OF TAG OR TWO AS KIDS BUT ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND
THEN BEYOND?
THEN BEYOND? THIS GROUP OF GUYS DECIDED THEY
WERE NOT DONE WITH THEIR GAME OF
TAG, EVEN AS THEY LEFT THIS
TEENAGER YEARS BEHIND.
THAT WAS OVER 30 YEARS AGO.
THE GAME IS STILL GOING STRONG.
NOW THEIR STORY IS ON THE BIG
SCREEN.
SCREEN. WATCH THIS.
WATCH THIS. >> YOU GOT A JOB AT MY COMPANY
SO YOU COULD TIE TO TAG ME?
>> COME ON, BOB, IT’S OVER.
>> THE FEATURE FILM "TAG" WITH
AN ALL-STAR CAST HIT THE BIG
SCREEN.
SCREEN. >> OUR GROUP HAS BEEN PLAYING
TAG FOR 30 YEARS.
>> WHERE ADULT FRIENDS HAD BEEN
PLAYING THE POPULAR KIDS’ GAME
SINCE HIGH SCHOOL.
>> IT’S A PREMISE INHERENTLY
RIDICULOUS.
RIDICULOUS. I DON’T THINK YOU COULD MAKE
THIS MOVIE EXCEPT FOR THE FACT
THAT IT’S A TRUE STORY.
THESE GUYS REALLY DO THIS.
>> THAT’S RIGHT.
THE FILM IS BASED ON AN ACTUAL
GROUP OF 10 FRIENDS WHO STILL
PLAY TAG TO THIS DAY.
>> ARE YOU IT?
ARE YOU IT?
>> NBC RECENTLY CAUGHT UP WITH
SOME OF THE GUYS WHO INSPIRED
THE FILM.
THE FILM. >> WE WENT TO A PRIVATE CATHOLIC
HIGH SCHOOL.
HIGH SCHOOL. WE WERE ENCOURAGED TO GO TO MASS
OR STUDY AND WE FOUND A THIRD
OPTION, WHICH WAS TO START
PLAYING THE GAME OF TAG.
>> ALTHOUGH THE MOVIE IS
SLIGHTLY EXAGGERATED, THESE GUYS
TAKE THE GAME VERY SERIOUSLY.
>> IT GOT UGLY.
I MEAN, PEOPLE GET KNOCKED OVER,
BOOKS KNOCKED OVER.
IT WAS -- NO REMORSE.
WE WOULD HIT THEM AND RUN.
>> THE GAME INITIALLY ENDED
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.
BUT A FEW YEARS LATER THE GUYS
REALIZED THEY MISSED IT.
>> A HANDFUL OF GUYS WERE
TOGETHER MAYBE OVER THE HOLIDAYS
OR SOMETHING HAVING A BEER.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW IT WAS
HARDER TO STAY IN CONTACT WITH
EACH OTHER.
EACH OTHER. SOMEBODY CAME UP WITH THE IDEA,
START THE GAME UP.
WE’VE BEEN DOING THAT SINCE
1990.
1990. >> FROM A SWIMMING POOL TO THE
STARBUCKS PARKING LOT.
>> OKAY.
>> OKAY. I’M GOING TO HAVE TO GO.
THERE’S A TAG.
>> NOWHERE IS SAFE.
>> YOU’RE PRETTY PARANOID.
YOU’RE LOOKING AROUND EVERY
CORNER, KIND OF LOOKING WITH
SUSPICION AT MAYBE SOME PEOPLE’S
CALLS.
CALLS. HAVE YOU THIS PSYCHOLOGICAL
WARFARE.
WARFARE. >> YOU’RE IT.
WOO-HOO.
WOO-HOO. >> PLEASE WELCOME THREE MEMBERS
OF THE TAG BROTHERS.
CHRIS, JOE TOMBARI, MIKE CONES
KONESKY.
KONESKY. >> HE’S NOT HERE BUT CAN WE
START THE PRIEST.
