‘Impractical Jokers’: James Murray Assures Fans the Next Season Will Be ‘Great’ Amid Joe Gatto Exit: ‘Don’t Worry’
There are so many questions around Impractical Jokers now that Joe Gatto has stepped back from the show. The comedian announced in December of 2021 that he was exiting the truTV series after nine seasons, citing personal issues. The news of his departure was met with much discussion and concern about what the show would be like without Gatto, a fan favorite who was instrumental to its success. But James Murray promises it’s going to be “great.”
‘Impractical Jokers’ to return in April with a special episode
Deadline reports that Impractical Jokers will return with a new episode on April 2 — the first since Gatto stepped back from the show. The episode will air on truTV, TBS, and TNT and features celebrity guest Eric André of Bad Trip.
Murr further discussed the episode on Instagram and clarified that André would appear in a punishment. “The punishment is crazy,” he shared. “We filmed it about two weeks ago, you’re gonna love it.”
He also noted that other new episodes of Impractical Jokers would begin rolling out in June. “You’re gonna love it,” he continued. “It’s great. Everything is going well, the filming is well, we’re just going on. … Yes, we are bringing ‘Impractical Jokers’ back, and it’s gonna be awesome. So don’t worry.”
But changes are ahead
Of course, the jokers have had to make changes to the format due to Gatto’s absence. But in a way, they’ve apparently made the show better.
“The show, it’s gonna be a bit weirder, the show going forward,” fellow joker Brian Quinn said on the Tell ’em Steve-Dave! podcast, hosted by him and Walt Flanagan and Bryan Johnson of Comic Book Men. “I’m able to get a little bit more of my s*** [in] … I am getting in some like fun weird s*** now. It’s kind of revitalized the show. I think this is actually going to give the show legs that were getting tired if that makes sense.”
“Now I’m just like, ‘F*** it, let’s start breaking format here and there,” he added. “I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t think people were going to like it, but I think people are going to be really surprised at what we end up doing. It’s going to be great. I’m more invested and more involved and having more fun than I’ve had in a long time.”
The news comes weeks after Gatto’s exit from ‘Impractical Jokers’
The updates come weeks after Gatto’s announcement. He broke the news in a “more-serious-than-usual” Instagram post, explaining he’d split from his wife Bessy Gatto and needed time to “focus on being the best father and co-parent to our two incredible kids.” However, he looked forward to future opportunities “to create new ways to entertain you.”
The comedian has since announced several other projects, including a new screenplay.
