History Series / Jackass

** To [[OminousLatinChanting Carmina]] [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome Burana]] no less.

* OnceAnEpisode: "Hi I'm Johnny Knoxville, welcome ''Jackass''!"

And so begins ''Jackass'', which was either the most horrifying thing ever put on American television, the most awesome thing ever put on American television, or just the gayest (in more ways than one) thing ever put on American television. Or all three.

''Jackass'' has its roots in skateboard culture and the skateboard magazine ''Big Brother'', and Bam Margeras's humor/stunt video series "Camp Kill Yourself" (or {{CKY}}). One of ''Big Brother'''s writers was struggling actor Johnny Knoxville, who pitched an article for Big Brother about being used as human guinea pig for various self-defense weapons, culminating in him being shot in the chest to test out a bulletproof vest. His editors decided to film the test and found it so funny, that they decided to commission several additional masochist-themed videos with the rest of the staff (including Dave England and Chris Pontius) and ex-Ringling Brothers clown Steve-O contributing material.

Similar material was being filmed by Bam Margera and his gang of skaters and his parents. Their material would make up the first CKY video, titled ''Landspeed: CKY''. The two ultimately decided to combine forces when ''Big Brother'' magazine began talks with SpikeJonze to create a pilot for {{MTV}}. Along with Ehren [=McGhehey=], an ex-snowboarder, ''Jackass'' was born.

MediaWatchdogs and MoralGuardians more or less had panic-induced heart attacks at the very thought of their kids watching this one, so there was a huge movement to get the show canned ([[NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity Which, ironically, may have]] [[StreisandEffect increased its popularity even more!]]).

The format was popular enough to spawn three [[TheMovie movies]], the third in [[ThreeDMovie 3D]], which allowed the boys to really go hog wild with the R rating. Also, several cast members were given spin-off shows, ranging from Bam Margeras's ''VivaLaBam'' and the AndNowForSomethingCompletelyDifferent nature spin-off ''{{Wildboyz}}''.

!! '''This show provides examples of:'''

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And so begins ''Jackass'', which was either the most horrifying thing ever put on American television, the most awesome thing ever put on American television, or just the gayest (in more ways than one) thing ever put on American television. Or all three, [[YourMileageMayVary as it depends on who you ask]].

-->--Ryan Dunn's explanation for stabbing Bam in the ass with a hot iron brand... or, more accurately, the reason this show exists.

* ActuallyPrettyFunny: Bam's reaction to the "Valentine" prank in the second movie: the "valentine" [[spoiler: covered up a hole in the wall, which concealed a boxing glove on a stick sticking out of an air compressor; the ''Jackass'' guys were goaded into getting hit by it when they had to lean in to read it because the writing suddenly got really really small.]]
** In addition, the entire crew's reaction to the "High Five" in ''Jackass 3D'': [[spoiler: walking towards him will get a gigantic hand to pimpslap you out of nowhere: even Ehren, who got hot soup splashed all over him, found it funny.]]

* BeyondTheImpossible: They couldn't ''possibly'' think up of a crazier, more insanely dangerous/disgusting stunt... right?

* TearsOfFear: Bam when confronted by the cobra in the second movie.

* TrailersAlwaysLie: The most recent trailer shows director Spike Jonze [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome jumping over a speeding Lamborghini]]. This does occur in the film, but only during the closing credits montage. No other footage with the Lambo is in the film, besides the [[spoiler:tooth pull]]. Currently it's unknown if anyone else tried to jump it.

*** Preston Lacy is deathly afraid of heights.

* TheMovie: Three even more outrageous movies involved stunts like peeing, eating, and then vomiting up a snow cone, all in one shot. Probably the most extreme thing to ever be shown on basic cable (at one AM on a Sunday morning with A LOT of pixellation but still).

* AManIsNotAVirgin: Averted, as Ehren McGhehey is supposedly one.

* HoYay: See the entries on GagPenis and GroinAttack. Add to that sketches like "Party Boy" and the sheer amount of Speedos and nudity on the show and the number of pranks that are ass- or testicle-specific - and that's not getting into things shoved into the ass or balls. Johnny Knoxville mentioned once [[http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2010/10/the-stars-of-jackass-3d-talk-about-god-cancer-and-homosexuality.html this was at least partially intentional]] and kind of hoped that it might be a step against homophobia since one of the most [[TestosteronePoisoning Testosterone Poisoned]] shows on TV was also one of the most homoerotic.
** If that doesn't strike you as gay, then there's the nude shoot they did for ''RollingStone'', all huddled together.

** The worst of the worst: One of the crew members having his balls slammed in a dictionary. (NSFW)

** The worst of the worst: '''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4Vmmg6N3d8 THIS]]''' (NSFW)

** The Port-A-Potty Sling: "You don't look very happy about it." "Yeah."

* TrilogyCreep: The first movie was intended as a GrandFinale, with the crew doing stunts they weren't allowed to do on TV. Then they made the second movie, after a guest spot on ''Wildboyz'' led to Knoxville realising he wanted to make more ''Jackass''. And then they made the third film...

-->'''Bam''': What rhymes with Dunn? ''Fun!''

** Butterbean and Knoxville fighting in a random sports store.

'''Chris Pontius: ...y muerte.'''

* SequelSnark: The first movie pulls out a final skit after the credits, hinting at a sequel dubbed "Son of Jackass." While there ''was'' a sequel, it wasn't called ''Son of Jackass''.

* BerserkButton / CrowningMomentOfAwesome: Preston doesn't like being covered in a hat full of egg-nog vomit.

* TearsOfFear: Bam when confronted by the cobra.

*** Subverted: Ehren thinks it's on the driver. [[UnwittingPawn Ehren is the real target.]]