COVID-19 restrictions have had a substantial impact on the television industry as many TV shows have had to postpone shooting or film content in a virtual format.

Many TV shows have had to change how they film in order to maintain a safe environment for the staff and crew. One show in particular, “Impractical Jokers,” has had to revamp their show.

The show used to be filmed in public places like the mall, parks and marketplaces. The hosts, Sal Vulcano, Joe Gatto, Brian “Q” Quinn and James “Murr” Murray, compete to embarrass each other in public with a series of hilarious and shocking dares. When the four comedians challenge each other to say or do something, they must either follow through with the dare or forfeit the competition.. The loser is punished at the end of each episode with a dare that they are forced to do, regardless of how degrading and humiliating it is.

Considering that it would be unsafe to continue filming in public settings, the show has been reinvented to be filmed from the hosts’ homes in a new format called ”Dinner Party.” The stars share stories about their friendship and talk about their personal lives, even what they eat for dinner. These episodes air every Thursday night on truTV.

There are different opinions on whether the dinner party episodes are just as funny, less entertaining or the same. Some students enjoy the new format and watch as often as they used to despite the change in content.

“I love the dinner parties just as much as the regular episodes. I like how we get to see a glimpse of their home lives,” said senior Aidan R.

Others don’t tune in as often as they dislike the new style of filming and find that the content isn’t engaging.

“It’s different because the show has a large premise of being so hilarious and doing in person things, it doesn’t feel the same,” said senior Giana L.

The “Impractical Jokers” regular format of season 9 is slated to premiere Thursday, February 4, 2021 at 10/9c on truTV.🔳