Is “Impractical Jokers” Dead Without Joe Gatto? Review

Everyone has TV shows they watch to wind down after a hard day’s work. “Impractical Jokers” was one of mine. I discovered it during Season 3 and have stayed tuned in varying degrees ever since. The show had the perfect blend of old-school prankster kicks, silly competitions, blush-worthy punishments, and off-the-wall improvs that made it fantastically hilarious. The genuine lifelong friendship of the four stars added a magical element that made it a hit as well.

That show made me laugh countless times over the years. I didn’t just chuckle or giggle, either. I lost my breath and a few drinks on numerous occasions. It was the kind of laughter that made my stomach hurt in a good way and brought tears to my eyes. I even laughed long after the shows ended whenever I thought of one of those wacky moments.

It wasn’t just one person who made me laugh. It was the whole mix. All four guys brought their own unique ingredient to the show, and they fit together perfectly.

The Show’s Sidesplitting Daredevil Exits in 2021

In 2021, Joe Gatto announced that he was leaving “Impractical Jokers,” and fans wondered if the show could survive without the “do everything” funnyman on the scene. Many people felt that the show should end then, but I wanted to see how things played out.

Tonight, they graced us with a special episode of “Impractical Jokers” to hold us over until June. They brought Eric Andre on board as a special guest to help out with the punishment.

Mixed Emotions About the New “Impractical Jokers”

It wasn’t until I watched the special “Impractical Jokers” episode that I realized how much the show had lost by losing a quarter of the on-screen friendship. I kept telling myself “Impractical Jokers” would be okay, but it wasn’t okay. It was drastically different. We all knew things would change, but we didn’t feel it until we actually saw it.

That said, change isn’t always a bad thing, so I gave it a chance. I liked the new intro a lot. The challenge part of the show was okay, but it wasn’t their best. I chuckled at a few things they did, but they never really cut up and let loose like they usually do. That could have been due to their loss and the awkwardness of not having their buddy with them.

Q seems to have gotten a lot bolder and confusingly freaky. Hmm, well the boldness could be a good thing. The freakiness depends on which direction he’s going in. Murr is getting a little more respect now, and Sal is just done with being Prince Herb. Good!

The Punishment Was Brutal for the People

The punishment part was too — Eric Andre. I found it mean and humiliating to the people who got pranked, and that’s not really what the Jokers are all about. Eric Andre’s style is way different from theirs, and it doesn’t really work because it forces them to ramp their style up to a more vulgar and distasteful level.

I speak to the TV set sometimes as I watch shows. Awe shush, you know you do it, too! My last words to the show were, “I don’t know, y’all.”

I’ll have to see what they have going on with at least one other guest before I can judge IJ’s new flavor. It was their first show without Joe, and they may have been still mourning the end of an era when they filmed it. It’s like a brand-new show now, so tonight’s episode was like a pilot of sorts.

Some people say their very first season was out of sorts like that. I thought their first season was great, but they did have things more together in Season 2. Thus, I’ll have to play it by ear. I’m not going to rate this episode because it was a special gift with a sneak peek for the fans. I’ll just say that “Impractical Jokers 2022” is drastically different and will take some getting used to.

T’s Non-Rating: Hmm

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