They may be called the Impractical Jokers but the fun-loving trio have become increasingly practical when it comes to their busy schedules these past few years.
“It takes a lot to build the show,” Brian “Q” Quinn told the New York Post in an exclusive interview. “We’re shooting season 11 now; then, we’re shooting season 12.”
That’s not all, though.
Q — along with his comedy bandmates Sal Vulcano and James “Murr” Murray — are currently on the road hitting arenas, symphony halls, theaters, casinos and performing arts centers all over North America as part of their ongoing ‘Drive Drive Drive Tour’ named after an infamous stunt involving puppets.
That includes stops at New York’s Radio City Music Hall on May 5, Atlantic City’s Ocean Casino Resort on July 13, Bethel’s Bethel Woods Center For The Arts on July July 19, Saratoga Springs’ Saratoga Performing Arts Center on July 20 and Syracuse’s Empower FCU Amphitheater on Aug. 23 for the Staten Island natives.
Due to their Herculean workload, they may be retiring the live show for awhile.
“When this leg of the tour ends, I’m comfortable saying it will be years before you see us back on stage again,” Q explained. “It’s not a farewell tour because I’m sure we’ll be on stage again someday but if you want to see us together, this is the tour to come see.”
Even if they may be nearing the end of their touring lives for the time being, you won’t find a hint of melancholy onstage from the merry pranksters.
“Every night is fun,” Q smiled.
“We tell jokes and play videos we can’t show on television. Plus, this show (is) more interactive than the ones we had in the past.”
While Q couldn’t spill all the details, he did tease that the audience participation involves punishing Sal on stage.
“It’s a shocking punishment and we let a fan operate the buttons of pain. It’s the highlight of the show. Everybody’s crying laughing. Sal’s almost having a heart attack.”
If you want to get in on the fun — you could literally be part of the show — tickets are available for all 23 upcoming shows.
Need more details?
Below, you’ll find a practical breakdown of everything you need to know and more about the Impractical Jokers’ 2024 ‘Drive Drive Drive Tour.’
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Impractical Jokers 2024 tour schedule
A complete calendar including all tour dates, venues and links to buy tickets can be found here:
Impractical Jokers Radio City history
The group has played the historic venue “six or seven times” according to Q.
Nothing made quite an impression like their first time at Radio City, though.
“It’s a union run venue and they take it very seriously,” he said. “You’re not allowed to step onstage if it’s not showtime. So, the first time we played Radio City, we weren’t even allowed to go on the stage and look.”
“The first time I saw Radio City from that perspective was when we came out. It was like two minutes of us just gawking and the audience applauding. There were tears in our eyes. It was pretty wild. That doesn’t happen a lot.”
Impractical Jokers celebrity stories
Over the years, Q has had quite a few run-ins with big names.
“One time, J.K. Simmons’ wife and son came to one of our shows,” Q noted. “They sat in the front row. She’s very pretty and I made a comment about how pretty she was. Nothing disrespectful or anything like that.”
Cut to the “Spider-Man” premiere.
“I felt a presence over my shoulder. I turned around. J.K. was growling at me going, ‘I heard you called my wife pretty!’ When a guy you’ve been a fan of for years starts busting your chops like that, it’s pretty fun.”
When we asked about his favorite memory from the show, Quinn didn’t hesitate to answer.
“Every time I think about it, I still get excited,” he smiled.
“They did a punishment where Bruce Campbell came in. He basically put me through the plot of the first ‘Evil Dead’ movie. I was filthy, covered in blood. They broke real plates over my head and put tarantulas on me. That didn’t even make the final cut.”
Other standouts include Brooke Shields (“her capacity for comedy is unbelievable”), Post Malone (“the nicest guy around) and John Mayer (“we were only supposed to have do him one day but he wanted to do a full episode”).
There hasn’t been a dud in the bunch though, according to Q.
“Everybody who’s come on has been awesome,” he told us. “We even had the Alf puppet on!”
About “Drive Drive Drive”
For those not in the know, the tour is named after a classic Q punishment.
“We let the fans name this tour ‘Drive Drive Drive,'” Quinn recalled. This came from an episode where he drove around Manhattan with puppets who sang a 30-second song over and over for 12 hours.
“It was insane and it was real,” he was quick to tell us. “There was no time trickery. Now I bring the puppets on stage sometimes.”
You van see the infamous video below.
Comedians on tour in 2024
Looking for more laughs in your life?
Here are five comics with similar sensibilities you won’t want to miss this year.
Who else is out and about? Take a look at our list of the 107 biggest comedians on tour in 2024 here to find out.
