Impractical Jokers 'Murr' Talks New Book, Signing In Westfield

WESTFIELD, NJ — James Murray, known as Murr from the TV show Impractical Jokers, recently held a signing in Westfield and spoke with Patch about his newest children's book.

Murr stopped by the newly opened Rumble Boxing at 231 East Broad Street in Westfield on Wednesday where he signed copies of his new kids' book "Area 51 Interns: Time Chasers." This is the third book in his series Area 51 Interns.

The last time Patch spoke with Murr was when he wrote his very first book in 2018, a horror book called "Awakened: A Novel."

How did you go from horror to children's books?

One can only do that since kids can be horror, they can be horrific maybe. (Laughs) I don't have a kid yet but kids are just fun and entertaining.

So many fans of Impractical Jokers are families. The kids watch the show, the parents watch the show. It's kind of like the show they all agree on.

A couple of years ago I was like I should write a series of kids' books too. I had written sci-adult horror books and came up with the idea of Area 51 Interns... the kids have a summer internship at the infamous Area 51 in Nevada and of course every day at work something goes haywire.

The first book released a year ago was about aliens, the second book was about mythical creatures the Chubacabra and this book is all about time travel because anything and everything can happen in Area 51.

They are all stand-alone books. You can pick up "Area 51 Interns: Time Chasers" without having read any of the other books.

They are really funny, really action-packed sci-fi comedy. Kids will love it from anywhere from 4th grade up to 12th grade.

It sounds like it could be a lot of fun coming up with the storyline. Is it?

It is because it is all imagination. I love sci-fi, I love technology. And Area 51 can be anything you dream it can be. Right? Because no one really knows what it is. So that's a lot of fun to write in a wide-open playing field of space, of creativity. And it's also a lot of fun to be funny in a book because my adult thrillers are scary as hell.

Are you planning to write more books in the series?

Well actually we are working with a great company called 9 Story Media Group to create a show for network TV and we are writing the screenplay for the pilot right now to make it into a live-action series.

Is it hard to juggle it all?

No, I love that kind of energy, jumping between things. That's what Impractical Jokers is. Every day on set is a completely different day. It's like starting at square one all over again. So I have lived many lives. I have been an exterminator, a doctor, an optician, I've been a gym teacher, I've been a yoga instructor, I've been a dentist. You name the career I have done it for a single day.

When filming Impractical Jokers is it difficult to do your skits with people recognizing you and your popularity?

Nah, it's not that hard. I'll tell you why. First there is 10 million people in New York City. Second, we don't look famous. I look like a pharmacist. You know what I am saying? People may think I look familiar and they are like 'Is he my pharmacist? Or is he my All-State rep?' Yes, I do sell insurance.

Will there be another Impractical Jokers season?

Yes, the second half of Season 10 starts in January. We already filmed it, it's already done. And then we get back to work in the next year and hopefully you will see us on TV for many, many more seasons to come after that.

"Area 51 Interns: Time Chasers" is available anywhere books are sold online or in stores. For more information on Murr and his stand-up comedy tour, his book, or his charity organization visit linktr.ee/jamessmurray.