Improv Everywhere and Paul F. Tompkins

Posted by Maximum Fun on 13th November 2009

A fascinating exchange between Improv Everywhere founder Charlie Todd and standup comedian Paul F. Tompkins.

I know Charlie much better than I know Paul, but I certainly know that Paul is a very smart guy, one of the funniest people in the world, and good friends with some good friends of mine. He’s also always been kind to me and the show. As for Charlie, he’s one of the nicest guys you could ever meet, and has worked very, very hard to keep Improv Everywhere a moral, positive organization. So you better believe that what he writes is very heartfelt.

I’ve participated in a couple of IE missions, and my experience was uniformly positive. A few people gave us bemused looks, a few ignored us, but most seemed to really enjoy what we were up to. I know that’s what Charlie enjoys about doing this – making something fun and funny for people going through their everyday lives.

Nonetheless, I found Paul’s thoughtful criticisms interesting, and they certainly gave me pause. Anyway, worth your time.