SUNDAY SITDOWN REWIND: Jim Gaffigan on Comedy, Family Life, and Finding Humor in the Everyday

Summary

Sunday Sitdown Rewind: Jim Gaffigan on Comedy, Family, and Finding Humor in the Everyday

Podcast: Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist
Host: Willie Geist
Guest: Jim Gaffigan
Date: October 31, 2025

---

Episode Overview

This episode features a candid and often hilarious conversation between Willie Geist and standup comedian Jim Gaffigan. Although Jim isn’t promoting a new project, the chat dives into his comedy, reflections on pandemic life, family dynamics, evolving habits, maintaining “clean” comedy, venturing into dramatic acting, and staying relevant in unpredictable times. The tone balances introspection and wit, capturing Gaffigan’s signature observational style. The setting is unusual—a snowy park in Westchester, NY—where Geist and Gaffigan embark on a cross-country skiing outing before settling by a fire for heartfelt discussion.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cross Country Skiing as Pandemic Solace

Timestamps: 04:02–10:59

• Why Cross Country?
  Gaffigan confesses he took up cross-country skiing during the pandemic as a socially-distanced excuse to get out of the house.

  "You need excuses to get away from your family, and the safe options are limited." – Jim Gaffigan (04:11)

• Popularity and Exercise:
  Reflects on how the pandemic forced people to find new hobbies and jokes about the unpopularity of cross-country skiing:

  "Hey, do you want to go cross country skiing? It's like if you find the elliptical too dynamic. No, I like it." (04:45)

• Pandemic Nuances:
  Gaffigan jokes about pandemic-induced desperation:

  "This pandemic has been an opportunity to re-examine all your values." (06:17)

• Family Participation:
  Admits he hasn't coaxed his kids into skiing:

  "I'm too cheap. I don't want to waste the money on these." (05:27)

• The Meditative Escape:
  Describes cross-country skiing as "meditative" and a rare chance for solitude.

2. Everyday Pandemic Life & Family Dynamics

Timestamps: 13:00–18:48

• Family Life with Five Kids:
  Discusses the reality of a full house, distance learning, and coping with intensity:

  "We take turns kind of holding it together. Right. It's really strange and hard..." (14:12)

• Humor About Health:
  Jokes about his and his wife’s “high risk” health status and the downsides of pandemic weight:

  "My wife is high risk and I'm considered high risk because as she describes it, I'm obese. I am obese." (14:53)

• New Quirky Habits:
  Mentions gardening, online grocery shopping ("actually takes longer and is more annoying"), and increased social media use with trademark sarcasm.
• Pandemic-Induced Drinking:
  Gaffigan pokes fun at his evolving relationship with alcohol during lockdown.

3. Navigating Social Media and Going Political

Timestamps: 18:48–24:56

• Online Commentary:
  Gaffigan jokes about angry drivers with car selfies as profile pics and the odd nature of social media engagement.
• Turning Political:
  Explains his rare, viral political tweets during the 2020 Republican National Convention:

  "I didn't want my kids to not see me take a stand for things that I believe in. I felt like that was more important than adding a second show in Cincinnati..." (19:08)

  • He wanted clarity for his children and catharsis for himself, aware it could alienate some fans.
• Concern About Broad Appeal:
  Considers the possible cost of speaking out for performers known for wide, apolitical appeal.
• Comparison to Dolly Parton:

  "I understand that Dolly Parton... has done the approach, you don't need to do that. But I'm a comedian. I'm not a singer." (22:52)

4. Comedy, Creativity, and the Toll of the Shutdown

Timestamps: 25:01–32:28

• Missing Standup:
  Expresses the creative loss of being off stage:

  "Going on stage and getting immediate feedback...is the endorphin rush...going cold turkey is really something..." (25:12)

• Home Life as a Comedian:
  Jokes about his family's exhaustion from his bits and his new, slower pandemic pace:

  "I'm gonna need a couple days just to recover from this interview." (26:56)

• Pandemic Comfort Zones:
  Swapping pants for sweats, lower prioritization of grooming/showers, and adapting to pandemic lethargy.
• Comedic Rustiness:
  Admits lack of new standup writing, concern about upcoming tour readiness:

  "I have material. I had material. I haven't really looked at it...I'm going to be going on tour. Yikes." (30:47)

5. Finding Comedy Roots: From Family to Letterman

Timestamps: 32:28–41:24

• Family Influence:
  Youngest of six siblings—humor as a tool for sibling approval and commentary on family quirks.
• Transition to Comedy:
  Initially pursued finance for “security,” but found misery and had to reevaluate. Comedy became a passion project after honest self-assessment.
• Struggles Early On:
  Recounts rejection, “mental illness” as a necessary trait for doggedness, and being the “weird uncle.”
• Career Turning Point: Letterman Appearance:
  Details finally landing a coveted set on Letterman (1999), the Indiana pride connection, and how the TV spot changed perception and opened doors:

  "If someone of David Letterman's level is okay with you, then everyone else opens the door." (40:01)

6. The “Hot Pockets” Phenomenon and Being a Clean Comic

Timestamps: 41:24–51:51

• Hot Pockets Bit:
  Discusses the bit’s real-world impact and ongoing association (“blessing and a curse”):

  "It will pay for my children to go to college, but it's also...do I need more drunk people yelling Hot Pocket to me?" (42:42)

  • Describes adapting the bit, encountering Hot Pocket headlines, and performing the joke as encore crowd-pleasers.
• Clean, Family-Friendly Reputation:
  On media labels, says only adjective he wants is “funny;” dismisses “clean” as central identity.

