Liberty Science Center has welcomed scientists, celebrities, filmmakers, athletes, and cultural icons through its doors, but few guests have caused quite as much chaos as the cast of “Impractical Jokers.”

The hidden-camera comedy series follows lifelong friends Brian “Q” Quinn, James “Murr” Murray, and Sal Vulcano as they challenge one another to complete awkward and outrageous tasks in public. Each Joker must do and say whatever the others tell him through an earpiece. Refuse a challenge, and he receives a loss. At the end of the episode, the person with the most losses must face an even more embarrassing punishment.

Over the years, the “Impractical Jokers” crew has visited LSC several times, transforming exhibits, events, and the planetarium into settings for some unforgettable moments!

Q Interrupts a Planetarium Show

During one memorable punishment, Q was sent into the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium to search for a fictional person named “Mel Coochie.”

While guests watched a presentation about the galaxy, Q moved through the dark theater with a high-powered flashlight, shining it around the room and asking audience members whether they knew the person he was looking for.

As Q continued crawling through the rows, the other Jokers fed him increasingly ridiculous instructions and aliases. His repeated interruptions quickly frustrated the audience. One guest tossed his flashlight away, while others called for security.

Q eventually located “Mel Coochie” near the front of the theater, but he still failed to complete the unusual exchange planned by the other Jokers. The result was an awkward and chaotic punishment that turned a peaceful planetarium show into a classic “Impractical Jokers” moment.

The Jokers Join LSC After Dark

Joined by actor and special guest Kim Fields, the Jokers circulated throughout the building and completed uncomfortable assignments while surrounded by unsuspecting guests.

One participant was instructed to hand out homemade gelatin shots, leading to an awkward interaction with a hesitant guest. Another made unusual observations about the animals on display while speaking with visitors.

Other challenges included pretending to search for a blind date named Julia, walking away the moment a woman began saying she was not single, and placing mistletoe near unsuspecting guests.

In one elaborate interaction, an LSC security guard joined the joke. A participant confronted a guest and claimed the person had consumed too much alcohol to drive, even asking for proof that an Uber had been ordered. The Joker then returned to apologize and claim that the security guard behaved that way all the time.

Guests came to LSC After Dark expecting cocktails, science experiences, and after-hours entertainment. Some unknowingly received an additional attraction by becoming part of an “Impractical Jokers” challenge.

A Panel Discussion Goes Off Script

On another visit, Liberty Science Center hosted a punishment during a panel discussion about the internet’s impact on society.

The participant being punished wore headphones that played loud static, preventing him from hearing the moderator’s questions. The other Jokers briefly allowed him to hear only the answers they wanted him to give.

When asked about his greatest fear surrounding artificial intelligence, he was instructed to answer “Canada.” He then struggled to explain how the country related to AI.

A question about children having many images of themselves online received the response “pontooned,” leaving him to invent a connection to digital privacy.

The punishment became even more uncomfortable when a panelist described a relative losing her savings to identity theft. The Jokers instructed their friend to respond that it could not have happened to a more “deserving person,” immediately drawing criticism from the host.

When asked whether he had ever sent an email he regretted, he admitted that he regretted agreeing to participate in the panel. After several confusing answers, he was finally instructed to stand up and leave.

Liberty Science Center is a place where visitors can encounter extraordinary animals, travel through space, and explore how science shapes everyday life. It is also a place where unexpected pop culture moments can happen around any corner. From interrupting a planetarium presentation to confusing guests at LSC After Dark and derailing a panel discussion, the “Impractical Jokers” team has repeatedly turned LSC into their comedic playground.