We chatted to the Impractical Jokers about the TV and live shows, pranking and Jason Statham.
Fair warning, things got foul-mouthed…
This one got away from me.
It turns out that interviewing four comedians at the same time is hard work.
Typing up my recording afterwards was like trying to transcribe a riot.
Obviously, I had an absolute blast.
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Heres how our chat with the cast ofImpractical Jokerswent.
Warning: some swearing.
Did it surprise you how quickly the UK shows sold out?
Because they went in seconds.
And we would be like Oh, what is showing over there?
It was a nice trip down memory lane.
We got a really good fan base really quick, so were happy with it.
Sal:I dont know.
We said this earlier, we didnt know if the show would translate, exactly.
Theres a lot of universal things that happen in the show.
So to be this popular here has shocked me.
And then I guess youre mentioning the live show?
Sal:We couldnt believe how fast it sold out.
Murr:Were actually doing a much larger UK tour in January.
Were doing venues like the arena at the O2, which is gonna be great.
Normally its like 20,000 in there, right?
Murr:Yeah, something like that.
Sal:Is it really?
Joe:Were selling 15 tickets, so its the first 15 people that show up.
Q:Yeah, its one row.
But they have ways they can block off the top.
Sal:So then what is the maximum capacity at O2?
Q:I thought 17 (thousand).
Murr:Were also charging $10,000 a ticket.
Murr:But we think about it all the time.
Q:I never think about it.
Thats why we have Dave Scarborough (cinematographer and various other roles).
Murr:But Joe thinks about it all the time.
Q:Thats why he has Dave Scarborough.
Sal:You start to learn when youre writing.
Theres certain things well know right away.
So stuff like that we kind of have built into us.
But our crew definitely finds a way if we really want something to happen.
Q:(to Sal) Hey, you said it at Senor Frogs the other day.
You were like What are we gonna do about this music?
and Daniel Cast (assistant director) was like Its our music, baby!
Theyre on top of it.
We have the greatest crew.
Murr:It does limit us in some ways.
Like, weve toyed around with going up and ringing peoples doorbells.
But how do you get the reverse point of view?
You cant set up hidden cameras in somebody elses house.
Its really enhanced our show.
If you look at the angles were able to get now.
On set, our director Dave Scarborough has a bag of Go Pros.
But you get some really good, interesting angles with the Go Pros.
Joe:At that time.
Murr:At that time.
Theres been bigger since.
Joe:There were so many people involved in it, I think was the big thing.
It took about two months to plan, where we were getting all the ducks in a row.
And then just to corral people, because we had to create an audience at the church.
Murr:It was funny.
Joe:The pastor would ask who objects and Sal would be at the top of the mountain.
And then we said Wait a second, the wedding in itself is a great season finale.
Sal:Is that where that was supposed to happened?
A good deal of the show trades in social boundaries, and particularly with you overstepping them.
Joe:Life is totally different.
We dont know many boundaries any more.
And weve all learned the lesson that people dont act the way people think people will.
Theyre much more along-for-the-ride and friendlier than we thought.
A lot of times on paper, it looks like Oh, thisll get us punched.
We thought we would get punched.
Sal:Remember how nervous we were?
Sitting in that side room at the restaurant, peeking through…
Q:Yeah, the grate thing.
Sal:…and we were like Oh my god, its our turn!
That was like the first thing we ever did.
I didnt remember until you said it now, but we were so nervous.
Joe:We were nervous for each other.
We didnt know what was gonna happen.
Sal:Oh, remember the lady grabbed my hand and she just wouldnt let go?
And she was just squeezing and I didnt know what to do.
Q:We still dont get many reactions like that.
Where someone clamps you and holds you there.
Murr:When you screw with somebodys sense of ownership of something, thats when they react.
If theyre shopping, you take something out of their cart.
Thats theirs, you know?
It almost is easier to do when were filming the show.
Joe:Because theres a reason to do it.
Q:Theres a safety net.
Sal:Theres a collective around you thats like Were all trying to do this.
But when Im alone Im like I would never do that.
Joe:Sal just roams the street and eats off peoples plates by himself.
Joe:Yeah, I dont need a camera, I just do stuff.
and we know enough to discourage that immediately.
Because if one of us even giggles, hes gonna fucking walk through that shot.
So were all No, no, no.
Because I laugh as hard as I do in the show.
Again on social boundaries, does it affect how people are around you?
