The first half of season 9 (which had Joe still) was also filmed during the pandemic. And the lighting and filming didn't look as low budget as these new ones do. I still like the show. But it's not the same show. And visually it just looks different. If that isn't something you notice, cool. Wish I didn't notice as much as I do.

The show definitely feels off, though there's a key element missing (Joe) and that brings close attention to any differences.

We started last Thursday's episode but fell asleep five minutes in. It's been four days and we haven't even thought about finishing it. That would have never happened with the old format.

Ep 2 was a little funnier but most of the funny was the deleted scenes of Sal’s punishment.

Ep 3 was just bad.
Riggle might be the least funniest person on tv. Except for maybe Holy Moley.
The beginning of season 9 seemed to be filmed in a Covid environment was much better implemented then this part of the season has been.

Everyone except for the opening bit seems in on the joke and staged with actors.
The stuff with Riggle was terrible. Don’t look in the camera?

Sure they miss having Gatto but not having real outside world people to interact with is the killer of this show.

Hopefully by next season they are able to get outside and film with real people again as of now everything seems scripted.

The Riggle stuff was awful, -though it's what they gave him to do. Not that I want to see Murr's ass, but that big blur just killed the punishment.
I was watching some of the 5000 surrounding episodes and I really miss the fun they used to have with the public in grocery stores and malls. That's definitely missing.
Apparently the IJ team has a survey out there and they're looking for detailed opinions on how this season is working. A friend of mine filled it out but didn't give me a link.

I will say I loved this week's punishment. I laughed so hard at the visual of Murr basically naked bouncing up and down on that saddle thing.

But it seems more than anything Joe was an editor of bad ideas. I'm going to go out on a limb and say he was the one that stopped these horrible skits they've been doing from being a part of the concept. The Riggle bit the beginning and the don't look at the camera one just weren't funny. It just eats up time and messes with the flow of the show. It's kind of starting to trend from a hidden camera game show into being a Mad TV / SNL / Kids In The Hall wanna be that also has hidden camera challenges. I don't think that part has anything to do with the pandemic. I get the sense Sal & Q especially love the skits and have been pushing for them for awhile.

The Murr bit wasn’t funny even a little bit.
I think it was Q who said they’ve never seen Murr like this before I think meaning almost naked.
There was another punishment where he was completely naked for an art class.

Another thing I noticed was what sounded like a ton of adr especially during the punishment.
There was lots of people chattering but we never actually saw the people chattering.

Also has there only been one bit and then the punishment in these episodes not including the dumb scripted stuff with the D list celebs?

While we still don't care for the superfluous guest segments since they eliminate on of the challenges, we've found the show to still be pretty funny. We were dying from Murr's murder mystery punishment. I don't know why they just didn't get Joey Fatone to step in for Joe and just keep the same show formula. The guest bits are just too forced and don't really serve a purpose.

Well Gatto will be on TV tonight - although it's a repeat. The Gatto vs Murray "The $100000 Pyramid" episode is scheduled to be shown on ABC tonight from 10:00 pm ET to 11:00 pm ET.

Thanks for the head's up, must've missed that one when it aired.

Yeah, it looks like they only bring them in for one day of shooting. They film whatever the skits are each week while the punishments are being setup, then the punishment. Which is not how the celebrity involved was sold on the commercials leading up to it. They heavily leaned into the celebrity guest being the 4th in challenges.

But I guess not really practical knowing they film challenges out of order and across multiple shooting days.

This is the impression I get. After Joe departed I read a lot of what the other three guys were saying about how this will allow them more creative freedom and the ability to do more of what they want. So far it seems like there was very good reasons not to let them have more control. If they were going to add anything to the program, the only thing I would want is to see more reactions from people after they're told they're on a tv show. These bits are pointless and take up too much time. The "celebrities" don't add a thing to the show, and they still don't have a four man team since they don't participate in the challenges.

https://talk-is-jericho.simplecast.c...ciety-s2n7gTGL
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/...ho/id767016946
https://open.spotify.com/show/7sn7uKfSg9q9fj7RaFkPck

Sal Vulcano and Brian “Q” Quinn from the Impractical Jokers return to talk about Chris Jericho’s special guest spot on this Thursday’s (July 7, 2022) episode of Impractical Jokers on TruTV and how one “joke” almost resulted in hypothermia for Q. The duo relives some of their funniest, worst, and most embarrassing pranks on the show, including pulling emergency stops on the Universal Studios tram tour and getting awful tattoos. They also discuss the departure of their childhood friend and longtime partner, Joe Gatto, and how they’re able to continue pulling stunts and pranks on an unsuspecting public despite being ten years in and more easily recognizable!

Thanks for the link, -I'm listening now. Lots of information that was new to me. I had assumed they got some kind of residuals. Also, some interesting stuff about their relationship with TruTV and what happened withThe Misery Index.

Sal Vul-cane-oh
😆

^^I'm sure it's answered in the podcast, but I heard awhile back that they're considered a reality show and don't get residuals.

Yeah they said unscripted.
No money for the reruns.

Third episode was actually really good and funny. Plus it felt like a regular IJ episode.

Current season has been better but if the show continues beyond this one they really need to add a permanent 4th person.

The guests for the most part aren’t working for me.
Post Malone was an exception.

will Joe never come back?

Doesn’t look like it.

Better the first go 'round without Joe. Glad to see them get back to the more public bits, but only 2 and a punishment? I do like how the guests are being handled this time, less clunky without those forced bits from last season. I also agree, they need a permanent 4th. Oh, the latest episode that was all behind the scenes, it they aren't going to go back to 3 bits and a punishment, then add in those "practice" bits just for fun.

Almost 2 years since a comment.
Theyre on to what is called season 11 now but it just feels like they have a bunch of bits already in the can that they are dribbling out for 3 or 4 weeks then nothing for a month.

Still seriously missing Joe but at least they stopped with the stunt celebrity guests.
While it's close to what it was with Joe it still isn't quite as funny and the bits just don't feel organic like before.

Also they still aren't doing as many challenges. It's pretty much only 2 and that it.

And I think they've run out of funny punishments.
Just aren't great.


HBO max now has 2 seasons of the Australian Version of the show.
It's about 90% the same bits as the U.S. version and some of it is really funny but those guys just don't have the charm as The Origionals.

Yeah the celebrity episodes are rough. If they're in on the jokes/challenges then it's decent, but it seems most just wanted to hang out and shoot the shit. Every once in awhile you can tell they're a fan of the show and "get it." Kim Fields punishing Q at the mall comes to mind. That was pretty damn funny.

The fewer challenges is a bummer too. Joe leaving just kinda threw their groove off.

I was watching the new episode the other night and was surprised to see an ad for Joe's stand-up tour coming to a local venue.