TBS’s “Impractical Jokers” has recorded the highest ratings for the series in the first two episodes of 2026. The series, which recently returned for the second half of Season 12 on Thursday, January 15, earned a 1.62 Live+3 rating among adults 25-54. This made it the highest-rated rerun episode of the show, which first launched in December 2011.
The 1.62 in the 25-54 demo was a 226% increase over the show’s Season 12 premiere (0.53), according to TBS. Among adults 18-49, it was the highest-rated episode of Impractical Jokers since it moved from TruTV to TBS in July 2024. The cable network also noted that the median age of viewers of the series has also decreased by 13 years compared to the previous season.
Meanwhile, the show broke its own record the following week with a 1.86 Live+3 rating among adults 25-54 for the second episode of Season 12b on Thursday, January 22nd. This makes it the number one cable TV broadcast of the demo so far in 2026 (excluding sports and specials). According to TBS, after two episodes, it is the No. 1 original series on cable TV.
“Impractical Jokers,” airing Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on TBS, stars Brian “Q” Quinn, James “Mar” Murray and Sal Vulcano as they compete to confuse the general public in a series of challenges. NorthSouth Productions produces the show.
The description for the January 15th episode was: “The Joker’s ‘mommies’ are in town. However, they are helicopter parents and meet the Joker’s ‘girlfriend’ for the first time. Unfortunately, the Joker has to convince a stranger to be his girlfriend and lie to his mother and agree to take part in a Broadway show.” They then return to the park and ask the strangers to help them record a eulogy for their beloved pet.Then, defeated, Joker is forced to cancel.”His cables are heard while trying to overcome his fear of the living dead. ”
And here’s the description for the January 22nd episode: “The Jokers are back in their lawyer roles, trying to convince unsuspecting focus group participants to agree to ridiculous terms before they can participate. Then they put their family business to the test by asking strangers if they should keep their radio ads on the air. One of the Jokers then gets revenge with an elaborate punishment that the other two will actually feel.”