YOU DIDN’T KNOW HE WAS A PRIEST
WHEN YOU STARTED FLAG TAG WITH
HIM.
HIM. IS IT FAIR TO TAG HIM ON SUNDAY?
IS THAT FAIR GAME?
>> IT IS FAIR GAME.
>> ME AND MIKE WENT TO SEE HIM.
WE WENT TO TAG HIM IN MONTANA.
HE’S IN A SMALL TOWN BY THE
MISSOURI RIVER IN THE MIDDLE OF
MONTANA.
MONTANA. YOU COULD TAKE IT AWAY.
IT WAS SO FUN.
>> WHAT HE’S GOING TO DO, RUN
OFF THE ALTAR.
SO WE WENT TO COMMUNION AND
AFTERWARDS TAGGED HIM.
IT WAS GREAT.
HE WORKED IT INTO HIS HOMILY,
THE FACT IT’S ALL ABOUT
FRIENDSHIP AND HE WAS GREAT.
>> WE’RE GOING TO GET TO THAT.
THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE GAME IS
ULTIMATELY JUST ABOUT CLOSENESS.
I THINK THAT’S BEAUTIFUL FOR MEN
IN PARTICULAR WHO SOMETIMES
DON’T EXPRESS THEMSELVES AS
VERBOSELY AS WOMEN DO.
STARTED IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUT
REALLY PICKED UP IN HIGH SCHOOL.
WAS THERE ONE RING LEADER BEHIND
IT.
IT. >> BOY, THAT’S TOUGH.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK, IT’S
BEEN -- WE’RE ALL 35 YEARS OUT
OF HIGH SCHOOL.
WE DON’T RATHER EXACTLY HOW IT
STARTED PROBABLY.
STARTED PROBABLY. I THINK IT STARTED WITH US, WE
WERE PART OF A SERVICE
ORGANIZATION.
ORGANIZATION. I THINK OUT OF THAT WE HAD A LOT
OF -- IT WAS LIKE CRAZY MEETINGS
IN THERE.
IN THERE. I THINK THAT’S WHERE IT STARTED.
>> IT RESUMES IN ADULTHOOD FOR
JUST THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY.
IS THAT RIGHT?
>> WE DECIDED JUST THE MONTH OF
FEBRUARY.
FEBRUARY. SO WHOEVER IS IT AT THE END OF
ONE MONTH STARTS OUT BEING IT
THE NEXT YEAR.
>> FEBRUARY 28th, DEPENDING THE
MONTH, IF YOU’RE IT, YOU’RE IT
FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> MEANS TAG, YOU’RE IT.
YOU DON’T WANT TO BE IT.
>> WHAT’S THE DOWNSIDE TO BEING
IT FOR THOSE 11 MONTHS.
>> THE DOWNSIDE IS YOU’RE IT.
>> IF YOU GET TOGETHER, YOU’RE
USUALLY ON THE HOOK FOR THE TAB.
>> YOU’VE GOT TO PAY FOR DRINKS.
>> AND YOU’RE MADE FUN OF.
>> THE SHAME.
>> THE SHAME.
>> NOW OUR FRIEND BILL IS IT.
HE HAD A BIRTHDAY A MONTH AGO.
LIKE EVEN THE MOST DESPERATE,
LOUSY INDIVIDUALS CAN ENJOY A
BIRTHDAY.
BIRTHDAY. >> YEAR LONG RAZZING BASICALLY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> SO WE’VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT
THE WACKY PLACES YOU GUYS HAVE
GOTTEN EACH OTHER.
IF YOU’RE IT IN FEBRUARY AND YOU
TAG JOE, YOU SPEND THE REST --
YOU TRY TO KEEP TAGGING.
YOU DON’T SAY IT’S OVER.
IT GOES BACK AND FORTH THE WHOLE
MONTH.
MONTH. >> WE’RE LIVE, GAME ON.
>> CAN’T TAG ME BACK.
NO TOUCHBACKS.
NO TOUCHBACKS. >> THAT’S A RULE.
>> IT’S A CONTRACT.
