The new Jackass is helping me sleep. Sleep well.

For the last few weeks my sleep has not been restful. Without explaining my dreams because that’s one of the meanest things you can do, just know It’s been full of nightmares. For some context, I’m an American that loathes guns, believes vasectomies should be mandatory and does not deny the world is melting.

I’m not in a bad emotional state. I love and am in love with my partner. I’m grateful for my child everyday without fail. I am not showing any signs of a midlife crisis. I am not fearful of the future. I believe this is the best time to be alive (kinda, it’s better to be alive right now than it was 50 years ago but probably better 10 years ago and right now is an obvious low point blah blah blah). 

I’m also not a goddamn idiot and really wish all guns were melted down so maybe that’s why I’m not sleeping well.

But there doesn’t seem to be anything I’m doing to create nightmares. I’m not drinking. I’m not eating poorly. I’m not doom scrolling. I’m not watching horror movies or reality TV after the kid goes down. I’m exercising. I’m eating well. There’s seemingly nothing I’m doing to create nightmares. 

Once again, I am alive so nightmares are warranted. I just don’t want them. 

Jackass Forever is now on Paramount+. I’m watching it in parts before bed. Since micro-dosing Johnny Knoxville and friends, I’m finally sleeping soundly. I’m surprised but not shocked. 

Jackass has rounded a cultural corner. It’s damn near impossible to not enjoy at least one part of their empire. There’s critical consensus that the movies are great. Being extremely dumb on purpose feels like an act of protest now more than it did when the show began. It’s beautiful and violent and the media equivalent of a weighted blanket. 

The perceived freedom of the Jackass crew is giving my solace. 

Most every Jackass vignette is a type of Rube Goldberg machine. Sure, some clips are simple nut shots, but even those simple nut shots are typically captured between intricate, well-thought out plans to present a new type of nut shot. It showcases innovation and sticktoitiveness lacking in most every other type of media. 

The newest Jackass films also showcase Covid protocols. They’re not denying our reality. They’re embracing masks because it keeps everyone safer while also attempting to light farts on fire and tempt vultures with raw meat stuffed down a man’s g-string. We are living in a pandemic. We still need to feel like we’re living. The Jackass crew are facing death (both metaphorically and literally with some cast members dressing up as interpretations of death), laughing at death and taking precautions to keep the most vulnerable safe. Knowing some of the most dangerous performers are doing what they can to take care of each other in between inflicting bodily harm on each other gives me hope. 

Jackass Forever may be the adult version of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. I have more gratitude for my fellow man thanks to a tv/film series about getting hit in the balls. When the most respected institutions are far from respected, there’s comfort in small doses of destruction. 

I never believed in any document. I do believe in my fellow humans. I do know we all bleed. We all feel pain. Jackass Forever highlights this more than any modern political institution. If I can impart the morals and lessons of Jackass to my kid (treat others how you want to be treated, don’t ask anyone to do anything you wouldn’t do yourself, acknowledge fear but do not let it guide your life, get your medical insurance covered by a large corporation because there’s no way universal health care in America exists in 20 years, etc.), I’ll be a success. If not of that happens and I find out I was a bad dad, well, at least I’m sleeping better right now. 

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