Impractical Jokers

Impractical Jokers
Genre Reality
Directed by Peter Fowkes
P. J. Morrison
Starring Q
Murr
Sal Vulcano
Joe Gatto
Narrated by Drew Patterson
Bill St. James
Erik Falcon
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 7
No. of episodes 171 (+ 29 specials) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Charlie DeBevoise
Mark Hickman
Brian Quinn
James Murray
Joe Gatto
Sal Vulcano
Pete McPartland
Simmy Kustanowitz[1]
Production location(s) New York
Camera setup Hidden camera
Running time
  • 19–21 min. (seasons 1–5)
  • 23–24 min. (season 6–present)
  • 40 min. ("Live Punishment Special")
  • 82 min. (season 5 finale)
  • 47 min. ("Universal Appeal")
  • 48 min. ("Paradise Lost")
  • 49 min. (season 6 finale)
Production company(s) NorthSouth Productions
Distributor Warner Bros. Television[2]
Release
Original network TruTV
Comedy Central UK
Picture format 576i (season 1)
1080i (season 2–present)
Original release December 15, 2011 (2011-12-15) – present
Chronology
Related shows Impractical Jokers: Inside Jokes
Jokers Wild
Impractical Jokers: After Party
External links
Website

Impractical Jokers is an American hidden camera reality series that premiered on TruTV on December 15, 2011, and is produced by NorthSouth Productions. It follows Joseph "Joe" Gatto, James "Murr" Murray, Brian "Q" Quinn, and Salvatore "Sal" Vulcano, the four members of the comedy troupe The Tenderloins, as they coerce one another into doing public pranks while being filmed by hidden cameras. The show differs from other prank television programs, as the stars of Impractical Jokers do not know the details of the prank until the moment they are performing it on strangers.

On March 7, 2018, TruTV announced that the show would be renewed for an eighth season that will have 26 episodes and is expected to air in February 2019. TruTV also confirmed an Impractical Jokers feature-length movie is planned to air in 2019 as part of the show's eighth season, the Impractical Jokers Movie began production in spring 2018.[3][4]

Development

Intertitle used since Season 3. From left to right: Q, Murr, Sal, and Joe.

Joseph "Joe" Gatto, James "Murr" Murray, Brian "Q" Quinn, and Salvatore "Sal" Vulcano, four high school friends who attended Monsignor Farrell High School, from Staten Island, New York, formed the live improv and sketch comedy troupe The Tenderloins in 1999.

After a long and successful history, including winning the $100,000 grand prize in NBC's "It’s Your Show" competition, the group went into television. In 2008, they filmed a pilot episode for a scripted sitcom for Spike TV, but the show did not go to series. TruTV announced the series Impractical Jokers, originally slated to be named Mission: Uncomfortable, on April 12, 2011, eight months before the show's debut. Murray explained how the hidden camera format made sense based on the jokesters' skills. "We needed to find the right format... thing is, we've been doing this for years, but when it's on camera, the embarrassment is amplified."[5] Q and Sal have said when they gave their pilot episode to TruTV, it was recorded on their iPhones. At the time they pitched the idea to TruTV, Murray was VP of Development for NorthSouth Productions, the company that has produced the series since its inception.

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
116December 15, 2011 (2011-12-15)May 3, 2012 (2012-05-03)
228September 6, 2012 (2012-09-06)December 12, 2013 (2013-12-12)
331January 2, 2014 (2014-01-02)October 30, 2014 (2014-10-30)
426January 29, 2015 (2015-01-29)October 22, 2015 (2015-10-22)
526February 11, 2016 (2016-02-11)November 3, 2016 (2016-11-03)
626February 9, 2017 (2017-02-09)November 2, 2017 (2017-11-02)
726[6]February 1, 2018 (2018-02-01)November 1, 2018 (2018-11-01)
Specials29February 2, 2012 (2012-02-02)TBA

Before every challenge, the Jokers explain where they are, what the challenge is, and what will happen if they fail. Often (but not always) the cast member(s) performing the prank wears an earpiece, while the others have a mic in a covert location. Cameras are hidden near the area to capture the action. The challenge location is usually a public area in or around New York City such as a city park, or store. The criteria of each challenge are the same for each of the Jokers competing in the round. If the Joker cannot complete their task, they get a thumbs-down. At the end of the episode, the Joker or Jokers with the most thumbs down is punished, and the punishments are usually more embarrassing, humiliating, disgusting, painful or scary than any of the challenges. Punishments cannot be refused, or the Joker will be kicked off the show.

