Featuring: Winckler, Arnheiter, Harms, Jesster, Montague, Tyne, Scherer, Cicci, King, Spencer, Dippold, Maestro, Delfino, Morningstar, Arnheiter, Good, Shelky, Harms, Barrison, Todd, Marhekifson, Plumettaz, Rowcroft, Legion, Berman, McMurray, Rosenthal
Digital Photgraphy: Agent Winckler
Mission Inspired by: Rob Huebel
On September 19, 2003 around thirty guests celebrated Ted Hine’s birthday at Dempsy’s bar on 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. This came as a total shock to NYU student “Chris”, who had no idea he was “Ted” and no idea why he was being inundated with gifts from strangers.
Here is the brief Agent Todd sent out to the participating agents a few days before the mission:
We will meet at the East 4th Bar at 9 PM. I will enter another bar around the corner alone and pick out a guy who looks like he’s sitting with friends and not leaving for a long time. I’ll report back to East 4th and identify him for everyone.
Then, either by yourself or in small groups, you will enter the bar, walk up to the guy I’ve picked out and act as if you know him personally and he has invited you to his birthday party that night at that bar. You will then give him an envelope with his present, a $10 gift certificate to a popular store [I will purchase the gift certificates myself and you will give me $10 at the meeting place in exchange for one.]
Here is a fictional biography of the guy we are going to target. Memorize these details so that we will all be on the same page.
Name: Ted Hine
Age: 25
College: UNC-Chapel Hill
Works at: Oppenheimer Funds
Status: Single
Interests: Dave Matthews Band, Monty Python, Rock Climbing
Pick a relationship you have to Ted. Perhaps you work with him at Oppenheimer or went to school with him at UNC. Maybe you met him at a rock climbing gym. However you know him, you are there because Ted sent you an “evite” to his party.
Obviously, the guy we target will, at least at first, claim not to be Ted. Just laugh whenever he says this and say something like, “You’re too funny, Ted” or “Don’t be shy, Ted.” There are 25 of us participating, so Ted will be getting $250 worth of gift certificates. It should ultimately be a very fun night for him, and us. After you’ve said hello to Ted and given him his present, just act natural and have fun at the bar for the rest of the night. Try not to bother Ted too much, but don’t ignore him either. Make sure you tell him goodbye if you leave.
We will never break character. Never say what group we are from, and never say anything to indicate to Ted that there is anything unusual going on. Also, please don’t discuss this event publicly before it happens.
**Remember to bring a ten dollar bill**
See you then!
Agent Todd
IE Agents with their gifts at the East 4th Bar
As the team assembled at East 4th Bar, Agent Todd outfitted everyone with his $10 gift certificate. Most agents brought their own personally addressed birthday card and placed the certificates inside. Earlier in the day Agent Todd had bought $150 in Best Buy gift cards and $100 in Barnes and Noble gift cards.
Agent Barrison with Ted’s cake
Around 9:30, Agent Todd left East 4th Bar alone and walked around the corner to Dempsey’s on 2nd Avenue. Dempsey’s was our chosen locale due to its cheap drinks, large amount of space, and the fact that it is usually not crowded. The bar was pretty dead when Agent Todd arrived. The selection of who would be “Ted” turned out to be quite easy as there was hardly anyone to chose from. It was key to pick someone who looked like he would be staying for a long while. Two young college kids were sitting in the back corner of the bar with a full pitcher of beer. Agent Todd chose one of them and returned to East 4th to give out the description. “He’s a young white guy with shaggy reddish blonde hair. He looks sort of like a hipster and is wearing a striped shirt with a white jacket and sitting with one friend at the back of the bar.”
Agent Todd sits with Ted
Agent Todd and Harms were the first to head over. Birthday cards in hand, they went straight to the back of the bar and pulled up to chairs to Ted’s table. The two told Ted happy birthday and met his friend, Harry. Ted was absolutely bewildered and tried to clear up the confusion. “You’ve got the wrong guy,” he kept insisting. Harry chimed in, “Any minute now someone who looks just like you is going to show up.” Todd and Harms laughed and said things like, “Ted, I didn’t live with you for our entire senior year at UNC for you to act like you don’t know me!” Ted became frustrated.
Ted: If it’s my birthday, then buy me a shot.
Agent Todd: You bet. What would you like?
Ted: A Kamikaze. You have to get Harry one too.
Agent Harms: Ok. 4 Kamikazes coming up!
Todd and Harms returned from the bar moments later and the foursome did their shots. Todd ordered a pitcher of beer from the waitress for the table. Ted and Harry were visibly uncomfortable with what was going on and at this point still convinced that it was a mere case of mistaken identity.
More guests arrive to greet Ted
At this point a steady stream of party guests began to enter. Ted began to insist more vehemently that he was not who everyone thought he was, and made clear that he would not accept any gifts. “These are for someone else,” he kept saying.
Ted and Harry got up from their table and went outside to smoke on the street. While outside, Ted was greeted by the second wave of party guests who fortunately were able to recognize him by Agent Todd’s description. Ted was curt with the second wave of guests, tossing his gifts aside and not engaging in small talk.
Ted sits by his cake and presents
When Ted returned to his table, Agent Barrison presented him with a chocolate birthday cake and the crowd sang “Happy Birthday” heartily. Harry looked at Ted and with great urgency told him, “We need to get out of here. Now. Let’s get the check.” Several agents attempted to pick up Ted’s check, but he insisted on paying himself. He and Harry exited the bar quickly after paying, leaving behind a stack of gifts and cards.
Harry pays the check as Ted shows waitress Courtney one of his gifts
At this point it seemed as though Ted was gone for good. Agent Todd told everyone to prepare for the possibility of having to reload and attempt the mission at a new bar with a new Ted.
Ted and Harry smoke outside as agents Todd, Good,
Spencer, and Delfino talk with them
While Ted did leave the bar, he didn’t go far. He and Harry hung out on the street chain-smoking for a good ten minutes while several agents talked with him. Agent Spencer was able to slowly calm him down (while staying in character), and Agent Good was able to get him back in the bar with a promise of another Kamikaze shot and a round of pool.
Ted plays pool
Ted re-entered Dempsey’s with a new attitude. His denials were gone, and he was ready to agree with everything that came his way. He began answering to Ted and corroborating everyone’s personal stories. His outlook had done a complete 180.