  "As a comedian, I guess I am. I don't curse, but as an individual, I'm a horrible person." (46:06) "No one is going to a comedy show...just to hear someone not curse." (46:28)

• Experimenting with Edgier Material:
  Tried different comedic voices early on, but ultimately landed on authenticity:

  "You don't immediately obtain your voice on stage...but there was a time when I tried being filthy." (48:15)

• Seinfeld’s Perspective:
  References Seinfeld’s belief that gratuitous cursing is a crutch for unfinished jokes:

  "I discovered...a lot of those jokes weren't done. There were these crutches that held them up." (50:07)

7. The Changing Nature of Work, Lessons Learned, and Professional Growth

Timestamps: 51:51–56:34

• Advice and Authenticity:
  Gaffigan reflects on receiving and disregarding advice, only to internalize lessons through lived experience.
• Branching Out to Dramatic Acting:
  On balancing standup with acting:

  "I've always wanted to act. It's just the opportunities were not there." (53:35)

  • Entertainment industry is risk-averse. Comedians pigeonholed; had to prove dramatic ability (ex: Chappaquiddick, Peter Pan).
  • Talks about the joy of being “the partner” in creating a film and his aversion to roles with excessive responsibility:

  "The whole being in charge of everything thing sounds like a nightmare...I need too much sleep." (56:19)

8. The Strength of Collaboration: Jim and Jeannie

Timestamps: 56:34–61:08

• Meeting & Working Together:
  Jeannie (his wife) started as acting coach, now a frequent collaborator and director.
• Shared Work Ethic:
  Both have an "unhealthy" dedication to work, balance parenting and creativity, evolving collaboration.
• On Jeannie’s Health Crisis:
  Openly discusses using the experience in standup, finding universality in hardship:

  "I took these tools of writing jokes about bacon and naps and I applied it to this medical crisis..." (59:47)

9. Observational Comedy and Relevance Post-Pandemic

Timestamps: 62:43–66:00

• Observing Everyday Struggles:
  Gaffigan wonders how pandemic references in comedy will age:

  "Will these observations...be relevant after this?" (63:34)

  • Anticipates people may resist reliving the trauma publicly, but minor grievances (like online groceries) still unite us in laughter.
• Moving Forward:
  Humor about shared misery serves as release, but cautions against wallowing:

  "It's going to be a reference point, but...culturally, we might want to move on." (64:59)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On escaping through cross-country skiing:

  "This is like outside of snowshoeing, this is the sport where you don't have to even invite people because you know they don't want to do it." (04:45)

• On coping with pandemic family life:

  "We take turns kind of holding it together. Right. It's really strange and hard..." (14:12)

• On family-friendly “clean” comedy:

  "The only adjective comedians want is...funny." (46:10)

• On Letterman’s significance:

  "If someone of David Letterman's level is okay with you, then everyone else opens the door." (40:01)

• On learning through experience:

  "A lot of advice we get that we only understand once. We don't take the advice and then we learn it." (52:24)

• On using personal crisis in comedy:

  "I took these tools of writing jokes about bacon and naps and I applied it to this medical crisis that my wife went through..." (59:47)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Section | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------|---------------| | Cross-country skiing & pandemic escape | 04:02–10:59 | | Family/pandemic life | 13:00–18:48 | | Social media & politics | 18:48–24:56 | | Pandemic’s impact on comedy | 25:01–32:28 | | Comedy roots, Letterman | 32:28–41:24 | | "Hot Pockets" & clean comedy | 41:24–51:51 | | Professional growth, acting | 51:51–56:34 | | Collaboration with Jeannie | 56:34–61:08 | | Observational comedy & future themes | 62:43–66:00 |

---

Final Thoughts

This episode delivers a rich, lighthearted, but remarkably honest portrait of Jim Gaffigan at a moment of upheaval and reassessment. The tone is intimate—often self-deprecating, sometimes sincere—mixing reflections on parenting, the nuts and bolts of comedic craft, grappling with personal vulnerability, and the value of staying true to oneself even while the world spins in new directions.

For fans and newcomers alike, this is a rewarding snapshot into the mind of one of comedy’s most relatable voices.

Transcript

[Jim Gaffigan]

Went to Rome.

[Podcast Host 1]

I thought that my boyfriend was going.

[Jim Gaffigan]

To propose to me.

[Podcast Host 1]

He wasn't.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I did use my sapphire reserve for the flight, so the points did make up for the whole no proposal.

[Commercial Voice]

Earn 8 times points when booking through Chase Travel with Chase Sapphire Reserve now even more rewarding. See More [e-mail] Reserve IT cards issued by JP Morgan Chase Bank North America member FDIC subject to credit approval terms apply.

