Comedian Jim Gaffigan on New Comedy Special and Tim Walz SNL Impersonation

Summary

Podcast Summary: All Of It with Alison Stewart featuring Jim Gaffigan

Episode Details:

• Title: Comedian Jim Gaffigan on New Comedy Special and Tim Walz SNL Impersonation
• Host: Alison Stewart
• Guest: Jim Gaffigan
• Release Date: December 3, 2024
• Duration: Approximately 26 minutes

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Introduction to Jim Gaffigan’s SNL Impersonation

The episode opens with Alison Stewart introducing Jim Gaffigan, who joins the studio after his appearance on CBS Sunday Morning. The primary focus is Jim's recent stint impersonating Tim Walz, the Vice Presidential candidate, on Saturday Night Live (SNL.

Key Discussion Points:

1. Getting Cast as Tim Walz on SNL

   • Jim Gaffigan shares how he was considered for the role after Kamala Harris selected Governor Walz, leading to internet buzz and discussions about potential impersonators. Initially hesitant, Jim eventually embraced the opportunity by creating impression videos resembling his brother Mitch, capturing the sincere and enthusiastic demeanor akin to Walz.
   • Quote [03:31]: "I had kind of studied a little bit some of his speeches, but I just did an impression of my brother Mitch, so it worked."

2. Challenges of Impersonation

   • Jim discusses the balance between staying true to Walz's mannerisms and injecting his own Midwestern flavor into the character. He noted that while SNL was hands-off regarding nuances, certain physical gestures were incorporated to enhance authenticity.
   • Quote [04:08]: "I'm much more of a misanthrope, I guess. I'm more low energy. I'm less enthusiastic."

Audio Clip: Jim Gaffigan as Tim Walz

• Jim delivers a humorous impersonation of Tim Walz, highlighting his comedic take on political roles and everyday life.
  • Timestamp [05:14]:

    Jim Gaffigan: I gotta be honest here, folks. When Kamala Harris called me and asked me to be her vice president, I said, yeah, this is personal for me. I love this country. And as a former teacher, I need the money. This suit is from Costco. It's a Kirkland brand. They make great dog food.
    

Impact of SNL Appearance on Jim’s Career

Alison and Jim explore the repercussions of his SNL appearance on his fan base and public perception. Jim acknowledges the divisive nature of modern media, where any high-profile appearance can polarize audiences.

• Quote [06:27]:

  Jim Gaffigan: We live in a pretty divisive time, so anything that is seen as appearing on a side. So there's people that have a problem with you being on SNL...we live in a very peculiar time where everything seems to be loaded with an opinion.
  

Stand-Up Comedy vs. Acting

Jim reflects on his early career choices between pursuing acting and stand-up comedy. He appreciates the immediate feedback from live audiences in stand-up, which fuels his creative process.

• Quote [07:48]:

  Jim Gaffigan: The immediacy of being able to come up with an idea and try it on stage is just... I love acting, I love writing, but I'm so spoiled by having that access to the creative fulfillment.
  

Discussing His New Comedy Special: The Skinny

Jim delves into his latest stand-up special, "The Skinny," available on Hulu. He openly discusses his weight loss journey and how it intertwines with his comedy, touching upon themes of parenthood and Christianity.

1. Addressing Weight Loss in Comedy

   • Jim emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and addressing visible changes to build trust with his audience.
   • Quote [09:22]:

     Jim Gaffigan: It's very introductory. It's similar to when you go on stage as a new comedian. People interpret you from your appearance, so you have to address it on first impressions.
     

2. Food and Weight Loss Humor

   • While known for his food-related jokes, Jim explains how his physical transformation has influenced his comedic material, balancing his love for food with his new lifestyle.
   • Quote [10:41]:

     Jim Gaffigan: I'm someone who has like, obviously an eating disorder...instead of sitting back with my wife and polishing off two boxes of Triscuits, I'll only have a half a box of Triscuits.
     

The Role of Streaming Services in Comedy Evolution

Jim discusses the transformative impact of streaming platforms like Hulu and Netflix on the stand-up comedy landscape, making performances more accessible and providing comedians with platforms to regularly release specials.

• Quote [16:04]:

  Jim Gaffigan: This streaming has really made it immediate and accessible and provided an outlet for comedians to kind of, in a way, kind of publish a book.
  

Experience on CBS Sunday Morning

Jim shares his experience hosting segments on CBS Sunday Morning, highlighting it as a cherished creative outlet that aligns with his comedic style without being overly irreverent.

