If you religiously watched Nickelodeon’s iCarly growing up like I did (I was definitely a Nickelodeon kid), then you’ll remember one of the show’s most iconic episodes called “iGet Pranky.” In the third episode from the third season of the hit television sitcom, Carly’s older brother Spencer gets a little pranky — however, the other characters aren’t quite impressed by his so-called “pranks,” to say the least.
Although the episode aired over ten years ago in 2010, the trending soundbite from the unforgettable episode is back on TikTok in “The Joke Is On You” TikTok trend. In the viral trend, creators mimic Spencer’s questionable pranks or recreate their own silly scenarios. However, if you think that this is the first time this trend has gone viral, then the joke is on you. The trend has actually been circulating on the app since 2020, but is back for vengeance now in 2022.
The trending sound originates from iCarly.
The trending soundbite originates from an episode of iCarly called “iGet Pranky,” where Carly and Spencer team up to prank Sam and Freddie. However, after Spencer gets a taste of the pranking lifestyle, he can’t stop and proceeds to prank nearly every person in sight — including T-Bo, who works at the Groovy Smoothie.
During a montage sequence where Spencer pranks numerous characters from the hit show, the song “The Joke Is On You” by Niki Watkins plays in the background, with the lyrics saying, “Can’t stop, you know we’ll never give it up / People talk but we just don’t care / In this life, you know you gotta live it up / So everybody put your hands in the air.” Then, right as the prank happens and Spencer starts dancing, the beat drops and the chorus continues, “It’s an all night party that we’re getting into / If you think it’s all over then the joke is on you.”
In “the Joke Is On You” TikTok trend, creators are feeling silly.
In “The Joke Is On You” TikTok trend, creators have taken to the app to recreate some of Spencer’s iconic pranks, or to even come up with scenarios of their own. For example, user @imluisvirgo used the trending audio to call out people with commitment issues, saying, “Them saying they aren’t ready for a relationship,” and then saying as the chorus drops, “Them getting into a relationship a week later,” while creator @jessvalortiz tied the audio to the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard case.
User @viocius’ version of the trend quickly went viral, with her explaining to the camera that her school counselor said she wouldn’t be able to graduate. Then, as the chorus picked up, @viocius danced in her cap and gown next to a substitute teacher (this is easily my favorite video from the trend thus far).
Other creators have used the trend to embarrass their families, complain about their period sneaking up on them, and even call out their significant others. The possibilities are truly endless with this one!
Trying “The Joke Is On You” TikTok trend is simple.
Unless you want to try out a complex prank on one of your friends, “The Joke Is On You” TikTok trend is fairly easy to execute. To start, try searching through the trending audio to see what other creators have come up with to get some inspiration. Then, you can either literally prank one of your classmates or make up a funny scenario from the comfort of your own bedroom. The only requirement for this trend is that when the chorus starts, make sure to dance like Spencer (see the video above for a step-by-step break-down). Now, get pranky!