The latest happening from the pranksters at Improv Everywhere – masters at getting weird looks from people as they plug in big desktop computers at Starbucks, flood Abercrombie & Fitch with shirtless average Joes, and (the best) freeze in Grand Central – is all about twins. Organizers recruited nine sets of identical twins in matching outfits to ride the 6 train uptown, sit across from each other and mirror each other's gestures. It's not The......

Grand Central Terminal will now feature its own Wi-Fi Internet access to those waiting in the Station Masters Office, one of the few places one is still allowed to sit down at the terminal without being told to get up and move along. The new wireless service will allow as many as 60 users online at a time and should prove an invaluable amenity for commuters to check or send off emails before and after......

Photo of line at Apple store via Engadget. There's currently a long line forming outside of the Apple store on 5th Avenue...but not everyone in it seems to know why they are there. Engadget reports that "the group is more than 60-deep, though most people seem confused about what they're waiting for, while some believe they're actually camping out for a 3G iPhone." While the likely culprit is Charlie Todd and his Improv Everywhere......

Improv Everywhere was at it again recently. Three agents represented this time around, bringing IE's latest mission to Starbucks, where they managed to confuse fellow patrons by bringing in their old, clunky desktop computers (complete with WIndows 95!). The trio hooked up their time machines and got to work, one even able to surf the World Wide Web. For those who didn't think Starbucks had set up a computer lab as a service to their......

Improv Everywhere was back recently causing a commotion (or more appropriately: a standstill) at Grand Central. For this prank the troupe had 207 "agents" in place that all froze on cue for five minutes. (We'd love to see this go down in Times Square.) The below footage shows the latest stunt: The onlookers prove to be equally entertaining, and didn't know what to think (protest? acting class?). One employee trying to move his cart through......

Yesterday was No Pants Day 2008, the 7th Annual Improv Everywhere event that includes hundreds of people riding the subway with no pants on. According to IE's initial report, yesterday's event drew 900 participants, requiring that the group split up onto three different lines--the 6, the R, and the 2 trains, which they rode from downtown Manhattan to Union Square. Or as someone noted on Gothamist Contribute, "Those retarded pantless freaks boarded a downtown......

It's that special time of year again when Charlie Todd and a troupe of others that like to de-pants every January go underground for a nice, brisk ride on the subway. As usual, you're all invited (warning: you may be arrested), but if you show up you must not have pants on! They warn, in all caps, that "THIS IS A PARTICIPATORY EVENT. DO NOT SHOW UP UNLESS YOU PLAN TO TAKE YOUR PANTS......

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a bank robbery on Richmond Ave. on Staten Island, an injured corrections officer at Rikers Island in the Bronx, and a gas leak on East 68th St. in Manhattan. Chris Booker, the NY radio DJ boyfriend of Philly news personality Alycia Lane who allegedly punched a female NYPD police officer after calling her a dyke, says that she's being singled out because "[she's] a babe." Or it's because she......

Clearly Abercrombie & Fitch was setting itself up to be the subject of the latest Improv Everywhere prank when it had a shirtless male model greet customers at its Fifth Avenue store. IE recruited 111 men of various body types to take off their shirts while at the store, much to the amusement of customers. Naturally, hijinks ensued as store management and security were less amused. Hmm, we supposed it's hard for A&F to......

This past Saturday anyone with a music playing device was invited to The World Financial Center Plaza by the North Cove Yacht Harbor. Potential participants were told to be there by 4pm, to wear a red, blue, yellow, or green t-shirt, to bring a watch with a second hand and a camera if possible, and to download an mp3 from their site. Sound familiar? It was the fourth Mp3 Experiment organized by Improv Everywhere. Ah,......

Improv Everywhere was at it again recently. Their latest mission? Protesting Wendy's "racist logo" with over 50 redheads, numerous protest signs and some catchy chants on hand. ”Biggie Size Bigotry!, Value Menu Us! and Where’s Our Beef? In Your Logo!” are some of our faves. Head over to the site for more on the "protest" as well as a look at what it's like to ride the subway and suddenly realize you're surrounded by ginger......

The 22nd Annual April Fools' Day Parade is today. Did you go? We hope not, because this is a long running joke itself. During its 15th year the press was fooled and showed up to find no parade. From the Museum of Hoaxes: In 2000 a news release was sent to the media stating that the 15th annual New York City April Fool's Day Parade was scheduled to begin at noon on 59th Street......

It's radio-free NYPD when it comes to the subways. In a totally reassuring article about the state of NYPD security, technology, and how money is spent, the NY Times reports that police refuse to use a new $140 million radio system in the subways because it doesn't work very well. The MTA put a new radio system in because police stationed underground were never able to communicate with police aboveground. Truckloads of money later,......

