For our latest mission, we turned a little league baseball game in Hermosa Beach, California into a major league event. Enjoy the video below and then go behind the scenes with our mission report and photos.
(also available on YouTube)
song by Kevin MacLeod
Featuring: Agents Todd, Appel, Blumenthal, Newell, Sessler, Minton, Fair, Mercer, Cicci, Dippold, Park, DBlumenthal, Lewis, Thorn, Parker + more.
Digital Video: Agent Carbone
In order to pull this mission off we worked with the commissioner of the Hermosa Beach Little League. The commissioner provided us with the names, numbers, and batting order of all of the players for both teams. He told us the 2 PM game between the Mudcats and the Lugnuts would be ideal for our mission, and allowed us to arrive early to set up all of our equipment. He was the only person involved with the league who knew what was going to happen. The players, coaches, and parents were kept completely in the dark.
The league’s games are six innings, and we planned our mission to unfold slowly, heightening with each passing inning. As the game started, the only unusual thing anyone could notice was a large truck parked just pass the outfield wall (housing our jumbotron to be revealed later.) All of the cameras remained hidden away.
Agent Fair screams for her favorite lugnut
In the bottom of the first inning, our agents started to arrive. We told everyone to wear either red or black, the team colors for the Mudcats and Lugnuts. The commissioner gave us baseball caps for both teams, which we passed out to our agents. In a typical game, the stands are completely empty as the player’s parents sit in lawn chairs right next to the field. By the end of the first inning all of our agents were in the stands cheering like crazy for the teams.
Agents Sessler, Newell, and Blumenthal
Three agents played the role of crazy shirtless dudes, painting “Mudcats” across their bare chests. These fans were particularly vocal in getting chants together. The players started looking back at the crowd with puzzled expressions. A few in the dugout peered around the corner to see what was going on. The game was in progress, so they had no choice but to keep playing and decide to figure it out later.
Agent Mercer vends peanuts
At the top of the 2nd inning, vendors started appearing in the crowd, “selling” peanuts and popcorn to the fans and parents. (They were free.)
Agent Cicci gives out programs
The commissioner also got us “baseball card” photos of each of the players. Using these photos we were able to put together a full color program of the day’s game. Agent Cicci walked through the audience handing out the programs. Excited parents kept asking him who he was and how he had put the program together, but he just shrugged and said, “I just work for the field. It’s a big game today.”
At the top of the 3rd inning, things really started to change as we revealed that NBC Sports was covering the game live, with the unveiling of our huge jumbotron in the outfield.
The jumbotron rose mechanically from the truck
The Mudcat dugout reacts to the jumbotron
We collaborated with NBC Sports on this mission, and they took care of renting the jumbotron and hiring legendary sportscaster Jim Gray to call the game. Jim ran the play-by-play and I served as his color man. The two of us sat in a booth at the back of the stands, and we were able to make announcements on the field’s PA system. It was tons of fun watching the players react as the jumbotron rose in the outfield. The game had to momentarily stop as everyone settled down.
“It’s a beautiful day for baseball!”
The jumbotron broadcast live footage from the game, including instant replays, and we projected photos of each player as he came up to bat.
In the next inning, mascots for both teams arrived. We weren’t able to find “mudcat” or “lugnut” costumes, so we just went with random animals that fit the teams colors.
The “Nutty” Chicken
The crowd cheered for the blimp and parents started walking around asking our fake fans what was going on. Our agents insisted the game was being broadcast live on NBC and that they were just big fans of the Mudcats and Lugnuts. The parents couldn’t get an answer as to why it was happening, so they just sat back and enjoyed the fun. A few parents mentioned they wished they were home so they could see it live on TV.
When the game was over, our fans sought out autographs from the players.
The day ended with a press conference with both teams. Agents Thorn and Dippold played journalists and grilled the players. Here’s a short video clip of the conference:
A few days later, I got an email from a parent (who must have found Improv Everywhere via Google search):
I believe you guys are behind the “Hermosa Beach Little League” taping that took place Saturday, March 10th, 2007. The parents will be talking about this for a long time… the kids even longer. My son was a pitcher on the Lugnuts. We had a long/tough season last year. Saturday made up for everything. I want to sincerely thank you for making Saturday so unbelievable. It was like a birthday, Christmas, and New Years Eve captured in a few amazing hours. Thanks a million for a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Mission Accomplished
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Cute.