As of the 2017-18 television season, the series is syndicated to American broadcast stations by Trifecta Entertainment & Media, with a clearance rate of 85% of television homes.[7]

Cast

The Tenderloins in Times Square in 2010.

Main

  • James "Murr" Murray (born May 1, 1976) is an improvisational comedian from the New York City borough of Staten Island. He attended Monsignor Farrell High School there, and was also part of a community theatre.[8] He continued his education at Georgetown University where he received a BA in English.[10] He continues to work at NorthSouth Productions, where he is the Senior Vice President of Development.[11]
  • Salvatore "Sal" Vulcano (born November 6, 1976) is an improvisational and stand-up comedian from the New York City borough of Staten Island. He attended Monsignor Farrell High School, where he took part in various sports such as hockey, basketball and football. He received a degree in Finance from St. John's University.
  • Joseph "Joe" Gatto Jr. (born June 5, 1976) is an improvisational comedian from the New York City borough of Staten Island, where he attended Monsignor Farrell High School.[8] He studied at Long Island Post University where he received a degree in Accounting.[12] He founded the Tenderloins comedy troupe in 1999 and worked at the baby retail store Giggle, until January 2012. He is the only married Joker, and has two children with his wife Bessy.[13]

Guest appearances

Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 Season 6 Season 7

International versions

  • United Kingdom A UK version of Impractical Jokers began airing in winter 2012 on BBC Three. It starred comedians Paul McCaffrey, Joel Dommett, Marek Larwood and Roisin Conaty.[14] The pilot was filmed and placed online as part of "The Comedy Kitchen" in 2012. The first series included six episodes, which aired from November 15 to December 20, 2012. The second series also included six episodes, and aired from February 24 to April 2, 2014. It was produced by Yalli Productions.[15] It was cancelled after Series 2 in April 2014, mainly due to its unpopularity. However, more recently, Comedy Central and Channel 5 picked up the rights to co-produce a third season of Impractical Jokers UK with Yalli Productions, starring Late Night Gimp Fight.[16]
  • Netherlands A Dutch version was broadcast on Veronica in 2013, called De Fukkers. In 2015 a new version started at RTL 5, named Foute Vrienden, like the Flemish version.[17]
  • BelgiumFlanders A Belgian (Flemish) version broadcast on 2BE in the fall of 2012, titled Foute Vrienden. James Murray appeared in episode 5 of the first season.[18] The second season, which started in March 2014, included 10 episodes.
  • Brazil A Brazilian version is currently being broadcast on SBT titled Amigos da Onça. The series premiere aired on January 7, 2013[19] and ended on August 13, 2013. James Murray appeared in episode 3 of the second season.
  • Lebanon A Lebanese version was broadcast on Al Jadeed in the fall of 2013.
  • Mexico A Mexican version broadcast on TBS Latin America started on May 20, 2015 with the title Impractical Jokers.
  • Greece A Greek version was broadcast on Ant1 in February 2014 with the title Wanted.
  • CanadaQuebec A French-Canadian version was broadcast on V on February 24, 2014 with the title Les Jokers.
  • Sweden A Swedish version was broadcast on TV6 in April 2014 with the title Radiostyrd.
  • Spain A Spanish version was broadcast on Neox in 2014 with the title Sinvergüenzas.
  • Egypt An Egyptian version was released in 2015 with the title Al Mohayesoun.[20]

