Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend Johnny Knoxville
82 snips
Mar 2, 2026 
Johnny Knoxville, actor-producer known for co-creating Jackass and hosting Fear Factor, shares stories from his stunt-filled career. He recounts moving into stunt journalism, choosing creative control over SNL, and turning chaotic TV bits into films. Conversation covers the toll of injuries, newfound empathy from Fear Factor, and wild ideas for a new Jackass movie.
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DIY Stunts Turned Into Jackass
- Johnny Knoxville started filming risky magazine pieces (testing bulletproof vests, tasers) to support a baby on the way and learned by doing low-budget shoots with shaky cameras.
- Big Brother magazine's Jeff Tremaine paid for equipment and Dimitri filmed; that DIY stunt piece became the seed for Jackass.
Chose Creative Control Over SNL Spotlight
- Lorne Michaels offered Johnny a recurring five-minute Saturday Night Live spot to show his videos, but Johnny turned it down to keep creative control over his own MTV project.
- He chose to bet on his friends and the Jackass pilot instead of being a small part of SNL.
Pilot Stunt Triggered Police And Banned Shoots
- While shooting an early Jackass pilot stunt in a hardware store without permits, Johnny accidentally sawn his wrist and drew police attention, delaying MTV shoots in West Hollywood for years.
- The chaotic lack of permits and crew reluctance produced shaky, raw footage that defined their look.
