Impractical Jokers Episodes Are Being Pulled From Streaming Sites. Here's Why
Since 2011, the comedy troupe dubbed the Tenderloins have been making viewers crack up thanks to their outrageous public pranks on "Impractical Jokers." Made up of funny guys Brian "Q" Quinn, Sal Vulcano, Joe Gatto, and James "Murr" Murray, the series follows the four best friends around New York City as they pull pranks on unsuspecting victims. Using hidden cameras, each episode is typically set up as a series of challenges for each member to complete with the help of the other three speaking through an earpiece. Then, whoever loses the most challenges in each episode is forced to complete a "punishment" challenge, usually something incredibly embarrassing.
The TruTV series has no doubt produced a ton of laughs over the years, but one recent change to the show may have fans fuming – Gatto recently decided to leave "Impractical Jokers" due to personal reasons. "Alongside my friends, I've devoted a decade of my life to building this franchise and couldn't be prouder of what has been accomplished," he explained in an Instagram post. "However, due to some issues in my personal life, I have to step away." Now, it appears fans are finding out that several episodes featuring Gatto have been seemingly wiped from the internet.
Networks could have pulled Impractical Jokers episodes because of its subject matter
Toward the end of 2021, Joe Gatto surprised fans with his decision to step away from "Impractical Jokers." Months later, fans were shocked to see that several episodes of the comedy series were seemingly wiped from HBO Max and TruTV. More specifically, Episodes 9 and 24 from Season 4, Episode 12 from Season 7, and Episodes 16 and 25 from Season 8 are among those that were apparently removed. Even more shocking is that clips from the pulled episodes have been removed from YouTube as well.
So what could explain the sudden disappearance of these episodes? It probably has something to do with what's actually going on in them. It would seem the pulled episodes feature Gatto doing some kind of sexually implicit and very awkward prank. For instance, the Season 7 episode titled "Bull Shiatsu" has Gatto in disguise as a massage chair while mall-goers sit on him for an unexpectedly handsy massage, all for the episode's form of punishment. Additionally, Episode 9 of Season 24, titled "The Dream Crusher," has Gatto attempting to kiss a stranger at a mall food court, per Paste Magazine.
All in all, Gatto's sudden departure and the removal of several episodes seem a bit suspicious, to say the least.