On Friday, July 19, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is hosting the iconic comedy trio Impractical Jokers, who are bringing "The DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE Tour" to the Mid-Hudson Valley.
The first episode of Impractical Jokers aired Dec. 15, 2011 — featuring James "Murr" Murray, Sal Vulcano and Brian "Q" Quinn — and the three are now rolling into their 11th season airing Thursday, July 11, just before the Bethel Woods stop. The trio have shifted to a larger platform, too, from truTV to TBS.
James "Murr" Murray revealed that you can expect to hear more about the upcoming season at the Bethel Woods show, "with some of the most outrageous moments coming up on TV this summer," he said.
Murr talks about the tour: What can fans expect?
The trio has hit the road on four national tours before, but this fifth one in particular has more crowd participation and direct interaction with the fans. Murr said this is his favorite tour the group has done thus far.
"For the first time ever in this tour, we actually punish Sal live on stage in front of the audience," he said.
Let's just say it involves electrocution shock collars on Sal, and the help of an audience member.
There's also a sing-along, which ties in the name of the tour, as well as an infamous punishment on the show in which Q was locked in a car with Muppets singing the same 30-second jingle for 11 and a half hours straight.
Murr said he ended up listening to the short song 1,300 times during the punishment, and to "further torture Q," he laughed, the audience will get to help serenade him once again during the show.
Along with increased interactions with the fans, the three also take some time to talk about their favorite moments from the show, as well as diving into some of the behind-the-scenes content together.
"We shot some hidden camera challenges just for the live show that you cannot see on TV or online, so it's a lot of fun," he said.
Murr's worst punishment on the show and his favorite celebrity guest
Murr said the worst punishment he's had to endure on the show has to be one that is still going on to this day, and will continue for another couple of years.
"I have two years to go in a 10-year punishment," he said.
The three obviously travel a lot, with their tours across America, but in general Murr said he's usually on "six flights a week."
"Every time I'm at the airport, I take out my driver's license at TSA, and my driver's license, to this day, still has no eyebrows," he said.
The punishment required him to shave his eyebrows and his hair, and the guys made him go straight to the DMV to get a new driver's license afterward.
"I look like a supervillain," he said. "I look like a see something, say something."
Consequently, he has to wait another two years for this punishment to be completed.
On another note, regarding Murr's favorite celebrity guest on the show, he immediately pointed out Joey Fatone, saying Fatone is like an honorary Impractical Joker at this point as he's been on the show so many times.
Murr said he'll be making an appearance again for the new season premiere, "and for the first time ever, we actually punish someone other than ourselves," he said. "We put him through a gauntlet of our favorite punishments from 14 years of the TV show."
Look forward to it, as Murr said it's one of the trio's favorite episodes ever in the show's history.
Murr's take on touring and what keeps him going
Each time Murr steps out on stage and feels the rush of the crowd, it makes him reinvigorated for every show.
"Performing live is my favorite part of the job by far because when you film a hidden camera show, you don't know how it's affecting people," he said.
One of Murr's most treasured parts of the job is when he catches a glimpse of how the show has affected viewers' lives for the better, and seeing the families in person — sometimes three generations — with kids who grew up watching the show alongside parents and grandparents.
"We started as a live touring comedy troupe long before television," he said. "It'll always be kind of our first love, but the TV show is what makes that all possible."
He said all three of them are still having a blast creating the show, and that's what keeps them motivated making more seasons for the people at home watching.
"We still cry laughing making the TV show, and I know that if I'm making my best friends laugh, I feel like other people will laugh too," he said.
"They're the funniest guys I know, and if they're laughing, I have to imagine that people in their homes across America are gonna be laughing too," he continued.
Purchase your tickets for "The DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE Tour" at Bethel Woods Center of the Arts at bethelwoodscenter.org, or check out impracticaljokerslive.com.
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