Latest news with #TheInspiredUnemployed
News.com.au
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘People think their way is right because they're offended': Inspired Unemployed respond to controversial routine
EXCLUSIVE: Even though they've spent the past two years writing the modern-day how-to manual on playing practical jokes in TV show The Inspired Unemployed (Impractical) Jokers, Jack Steele and Matt 'The Falcon' Ford say they are only just getting better at reading the room. 'Cancel culture now is ridiculous,' Steele says. 'It's pretty hard to do anything, because everyone has a voice and an opinion, and comedy is so subjective. 'People think their way is right, but that's just because they're offended.' Since appearing online in 2019, the pair known as The Inspired Unemployed have amassed more than 5 million followers on social media for their loveable larrikin videos and posts. In 2023, they added housemates Dom Littrich and Liam Moore to their troupe to front the Australian version of (Impractical) Jokers, a series in which the foursome's escalating prank battles result in hilarious, cringe-inducing encounters with the unsuspecting public. Although the show's blend of Punk'd and Candid Camera can be challenging, the team say they are serious about making sure their silliness lands right. 'You try to calculate [the risks] before you go in, even when you're in the ideas room,' Steele says. 'You're always trying to deep-dive it and think, 'OK, how will people react? Are we pushing it too far? Is the joke on us enough?' And if not, then we pull back.' Wearing uniforms to act as anything from sales assistants to yoga instructors, and shooting in the outer Sydney suburbs instead of in the CBD, staves off being recognised as famous comedians. 'Young ones tend to be more onto it,' Ford says of their attempts to fool people by blending in. 'Older ones are a bit easier to get.' And easier to anger. In April 2024, well-known media personalities Antoinette Lattouf, Clementine Ford and Yumi Stynes hosted a free Sydney event called Love Unboxed, billed as a conversation on relationships. In truth, it was a set-up for a season two gag, with the three women in on the ruse. Introduced as a special guest to offer a male counterpoint, Steele spouted whatever his three mates fed him via an earpiece, including comments such as 'I think chicks dig consent'. Although Steele was the butt of the joke, the stunt received intense backlash and was cut from the show. 'It was a punishment of mine, so I had no idea what I was going into,' Steele says. 'I just played it as it comes, and obviously it didn't play great.' Ultimately, Steele and Ford say their schtick has never been about denigrating women or humiliating people. 'We have an exactly 50/50 female and male following, which translates into the show,' Steele notes. 'I guess that's who we are. We all grew up with sisters, and we're not too male-dominated in our life.' By chance, their show's new season launches in line with Men's Health Week (June 9-15), which focuses on helping men and boys lead healthier, happier lives. The timing resonates with Steele. 'We always talk about our emotions and if we feel insecure or vulnerable, happy or down or whatever,' he reflects. 'We get a lot of messages, particularly from women, saying, 'You've helped my husband or boyfriend talk for the first time [about their feelings]', which is really nice to hear.' To that end, the pair won't let one headline-grabbing misstep dent their confidence. 'Every day, we're surprised people go along with some of the things we're doing,' Ford says, smiling. 'We're not qualified in anything [we pretend to do]. But if you just own it, people believe it.' Season 3 of The Inspired Unemployed (Impractical) Jokers premieres at 9.40pm on Monday on Network 10 and 10Play, with all episodes available to stream on Paramount+.
The Age
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Holidaying with a friend should always be fun. Here's how it's done
This story is part of the May 18 edition of Sunday Life. See all 14 stories. The opportunity to travel the world with my best mate Jack, experiencing different cultures and having all sorts of adventures and fun, is a dream come true. It's the kind of thing we used to talk about, and now we've pretty much been on the road together non-stop for 12 years. We've done the whole $10-a-day thing, shared meals, been totally broke – and somehow, we've managed not to drive each other crazy. Travelling with someone really shows you who they are; for us, it just works. One of our absolute favourite things in the world, the reason we became The Inspired Unemployed, is making people laugh. It still blows our minds that this is actually our job: we get to go on adventures and have the time of our lives, and somehow that counts as work. Wild. It's definitely a 'pinch yourself' moment. Travelling with your best mate is easy, and it's good having someone to share experiences with. We tackled some pretty wild challenges while filming our new travel show, The List, and doing that kind of stuff solo would've been way tougher. It definitely helps to have someone there to hype you up and laugh through it all with you. This is how we always make sure we're having fun. Push your boundaries Loading We're big believers in getting out of your comfort zone and not following the herd or travelling to places that are trending. You'll never regret taking the leap and going somewhere you can immerse yourself in the unknown and get uncomfortable; you'll learn a lot about yourself. Keep it chill Travelling can have its downsides. I mean, it would be nice to not be riddled with food poisoning while trying to film a TV show. As for us, we barely argue, which is a miracle considering how much time we spend together, including our work. If we do get a bit snappy, it's usually just the jet lag talking, or the fact we haven't slept properly in days. Usually, if we give it a minute, we're quickly back to laughing at nothing. Don't get 'hangry'
The Age
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Holidaying with a friend should always be fun. This is how it's done
