For over a decade, Impractical Jokers has turned everyday situations into painfully funny moments. Now, James Murray is bringing that same energy to Fairfield’s campus. Whether you’ve been watching since the early seasons or just know the show from viral clips on TikTok or Instagram, there’s no better time to revisit the moments that made Murr and the rest of the Jokers unforgettable.
On the bottom of the leaderboard is “Sucks for You” (Season 8, Episode 14), and honestly the title says it all. In the episode, Murr is forced to pose as a scientist and deliver a speech at a real tech conference. The catch is that his microphone has two tubes attached to it. One is filled with helium, making his voice high-pitched, and the other is filled with sulfur hexafluoride, deepening his voice. As he is delivering the speech, the Jokers tell him when to inhale at random moments and it determines whether he sounds like Darth Vader or Elmo. The best part is that the audience has no idea what is happening and are forced to sit there confused and watch this “scientist” deliver his speech, fluctuating his voice every few words. The audience nods along politely like everything is completely normal. None of it is. That is exactly why it is one of the greatest punishments in the history of the show.
Coming in at number two, my personal favorite, is “Out of Left Field” (Season 7, Episode 21), an incredibly funny episode that features one of the show’s most iconic punishments. Sal Vulcano is forced to take on the alter ego “Tanka Jahari” when a pizza delivery man shows up with an entire pie for him in a waiting room full of people. Sal accepts the pizza, drops it on the floor, picks it up, and eats it anyway, all while clinging to his dignity with the now-legendary line: “I am Tanka Jahari, but I would never order a whole pizza for myself.” Joe Gatto — who visited campus a few years ago — is the one who destroys him, by simply leaning over and whispering, ‘It’s fine, Tanka.’ That one line made Sal break character completely. The bit is so beautifully unhinged that it went viral in 2024, a full six years after it aired, and is still popular now in 2026, especially on TikTok. People continue to recreate the moment with the audio and post it online just for the laugh. The man cannot escape Tanka Jahari. Frankly, none of us can.
Rounding out the list at number one is “Jokers Playhouse” (Season 3, Episode 13), and if you have never seen this episode, please fix that immediately! The premise is simple: one Joker sits across from a stranger in a totally normal interview, while the other three hide behind a glass wall that can turn see-through at any moment. The second the glass illuminates, the three Jokers begin to do things that would make even a statue crack a smile in order to make the other laugh in the interview. The Joker in the interview is forced to watch the performance and pretend nothing is happening. The result is one of Impractical Jokers’ most memorable TV moments: watching someone fight with every fiber of their being to keep a straight face and completely fail every time never gets old. It is impossible not to lose it and impossible not to watch.
Whether you are a diehard fan who has seen every episode or someone who only knows Tanka Jahari from a TikTok that blessed your feed at 2 a.m., one thing is certain. James Murray is coming to Fairfield University, and he is bringing the same hysterical, unhinged, deeply unserious energy that has made millions of people laugh for over a decade. Do yourself a favor and watch these episodes before he arrives. And if you see Murr walking around campus, just remember— this is a man who has been pushed out of a plane, thrown into a pool by an Olympic Judo champion, permanently tattooed with a skydiving ferret, and legally married off to his best friend’s sister in front of a live audience. He survived all of it. Your selfie request is nothing.
Welcome to Fairfield, Murr. You’ve reached Stag status!