Very cute, very very cute.
Only one question,
why doesn’t this happen to me! Haha
Outstanding planning though, especially with NBC Sports and the Goodyear Blimp!
This is AWESOME.
Oh wow, this is outstanding.
You even got to collaborate with NBC and even the Goodyear blimp! Who would’ve thought that this small improv group could blossom into an international phenomenon, and have the power to do all these crazy things.
This great once again. All these years, and I still want to live in New York just to be able to take part in this.
you guys are amazing.
That is honestly the best goddamn thing I’ve read on the internet in awhile.
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Awesome. I thought the Jumbotron was outrageous but then you just had to have the Goodyear blimp fly by. Good work on the coordination.
This so awesome. As a parent of a little leaguer, I can just imagine the reaction from the kids. Great job.
Amazing! Not only using their great ideas to go pantless on the subway, but actually making peoples life a little bit happier!
NICE!!!!!
This is the best one ever Charlie, Hands Down!
I rarely type “lol” but you guys deserve it. A GIANT LOL to all of you. I’ve been following all of your missions for years and for some reason, this one had me in hysterics more than any other has!
Brilliant work!
Go Lugnuts! Go Mudcats! I can’t believe you actually went so far with this one as to get the jumbotron, Jim Gray, and the friggin’ Good Year Blimp!?!??!! Crazy awesome. When’s the next game?!
Amazing job guys. I wish we had guys like you around when I was in the little league, haha!
Best Game EVAR!
Awesome! Just when you thought it couldn’t get better, something else pops up….. I was impressed BEFORE the Jumbotron, NBC Sports and the Good Year Blimp.. but my oh my.. everything kept getting better.
That’s great that NBC “cooperated.” Mission accomplished, as always. :)
I seriously can’t believe you guys pulled this off! We gotta get something amazing like this to happen in Boston!
Is it coincidence that Todd rhymes with god?
I don’t think so.
This brought tears to my eyes.
I didn’t think IE could top Where’s Rob and The Best Gig Ever, this is like a mashup of those Improvs. You guys are great, I wished I could’ve been there, or as an Agent!
Just completely awesome! My god. The hidden jumbotron rises-up from a truck?! Are you kidding me?!
If I had been in the stands, I would have gone APESHIT.
What a wonderful memory to gift these children and their families with. Also, kudos to NBC and the Goodyear Blimp folks for their contributions to this most extraordinary event. It was a pleasure to read about it. These young boys will be telling their grandchildren about this someday! Improv Everywhere is the best!
That’s awesome!!!
Just when I didn’t think I could love IE anymore… This mission definitely makes my top five, especially as a former little leaguer and forever baseball fan. I was smiling from ear to ear reading it. Good luck thinking of something to top this!
You guys are awesome!
That was awesome…. wow working with NBC and having the Blimp. Awesome job guys the kids had to love that. Just awesome….
My ancient and abiding love of before-big-biz-baseball came surging back while reading this.
The way it kept getting topped again and again was just incredible. I actually had tears and laughs going at the same time.
Amazing and awesome and just all around gorgeous.
(*Jim Gray* omg….those kids will be even more stoked about that part in about 20 years)
An excellent mission.
For me IE is required viewing to counteract all the bad news we get these days.
Keep up the good work.
Wow…that was…wow.
Simply amazing. Amazing job, IE!
Wow. You keep topping yourselves. This was amazing.
you guys are so awesome! you’re getting pretty famous too! you got NBC and Goodyear to work with u guys. awesome job as usual! keep going with the missions to make more people smile!
Awesome!! I used to live in Hermosa Beach (actually just a few blocks from that ballfield) and I have a good friend who is a sports producer for NBC in LA. I would have LOVED to help with this one!! Oh well, great idea and I miss Hermosa Beach.
Wow… this actually made me tear up. How awesome. Yay, IE!
This made me weepy! What a big treat this must have been for those kids. I’m sure it’s a day that they’ll never forget. Way to go IE!
Looks like somebody’s budget increased!
Reading this mission report, I had a grin from ear to ear the whole entire time. I may have also teared up a little at the email from the parent.