[Podcast Host 1]

Rachel Sennett has a new HBO original series called I Love la. Rachel is the breakout star from Bottoms and Shiva Baby and is now the creator and star of this new HBO comedy. Filmed in Los Angeles, this show follows a young, ambitious friend group navigating life and love in the city. Along with Rachel, I Love also stars Odessa Azion, Jordan Firstman, Josh Hutcherson and True Whitaker. Don't miss the world premiere of I love LA tonight at 10:30pm exclusively on HBO. Max subscription required. Visit HBOMax.com for details.

[Willie Geist]

Hey guys, Willie Geist here. You know I'm preparing for my next big Sunday Sit Down Live event at City Winery in New York City with the hilarious Jim Gaffigan. Coming up on November 10th, we we're gonna tuck into some of his Father Time bourbon, sit around and just have story time with all of you. If you'd like to join us in the audience, you can be there live with me and Jim Gaffigan. Just head to today.comfanfest to grab a seat. In the meantime, I've been going back and listening to my old interviews with Jim Gaffigan to get ready, come up with some new material. Thought you'd like to listen in too. So sit back, relax and enjoy a special Sunday Sit Down Rewind with Jim Gaffigan.

[Podcast Host 2]

I've got a personal favorite for you.

[Willie Geist]

Today with superstar standup comedian Jim Gaffigan, one of the funniest people walking this earth right now. And part of the reason I love this podcast and our Sunday Sit down that you can watch on NBC as well is that there was no reason for it. He doesn't really have a movie coming out today. He doesn't really have a stand up special that begins streaming. There's no book to talk about, it's just that we kind of live near each other and he has taken up cross country skiing, something he has railed against in his stand up act in the past during this pandemic. He's got his family up outside of New York City where they typically live for the last year or so to spread out and have some more space. His wonderful wife Jeannie and their five children living up in Westchester county, which is north of New York City. And he decided to take up cross country skiing. I asked him why, despite the fact he's claimed he doesn't like it, and as you'll hear him explain, it's because it gets him away from his family that no one else wants to go cross country skiing. So he bought the skis. He's been doing it up in this park, and he said, hey, why don't you and I go for a cross country ski, and then we can just sit and talk. So that's exactly what we did. So what you'll hear at first is the two of us. I've never been on cross country skis. I'm a pretty good downhill skier, but never done cross country for all the reasons that Jim Gaffigan rails against.

[Podcast Host 2]

Because it's three.

[Willie Geist]

The worst part of skiing, which is.

[Podcast Host 2]

Just on flat land. I like the downhill. I like gravity to help.

[Willie Geist]

But he claims to like it. So he offered to give me a little lesson. Kind of confessed he wasn't as good as he claimed and didn't know as much about it as he'd claimed when he pitched it to me.

[Podcast Host 2]

But we did it anyway.

[Willie Geist]

We had some fun. And then we sat down in that same park. There's a little sort of shelter there where we've had a fireplace. And we just talked about comedy. We talked about his amazing career, we talked about his not going blue, being a clean comedian, what that means to him, Is that an insult somehow in the world of comedy? His recent turn online, where he got political, he's been broad and apolitical in his comedy for most of his career. But he went on Twitter during the Republican National Convention, had a rant that got a lot of news, and we'll talk about why he did that. I'm rambling. You don't need to hear from me anymore. You want to hear from the great Jim Gaffigan, and please have mercy, as you have a mental picture of the two of us in an open park, basically a big baseball field covered in snow and ice, me trying cross country skiing for the first time right now with the great Jim Gaffigan on the Sunday Sit down podcast.

[Podcast Host 2]

Jim, we're in the middle of a field.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yes.

[Podcast Host 2]

Somewhere outside New York City.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yes.

[Podcast Host 2]

On razor thin skis.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yes.

[Podcast Host 2]

Why are we doing this?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Because one of the things we've learned during the pandemic is you need excuses to get away from your family, and the safe options are limited. That, and I'm training for The Winter Olympic. Are you Beijing in 24? Is it Beijing?

[Podcast Host 2]

I think so, yeah.

[Jim Gaffigan]

That's good because I have an apartment there thanks to Joe Biden.

[Podcast Host 2]

So I think probably one of the advantages of this sport is that not many people want to join you in it. So if you want to be alone, this is the one.

[Jim Gaffigan]

This is like outside of snowshoeing, this is the sport where you don't have to even invite people because you know they don't want to do it. Hey, do you want to go cross country skiing? It's like if you find the elliptical too dynamic. No, I like it. There's something meditative about cross country skiing and it's, it gets me away from my family and I mean that in the most horrible way.

[Podcast Host 2]

Have you tried to recruit them at all the kids or genie come out and done this?

[Jim Gaffigan]

I'm too cheap. I don't want to waste the money on these. And when I bought these, by the way, they were all sold out. They were all sold out.

[Podcast Host 2]

Popular. Others are doing this.

[Jim Gaffigan]

It's very popular because there is, there's social distancing built into this.

[Willie Geist]

Right.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Because as you said, no one wants to do it.

[Podcast Host 2]

Is this for people who've not heard about downhill skiing?

