Coronavirus has cancelled a lot of very important things since its introduction to society. Weddings. Birthday parties. Vacations. Halloween. Senior years. Mardi Gras. Some things, thanks to rescheduling or “well, better luck next year,” have even been cancelled more than once. Case in point, for the second year in a row now, the No Pants Subway Ride has been cancelled.
Improv Everywhere is an improvisational comedy troupe that’s been staging events in New York City for the past 20 years or so. Here’s more information about them from the local CBS station in NYC:
As you saw in the video, the No Pants Subway Ride (NPSR) is an annual event (well, when there aren’t variants of coronacooties floating everywhere), staged by Improv Everywhere.
Since its first inception in 2002, the NPSR has expanded to cities all across the United States (as of January 2020, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington D.C. had been involved) and has included global rides in Berlin, Lisbon, London, Melbourne, Montreal, Moscow, Munich, Prague, Saint Petersburg, Tokyo, Toronto, and other more metropolitan cities around the world. Over the years, more than 60 cities in over 25 countries worldwide have participated.
Part flash mob, part performance art, the responses NPSR participants have run the gamut: double-takes, staring, pretending not to stare, fellow riders leaving the train, and, on occasion, participants being taken into custody. Oh, and one woman in Washington D.C. cursed participants in 2014 for, “riding around in public, with their butt cheeks hanging out on the Lord’s Day, during flu season” (she obviously doesn’t know how one catches the flu).
Click here for some videos of a bunch of past No Pants Subway Rides.
The NPSR typically happens in January. It was cancelled in 2021 due to COVID and, unfortunately, it looks as if that’s what’s going to happen for 2022, as well. From Improv Everywhere’s website:
NOTE FOR 2022: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are cancelling the annual No Pants Subway Ride again this year. Stay tuned to our email list for future participatory events. While you’re here, check out the two pandemic-era projects we’ve pulled off, including placing an office in the middle of the East River and creating a surprise dance party inspired by social distancing decals.
Oh well. Just add it to the long list of disappointments caused by COVID. Maybe next year, huh?
Feature Photo: Improv Everywhere
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