We don't always love Improv Everywhere's pranks, but their latest stunt is a perfect example of how endearing their best work can be. The troupe recently surprised a couple on a bench in Central Park with an "instant date" that included sparkling cider, dinner, and an intimate performance by a wind quintet. Just look how happy it made them! Watch it all go down below—it will warm even the coldest and deadest of hearts. more ›

Sure, office curmudgeon John Del Signore railed against The No Pants Subway Ride earlier this week, but we're happy to report that he's been coming in to the office sans pants all week and it has really turned him around on this whole thing. So we lift our ban, for now, on No Pants Subway Ride coverage... because we don't really have a ban on coverage, just a desire to see them take it to the next level. And yes, there's MORE to say! Actually, there's nothing more to say. What you just read was FILLER, all we've really got is this new video of the action. Enjoy! more ›

This Sunday, January 8th, the No Pants Ride will be happening once again (don't say we didn't warn you) for what the Improv Everywhere organizers say is the 11th year (though it feels like eternity). So before we ready ourselves to see more boxers on the subway cars this weekend, let's take a look back. The most shocking thing revealed in this video below: the No Pants Ride was actually pretty fun during its first trial run. more ›

Ben Folds, Aubrey Plaza, Harry Crane... these are all people who show up in the teaser for Improv Everywhere's documentary. The film is a work in progress, and the troupe has launched a Kickstarter to help raise the $125,000 they need to complete it. That may seem a little steep when you're confronted with lines like "And from there we took our pants off, and the rest is history," but they do have to cover over a decade of pranks. more ›

Improv Everywhere's public musicals are generally crowd-pleasers, so it's not surprising the troupe revamped their grocery store bit and put a yuletide spin on it for the holiday season. This month they're offering up a Mall Santa Musical, filmed, naturally, in New Jersey. more ›

The Improv Everyone gang recently placed a wooden lectern with a megaphone attached to it in public spaces around the city, the sign on it read: “Say Something Nice.” Most of the people just seemed to use it as their own attention-drawing platform, however... we're lookin' at you, Buzz Lightyear. more ›

The merry band of Improv Everywhere pranksters are back again, this time turning Bryant Park's Le Carrousel into a lightning-paced, high-stakes horse race, complete with a neon-clad jockey, fast-talking announcers, and a roaring crowd. Be sure to watch the whole video to catch a revealing interview with the adorable winner at the end! more ›

With all this noise, silence is practically extinct in the city. Enter: the Guggenheim and their friends at Improv Everywhere. The two joined forces to create a mute button for the museum's stillspotting nyc exhibition. The mission included 23 actors, 2 dogs, and one noisy public park. The troupe took over the northern entrance of Prospect Park, and confused a crowd with scenes of synchronized silence. more ›

In case the bazillion photos were not enough, there's finally some video documentation of this year's No Pants Subway Ride! Just regular YouTube video, not 3-D, not IMAX, not Smell-O-Vision... and not once is there a rat attack. But maybe next year one of those elements can be added... because how many years in a row can one look at pantless subway riders? more ›

Back in the spring, a tourist sidewalk lane magically appeared along Fifth Avenue, separating the chaff of idle skyscraper-gazers from the wheat of get-out-of-our-way natives. At first, rumor had it that it was a piece by British invader Banksy, but it was eventually revealed to be an Improv Everywhere prank. But in a new twist today, it seems the British are borrowing the idea to utilize in one of the busiest streets in London. more ›

Last month the Improv Everywhere troupe made a Coney Island beach trip a black tie affair—at the time we posted a bunch of photos, but now there's video to go along with it. One adorable older gent at the end of it tries to explain how it made him feel to witness the spectacle, saying: "At first I was surprised, but I saw people looking, and old people laughing... you move people... everybody's happy!" more ›