[Jim Gaffigan]

It's, you know, if you're intimidated by the enjoyment of downhill skiing.

[Podcast Host 2]

I have to point out, Jim, you have a riff in one of your stand up acts about cross country ski skiing where you are really down on it.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yes.

[Podcast Host 2]

And now all of a sudden here you are.

[Jim Gaffigan]

So I know.

[Podcast Host 2]

How did the conversion happen?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Well, everything is. This pandemic has been an opportunity to re examine all your values. Right. And so cross country skiing is now something I enjoy and it also counts as exercise. So after this it's like, I don't know if there's a rule book, but after this you can eat whatever you want. You can have a milkshake, you can have two milkshakes.

[Podcast Host 2]

Is that what you do on the way home, Hit the drive through?

[Jim Gaffigan]

I do. We're allowed to eat whatever we want.

[Podcast Host 2]

I thought you put it well in your stand up when you said cross country skiing. Is that part of downhill skiing where you're just trying to get to the lift?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yes. Which is the worst part of the day. What if we just did that and here we are.

[Podcast Host 2]

Do you have a technique you like to use? I mean, it feels pretty.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I think it's kind of like, it's kind of like you have slippers on and you're trying to make as much noise so that your Wife knows that you're getting up and getting her coffee and you'd like a thank you. So it's kind of a lift, the slipper slide, the slipper, guilt trip slide, guilt trip slide, that kind of thing. Just a little wake up just a little bit. Like, I'm out here doing this for you. Think about that when I do my 3 hour nap in 20 minutes. Was cross country skiing part of your.

[Podcast Host 2]

Winters in Indiana, growing up?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Well, it is something I did, but again, I didn't do it much. We did it. I think my parents got the kids cross country skis thinking that we would use them, and we didn't. But, like, the. They. They were different then, you know, I mean, we didn't have snow pants back then. No. You know what I mean?

[Commercial Voice 2]

There was.

[Jim Gaffigan]

It was much more of the last resort of something to do, but I did it. Maybe. I've probably done it more times during this pandemic than I did in my entire life.

[Podcast Host 2]

And you do it around here because apparently there have been some sightings in the wild of Jim Gaffigan on his cross country skiing.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Well, some of that was the Abominable Snowman, but sometimes I will be seen out there. People will be like, who's that good looking guy? Cross country skiing, people will be like, oh, that's Jim Gaffigan. And then other people will be like, oh, he's so much better looking than I remember. And then, I don't know, but sometimes I'll get out there. It's just, you know, you get to spend some time away from your family, and your family's not there, and there's no family. You're. You're alone away from your family. But I love my family, and we.

[Podcast Host 2]

Mentioned Jim has five kids.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host 2]

And this time is very important.

[Jim Gaffigan]

It is.

[Willie Geist]

Yeah.

[Jim Gaffigan]

It's. It's like, you know, I haven't gotten to ice fishing. That's. That's where you really are just frightened to get a divorce. Right. Ice fishing, it's like, you know what? I. I don't want to split up the stuff, you know?

[Podcast Host 2]

This is a gateway to ice fishing.

[Jim Gaffigan]

This is the gateway to ice fishing.

[Podcast Host 2]

You're on your way. That is a solitary exercise alone on.

[Jim Gaffigan]

A frozen glaze hut. It's. Maybe it's like, how can you justify drinking during the day?

[Podcast Host 2]

Jim, this has been fun. What's the. What's the apres ski situation after cross country?

[Jim Gaffigan]

You bring that up? I. It's very traditional, European. I'll do something that kind of reminds me of what a European would do. So I'll go to five guys, or sometimes if I'm feeling a little bit, you know, different, I might go to Burger King. But it depends. If my kids, I have to reward them with food because they're my kids.

[Podcast Host 2]

Sure.

[Jim Gaffigan]

And food is a reward. Right. And that's the healthy approach to food. But, yeah, no, it's usually go back and then make them dinner and make them. And then just start the process of begging them to sleep.

[Podcast Host 2]

Right. And you've earned your own nap after this.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I've earned my own nap.

[Commercial Voice 3]

Yeah.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I'm a big napper. I believe in naps. You know, so many of the problems of this world could be solved with naps. You know what I mean? Like, there's a lot of problems in the Middle East. It's like, those guys should nap. You know what I mean? Maybe the Israelis and the Palestinians need to nap together. You know what I mean? I'm just saying. I'm just pitching that if that comes up later on and people like, this is a good idea to be like, oh, you know what? Jim Gaffigan brought us that.

[Podcast Host 2]

Well, they've tried everything else. Why not napping?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Let's see if it works.

[Podcast Host 2]

Let's see if it works.

[Jim Gaffigan]

The Nap Accords.

[Podcast Host 2]

Which will later become known as the Gaffigan Accords.

[Jim Gaffigan]

The Gaffigan Accords, right.

[Willie Geist]

Hey, guys, thanks for listening to the Sunday Sit down podcast. Stick around to hear more from Jim Gaffigan. Right after the break.