>> HAS TO GO TO SOMEBODY ELSE
BEFORE IT CAN COME BACK TO ME.
>> IS IT TRUE THERE’S A LEGAL
CONTRACT?
CONTRACT? >> YES.
>> YES. >> THERE’S A LAWYER IN YOUR
GROUP.
GROUP. >> A LAWYER.
HE DREW UP THE CONTRACT, WE
SIGNED IT BACK IN 1990.
>> IF I’M IT AND I TAG YOU, YOU
CAN’T TAG ME BACK BECAUSE WE’RE
IN EACH OTHER’S PRESENCE.
>> GO GET CHRIS.
>> I LOVE HOW YOU’RE LOOKING AT
ME LIKE THIS IS A NO-BRAINER.
>> BEEN DOING IT SO LONG.
>> HELLO, DUH, ALL YOU LEARNED
ON THE PLAYGROUND CONTINUES TO
HOLD PRECEDENCE.
HOLD PRECEDENCE. WE’RE GOING TO FIND OUT THE
WACKIEST PLACES THEY HAVE EVER
DONE THIS AND WHICH MEMBER OF
THE EXTENDED TAG FAMILY TORE
>> CALLAHAN APPROACHES FROM THE LEFT.
LEFT. ENGAGE NO CONTACT PROTOCOL.
NO HAND SOME TOUCH MY BODY.
MENTAL NOTE, BOB SLAPPED HOAGIE
WITH HIS HAND.
HOAGIE IS NOW IT.
>> THAT WAS FROM THE NEW MOVIE
"TAG."
"TAG." IT’S AN EXAGGERATED TAIL OF THE
REAL LIFE STORY OF 10 CHILDHOOD
FRIENDS WHO HAVE KEPT UP THE
SAME GAME OF TAG OVER 30 YEARS.
WE’RE BACK WITH THREE OF THEM,
CHRIS, JOE, AND MIKE.
SO THERE IS NO REAL CHARACTER.
JEREMY RENNER IS THE ONE WHO
AVOIDS TAG FOR 30 YEARS.
HE’S NEVER IT.
IS THERE A REAL JEREMY RENNER IN
THE GROUP.
THE GROUP. >> THERE’S NOT A REAL JEREMY
RENNER, THOUGH CHRIS WOULD BE
THE CLOSEST ONE NOT HAVING BEEN
TAGGED FOR A LONG TIME.
>> HOW DID YOU DO THAT?
>> MOSTLY DISTANCE.
WHEN IT FIRST STARTED I WAS IN
BOSTON AND MOST OF THE GROUP WAS
ON THE WEST COAST.
>> YOU GOT OUT OF DODGE.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH. >> SOME STORY ABOUT YOUR WIFE
BAKING COOKIES.
BAKING COOKIES. WHAT WAS THAT?
>> THAT WAS JUST THIS PAST
FEBRUARY.
FEBRUARY. JOE WAS TRYING TO GET ME, AND I
HAD GONE TO WORK ON A SATURDAY
MORNING.
MORNING. I CAME BACK AND MY HOUSE WAS
BEING CLEANED AND THERE WERE
COOKIES BEING BAKED.
I KIND OF GOT THE INKLING THAT
MAYBE SOMETHING WAS HAPPENING
BECAUSE THIS WAS 7:00 A.M. IN
THE MORNING.
THE MORNING. THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN EVERY
SATURDAY MORNING.
SATURDAY MORNING. >> YOUR WIFE DOESN’T WAKE UP AND
BAKE COOKIES.
BAKE COOKIES. >> I FIGURED A GUEST WAS COMING
BY.
BY. SURE ENOUGH EVENTUALLY I SAW HIM
SNEAKING UP THE DRIVEWAY TRYING
TO GET INTO THE HOUSE.
>> FIVE HURST I SAT.
>> HE RAN?
WHAT DID HE DO WHEN HE SAW YOU.
>> I THINK SHE TEXTED ME.
YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE SUBTERFUGE,
WHATEVER, YOU CAN’T JUST BE
TEXTING ALL THE TIME BECAUSE
HE’S GOING TO BE -- HE’S GOING
TO BE NERVOUS.
HE KNOWS AND SUSPECTING
SOMETHING UP.
SOMETHING UP. SHE WAS LIKE, I THINK WE’RE
GOING TO TAKE PICTURES IN THE
BACKYARD.
BACKYARD. HIS SON WAS TAKING A PHOTO
CLASS.
CLASS. I SNEAKED AROUND THE STAIRS AND
HE WAS OUT FRONT.
>> THEN YOU RAN.
>> HE CONCEDED DEFEAT.
HE CAME IN AND SPENT THE MORNING
TOGETHER.
TOGETHER. >> THAT’S NICE.
>> HE WAS CAUGHT, SO HE DIDN’T
TAG ME.
TAG ME. >> NOW YOU, ON THE OTHER HAND,
YOUR WIFE JACKIE THROWS YOU
UNDER THE BUS EVERY CHANCE SHE
GETS.
GETS. >> SHE DOES.
MY WIFE JACKIE, IN FACT, SHE’S
COUSINS WITH ONE OF THE GUYS.
KNOWN JOE SINCE GRADE SCHOOL.
WHENEVER SHE GETS A TEXT FROM
ONE OF THESE GUYS, HEY, WHERE IS
MIKE, SHE’LL BE THE FIRST ONE TO
SAY HERE HE IS, GO GET HIM.
>> WHICH ONE DRIVES AROUND WITH
COSTUMES IN FEBRUARY.
>> I HAVE A CAR FULL OF THEM.
>> I HAVE A DUFFEL BAG.
I PROBABLY HAVE SEVEN OR EIGHT
WIGS.
WIGS. I’VE GOT A TON OF STUFF.
>> IF YOU GOT PULLED OVER, THE
COPS ARE GOING TO THINK YOU’RE
TED BUNDY.
TED BUNDY. >> THERE MIGHT BE.
THERE’S SO MANY TAGS WE HAVEN’T
DONE YET.
DONE YET. WE KEEP PLANNING THEM OUT.
>> DO YOU DRESS AS A LADY TO
JUMP OUT.
JUMP OUT. >> I’M JUST A LITTLE LADY.
I’M NOT JOE.
YOU’RE SAFE.
YOU’RE SAFE. >> NO, NONE.
THERE’S SHOTS OF US AS NUNS.
FUNNY, REALLY FUNNY.
>> REMEMBER, HE’S A HIGH SCHOOL
TEACHER.
TEACHER. HE’S TEACHING KIDS.
>> YOU GUYS ARE LIKE TECH
INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES.
INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES. THESE ARE LIKE HIGH-POWERED
DUDES.
DUDES. ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENED -- THEY DID IT AT A
FUNERAL.
FUNERAL. YES.
YES. BUT ACTUALLY IT WAS DONE WITH
>>> AND WE’RE BACK TO YOU WITH THREE OF THE TAG BROTHERS,
CHRIS, JOE, MIKE ALONG WITH
SEVEN GRADE SCHOOL BUDDIES HAVE
BEEN PLAYING A 30 YEAR GAME
OF -- WAIT FOR IT -- TAG.
HERE IS HOW I GOT TURNED ONTO
YOU GUYS.
YOU GUYS. EVERY DAY AFTER THE SHOW WE HAVE
A Q&A, CHAT WITH THE AUDIENCE.
ONE OF OUR MOST LOYAL AUDIENCE
MEMBERS, EVELYN SITTING RIGHT
THERE SAID I SAW A MOVIE THIS
WEEKEND CALLED "TAG."
PLEASE HAVE THE GUYS ON YOUR
SHOW.
SHOW. RIGHT THERE.
RIGHT THERE. I WATCHED AND I’M LIKE 100% IN.
THAT’S HOW I CAME INTO YOUR
LIFE.
LIFE. THE MOVIE IS HYSTERICAL.
DUTIES TO MEET WITH JON HAMM AND
JEREMY RENNER?