Ted’s stash of presents
From this point on Ted’s party was an absolute blast for everyone involved. Ted and Harry downed countless shots and beers, all paid for by his IE friends. They played several rounds of pool and began flirting with the female agents. By the end of the night, the duo had bought Agent Delfino 6 shots and were trying to get her to come to their apartment to hang out.
One slice of cake left
Ted also started hugging. He became sad when folks started to leave around midnight, and he administered hearty bear hugs to everyone on their way out. Only a handful of agents outlasted Ted. Agent Todd put all of Ted’s presents in a grocery bag for him, and he left the bar with $250 in gifts and a great story to tell.
Ted poses with Agent Winckler
AGENT REPORTS
Agent Montague
What surprised me the most was Ted’s 180. After 10 minutes, he was paying the check and out the door. After an hour, he was back in the bar and playing the part. After 2 hours, I think he’d convinced himself he really was Ted. I remember him saying to me, “Why is everyone leaving my party. It’s still so early.”
When I first encountered Ted one on one, he was just starting to get into the idea. I was playing the part of Ted’s frat brother from UNC. I sat outside on a bench, as Ted exited the bar. I said, “Hey Ted! What’s up!” “It’s Ted, not Todd,” he responded. “Ted, what are you talking about? Kappa Sig man!” I exclaimed.
Ted gave me a confused look. Then, in a moment of pure Ted genius, he brought his fist to his heart. “Brothers for life,” he replied casually. “I’m going to get some smokes, I’ll be right back.”
Sure enough, he came back. He would leave time and time again. Every time I wondered, “Is he coming back?” That crazy Ted, he had us all the way. He always came back when he said he would.
To top it all off, I had the chance to play Ted in pool. I felt bad for him, because everyone was watching him, and he really wasn’t very good at pool. Whenever anyone played him, you could kind of tell they were missing on purpose. It was never easily done, but Ted usually came out on top. In my case, Agent Shafeek and myself lost to Ted and his buddy. 3 cheers for Ted!
Agent McMurray
The boy seemed a bit skittish at first. He’d probably never gotten that much attention in his life…and not because he wasn’t a upstanding fellow…but probably because he had avoided it. But as the night went on he seemed to talk things out with his friend and started to get more comfortable. I offered to play a round of pool with him even though I was a self-proclaimed “sucky pool player” and he agreed to it. But, alas, a friend who I had not hung with in a long time was out and about and I had to leave the party early. I left Ted and wished him a happy birthday. I think he had a good night.
The next day I was out running on 2nd avenue, huffing and puffing my way back home, and who did I see? Ted!! So I winked and smiled at him hoping he’d recognize me from the night before but I guess we’ll never know because I just kept on running.
Agent Delfino
I spent a good portion of the evening kicking ass on the pool table, and beat Ted senseless on one or two occasions. Ted and Harry tried to convince me to come to their apartment. They ended up buying me like 6 shots, and I wasn’t even asking for them. They were just like, hey, Jessica, come take this shot. I didn’t end up going wiht them, and it was probably for the better. I was so pooped after the party I just went home and crashed out.
Agent Rowcroft
Right as two of my former “college friends” were about to go into the bar to meet Ted we noticed him outside smoking a cigarette with his friend. He didn’t notice us, and I over heard him say something along the lines of “…what the hell is going on in there, this is so weird…”, and as he was saying that me and my “friend” yelled “Ted what’s up! Happy Birthday buddy!” And he just stood there thanked us all wearily and took our gifts. It was hilarious. I also overheard him say to his friend later on that everything he got he would split evenly with him.
Agent Morningstar
I was in one of the last groups to head over to the site of Ted’s birthday shindig. We intercepted by another guest to Ted’s party and informed that Ted was now smoking/on his cell phone outside. Agent Plumettaz dove in and chatted it up with “Ted”. Agent Marhekifson and I chilled outside awaiting Ted to head back in. Ted seemed a bit perturbed and confused, while his buddy appeared to find the whole thing pretty amusing (smiling, and snickering under his breath when Ted was not looking.) When Ted went inside, Agent Marhekifson and I entered as well.
Once Ted re-entered and approached the back of the bar where everyone was camped out, a cake was brought in and he was treated to a festive rendition of Happy Birthday. Ted still looked very confused. He posed for pictures with the birthday cake. At this point a number of people congratulated him and showered him with gift certificates and cards. Then Ted made an attempt to pay his check and leave. A number of birthday well wishers leaped at the opportunity to settle his tab since it was his birthday. One or two of them were especially convincing, refusing to let the birthday boy pay. Alas, Ted politely declined. I then overheard Ted trying to explain to the waitress what was going on, that he had arrived at the bar and he had been approached by strangers giving him gifts. He didn’t know what to do with the gifts, and he didn’t know who we were. After the check was settled, Ted exited. We weren’t sure if he was coming back.
After an extended smoke break, Ted re-entered the bar. He seemed to have warmed up to what was going on at this point (I don’t know if his buddy convinced him to roll with it or what). Around this time, I remember the waitress informing us that this was her first night. Kripes!
It was then that I approached Ted to give him his birthday card. I just kind of shyly told him it was really great to see him, that it had been a long time. He played along, telling me he was happy to see me too, coming over to me and giving me a hug. I motioned toward the stack of cards/gifts and mentioned that I was impressed by what a haul he had raked in for his birthday. He shook his head, and said he did not know what to do with it. I told him, “Enjoy it, it’s your birthday man!” At that point he turned to me and asked me, “Seriously, do you know what’s going on here?” I told him, “People love you man. All of your friends and co-workers just want you to have a good time on your birthday.” Ted, apparently having heard this kind of response before just shook his head and said, “Okay.” Then Ted introduced me to his friend Harry and asked me not to refer to him as Indian, because he is in fact from Pakistan. Some more birthday well wishers showed up, so I trotted off and hung out elsewhere in the bar. Later on he asked me to take a shot for him in the pool game he was playing. I screwed up the shot, apologized for screwing up his game on his birthday, and excused myself from the game.
Later on, someone toasted Ted’s birthday. Alas I forget what was said in the toast, but everyone in that corner of the bar raised his glass for Ted.
Agent Tyne
We were probably in the third wave of people to go in, and as we get to the bar a red-haired guy is coming out, so a moment of fear and “Is that him?” cross my mind.
Luckily, he’s saying, “I must be losing my mind.”
Taking that as my cue, my friend and I yell, “TED! Happy Birthday!”
