Four New York high school buddies now well into their 30s have turned their immature antics into TV gold courtesy of Atlanta-based TruTV.
And like the "Long Island Medium," the "Cake Boss" and Bethenny Frankel, the "Impractical Jokers" dudes are bringing their TV personas to Atlanta with a live show at the Tabernacle on Saturday night.
On stage, the quartet won’t be able to replicate the hidden-camera goofs of the TV show, but they have an existing sketch-comedy act called the Tenderloins going back 15 years.
"We'll do some stand-up," cast member Sal Vulcano said. "We'll do some storytelling. There will be some audience interaction. We'll show video bits we couldn't show on television. It's a real mixed bag. If you're an 'Impractical Jokers' fan, we have you covered. And hopefully, you'll leave a Tenderloins fan."
For the uninitiated, TruTV's most popular show borrows elements from “Candid Camera” and “Jackass.” Each scenario requires each guy to do whatever the other guys tell him via a hidden earpiece. That could mean giving the middle finger to an elderly lady or accidentally “falling asleep” on the shoulder of a stranger. If they refuse to do the challenge, they lose.
The biggest loser of each episode must then submit to a “punishment” that will likely humiliate him.
For instance, Vulcano had to open a laptop in a coffee shop and sit there looking sheepish while sounds of lovemaking emanated. “The general feedback we get is I’m the best loser,” Vulcano said. “For most people, my suffering is enjoyable. I suffer in a funny way.”
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The TV show works primarily because of the chemistry among the four guys, who know one another's foibles and weaknesses inside and out. For instance, they all know how scared of heights James "Murr" Murray is, so as punishment this season, they forced him to jump out of an airplane.
Vulcano said they truly like one another: “We’re like a middle-aged boy band on tour. We’re with each other 24 hours a day. We film all week long. On weekends, we go on these tours. If we didn’t have fun, it would be a problem.”
TruTV clearly wants more of them. The network has already cleared a spinoff show featuring the fearsome foursome that will be more like the stage show with sketches and a live audience.
There is a downside to fame: More people recognize them, making it tougher for them to pull off their bits on unsuspecting people. But basic cable fame, Vulcano notes, is hardly Angelina Jolie fame. There are still millions of people who have no idea who they are.
And they love shooting in New York. “It’s not just the tourists,” he said. “New York is like a fifth member. Its personality really shines. And we’re from Staten Island, the forgotten borough. We like to remind people that it does exist!”
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