Impractical Jokers
| Impractical Jokers | |
|---|---|
 Opening title used from season three onwards From left to right: Q, Murr, Sal, Joe | |
| Genre | Reality |
| Directed by | Peter Fowkes (62 episodes), P.J. Morrison (17 episodes) |
| Starring | Brian "Q" Quinn James "Murr" Murray Joseph "Joe" Gatto Salvatore "Sal" Vulcano |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 107 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Charlie DeBevoise Mark Hickman Brian Quinn James Murray Joe Gatto Sal Vulcano Pete McPartland Tommy Cody Simmy Kustanowitz (for truTV) |
| Production locations | Various, but mostly in the Tri-State area and Miami |
| Camera setup | Hidden camera |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Production company | NorthSouth Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | TruTV |
| Release | December 15, 2011 – present |
Impractical Jokers is an American hidden camera-practical joke reality series filmed mainly in New York City and New Jersey that premiered on TruTV on December 15, 2011. 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 in that the stars of Impractical Jokers do not know the details of the prank until the moment they are performing it on strangers. While one cast-member performs the prank, the other three comedians in the troupe are behind the scenes feeding lines to their friend via microphone (with an earpiece). The lines fed to the prankster are meant to create a humorous and awkward exchange between the prankster and the stranger being pranked. The show has been a major hit, garnering millions of views across different viewing platforms across the world.
The show's second season premiered on December 13, 2012,[1] and its third season premiered on January 2, 2014.[2] The series was renewed for a 27-episode fourth season.[3] With the fourth season renewal, a 6-episode spinoff series was also announced: Jokers Wild![3]
Development
In 1999, Joe Gatto, James Murray, Brian Quinn, and Sal Vulcano, four high school friends from Staten Island, formed the live improv and sketch comedy troupe, The Tenderloins. 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, 8 months before the show's debut. One of the show's stars, James "Murr" 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."[4]
Episodes
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | Network | |||
| 1 | 16 | December 15, 2011 | May 3, 2012 | TruTV | |
| 2 | 28 | September 6, 2012 | December 12, 2013 | ||
| 3 | 31 | January 2, 2014 | October 30, 2014 | ||
| 4 | 26 | January 29, 2015 | October 22, 2015 | ||
| 5 | 26 | February 11, 2016 | November 3, 2016 | ||
| 6 | 26 | February 9, 2017 | November 2, 2017 | ||
| 7 | 26 | February 1, 2018 | December 6, 2018 | ||
| 8 | 26 | March 28, 2019 | March 5, 2020 | ||
| 9 | 26 | February 4, 2021 | August 4, 2022 | ||
| 10 | 20 | February 9, 2023 | August 1, 2024 | TruTV/TBS | |
| 11 | TBA | July 25, 2024 | TBA | TBS | |
| Specials | 40 | February 2, 2012 | TBA | TruTV | |
Before every challenge, the guys explain where they are, what the challenge is, and what will happen if they fail. There is a mic placed on the cast member performing the prank. There are also hidden cameras near the area to capture the action. The location in which the challenge takes place is usually a public area 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, painful or scary than any of the challenges. Punishments cannot be refused, or the joker is off the show.
Opening dialogues
- Q- Hey mustache, what’s up?
- Murr- I want my mommy!
- Sal- I will never forgive you!
- Joe- Larry!
Statistics
- Up to date as of[when?]
| Joker | Punishments | Thumbs down | Thumbs up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joe | 22 | 87 | 159 |
| Murr | 30 | 109 | 140 |
| Q | 23 | 89 | 157 |
| Sal | 32 | 104 | 148 |
Reception
Impractical Jokers has been very 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."[5]
In 2015, Topps' revived Allen & Ginter brand (cards of star baseball players mixed with non-sports celebrities) featured individual cards of each of the four main stars within the set, as well as contributing "relics" (cards with cut pieces of worn clothing of the depicted person), as well as autographed cards to be distributed.
