The Impractical Jokers Have A System To Make Sure The Focus Group Skits Are As Real As Possible
Throughout their time on truTV, the "Impractical Jokers" team has put together countless hilarious challenges for audiences to enjoy. One of the most fun of the bunch comes in the form of focus groups: skits that involve members of the public taking part in what they think is a genuine focus group, only for mayhem to ensue thanks to the Jokers themselves. In these types of challenges, spontaneity and obliviousness are the secret ingredients. The folks taking part can't know they're part of an "Impractical Jokers" skit, or else the whole thing falls apart.
As it turns out, the Jokers have developed a system to make sure they're only featuring people who aren't familiar with these types of challenges and the show at large. The strategy they've developed involves one of them standing in a hallway outside of the focus group meeting room, usually pretending to be on their phone, as a producer brings out participants one by one. "If they recognize me, they'll get pulled away before they ever get in that focus group," James "Murr" Murray explained in a 2021 interview (via Celebrity GamerZ).
While one might imagine that coming up with systems and strategies for "Impractical Jokers" challenges could make filming the show a bit formulaic and potentially dull for those involved, that couldn't be further from the case.
Impractical Jokers shows no sign of slowing down
Even though the "Impractical Jokers" crew has fallen into a routine over the past decade-plus, and longtime staple Joe Gatto has decided to leave the series behind, the passion of those behind the show hasn't dissipated one bit. During an interview with Forbes, Murr, Brian "Q" Quinn, and Sal Vulcano expressed their enduring love for the program as it traversed its ninth season. Murr told the publication, "The show is still hysterically funny, and we still cry laughing almost every day. So as long as we feel like we're still doing good work, we'll keep doing the work."
Expanding on that point, he adds that the entire behind-the-scenes team has become like one giant family, so they feel a sense of duty to not only keep the show entertaining but ensure those working on it remain employed. At the time of this writing, "Impractical Jokers" is in the midst of its 10th season, having taken to bringing on celebrity guests in Gatto's absence. It stands to reason that it won't be the last batch of episodes, either, bearing in mind just how popular the series and its now-trio of hosts have become.
"Impractical Jokers" is nothing short of a small screen juggernaut, so expect many more years of meticulously planned challenges — including hilarious focus groups — to come.