The Most Cringe-Worthy Impractical Jokers Punishment According To Fans

Given the fact that the entire premise of "Impractical Jokers" involves the four titular "jokers" competing to see who can embarrass each other the most, it only seems natural that the show would have more than its fair share of cringeworthy moments. In each episode, Sal Vulcano, James "Murr" Murray, Brian "Q" Quinn, and Joe Gatto perform a series of improvisational pranks in public. The goal of the group's antics is usually a competition for who can get the best reactions and, most entertainingly, who can complete their performance without breaking into fits of laughter.

Of course, on a series like this, there are plenty of purposefully uncomfortable moments in any given episode. However, the funniest moments of many episodes are often saved for last in the form of the much-dreaded punishments. Throughout each episode, the jokers vote on who gave the best and worst performances. In the end, whoever is voted worst is forced to undergo that episode's punishment — a challenge that is often incredibly humiliating, dangerous, or just downright gross.

After 10 seasons on the air, these jokers have endured plenty of cringe-worthy punishments, but fans seem to agree that one specific punishment is the worst prank the team has ever pulled.

In Season 8, Episode 12 ("The Show Stopper"), the episode-ending punishment sees Q board the studio tour at the Universal Studios backlot (via YouTube). Instead of enjoying the ride, however, Q is forced to pull the emergency brake whenever the other jokers tell him. By the end of his tour, Q brings the bus to an abrupt halt a whole three times for no reason whatsoever. 

As you can probably guess, this is much to the chagrin of the other passengers and families, many of whom glare at Q with disgust. In fact, one passenger actually stands up and yells at Q, who promptly pulls the emergency brake once more. Q's torment isn't brought to an end until he is physically removed from the bus, prompting cheers from other theme park patrons.

According to fans on Reddit, this specific punishment is so cringeworthy that some viewers can't even watch it all the way through. "I watched it the first time but haven't been able to sit through it since," wrote u/tmzand. "This is the one I skip on my rewatches," echoed u/AFishNamedFreddie. "It's just too painful."

Other users chimed in to express their admiration for Q in completing the punishment itself. "I honestly would have to quit the show instead of doing that," u/sandyclaus30 said. "He was really brave!" Another user noted that the punishment has changed their view of the ride itself. "Every time I take the tram at Universal, I think of Q's punishment and it makes me cringe," wrote u/Swimming-Chicken-424.