Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2016 September 5

= September 5 =

Impractical Jokers
I have a question about this TV show (Impractical Jokers). At this point, aren't many/most people familiar with who these guys are? And doesn't that negate the whole point of the pranks? If I saw any one (or two or three or all four) of those guys, my radar would clearly go up and I would obviously suspect some kind of prank. It's not like they are anonymous. Their faces are (and have been) out there for a long time now. So, how do they perpetuate the "prank" modus operandi? Or is the whole thing just a fake? Also, they tend to film a lot of their episodes in the same general area (New York, New Jersey). People out there don't recognize these guys? Any insights as to how this type of show works? Thanks. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 03:06, 5 September 2016 (UTC)
 * Their network is TruTV? Maybe it's not as popular as you might think. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 04:01, 5 September 2016 (UTC)


 * For comparison, The Daily Show has been running for 20 years, and they regularly have correspondents do interviews in character, with the interviewees clearly having no idea that they are dealing with a news-comedy show. (Also I have never heard of impractical jokers, or TruTV, and I watch plenty of TV. So, like Bugs says, be wary of Hasty Generalization. Also There's a sucker born every minute. Even if many or most people recognize these jokers, there's always a few people who won't, as related by XKCD: )SemanticMantis (talk) 15:53, 5 September 2016 (UTC)


 * And keep in mind that they're not likely to broadcast situations in which they are recognized. Consider Jay Leno's "Jaywalking" segments. They would only show the segments that were funny. If somebody knows the right answer, that's probably not funny, and it won't air. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 16:52, 5 September 2016 (UTC)


 * That's probably the key. They probably have to tape ten pranks to get one "usable" prank.   I assume.   Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 20:42, 5 September 2016 (UTC)


 * Further, those that recognize them will likely purposely fall for the prank so their video will get used. Consider daytime talk television, which has been shown time and time again to be full of people who will do absolutely anything to get on television. 209.149.113.4 (talk) 17:10, 7 September 2016 (UTC)


 * I live in the US, watch lots of TV, and yet have never even heard of that show. I watch broadcast TV, Netflix, and South Park over the Internet.  So, I doubt if it reaches as wide of an audience as you believe. StuRat (talk) 18:29, 8 September 2016 (UTC)


 * I think it's fairly well-known among the younger (millennial) generation of viewers. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 00:03, 11 September 2016 (UTC)

Thanks, all. Joseph A. Spadaro (talk) 00:05, 11 September 2016 (UTC)

Police motorcycle academy
Movie set and produced in Los Angles about a group of motor officer cadets. {LAPD or CHP) with shots taken on the LAPD test and training track. Made approx. 1940's or 50's.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 199.187.212.28 (talk) 18:20, 5 September 2016 (UTC)


 * Code Two ? (Here's a short clip, the original theatrical trailer, including some test and training scenes). ---Sluzzelin talk  21:02, 5 September 2016 (UTC)