Post by Supreme Marvel on Jan 7, 2012 13:45:23 GMT -5
Synopsis: Four friends will compete in awkward and outrageous hidden-camera hijinks. At the end of each episode, the losing competitor will have to attempt a mortifying challenge.
Genre: Reality
Starring: Brian Quinn, James Murray, Joe Gatto and Sal Vulcano
Camera setup: Hidden Camera
Running time: Around 22 minutes
Reception
Impractical Jokers has been generally well-received by critics, with Linda Stasi of the New York Post calling it "possibly the funniest, most ridiculous show I’ve seen in years."
While it has been compared to earlier hit prank shows such as Candid Camera and Jackass, critics have offered praise for its unique twist on the genre, wherein the stars' reactions to the pranks are often equally as humorous as those of the public strangers. Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times stated that "the gag pays off twice: once in the reaction of the unsuspecting passer-by, once in the discomfort of the fellow doing the asking." He later wrote that the cast-members' occasional integrity [kept] these four clowns a little bit lovable." Dean Robbins of The Daily Page echoed this sentiment, stating that "the friends are jovial rather than Jackass-obnoxious, even rejecting some dares as too offensive."
The series has also been well received by audiences, garnering an average rating of 8.1/10 from 129 users on IMDb and 1.5 million viewers during its December 15, 2011 premier.
The review of the show by Variety's Brian Lowry was much more mixed, ending with this statement: "Nobody will ever confuse "Impractical Jokers" with high art, certainly, but as low-brow, micro-cost comedy in the context of TruTV's programming resources, it's actually quite practical—and occasionally funny".
