Monday, November 26, 2012

A Black Friday improv gag on First Avenue

On Friday (Black Friday!), the folks at Improv Everywhere, a NYC-based "prank collective," had some 100 people camp out in front of the 99-cent store on First Avenue next to the Rite Aid.



The group even had someone pretend to be an NBC News reporter interviewing people waiting in line...


The store's proprietor arrived at 9 and figured the mob was for Rite Aid... then someone in line told him that it was for the 99-cent store...

When the store opened, the shopping began...



The participants did come in a few at a time and buy stuff... You can read the entire recap at the Improv Everywhere website.

Eventually the Improv leader told the store owner about the gag. "He was really excited about the whole thing and definitely appreciated the business, even if it didn’t make total sense to him why it had happened."

The Improv members also donated some of the purchases to an unnamed local charity.



[All photos via the Improv Everywhere website]
at

14 comments:

  1. AnonymousNovember 26, 2012 at 2:26 PM

    I love that!

    ReplyDelete
  2. g whizNovember 26, 2012 at 3:36 PM

    meh, What's a good doorbuster without violence, stabbings and pepper spray.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey19November 26, 2012 at 3:50 PM

    Thats pretty funny. Some suffering for your art also, I guess it wasnt that chilly thurs night though.

    ReplyDelete
  4. abrodNovember 26, 2012 at 4:24 PM

    Kinda glad I was out of town for this - if I had to squeeze by them and the trees it'd have been a pain.

    But if I'm honest, it's nice they supported a local small business and helped out a charity too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. THE NOTORIOUS L.I.B.E.R.A.T.I.O.N.November 26, 2012 at 4:48 PM

    Too funny!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Chad MarlowNovember 26, 2012 at 4:48 PM

    They got me good! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousNovember 26, 2012 at 6:25 PM

    Bargain Bazaar opened to sell us blackout batteries. Couldn't help but notice Rite Aid did not open to dispense heart medication.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Marty WombacherNovember 26, 2012 at 10:51 PM

    It's cool they picked a local place to do this at. And the charity was a nice touch as well!

    ReplyDelete
  9. rhscNovember 26, 2012 at 10:52 PM

    e.v ..now THAT is the spirit of x-mas in the EAST VILLAGE.. really cool!! warms my heart ...rhsc nyc

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousNovember 27, 2012 at 8:47 AM

    First time in a very long time those guys have actually done something cool/funny.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousNovember 27, 2012 at 9:45 AM

    lulz! I like it!

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousNovember 27, 2012 at 2:38 PM

    i love i.e. and i generally love their gags.

    for some reason, my first impression of this one was: wow. this is very indicative of a "first-world" mindset...i've got so much time on my hands and so little to do that i can participate in elaborate pranks for shits & giggles.

    not a value judgment, just a particularly stark contrast to, for example, the people living in tents becuz they were foreclosed upon.

    ReplyDelete
  13. JavexNovember 27, 2012 at 4:46 PM

    Funny, I thought all the hipsters went home for the holiday weekend to hit up their parental units for more ART ART ART funding?

    ReplyDelete
  14. BTNovember 27, 2012 at 5:35 PM

    This "black friday" improv/everywhere video is currently #14 on youtube's "Top videos" list

    ReplyDelete

Your remarks and lively debates are welcome, whether supportive or critical of the views herein. Your articulate, well-informed remarks that are relevant to an article are welcome.

However, commentary that is intended to "flame" or attack, that contains violence, racist comments and potential libel will not be published. Facts are helpful.

If you'd like to make personal attacks and libelous claims against people and businesses, then you may do so on your own social media accounts. Also, comments predicting when a new business will close ("I give it six weeks") will not be approved.