[Jim Gaffigan]

In the red corner, the undisputed, undefeated Weed Whacker Guy, Champion of hurling grass and pollen everywhere. And in the blue corner, the challenger, Extra Strength Hannity Eye drops that work all day to prevent the release of histamines that cause itchy allergy eyes. And the winner, my knockout is Pataday. Pataday. Bring it on.

[Commercial Voice]

Most security systems react after a break in begins. That's too late. Simplisafe is different. It's proactive. Active Guard Outdoor Protection uses AI powered cameras to spot suspicious activity before criminals get inside. Live monitoring agents can see, speak to, and scare off intruders in real time, quickly calling police if needed. To get 50% off your new system, go to SimpliSafe.com podcast. That's SimpliSafe.com podcast for 50% off. There's no safe like SimpliSafe.

[Commercial Voice 2]

Need to restock inventory, cover seasonal dips, or manage payroll. Ondeck's small business line of credit provides immediate access to funds up to $200,000 exactly when your business needs it, with flexible draws, transparent pricing, and full Control over repayment. You can tackle unexpected expenses without missing a beat. Apply [e-mail] and funds could be as soon as tomorrow. Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by On Deck or Celtic Bank. On Deck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans and amount subject to lender approval.

[Willie Geist]

Welcome back to the Sunday Sit down podcast. Now more of my conversation with Jim Gaffigan as we sit down for a little apres ski with Hot Coco after our cross country adventure.

[Podcast Host 2]

Cheers, man.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Cheers.

[Podcast Host 2]

Good to see you.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Good to see you.

[Podcast Host 2]

Look at us by a fire with hot cocoa.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I know, right? Fires are so relaxing, right? It's very nice.

[Podcast Host 2]

I feel very mellow right now. So is this a typical apres ski for you then? I mean, this is usually in between the five guys.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I'll go to five guys, have hot chocolate, then I will go pick up some bagels. I do a lot of online grocery shopping, which is fascinating because it actually takes longer and is more annoying than shopping in person. Right?

[Podcast Host 2]

Totally, totally. I didn't realize, I guess I should have that. I was in a grocery store one time early in the morning and the only other people in there were the shoppers. For people like you.

[Jim Gaffigan]

You didn't look at them, didn't you? Don't look at them.

[Podcast Host 2]

No, no. I felt very out of place though.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I said, don't look at me, shopper.

[Podcast Host 2]

So beyond cross country skiing.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yes.

[Podcast Host 2]

How has the last year been for you and Jeanne and the kids?

[Jim Gaffigan]

It's insane. I think we're. I think we're all. We're not even aware of how insane this experience has been. Right. I think that it's been a measure of finding some balance. I feel like in my household, with my family, it's. We take turns kind of holding it together. Right. It's really strange and hard and obviously other people have it much harder, you know, and so. But yeah, we have five kids doing distance learning. My wife is high risk and I'm considered high risk because as she describes it, I'm obese. I am obese.

[Podcast Host 2]

It's nice of her to remind you of that.

[Jim Gaffigan]

It just feels like obese. I mean, it's just short for American, right? Obese. I have an app. My wife bought me a scale cause she loves me and I stepped on it and all the type's really small and I didn't know what it said. I thought it said, you know, underneath it, like average. And I showed my 16 year old daughter, I'm like, what does that say? Does that say average? And she said it says obese.

[Podcast Host 2]

No, she got you an app that.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Reminds you that I'm obese.

[Podcast Host 2]

Wow, that's tough.

[Jim Gaffigan]

But I feel like that would be a cool band name. Right? Obese. Have you heard the new album by Obese? I feel like there would be a female singer of obese. Right, Right.

[Podcast Host 2]

I can see you on bass.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Maybe I'd be on bass. Or drums.

[Podcast Host 2]

Just in the back.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Drum seems like a lot of work. Bass is more.

[Podcast Host 2]

Are there any other new habits that you've picked up besides cross country skiing? We've all sort of found ourselves doing things we never would have had time for or dreamed we'd be doing.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Right. Well, I did the gardening. I have been exercising. I hadn't done that in decades. What else have I been doing in.

[Podcast Host 2]

Addition to the cross country skiing?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Well, I can sit. That's the great thing about cross country skiing. You're just sliding. But that counts as exercise.

[Podcast Host 2]

Absolutely.

[Jim Gaffigan]

And we're all about hitting our steps. Right. So how many steps do I have? I try to hit steps and then around like 11. I just consume alcohol. I don't know if that's good or bad. Like, if you drink like a. Like drinking two bottles of bourbon a night, that's not bad.

[Podcast Host 2]

Well, it does offset the cross country scheme.

[Jim Gaffigan]

They're not big bottles, they're. Well, they're that size bottles, but they're. They're American. So it's like I'm supporting the economy.

[Podcast Host 2]

Right.

[Jim Gaffigan]

You know what I mean?

[Podcast Host 2]

Right. Right. It's important to support small business right now.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I get violent when I. I tend to get violent when I drink bourbon.

[Podcast Host 2]

When you drink a handle of bourbon late at night.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I never, I never was a drink at night kind of guy. I was much more drink during the day. But I've engaged in that. My wife is encourage that. I guess she would. I guess you would call her enabling that. No, but it's weird how there's so. I was never a cocktail at night guy.