Ill come to you (Sal) as an example again.
I cant ask someone to undress in an interview.
But people feel like they really know you.
Q:Exactly, we get that a lot.
Its a blessing and a curse.
A lot of people buy people they know drinks.
Sal:You get people that, just like you get people anywhere, dont have a filter.
Some people dont even request that I show them the tattoo, they just demand it.
My wife is here, take your pants off.
Joe:We get this a lot (mimes having a phone put up to his ear).
Say hello, its Lorraine.
Sal:They always think that theyre on the show.
Youre not gonna get at me.
We were just shopping.
She was looking for cameras, she was like I know who you are, you crazies!
and she walked away from us.
Murr:Well, we get away with a lot because of that.
People think were always pranking them or that were constantly on camera.
We steal things from stores all the time.
Joe:I steal cupcakes.
If were at a bakery Ill just grab something.
Murr:And people are like Oh my god, they pranked us!
Joe:So she really got pranked?
I dont know what I can put in this.
(Right, so I was being glib here.
The joke Sal made was cheeky but it would have been fine.
But on reflection this is the point at which I lost the room.)
Sal:Oh really?
Q:Who is this for?
No, Im being silly, its fine.
Its for Den of Geek.
Q:Oh, I know Den of Geek.
you’re free to put that in there.
Yeah, well be fine.
Sal:Yesterday they (Murr and Q) were on TV in the morning, what was it?
Sal:And the guy…
Q:Dr. Hilary.
Sal:Dr. Hilary.
I thought it was a male?
Q:His name is Hilary Jones.
Sal:Oh, the guys name is Hilary?
Ive never heard of that.
Q:Yeah, he went through life like that, man.
Murr:We pranked Dr. Hilary onLorraineand he called us bastards on live TV.
Sal:But thats not even a curse to me.
Theres like cursing, nudity.
The first episode ofThe Officethey curse so much.
So to just say bastard and its all over the news.
Joe:Yeah, but its after 7pm in the UK.
I think it might be 9pm.
Sal:Who are they protecting?
Sal:At 8pm a kids not gonna be flicking through the channels and hear the word?
Q:Yeah, but youre taking the power out of the parents hands.
Sal:But bastard is actually a word, its allowed on American television even.
But not a bastard.
Murr:But different cultures have different meanings for things.
Sal:But bastard doesnt even feel like a curse.
Murr:Guys, you cant say any of this stuff.
No, you’ve got the option to say whatever you like.
Thats my editors problem
Q:No, its Den of Geek.
Ive been on your website, you’re free to say anything.
Sal:So if Dr. Hilary would have said You (front bottom Ed) bastard!
it would have been You (front bottom Ed) beeeeep?
No, you couldnt have said (front bottom Ed) in the morning.
Its the time of day.
Joe:Again, before 7pm.
After 7pm you could call everybody a fucking stupid (front bottom Ed) sloppy motherfucker.
And everyone would be fine with it.
Ahh, you (front bottom Ed)!
Murr:Let the Den of Geek record show that I have not said the c-word once.
Q:You just said the c-word.
Are you afraid to answer to the Den of Geek editor?
Its an offensive word.
Its not quite the same over here as in the US.
Murr:But bastard is a bad word over here.
Not on the scale of (front bottom Ed).
(pause)
We have gone off road.
Sal:That was our intention.
Q:Do you know that Lorraine is quite hot in person?
Murr:Yeah, Id take a run at her.
Sal:Dr. Hilary is no slouch himself.
Q:Hes well dressed.
Murr:Hes aging well.
Joe:Wait, hes a guy?
Sal:So Im told.
Remember I got that from Spa Castle?
A long time ago I went to a spa castle, which is like a castle of spas.
Its all hot tubs and things like that, its not very well maintained.
Q:(to Den of Geek) Its exactly what you think it is.
Murr:Not very well maintained but its a touristy thing.
I went and I got a rash from the spa.
Joe:Its not touristy.
Murr:Sure it is.
Joe:No its not.
No one comes to New York and says Weve got to check out Times Square and Spa Castle!
Q:Maybe a sex tourism thing.
Joe:Yeah, he caught something from the water.
Q:Ted Water.
No, the chlorine level was high.
(I cant fish all the jokes out of my recording from this.
They were all making them at the same time and laughing.)
Murr:Its not a sex place, its a legit spa castle.
Joe:We keep it.
Murr:I earned that money.