• Quote [17:36]:

  Jim Gaffigan: There's something about that show...you can't be too sarcastic, you can't be too irreverent, but you can be a little bit snarky maybe.
  

Authenticity in Comedy

A significant portion of the conversation centers on what authenticity means in comedy. Jim differentiates between being "clean" and "funny," advocating for humor that resonates genuinely rather than adhering to labels.

• Quote [22:13]:

  Jim Gaffigan: All comedy has to have an element of surprise for it to be effective. So when people go online to, you know, and they look on a streaming service for a comedy special, you know, like if you're at a certain point in your life, if you're gonna watch something with your Grandma or a 10-year-old, you want clean comedy. But often people want something irreverent.
  

Final Interactions and Closing

Towards the end, Alison informs Jim of a message from actor Jude Law, to which Jim humorously responds about their time together during the pandemic. The episode wraps up with Jim promoting his special "The Skinny" on Hulu.

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Notable Quotes

• On SNL Impersonation Challenges [04:08]:

  Jim Gaffigan: I'm much more of a misanthrope, I guess. I'm more low energy. I'm less enthusiastic.
  

• On Streaming Services’ Impact [16:04]:

  Jim Gaffigan: This streaming has really made it immediate and accessible and provided an outlet for comedians to kind of, in a way, kind of publish a book.
  

• On Authenticity vs. Clean Comedy [22:13]:

  Jim Gaffigan: All comedy has to have an element of surprise for it to be effective...if you're gonna watch something with your Grandma or a 10-year-old, you want clean comedy. But often people want something irreverent.
  

Conclusion

In this episode of All Of It, Alison Stewart engages Jim Gaffigan in a candid discussion about his latest projects, career choices, and the evolving landscape of comedy. Jim's insights into maintaining authenticity, navigating public perception, and adapting his comedic voice post-weight loss offer a comprehensive look into the life of one of stand-up's beloved figures. His reflections on the impact of streaming platforms and traditional media underscore the dynamic nature of modern entertainment, while his humorous anecdotes on parenthood and personal growth add depth to the conversation.

For those interested in exploring Jim Gaffigan's humor and latest work, his special The Skinny is available for streaming on Hulu.

Transcript

[Jim Gaffigan]

Listener supported WNYC Studios.

[Alison Stewart]

This is all of it. I'm Alison Stewart live from the WNYC studios in soho. Thanks for sharing part of your day with us. I'm really grateful you're here. And hey, anytime's a great time to make a donation to wnyc. If you haven't supported us yet this year, please consider doing so. It's giving Tuesday. Call 888-376-9692. That's 888-376-WNYC or [e-mail] and thanks. On today's show, we'll speak with actor Jude Law, who stars in the new film the Order, as well as director Justin Kurzel. We'll also speak with two New York Times reporters who have been investigating the performing arts group Shenyang. And NPR arts and culture reporter Andrew Limbong is here to celebrate Book Week with us. He joins us to discuss NPR's lists of top books. Plus, we want to know your favorite book of the year. That's the plan. So let's get this started. Jim Gaffigan has had a fall that was full of highs and lows. He got the call to play vice presidential candidate Tim Walz on snl and, well, that was a short gig. He's a sports fan, but as you know, his team was the Jets. And he has a new comedy special out on Hulu called the Skinny, in which he remembers revisits themes of parenthood and Christianity, plus, if the name didn't give it away. He discusses his recent weight loss. But there's a catch.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I've lost weight. Since I've lost weight, I find I get two types of reactions. One group, these people, they won't even say anything to me. They'll just go up to my wife and ask, is Jim okay? Which sounds like concern, but I just hear judgment because to them it's more likely that I'm sick than I would ever have any self discipline.

[Alison Stewart]

You can catch Jim on CBS Sunday MORNING in a special on Hulu, and he's now in studio. Hi, Jim.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Hi. How are you? Thanks for having me.

[Alison Stewart]

I'm doing well. I haven't talked to you since you were tapped to play Governor Tim Walz. When how did it become clear that you had a Tim Walz impression in you?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah, well, it was I think we all know that when Kamala picked Governor Walz, immediately the Internet kind of started. You know, there was discussion of Steve Martin, and then it just was widened up to every pudgy, doughy Midwestern looking Guy in the universe. And so I was kind of placed in the discussion. And I understood from just having friends on SNL that you don't really campaign for anything. There. There is some kind of magic that occurs, but you can't really go out there and kind of work for it. So I kind of sat back and let manager and agents do their thing. And at one point, I got a call when I was actually out of the country working on a movie. And they said, yeah, we. You know, we've been telling SNL that you've been submitting Tim Wall's impression kind of in funny videos to us. And I'm like, oh, that's an interesting approach.