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."[6] 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."[7]
The series has been generally well received, garnering 1.5 million viewers during its December 15, 2011 premiere.[8]
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."[9]
International versions
A UK version of Impractical Jokers began airing in winter 2012 on BBC Three. It stars comedians Paul McCaffrey, Joel Dommett, Marek Larwood and Roisin Conaty.[10] The pilot was filmed and placed online as part of "The Comedy Kitchen" in 2012. The first series included six episodes, which aired from 15 November - 20 December 2012. The second series also included six episodes, and aired from 24 February - 2 April 2014. It is produced by Yalli Productions.[11] It was cancelled after Series 2.
A Dutch version was broadcast on Veronica in 2013, called "De Fukkers". In 2015 a new version started at RTL 5 with the name "Foute Vrienden", like the Flemish version.[12]
A Belgian (Flemish) version broadcast on 2BE in fall 2012, with the title "Foute Vrienden". James Murray was spotted in episode 5 of the first season.[13] The second season, which started in March 2014, includes 10 episodes.
A Brazilian version is currently being broadcast on SBT with the title "Amigos da Onça". The series premiere aired January 7, 2013[14] and ended August 13, 2013.
A Lebanese version broadcast on Al Jadeed in autumn / fall 2013.
A Mexican version broadcast on TBS Latin America started in 20 May 2015 with the title "Impractical Jokers"
A Greek version broadcast on Ant1 in February 2014 with the title "Wanted".
A French-Canadian version broadcast on V in February 24, 2014 with the title "Les Jokers"
A Swedish version broadcast on TV6 in April 2014 with the title "Radiostyrd"
A Colombian version broadcast on RCN in March 23, 2015 with the title "Hágale", a segment of the game show "Gana con Ganas"
A Spanish version broadcast on Neox in 2014 with the title "Sinvergüenzas"
International broadcasts
- 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 1st season of the UK show. However the BBC never aired it but it finally came to air on the 22 August 2014. The US version now airs on Comedy Central UK.
Currently Comedy Central India airs the show at different timings.- The series currently airs in Canada on Action.[15]
It is currently being shown in Australia on the Nine Network.
The series currently airs in Italy on DMAX with the title "Cattivissimi amici".- The series currently airs in Spain on Neox and Comedy Central Spain with the title "Agárralos como Puedas".
- The series currently airs in Brazil on TBS with the title "Tirando a Maior Onda".
References
- ^ Bibel, Sara (February 20, 2013). "truTV Orders Additional Episodes of Hit Series 'Impractical Jokers' and 'Hardcore Pawn: Chicago'". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
- ^ Bibel, Sara (July 8, 2013). "'Impractical Jokers' Renewed for Season 3 by truTV; New Series 'Jokers After Party' Greenlit". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
- ^ a b Kondolojy, Amanda (April 21, 2014). "'Impractical Jokers' Renewed by TruTV; Joins Six New Series Greenlights". Zap2it. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
- ^ Moye, David (14 December 2011). "'Impractical Jokers': TruTV's New Hidden Camera Program (VIDEO)". HuffPost Weird News. TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ^ Stasi, Linda. "Jokers' on you". New York Post. NYP Holdings, Inc. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ^ Genzlinger, Neil (14 December 2011). "Four Pranksters, Giving as Good as They Get". New York Times Television. The New York Times Publishing Company. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ^ Robbins, Dean. "Impractical Jokers wallows in embarrassment". Isthmus The Daily Page. Isthmus Publishing Company, Inc. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ^ Seidman, Robert. "Thursday Cable Ratings: Jaguars/Falcons Top Nigh". Renew/Cancel Index. TVbytheNumbers. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ^ Lowry, Brian. "Impractical Jokers". Variety TV Review. Reed Business Information. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ^ "BBC Impractical Jokers profiles".
- ^ "BBC Three announces series of online pilots - News - British Comedy Guide". Comedy.co.uk. 2011-11-30. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
- ^ "RTL 5 maakt Nederlandse versie Foute Vrienden" (in Dutch). Showbizznetwork.nl. 2015-02-07. Retrieved 2015-02-07.
- ^ "Euro nets line up pranks format | News". C21Media. 2012-02-22. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
- ^ ""Amigos da Onça", novo humorístico do SBT, aposta em câmera escondida". UOL. 2012-12-28. Retrieved 2012-12-29.
- ^ "Schedule". action-tv.ca. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
External links
- Official website of Impractical Jokers
- Impractical Jokers at IMDb