What Makes Jim Gaffigan So Funny?
I questioned whether listening to a white, Catholic-American guy talk about everyday things was really going to make me laugh. According to The Guardian, Jim Gaffigan is “a highly capable comic whose self-mockery and skepticism about almost everything means there is plenty to laugh about.”
So I decided to play a little game and listen to an old set of his and then classify his jokes as either a) very funny, b) pretty darn funny…or c) meh.
Okay, it wasn’t an exact science. I chose an authentically early seven-minute set from 1996 that went from glasses and disabilities to sea cows and bullying. I thought 20% clocked in at "very funny" and another 75% could be considered at least "pretty darn funny."
Then I did it for his CDs… King Baby, Cinco, Mr. Universe, Obsessed, and his latest, Noble Ape… Turns out, the more I listened to Jim Gaffigan, the more I became impressed by how consistently he maintained that hit rate.
How does he do it?
The Hollywood Reporter has called him “an inherently chipper man navigating present-day NYC and its tendencies toward gentrified angst and anxiety.” It also highlights Mr. Gaffigan’s not-so-secret “love of all things edible” and talent for pointing out its existential qualities.
Originally from the Rockwellian state of Indiana, Jim Gaffigan has been a fixture of NY comedy scene since the 1990s, putting him at one of the epicenters of the world’s comedy culture for nearly 30 years, where he’s honed his craft in observational humor, a dusting of dry Midwestern sense of humor on the absurdities of everyday life. And then there’s that voice he does…
Gaffigan has released 11 CDs since 2001, the last four of which have been nominated for Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Album. He’s had 90 film roles since 1998 (yes, ninety!) and 32 TV roles in shows including Sex and the City, That '70s Show, Portlandia, Bob's Burgers, and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. He’s the co-creator of his own show, The Jim Gaffigan Show, which ran for 23 episodes; his specials are on Netflix. And then there’s his multiple appearances on Letterman, Conan, Fallon… all the American late night shows.
He never looks nervous. In fact, it’s worth noting that he maintains his character so well over time and space, you can’t help believing he’s genuine. The guy you meet on the street is the guy you get on stage.
In the future, historians will put Jim Gaffigan among the first generation of stand-up comics to air on the internet. I imagine him as the kind of guy who would be absolutely brilliant fun to have at a party. Pick any topic, and he’s got something genuinely funny to say about it.
Why go see Jim Gaffigan En Vivo?
Jim Gaffigan has written and perfected the delivery of literally hundreds of solidly funny, foolproof jokes. He could string together a different combination for every show, and they would all end up quite hilarious.
Cake. Cholesterol. (“Don’t worry, I’m a good fat!”) Bottled water. Brain surgery. Dogs. (“Man’s best friend? I’ve never seen a dog help a man move.”) Saints. Bacon. Holidays. Kale. Chicken and waffles. Cheese. Family. Weddings. Recycling.
Yes, but can he make folks laugh in Barcelona?
True, some of his material can be quite American, but Gaffigan’s been touring globally for several years, including a successful show in Barcelona last year, so he’s figured out what works and peppers his set with absurd impressions of himself in actual foreign environments.
Ultimately, Gaffigan’s comedic skill, present-day philosophy and caliber does not come to Barcelona every day. Not to mention, Gaffigan sells out arenas in the US months in advance at $100 a pop, so if you think about it, this Barcelona show is a kind of a STEAL!
Yes, I think Jim Gaffigan is more than capable of making Barcelona and Madrid laugh!
Don’t miss Jim Gaffigan live in Barcelona on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 19:00 and again at 21:30 at Club Capitol.
He's also in stage at in Valencia in February 25th and in Madrid on February 27th.