Yesterday afternoon, over 200 people convened on a 6 train to participate in Improv Everywhere's No Pants! Subway Ride. Unlike last year's ride which resulted in arrests, yesterday's event seemed to go swimmingly: The Daily News reports that other panted riders were shocked and amused. Were you riding without pants yesterday? We admire your bravery as we're way too bashful. And here are some YouTube videos from the No Pants 2007 festivities: Riding Breezy......

If you ever wondered how it would feel asking the MTA to pay for your pants, after they been ruined by an LIRR or Metro-North seat, wonder no more! The NY Times investigates the pants-chewing armrests on commuter trains on the M7 train cars. The armrests are "made of a rubbery material that seems to grab onto fabric and not let go" and love to attack when passengers sit down. The claims for reimbursement......

If we didn't read it in the Washington Square News, we would have guessed that either Dennis Crowley or Charlie Todd was behind this. But it looks like NYU RAs were the ones who created a Connect Four board out of Weinstein Hall's windows so students could play from the outside. It was part of an effort to bring the dorm community together (Floor Wars), even if it made some students cranky.“It was definitely not......

-- Some timely advice: always look both ways before you backflip! -- Improv Everywhere goes to Yankee Stadium and hilarity ensues. -- Yeshiva University gets $100m worth of gelt right before the holidays. -- Have you ever wondered who reads the Post? Now you know. -- Who says the real estate market is imploding? These douches are asking for 40% more than they paid SIX MONTHS AGO! -- Speaking of real estate douchebaggery, Property......

- Police wonder if a Brooklyn teen was killed because of a feud with another family member - Former police commissioner Bernard Kerik is working on a plea deal for accepting gifts; his claim that he didn't reailze extensive renovations to his home cost $200,000 always seemed fishy to us - Improv Everywhere's latest MP3 experiment involved 600 people and weather-related costumes - Perez Hilton will get his own reality show - from the......

This morning we received not one, but three emails about ImprovEverywhere's No Pants prank. This one was from Charlie, the founder of the group: This past Wednesday in a Manhattan criminal court, the 8 Improv Everywhere agents nabbed in the “No Pants 2k6” Mission were found guilty of “Disorderly Conduct” and sentenced to the maximum sentence of 15 days in prison at the Riker’s Island Correctional Facility (five male agents) and the Rose M.......

In order to make sure everyone knows how wacky New York is, the press descended upon Improv Everywhere's No Pants 2k6 ride yesterday afternoon. The NY Post, Daily News and Newsday - as well as the AP - all filed reports about pranksters trying to make people crack a smile on a subway during an otherwise routine Sunday afternoon. The press was probably disappointed there wasn't another transit strike, so this was a good......

Wow, Apple puts U2 on an iPod and all of a sudden, U.S. politicans want a piece of the Irishmen! The New York Times says that the globally conscious band is "distancing" itself from campaign fundraising, as Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Rick Santorum are both planning fundraising events tied to U2 concerts. According to the article, in response to a report from NewsMax about Bono "teaming up" with Santorum, Bono's Debt AIDS Trade Africa......

The last time Improv Everywhere had a mission they were asked to do something for the Howl Festival. A 1997 Old Timey Photobooth was then created, where passerby could take a photo with '97-specific nostalgia embedded all around. This weekend they bring us The Mp3 Experiment, a sort of cryptic mission in that you won't really "get it" until you arrive at the meeting spot (if you follow the rules and don't listen to the......

Charlie Todd, Prankster...

Next Monday night, the Upright Citizen's Brigade gets the first installment of Paid Programming, possibly the first comedy show to dedicate each show to an infomercial product. The inaugural product is the Restform Highrise Airbed, "a bed so durable it can be used by both a grizzly bear and a professional wrestler," and the show will be filled with "amazing demonstrations, hilarious clips from the infomercial itself, and real prank calls made to the......

In the spirit of excellent passenger-cab driver connection, which might be in support for friendlier taxi cab partitions, Gothamist suggests you check out the latest from Improv Everywhere: Mission: Romantic Comedy Cab. We don't want to give anything away, but it has the makings of a great romantic comedy meets Comedy Central show. It's less interactive then, say, IE's staging of a fake U2 concert, but it's still extremely satisfying. Improv Everywhere was behind the......

Improv Everywhere struck Union Square with an elaborate and stirring performance/mission in the windows of Designer Shoe Warehouse, Filene's Basement, and Forever 21 to the south of Union Square. It seems like you need 61 undercover agents, plus copious notes on what to do in the assigned windows. All of them danced, did jumping jacks, some held up letters to read "Look Up More," causing a stir in Union Square Park and encouraging people......