He looks confused and says “Um…thanks…the others are inside…”
“Oh great! Is it the rest of the college crew?”
“I don’t know who they are, but they’re inside.”
“Awesome…Janice couldn’t make it, but she pitched in on this.” I say handing over the card.
“Thanks,” says he not taking it.
“Here, Happy birthday!”
He just stares at the card, continuing to not take it. “Take it. Take it! TAKE IT!” and he takes it with a polite nod and a smile as we duck in the bar.
Later on after the party has been going on for a while, the illusion still seems to be holding. Just before we leave “Janice” calls on my phone to say sorry for missing the party (it’s my friend Caitlin). I tell her what’s going on and pass the phone over to Ted, “Hey, Ted…it’s Janice on the phone. She’s stuck in the hurricane, but wanted to call and say “Happy Birthday!”
I pass the phone and from my end I hear, “Wait…listen. Do I sound like Ted?”
Agent Shelky
When we got to Dempsey’s, Ted was already outside smoking so we doubled back around so we could walk up and make an entrance. He was going back inside. Initially, Ted did not seem too pleased with his party. In fact, it seemed like he was going to leave. I went up and gave him my gift and said how it was really good to see him outside of work.
There was a moment where it seemed like Ted was going to leave and we all started to gather up our presents in case we had to pick another Ted. But luckily Ted came back. He got very used to receiving lots of cards and gifts and getting lots of free drinks.
Eventually, even Ted’s real friend starting calling him Ted. Ted went to call up one of his best friends who wasn’t there, and Agent Spencer acted all pissed that “Ben” wasn’t coming to Ted’s b-day party. Ted suggested she leave a message so she did.
Ted got over $250 in gift certificates.
I wish I was Ted. I think we all do.
Agent Jesster
The only idea I had come up with for my relationship with Ted was that he had dated my sister until fairly recently, and so I made use of that idea by putting my name and my sister “Tanya’s” name on my card as well - and in my head I planned on making it a point to tell Ted that “Tanya” wanted to come out, but she felt it was “too soon.” So I walked to Dempsey’s a while after everyone else and once I got inside I realized that Ted was actually smoking a cigarette, meaning I had just walked by the guy I’m supposed to know. I quickly walked back outside and gave Ted a big apology for walking right by him without seeing him. Ted was clearly not enjoying himself at the moment. He sat on a bench in front of the bar smoking his cigarette, avoiding eye contact with all of us. Sitting next to him was a large pile of cards and gift certificates. Our conversation went a little something like this:
Agent Jesster: Teddddd….buddy! Ah, man sorry I missed you - Happy Birthday! Here’s a little something for ya!
Ted: Yeah…ok…thanks. (He tosses the card into the pile without ever looking at me or at the gift)
Agent Jesster: So listen…Tanya says hello, and she sends her regards, but she couldn’t make it out tonight…
Ted: Uh, ok…whatever.
Agent Jesster: So how’s Oppenheimer treatin’ ya?
Ted: (with extreme disdain) You know, I HONESTLY don’t know.”
I left him alone for a while after that. He came back inside, we all sung him happy birthday, and gave him a cake, and he didn’t seem to enjoy that much either. At this point I thought the whole night was a total bust. Our Ted wasn’t having any fun at all. Then, the strangest thing happened. He went outside for another cigarette break, and he came back, had a shot with Agent Good, and then suddenly, he was completely accepting of the situation. He became “Ted” and started having fun with all of us. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was the realization that while the situation was kind of crazy, everyone was just trying to have fun, or maybe he finally noticed the $200+ dollars in gift certificates he was getting, but whatever it was, Ted was finally coming around.
A short time later, I tried talking to him again - the conversation went a lot better this time: (paraphrasing to the best of my memory)
Agent Jesster: Ted, uh, about Tanya…you know, she really wanted to be here tonight. But she just felt like it was too soon.
Ted: Yeah well, I would have liked to see her too…
Agent Jesster: You guys had a pretty rough breakup, though, you know?
Ted: Yeah, yeah…we certainly did. There was a lot of emotion there. She was really something.
Agent Jesster: You went out for like what? A year?
Ted: Nah, more like a year and a half.
By the end, Ted was totally embracing my history with him, and it was awesome. His friend, Harry was cool too. I think in the end it turned out to be a big success.
Agent Good
I was the first one to approach Ted and all I had time to get out was a “there he is!” before he interrupted and said, “dude, I’m not Ted.” I passed it off as Ted being a kidder, like always, and then I introduced him to Pam, my girlfriend. He shook her hand. After that a couple of other people came up to say hi, and Pam and I went to the bar. Apparently all the attention was too much for Ted as he went outside shortly after we arrived for the first of his many chain-smoking breaks.
After a while I went outside to see if he was ok. He seemed a little frazzled and was asking what the hell was going on. At one point I think he asked us if he had won some sort of prize. After standing outside for a little while, I told him that I would buy him a shot.
Me: C’mon back in, we need to do a shot.
Agent Todd: Nah we just did a Kamikaze a little while ago.
Ted: I’ll do another Kamikaze.
Sweet! He was hooked and came back after a little while longer. I bought both Ted and his friend Harry a shot. And we all headed back toward the party.
Next time I stopped to see how Ted was doing he was talking to waitress Courtney, who was working her first night at Dempsey’s.
Ted: I don’t know what I should do.
Courtney: Open one of the cards.
Ted: What happens when the real Ted shows up?
Courtney: Do you think there is a real Ted?
Ted: I don’t know.
Courtney: Maybe they just picked you. I’ll read on of the cards maybe they’ll say it’s joke or something.
Courtney opens one of the cards with a Best Buy gift certificate in it and she reads it.
Courtney: Ok this looks like its serious.
When Courtney asked me what was going on I kept telling her that Ted did the same thing on his 21st birthday too.
After a while though, Ted started to lighten up and even started answering to the name Ted. We played pool together and I after I lost the game for us by sinking the 8 ball in the pocket and then scratching, he told me not to worry about it and gave me a hug. I had to leave shortly there after and Ted was very accommodating.
Me: Well, I think Pam and I are taking off.
Ted: You’re leaving already? Well, thanks for coming.
Ted gave me another hug good-bye. I had my cell phone out and asked him if he had the same cell number. He told me he had actually gotten a new number and gave it to me. It actually was his real number, as I found out the next day after dialing *67 and the 206 area code number, he picked up.
Ted: Hello?
Me: Ted?
Ted: Yeah.
