Cigar Interview: Knoxville, Jackass crew back for round two

By: Samantha Turner

Posted: 9/19/06

9/19/06 - After a movie was described as the "worst movie of the year" by The New York Post and "a lousy behavioral example for today's youth" by reel.com, the mere concept of a sequel to such a film would seem ludicrous.

Unless, of course, that film is Jackass: The Movie.

Following a four-year absence and two MTV spin-off shows (Viva La Bam and Wildboyz), the original cast of the hit TV series is back in Jackass: Number Two.

In a phone conference on Monday, director Jeff Tremaine and Jackass ringleader Johnny Knoxville discussed topics ranging from the creation of Jackass to favorite stunts.

The mayhem began with Tremaine's skateboarding magazine Big Brother, where Tremaine said, "Everyone [involved in Jackass] either wrote or rode for the magazine. Then we started to get into making videos."

Tremaine's group merged with Bam Margera's video group, CKY Videos, creating the Jackass that we know today.

Considering their profession of invading convenience stores and dancing around in public scantily clad, the group has had more than a few run-ins with the law.

"It happened a lot more when we were first starting out because we didn't know what we were doing," Tremaine said. "Now we know better and we tell the cops what we're doing beforehand."

Since the group makes a living by pulling pranks and performing ridiculous stunts, there is little room for fear of injury or even death.

"I don't really think about it," Knoxville said. "I won't let it influence my stunts."

One of the stunts performed in Jackass: Number Two resulted in a close call for Knoxville when a rocket he was being launched off of exploded. A 30-centimeter long rod projected out of the rocket, nearly skewered Knoxville in the stomach.

"After [the rocket exploded], Johnny was like 'Let's do it again!'" said Tremaine. "We didn't have another rocket that day so we had to get another one and do it the next day. We watched the footage the next day on a hi-def TV, and then we realized how close to death he really was."

The group tries not to focus on the close calls, for example, when their leader nearly became a human kabob, but rather the positive and humorous.

"My favorite Jackass stunt is probably when Ryan Dunn shoved a toy car up his ass in the first movie," Knoxville said. "Another is, at the ending of [Jackass: Number Two]. It's like a prank on top of a prank on top of a prank and everyone knew about it except for Ehren [McGhehey]. It could've gone wrong at any time."

For Knoxville, his interest in pulling pranks was sparked early on in life.

"My father was always pulling pranks on me. I guess that's where I get my asshole genes from," Knoxville said.

He also stated that he has no intention of stopping his stunts.

"You can stand in one spot and get smoked by something at any age," Knoxville said.

Other than continuing his career, Knoxville also looks forward to enjoying his most important job: dad.

"My biggest goal will be watching my daughter grow up," Knoxville said.

Jackass: Number Two opens in theaters this Friday.