HomeTVInterview: Impractical Jokers star Joe Gatto discusses the new series, UK fans...

Interview: Impractical Jokers star Joe Gatto discusses the new series, UK fans & the upcoming movie

Impractical Jokers has become a firm favourite for comedy fans around the globe. It’s one of the highest rated shows on Comedy Central UK and stars Joe Gatto, James Murray, Sal Vulcano and Brian ‘Q’ Quinn. The fearless best friends prank each other in a series of absurd challenges, and at the end of the show the loser has to do a hilarious punishment.

Joe Gatto is one of the most loved Jokers of the pack because of his sheer enthusiasm and fearless approach to the tasks at hand.

Comedy Central is the exclusive UK home of Impractical Jokers with new episodes on Mondays at 10pm.

EF’s Jason caught up with Joe Gatto to discuss the new series, the success of the Impractical Jokers, their UK fans, what they’ve learnt from their adventures and learn a little about the brand new Impractical Jokers movie due out soon.

Impractical Jokers
Credit: Comedy Central UK/truTV/Impractical Jokers

The Impractical Jokers are back on Comedy Central UK! Tell us about what fans can expect from the latest series?

More of the stuff you love, we are just best friends torturing each other! We were able to amp it up with challenges and punishments we weren’t able to do in the past. We definitely get revenge and you’ll see some of our new favourite games!

You are global superstars now, so how difficult is it to keep doing what you do? Presumably, you are recognized everywhere you go now, which must make things a lot harder?

NYC is our friend this way, there are so many more interesting things to look at than our stupid faces! We have tricks to pull this off when filming bits as well. It is hard to pull off when we are talking to someone who does know us and a fan comes up freaking out – we have to then act like we know them from something else, be it our pharmacist or neighbour.

What was the most challenging task this season?

Every season has its challenges… for this one it is getting harder for us not to laugh at each other because we are pulling off bigger and better things to make each other lose it!

Who has been your favourite guest star, because you have assembled a very impressive roster of talent over the years?

A favourite of ours is Rob Emmer, he was our first Production Assitant on the show. Always a hard worker and he became a fast friend.

Credit: Comedy Central UK/truTV/Impractical Jokers

The Impractical Jokers cruises have been a massive hit with fans. Does that require a different approach from you in terms of performing?

The biggest challenge there is that you are on 24/7 for 5 days. It is floating party and we love spending time with our fans in a completely different type of capacity. We have the best fans and the coolest thing for us is to see fans becoming friends on the high seas!

You begin a new tour in March in the USA titled “The Cranjis McBasketball World Comedy Tour” and are then bringing it to the UK in October. What can we expect to see in the latest tour?

We are excited and proud of the new Cranjis tour. We tell some fun stoires from our real lives and of us interacting with fans and the new exclusive hidden camera videos are hilarious! We even get to tell a story about how we collectively almost died… (spolier we didn’t!).

Having performed all over the world, what are your favourite recollections of touring, and is it how you imagined it would be when you were starting out?

There is no way I could have imagined the success of this show and the tours. We started playing 50-person theatres in Manhattan and to now be able to play world famous venues such as the O2 in London or MSG in NYC, is unbelievable to us. We are taken aback by the success, and the best thing is being able to do it with our friends. Having the world laugh together is such a surreal experience.

What does the Impractical Jokers fanbase mean to you?

They are more than fans – we have created a family. They are dedicated and loyal and they love to laugh.

You’ve been to the UK quite a bit now. What are your observations on our culture, and has anything surprised you on these shores?

The UK fans are both super polite and fun with just the right amount of weird! It is amazing to be able to be so popular in another country and we love every chance we get to come there and tour.

Credit: Comedy Central UK/truTV/Impractical Jokers

Can you tell us anything about the Impractical Jokers movie?

It was so much fun to film, the best part was we were able to pull off movie sized ideas that we have been thinking about doing for quite some time. We really supprised each other with these antics and are excited to see what you think!

What other projects are you working on?

We are hard at work on a new season here in America. We are touring heavily, and we just announced a new Impractical Jokers Cruise from February 10-14th of 2020 that leaves out of Miami.

When are we going to see the Impractical Jokers in a WWE ring?

Not soon enough! No plans with them yet, but we would be honoured.

You meet all walks of life and I was wondering, after observing them for so many years up close, what have you learnt about society?

People are a lot more willing to go on a weird journey with you than we thought. People are so kind but definitely quicker to punch if they are really being messed with!

What is the one piece of advice that you’d give any aspiring comedians looking to break into the industry?

Don’t give up… it took us 16 years. We joke that we are a 16 year overnight success! I didn’t realize my dream until I was in my mid 30s.

Impractical Jokers airs Mondays at 10pm on Comedy Central UK.

Jason Palmer
Jason Palmerhttps://8ce250469d.nxcli.io
Jason is a film contributor for Entertainment Focus (EF) bringing you the latest news and reviews from the movie world.

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