Joe’s Exit From Impractical Jokers Will Leave You Surprised

Joe Gatto is most known for his comedic talents on Impractical Jokers, but after years of entertaining viewers, the prankster has officially departed the show. On New Year’s Eve in 2021, Gatto announced his departure from the series. The announcement, which followed his divorce from Bessy Gatto, did not come as a big surprise.

Why Did Joe Leave Impractical Jokers?

Joe’s departure from Impractical Jokers left a void in the iconic lineup, leaving fans wondering what happened to him. The hidden camera reality show follows the members of The Tenderloins, a comedy company that challenges one another to put themselves in embarrassing situations for the sake of entertainment. The sitcom was an instant sensation on TruTV and has now grown into a legitimate franchise, with spinoffs such as Inside Jokes and even a feature film. The show’s popularity is largely due to the likability of its actors, who have anchored the program for more than a decade.

Unlike past hidden camera reality shows, the main troupe’s comedy takes center stage, and they are the target of the joke rather than unsuspecting passersby. While there are still phony aspects to Impractical Jokers, their distinct brand of cringe-inducing humor provides a therapeutic release for fans seeking a laugh. Despite years of enormous popularity, original member Joe Gatto left the program in 2021, and his absence is felt even as the show continues without him.

Why Did Joe Leave Impractical Jokers? Joe Had To Choose…

Though Impractical Jokers is all about having fun, real life may get in the way, and Joe departed the program in 2021 to spend more time with his family. Joe left the series after an amicable split with his wife Bessy, as he stated in a lengthy Instagram statement. The enormous success of Impractical Jokers put a strain on all of the performers’ personal lives, and Joe made it clear what his priorities were. Joe, the couple’s co-parent, emphasized the importance of being a great father to their two children.

Joe Patched Up With His Wife But Doesn’t Guarantee His Returns To Impractical Jokers 

Fortunately for the entire Gatto family, Joe and his wife Bessy were able to reconcile their marriage and, according to Hollywood Life, will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary in September 2023. This echoed the feeling expressed by her renowned husband. Joe Gatto has continued to perform outside of Impractical Jokers, appearing for stand-up shows and hosting the Two Cool Moms podcast with Steve Byrne. 

Despite the happy news of Joe’s marriage reunification, Gatto has no plans to rejoin his old Tenderloin teammates anytime soon. The show has continued without him, with a slew of celebrity visitors taking his place, and it appears that Gatto has been able to translate his popularity from the series into a show business profession more suited to his family-oriented lifestyle. It may be presumed that Joe has not changed his mind about being there for his children, and he is unlikely to return to Impractical Jokers full-time.

So After Joe’s Exit – How Impractical Jokers Have Fared? 

Impractical Jokers did the best thing they could to respect Joe Gatto by not replacing him at all. This is a fantastic concept because the main selling point of the series was the chemistry and relationship between The Tenderloins. Bringing in someone new and attempting to reproduce what they had with Joe would fail, no matter how amusing the substitute was, what the hosts did made a lot more sense. Rather than replacing Joe, which is impossible, they now employ a revolving cast of guest stars.

Impractical Jokers had already hosted guests in the past. Having a fan of the act try to play along was always entertaining. The Tenderloins’ decision not to replace Joe with a permanent cast member helped keep the performance hilarious and interesting. It also didn’t change much about the series other than Joe’s disappearance. Since Joe’s departure, appearances by Eric Andre, Brett Michaels, David Cross, Method Man, Chris Jericho, and others have added to the excitement. Many fans aren’t convinced, yet it helped Impractical Jokers keep going.