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Can you tease us about any more of the challenges from
the season? Any particular moments that stand out for you?
James: Yeah, you know, the challenge that we were
just working on last night - we went to one of these all-you-can-eat
buffets, you know people pay a fixed amount and they go
in and they shove their faces full of food, and the challenge
is very simple: we had to go up to people at the buffet
line and take food off their plate.
Very simple, it's a very simple idea, but it was terrifying
- terrifying! People got, I think that's probably the craziest
people got, right Sal? People were so protective over their
food, even though it's a buffet - there's tons more of it
for free in front of you. [laughs] It makes no sense.
Sal: There's something about once the food hits
your plate, there's an assumed ownership, I guess, then
there's a violation of space. And that's the kind of thing
we really try and focus on in all those challenges - those
little moments, those little social moments that are relatable
to everyone everyday that people might be at a buffet sometimes
and maybe it crosses their mind that "I wonder what
would happen if I dared to take an eggroll off this guy's
plate?" But you never do it and so the show is less
like big, big stunts or anything like that and way more
of social interaction and just exploring that kind of dynamic.
James: Yeah. [laughs] It is really funny
how protective people can get of a drumstick. [laughs]
Sal: Yeah, yeah, exactly.
James: There's a tray of a thousand more drumsticks
in front of you, but this one's on your plate, so it's like
- it's like they're defending their child. [laughs]
Sal: Yeah, to say what I said and simplify it a
little bit more, it's also about taking someone's god damn
eggroll. [laughs]
Well, the challenges do serve as competition. So from
the challenges in the first season, has their emerged a
clear loser?
James: That's a good question. I think Sal has lost
the - well, I don't want to give anything away, do I? But
I think one of us, who may be Sal, probably lost the most
challenges, don't you think? I don't know!
Sal: You know, it seems like it. It seems like maybe,
but you never know. I didn't really do a full tally, but
- we've all lost, definitely.
James: We've all spectacularly lost, don't worry.
[laughs]
And have you found the punishment challenges at the
end of the show to be truly just mortifying and horrible?
James: They're the worst.
Sal: You know, they are and they're also amazing
when you're watching. You know, when we do get punished,
it's like the most fun day when I'm not punished and I get
to watch one of them get punished. [laughs] Because
basically we just show up all day - I wake up, get out of
bed knowing that I have nothing to do today that's going
to get me killed or embarrassed and I get to watch James
suffer all day and it's like the most wonderful feeling.
I'm sorry I feel that way, but you know how it goes.
James: [laughs] I feel the exact same way!
But then on the days you are getting punished, you're stomach's
in knots -
Sal: It's the worst, the worst, because you know
that the whole day is just going to be just you getting
pounded, you know? [laughs]
James: And another thing is that we don't know the
punishments before we go into it, so the guy getting punished
shows up on set not knowing what he's going to have to do
- which is terrifying, because you know these guys know
me so well and I know them so well that I know they're going
to plan something that's insane, like no one in their right
mind would ever want to do.
Sal: The worst feeling is not knowing. You wake
up with a knot in your stomach. [laughs]
So it's a really bad day for the loser and just a fantastic
day for the other three.
James: That's the worst thing.
Sal: Yeah, exactly. I usually wake up with a knot
in my stomach and I'll turn to the few girls laying in bed
next to me and I'll be like, "Oh, this is going to
be a rough one." [laughs]
 So
when you guys are just hanging out, is it always like this?
You know, is this series essentially an average day for
you guys, just now with the addition of cameras?
James: Yeah. [laughs] I would say so. Every
time we get together and hang out, I mean we work together
all the time, but when we hang out [laughs] it's
just utter chaos and fun, right?
Sal: Yeah. It really is. You know, we say that and
I wonder if the people reading really believe that, but
it is so true. I mean, we do hang out all the time and we
are [laughs] always like this, all the time.
James: [laughs]
Sal: It's just what we do. We just - we always try
to get each other, we always try to make each other laugh
and I mean, that's why when the show came to us something
just clicked because the format of the show just allowed
us to just be very natural in what we always do and we're
hoping that translates to everyone because we had some much
fun doing it. It's like a magical formula for us.