[Alison Stewart]

Because I hadn't been. Because you hadn't been.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I had not. And then they were like, yeah, and we. Now they're asking for those videos. And I'm like, But I. Okay, so I guess I'm gonna go back to my hotel and do a bunch of Tim Walls impressions. And I essentially just. I had kind of studied a little bit some of his speeches, but I just did an impression of my brother Mitch, so it worked. Cause I'm from the Midwest.

[Alison Stewart]

Sure.

[Jim Gaffigan]

My brother Mitch, similar to Governor Walz, is a very sincere, enthusiastic, you know, just all around good guy.

[Alison Stewart]

So did you have to dial up any part of you? Were you absent from the impression?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Well, you know, I am Midwestern, but I guess maybe an optimistic, kind of idealized version of me. I'm much more of a misanthrope, I guess. I'm more low energy. I'm less enthusiastic.

[Alison Stewart]

How did it go from week to week? After the first week, you get out there, okay, I got my sea legs. And then you get to study him a little bit more.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah, there's. Well, there's. You know, it's a strange balance because there's part of me that's rooting for him to do something really weird so I can be in. Have something to do in a scene. But, yeah, just kind of watching him and. But snl, they really kind of were hands off on the impression and some nuances. And, you know, he has physical mannerisms that were kind of unique that I would pick up. But some of it is just a Midwestern kind of little bit bouncy guy that I would just kind of insert in my personality.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's listen to a little bit of Jim Gaffigan as Tim Walz.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I gotta be honest here, folks. When Kamala Harris called me and asked me to be her vice president, I said, yeah, this is personal for me. I love this country. And as a former teacher, I need the money. This suit is from Costco. It's a Kirkland brand. They make great dog food.

[Alison Stewart]

Thank you, Tim. She's like, thank you, Tim. Get off stage.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

You were clean shaven for that?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yes. Yes.

[Alison Stewart]

How did that feel? Naked?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah, that is. You know, I always, you know, whenever I got an acting job, they always want me to shave my beard. And it's. Yeah, it's a little bit annoying, but, you know. Cause there is, you know, I think every guy who has a beard is wearing a beard because they wanna hide half their face. And so it's. It is some. There's a nakedness to it, but I also, you know, it's like, my kids really don't enjoy it either, so. It's fine. It's fine.

[Alison Stewart]

Did you experience any change in your fan base after being on snl?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Well, I don't know if I would say a change. We live in a pretty divisive time, so anything that is seen as appearing on a side. So there's people that have a problem with you being on snl? There's a problem. There's people that get furious that you appear, if you appear on the View. And I'm like, well, just why? Don't watch it. But we live in a very peculiar time where it's, you know, everything seems to be loaded with an opinion or. And even on both sides. So, like, there was even something of, like, people that were maybe kind of like, don't characterize him as, you know, in an unflattering way. This is too important. But as, you know, a comedian or an actor, you have to make strong choices.

[Alison Stewart]

My guest is Jim Gaffigan. You had. You could audition for snl, but you were resistant because you wanted to be an actor early in your career.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yes.

[Alison Stewart]

How did you experience standup as sort of the. Is it the in between of being a performer and a writer? Is it stand up or. I'm curious about that.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah. Well, stand up is. Most standup comedians are so spoiled because as a writer, there's the immediate feedback, and as a performer, there's the outlet. So the immediacy of being able to come up with an idea and try it on stage is just. I love acting, I love writing, but I'm so spoiled by having that access to the creative fulfillment. I mean, obviously, as a creative person, it's the process that's really rewarding. But getting that feedback helps a lot.

[Alison Stewart]

Did you see standup being, like, predominant in your career when you were young? A young person.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I, you know, I always had a romantic notion that. And there are different points in my career where maybe acting was more of a thing, but I try not to. You know, you have such little control over the perception world, you know, so it's. I'm grateful that I get to seek some fulfillment in the creative field. So it's. I wouldn't change the path I've had, really.

[Alison Stewart]

I watched the Skinny twice.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Oh, wow. Thank you.

[Alison Stewart]

It was really good.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Thanks.

[Alison Stewart]

And the beginning is so interesting because you talk about your weight loss. You're very open about it. You say, I used to be fat, now I'm just arrogant.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

When did it become clear to you that this was going to be the way you were going to start your special weight loss?