One time we actually bought a lottery ticket for the crew.
The first one at White Castle.
Sal:I think that sometimes when people are very generous, well verify that they get it back.
I think sometimes we forget.
(To Joe) But the other day you had 26 bucks, and you gave me 13.
Thats not my bill.
I know you just found it and its not mine, either.
But, can you give it to me, heres why.
And the guys give you a ridiculous reason.
We pocketed some serious cash.
Q:I still have that burned $5.
The good-natured tone comes through on the show.
Q:THE WHAT?
THE SHOW IS REALLY GOOD NATURED, RIGHT?
Q:Im kidding, I heard what you said.
(attempts to speak, laughs/gives up)
Sal:This is just us.
We entertain each other all the time.
Its very hurtful but Im coping.
But, is that something youre conscious of maintaining, or are you genuinely lovely?
Joe:Well were friends for real.
I think that…
Q:I yelled at Joe on set the other day.
Q:Were not over that yet.
Joe:Were still hitting that hard.
Murr:It was the first time ever that it wasnt directed at me.
And were like, well, we shouldnt skew that way.
We just want it to be funny.
Joe:We even say a lot of the times, well put our own filter on.
Well rein each other in when somebodys out there.
If we see somebodys getting mad well change the direction on purpose.
Cause thats not what our show is.
Its not getting people upset.
Its making each other laugh.
Murr:Sal physically assaulted me one day.
But he backed off when I got in his face.
Joe:You whipped your coat at me and said Your best friend just assaulted me!
and walked away into the night.
Murr:I stood my ground and he backed away like a scared child.
Q:And you stormed off set.
Joe:You stormed off set.
You looked me in the eye…
Murr:I didnt storm off set, we were done filming.
Sal:Were with each other 24/7.
Joe:…Your best friend assaulted me and then you went to the Spa Castle.
Murr:I didnt say that.
Joe:(theatrical but brilliant Murr impression) Your best friend assaulted me.
Q:Like when a parent is mad at their kid and they call it your son.
(lose room to laughter and funny bickering for a moment)
Murr:None of this is true.
Sal:We were on the road in Scarsdale, Arizona and we all went to a nightclub.
Sal:…and there were like 20 people and we were like Wheres Murray?
Q:It was a strip club.
Sal:…he left without telling anyone.
So we go across the street to eat something at Dennys.
Joe:IHOP (International House Of Pancakes).
Murr:There was no Dennys anywhere near there.
Q:It was across the street.
Murr:You took rickshaw to a Dennys that was 5 miles away.
Q:It was literally across the street and a quarter mile to the left.
Sal:So we texted him and said were going to the Dennys, we cant find you.
And then weeks later he pulled us aside on set and scolded us.
Murr:You did not text me.
Q:We didnt text him.
That was the problem.
Sal:Oh, you called us.
Murr:That was the whole argument.
There was no text, no nothing, because nobody gave a shit about what was happening to Murr.
What is your favourite Jason Statham movie?
Q:I mean,Crank.
What am I, an asshole?
Murr:For sure.
Q:What am I, some sort of asshole?
Murr:Crank, and the sequel is really good too.
Sal:He was very funny inSpy.
Although thats not really his film.
Q:Why did you look disappointed when I saidCrank?
No, that was my heart almost exploding with joy.Crankis his best film by a mile.
Q:Crankis amazing.
And its got Dennis fromIts Always Sunny InPhiladelphia in it.
Q:In a tiny cameo.
He dies in the sequel.
Murr:He was great inSpy, too.
Q:He has to keep his energy up or he dies.
Sal:I cant even… just listening to it gets me exhausted.
Joe:I really loved him inSpy.
I nosed him (Joes signature move is to covertly touch people with his nose.
That description does not do it justice) in California when I moved there.
Joe:Yeah, he was in a Coffee Bean in front of me and I nosed him.
I was by myself.
I just said, I have to take this opportunity.
I nosed him and I backed away and he turned around.
Q:What was his name inCrank.
Q:Chev Chelios!
Oh god, thats gonna make me want to watch that movie.
Murr:Yeah, me too.
Sal:Was there aCrank 2?
Sal:They get him again?
And he has to crank himself again?
And hes chasing down his own fucking heart.
Q:Its unbelievable.
Joe, Sal, Q and Murr, thank you very much!
New episodes of Impractical Jokers are shown on Comedy Central UK Mondays at 10pm.
