Improv Everywhere, Charlie Todd and friends

Charlie Todd

Did you see this on Modern Family?

Ever seen a flash mob?
Ever wish you could be in one?

You need to contact this guy.  He is seventh (or third) degree, Charlie Todd, founder of Improv Everywhere, a flashmob theater group based in New York City.  Charlie also is founder of The Upright Citizen's Brigade Theatre.
If you'd like to study up on how to create a flash mob, buy Charlie's book, "Causing a Scene."  Mr. Todd insists that these are not "flash mobs," but that term's meaning hasn't settled yet.

Let's enjoy some of Charlie's scenes.

Frozen Grand Central
The guy with short brown hair who pokes the frozen woman is Charlie Todd.

Here is another favorite of mine.
Shirtless in Abercrombie and Fitch

Seventh Degree, ABC's Niteline featured Charlie's, Improve Everywhere in February of 2008.


Nightline recently did a story on the Catholic (it exists in the East and the West) rite of exorcism.

Sixth Degree, Barbara Gangi produced a film on exorcism through the Catholic production house, Paulist Productions.  The film is mentioned in the Nightline piece.  Ms Gangi also produced a TV film which starred

Here is Betty White (left) and Barbara Gangi (center)

Fifth Degree, Betty White.  We first connected Betty White to Pope John Paul II in the Dick Clark post from New Year's Eve.

Alternate 2 Degree Connection for Charlie to John Paul

One of Improv Everywhere's scenes involved U2 and first degree, Bono.  The video clip below shows the mission, it looks like fun.  

A word about Exorcism
I normally comment on major Catholic vocab words as they come up, but I don't have a lot to say about this one.  I've spoken with many Orthodox priests and Roman Catholic priests about exorcism over the years and they all say the same thing.  "Satan is real.  What I saw was terrible.  You don't want to see it."  Other than that, I don't have much to add.  Perhaps we'll get a priest or two to comment on the new movie, "The Rite," which came out yesterday.   Here's a trailer.

Dick Clark

I can find no evidence that Dick Clark ever met the Holy Father, but he sure does rub elbows with people who are close to the pontiff.  Let's take a "Rockin' New Year's Eve" look at celebrities who Dick knows who know the pope or are close to someone who knew the pope.

Dick Clark and First Degree, Michael Jackson

This post is in the spirit of Janus, the Roman god of the new year.  This god has two faces, one looking back and the other looking ahead.  Let's see who Dick Clark knows who has already been mentioned in the blog or who may be mentioned in 2011.

Dick Clark and Bono: 2 Degrees

As mentioned in a previous post, Bono met Pope John Paul II and gave him so rad shades.

Dick Clark and Nicole Scherzinger: 4 Degrees

A member of The Pussycat Dolls, Scherzinger met Dick as we see her performing at last year's show below.  She also appeared in "Dancing With the Stars" with second degreer, Buzz Aldren as see in this post from October.  

Dick Clark and Betty White: 5 Degrees

Betty White appeared on $25,000 Pyramid, a game show hosted by Dick Clark.  She also appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.  Johnny Carson filled in for Red Skelton when Red was in Europe with his family, see that post here.  Red Skelton and his family met and were blessed by Pope Pius XII.


Dick Clark to Ralph Edwards: 5 Degrees
Dick Clark was on "This is your life" hosted by TV giant, Ralph Edwards in 1959.

Ralph Edwards is pictured here with
Marilyn Monroe

Lovely Marilyn was the girlfriend of President John F. Kennedy.  The Jerry Lewis post in which President Kennedy and Miss Monroe are degrees is here.  President Kennedy met Pope Paul VI, the pope who elevated John Paul II to cardinal.

Pope Paul VI and Cardinal Wojtyla