Home View from Underground The Rebel Alliance takes to the 6

The Rebel Alliance takes to the 6

by Benjamin Kabak

Improv Everywhere, the comedy troupe known for their flash mob-like stunts, has taken to the subways numerous times. Their annual No Pants Subway Ride has become the pants-less event of the winter, and they’ve also hosted art gallery openings in a subway station and froze Grand Central.

Over the winter, they staged the first meeting between Princess Leia and Darth Vader on a 6 train. The video, released this week and embedded above, shows how straphangers reacted with glee to the prank, and those heading uptown snapped photos of the Dark Lord. The guy sitting next to Leia in the train car is clearly lovin’ it.

For some behind-the-scenes photos and an explanation of the mission, check out Improv Everywhere’s website.

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15 comments

Eric July 15, 2010 - 1:09 pm

Unless this was the heat stroke car, this didn’t happen last week.

Funny video though.

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John Paul N. July 15, 2010 - 2:15 pm

I wonder how many times Improv Everywhere had to repeat the sketch, not just for producing the video but for the exposure to passengers. (I checked and they said 4 times.) They thought out the production clearly. And clearly passengers who filmed other passengers instead of the actors were in on it as well (unless the website allows uploads of user videos).

Nice work, though. I had a laugh.

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SEAN July 15, 2010 - 2:52 pm

If this is the group I’m thinking of, they did one of these at a mall in southern California called “Food court Musical.” Verry funny. It’s on Youtube.

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SEAN July 15, 2010 - 5:35 pm

It is!

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Cap'n Transit July 17, 2010 - 6:45 pm

They’re also the ones who do the annual “No Pants” ride, also on the 6.

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John Paul N. July 15, 2010 - 3:21 pm

If there is one area of criticism, the Stormtroopers should wear the appropriate boots. The one guy, especially, wearing Chuck Taylors is, well…

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Cap'n Transit July 15, 2010 - 5:44 pm

Can I just point out that this wouldn’t work on PRT?

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Alon Levy July 15, 2010 - 7:08 pm

Why do you hate this blog, Cap’n?…

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Cap'n Transit July 16, 2010 - 1:34 am

What makes you think that? I love this blog!

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Alon Levy July 16, 2010 - 8:45 am

Well, to be fair to you, you first mentioned PRT 15 hours ago, and there’s still no flamewar. I guess this blog’s comment thread quality is better than most.

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Cap'n Transit July 17, 2010 - 11:11 am

Oh, I get it! I just wanted to share another argument that mass transit supporters can use to counter the PRT people.

Researcher July 16, 2010 - 12:14 am

May the Lex be with her.

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Benjamin Kabak July 16, 2010 - 12:29 am

I was thinking “May the Four be with her” might work too.

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[…] the folks who brought you Star Wars in a subway car, come the latest and greatest in guerilla labeling. Jason Eppink, a self-proclaimed mischief maker […]

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‘The train’s the thing wherein to catch a five-star dinner’ :: Second Ave. Sagas May 4, 2011 - 2:04 am

[…] try to shake us from our routine. We hear about guerrilla art projects in abandoned stations or spot the Rebel Alliance on the 6 train. Every year, thousands of people ride the subways with no pants on. Some people find the […]

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