Last week, Warner Bros. Discovery announced the “outrageous prank special” Foul Play with Anthony Davis, a half-hour special with the Impractical Jokers team as executive producers, scheduled to premiere on TBS on Feb. 16 immediately after the NBA All-Star Game. However, the bigger surprise came late Saturday when it was revealed that Davis was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Dallas Mavericks in a deal that saw Los Angeles acquire Luka Dončić.
This trade raises questions about the Davis-centric special, particularly given the Los Angeles focus in its announcement. A WBD spokesperson confirmed to Awful Announcing that the show is “still airing on the 16th after the NBA All-Star Game as planned.” While the show is set to go ahead despite the trade, the initial WBD release (from Jan. 27) heavily emphasized Davis’ connections to Los Angeles and only mentioned LA-based players, coaches, and managers.
From the mischievous minds of the Impractical Jokers and nine-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis comes “Foul Play with Anthony Davis,” a docu-style unscripted comedy that gives some of the greatest athletes in the world one shot to score a great prank or foul out trying. The special is set to air immediately following the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, February 16 on TBS.
As prank ringleader, Davis enlists famous friends, including World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodger Mookie Betts, WNBA star Cameron Brink, and Brooklyn Nets point guard D’Angelo Russell, to join him in his antics. Accompanied by the Impractical Jokers, they pull pranks such as a fake fundraising charity event with Clippers’ shooting guard Terance Mann, an off-the-rails promotional shoot with LA Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt, and a statue unveiling gone wrong with Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “Foul Play with Anthony Davis” will showcase how everything comes together… and how easily it can unravel.
“Most people don’t know, but I have a passion for pranks. Whether it’s pranking my teammates or friends and family, I love making people laugh and doing whatever it takes to bring some joy and fun to the situation,” said Davis. “Thank you to Impractical Jokers, TBS, and the whole team for helping bring my vision for this show to life.”
“When AD came on board with us on Impractical Jokers, we were blown away by his sense of humor, stunning charisma, and absolute commitment to the bit. He can shoot hoops pretty well, but the man was born to mess with people and make them laugh,” said James Murray, Brian Quinn, and Sal Vulcano. “It was a no-brainer, and a great time, to help him bring his idea to life. Court side seats are just a bonus for us. We can’t wait for people to see this.”
While opinions may vary on the merits of Impractical Jokers, it has been extremely successful for WBD, running for ten seasons so far. Davis’ guest appearance in a 2023 episode garnered significant attention, making the concept for this special quite understandable.
Perhaps the most significant prank is how this distinctly Los Angeles-focused show, featuring Davis now in Dallas, is still set to air after the NBA All-Star Game. If filmed prior to the trade, enduring the social media backlash over the awkwardness may be a better choice than scrapping the project altogether (though WBD has previously done that). There’s even a chance that this situation may draw higher viewership due to the intrigue. However, it is amusing that a special centered around Davis and various Los Angeles sports figures continues to be aired after his departure from that city.