Awesome.
Agent Berman
That cat hasn’t changed since college. Still the same fiery red head I’ve always loved. Ted asked me, “Hey, do I get to keep the presents for real.” I answered, “Umm,Ted. It is YOUR birthday.” He responded, “Cool!”
Agent Maestro
I overheard Ted saying to his friend, “We are going to get laid tonight”.
Agent Legion
I was proud to be among the first wave of operatives that entered Dempsey’s that evening, as this was my first mission with IE. I had some previous experience with similar outfits in my past, but nothing could have prepared me for the overpowering wave of absolute disbelief that came from our birthday boy himself, Mr. Ted Hine. Ted, a young man in his 20’s, tall, thin, and red haired was fast approaching sheer panic by the fifth or sixth birthday greeting that was offered to him, having left frantic denial that he was not Ted behind him.
I took the tack of being a friend form work, namely, Oppenheimer Funds, although Ted was quick to point out that he never worked there, and showed me his student ID. NYU. Very nice. Oh that wily Ted. Hanging onto his old ID just to get into movies cheaper.
Interestingly enough, the greater “Ted’s” discomfort, the more amused and interested his friend - who’s name, I believe was Harry, became. Several times Ted seemed on the verge of leaving, but as it turns out, the tension of receiving happy birthday greetings, gifts and free drinks offered by a host of friendly people was only fueling his desperate need for a smoke or ten.
As the evening wore on, and Ted grew accustomed to the situation, his once ringing denials of being Ted Hine grew faint, and his mood elevated. A few games of pool, and a few rounds later, Ted seemed to be absolutely at ease. I think he must have realized that somehow he was at the center of something very strange, but if he just rode it out, he would leave a winner, and maybe, just maybe, score with the cute waitress.
Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances I had to exit rather early from the evening, although, Ted was quick to respond with an, “I’ll see you at work on Monday,” upon my exit. Ted, I might never see you again, but happy birthday man, happy birthday.
Agent Plumettaz
I had fun at Ted’s B-day bash although I must admit I was a little worried in the beginning. His hand was shaking when he tried to give me his birthday card back and he seemed so distraught (I kept laughing at him as if he were being funny but I felt a little bad doing so). Once he decided to go along he was quite the charmer but I still felt a little more reticent than I might have otherwise. I talked to him a few times outside about his “inability to quit smoking although he’s been trying” and his favorite Monty Python episode with the “Killer Joke” which I finally saw etc…
Even though I think the B-day cards were part of his decision to come back into the bar I also felt that once in swing he was enjoying himself. He actually seemed upset when I was leaving. In any case he has quite a story to tell.
Agent Marhekifson
Agent Morningstar and I headed down to Dempsey’s together, one of the last groups to leave, and even before we reached the bar it seemed like the mission would have to be aborted. Word was that Ted had been thrown out of the bar and was sitting, dejectedly and under some form of chemical influence, on a bench outside the bar. Well, Ted WAS on the bench and WAS somewhat dazed/hammered/both, but he was just out smoking a cigarette.
Dude was definitely a bit perplexed (who wouldn’t be?). Soon after he re-entered the bar, with the birthday party following behind, he slipped out again and we feared he was gone for the night, leaving behind all his hundreds of dollars worth of gifts. I guess some people are just weird about their birthdays. But he returned in time, and by the time the cake was served (by a very confused first-time waitress), Ted was starting to get into the birthday spirit.
Happy birthday, Ted, and I hope you weren’t too hung over at Oppenheimer Funds the next day!
Agent King
I was late to Ted’s party - but when I got there, I walked up and said, “Ted! Hey! I told you I’d make it!” and Ted said, “Yeah you did!” and gave me a big hug. He may have been skeptical at first, but by the time I got there he was fully Ted.
Mission Accomplished.
Wow! What a lucky lucky, poor guy. You might have permanently brainwashed him with this one … I wonder if he showed up for “work” on Monday at Oppenheimer … ?
Brilliant! This has to be one of the best ever! Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, minus Bill. What an awesome story!
-Jestrada
I wish I was Ted! Shortly after I read this mission I was at a bar here in Texas and saw a wirey kid with red hair and a white jacket. I couldn’t resist. Without missing a beat I went up to him and said “Ted! Dude! Awsome party.” At which point he replied; “Uh, yea. The party.” Sweet.
you missed my birthday last year.
Oh man I could not stop laughing when I read over this mission! I’m so happy that Ted warmed up to the idea and had a great time! A night he will likely never forget. Please consider doing this mission again for someone else - and next time bring Ted along!
I wouldn’t mind being an agent. . . too bad I live in WI. This one takes the cake. It’s close to the bathroom attendant, but better. I wish I could have been at Ted’s birthday.
I heard the profile of your “missions” on this american life; such bullshit, fucking with other people’s lives all for your own little fun. I’m glad “ted” warned you all off for his next birthday… It’s one thing to create situations that help people examine the personna of groups, but doing things that are bewildering and hurtful to others just crosses the line.
If anyone reading these posts hasn’t heard the unpropagandized reporting of this “mission” go to “This American Life” website.
This mission is a remorseful failure for many reasons, one being that this kid (only 21 but look at him-he looks like an adolescent) was traumatized at someone’s lame idea for publicity (sell outs).
You are hurting people, people who may be vulnerable and unable to process your incredibly thoughtless idiocy. Exploiting others for your own gain is the highest crime second only to physical violence or murder.
QUIT fucking people up…
You’re about as mean as they come. Bad enough you feel free to diddle for your own amusment and self-seeking people who’ve never done you any harm. But the pretense that you think it is (or ought to be) something positive is straight out of the ‘just kidding’ follow up people use to cover dissemble about their motives in in junior high.
oh, come on, lighten up people. it’s a shame that the person they chose to be be ‘ted’ was confused and disturbed, but it’s still a great idea. it’s not as if they went in and hurled abuse, insulted or degraded him in some way. i hope someday he finds his inner ‘ted’ and has a good laugh about it. you too.
Kate, o.t., Steve … you guys need to chill. It really is too bad that “Ted” decided six months after the fact that the night was somehow traumatizing to him. That is a real bummer and not one that IE probably foresaw. But at the time, it seemed like “Ted” had no problem ultimately accepting free drinks, games of pool and gifts from his “friends” and getting into the spirit of the party. It wasn’t like he was being held hostage. He could’ve left anytime he wanted, but he didn’t. He stayed and played along and it’s too bad he now regrets that choice.