This mission wins!
What a nice idea! I wish someone would do that for our kids!
I’m from the home of the Lansing Lugnuts minor league team with exactly the same logo. It makes we wonder who stole the design from whom…
On second thought, I’m sure it was Lansing.
Awesome :) Great job
Rock the freak on! Best mission ever!
Cute mission.
Charlie, did you move to LA? If so, I will be very sad. The past few things you’ve posted have taken place in LA.
Another outstanding job, Improv Everywhere.
You guys are the best. Not only do you put on awesome shows, they all are about happy things. The subway series, this one, they are all just pure fun. Thanks so much!
Great mission. It was hilarious, and it sounds like the kids had a good time. Also, “A few parents mentioned they wished they were home so they could see it live on TV.” is funny on many levels.
Who would have thought you would use your powers for good? You made a a lot of kids and parents happy. I’d like to see a few more of these types of missions where you do good things for people. Keep up the good work!
You know when you are home by yourself and you don’t usually laugh out loud? I laugh out loud to you guys every single time! What a great day for all those kids! Fabulous job!
WELL! You guys sure have come a long way! Pretty soon you’ll be TURNING DOWN celeberties who want to work on your missions!!
Wow… just wow! You made me smile and brought tears to my eyes. Those kids and parents will remember that day forever. What a wonderful group of people you are!
Absolutely, frickin’ awesome. You guys rock! That was totally the best “Best (*) Ever” yet!
I love you guys more than ever. This is my favorite sort of mission, and I think it’s what you do best - go somewhere ordinary and make someone’s day a whole lot cooler. You’ve transcended pranking, and made it into an art, a force for good. Keep it up!
Incidentally, what’s a mudcat?
That was awesome. Great job
interesting scene caused. what about the children who will find out that it wasn’t really broadcast on NBC or that the “fans” were actors? I can see how this could be see as an inside joke played on the little leaguers, for the entertainment of both sides (improveverywhere and the kids).
Brilliant. You really made their day. You guys should come back to NYC and do more stuff there! I’d really love to get more involved!
So very, very cool.
Yes, Todd does rhyme w/God, and apparently for a reason. IE, i love you all and the work you do, and i wish you the best. peace and prosperity. PS - @ Agent Allicat: mudcat is a synonym for catfish (esp. the larger ones) in some parts of the South.
WOW! From such humble beginnings in NYC to the Goodyear ferakin’ blimp as a the world’s largest prop! You guys have outdone yourselves. Keep it comin’!!
Thank you for sharing this with all of us. What a joyous mission this was!
I don’t know why I but I started crying through the whole report. I’ve been following all your missions for a long time now and this one touched me the most as really affecting someones life. You all did something really good and I’m so glad to have seen it.
That is incredibly sweet! Kudos to NBC and the Goodyear blimp as well.
Congratulations, Charlie and agents! This Little League Baseball Mission was awesome! The whole Kula family admires your creative genius. Wishing you much success in your future endeavors.
Dang, how I love you guys.
wow, ahaha talk about an awesome mission. i can only imagine how those kids would feel…..REALLY AMAZING. holy crap..i can’t stop smiling…something about this just makes me so happy….but probably not even half as happy as all those kids. good job guys!
I grow more and more impressed with your goodwill mission every single day, Agent Todd. You are truly an exemplary person with the means and the manpower to cause scenes for the country and create happiness all around. I have such respect for you, sir.
Nice job guys and gals! Made a lot of people really happy that day!
When are you guys going to finish with this overproduced schlock, and get back to what you’re good at?
The mission was an awesome idea, but your execution is absolutely bastardized. You’re supposed to be Improv Everywhere, not some mediocre hidden camera show to fill in timeslots on primetime TV.
WOW! That is so wonderful you brought tears to my eyes. WOW!
Absolutely the best mission ever. What an amazing thing to do for those kids.
Are these the pilot missions you guys did last year with NBC that were not picked up by the network? NBC should have picked it up. The musical chair and this one are good prank to be on national tv
wow. just wow
that was pretty awesome, ” ’cause most kids don’t get to be on the jumbo-tron “
Thank you for doing this. I can’t think of anything else to write. Except you’re all awesome.