Improv Everywhere brought their antics to Coney Island yesterday, turning a beach day into a black tie affair! Hundreds of folks dressed in tuxedos and gowns confused the regular beachgoers, as they played in the sand and swam in the ocean in their formal wear. more ›

So what else did Darth Vadar, Princess Leia and those Stormtroopers do when they were underground in the city's subway system? Katie Sokoler helped put together a video of outtakes documenting their adventure—which included reading some gossip mags, checking out some subway platform musicians, and Darth nearly falling on to the tracks. more ›

The first Princess Leia/Darth Vader scene from Star Wars performed right on the 6 train before an audience of confused, modern-day civilians? Yep, Improv Everywhere has returned with a new piece in their Theater of Prank repertoire, saying, "The white walls and sliding doors on the train reminded us of the rebel ship, and we thought it would be fun to see how people would react to a surprise appearance by the iconic characters." Check it out: more ›

Remember that mysterious sidewalk lane separating tourists from New Yorkers that quickly became "the talk of the Internet" last month? After intense speculation about who was behind the gag, the pranksters have finally revealed themselves: It was Improv Everywhere, of course. This funny video shows them posing as DOT workers installing the "pilot" project, then enforcing the tourist/New Yorker separation, and even soliciting public comment from pedestrians about the project. more ›

Say what you want about Improv Everywhere—but who amongst us can complain about a recreation (albeit, a low budget recreation) of the 1984 classic Ghostbusters staged inside of the New York Public Library? Check out the troupe's latest prank below, where some library patrons get a quick study break (the scene and chase only lasted a few minutes). more ›

Did anyone really believe that the Improv Everywhere troupe rode the subway naked? The video was posted on April Fools Day, but it seemed like the NY Times may have fallen for it... they even called the cops! The gullible Grey Lady was told by an NYPD spokesperson that no laws was broken, and they confirm, saying: "We checked, and sure enough, the definition of 'exposure of a person,' a violation under section 245.01 of the state’s penal code" (heh) "states that the law does not apply to any person entertaining or performing in a play, exhibition, show or entertainment." Alas, as we pointed out yesterday, the pranksters were all wearing nude-colored undies. And underwear fetishists (if you even exist) take note: IE head Charlie Todd says an uncensored video will be made available soon. more ›

The No Pants Subway Ride is for pussies (no pun intended)... the real Improv Everywhere enthusiasts are all about the No Underwear Subway Ride. Head exhibitionist Charlie Todd says for their latest mission "over 1,000 people rode the subway without underwear or pants... we decided it was time to up the ante. Riders spread out over four different subway lines to surprise and delight everyday New Yorkers riding the train." more ›

There hasn't been an Improv Everywhere video where we weren't able to spot John "Wimpy" Ward, the older prankster with the white beard. Sadly, word has come out that the 64-year-old died today. The IE folks have a nice tribute to him, recalling, "I first ran across John when he started taking classes at the UCB Theater in 2003. I approached him one night and asked if he would be interested in playing a prank at a Barnes & Noble where he gave an unauthorized reading as long dead playwright Anton Chekhov. Although he had never met me and had never heard of Improv Everywhere, he instantly said, 'Sure. That sounds like fun.' John was the kind of guy who said yes to life and jumped head first into new things." Ward wasn't just an agent, he was a member of the much larger New York comedy community as well. R.I.P. Wimpy! more ›

The Improv Everywhere troupe was at it again recently, throwing a birthday party for a random stranger in a bar—a mission they didn't quite accomplish in 2003. Back then they didn't film the prank, but this time around they rigged the Gaslight Bar in Manhattan with wireless microphones and hidden cameras (it was filmed for television). Here's what happened: more ›

Yesterday afternoon the Improv Everywhere troupe grew to around 3,000 people as the No Pants Ride converged underground. This is their 9th time doing the annual ride, which floods the subway system with underwear-clad participants each winter. The high yesterday was 28 degrees, so this takes some dedication! Did you see any bare legs? Send us your pics! more ›