Do you guys have TV? Have you ever seen “Boiling Points,” or “Damage Control,” or ANY prank show? With those shows, the whole purpose is to put people in stressful situations and see how angry and upset they can make them. With IE and the Ted/Pasha missions, the purpose going in was to give a person/band a really fun, unforgettable night, not to make them angry or sad. The idea that doing something really cool and nice to someone who’s totally not expecting it is “mean-spirited” or “hurtful” is ridiculous. Direct your hostility to the programming department at MTV and the real villains of the world, not towards a bunch of actors who are trying to make the world a funner place.
Keeep up the good work, IE.
I abhor reality tv and any show that does those targeted pranks, they are wretched, exploitive and destructive.
However, I do appreciate some of the other work that IE is doing. Some of the missions are really fun.
Simple request, think before you act, be kind, play safe, don’t mess with people.
I’m chilling, I’m chilling, already!
Only Chris can say whether this was not stressful or traumatic (but given that he tried to leave several times, I doubt that he was having a good time). I believe that targeting individuals for “missions” is exploitative. The IE actors/agents are clearly using Chris for their amusement. From reading IE’s other missions, it seems that you have a good deal of grand creative ideas. Let’s not mess with people.
Life is filled with suprises and disturbances. This so called “prank” is nothing more than a fun suprise. The kid should have just gone along with it from the start. There is nothing that should have disturbed him, unless he WAS crazy. Pranks are a part of life. And laughter is the spice of life.
I haven’t heard the TAL show, yet, but I think this prank is distinguishable from some of IE’s more positive work, in that it targeted an individual, who turned out to be somewhat vulnerable.
While I’m not entirely comfortable with the poster who likened this prank to physical violence, in some ways, as actors, you ought to recognize that you’re dealing with something more sacred, when you mess with an individual’s mind.
Perhaps more appreciation for your “targets” would make an event like this, ultimately, more fun.
Picking less vulnerable targets, like rocking G.O.P. can help. But even that prank, I think, had the potential to be ugly. As performers, themselves, G.O.P. were likely to have thicker skins. But even there, I think IE was wise to tread carefully, and to look to like the band for who they really were.
I wouldn’t want to castrate IE - or expect every prank to be child-proofed. Sometimes comedy will push boundaries and sometimes it will cross lines. But sometimes a joke that was intended to be perfectly harmless is not taken in the spirit in which it was intended.
While I don’t wish to condemn IE for the lack of success of this caper, I think it should be acknowledged that this wasn’t one of its shining moments.
Made me laugh like crazy. Also made me wonder about human psychology. Hopefully and luckily ‘Ted’ is someone with a strong sound mind or else it could have turned ugly or have negative effects on ‘Ted’.
The commentator on the This American Life episode nailed it with his observations about Charlie’s motivation, and his reaction to learning that “Ted” didn’t appreciate the “fun” evening arranged for him.
Picking an individual more or less at random, and having a large group of actors systematically mess with his mind, is fairly irresponsible. I love the idea of what IE does, but I think you guys need to give more thought in the future to the potential downside of a mission like this.
Please people! My god how traumatic could it have been to receive $250 in gifts, a fun party in your honor, and cake! More traumatic things happen to me everyday and I think it’s safe to say, I am not emotionally scarred by them. If this “Ted” didn’t appreciate the joke, he should’ve walked off and not come back. If he’s suffering any post-party guilt for accepting other peoples gifts and well-wishes, that’s HIS OWN FAULT. Franky, if I had been in his situation I would’ve left myself, because I would’ve felt bad for the person the party was originally intended for. But he’s made his bed, and now he’ll lie in it. Kudos to Improv Everywhere, they think up the best stunts. :D
There are always tradeoffs to action we engage in. I think that the downside of this mission is merely a tradeoff. That being, those who have experience this mission indirectly by reading about it have more fun than Ted who experience the mission directly. Part of me wishes I could have a random birthday party thrown for me. The best way around this is “disclosure” or in sociological terms “subject debreifing”. It might be better in the future to disclose what happened to the next Ted after the party is over or the next day. Before he finds out on his own.
OMG! I know harry! i’m going to rag him on this!
I discovered Improv Everywhere on This Amercian Life. I was impressed and excited by your antics, even inspired, until hearing about “Ted’s” birthday party. Then I felt really sad. I wondered if you lacked a feeling of impact on others in your formative years, and so with the “Ted” stunt did not realize (or even consider, it seems) just how impactful you could be, and were (and not in a good way, from the way it was presented on the radio). I hope for you all that you recognize your fundamental influence on those around you, and use your powers for good, for inspiration, for joyful perplexity. You hurt Chris, and I hope you will recognize the harmful impact this stunt had, not try to defensively play it off.
Hilarious, I can’t believe all the nuts who think this was hurtful.
For this to be cool, you would have had to give credit to Ted for catching on.
Instead, your mission descriptions treat him like an asshole, making snide comments about his wanting the gifts and the free booze. The only way for him to play along is to get the free stuff. It’s the only role you’ve allowed him, and then you criticize him for it after the fact.
The other thing is that you guys have taken almost no risk. There are 15 of you, whereas for Ted, the situation is not only confusing, it’s potentially threatening - this drunken mob of people who seem to be my friends may turn on me if they realized I’m not Ted, but they may turn on me now if I don’t say I am.
You gave the guy no out. This is completely the opposite of some of your other pranks, where you’re the ones taking the risk and making a spectacle not of someone, but of yourselves (the bathroom scene or the subway no-pants thing.)
This mission was ugly.
“Ted” could honestly have thought that, had he left, you would have followed him. How did he know you weren’t setting him up for a mugging - “HEY! HERE’S THAT GUY PRETENDED TO BE OUR MATE TED!”.
Give the guy some credit for having feelings and please don’t steamroller his view becuase, in your view, this was “A Good Thing”.
I can’t find the “Ted” report on TAL, but it would have worried me.
Your other missions are often pure genius (Mobius, Look Up and the Listening Booth especially). Stick to these and leave individuals out of your fun.
The whole point is, surely, that a group of strangers can be “in” on the joke - even if only knowing somethign wierd is going on. With Ted, the only people whom knew something “wierd” was going on were Ted, his friend, the waitress and you lot.
A good idea doesn’t mean it should be done.
Murun, I found the TAL story, go to thislife.org and search for episode 286. I haven’t listened to it though since I don’t want to install Real Player.
