After a long day of writing chemistry lab reports, solving excruciating physics problems and analyzing Old English poetry, I find myself needing a way to unwind. Although I have many hobbies, including reading and going on walks, to help me manage my college stress, sometimes I seek a pastime that requires absolutely no brain power. Whether it’s streaming a quick episode between classes or binging a whole season on a lazy Saturday, I am frequently drawn to enjoying the TruTV show Impractical Jokers.
Now, some of you may be unfamiliar with this series, so I will give you a quick summary of the main plot points. Each episode follows four middle-aged men who have been friends since high school as they attempt to embarrass one another. They usually have to compete in two to four challenges per episode in which each comedian has to do a specific task that is ridiculously inappropriate or strange. At the end of each episode, whoever “loses” the most challenges is punished in an absurdly mortifying manner.
So, why do I love this show? Firstly, the jokers themselves are extremely engaging. Each offers a unique approach to the challenges. Former firefighter Brian Quinn (or “Q”) is a big softy who usually plays off his weird behaviors as part of his chill guy attitude. Joe Gatto, a proud dog dad, is not afraid to just act plain old strange without bothering to provide a reason. James Murray or “Murr,” known for his ferret-like appearance and mannerisms, goes into each challenge with a plan that often fails but is entertaining to watch play out. Finally, my personal favorite and a successful stand-up comedian, is Sal Vulcano. He comes across as soft-spoken, but then whips out random statements that leave everyone baffled. They have very distinctive personalities, which means that even though they are all operating within the same constraints of a given challenge, they usually have very different outcomes. Their banter behind the scenes is also quite amusing, with a plethora of inside jokes that frequent viewers will understand.
The challenges themselves are also absurd. A personal favorite of mine is when they give a presentation on a random topic designed by one of the other jokers. The assigned presentation is glaringly unprofessional and ridiculous, but the joker has to act as if it is a serious matter. At the end of a presentation, each joker polls the audience, asking them to raise their hands if they have learned anything. The joker with the fewest number of hands raised loses the challenge. Another favorite of mine is when a joker distracts a shopper at the mall while another attempts to successfully hook and reel in their shopping bag from a balcony. A popular challenge is one of the jokers performing a service job, such as taking orders at a restaurant or acting as a meditation leader, while complying with anything the other jokers instruct them to do. This leads to hilarious situations that leave the joker to try to explain away inappropriate comments or actions.
The location of the show varies, offering unique settings and individuals for the jokers to explore. Most of the episodes take place in locations around New York City. From delis to grocery stores to offices, the jokers get to interact with all the New York population has to offer. Since the types of people in these places can vary drastically, so do their responses. The jokers also tape episodes outside of New York, visiting Universal Orlando and even London. In these locations, they do themed challenges, such as acting strangely on amusement park rides or being a bartender in a pub.
Finally, the punishments for losing each episode play into the specific phobias of each joker. For example, in one episode, they cover Q with tarantulas, as he is afraid of spiders, or they make Sal sort through trash because he is a huge germaphobe. A lot of the punishments are just generally miserable. Joe was forced to shoot his whole wardrobe out of a t-shirt gun at a baseball game. Murr had to give a presentation as the jokers cut off his pants and changed him into heels behind the podium.
Although Joe is no longer on the show as he has decided to focus on his family, the series is still running with eleven seasons so far. There is not a definitive release date for the next season, but they may be hosting some upcoming live shows to keep an eye out for!
Beyond all these points of hilarity, Impractical Jokers is a great reminder that life is not that serious. If four middle-aged men can make a living working on a show with such a ridiculous premise, us Cornellians will probably be OK even if we get a bad grade in Orgo.
Emma Robinson is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at erobinson@cornellsun.com.