International broadcasts

  • United Kingdom On April 18, 2014, during the first ever live recording of their What Say You? podcast at the Prince Charles Cinema in London, Q and Sal stated that, when the BBC bought the rights to create a UK version of the show, they also bought the rights to air the US version of the show in the UK. This was meant to be aired after the first season of the UK show, but the BBC never aired it. However, it finally came to air on August 22, 2014. The US version now airs on Comedy Central UK and Channel 5.
  • Republic of Ireland The show is presently airing on RTÉ2 in Ireland.
  • IndiaPakistanBangladeshSri LankaNepalBhutanMaldivesAfghanistanIranTajikistan The series currently airs on Comedy Central India (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives), WB Channel (India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives) and WB Channel Pakistan (Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iran and Tajikistan).
  • Canada The series currently airs in Canada on ACTION, CMT and OLN.[21]
  • Australia It is currently being shown in Australia on The Comedy Channel.
  • New Zealand It is currently being shown in New Zealand on Comedy Central New Zealand.
  • FranceBelgium The series currently airs in France and Belgium on MTV France with the title Les Jokers.
  • Italy The series currently airs in Italy on DMAX with the title Cattivissimi amici.
  • Mexico The series currently airs in Mexico on cable companies carrying the Tru TV channel with the original title.
  • Spain The series currently airs in Spain on Neox and Comedy Central Spain with the title Agárralos como Puedas.
  • Brazil The series currently airs in Brazil on TBS with the title Tirando a Maior Onda.
  • Bulgaria The series currently airs in Bulgaria on BTV with the title Шегаджии.[22]
  • Germany The series currently airs in Germany on ProSieben Maxx.[23]
  • Poland The original series currently airs in Poland on TTV.
  • Russia The original series currently airs in Russia on MTV Russia with the title Нереальные подставы (Unreal Trolling).[24]
  • Portugal The show aired on +TVI and Sic Radical with the original title.
  • Malaysia In Malaysia, Impractical Jokers is shown on Warner TV.
  • Netherlands The original series currently airs in the Netherlands on RTL 5.
  • Vietnam The series is shown on Warner TV in Vietnam.

Reception

Impractical Jokers has been well received by some critics, with Linda Stasi of the New York Post calling it "possibly the funniest, most ridiculous show I’ve seen in years."[25]

While it has been compared to earlier hit prank shows such as Candid Camera and Jackass, critics have offered praise for its unique twist on the genre, wherein the stars' reactions to the pranks are often equally as humorous as those of the innocent bystanders. Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times stated that "the gag pays off twice: once in the reaction of the unsuspecting passer-by, once in the discomfort of the fellow doing the asking." He later wrote that the cast-members' occasional integrity [kept] these four clowns a little bit lovable."[26] Dean Robbins of The Daily Page echoed this sentiment, stating that "the friends are jovial rather than Jackass-obnoxious, even rejecting some dares as too offensive."[27]

The series has been generally well received, garnering 1.5 million viewers during its December 15, 2011 premiere.[28]

The review of the show by Variety's Brian Lowry was less positive, ending with this statement: "Nobody will ever confuse Impractical Jokers with high art, certainly, but as low-brow, micro-cost comedy in the context of TruTV's programming resources, it's actually quite practical—and occasionally funny."[29]

Spin-offs

Impractical Jokers: Jokers Wild

Impractical Jokers: Jokers Wild was a spin-off of Impractical Jokers in which the guys filmed a different style of skits that differ from ones that they normally film for the tv show. These skits are story type as opposed to live interaction with people. The first episode of Jokers Wild aired on September 25, 2014. Only 4 episodes of the 6 that were filmed for this series ever aired on TruTv as the show did not do well in the ratings and was cancelled after 4 episodes.[30][31]

Impractical Jokers: Inside Jokes

Impractical Jokers: Inside Jokes is a spin-off of Impractical Jokers in which episodes that have already aired are shown again with pop-up facts throughout, including behind-the-scenes stories and facts directly from the Jokers. The first episode of Impractical Jokers: Inside Jokes aired on July 14, 2016, following the mid-season British special.[32][33]

Impractical Jokers: After Party

Impractical Jokers: After Party is a spin-off hosted by Joey Fatone, in which the Jokers and surprise guests go through a deep dive of challenges, special play-by-play punishment analysis from the latest episode, and bonus content from the latest episode or the whole show. The first episode of the series aired on August 3, 2017 after the episode "The Q-Pay" had aired. After Party is filmed at The Flagship Brewing Company bar in Staten Island. When the series came back on August 2, 2018, the series moved to The Mailroom Bar in Lower Manhattan.