[Podcast Host 2]

Okay.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I would do that. I've done that a little bit.

[Podcast Host 2]

Yep.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I've had a. Spent an enormous amount on social media, which is always productive. That's always productive. That's quality time used always ends well. Do you know what I mean? You put time in and when you're done dealing with social media, you always feel better. You always feel better. You feel like you've done productive use of your time.

[Podcast Host 2]

Well, it's nice to hear from the people sometimes too, isn't it?

[Jim Gaffigan]

And you know what? And some of them it's Amazing how, like, people with zero followers and no posts seem the most angry. And a lot of the people. Why are so many people's social media profiles. Their avatars are pictures of them driving what appears to be a car. Yeah, it's just them in a driver's seat.

[Podcast Host 2]

Right. What are they trying to say?

[Jim Gaffigan]

They don't have time.

[Podcast Host 2]

Right, Right.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Gotta make a profile photo. I'm in my car. Like, they're all signing up while they're driving. Yeah, they're probably doing online shopping for.

[Podcast Host 2]

Of course they are. Which is a huge pain in the ass. Speaking of being online, you've been active in this last year, in particular, speaking out about politics, taking some stands. We hadn't heard from you publicly.

[Willie Geist]

I know.

[Podcast Host 2]

Over the years. What was that decision about? Why did you make that turn?

[Jim Gaffigan]

I wanted to alienate as many people as I could. No, it was. I mean, I've kind of talked about it online, but some of it is, I think, over the fall, it was. I wanted. I saw the way things could go and I wanted to be very clear. And also, as a parent, I didn't want my kids to not see me take a stand for things that I believe in. I felt like that was more important than adding a second show in Cincinnati, by the way, I love Cincinnati, but. And I, you know, some of it, I describe it as almost kind of treating myself, but we're all looking for a catharsis through this crisis. Right. And sometimes you're articulating things well. And I don't know, it's weird because I'm always somebody who believed that no one, no celebrity is going to change anyone's vote. And I don't believe that I changed anyone's vote. I just wanted people to not necessarily fall for the lies. Do you know what I mean?

[Podcast Host 2]

Yeah.

[Jim Gaffigan]

And so that's what I kind of hope for, because I do think that it's not that I think people care about my views, it's just that I care about their views. Do you know what I mean? I don't think people care about who I vote for. I care about who they're voting for. And that's why I'm running for governor of Texas against Matthew McConaughey, because he's in the pocket of China. China owns him. That's if Matthew McConaughey. He is not a clone. He could be.

[Podcast Host 2]

Is this your first attack ad here exclusively with us?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Attack ad. First of all, I'm obviously better looking than Matthew McConaughey. Goes without saying, better shape. I'm better on bongos. He is a leftist. His Matthew McConaughey's radical leftist agenda for he wants everyone to play bongos. I don't know. You can't use any of this.

[Podcast Host 2]

Oh, it's all we're using. It's all we're using. Was there any calculation? Because I know people who've sort of had that same evolution of, okay, maybe if I speak out, I might lose a couple of fans or I might lose business opportunities in not just comedians, but I know people in other areas who've sort of made their careers with broad appeal. Was there any consideration of that? And you just thought, well, this is too important. I'm gonna do it anyway.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah, you know, I. And believe me, I really was ambitious and wanted to expand the audience, and I wanted to subtly communicate ideas through my comedy. But I think it's hanging around my kids, and I didn't want there to be any blur. Cause there was very much. Occasionally I would see people describe me as conservative because, you know, I'm a Catholic and all these things. And so I felt, you know, while I enjoyed the. The unknowingness or staying out of it, I also felt that we're in an interesting time in our country, and I don't want my kids to be looking at me and going, why didn't you stand up? Why didn't you say that these things are important? Why didn't you say this behavior is wrong? And so, you know, I understand that Dolly Parton, which I've often compared to is. And I have a lot of respect for Dolly Parton. Love Dolly Parton. And she's done the approach, you know, you don't need to do that. But I'm a comedian. I'm not a singer. I mean, I have a very beautiful voice.

[Podcast Host 2]

Your album's coming out soon.

[Jim Gaffigan]

My album's coming out soon. It's mostly Edmund, but. No, but to each their own. And you know what? There is kind of. I haven't done stand up really, in a year, so maybe I lost sight of what I'm going to lose. Maybe I'll regret it. I don't really. I don't. I don't have any regrets on, you know, like, essentially standing up for things that I would want my children to stand up for. And I'm sure I'll make mistakes, you know, but I'm one of those people who's, like, boldly gone against bad guys. You know what I mean? It's like, what's wrong? I don't feel any discomfort with that. I mean, I don't want to get beat up, but I do think that there's this history in this country. There's good and bad, but there's a lot of people that have stood up for the right things and I admire them. I'm comparing myself to Dolly Parton and Heroes.

[Podcast Host 2]

I think we caught everybody with that one.

[Jim Gaffigan]

You could cut this in a way to make sound fantastic.

