Excellent TV Gag

I really like the morning show at the station where I work, but things got a little dicey today, and I wouldn't be surprised if industry sites or even YouTube picked this up before lunchtime.

Two dudes are tired of having their bikes stolen around town (that's their story, at least), so they've videotaped themselves stealing bikes, well, around town. Initially, you'd think their goal would be to compile a handful of videos of their crimes so they can show police how easy it is to steal in the city. The video they've distributed to the media is pretty telling; one brother shoots from across the street as the other uses an electric saw to cut through chain in broad daylight at Times Square.

So they came on the show before 8 a.m. Thursday for a demonstration. One brother seems the more polished PR guy and the other is handy with the tools and goggles. As handyman goes to work and the camera goes in tight to get a shot of the saw cutting through chain, yielding orange sparks, the other brother, not in the shot, is giving a verbal account, obviously killing time until the gag.

Just when the host and photographer seem to be locked in on an otherwise interesting but straightforward bit, the talker brother, who'd moved in close to the saw and sparks, falls on his back on the ground and goes Lloyd Christmas with the ketchup packet on his neck, screaming and writhing, all the while keeping mic in hand as TV camera guy lets his instinct take over with a shot of the apparent blood and pain.

TV pretty steps in and cuts the scene off, and after admonishing the devilish duo, the countdown to YouTube begins. Give the Ali G wannabes credit, as well as time to get home -- perhaps on their bikes –- to turn the TiVo on and upload the video.

It's 8:32 a.m. right now. Tick tock tick tock.