JEREMY RENNER? >> THEY WERE NICE ENOUGH, THE
DIRECTOR WAS NICE ENOUGH TO
INVITE US ON THE SET ONE WEEKEND
WHEN THEY WERE SHOOTING.
ACTUALLY THE NIGHT BEFORE THE
PREMIER, WE ALL GOT TO GO TO
JEREMY RENNER’S HOUSE WITH THE
REST OF THE CAST, JON HAMM, ISLA
FISHER
FISHER FISHER, LESLIE BIBB.
WE WENT UP THERE WITH OUR WIVES.
>> LIKE JON HAMM IS ME, I’M JON
HAMM.
HAMM. SO THE FUNERAL.
CAN YOU TELL US, THERE WAS
TAGGING AT A FUNERAL?
>> YES, THERE WAS.
>> HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT.
>> PATRICK’S FATHER PASSED AWAY
IN FEBRUARY, SO GAME ON.
ONE OF THE LAST CONVERSATIONS HE
HAD WITH HIS DAD ON THE PHONE
WAS ABOUT US.
IT WAS DURING THE YEAR WHEN "THE
WALL STREET JOURNAL" BROKE IT SO
THE STORY WAS HOT.
IT WAS FUN.
ANYWAY, WE GO IT -- ALMOST ALL
OF US WERE THERE AT THE FUNERAL.
ON OUR WAY TO COMMUNION, HE TAPS
PATRICK ON THE SHOULDER AND
SAYS, I’M REALLY SORRY ABOUT
YOUR DAD, BUT YOU’RE IT.
>> BUT IT WAS OUT OF RESPECT.
PATRICK’S DAD KNEW ALL OF US,
KNEW ABOUT THE GAME.
>> PATRICK LAUGHED.
>> WE PICTURED HIM SMILING.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> I LOVE THAT, BECAUSE THAT IS
ACTUALLY WHAT IT’S ABOUT, YOUR
FRIENDSHIP, AND THE COMMITMENT
TO KEEPING FUN IN YOUR LIVES NO
MATTER WHAT AGE.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH. >> THAT’S EXACTLY RIGHT.
ESPECIALLY AS WE’VE GOTTEN
OLDER.
OLDER. WE’VE BEEN DOING THIS 30, 35
YEARS.
YEARS. IT’S BECOME SUCH A THING WITH
OUR FAMILIES AND WIVES, KIDS,
EVERYBODY.
EVERYBODY. IT’S JUST NOT ONLY DOES A TAG
HAPPEN BUT IT’S A GREAT TIME,
THEN YOU DO CATCH UP OVER A BEER
OR DINNER OR SOMETHING AND PLAN
WHO YOU’RE GOING TO GET NEXT.
BUT IT’S A COMMUNITY.
>> EVEN THOUGH WITH CHRIS WE
GOT -- I DIDN’T GET THE HIT,
DIDN’T MAKE IT.
WE WENT INTO GIG HARBOR, WHICH
IS REALLY CUTE, COOL, QUAINT
TOWN WHERE HE LIVES, WALKED
AROUND A COUPLE OF HOURS AND
SPENT TIME TOGETHER.
>> WHO IS IT AT THE MOMENT.
>> BILL AKERS.
>> HE’S BEING SHAMED.
>> HE’S PLOTTING.
>> QUICK QUESTION.
I UNDERSTAND YOU TOLD "THE WALL
STREET JOURNAL" WHEN THEY FIRST
CAME TO YOU WITH THE STORY WHO
SAID, WE’RE 10 IDIOTS, THERE’S
NO STORY HERE.
YOU FEEL DIFFERENTLY NOW.
>> WHICH I STILL THINK.
>> YOU’VE GIVEN US ALL A LOT OF
LAUGHS AND I WOULD VENTURE TO
SAY A GOOD IDEA FOR A FUN WAY TO
STAY IN TOUCH WITH THOSE THEY
LOVE.
LOVE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> SUCH A PLEASURE TO MEET ALL
OF YOU.