[Podcast Host 2]

We're gonna crush you. Have you missed being out on the road, being out on stage and doing stand up? I mean, your entire life is a stand up. It's this nomadic existence from the time you did.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Absolutely. It's been such a huge adjustment because it's. Not only is it traveling that is healthy for me and my wife, there is the creative fulfillment of going on stage and getting immediate feedback is the endorphin rush is. And then going cold turkey is really something to, you know, it's going cold turkey in a way that I wouldn't want anyone subjected to. So, I mean, again, I've had some creative outlets, which helps a lot. But yeah, no, and by the way, my career, you know, I've been doing stand up for 30 years. I know I look like I'm in my early 30s, but I'm not. And so I've established something and I've, you know, I am concerned about the comedians that were just about to break through or we're finally selling out shows in comedy clubs. Those are the comedians that it's harder for. But yeah, no, I don't know if I even know how to do it anymore. Did I ever know how to do it? I don't know.

[Podcast Host 2]

I think you're gonna be okay. I've talked to other comedians whose families are sick of them because they're trying bits or they're making an observation and they're like, hey, we're not the audience in Cincinnati. Leave us out of this. Do you feel that at all at home?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Well, I'm a workhorse. Like, I love to work and I talk to comedians and they're like, I'm writing, I'm doing things. And I'm like, I'm not. I'm not doing anything. So when this ends and people are like, what did you do during summer? Or did you write your term paper? I'm going to be like, no, I didn't do it. I didn't. But I have no concept of what I used to do. Like, how I. Like, I'm gonna need a couple days just to recover from this interview. Do you know what I Mean, like, I used to do so many things. I used to do stuff during the day, pick up a kid, go to a parent teacher conference, eat dinner, go out, do stand up. Now I'm kind of like, you know what? I gotta zoom in at like 3. So I should probably nap now so that I can do the zoom. And then after that, I'm gonna be wiped out. You know what I mean? Like, I'll make dinner, but I'm not gonna clean up. Who's got the energy? So I don't know what I'm gonna do. It's. Yeah, it's. I was late for this. For no reason at all.

[Podcast Host 2]

I think you were late for this.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I. Well, I. Yeah, I think I was late.

[Podcast Host 2]

Maybe I was late. Yeah.

[Jim Gaffigan]

And, you know, I used to pride myself on never being late, always. You know, and now I'm kind of like, you know what?

[Podcast Host 2]

I thought of that too. All the things we used to do at night or going places and events. Like, ooh, that feels like a big lift now, doesn't it?

[Jim Gaffigan]

I have to change an outfit.

[Podcast Host 2]

Yeah, exactly. Get dressed, get a cab.

[Jim Gaffigan]

You're wearing jeans. I'm wearing sweatpants. I'm not exaggerating. I'm not exaggerating at all. I have worn jeans, which I assume are pants. I've worn pants three times in the last 365 days. Three times.

[Podcast Host 2]

All sweats.

[Jim Gaffigan]

All sweats are shorts or a thong. You know what I mean? No. Or, you know, just shorts. It's just. Here's another thing that my wife would probably want me to bring up. Showering is not a priority like it used to be. It used to be. Well, obviously we shower every day. Now I'm kind of like, you know what? Then you gotta clean the towel. You know, it's like, I didn't really go outside. I didn't really do anything. Do you know what I mean? Like, do I need to shower? Isn't that bad for your hair if you shower too much?

[Podcast Host 2]

Well, usually something warrants a shower. I went somewhere, I did something. I worked up myself up to a shower.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I'm going to do a show, and if there's no shows, no showers. But I showered for you.

[Podcast Host 2]

Did you really?

[Jim Gaffigan]

I did.

[Podcast Host 2]

How recently was that?

[Jim Gaffigan]

That was today. What year is this? No, I did. No, I showered. I showered last night.

[Podcast Host 2]

Nice.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I showered last night.

[Podcast Host 2]

That means a lot. Thank you.

[Jim Gaffigan]

You know, the grooming thing is very strange, right? It's like. But you look at you, you know.

[Podcast Host 2]

Well, this is just fresh off the cross country course that is, I'm doing my best here, you know.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah. It's like, it's hard to care when there's no reason to care. Right. See, you're on TV every day, so you need your hair, you know what I mean? I've got the Jamie Raskin.

[Podcast Host 2]

Oh, the Raskin.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I've got the Raskin. And so in the morning I see the Raskin.

[Podcast Host 2]

Sure.

[Jim Gaffigan]

He would be all right with me calling it the Raskin, wouldn't.

[Podcast Host 2]

Oh, yeah, no, no. It's a tribute to Jamie Raskin.

[Jim Gaffigan]

It is a tribute. Right.

[Podcast Host 2]

So are you. Does that mean that you genuinely are not writing stand up sets?

[Jim Gaffigan]

I'm not.

[Podcast Host 2]

There's not gonna be some big special. Right. When this comes out.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I have material. I had material. I haven't really looked at it. And again, I talk to comedians and they're like, yeah, I've been trying to write and I'm like, I'm not even trying, but I do have material that, like, if I was. So in August, I'm going to be going on tour. Yikes. And so I have material and I have been writing these commentaries on that other show. So I have ideas, but that's, you know, that's not good enough. It's really. I'm gonna really regret it that I didn't prepare.

