Standup

If Tom Hanks is known as the “everyman” of movies — you know, the ordinary guys, so approachable and unpretentious that just about everybody can relate to him in one way or another — then Jim Gaffigan is the “everyman” of comedy. He focuses his humor on everyday observations about universal experiences. And although most outsiders see the divisive political climate at this time in history as putting humor on trial, Gaffigan looks at it differently.

“I think this will go down in history — and it may be ending as we speak — but like, this is the best time that standup comedy has ever had,” he says. “When I started — versus even in the time of Lenny Bruce or George Carlin — comedy was a much more middle-class/lower middle-class occupation, meaning, there was not an expectation of an upper middle-class existence. Now, if you’re a functional comedian, you can make a great living. So, from a monetary standpoint, like having a kind of financial security, it would never exist. But it exists now.”

These days political humor gets comedians in hot water no matter which side of the issues they fall. But Gaffigan chooses to not go there, siting the pandemic as an example. “Take politics out of it,” he says. “There were expectations that you can address it. But, people, we’ve gone through the pandemic; we don’t want to hear too much about it. … There are comedians that will have very strong views, you know, and have a formula of bringing up this hot button issue. Their audience will stay with them. They’ll have some brilliant insights surrounding it. But I’m kind of of the opinion that, you know, people don’t wanna live in denial, but they also want a break from it.”

The Illinois native has accomplished a whole lot since moving to New York in 1990 to pursue a career in comedy. It all began when a friend in an acting class dared him to attend a stand-up seminar that required the students to do a live comedy set at the end of the course. He loved it, but it began a cycle of attempting to determine — and nailing down — his style. The guy now known as the “clean comic” with the laid-back delivery tried everything from impressions to “angry comedy.” Seven years later, he found his voice, and his comedy has been evolving ever since.

Some might call the quiet confidence he projects on stage courageous, but Gaffigan sees it differently. “I think it’s just mental illness, honestly,” he jokes. But on a more serious note, he compares the mental psyching up a comedian must do on stage to what parents face every day. “I see this as a parent, that we develop these kind of metaphorical calluses or scabs that make us much more resistant.”

Parenting five children, ages 13-21, has been the inspiration for much of his act and a catalyst for the evolution of his humor, because, as he says, if you have that many kids, you have to have a sense of humor. “I’ve said this for years — if your kids aren’t annoying you or you aren’t frustrated by the task of parenting, that means you’re not participating in the task of parenting,” he says. “I think the love I have for my children and the absolute fear that I’m failing colossally is shared by every parent. So the impact of parenting is so enormous on my stand-up.”

Parenting teenagers in this day and age of social media has not been easy, one that Gaffigan calls “a disaster” and “impossible” — but it certainly has resulted in both his personal growth and his growth as a comedian. “The fact that I have this approach of the ‘drowning continues’ is something that is a nice reprieve for parents. Do you know what I mean? Where they’re not alone. The struggles of being a parent and the struggles of your child are so understandably private. I have this joke right now where I talk about parents of teenagers always sound like they’re hiding something, and it really resonates.

“It’s that experience of parenting that has evolved. So people that enjoy my standup, they might be at a different point in their parental journey, but they can identify with what I’m talking about.”

Caroline Hirsch, founder and former owner of the New York comedy club Carolines on Broadway, is known for an innate knack for identifying the next big thing in comedy… and Gaffigan was one of those comedians. “I first met Jim when he was performing and honing his craft very early in his career at my club [Carolines on Broadway] on Broadway,” she recalls. “Even then, he had such a distinct voice, literally and comedically. There was this sharp observational humor and a quiet confidence about him that stood out. He could make the everyday and the mundane feel hilarious and relatable without ever being mean-spirited.”

Hirsch also reflected on his professional evolution. “It’s been incredible to watch Jim’s growth over the years,” she adds. “His material has deepened. He’s still just as funny, but there’s a warmth and perspective that have come with his experiences as a father, husband and seasoned performer. Jim has managed to stay true to his comedic voice while continuing to evolve creatively, which is why he remains one of the most respected and beloved comedians in the industry today.”

Respected, indeed. Gaffigan is a seven-time Grammy nominated comedian, actor, writer, producer, two-time New York Times best-selling author, three-time Emmy winning top touring performer, and multi-platinum-selling recording artist. Yet, he still has an air about him that is humble, sincere and, as Hirsch put it, warm.

“I feel like if I’m humble and sincere, it’s out of necessity, you know what I mean?” he jokes, proving the point. “Like, I think, if something could go wrong or will get complicated, it will happen to me. It’s kind of an ongoing joke with my manager. But that being said, I’m also grateful and appreciative of the things I’ve gotten to do.”