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Posted on Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 4:05 p.m.

University of Michigan classroom prank goes viral with more than 1.6 million views

By Kellie Woodhouse

What do you get when you combine organic chemistry, a mariachi band, a purse thief and Zorro?

A prank that goes viral, apparently.

A group of University of Michigan students pulled of an elaborate prank during an Organic Chemistry class earlier this year. The prank involves a purse snatching and an appearance from Zorro, who saves that day and "kills" the thief after a battle of swords.

The students posted a video of the prank on YouTube on March 18. The video has since received more than 1.6 million page views and nearly 1,500 comments.

"There were some 18 people involved between the front and back of house personnel," the poster wrote. "Very complex, very theatrical, very good, and very funny."

Our favorite part?

The professor had no idea it was coming. Watch his stunned face as the thief makes his entrance.

A behind the scenes video is also available on YouTube.

Comments

Hemenway

Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 2:09 a.m.

Organic wasn't this much fun when I took it...35 years ago...

adrienne

Fri, Apr 13, 2012 : 1:26 p.m.

It's the derivation of 2-butanol!

unclemercy

Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 5:07 p.m.

sign of the times. im surprised people are allowed to storm lecture halls without causing a melee.

jns131

Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 2:40 p.m.

I am sending this to all I know. Wow. Made Guy Williams and all the Zorro wanna bees before him look great. Shall we add his name to the great Zorro's of his time?

hail2thevict0r

Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 2:32 p.m.

The Prof makes the video. Adds a nice touch to the end of the video.

Wolf's Bane

Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 12:19 a.m.

Great!

Kai Petainen

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 11:09 p.m.

that's pretty funny. cool stuff.

Homeland Conspiracy

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 10:53 p.m.

Nerd Alert :)

Mike Folk

Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 12:10 p.m.

Nerd alert? In organic Chemistry? That's like yelling 'Jock Alert' at a football game.

Peregrine

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 10:29 p.m.

Are we sure the instructor wasn't in on it. He seems to make use of the "Z" in the lesson....

Stephen Landes

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 10:19 p.m.

Nice to see a group with a sense of humor -- and a professor who knows how to play along AND get the last word!

DNB

Thu, Apr 12, 2012 : 1:18 a.m.

I thought it was hillarious, too! I'm glad that professor enjoyed it. Now, if that had been my sister-in-law, who teaches at UM, she would not have enjoyed it at all...no sense of humor at all!

jcj

Wed, Apr 11, 2012 : 10:06 p.m.

This was not worthy of ten hits! Any middle school could top this.