How the Impractical Jokers knew they had a hit show on their hands

The “Impractical Jokers” are having a moment. The popular foursome, famous for their hidden-camera hijinks, recently celebrated their 200th episode in Season 8 on TruTv, just a few weeks shy of the release of “Impractical Jokers: The Movie.” And, if dominating screens big and small weren’t enough, throw in an annual cruise, a game show that’s just been picked up for its second season, and a 30-plus-city summer tour, dubbed “The Scoopski Potatoes Tour.” By all accounts, it’s a story rooted in success. But, if you listen to them tell it, it’s a journey marked by almost as many challenges as wins. The group recently sat down for our inaugural episode of “Eureka!,” a show that takes a look at the lightbulb moments that give rise to innovation, game-changing philosophies and big ideas. For Joe Gatto, James “Murr” Murray, Brian “Q” Quinn and Sal Vulcano, the start of “Impractical Jokers” was less a product of sudden enlightenment and more the fruits of lifelong bond that began in high school. Reveals Murray: “We learned from 11 years of failure that directly led to creating a show that put our strengths forward … which was putting our friendship on display.” Vulcano highlighted a key as “having the faith, the good fortune, the luck and opportunity meeting preparedness. I think it's a one-in-a-billion chance … then we figured out how not to go broke after winning the lottery.” In this episode of “Eureka,” they talk through their five failed pilots, their perseverance and ultimately returning to what worked best: their friendship and being themselves.

How the Impractical Jokers knew they had a hit show on their hands

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