Impractical Jokers: The History Of Larry Explained
If you've ever watched an episode of "Impractical Jokers" featuring Joe Gatto, chances are you've heard him utter the name Larry during a challenge or punishment. Sometimes he yells it, while in other scenarios, he says it calmly and casually, though no matter the tone, it's almost always funny. Although, seeing as there's no one on the program with such a first name, it's fair to wonder why it became Gatto's catchphrase throughout his time on the show. Thankfully, the Impractical Jokers haven't left fans to speculate on the truth about Larry.
As it turns out, Gatto's perpetual use of the name Larry is an inside joke among the "Impractical Jokers" cast. As James "Murr" Murray explained in a video for the truTV YouTube channel, Larry is indeed a real person and a part of the program's crew. Murr describes him as one of the nicest people one could hope to meet, yet behind the scenes, they always playfully yell his name when they need him. This eventually worked its way into the show, with Larry becoming a fictional unseen character. The bit has become one of the defining elements of "Impractical Jokers" in the years since.
One could argue that it's the most recognizable, but at this point, Larry is but one of many names that has become synonymous with "Impractical Jokers" in the minds of fans.
Larry isn't the only fictional person Impractical Jokers fans have become well-acquainted with
As the legend of Joe Gatto's pal Larry grew on "Impractical Jokers," the other stars of the show came up with more fictional characters and aliases for comedic effect. One of the most well-known comes from Brian "Q" Quinn, who has taken on the "role" of Tony Gunk on several occasions. The character has professed to be a reporter, rock star, and future astronaut, to name a few of his most noteworthy titles. During the show's beloved Name Game segments, Cranjis McBasketball has become a fan favorite as well.
There's also Sal Vulcano's Prince Herb moniker, which he had no choice but to adopt. In the Season 9 episode "The Prince and Me," his punishment saw him forced to change his name to Prince Herb, but that's not all. He also had to get his ears pierced and adopt an entirely new persona as a result. That included his name going from Sal to Prince Herb on all promotional materials for the show for the duration of the season. He has also taken on the name Ja'Crispy, though this has also been used as the name of unseen one-off characters in challenges.
Even though the likes of Larry and Cranjis McBasketball don't appear in the flesh, and Ja'Crispy and Tony Gunk are just characters, they'll forever be tied to the legacy of "Impractical Jokers" just as much as Q, Sal, Joe, and Murr.