Impractical Jokers Movie

On March 7, 2018, truTV announced that Impractical Jokers was renewed for an eighth season and a feature-length film to begin development in spring 2018, directed by Chris Henchy and produced by Funny or Die. Production on the film began at the end of April 2018.[34][35]

References

  1. ↑ Petski, Denise (July 22, 2016). "'Impractical Jokers' Renewed For Season 6 By TruTV". Deadline. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  2. ↑ "WBITVP Appoints Jean-Louis Blot to Lead Warner Bros.' Newly Launched TV Production Operations in France".
  3. ↑ "TruTV Renews 'Impractical Jokers,' Orders Feature Film From Funny or Die (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. 2018-03-08. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
  4. ↑ Otterson, Joe (7 March 2018). "'Impractical Jokers' Renewed for Season 8 at truTV, Set First Feature Film". Variety. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  5. ↑ Moye, David (December 14, 2011). "'Impractical Jokers': TruTV's New Hidden Camera Program (VIDEO)". HuffPost Weird News. TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
  6. ↑ Petski, Denise (May 12, 2017). "TruTV Renews 'Impractical Jokers', 'Carbonaro Effect', Orders 5 New Series & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  7. ↑ TruTV's 'Impractical Jokers' Cleared in 85% of U.S. - Deadline Hollywood (Published May 24, 2017; accessed September 7, 2017)
  8. 1 2 3 Tulloch, Katrina (2014-08-16). "'Impractical Jokers' star Brian Quinn: April Fools' Day is amateur hour". syracuse.com. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  9. ↑ Steussy, Lauren (2015-10-20). "Quinn donates $50K: FDNY, not 'Impractical Jokers,' is proudest moment". SILive.com. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  10. ↑ Fox, Joanne (2013-03-15). "Impractical Jokers present behind-the-scenes look at comedy". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  11. ↑ "Team | North South". www.northsouth.tv. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  12. ↑ "Post Homecoming 2015 - Registration Closed - Long Island University". community.liu.edu. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  13. ↑ Lovece, Frank (2017-02-04). "'Impractical Jokers' reflect on their comedy roots ahead of season 6". Newsday. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
  14. ↑ "BBC Impractical Jokers profiles".
  15. ↑ "BBC Three announces series of online pilots - News - British Comedy Guide". Comedy.co.uk. November 30, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
  16. ↑ Szalai, Georg (February 23, 2015). "'Impractical Jokers' to Get U.K. Version on Viacom's Channel 5, Comedy Central". Hollywood Reporter. Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  17. ↑ "RTL 5 maakt Nederlandse versie Foute Vrienden" (in Dutch). Showbizznetwork.nl. February 7, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Euro nets line up pranks format | News". C21Media. February 22, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
  19. ↑ ""Amigos da Onça", novo humorístico do SBT, aposta em câmera escondida". UOL. December 28, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  20. ↑ Stargate Entertainment - Al Mohayesoun
  21. ↑ "Schedule". action-tv.ca. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Програма - bTV".
  23. ↑ TV-Programm. rtv.de. Retrieved June 25, 2016 (german).
  24. ↑ ""Нереальные подставы" MTV Russia — когда смотреть по ТВ в Шадринске — Яндекс.Телепрограмма".
  25. ↑ Stasi, Linda. "Jokers' on you". New York Post. NYP Holdings, Inc. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
  26. ↑ Genzlinger, Neil (December 14, 2011). "Four Pranksters, Giving as Good as They Get". New York Times Television. The New York Times Publishing Company. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
  27. ↑ Robbins, Dean. "Impractical Jokers wallows in embarrassment". Isthmus The Daily Page. Isthmus Publishing Company, Inc. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
  28. ↑ Seidman, Robert. "Thursday Cable Ratings: Jaguars/Falcons Top Nigh". Renew/Cancel Index. TVbytheNumbers. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
  29. ↑ Lowry, Brian. "Impractical Jokers". Variety TV Review. Reed Business Information. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
  30. ↑ "Impractical Jokers: Jokers Wild Premiere SI Live". SILive. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  31. ↑ "IMDB Jokers Wild Episode List Details". Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Impractical Jokers: Inside Jokes". truTV. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  33. ↑ "truTV to Present Mid-Season Premiere IMPRACTICAL JOKERS: BRITISH INVASION, Today". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  34. ↑ "'Impractical Jokers' movie is filming: Behind-the-scenes photos, plot info". SILive.com. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  35. ↑ Dickerson, Brad. "Portions of 'Impractical Jokers' movie filmed along Grand Strand". Retrieved 6 June 2018.
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