Ep 17. Supercuts

Four friends from Staten Island, Joe, Q, Sal, and Murr, compete in various challenges in public spaces for the entertainment of their viewers. The challenges are often embarrassing and involve pranks, and the person who fails to complete the challenge is punished.

In season 1 episode 17, titled "Supercuts," the guys are working at a hair salon, but they're not the stylists. Instead, they're tasked with being receptionists and greeting customers when they arrive. The catch is that they must carry out ridiculous requests given to them by the other jokers.

The first person to take on the challenge is Q. He has to ask every customer if they want a "Petraeus," which is a reference to the retired general and former CIA director David Petraeus. Other jokers come up with similarly absurd requests such as asking customers if they want their hair cut like one of the Three Stooges.

Next up is Sal, who has to convince a customer to let him cut their hair while wearing a blindfold. If he fails to convince someone, he will be punished. The challenge is made even more difficult by the fact that one of the other jokers has placed a piece of gum in his hair, which he has to try and remove while blindfolded.

For his challenge, Murr has to get a customer to buy him an item of clothing from a nearby store. The catch is that he can't tell them why he needs it, which proves to be a challenge when he realizes that the only available customer is a young boy who doesn't have any money.

Lastly, Joe has to greet a customer while pretending to be a mannequin. He has to maintain his composure and not move, even when customers try to interact with him. If he fails to stay still, he will be punished.

Throughout the challenge, the jokers are constantly trying to distract each other, making the already difficult task even harder. One joker purposefully spills water on another, and another joker tries to get the attention of a customer while his friend is trying to complete a challenge.

At the end of the day, the jokers gather to review the footage and determine who performed the worst. The loser is then subjected to a humiliating punishment, such as dressing up as a superhero and facing a firing squad of paintball guns.

"Supercuts" is a hilarious episode that showcases the jokers' ability to think on their feet and improvise in uncomfortable situations. It's a great example of the type of challenges and punishments that have made Impractical Jokers such a popular show.