Make 'em laugh, make 'em laugh, make 'em laugh!

I love to laugh. In fact, it’s one of my most favorite things to do. I have actually said on more than one occasion that I won’t pay good money for something that will make me cry. “If I’m paying for entertainment, it needs to be funny. I can sit at home and cry for free.” Several of you have probably even heard me say this, live and in person. More than once. I mean, it is a mantra. With all the ups and downs that happen in real life, laughing is important! It may be the only thing that keeps you sane.

No matter how much I love to laugh, however, I’m fairly subdued when it comes to making other people laugh. Oh, I like to think that I have a biting wit (no matter what the males in my life think). But I’ve always been the sort who likes to sit in the back of the class, notice what’s going on around me and make snarky (read: hilarious) comments under my breath to whoever is lucky enough to be sitting next to me.

I’m sort of funny on a one-to-one basis. Maybe one-to-two, depending on the two.

That’s why I truly enjoy those who are able to be funny on a global level, those who put themselves out there on a grand scale to “Make ‘em laugh, make ‘em laugh, make ‘em laugh.”

Over the last few months, I have become an avid follower of the TruTV show Impractical Jokers. Without a doubt it is THE funniest show on TV.  From time to time it can be crude (it’s not all good, clean fun) BUT it is always hilarious. If you’ve seen it before, you know what I mean. If you haven’t seen it before, you are totally missing out.

The gist of the show is this… Four men who grew up together in New York (and who apparently have spent most of their formative years daring each other to do ridiculous things) have turned practical jokes into a competition and perhaps an art form.

All four men – Sal Vulcano, Joe Gatto, Brian “Q” Quinn, and James “Murr” Murray compete against each other to not be the LOSER of each individual episode. A hidden camera follows each member of this group as they perform their tasks, usually with an ear bud in their ears, while the other three jokers tell them what to say/do. If they don’t do or say what they’re told, they lose.  You do NOT want to be the loser of any particular episode or you’ll get punished – in a most embarrassing way. (One time they hooked one of the jokers up to a lie detector machine in front of the current student body of their old Catholic high school and teachers, asking embarrassing questions that only your best friends would know the answers too.) Repeat after me – you don’t want to be a loser and get punished.

I’ve seen these four work a cash register at White Castle, be awful checkout emloyees at Costco, and work as free fortune tellers on the boardwalk. I’ve seen them decipher handwriting, try to teach a foreign language (one they didn’t speak) and steal food off people’s plates at a buffet. Here are some snippets at YouTube, if you'd like to see what I mean. (Though you MAY need to watch a full episode to understand the true genius of the show.

Their hijinks aside, the laughter of these four men as they watch each other compete is more than infectious. Their bond, camaraderie and long time friendship is heartwarming. When you finish watching an episode, you’ll find yourself wishing for more and wishing for friends like these guys. (As long as it’s not YOU they’re embarrassing in public.)

Even though I am not a practical joker in ANY way, shape, or form, I cannot help but get sucked in to each and every episode of this amazingly hilarious show.  If you are in the mood for a good laugh, and I mean a laugh that knocks you off the couch, you should find an episode of Impractical Jokers and experience the merriment for yourself. After all, I could never explain properly how funny they are… you have to see it for yourself.

Are you a practical joker? Have you seen this show? What makes you laugh more than anything?

Originally posted at LadyScribes March 22, 2013.