James “Murr” Murray is a comedian, writer, and executive producer best known for his work on the reality show Impractical Jokers, where he and his friends take dares to the next level with absurd hidden camera pranks and antics.
Murray, a 1998 graduate of Georgetown University, spoke with us about his new interactive stand-up comedy show that he’s currently taking on tour. He’ll be stopping by Capital One Hall December 15.
What inspired you to go on a solo tour? What can people expect to see?
If you’re a fan of Impractical Jokers, you’ll love my live comedy show. I tell stories from my life and from the TV show. I shot a bunch of hidden camera challenges for the live show you can’t see anywhere else, just like the TV show. The coolest part of my solo show is that we play Impractical Jokers live at the end of the show, meaning I choose someone from the audience, put an earpiece in their ear, and we watch on screen as I send them out in the streets of Tysons Corner, and they’ve got to do and say what I tell them to. It’s like watching the TV show happen live. It’s wild.
Can you give us a preview of some of the jokes you have planned for the show?
I tell stories from what it’s been like doing the TV show for 13 years. I talk about our [fellow cast members Brian “Q” Quinn, Joe Gatto, and Sal Vulcano, who are longtime friends with Murray] friendship from the show. Another game I play is this giant dose of audience directivity. I get three volunteers from the audience who are willing to lend me their iPhones, and then with their permission, I start texting people from their phone on their behalf. We inevitably will FaceTime with the people. Their reactions are crazy when people pick up and it’s me after receiving crazy texts.
Do you have a favorite episode or prank you participated in on Impractical Jokers?
When I fly to DC, at the airport I’m going to show my driver’s license, which to this day has no eyebrows in it because the guys shaved my eyebrows in an episode and then made me get a new license. It’s a 10-year punishment. So, I look like I look like a super villain in my driver’s license. TSA is always like “What the f***?”
What are some future projects you’re working on?
The guys and I are back on tour. We have shows all throughout the fall and next year as well as the Impractical Jokers tour. We go back to filming the TV show in January, so you’re stuck with us for a few more years on TV, unfortunately. I’ve got a brand-new book that just came out called Area 51 Interns: Time Chasers. It’s a children’s book series about a group of kids that land a summer internship at Area 51. Every book, something goes haywire and it’s up to the kids to save the day. This is the third book in the series.
Do you have any favorite places to visit in DC or Northern Virginia?
My whole family still lives in Virginia. I’ve been to Tysons Corner a billion times in my life. Red, Hot, & Blue is my favorite barbecue place in Virginia. You’ll better be damn sure you’ll see me there before the Tysons show!
Feature image by Jack Morgan
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