[Jim Gaffigan]

It's, you know, when you, when you, you know, stand up is all self assignment. And so there's certain segments or chunks and it's autobiographical and you're. Essentially, it's this ongoing conversation you have with people that come to shows over the years, and it has to evolve. But how I knew that. Well, first of all, it's very introductory. It's similar to when you go on stage as a new comedian. People, they interpret you from your appearance, so you have to address it on first impressions. And self awareness is really an important thing to communicate, to build trust with an audience. So the fact that I had this weight loss, it's just. It's like if I didn't bring it up, people were like, is he not gonna bring that up? So you have to. Visual things you have to address.

[Alison Stewart]

That's funny.

[Jim Gaffigan]

So if you're wearing a certain outfit or you've done something different with your hair, it just makes sense to bring it up because otherwise it would be distracting.

[Alison Stewart]

You talk about being someone who likes food. It's been a big part of your brand for a long time. One special, you talked about eating Hot Pockets all the time. Right. Have you found that your physical change has changed your comedy in any way?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Well, you know, I would say that my comedy is always. I mean, some of it is. I'm known as a guy who talks a lot about food, but some of it. And I have talked a lot about food, but it's not the only topic that I've discussed. But I would also say, what's so great about these appetite suppressants? Even though we're gonna find out that they cause people to grow tails. But, like, what's so great about it?

[Alison Stewart]

So scare me.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I am telling you what's so great about it. And what people don't realize, and I'm not even like, you know, being paid by any is it's not like you don't have interest in food. If for me, somebody who has like, obviously an eating disorder, it's. It makes you eat like a normal human being. So in other words, instead of, you know, sitting back with my wife and polishing off two boxes of Triscuits, I'll only have a half a box of Triscuits. So it's, it's just a normal consumption. Because there is something about. I'm kind of like a dog, you know, like dogs don't know how to turn off, like stop eating. I'm kind of like that.

[Alison Stewart]

I'm wondering when you're on tour, like I've been touring as a, as a reporter. And you just are like, oh, I'll eat this. I'll eat out of the machine. I'll eat this in my hotel room. Do you still have that sort of, you know, I don't know what it is. It's sort of like Pavlov's dog. I walk into a hotel room, gotta eat.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Oh, yeah. No, my wife, it drives her crazy. Whenever I get in an airport, I'm like, we gotta get food. And she's like, the flight's 40 minutes. I'm like, you never know, we might be trapped on the Runway for three hours and so. But yeah, you know, but I've, you know, over the years of touring, I have gotten to a point where I'll try not to eat before because I'm such a low energy person. I try not to eat before a show or I eat very light and then afterwards I'll eat. That's when the real the grazing starts after a show.

[Alison Stewart]

There's so much around these weight loss drugs, which is kind of their kind of secret. It was a big secret.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

Did you ever have reservations about talking about it?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Not really. I mean, first of all, I'm kind of the type person, if I try to have a secret, it usually like I'm somebody. It comes out, it comes out like I'm also maybe because I'm so goofy looking. It's like every teacher, if I did something wrong, I would immediately be identified. But I guess I just don't think that there's anything wrong with it. I was surprised that it worked because I'm usually somebody where it's like, you know, like even doing the eye scan at the airport, it doesn't work, you know, clear at the airport. It doesn't work for me. Cause I'm not human. I don't know. And so. But yeah, I don't think there's anything wrong with whatever, you know, it is helping. You know, it's like my glucose levels and all that. My knees don't hurt, so it is all good again. Eventually, I'm gonna grow a T. I don't know what it is, but yes.

[Alison Stewart]

Do you hear from fans after you've told them about this? After the show?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah. Well, there's a lot of people that are on this stuff. I guess it is, you know, it is an individual choice. Right. But I just think that there's this contemporary view of people being secretive, maybe because it is such an. A struggle for some people that they want to just appear like they've done it themselves. But I'm fine, you know, I've got five kids. I'm barely getting by anyway. You know what I mean?

[Alison Stewart]

Oh, I know. And I got one, and I can't. Oh, five.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah. It's insane.

[Alison Stewart]

Five in New York, too.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yes. Right. And I, you know, I feel like I live in a psych ward. It's really just. I'm just not that good at parenting, I feel like, you know, and we're in this age of the anxious generation and all that, and it's like, history's not gonna be kind to our generation. Like, my parenting is essentially, I'm like a repo man for Verizon. I'm just taking phones from kids. That's most of my parenting.

