The Dudesons
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Jukka Hildén, Jarppi Leppälä, Jarno Laasala, Hannu-Pekka Parviainen |
| Headquarters | Seinäjoki , Finland |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Television series, live shows, films |
The Dudesons () represent a Finnish entertainment ensemble renowned for their blend of stunt performances and comedic acts, showcased through television programs and live shows. Their initial TV productions in the early 2000s bore resemblance to the Jackass format. They achieved global prominence with a series broadcast on the American MTV network in 2010. After The Dudesons in America, the group expanded beyond stunt-centered content to explore wider entertainment ventures.
Background
The members of The Dudesons are Jukka Hildén (born 1980), Jarppi Leppälä (born 1979), Jarno Laasala (born 1979), and Hannu-Pekka "HP" Parviainen (born 1981), all originating from Seinäjoki. Hildén, Leppälä, and Laasala formed a close friendship during elementary school, where they subsequently encountered Parviainen.
During their adolescence, they engaged actively in snowboarding, skateboarding, and downhill mountain biking. In the early 1990s, Laasala’s acquisition of a video camera allowed them to record their stunts and pranks, which they distributed on VHS tapes. This grassroots distribution helped establish their reputation locally.
Original Finnish TV series
In January 2000, Laasala took up an editing role at Finnish cable channel MoonTV. Drawing inspiration from the American show Jackass, he created a pilot featuring The Dudesons’ stunt performances. After completing high school, they founded their own production company, Rabbit Films, to finance and produce this pilot independently.
The pilot was finalized by August 2000 and swiftly approved for a full season titled "Maailmankiertue" (Worldtour), which premiered in January 2001 and became MoonTV's top-rated program. By September 2001, they transitioned to the national broadcaster Nelonen. The second season, "Extreme Duudsonit, Maailmankiertue 2," aired in 2002; that same year, readers of Finland's leading youth magazine Suosikki honored them as Media Persons of the Year. The third and fourth seasons followed in 2003 and 2004 respectively.
Common stunts featured in the English-language adaptation include the "Human Dartboard," practical jokes on "Mr. Hitler," and a variety of high-risk feats illustrating their fearless approach.
International career
Starting in 2003, The Dudesons began creating English-language material to reach an international audience. Their series Duudsoni Elämää was filmed in both Finnish and English; the Finnish version aired in 2004 while the English counterpart premiered on Australian Channel V in February 2006 and later on SpikeTV in the United States in July 2006.
They made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2006 and featured with Bam Margera on Viva La Bam, as well as appearing in his films Where the ♯$&% Is Santa? (2008) and Minghags (2009). Additionally, Jukka guest-starred alongside Steve-O on Tom Green Live! in October 2006.
By September 2007, their debut season had been broadcast across 22 countries, marking it as Finland's most extensively distributed television series at that time. The second season debuted on Channel V in Australia in May 2008. By 2010, their content had reached audiences in over 150 nations.
In 2008, they introduced Paramore at the Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica. The Dudesons appeared alongside Johnny Knoxville in the 2010 film Jackass 3D and attended its red carpet premiere; they also featured in Jackass 3.5 (2011). They presented the Best Hip Hop award during the 2010 MTV Europe Music Awards.
Their musical performance was showcased on an episode of Skavlan in 2011, followed by an appearance on Loiter Squad in 2013. Jarppi and Jukka also took part in an episode of Ridiculousness in 2014.
In 2018, Jukka served as executive producer and participant alongside Steve-O for the web series Ultimate Expedition.
The Dudesons in America: 2010
After securing a multimillion-dollar agreement with MTV, The Dudesons in America was commissioned with a $6 million production budget. The series starred all four members of The Dudesons and was co-produced by Johnny Knoxville and Jeff Tremaine, in collaboration with the Dudesons’ own Rabbit Films and the Dickhouse production company. Knoxville lauded the group’s fearless style on their official platform. Following the airing of the episode titled Cowboys & Findians, MTV altered the show's broadcast schedule for reasons not publicly disclosed. The series resumed airing on 16 July 2010 and has since finished.
The initial episode premiered on MTV on 6 May 2010, while the UK audience saw its debut on MTV Bang starting 1 August 2010.
The Dudesons Movie (2006)
To support the global reach of their television content, The Dudesons Movie had its theatrical release in Finland on 31 March 2006 and was subsequently distributed on DVD in various countries. Warner Rhino handled its US distribution, releasing it on 11 July 2006. Although critical reception was mixed, it earned the "Audience's Favorite Movie" award at Finland’s Jussi Awards, securing nearly 47% of the popular vote. The film included special appearances by Steve-O, Bam Margera, Ryan Dunn, Raab Himself, and members of the Margera family.
Duudsonit tuli taloon (2013–2018, 2023)
After completing the intensive production of The Dudesons in America, the group shifted their creative direction with Duudsonit tuli taloon, a series focused on assisting families in overcoming personal difficulties, representing a deliberate change in both content style and audience interaction.
Dudesons Do Gumball (2013)
In 2013, The Dudesons created a three-episode mini-series documenting their participation in the Gumball 3000 rally, which aired exclusively on Extreme Sports Channel. The program followed their drive from Copenhagen, Denmark to Monaco, featuring a unique blue elephant-themed Cadillac SUV. During the European race, they introduced a "Wheel of Fortune" mechanism to carry out various pranks.
Prominent guest appearances included Gumball 3000 founder Maximillion Cooper; rappers Xzibit, Eve, Bun B, and Elastinen; actor David Hasselhoff; professional freeskier Jon Olsson; Lee Dainton from Dirty Sanchez; MMA fighter Robert Burneika; TV host Dex Carrington; and pro skateboarder Tony Hawk.
Posse (2014–2022)
Posse was a Finnish television program hosted by The Dudesons, showcasing them undertaking various challenges and managing difficult situations before a live audience in Finland.
Duudsonit: Päällikkö (2019)
In 2019, The Dudesons introduced Duudsonit: Päällikkö, a competitive TV show where participants engaged in multiple challenge-based contests.
Duudsonit Palaa Kotiin (2026)
Planned for release in winter 2026, Duudsonit Palaa Kotiin is an upcoming film that revisits the group’s trademark stunts and pranks. Filming took place at their two ranch locations previously featured in earlier productions, with direction and production led by co-founder Jarno Laasala, alongside producers Jukka Hildén and Eve Särkänne.
See also
External links
- IMDb listings for The Dudesons' works:
- Extreme duudsonit (TV series, 2001–2003)
- Duudsoni-elämää (TV series, 2004)
- The Dudesons Movie (2006)
- The Dudesons (TV series, 2006–2014)
- Dudesons in America (TV series, 2010)
- Duudsonit tuli taloon (TV series, 2012–present)
- Duudsonit: Päällikkö (TV series, 2019–present)