 24 regional events! For more info and photos, visit here.

    Related posts:

    1. Join the Trumps’ Military Procession, April 1, 59th & 5th Ave NYC
    2. Speaking of Artificial Intelligence…
    3. Appeals Court Orders Retrial for Ztohoven
    4. Get Thee to the Getty
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    Welcome Back from Improv Everywhere

    From Charlie Todd of Improv Everywhere:

    For our latest mission, 20 Improv Everywhere agents personally welcomed home total strangers at JFK airport. Grabbing first and last names from car driver signs, we greeted strangers with personalized posters, flowers, balloons, and a 10-foot wide banner reading, “Welcome Back.”

    Check it out all the photos here

    In an Absolut World, Everyone Would be Welcomed Home

    Related posts:

    1. Joey Skaggs Promises Satirical Provocation for Donald Trump
    2. How Your Fake Right-Wing News Gets Made
    3. Fake Dog Poop App Gets Traction
    4. LA vs. WAR in Downtown Los Angeles
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    Improv Everywhere in Russia

    From Charlie Todd, Improv Everywhere:

    This past September I was invited by CEC ArtsLink to travel to Russia and stage an Improv Everywhere mission with local artists in the town of Petrozavodsk. Along with Kendal Henry from CEC, I worked with about 20 Russians through a small arts center in the town. We brainstormed ideas together and executed two missions during my trip. Below is the video of the first mission along with photos from the whole experience.

    For the whole story, visit ImprovEverywhere.com.

    Music by Tyler Walker

    Related posts:

    1. Urban Roof Art with Antony Gormley
    2. Banksy Film “Exit Through The Gift Shop” to Premiere at Sundance
    3. Hula Flash Mob
    4. The Art and Crimes of Ron English to Air on Ovation

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