This story is part of the May 18 edition of Sunday Life. See all 14 stories. The opportunity to travel the world with my best mate Jack, experiencing different cultures and having all sorts of adventures and fun, is a dream come true. It's the kind of thing we used to talk about, and now we've pretty much been on the road together non-stop for 12 years. We've done the whole $10-a-day thing, shared meals, been totally broke – and somehow, we've managed not to drive each other crazy. Travelling with someone really shows you who they are; for us, it just works. One of our absolute favourite things in the world, the reason we became The Inspired Unemployed, is making people laugh. It still blows our minds that this is actually our job: we get to go on adventures and have the time of our lives, and somehow that counts as work. Wild. It's definitely a 'pinch yourself' moment. Travelling with your best mate is easy, and it's good having someone to share experiences with. We tackled some pretty wild challenges while filming our new travel show, The List, and doing that kind of stuff solo would've been way tougher. It definitely helps to have someone there to hype you up and laugh through it all with you. This is how we always make sure we're having fun. Push your boundaries Loading We're big believers in getting out of your comfort zone and not following the herd or travelling to places that are trending. You'll never regret taking the leap and going somewhere you can immerse yourself in the unknown and get uncomfortable; you'll learn a lot about yourself. Keep it chill Travelling can have its downsides. I mean, it would be nice to not be riddled with food poisoning while trying to film a TV show. As for us, we barely argue, which is a miracle considering how much time we spend together, including our work. If we do get a bit snappy, it's usually just the jet lag talking, or the fact we haven't slept properly in days. Usually, if we give it a minute, we're quickly back to laughing at nothing. Don't get 'hangry'
Sydney Morning Herald
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Holidaying with a friend should always be fun. This is how it's done
This story is part of the May 18 edition of Sunday Life. See all 14 stories. The opportunity to travel the world with my best mate Jack, experiencing different cultures and having all sorts of adventures and fun, is a dream come true. It's the kind of thing we used to talk about, and now we've pretty much been on the road together non-stop for 12 years. We've done the whole $10-a-day thing, shared meals, been totally broke – and somehow, we've managed not to drive each other crazy. Travelling with someone really shows you who they are; for us, it just works. One of our absolute favourite things in the world, the reason we became The Inspired Unemployed, is making people laugh. It still blows our minds that this is actually our job: we get to go on adventures and have the time of our lives, and somehow that counts as work. Wild. It's definitely a 'pinch yourself' moment. Travelling with your best mate is easy, and it's good having someone to share experiences with. We tackled some pretty wild challenges while filming our new travel show, The List, and doing that kind of stuff solo would've been way tougher. It definitely helps to have someone there to hype you up and laugh through it all with you. This is how we always make sure we're having fun. Push your boundaries Loading We're big believers in getting out of your comfort zone and not following the herd or travelling to places that are trending. You'll never regret taking the leap and going somewhere you can immerse yourself in the unknown and get uncomfortable; you'll learn a lot about yourself. Keep it chill Travelling can have its downsides. I mean, it would be nice to not be riddled with food poisoning while trying to film a TV show. As for us, we barely argue, which is a miracle considering how much time we spend together, including our work. If we do get a bit snappy, it's usually just the jet lag talking, or the fact we haven't slept properly in days. Usually, if we give it a minute, we're quickly back to laughing at nothing. Don't get 'hangry'
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Aussie comedians bare all in VERY racy promo to promote new TV show: 'Never been more awkward'
Aussie comedy duo The Inspired Unemployed have taken a 'less is more' approach to promoting their new TV series. The duo, made up of Matt 'Falcon' Ford and Jack Steele, took to Instagram on Wednesday to drum up interest in their upcoming Channel Ten show The List. The six-part series sees the larrakin funnymen jet around the globe to tick off some weird and wonderful 'bucket list' activities. One of those activities, German strip shuttlecock, was featured in a hilarious teaser for the new series. Definitely getting into the spirit of the game, which was filmed at a German naturist resort, Matt and Jack were not afraid to bare all for their art. The clip showed the comedians casually interviewing the German nudists before jumping in for a game of strip shuttlecock. It didn't take long for Jack and Matt to find themselves completely naked on the court. 'There's only one rule in German Strip shuttlecock, hit hard but don't be h***,' Matt captioned the clip. 'The List is finally out tomorrow and first up is Germany. All I can say is thank f**k for blurring.' Jack also jumped into the comments, adding that his favourite part was the trip home after filming. 'Sitting on the bus in silence with our entire film crew was also fun after this,' he joked. While they appeared old hats in the European naturist scene, Matt added that certainly wasn't the case. 'Honestly don't think I've been more awkward in my entire life,' he admitted. Fans were also quick to comment on the post with many curious followers keen to see the uncensored version of the clip. One did ask people to spare a thought for the soul who was tasked with pixelating offending areas. 'The editor who had to censor all this will need 6 weeks of mental leave,' the empathetic fan offered. It comes after the duo was shrouded in controversy after a prank by the comedy group went disastrously wrong at a feminist talk in Sydney in 2024. A large group of mostly women had attended the free event, which featured a panel including Clementine Ford, and fellow feminist writers Antoinette Lattouf and Yumi Stynes. But the unsuspecting audience, who were set to hear a serious chat on marriage and sex, became upset after comedian Jack Steele turned up as a 'special guest'. Known as one half of The Inspired Unemployed with Matt Ford, Steele made a series of off-colour remarks which angered the audience. At one point, he was heard to say 'chicks dig consent' and 'I really like girl writers'. Introduced as a special guest offering his 'perspective' as a young male on the panel topics, Steele's remarks reportedly left some of the audience in tears. Fans were also quick to comment on the post with many curious followers keen to see the uncensored version of the clip According to Yahoo Lifestyle, Steele's antics were being filmed as part of The Inspired Unemployed's TV show, (Impractical) Jokers. The funnyman was reportedly being 'fed' his provocative comments via an earpiece as part of the new show. The report claimed many audience members left the event before it was scheduled to finish. Meanwhile, Ford and her co-panelists stayed on for an extra hour to continue with the talk after Steele left the event. The prank sparked backlash from Ford's fans, who took to her Instagram to express their rage over being duped as part of a comedy show. 'Super weird move on this one, what on earth were you thinking?' one fan messaged Ford. 'Just wasted an hour of my time which I'll never get back,' another woman posted. 'And the poor woman sitting behind me was crying. I'll be ok but this show probably should have come with a trigger warning. So many upset women tonight.'
