For stars of a show whose core values in its seven-year run have been fun, friendship and, of course, laughter, it seems only natural that Impractical Jokers’ Sal Vulcano, Joe Gatto, James “Murr” Murray and Brian “Q” Quinn would be a perfect fit for a New Year’s Eve celebration. The four comedians will be bringing their “Santiago Sent Us” comedy tour to NYCB Live, home of Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, on Sunday, Dec. 31, and according to Vulcano, the show and tour will be a welcome opportunity for the TV stars to return to their roots in live performing.
“First of all, I’m an Islanders fan. This is our first time doing the Coliseum. I don’t think we’ve ever done a New Year’s show either, so it’s kind of a double first for us. We’ve been performing together for 18 years. We started out that way, on stage [performing live],” said Vulcano, who went on to reflect on how TV compares to the stage. “It’s two completely different emotions, but both are completely fun. It’s fun to see people watch and react to us [on stage], because it’s immediate gratification.”
All four comedians are natives of Staten Island, and began their careers performing improv in their comedy troupe, The Tenderloins. The tour’s title, which stems from a catchphrase from an early episode of Impractical Jokers, is no throwaway—performances are tailored specifically to fans of the popular truTV series, of which there are many. Because of the jokers’ affable, endearing brand of humor, as well as their ties to New York, Vulcano is expecting a hero’s welcome at the Coliseum.
“It’s not just a regular comedy show. It’s not standup. It’s all four of us on stage with mics, telling stories. It’s a different vibe, almost like a concert. Before we get on, fans are chanting lines from the show. They’re dressed as us. It’s almost a rock comedy show,” said Vulcano. “The big request from people is that they want to hang out with us. So we try to win everyone over by the end of the night, so they feel like our friends.”
As for the reason the comics’ personalities have struck a chord with audiences, Vulcano points to the close-knit bond he and his costars share, which he believes elevates Impractical Jokers from a mere hidden-camera prank show to something greater.
“We’ve been friends since 1990. So that’s a secret [to our success]. People see that and already feel a kinship, like they know us. Because it really is us—what you see on the show is who we are,” Vulcano said. “It’s not even a prank show—that’s just what everyone calls it. It’s a show about friendship. The more you watch it, the more you see that that’s what it’s about.”
The stars of Impractical Jokers will be performing at NYCB Live, home of Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, on Sunday, Dec. 31, at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, visit www.nycblive.com/events/detail/impractical-jokers-2017.
