in Editor, Interviews, TV
byJoey Magidson2 Comments
One of my favorite people in show business is Brian Quinn. Known as Q on both the hit show Impractical Jokers and the long-running podcast Tell ’em Steve-Dave that he does with friends Walter Flanagan and Bryan Johnson, he makes me laugh as consistently as anyone. On the television show, Q teams with James Murray and Sal Vulcano for one of the most purely enjoyable experiences you can have. High art? No. Hilarious TV? Absolutely. On the podcast, he riffs with Walt and and Bry about everything under the sun. A part of my favorite podcast and one of my favorite shows? Yeah, Q has my comedy number. With the Jokers going out on tour with their live set this week, I recently hopped on Zoom for a nice long discussion with the man. I previously have interviewed Walt (here) and Sal (here), but today, it’s Quinn’s turn!
When I first wrote about Impractical Jokers (here), it was in regards to its, believe it or not, importance in the world. As you’ll see in the conversation, Q does actually think there’s something to my theory. Sal was, too, so unsurprisingly the IJ cast buys into it. I think it’s as true today as ever, especially given the show’s longevity. Between the show, the live tour, the various spinoffs, and more, the Jokers do provide an essential entertainment service.
This is some of what I had to say aboutImpractical Jokersand its unique importance in the aforementioned article a few years ago:
For anyone who doesn’t know,Impractical Jokersis the hit TruTV series that mixes hidden camera and joke show formats for something a bit unique and very funny. Lifelong friends from Staten Island,James Murray,Brian “Q” Quinn, andSal Vulcano, compete to embarrass each other, with the almost arbitrary loser of each episode punished in some way. It’s very simple, but boy does it work. Defying easy description, it just sets out to entertain, through the friendship and comedic skills of the guys, as well as the simplicity of the premise and often insanity that it allows for. It even led toImpractical Jokers: The Movie, a really funny film that mixed narrative elements with elevated show segments to form something great. It was a hit, though coming right before the COVID lockdowns kept it from being as big a smash as it otherwise would have been.
Up until this season, it has been a foursome, though Joe Gatto’s departure to spend more time with his family has led to a slightly different format this time around. The preview episode for this impending new season showcases how similar much of it is, but how the swerve has allowed Murray, Quinn, and Vulcano to experiment in new ways. Much like theImpractical Jokersspinoff shows have done so (which I loved), withDinner Partybeing a real standout, this is still what you love, just ever so slightly tinkered with.
So, why are they so important? Nothing does a better job to distract you from the pain and realities of the world. For a half hour, these guys, who are real friends, allow you to smile and laugh at their antics, just like real friends do. They’re always laughing with each other, as opposed to at each other, so it’s never mean-spirited, either. It’s pure in that way. They take the unique personality traits that make Murr, Q, and Sal the people they are and utilize them for comedy. Truly, it’s much like what you would do, hanging out with friends, just minus the competition element.
Below, you can see my conversation with Quinn. We actually spoke for about a half hour prior to actually recording, so we almost pick up the chat in medias res. Q was incredibly generous with his time, as you’ll find out, so we veered through a bunch of topics, from Impractical Jokers to Tell ’em Steve-Dave, to just dealing with fame in general. I had a blast, to be sure, and I think he enjoyed himself as well. If you’re a fan of his, this is like being on TESD or hanging out with the IJ team, so hopefully that vibe comes through. The show is a staple of TruTV, is moving to TBS for new episodes soon, and the trio is about to go on tour, so it’s high times for the Impractical Jokers…
A complete list of dates for the tour and tickets are on-sale now rightHERE for anyone interested in seeing Q perform with Murr and Sal!
Here now is my interview with Impractical Jokers co-star and Tell ’em Steve-Dave co-host Brian Quinn. Enjoy:
Brian Quinn and the Impractical Jokers begin theirDRIVE DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE Tour onMarch 23rdinHollywood, FL and the tour runs throughAugust 25th. Tickets are available here!
