‘Impractical Jokers’ Star Joe Gatto Announces New Project Amid Departure From truTV Series
Joe Gatto is staying busy following his exit from Impractical Jokers, the hit truTV series that followed Gatto and his high school best friends James “Murr” Murray, Brian “Q” Quinn, and Sal Vulcano playing pranks on one another in public. The comedian announced his departure from the TV show in December of 2021 after nine hilarious seasons. But Gatto has more things in store for his fans, announcing a new project in February.
Joe Gatto unveiled a ‘fun’ new project
Taking to his Instagram page, Gatto announced he’d started working on a screenplay. “Writing this new screenplay has been so much fun,” he wrote along with a photo of a typewriter-looking keyboard. “It still blows me away how much I love the art of storytelling. It returns me to my childhood when I was 14 years old, had no friends and wrote short stories alone in my room.”
“When they were complete, my parents would read them and let me know what they thought,” he continued. “And my favorite thing was they would tell me honestly what they thought. I remember my dad reading one and saying to me, ‘It’s just OK compared to your other ones.’ They’d challenge me. It forced me to challenge myself and not be lazy when it came to telling a story. Thanks Dad.”
Although the project is in the early stages of development, fans were still excited to learn they would get new projects from Gatto. “That’s fantastic. 👏,” wrote actor Danica McKellar. “Can’t wait to hear about this screenplay 🔥,” read another comment.
The project comes after Joe Gatto’s exit from ‘Impractical Jokers’
The project appears to be one of the first since Gatto stepped away from Impractical Jokers. The funnyman announced his exit in a “more-serious-than-usual” Instagram post, citing personal issues.
“I just wanted to let you all know that I will no longer be involved with Impractical Jokers,” he wrote in the post. “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. However, due to some issues in my personal life, I have to step away.”
Gatto noted he had separated from his wife Bessy Gatto and would be taking time off “to focus on being the best father and co-parent to our two incredible kids.” But he looked forward to future opportunities “to create new ways to entertain you.”
His co-stars reacted to his exit in a joint statement, in which they also confirmed Impractical Jokers would continue. Production on Impractical Jokers Season 10 was scheduled to begin in January, they said.
Expect changes on the show
In an interview, Q opened up about what Impractical Jokers would look like without Gatto. Gatto was such a big part of the show that Q was initially unsure of whether it should continue. But he and his co-stars ultimately decided to do it for their fans, he said.
“The show, it’s gonna be a bit weirder, the show going forward,” Q noted on the podcast on Tell ’em Steve-Dave!, hosted by him and Walt Flanagan and Bryan Johnson of Comic Book Men. “I’m able to get a little bit more of my s*** [in] … I am getting in some like fun weird s*** now. It’s kind of revitalized the show. I think this is actually going to give the show legs that were getting tired if that makes sense.”
“I’m just like, ‘F*** it, let’s start breaking format here and there,” Q continued. “I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t think people were going to like it, but I think people are going to be really surprised at what we end up doing. It’s going to be great. I’m more invested and more involved and having more fun than I’ve had in a long time.”