[Alison Stewart]

You joke that being a parent is like being a psychic who's constantly correct but always ignored.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yes. Yes. Because the advice you bestow is automatically ignored. It's almost. I don't know if it's this way with your teen, but, like, it's better for the information I'm trying to communicate. To come from a different person than me.

[Alison Stewart]

Yes. So much better.

[Jim Gaffigan]

It's like, if they have a friend, you're like, hey, maybe suggest that they don't do that, because if they hear it from me, it'll make them want to do it.

[Alison Stewart]

I post Instagram stories to him. I'm like, see? This Coach said to do that.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah. Yeah. Oh, absolutely. That's so funny. Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

My guest is Jim Gaffigan. His latest standup special, the Skinny, is available to stream now on Hulu Now. That's a new initiative for Hulu, right? Yes. When you think about how comedy has changed and how streaming has changed comedy, what do you think it's done to it?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Oh, my gosh. It is. It's amazing, really. What, I mean, I'm here for a Hulu special, but really what Netflix and Ted Sarandos has done for standup is overwhelming. I mean, YouTube was huge and satellite radio was really instrumental and Comedy Central was cable. Really transformed. When I was a little kid, you either watched it on the Tonight show or you didn't see standup. And so. But this streaming has really made it immediate and accessible and provided an outlet for comedians to kind of, in a way, kind of publish a book. So like even the fact that comedians come out with a special every couple years is something that didn't exist, you know, 10, 15 years ago. It was just George Carlin or Jerry Seinfeld putting out specials. It was really unheard of for comedians. And now there's comedians, you know, doing arenas. Like Nate Barghazzi will be a stadium act in our lifetime. Probably. He's gonna be Taylor Swift.

[Alison Stewart]

Well, you know, on sort of the opposite end of streaming, you've got a spot on CBS Sunday Morning.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Oh, I love it. I love CBS Sunday Morning.

[Alison Stewart]

How did that job come about and why is that a good job for you?

[Jim Gaffigan]

It's, it's, you know, there's something about that show that if you get it, you get it like it is for a lot of people. That's their church, that's what they do on Sunday is they watch that. There's, you know, a tone to that show that I can kind of bump up against the edge of it and not, you know, cause it is the morning, it is Sunday. So you can't be too sarcastic, you can't be too irreverent, but you can be a little bit snarky maybe. And I love it as a creative outlet. And during the pandemic, it was a lifeline for my creativity. And in a lot of ways it's, it is this, you know, it's this ongoing relationship I have with just short commentaries that in some ways is just me complaining for a minute and a half. That is, you know, it's obvious I've.

[Alison Stewart]

Got something to complain about.

[Jim Gaffigan]

No, but it's very this, very much the spirit of Andy Rooney. But it is, it's this incredible creative outlet and it's, I'm so grateful to have that outlet and to kind of connect with, I think, like minded people that kind of love that show.

[Alison Stewart]

I worked on the show for three years and I just really did love it. It was long form. You had a chance to explore your subject, the person you were talking to. It was, it was really, I don't know, and also sort of heartfelt.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah. There's a tone and an unabashed sincerity to it. Right. So when. Even when I talk or I complain about my kids, there is the premise that obviously I care about them, so therefore, I can complain about them, if that makes sense.

[Alison Stewart]

All right. We talked about your weight loss and your special. We talked about parenthood. You also bring up Christianity as part of your standup. You tell a joke about Abraham.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

My son is Isaac.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Ah, there you go.

[Alison Stewart]

Got my attention. You say you write, though. I'm sorry. You say, though. I'm a Christian. And the reason I say that is to make you feel uncomfortable.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

Why does that make people uncomfortable?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Well, I think it's. In some ways, it makes me uncomfortable. And, you know, there is something. I mean, because my wife is really kind of much more of this facilitator of fostering and maintaining my faith, I can. I have this kind of. You know, I think with everyone, it's moving their relationship with a belief system, whether it be Christianity or another religion or even the practice of meditation. There's nothing consistent about it. So I love talking about it in standup because it is universal, it's historical, and it also really. I believe it's really a commentary on humans. So sometimes people online will be like, how dare you question God? Or whatever. I'm, like, I'm criticizing humans. I'm not criticizing the belief systems of it, so. But I love that because it is this interesting topic that I, you know, I. You know, the religion material sticks around more than the food material, ironically.

[Alison Stewart]

You know why that's interesting?

