Fitness Comedy and Beyond

Ian Zagaglia and Randy Ciak, two physically fit and outrageously funny individuals with a passion for fitness and a talent for comedy, founded The Jokestrap Crew. Together, they seamlessly blend these two worlds to create short videos that are not only humorous and creative but also sometimes daring and risqué, all while remaining informative. Despite starting as a modest endeavor, the Jokestrap Crew steadily gained popularity, expanding their team over time. Occasional guest appearances are a part of the mix, and I recently joined their ranks to provide a female presence in their videos.

A Little History

Many years ago, Randy Ciak and Ian Zagaglia teamed up after discovering their shared love for extreme and raunchy humor. They embarked on creating funny videos and sharing them online, even before the inception of YouTube. Some may consider them pioneers in the realm of hilarious internet videos. They developed their distinct brand of “Jackass”-style content well before the MTV show became a sensation. This eventually evolved into a half-hour program known as the “Public Excess Show.” This show featured an assortment of random sketch comedy, alongside daring stunts, pranks, amusing music videos, and interviews with local sports, fitness, and comedy personalities. The program aired on television throughout Rhode Island and was also available on YouTube and other video platforms. Some segments from the Public Excess Show even made their way onto global networks and compilation DVDs of the “Most Extreme” variety.

Unfortunately, controversy arose when the “Public Excess Show” aired videos like “Penis in a Rat Trap” and “Rake in the Ass” on a Massachusetts public access station. At the time, there were no regulations governing the content presented. These videos involved close-up, full-frontal male nudity, reminiscent of Jackass-style antics. Consequently, this controversy prompted immediate and substantial revisions in the regulation of public access television content, leading to the prohibition of nudity. Despite these challenges, the “Public Excess Show” continues to air, albeit with slight censorship, on Rhode Island Public Access during late-night slots on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Presently, the show boasts 22 episodes.

After creating a humorous commercial for Gladu Wrecking, a dumpster rental company based in Rhode Island, Randy and Ian realized the incredible marketing potential of their comedic talents. This realization spurred them to continue producing amusing commercials, not only for Gladu but also for other local businesses.

At this point, Dave Gladu, co-owner of Gladu Wrecking, joined the group. Together, they decided to shift their focus to the fitness niche, a shared interest among the members. All three individuals are lifelong fitness enthusiasts, and Dave Gladu is a former Mr. Teen Rhode Island. Collectively, they possessed a treasure trove of entertaining stories related to fun, fitness, and gym experiences.

This collaboration led to the birth of the “Jokestrap Funny Fitness Show.” This show incorporates elements of sketch comedy, fitness tips and advice, music videos, product reviews, pranks, and interviews. Some of their recent videos include:

• A music video titled “Gallon Water Jug Guy,” featuring choreographed dancing and comical scenarios involving a gallon water jug, such as delivering a baby and rinsing off a urinal-soaked Power Bar for consumption.
• The “Worst Gym Spotters” video, which parodies spotting techniques like “The Crotch Spotter” and “Creepy Hand Spotter.”
• A video demonstrating creative methods for dealing with flatulence at the gym.
• Product review videos covering topics like Protein Gummies, Protein Snack chips, and an unconventional Creatine review involving an attempt to “snort” it.
• Useful tips for handling both likely and unlikely situations that may arise in the gym, including comical ways to avoid conversations and strategies for dealing with the predicament of running out of toilet paper.

Why Jennie Joined the Crew

“After a chance encounter with fitness and bodybuilding WNBF Pro Jennie Laurent at the gym, we were convinced that she was the perfect addition to the Jokestrap team. With her striking appearance, outstanding physical condition, and a sense of humor to match, Jennie was precisely what Jokestrap needed to amplify its fitness-oriented and captivating content. Randy and I were particularly impressed by Jennie’s willingness to participate in video clips that could be rather audacious. In one of our initial videos together, we repeatedly bounced a fitness ball off Jennie’s face to create the illusion of it breaking her nose. We were thoroughly delighted with how casually Jennie executed this stunt in front of unsuspecting gym-goers. Jennie’s unique style, motivation, and enthusiasm undeniably enhanced the appeal of Jokestrap’s videos, and she has remained an integral part of our team ever since,” said Ian Zagaglia.

*I first crossed paths with Randy and Ian in 2014, as we attended the same gym and had mutual acquaintances in our small-town community. I often spotted them in the gym, occasionally filming, which piqued my curiosity. One day, I decided to introduce myself and inquire about their endeavors. To my surprise, when they shared some of their videos with me, I was immediately struck by their creativity and humor. I began following their work and sharing their videos to spread enjoyment to others. Later in 2014, I achieved my pro cards in the sport of natural bodybuilding (in the figure and physique categories). I had always dreamed of creating a fitness motivational video set to an upbeat song I admired, so I approached Ian with the idea of filming and producing such a video. He enthusiastically agreed, and the three of us collaborated to create an outstanding video that conveyed our shared messages. The video, released in January 2015, received a positive reception from our followers and contributed to our expanding audience. I felt immensely proud of the final product and its impact. You can view the video by visiting this link: YouTube Link. After this experience, the three of us convened to discuss the future of the Jokestrap Crew, our aspirations, and collaborative ideas for promoting the brand. Ian and Randy proposed that I join them, providing a female presence to further enhance the comedic portrayal of gym culture. I eagerly embraced the opportunity and looked forward to our upcoming projects. Creating these relatable and entertaining videos for gym enthusiasts has been a tremendous source of joy, and I’m delighted to witness how much they resonate with people.”