Comedian Jim Gaffigan is not your typical comic. He has no ego, doesn't have a checkered past and he's not a substance abuser. Gaffigan, 50, is married with five young kids and he co-writes his material with his wife, Jeannie. He's more like a member of the crowd than most entertainers.
When he brings his "Fully Dressed" tour to NYCB Theatre at Westbury, N.Y., the food-obsessed funnyman will have a belly full of turkey and an hour of brand-new material for a trio of post-Thanksgiving shows Nov. 25-26.
Newsday's David J. Criblez recently spoke with the Grammy-nominated comedian, who grew up in Elgin, Illinois, from his Manhattan home.
Q: You packed Madison Square Garden last December. How did you find your comedy translated in a venue of that size?
A: I was a big believer that comedy doesn't transfer over 3,000. But technology has made it so you can have a great experience plus, like it's an event. There's a lot more good seats at Westbury in the round than at MSG. I want everyone to enjoy the experience so they will come back. I'm still convinced that going bigger than 3,000-seat venues is not right for stand-up.
Q: You discontinued your own TV show ("The Jim Gaffigan Show" on TV Land) despite its popularity and success. What was the reason behind that decision?
A: It was a two-person kind of gig between me and my wife, plus a great cast and a staff of 100 people. Jeannie and I wrote all the scripts, she ran the show, I was the lead _ it was an enormous commitment. It was great, but we do have five kids and they are young. The show took up 6-8 months where we were not present enough. We were both working 16-18 hours a day. It was just not fair to do that to our kids.
Q: You are going to be joining the cast of "Fargo," plus you have two upcoming dramatic roles in "The Bleeder" and "Chappaquiddick." Is this another side of you?
A: The dramatic roles are something I've always wanted to do. I'm very excited about "Fargo," I love that show. Maybe people in the industry are figuring out that I can act. I'm thrilled for the opportunities. It's cool because I'm doing a different accent in all three roles.
Q: What do you think it is about your personality that makes people find you so accessible?
A: Wouldn't it be funny if I was like, "Because I'm a great guy!" I don't know. Perhaps it's luck with the type of material. Comedians are always striving to be authentic. Maybe it's because I'm self-effacing. People don't come to hear about my interactions with celebrities or to find out what I'm wearing. I have a big head now that you said that ... Well, I actually have a big head anyway.
Q: You have a wide fan base that varies in age and background. What do you get out of interacting with them?
A: The meet-and-greet thing is really fascinating. It's instructive and interesting. There's a gratitude to it. I see a lot of different demographic groups from people in their early 20s to families with young kids to lesbian couples. Stand-up is basically a conversation with the audience. You can get a lot from the laughter whether people understand you or not.
Q: You are known for your playful material on food. Is that expected at this point?
A: Well, I'm now on my fifth hour of stand-up and in a way I've exhausted the food topic so dramatically. But, the appeal of food is universal. There's a shorthand if I bring up oysters or cake, everyone in the room knows what they are. I don't have to explain, therefore it's easier to get into my point of view. Food is a shared experience. In my new hour, I still talk about food but its 40 minutes before I do so.
Q: At this stage of the game when you are a big name in comedy, does that add more pressure on you to deliver?
A: There's a pressure to create more material, but it's self-inflicted. The crowds who come to see me know my sensibility, know my point of view therefore it's actually an advantage. Because it's like having a conversation with somebody you know rather than somebody you don't know, it's just easier.