I think that with the proper individual, this would have had a better ending. But there are inherent difficulties in finding a suitable individual in a reasonable time.
A better mission would have been to locate an existing birthday party already in progress, in a bar, park, or other semi public place, and then shower the unsuspecting individual with free drinks and gifts.
I think the free gifts and an awesome story to tell his mates would make up for any discomfort in the beginning. I just wish I’d been there, since sep 19 is MY birthday. IE is great!
This might just be how folks with Alzheimer’s Disease feel and react when they don’t recognize friends, family, or a reason for celebration.
Late, but…
I completely agree with all of you. That whole set-up was one of the most horrific things I’ve EVER seen. Ted got a WHOLE party!??! AND HIS OWN CAKE?!? 250 DOLLARS WORTH OF GIFT CERTIFICATES!!!!!1!>? THAT’S AWFUL! MY HEART IS BLEEDING FOR TED!!!!
Seriously, though, Ted has to share the blame. If he didn’t want to hear from these people again, he didn’t have to give out his phone number. "But oh wait!" You say, "Those hooligans at IE GOT him drunk! They forced him!" Um, no. IE agents offered him drinks, which he accepted.
And he thought that the presents all along were meant for someone else? After a year, there won’t be an ad in the paper. "LOST: 25 gift certificates. Call Ted at ……."
If Ted thinks that thirty people could confuse a close friend for a complete stranger, then there is something wrong there.
Calm down.
I must admit what sympathy I might have for these people’s undoubtably deep mind scars is somewhat alleviated by the fact that it took them several years to decide that they were messed with.
It reminds me a bit of this woman at a fast food joint who was hit by a styrofoam sign. Styrofoam, please remember. At the time she smilled, said it was no big deal and that she accepted the place’s apologies. A few months later she sued the company for physical and mental damages that the sign in question caused her. (They settled.)
OMG, this is so funny! I love it! *rolls eyes at some of the above comments* C’mon, guys… what’s so traumatizing about getting 250 dollars worth of Gift Certificates and some free drinks? :) I wish someone would do that for me!!!
Wow, here I am reading about IE’s "missions" giggling along, and then come across this entry…which I heard about months ago on This American Life…one of my favorite shows. I jumped into the story thinking that maybe it was copycat or a different group arriving at the same idea, but it became clear it was the same story.
I have mixed feelings about the manipulation involved and "Ted’s" long-term reaction to the trick, but I’m not really sure it crossed the line. It’s probably best to let folks escape the pressure if they feel uncomfortable, but as with any involved practical joke, social engineering is a vital component. Put folks under a little contrived pressure or a strange circumstance and see how they react!
That’s what this sort of informal improv (and practical jokes in general) are all about– involving the audience in a show where they don’t even realize they’re an audience or participants.
Why in the world hasn’t "Ted" commented here? Surely he’s read this. C’mon, man, tell us why you did the 180 and came back inside to "celebrate."
You took a chance on playing this prank on a stranger, who was clearly mentally unstable. I feel for him, because obviously he has problems if he can’t force himself to walk out of a bar (and stay out) where a bunch of strangers are treating him weirdly. Worst case, this should have caused him confusion and mild consternation. And according to this description here, that’s what happened. I haven’t listened to "This American Life," but I’ll go into it with an open mind. But like I said, IE took a risk and got burned by someone who couldn’t cope with a little confusion.
Isn’t it a little dishonest to call this a "mission accomplished," when this guy didn’t enjoy it, as he revealed later on This American LIfe. Or perhaps you should admit that you’re doing this for your own narcissistic amusement, instead of for the enjoyment of others. Which is fine. Just don’t think that your "ideals" of joy and chaos put you above your average pranksters.
Nobody likes being ganged up on. Just judging by "Ted’s" appearance, there is no way that he could have been initially mistaken for a "brash college student." It’s not that you’d have to be "mentally unstable" to feel violated by this prank, you’d only have to be a shy person. This guy didn’t want to be a celebrity, he didn’t want random people who read this website mocking him when they recognize him in public for years after the fact. It just sucks that now because of this thoughtless stunt for the rest of this guys life he’s gotta be "Ted, the a$$hole that got drunk, took gifts that weren’t his, and drunkenly tried to get a female intoxicated and take her back to his place." Clearly Chris was a guy that liked to blend in and enjoy low key social affairs. But he was bumrushed by 2 dozen people out of nowhere offering free drinks, next thing you know he’s a laughing stock on the internet. With the insistence of the agents he really wasn’t given any choice but to be the jerk that they wanted him to be. They wrote the story before it even occurred. This gag is like the classic high school trick where the cool kids pretend to like a misfit and build them up just long enough that they can pull the rug out from under them for their own amusement. It’s just sad that an organization that is normally amusing could be so careless.
I like what I have read here on IE. The Ted mission reminded me of something my older sister and her friends pulled on me while we were on a camping trip. I was 8 and she and her friends were 19, 20 years old. Suddenly and for no apparent reason the entire group of people I was camping with began to chant "rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb…" They would not "break character" and would not stop even when I became panicked and frightened. Maybe my reaction added to their amusement?
You could have gotten Ted laid. I mean, you did spend $250 bucks and all.
i dont know how kate could say that youll hear "unpropagandized reporting of this ‘mission’" on the "this american life" clip. i heard the show. yes it did take a different view, as some of you have. but for anyone to say that that show wasnt trying to spread this information for the purpose of promoting some cause is rediculous.
What a huge weenie! People like him and those decrying the party are the reason political correctness has overwhelmed our culture.
What a GREAT Mission! Too bad "Ted" was such a cry-baby weenie about it all. Having to deal with a presents, free drinks and and overall FUN evening! I don’t think he’ll be remembered as "Ted, the a$$hole that got drunk, took gifts that weren’t his, and drunkenly tried to get a female intoxicated and take her back to his place", but as "Ted, the cry-baby who made much ado about nothing". Life is too short to cry-baby!
you know…i bet if you checked on those gift cards, they were spent…so really how bad did Ted feel? $250 dollars bad? Ted had plenty of chances to walk out, he didn’t, he had chances to not take free drinks, he didn’t, he had chances to not spned the gift cards, he didn’t…so it sounds like he WILLINGLY went along with it.
For the record, Ted spent the gift cards. He told the TAL producers as much, but they leave it ambiguous in their story.
The responsible thing to do would be to check the target out carefully ahead of time and debrief them afterwards.