[Jim Gaffigan]

I don't know. I think it's. It's. It's. I think it's just something maybe because it's. So there's a curiosity there, and it's also timeless, and there's a combination of. People are familiar with it. But also, I can present a point of view, and then I can also, you know, I'm learning, but also questioning. I don't know. I think it's why it's. You know, all those books are still curious to people after thousands of years, you know.

[Alison Stewart]

My guest is Jim Gaffigan. His latest standup special is the Skinny. It's available to stream now on Hulu. Okay, I'm gonna bring up the C word. Clean.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Okay, sure.

[Alison Stewart]

The Wall Street Journal anointed you that in 2013. It's over a decade long, but it comes up and it comes up, and it comes up, and you've described it as you don't want to be Known as clean. You want to be known as a funny. Comics want to be known as funny.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

Do you consider clean a pejorative?

[Jim Gaffigan]

No, I wouldn't. I mean, I wouldn't say that. I just would. It. There's, there's, you know, like, if you, if you consider music, there's different adjectives and different subsections, right? There's country, there's rock, there's R and B and all this. And so the natural tendency is to do that with comedy. Right? So clean, filthy, irreverent. But the reality is that all comedy has to have an element of surprise for it to be effective. So when people go online to, you know, and they look on a streaming service for a comedy special, you know, like if you're at a certain point in your life, if you're gonna watch something with your Grandma or a 10 year old, you want clean comedy. But often people want something irreverent. And so if they see clean, they might be like, well, I don't want clean, I want funny. And so that's where I prefer funny over clean.

[Alison Stewart]

Where do you stand on authentic?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Authentic? Well, I think that's the price of entry for comedy. And that's the. I mean, I curse in everyday life, but in the end, I am a guy from a small town where cursing on stage it wouldn't appear weird. It just would. It's more authentic for a New Yorker to say the F word, right? It's, you know, But I'm from a small town in Indiana. People would be like, are you okay? But if you're from Brooklyn, it's like, it's not that weird. Even though, like, I think New Yorkers curse less now than they did in the 90s. I'm not.

[Alison Stewart]

Please don't.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I'm not gonna. Do you know what I'm saying?

[Alison Stewart]

I'm ready. I'm ready for it.

[Jim Gaffigan]

But in the 90s, it was. That's an interesting. That's a WNYC article, the decrease of cursing in New York City. It's a topic.

[Alison Stewart]

When you're talking about authentic, it seems like there's been a divide because you have one group of comics like you, like Hannah Gatsby, who are authentic, and then you have other ones like Hasan Minhaj, who's had some trouble with the word recently. What do you think authentic is in comedy? Should you be able to expand on the truth or do you have to stay with the truth?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Well, I think there's. It's so slippery, right? Because it is. Comedy is exaggeration, right? It is hyperbole. But there are, you know, and I'm not criticizing, like, whatever someone does, someone does, but, like, there is, you know, there is some. It has to be grounded in some basic facts. So. But that's where it's. And when you start comedy and you do stand up, the audience is very generous in letting you know how you come across. And how you come across is some of that authenticity. And so I didn't realize how white bred I was until I came to New York. Like, when I was in the Midwest, I was like, this is a mistake. I'm supposed to be in New York City. And then I get to New York and they're like, you're the most, you know, Midwestern looking guy I've ever seen in my life. And so there is. There's the perception and then there's the authenticity, but if you're. If you're misrepresenting yourself, eventually it's going to be exposed.

[Alison Stewart]

I got a note here that says Jude Law's here, and he says he knows Jim Gaffigan and that we should say hello. So hello from Jude Law.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah, I was Smee to his Captain Hook. We were in Vancouver during the pandemic, and it was me and him and a bunch of kids.

[Alison Stewart]

Not your kids, though.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Not my kids.

[Alison Stewart]

You left your kids at home.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I know. I left my wife during the pandemic for four months with five children.

[Alison Stewart]

Get out.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah, no, she still hasn't forgiven me.

[Alison Stewart]

The name of the special is the Skinny. It's on Hulu. Jim, thanks for coming by.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Thank you. Thanks for having me.

[Alison Stewart]

Since WNYC's first broadcast in 1924, we've been dedicated to creating the kind of content we know the world needs. Since then, New York Public Radio's rigorous journalism has gone on to win a Peabody Award and a Dupont Columbia Award, among others. In addition to this award winning reporting, your sponsorship also supports inspiring storytelling and extraordinary music that is free and accessible to all. To get in touch and find out more, visit sponsorship.wnyc.org.