I have to say, this was a great improv. Using an event. Any event and exagerating the atmosphere thereby increasing the excitement, enjoyment, and overall impact of the event is just awesome.
wow. thanks,.. this one was really wonderful. It made my day a bit brighter, too… to know folks out there still do really good stuff for laughs.keep it coming.
Did the appreciative parent of the pitcher, get the date year wrong (’07) on the taping date, or did you guys run into some problem with releasing it, that just got cleared up?
Of the Improv Everywhere projects that I’ve seen, this one is definitely one of the best. Great job!
You guys are so ridiculously awesome that I can’t even describe it. Period.
So funny!
Nice one ;)
that was some funny stuff.. right up my alley!! :)
Not only was it enjoyable for the viewer, but you made a bunch of kids’ years. Simply awesome.
that is the way the game is played,fun forever
That was Great. You know those kids will remeber this for a long time.
Epic Win!
This rocks so hard it defies adjectives and fancy words. It’s great to see someone doing pranks that are funny and original without just taking advantage of the attempted kindness of strangers (Jackass, and every prank show on TV). The problem is now you’ve set the bar so high, how can you top it?
Hilarious
I’m glad I took the time to read the comments here. For a few minutes I was thinking I might have been the only one with tears in my eyes after watching you make a lifelong memory for these children.
I think this is one of the best missions I’ve seen so far. I love how everything just came together to make an amazing memory for the kids. AWESOME.
This was awesome. I’m a big fan of IE and this was my favourite mission. I’m pretty sure this moment will be cherished for a long time by those kids and parents. You guys are trully amazing.
You guys are awesome. Every new event you host is truly exceptional!
AWESOME!
I can’t wait to see what you come up with next. Please, oh please….can we start something in Italy???
I actually thought this was pretty lame. It was too much, and so it lost the grit and awkwardness that makes other missions so cool. I think if you try to hard to make people happy, it all feels a bit saccharine.
You guys are amazing. These kids will NEVER forget this. Thanks for showing us how it can be done.
Wow, once again outstanding and amazing. Made my day to watch this!
NICE!!!…nuff said
“A few parents mentioned they wished they were home so they could see it live on TV.” - love it
At work so I can’t watch the clip but from the pictures that looks awesome!
What’s next? Best Wedding Ever?
So awesome! Way to go, peoples. :D This is a good way to make sure people don’t forget you!
Truly an awesome feat! And done in a way that didn’t upstage the kids and gave them a great memory and story.
Well done!
I can’t wait to see what’s next!
Absolutely fantastic. I was bawling by the end with happy tears. And I’m a big guy that hasn’t cried in years.
With all the all the crap that’s in the world today, this sort of thing is just beautiful. Keep it up guys!
What a fabulous thing to do for these kids, they will never forget that day! I truly admire that you folks have created this original, interesting and harmless ‘thing’ you do that pokes fun at human nature and gets lots of people involved..can’t wait to see what you come up with next!
Here’s an idea.. speed dating, all female participants share the exact same info about themselves…
Brilliant! My favorite so far.
This is unbelievably amazing. You guys rock! As a board member for my local little league, I can see how this would positively affect these kids for the rest of their lives.
You guys are amazing. Thanks for having good things on the internet and in the world.
Bravo!! (Standing ovation by me!)
CAPITALISM
I especially enjoyed the comments from people who are unable to appreciate people doing something nice for the kids even if by doing so the group had to deviate from their normal practices.
I wish I could live as sad of a life as those poor folks.
Improv Everywhere: Increasing the awesomeness of the world, one “scene” at a time.
That was fantastic! Well done IE! :)
Take me out to the ball game! Take me out to the crowd! Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks!
wonderful. Just a great idea. Thank you
If more people did things like this, the world would be a really great place to live. Well done.
Truly electric improv. My smile is sewn on for the day. Thanks! And keep up the great work and art you create so well.
Oh, and for some posters: There are plenty of adjectives in the language, so maybe it’s time to get “Awesome” out of your vocabulary. Just an observation.
Amazing. You have pulled off something that theese kids will never forget. I thank you from every cell in my body for all of the planning and effort that you put into this. Actions like these will help to heal our society. Again,
Thank You!
-Mikey