Jim Gaffigan loves his family. And bacon.*
Comic visits Phoenix on his way to ‘Fargo’
Grammy-nominated deadpan stand-up Jim Gaffigan returns to television this season as a sheriff on “Fargo” after opting to call it quits on his own successful TV show. He talks about that decision and his “Fully Dressed” comedy tour, in Phoenix
Jim Gaffigan — family man, bacon lover and all-around witty guy — decided this year to end his TV Land sitcom, “The Jim Gaffigan Show,” after two seasons. The demise of that program, a delightfully fictionalized look at his life, doesn’t mean we won’t be seeing the comic on TV any time soon: He will be featured in the new season of the acclaimed “Fargo,” starring alongside Ewan McGregor and Mary Beth Winstead. Side note: Doesn’t Gaffigan just look like he was born to star in a show set where the sun doesn’t shine? There’s a reason he called one of his TV specials “Beyond the Pale.”
Before “Fargo” hits the screen, Gaffigan is hitting the road. He called to chat up his two gigs at the Comerica Theatre.
Question: Congratulations on “Fargo.” Can you tell us anything about the new season?
Answer: It’s very exciting. I’m not sure if I’m allowed to say anything, but I do know I play a small-town sheriff. This being “Fargo,” I know it will be exciting to see what happens to the characters.
Q: You made the decision to end your own show. Why?
A: (My wife) Jeannie and I loved doing the show. We wrote all the episodes, and she was the show runner and I was the lead. It was just one of those things. With both parents gone and having five kids, it was rather irresponsible. We tried over two years in a way to make it more manageable, but it wasn’t one of those things where we could do the show without her.
Q: Was it hard to end it? It was such a good show.
A: I think it was both hard for me to let it go and an easy decision. The most important thing is being a parent. I’m not trying to make it sound like I’m a hero; I’m certainly not.
Q: What’s it like collaborating with your wife?
A: We’ve always collaborated, whether it be stand-up or books. It’s always kind of been this partnership on things, so it’s fun. It’s definitely not for everyone, but that being said, you know we’re working on stand-up or there will be another TV show. It’s not just a work ethic; we enjoy it. Writing comedy is not something we consider work. Q: Could your wife do stand-up? A: I’m sure she could. She was a sketch performer, so obviously she could. I think it’s just one of those things. She enjoys directing; she’s very good at
it. I don’t know if stand-up has the appeal.
Q: With five kids, does the family go on the road with you?
A: Yeah, most times. When I’m in Phoenix, they will not be with me. But during the summer, we’ll take them on tour. We’ll do 30 shows, and we’re on a tour bus. It’s rather fun but it’s also a grind. We’ll typically try to craft things around the kids, like this year there are shows in Hawaii that are constructed over Christmas break, then we go to Milwaukee, where my wife’s from.
Q: You started out in advertising before moving into comedy. Are people different who work in those two fields?
A: I think that comedians are encouraged to be contrarian and question things whereas in a work environment, there is a certain compliance. That being said, when comedians are starting off, they have to be nice to comedy clubs, so there are layers of some acting. I remember thinking when I was working on the TV show that Jeannie and I were more or less in charge. Before, I was normally the guy who went on stage with just a microphone. If I had to deal with people, it was at a soundcheck. So that’s different. There’s something very solitary about comedians. I mean, I’m generalizing; there are very social comedians. But I’m somebody that when I get into a new city, I’m excited to go to bed without a 5-year-old kicking me.