truTV Orders More Episodes of IMPRACTICAL JOKERS, HARDCORE PAWN: CHICAGO

By: Feb. 20, 2013
Get Access To Every Broadway Story

Unlock access to every one of the hundreds of articles published daily on BroadwayWorld by logging in with one click.




Existing user? Just click login.

truTV is getting ready to give fans of its hit series Impractical Jokers and Hardcore Pawn: Chicago more of what they love. The network has ordered 13 more episodes for the current second season of Impractical Jokers, which airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. (ET/PT). And truTV has ordered eight additional episodes of Hardcore Pawn: Chicago, which will reach its first mid-season finale on Tuesday, Feb. 26, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT).

In its second season, Impractical Jokers is averaging 1.8 million viewers (+26% compared to season 1), with 1.1 million adults 18-49 (+30%) and 606,000 men 18-49 (+21%). The show recently scored its biggest audience yet, pulling in more than 2 million viewers on Feb. 7.

Hardcore Pawn: Chicago premiered Jan. 1 with more than 2.1 million viewers to score truTV's biggest series launch ever. The show also scored truTV's biggest series debut ever in delivery of key demos, including adults 18-49 and men 18-49. To date, Hardcore Pawn: Chicago is averaging 2.1 million viewers, with 1 million adults 18-49 and 544,000 men 18-49.

Today's announcement brings the count for Impractical Jokers' second season to 28 episodes, while the count for Hardcore Pawn: Chicago's first season has climbed to 17 episodes so far.

truTV's Impractical Jokers premiered to critical acclaim in December 2011 and quickly became one of the network's biggest hits, especially among young adults. The series follows four friends - Joe, Sal, Murr and Q - as they dare one another to complete over-the-top challenges in public. Their antics are captured on hidden camera, complete with the unsuspecting public's amused, confused, or flabbergasted reactions. After each new dare, the guys are graded to determine who succeeded under pressure and who collapsed in defeat. The prankster with the lowest score at the end of that week's episode must then face a mortifying challenge with truly humiliating consequences.

In conjunction with the season 2 debut of Impractical Jokers, truTV launched a brand new mobile app for the iOS and Android platforms. With the free truTV Impractical Jokers app, fans can now take their favorite pranksters with them wherever they go. The app's many features include extensive video clips, social media connections, a special doodle pad and, in a digital first, the chance to talk directly with the guys themselves through an exclusive hotline.

Impractical Jokers is produced for truTV by NorthSouth Productions (Say Yes to the Dress, Double Divas), with Charlie DeBevoise and Mark Hickman serving as executive producers.

Hardcore Pawn: Chicago takes viewers behind the scenes at Royal Pawn Shop, "the baddest pawn shop in Chicago." One of the city's largest and oldest establishments in the pawn and gold-buying business, Royal Pawn Shop is owned by Randy and Wayne Cohen, two brothers who don't always see eye to eye... except when it comes to finding the best deals for the business.

Hardcore Pawn: Chicago is produced by Bischoff-Hervey Entertainment (See Dad Run, The Devil's Ride), with Eric Bischoff, Jason Hervey and Richard Calderon serving as executive producers.

truTV, one of cable's fastest growing brands, offers a wildly entertaining look at the real world through outrageous characters, unpredictable situations and irreverent storytelling. Currently seen in 92 million U.S. households, truTV features such popular original series as Impractical Jokers, Killer Karaoke, Hardcore Pawn, Hardcore Pawn: Chicago, Lizard Lick Towing, Storage Hunters, South Beach Tow, Full Throttle Saloon, Black Goldand World's Dumbest, as well as the upcoming Upload with Shaquille O'Neal. In addition, truTV is a partner in airing the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship. During the daytime, the channel features expert trial coverage under the name In Session.

truTV is part of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company. Turner Broadcasting creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.



Videos