The Tenderloins

“You have the crazy fans and you have the people who’ve never heard of them before; there’s nothing in between,” their agent, Nick Nuciforo, told Pollstar. “I’ve never heard of anybody who dislikes them. It’s that conversion that’s going to fuel the continued growth.”

The Tenderloins are four lifelong buddies – Joe Gatto, James Stephen “Murr” Murray, Brian “Q” Quinn and Sal Vulcano – who have honed their comedic talents into a television show, “Impractical Jokers.” The concept sounds complicated but is simple once viewed: try to get the other guys to do your bidding and, if they fail, they lose.  Each episode ends with the loser getting his punishment.

It’s okay that Pollstar and possibly the reader are still getting introduced to the Tenderloins. The comedy revolves around the public not recognizing them. They can’t honk air horns in a college library if everybody in the room k ows who they are and why they’re doing it. However, they are known by millions of viewers.  It’s the top-rated show on TruTV, and the top-rated show on Comedy Central U.K.

It’s hilarious and was recently renewed for the fifth season, which leads us to the live show.

“Their whole touring business has almost tripled since we’ve been working with them,” said manager Jack Rovner of Vector Management.  “We have the fifth season coming up, a lot more touring ahead of us and we’re going to go overseas. We are in the process of putting together the pieces to make a movie. We’re looking to shoot next summer.”

More importantly, The Tenderloins and their multimedia show will likely be heading to cut-down arenas soon.

“If you read the tea leaves, they’re going to be growing up into that act,” Nuciforo said.

TruTV has been a great partner, according to Rovner and Nuciforo, in allowing the act enough time to tour between shoots. In some markets, the Tenderloins play multiple nights in theatres but, because of their schedule, it will eventually become more efficient to book arenas.

Their television persona – the guy buddies who love to mess with each other – means the live audience is filled with young and old.

“The kids find it ultra-cool to watch the show and the parents like it, and they love the fact that they’ve got something to share with their kids,” Rovner said.

Rovner asked Pollstar to give a shout-out to “Team Tenderloins” – day-to-day manager Dexter Scott and the Vector marketing department that includes John Ingrassia, Jon Romero and several others.