Episode #8 Review:
(Original Airdate: January 26, 2012)
SPOILERS
It’s hard enough to play favorite Jokers, let alone choose favorite episodes, but something tells me this last episode of Impractical Jokers could be one of the best thus far. Whether you’re a member of Team Joe, Team Murray, Team Q or Team Sal, there was something unforgettable for us all. (Confession: I’m pretty sure I’m a member of every team.)
If you’ve watched the show, you’ll understand that a written review can only go so far with this show. You really just have to watch the episode. But, still, we shall try to provide some highlights for those who missed it and have yet to catch it On Demand.
The first challenge involved a bakery – so right there, we knew it’d be a good one. Behind the counter, the Jokers had to do as they were told which meant everything from Q covering his face in powdered sugar to Sal become the resident tart whisperer.
But the next challenge seemed to showcase what we love best about each Joker when they each had to facilitate a focus group and ask every question written for them. There was Murray who was trying so hard not to laugh at the situation and the questions that he ended up speed reading them, Joe proving himself the master of keeping a straight face – something only he could manage while discussing “Ray-Ray’s needs,” Q who began to finally show cracks in his seemingly undefeatable armor when we actual failed the challenge (in a suit and all!) and Sal who was just being Sal… which, of course, means he lost, too, due to his tendency to be embarrassed.
In the third challenge, Murray displayed his own talent for whispering… in a man’s ear, Q once again showed off his massage skills, Sal had an incident in the back that brought his germaphobia to the forefront and Joe kept on the perpetual hunt for Larry! We’ll find you one day, Larry!
The fourth challenge seemed the most difficult in that these four funny-men would have to lead a work-out class and not have anyone walk out on them. Some of them did teach us a few new moves like this thing called blinking (thanks, Sal!) and Joe’s knee twisting Frankenbeans, but for Q, he ended up watching his students and mimicking them. But poor James got the worst of it with his class full of broadway dancers.
Going into this episode, I thought it would go one of two ways: either Q would finally get his come-uppance and lose the whole thing or the show would break where it started – with Sal losing big. Let’s just say it was a close call on which prediction would win out!
But it was Q that was the ultimate loser – failing every single challenge! We have to admit, though, it was nice to see him sweat and laugh at what he had gotten himself into. We love Q, but we’ve been waiting for this losing moment.
With Joe, Murray and Sal being no stranger to the loser’s challenge, it’s no surprise they come up with something as inventive and embarrassing as they did for Q, who had to present his collection of photographs to a crowd at an upscale art gallery. As Sal would say, “Yikers!”
Q’s collection, “Me, Myself and I (My Journey to Self-Discovery),” included pictures he had never seen before, like photoshopped pictures of him stepping on Chinese children and more. He laughed at every picture reveal… and so did we. In fact, the other Jokers were laughing so hard they weren’t making any noise! Clearly they were excited at the fact that Q lost, too.
Overall, this episode was filled with the non-stop laughter we have grown to love and expect from this fantastic new series over the past month. What did you think? Who’s team are you on? Did you have a favorite moment?
This episode was, unfortunately, the last one before a mini-break of Thursday night repeats, but with new episodes returning February 16, we can’t help but love the Jokers even more for going on the shortest TV break possible.
With the help of reruns of the first 8 episodes and next week’s “Best Of” episode, where the Jokers will pick their favorite moments and provide priceless commentary, the time will fly almost as quickly as that baked good flew out of Sal’s hands tonight in the bakery.
(And if you haven’t gotten the chance to watch all the episodes, this short break is the perfect time for you to catch up! It’s worth going back for, we promise!)
New Episodes of Impractical Jokers Return
Thursday, February 16 at 10 PM on truTV.
