Not after last time.Things got out of hand.
The tour is selling well and so theyve added extra dates and are doing some press to promote them.
So when the opportunity for an interview slot came up, I decided I would specialise.
I got onto the phone with Joe Gatto, perhaps the silliest and most shameless Joker.
This is how our chat went.
Youre playing the O2 for your next tour, which I think has something like ten times the capacity.
Would it be fair to say that you underestimated the demand last time?
No, it was just a matter of availability, actually.
We wanted to at least get over and get in front of the fans a little bit.
Thats what made us end up at the O2 and were excited for that.
You have a third show on sale now.
Had you anticipated that level of demand?
Ah yeah, we couldnt believe it when we had to add a third show.
Its a thing for us, being over here and having such a crazy fan base over there.
For four guys from Staten Island, it totally blew our minds.
Did you find that the UK people reacted any differently to the pranks?
Was there anything that was noticeable to you?
It was funny because the dynamic switched for us.
In the UK, were the tourists.
I wondered if you could tell me how you explain it.
Are there any plans to release the shows on DVD?
I know the next UK shows are the Santiago Sent Us tour, and the Wheres Larry?
show had a clip of Q accidentally posting his phone number on Twitter that I need to have.
Im not sure if there are plans.
Theres always stuff in the works at the web link.
I know that everybody loved that clip, that was one of the favourite moments of that Wheres Larry?
That part wrecked me during the show.
Alright, so, I wanted to ask you a few bits about the TV show as well.
How much shooting goes into a twenty minute episode?
Its basically three to four days shooting, depending on how many challenges end up in an episode.
We shoot one challenge a day, with the punishment being its own day.
So its about three days shooting.
And then how long does it take to edit each one?
The editing, normally the cycle is about four to five weeks.
We polish that one until its show ready and then we start putting together the challenges.
I know that prior to theImpractical Jokersshow, you guys had done two scripted pilots.
How difficult was it to find a format that allowed you to use your spontaneity?
This is our home run comedy.
This is our form.
Were improv comedians, were not necessarily actors, we dont come across that way.
In this show you get a real taste of our personality and friendship.
This embarrassment comedy is how weve been making each other laugh our entire lives.
We just turned the cameras on and did our thing.
Am I right in saying that you were originally reluctant to pursue a television show?
I didnt want to do that anymore.
I wasnt comfortable with how I came across in those and I wasnt comfortable with that format.
I had a job that was taking up a lot of time.
We werent agreeing on what we needed to do.
Thats what that was.
And then once we came up with the format that would beImpractical Jokers, we all loved it.
But yeah, I was ready to pull the plug on any of the projects that werent that.
I wasnt interested in being in sketch comedy any more.
One of my favourite punishments from the show involved you interviewing a gang of bikers.
I wonder how often, either by instinct or by logic, do you feel unsafe or genuinely frightened?
But it definitely was an intense room.It got really uncomfortable.
Thats not our show, our show is trying to look like a fool in front of the public.
And we come across a little crazy, which I think helps us.
People arent sure how to handle us.
Weve been doing this a long time now, were pretty good at reading people.
It really depends on the punishment.
and take a stab at figure it out.
Whos the most difficult to punish, do you think, out of the troupe?
Sal and Murr are definitely the easiest out of the four of us to punish.
I mean, theres so much to pick on with them.
I would say that Q and I are on the other side of the fence.
But I think that Sal and Murr are far and away easier to punish than Q and I. Sals scared of everything.
I find Sal the most relatable, I think, because he responds how I would expect to.
People can see the nerves on his skin when something is happening.
Well, at the end of the day were still friends.
You have to be the voice of reason with the microphones or when youre coming up with the punishment.
And he couldnt believe that.
If its good for Murray, its good for him.
That gave us permission to punish him.
But most of the challenge is trying to pick a good format that really brings it out for us.
Were excited to try something new.
Weve just gotten a little bit more ridiculous in what were trying.
It was just so simple and silly in its idea and it panned out to be so fun.
So little things like that that were still inspired to do that stuff after five seasons, its crazy.
The ideas havent stopped yet and were still having fun doing it.
We always said When were not having fun doing it anymore its over.
So hopefully therell be a season 6!
I hope so too!
Not as often as youd think.
We have so many bodies working at once.
Like Dont do that to this woman, shes too old.
You guys did a live episode.
Oh yeah, the tightrope.
How exciting was that?
That was so much fun to do.
It was interesting because so many people turned up for the live event, which was really cool.
It really was a good time.
Oh, the cruise was great.
We had a lot of our celebrity friends there and we got to do karaoke with the crowd.
We filmed a live special.
Across the board, I think everyone had an amazing time.
You guys are experimental in what youll try.
Do you feel, and I hate to use the term brand, but protective of your brand?
Yeah, theres definitely a brand to it.
I think people definitely associate it to us.
Im coming to the end of my time so I wanted to fire you two quick questions.
I know theres talk of a movie happening.
Is there anything you might say about that?
Its nothing more than I hope it does.
The movie business is a much different process and theres a lot of cooks in that kitchen.
Its very much out of our hands, other than we said we wanted to do one.
So now its basically just everybody who makes a movie talking about it.
So were hopeful that itll happen.
Theres been a lot of good talk happening, but Hollywoods a very different animal than television.
We havent had anything that has been like oh, this isnt going to happen!
Its been some encouraging obstacles conquered but theres still more to go.
So I thought instead I would ask you who would your ideal nosing be?
Who would you like to nose?
Umm, if I could nose anybody…
I guess over there it would be Ricky Gervais.
Hes a hero of mine.
I consider him an idol, I love everything he does.
So to be able to place my nose on such a Brit legend, that would be my pick.
Joe Gatto, thank you very much!
Impractical Jokersreturns to Comedy Central in August.
By UK season division, this will be considered season 9.Tickets for the live UK shows are availablehere.
