Impractical Jokers' James ‘Murr’ Murray talks ahead of Birmingham show

The Tenderloins are playing a series of arena shows with their new show, ‘Where’s Larry?’.

The tour opened yesterday at Manchester Arena and will reach Arena Birmingham on Thursday.

The Tenderloins are a New York-based comedy troupe, whose four members – Joe Gatto, James Murray, Brian Quinn and Sal Vulcano – are the creators, executive producers, and stars of truTV’s hit series, Impractical Jokers.

Recently green-lit for its seventh season, Impractical Jokers follows The Tenderloins as they coerce one another into doing public pranks while being filmed by hidden cameras.

The Tenderloins have built a huge live show following in the USA, performing over 80 shows a year including a 3 night sold out run at New York’s legendary Radio City Music Hall.

Natives of Staten, Island, New York who met in hgh school, The Tenderloins were formed in 1999. After years of performing live improv and sketch comedy shows, The Tenderloins graduated to the web, captivating a new found audience of millions with their internet sketches before taking their hidden camera pranks to the small screen with Impractical Jokers.

Now, Impractical Jokers airs in over 70+ countries and is the #1 show on Comedy Central UK, Comedy Central India, and the #1 show in its timeslot on US cable.

Playing big gigs gives The Tenderloins the chance to let their hair down and have fun with their fans.

Co-founder James ‘Murr’ Murray said: “It’s like a stand-up comedy show. The four of us are on stage. We filmed a bunch of people for it just for the live show. It’s everything you love about the TV show but live. It’s what it’s like on set. It’s basically our friendship on display and it’s funnier than the TV show.

“You know, we came from a live comedy background, as The Tenderloins. So for us, when you film a hidden camera show, it’s a revelation because you have no idea a stunt is going to affect people. You know, we don’t actually see the response from the audience – because the audience is sitting at home on the other side of a TV screen.

“But all that changes when you perform live at a venue with thousands of people. Everyone laughs and you realise that people like what we’re doing. It’s an incredible rush. The shows are working and it’s great.”

The Tenderloins are, in essence, four regular guys who liked playing practical jokes and decided to film them. Like Dom Jolly’s Trigger Happy, the brilliant Candid Camera or Taxi Cab Confessions, the funny part is the reaction of the people being filmed. Except with The Tenderloins, it’s the four friends who are the butt of the jokes, rather than the public. They can’t believe how well things have gone.

James says: “None of us can believe it, to be honest. We’re regular guys who didn’t get on TV until we were in our mid-30s. We tell the story on stage that ten years ago we did a show in Manhattan and two people came to see us. This year, we’re playing Madison square garden and selling out five nights at the O2.”

The Tenderloins started out in comedy clubs and gradually moved up through theatres to arenas. The boys had a masterplan – but were as amazed as anyone when their dreams came true. “It was kinda planned. We have ideas for things we’d like to do. We’d love to do an Impractical Jokers movie one day.

“Coming back to the UK twice this year is really special for us. The tour in January was the biggest shows and the fan base is so solid. Now we’re playing even bigger venues; it’s mushroomed.”