I don’t think you guys get Derren Brown’s "Trick of the Mind" show in the states, but when he’s planning huge scams he talks about carefully picking people who can take a joke and will not be really upset by the whole thing.
I don’t think this prank intended to be mean, and - not having listened to the TAL story - I don’t know how traumatic it actually was. I can see how something like this targeting a random individual COULD go down badly, though.
I’m not sure which is more interesting: The mission itself, That "Ted" later felt it was a negative experience, or all of the feelings expressed on this comment page.
In the end, I think the entire thing is a fascinating experiement on people and society. I also agree with those who think everyone needs to chill out for a minute and not take things quite so seriously.
Keep doing this important, fascinating, interesting, and just plain fun work IE =)
To whomever said that this made him the "laughing stock of the internet." That is simply not true. I doubt anybody reading this mission was laughing *at* "Ted."
The entire time I was reading it, I was rooting for him to come around and have a good time, which he seemingly did. That he’d come out a year and a half later to say he was "scarred" by it is simply not true.
Also, on the TAL show, they claimed that G.O.P. did not enjoy the Best Gig Ever. However, G.O.P. specifically stated that they *did* have a good time that night, and appreciated the show.
No good deed goes unpunished.
The reaction to this mission, and others, really does a lot to throw into harsh light the culture of fear most of the American public seems to be living in. The fact that an unexpected display of positive attention or eccentric behavior causes fear and panic, I consider to be one of the greatest tragedies of our country.
As I read these comments and listen to the TAL interview, I have to wonder what it is about "Ted" that caused this to be such a heated event. Now, I don’t think that it is fair to blame "Ted" because everyone is different and have the right to like or dislike anything that they wish. However, I think most people would love to receive free gift cards and free drinks and a night of new friends. I would think that, as someone earlier said, it would be obvious that a couple dozen people would not have mistaken you as the real "Ted".That with the fact that the real "Ted" never showed up seem like it would be obvious that this was a joke that you have the privilege to be part of.
I would have had a great time being "Ted" and I think that most people would have. At the same time I respect that "Chris" did not enjoy it. It is his right to not enjoy this.
One last thing. Every time that we open our mouth; every time that we say hi to a stranger on the subway; anytime we act at all, we risk offending someone. That is a risk that we take by living in a society with other people.
I join in with the comments about, "Wow, reading peoples’ reactions to this is interesting." Chill out. Smile.
I think from just looking at the photos he looks like a shy individual and I probably would not have chosen him as the target. However, at no point do I think he was selected with ill-intent (ie: not chosen to be made fun of/humiliated). It was just a choice that (apparently) was not the correct one. Amazingly enough, sometimes people don’t react well to positive attention. Weird!
I don’t feel sorry for "Ted" at all. If he felt at all threatened, on any number of his smoke breaks he could have cut and run. He could have asked the bar’s management to help him in some way. He could have asked his friend to get a cab and break and run if he really felt trapped.
Sucks he was a weenie about it afterwards. I would have been supremely weirded out at first and might have left and not returned. But if I’d stayed, as he did, I couldn’t possibly complain after the fact. (Though I think it’d take me longer to get used to being called "Ted" - I’m female, after all!)
In short:
"Ted" = Weenie and a wanker.
IE - Good job. More care selecting who to target should be taken if you choose to do this again, however! Wouldn’t want to choose another WEENIE.
It is understandable that a person would feel startled and confused in this kind of situation, especially if they’re shy. For me, Ted’s initial reaction seemed rather normal; he refused gifts meant for another person and walked out of the bar due to the weirdness of the situation. He could have sneaked away to another bar with his friend, had he felt frightened enough by the situation. Instead, he chose to go back into the bar and play the role of Ted. Even if he did this reluctantly at first, it was evident in his behavior later that night that he made the best out of the situation by socializing with the strangers, accepting their gifts, and even hugging them. It is a pity if he decided to interpret this, possibly one of the most interesting experiences in his life, as an offense later on. This mission was never intended as a joke or a prank, it was an attempt to bring joy and wonder to an ordinary evening in a stranger’s life. One should never feel worry or fear when presenting a gift to a stranger.
I listened to the "This American Life" segment about Ted’s B-Day party. Gotta say, I totally dig the whole Twilight Zone/Outer Limits aspect to ImprovEverywhere.
To all you folks out there who are so uptight over IE’s antics, I say- Jeez lighten up! Doesn’t anybody remember being a kid? Doesn’t anybody remember watching a cool-ass sci-fi TV show or movie & fantasise that YOU could be the hero in this spooky haunted castle we call life? Now that we are all adults why do we have to turn into such big babies!?! Maybe if we weren’t all running around trying to think of who to sue next we could actually start to enjoy our short little lives & make them the fullest they can possibly be.
Improvers, hey listen up, MY BIRTHDAY is Jan. 12. You can come on down here to florida & stand me as many drinks as you want, give me all the gifts (I LOVE bookstore certificates- hint hint!!!) & you can call me whatever name you like- just keep the free drinks & pool games coming!
Kisses!
I just listened to the "This American Life" segment too, and honestly don’t see what all the naysayers are talking about. Nowhere does he (Chris) say that he was "traumatized" or that it was "hurtful." If anything, it’s the segment writer’s spin on it, and Chris was merely offering his own thoughts on it looking back on the event.
That said, I also don’t understand people who are now calling him names, and trying to make him the bad guy. He really was innocent, and simply trying to cope with what he couldn’t understand was happening. Cut him some slack, ok? He didn’t ask for any of it.
As for IE, I’ll join the chorus extolling their genius and spirit, but I agree with those who said that, in the future, missions should focus on either themselves, or hapless store clerks, and not on individuals (whose responses are completely unpredictable anyway).
Wow, I have just scoured the comments above and I honestly did not expect such a mixed reaction from people.
I would have thought that IE followers would marvel at the sheer logistical genius of this group and in particular this mission.
While ‘Ted’ may have appeared upset and confused at first I hardly think that it has damaged him in any way, psychologically or other.
I’m sure there are many people out there who would have reacted in very different ways to this ‘Ted’, and I for one would be interested in seeing some of those reactions.
It is only by looking at how people deal with situations like these that we can try understand ourselves…
Well done IE… Every mission I read makes me wish that you had a faction down here in South Africa.
