When Impractical Jokers premiered in December 2011, Brian Quinn and his three high school buddies had no idea they were launching what would become TruTV’s highest-rated series. The hidden-camera show attracted over 32 million viewers in its first season, transforming four Staten Island friends into cable comedy royalty.
But unlike many reality TV stars who ride a single wave of fame, the former FDNY firefighter has methodically built an entertainment empire that extends far beyond the television screen. With the show now in its twelfth season on TBS and still pulling strong audience loyalty per episode, Brian Quinn has quietly become a case study in how to turn TV success into lasting, diversified income.
Quinn’s journey to entertainment mogul started in an unlikely place—Ladder Company 86 in Staten Island, where he served for seven years. While working as a firefighter, he rejoined his Monsignor Farrell High School friends in TheTenderloins comedy troupe in 2006. The group won NBC’s It’s Your Showcompetition in 2007 for their sketch “Time Thugs.”
That early validation proved prescient. When Impractical Jokers became a phenomenon, Brian Quinn faced a crossroads that many entertainers never encounter: walk away from a secure career with a pension or bet on comedy. By Season 6, he’d made his choice, retiring from the FDNY to focus full-time on the show.
“Fans come up to me; they say the nicest things. They’ve given me the most pleasant life,” Quinn told CBR when discussing the show’s 200-plus episode run.
But what makes Quinn’s success particularly notable isn’t just the show’s longevity—it’s what he’s built around it. While the television series provides fame and a steady paycheck, Quinn has systematically developed multiple revenue streams that operate independently of network renewal decisions.
Podcasting Before It Was Cool
Long before every celebrity had a podcast, Brian Quinn entered the medium in February 2010 with Tell ‘Em Steve-Dave!, recorded with Bryan Johnson and Walt Flanagan. The timing proved prescient—he positioned himself during podcasting’s early growth phase when competition was minimal and audiences were hungry for authentic content.
The podcast’s success wasn’t accidental. Tell ‘Em Steve-Dave! won the 2010 Podcast Awards for People’s Choice and Best Comedy, was named iTunes Best of 2010 audio podcast, and earned the 2012 Stitcher Award for Best Entertainment & Pop Culture. Quinn’s second podcast venture, What Say You? with fellow Joker Sal Vulcano, won the 2013 Stitcher Award for Best New Show.
“Podcasting lets me connect with fans on a different level than TV ever could,” Quinn has said about the medium’s intimacy. The format gave him something television couldn’t: direct audience access without network interference or production company oversight. That autonomy translated into creative freedom and financial control—advertising revenue, premium subscriptions, and merchandise sales all flowing directly to the hosts rather than through multiple intermediaries.
These early podcast investments transformed into valuable intellectual property commanding premium advertising rates. More importantly, they built relationships with listeners that translated into support for Quinn’s other business ventures, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of fan engagement and revenue growth.
The Live Experience Economy
While many TV personalities struggle to fill small clubs, Brian Quinn and the Impractical Jokers have conquered arenas. Their “DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE” Tour (2023-2024) sold out six nights at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, and six shows at London’s O2 Arena, reaching over one million fans across the U.S. and UK.
“The live shows give us a chance to connect with fans in a way that’s impossible through TV,” Quinn observed about the touring success. These performances combine never-before-seen videos, storytelling stand-up, and audience participation—the hallmarks of the Impractical Jokers brand translated into a three-dimensional experience.
The touring revenue represents a significant shift in entertainment economics. Unlike television, where profits are split among networks, production companies, and distributors, live performance puts far more money directly into performers’ pockets. For Quinn, it’s created a revenue stream that operates entirely outside traditional media gatekeepers.
Convention appearances add another layer. Quinn has appeared annually at San Diego Comic-Con since 2013, drawing massive crowds that speak to his crossover appeal between comedy and pop culture fandoms.
Brian Quinn admits he loves comic-cons so much, he has attended them as a fan too.
“Coming as a fan is a completely different,” Quinn revealed during an On the Spot Interview at Comic Con 2017 on YouTube. “You could shop—you can walk around. It’s awesome but it is you know, it’s not that meandering through and finding some old artwork that I used to like. One year I bought like a bunch of old Ghostbusters animated series. I got them for ten bucks a piece. Those finds are out there but I just don’t have time now.”
But he admits he’s also delighted to be doing panels and signings now and meeting other celebs too. “It’s really a trade off,” Quinn added. “I got to meet the cast of Preacher. I got to meet Weird Al Yankovic. He’s so nice. He’s literally the nicest person I’ve ever met. He knew people wanted to take pictures with with him so he stood by the place where people were taking pictures and he just took pictures with everybody. He’s like a godfather!”