And this isn't your first foray into the world of TV.
Do you think that natural aspect is what pushed Impractical
Jokers to that extra level?
James: I think so. I think that's exactly right,
that's the exact magic formula that made this one different.
I mean, we knew - when we started filming we were like,
"we're having so much fun on set performing and making
each other laugh, we're having so much fun" and it's
so natural to what we do as best friends that it just felt
completely right.
And truTV has, to their credit, been amazing at supporting
us and giving us an amazing amount of freedom to go out
there and - we have no script, there's no lines that we're
reading off of; it's just us going out there and making
each other laugh and they've been amazing at giving us that
freedom and liberty to go out and have fun and I think it
really translates. We finally stumbled upon the right format
for the show and the right network to do it with.
Since there is no script, does it always turn out? You
know, do you always get some really great reactions or actions
to do or to some of them end up getting pushed aside and
scrapped?
Sal: I think it's safe to say that it's basically
a law of averages. I mean, we think of hundreds of ideas
and sometimes the simplest ideas that we think "eh,
we'll see how this goes," they end up being amazing
and sometimes the ideas that we think "oh, this is
going to be the best thing ever," sometimes it could
be the opposite, too.
So it's really a mixed bag and we don't know what to expect
when we go out there, you know, but for the most part, I'd
say, right James, most of the stuff works because it's just
- once you get out there and start doing your thing people
are just usually taken back, right?
James: Yeah, yeah, I would say so. But I think you're
completely right, Sal. Some of the things that are the simplest
ideas, like leaning over and taking somebody's drumstick,
ends up being hysterical and praiseworthy. So we continue
to get surprised by what works [laughs] and what
doesn't work on set.
And it is the holiday season right now, so are there
any classic pranks or traditions you guys rely on this time
of year?
Sal: [laughs] I, uh...
James: [laughs]
Sal: [laughs] I, um...
James: [laughs]
Sal: Alright, this is going to sound mean...
James: [laughs] I don't know if you should
say it!
Sal: Okay.
James: I don't know. [laughs] I know exactly
what you're going to say. I don't think you should say it!
[laughs]
Sal: Really? Okay.
James: We... we... [laughs] I don't know,
what do we like to do at Christmastime?
Sal: Every morning I get up and I slap my grandmother
in the face.
James: [laughs]
Sal: Is that what you were thinking I was going
to say, James?
James: Yes. [laughs] It's a great prank.
She loves it, she laughs every morning.
Sal: [laughs] The thing is I'm dressed as
Santa when I do it, you know, so she still doesn't know
it's me.
James: Gosh, I don't know. Well, I will tell you,
the holidays in New York are really crowded. Everybody comes
to New York for Christmas and New Year's and the more crowded
the place is -
Sal: The more opportunity.
James: The more opportunities. Before we had a TV
show we filmed a video of Joe putting his nose on people
in Times Square during Christmastime 'cause there's a billion
people in Times Square [laughs] and they're all festive
and oblivious and it perfect for what we do. [laughs]
Well, thank you so much for chatting with me today.
It's been a real pleasure. Do you have a final message for
your fans and the fans that are to come when they watch
the show?
Sal: Yes, if you support us and DVR the show and
spread the word, I will sleep with you.
James: [laughs]
Sal: That's as frank as I can get.
James: I think Sal speaks for both of us.
Sal: [laughs] No, honestly, I mean, really
a big heartfelt and so sincere thank you to the people that
have come to see us since we started our comedy troupe twelve
years ago when we were doing it in a room full of ten people
and welcome to, hopefully - fingers crossed, the new fans
that we make now. So, thank you.
A big thank you again to Sal and James for the chat!
But I will say it now, my new goal is to one day get them
to fess up to whatever Christmas tradition they were laughing
so ominously about. Stay tuned... it may not be until Impractical
Jokers is well into its fifth season... but, oh, it'll happen!
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