I’ve done a lot of thinking about whether something is meaningful regardless of your memories of it. Does it still matter, even if you don’t remember it? I ultimately decided it was; perhaps Chris disagrees. He certainly enjoyed himself in the latter part of the evening. I don’t think he was too angry about the experience, considering he spent the gift cards. If people are concerned about forcible mind play, they should look at the Subway Series. Ted could have walked out any time (unlike the subway riders confronted with pantless men). The fact that he didn’t shows he is NOT a weenie. It seems he felt uncomfortable after, but this was exacerbated by Ira’s Mind Games theme for the program; TAL was not unbiased, but did present a useful angle. All in all, though, I think group-on-group missions are better because no one ever has to feel alone in the strange and new experience.
206? He’s a seattlite. CHEERS
I think that dude was drunk. I mean, you guys gave him like a billion shots and stuff! And by the end he was going along with it so much! It was still funny though. I wish I got 200and something $$$ in gift cards from total strangers when it’s not even my b-day! Haha. ^.^
P.S. I just want to put out there that smoking is VERY BAD!!!! Think about it this way, all it is, is paying for cancer! And there are faster cooler ways to die… just letting all u people who read this know that. Oh, and drinking isnt excactly good eather…
^.^
"You are hurting people, people who may be vulnerable and unable to process your incredibly thoughtless idiocy. Exploiting others for your own gain is the highest crime second only to physical violence or murder.
QUIT fucking people up…"
I’m sorry, the face absurdity of that comment just has me in stitches.
"Officer, we’ve found the victim! He was… given a party and $250 worth of gifts."
"Oh my God… it never ends."
The exploitation bit is lulz too. I wonder how Marx would’ve reacted if the working class of his time had been given surprise parties?
As for the comments about the agents depicting "Ted" in a negative light, that’s complete bullshit.
They were simply reporting what happened and giving their opinion of the guy.
Obviously the only reason he stayed was because he felt he could get something out of it. There’s nothing wrong with that. He used IE for free drinks, IE used him for a gag. If he felt bad about it later then that’s really too bad since there was no reason to.
As for the comment about mugging.. holy fuck what kind of retard would think 27 people would hatch an elaborate plot to mug a single guy. I’m pretty sure we don’t have roving gangs of theives. Just actors with too much time on their hands.
The whole fucking point of a prank is to mess with people’s minds. Every single mission has confused or suprised someone.
Why aren’t you bitching about the slo-mo prank. Those other shoppers could have been thinking they were trapped in a space-time rip and start to panic?! That’s about as fucking ridiculous as a 27 person mugging.
I should start my own missions except make them darker and about exposing how pathetic and full of shit we all are. Fucking cry babies bitching about giving cake and presents to a stranger.
Wahhhhhhh :(
IE, you should celebrate "Ted"’s birthday every year. Just add one more year to his age and continue on the stories about the past parties.
Heard the "This American Life". You guys are totally self-centered.
Getting on a train without pants is one thing but toying with an individuals mentality and overwhelming them with a fictional social scene is dangerous.
Next time you pull a stunt like this let’s hope you don’t pick some completely mentally unstable who goes off and jumps off a bridge. Call me a spoil-sport but there are people who are unable to cope with such reality fucking.
Good thing you didn’t choose me because I would have smashed a bottle in your face and told you to get the hell away from me. Those pictures would look great on this website.
Yes, David. You smashing a bottle into the faces of a bunch of improvisors WOULD look great on this website.
But I think that the pictures of you being raped in a medium security prison, while serving time for aggrivated assault would look way better up here.
Get a life you pathetic paranoid freak. Or, even better, make like the "mental unstable" you are, and go jump off that bridge.
Had this happened to me, it would’ve made my evening.
I haven’t heard the TAL story yet, but it’s a bummer that Chris didn’t seem to take it as a positive experience- it seemd to me to be a whimsicla and good-hearted attempt to injetc a little fun, and though I might havelet him in on it at some point afterwards (so as not to completely freak the guy out), it was still not a mean spirited prank, and was a pretty cool experience, you would think.
I think it’s genius. At any point "Ted" could have removed himself from the situation (IE was ready to find another "Ted," they were not forcing him to stay!). Every prank show on TV does all it can to humiliate, shock, and disgust people, and IE is simply trying to bring a little joy into lives of endless monotony. It’s too bad that "Ted" didn’t enjoy it as much as he could have, but when it comes down to it he DID accept the gifts, drinks, and attention, so it’s nobody’s fault but his own if he has some kind of problem. After they wouldn’t stop badgering him about being "Ted" he could have walked out the door, but he didn’t.
This site has given me heartier laughs than even The Onion. But this prank was flawed in its design. For it to work out, it required the unwitting participant, from his perspective, to screw a bunch of strangers over. "Chris" had a good angel on one shoulder telling him to be honest to everybody, and an army of demons on the other shoulder constantly pushing him to take advantage of you. He kept leaving to go outside, because he was edgy that the real "Ted" might show up. He never thought he was "Ted". In his mind, he was taking everybody for a ride. The publicity he’s received since, while everybody sees it in a fun light, is really an exposure of his evil act. Which is why he publicly stated he was traumatized by the prank. He isn’t traumatized. He feels guilty. But he should take it in stride, because, we all do bad things sometimes, and it took alot of effort to break him.
I’d have found the whole thing great fun. I think most people would have.
So, "Ted" didn’t. I don’t think IE can be held responsible for a reaction few people would have had.
And by the way, I’m shy about approaching people. But that would have made me enjoy the positive attention much more.
did you guys do this again a few weeks ago?
I think some of you people REALLY need to lighten up.
Kate, o.t… anyone else who views the Improv Everywhere Agents as cruel hearted people taking advantage of others for their own pleasure… you really, REALLY need to lighten up, take a step back, turn off those stupid biased TV docu-dramas and look at things through a common sense point of view.
In this case… we have “Ted”. Apparently, “Ted” was disturbed by this mission.
He had no problem trying to drunken Agent Delfino and bring her back to this apartment… apparently playing “Ted” was going to work out to get him laid, as he said to his friend, overheard by Agent Maestro…
“I overheard Ted saying to his friend, “We are going to get laid tonight”.”
Not so innocent after all, huh? He’s PROBABLY just ashamed that his effort to score failed and happened to be broadcast on the internet. Too bad none of us knew his real name until “This American Life” outed him. I guess he really wasn’t too worried about that after all, then, since he WENT ON THE SHOW.
Seriously. Improv Everywhere is doing no