Saturday, December 19, 2009

Improv Everywhere

I'm officially a fan of Improv Everywhere. The New York group performs planned spectacles in public places, usually with the goal of making people happy.

I've seen a few videos via Color Me Katie, and I always enjoy them more than I expect. The most recent video, Guerrilla Handbell Strikeforce, is so simple and sweet. A choir of undercover agents with handbells join a Salvation Army bell ringer one at a time, play a carol together, and leave the same way:



Even though I've enjoyed the videos I've come across, I didn't become an official fan until I heard the founder, Charlie Todd, interviewed on This American Life. The Mind Games episode explores the psychological impact of a couple of the group's stranger missions. It's one of the best TAL episodes I've ever heard - high praise indeed.

2 comments:

brie said...

I don't know if it's the same episode, but an interview with him is also on the first season of the This American Life TV show. I borrowed it from the library.

Linda said...

Love the handbell clip! Thanks for posting and Merry Christmas, Erin!