[Podcast Host 2]

Those first couple shows are gonna be rough.

[Jim Gaffigan]

They're gonna be very rough.

[Podcast Host 2]

Maybe go see Jim a couple weeks into the tour. Is that what we're gonna do?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Well, I'd come to the first. The first couple shows are gonna be really interesting.

[Willie Geist]

I'm gonna.

[Jim Gaffigan]

It's gonna be interesting. Cause people are like, once you get back on stage, I'm like, I don't think so.

[Podcast Host 2]

It's not like riding a bike.

[Jim Gaffigan]

It's not. It's. If the writing. If you had to tell jokes while you were riding it, maybe.

[Podcast Host 2]

Well. Cause you can't go warm up anywhere. I mean, you can't go to the Laugh Factory or go to wherever you do it normally and test it out. You're just throwing it out in the wind.

[Jim Gaffigan]

There was talk of, like, oh, maybe different parts of the world, but no, you can't go anywhere. Really. We're doing great as humans. Like, as humans, we're really. We're doing well. Yeah. Do you know what I mean?

[Podcast Host 2]

We got our arms around this thing.

[Commercial Voice 3]

Right.

[Jim Gaffigan]

We got it.

[Podcast Host 2]

We're good. We're good.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Do you know what I mean?

[Podcast Host 2]

I am interested in. We've been talking about Indiana and growing up there. You were the youngest of six.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host 2]

And I think the sort of obvious.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I'm still the youngest.

[Podcast Host 2]

Yes, you remain the youngest. I think the obvious observation is you had to fight for attention so you were funny and that launched you into this career. Is that too obvious or is that kind of the way it was, that you had to be a little bit funny to get your voice heard?

[Jim Gaffigan]

I was kind of the mascot, but I think it was less about attention and more about stopping them from beating me. No, it was, it was. I had all these older siblings and I had to find out a way where I was not just this competitor for food because my parents would only feed us once a week. Is that bad? They would give us a bag of grain, which was the Midwest. They just dump it out into a pig trough, which I thought was rude. And. No, but so I remember. I think that the humor was a tool to gain my siblings respect. And my siblings are very funny too, so. And it was also, you know, I did an impression of my dad, so it was kind of a way to disarm that, you know, that authority.

[Willie Geist]

Right.

[Podcast Host 2]

It's a long way though, to go from being the funny kid in your house, which a lot of people probably think they are, to making a career of it.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host 2]

So at what point did you think to yourself, there might be a life in being funny, there might be a career as a stand up comedian? When did that idea even cross your mind?

[Jim Gaffigan]

It's, it's real. You know, I was raised to, I describe it as seek security. Do you know what I mean? To, you know, my parent, my dad was the first one to go to college. So it was like success was wearing a tie to work. There was no contemplation of the arts or anything like that. And so I followed all these rules that I was supposed to follow. So, you know, go to college, study finance, all these things. And like I was supposed to, and I really was. And then I got a job and it was. I was miserable. And so I had to re evaluate what I wanted to do. So like, even in college when people would be like, what do you want to do? I'd be like, what am I supposed to say? Like, I couldn't. I didn't have the maturity to kind of really evaluate what I wanted. And so I think it was in my 20s where I was just, you know, I have to find something that I like because I'm tired of pretending that I thought if I got paid to do financial work, it would be rewarding. Like I thought that, oh, people, nobody likes golf, but people do, like Golf and people do like finance. I just thought people were acting like they liked it.

[Podcast Host 2]

Right. And you just weren't one of them who liked either.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah. And so I. And then it just came to a point where I was like, I'm going to have to find out what I want to do. And maybe because I was the youngest and I was considered eccentric for the family that I embraced this. But, you know, I have very funny brothers. They could have been comedians. Everyone's creative in my family, but, you know, it's. You gotta go for it. Right?

[Podcast Host 2]

Yeah. So when you're doing those shows in New York late at night and still having to go to work the next day and the story goes falling asleep at your desk quite a bit.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host 2]

How do you power through as a stand up comedian night after night after night, getting up there, getting some laughs. Maybe there are 15 people in the room.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host 2]

How do you sustain that and say, this is working for me or this is something that I want to keep doing when there's so much rejection involved in it?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah, I think it's, I think mental illness. I think that. But, you know, I joke, but I do think that repeatedly doing something and expecting a different outcome is insanity. Right. But I think that people that pursue, you know, creative goals or any type of goal, it's. There is not a logic behind it. There's just a passion. Right. So there was something about it where, you know, I think my family was like, well, you know, Jimmy's kind of a little weird, you know what I mean? He's doing his comedy thing and. And you have to just. I remember just kind of going, all right, I'm gonna be the weird uncle that lives in a filthy apartment in New York City. Cause there was plenty of years I was doing stand up and no success whatsoever. There would be these comedy festivals and the comedy festival people would. I would go on stage, they would leave the room. Do you know what I mean? So it was. There was no indication that there was going to be any success whatsoever. And I had to come to peace with that. And I know, and I look so young, so it's very strange. And a lot of people are like, jim, why didn't you go into modeling? And I'm like, you know what? Because I don't want to be judged for that. You know what I mean?

[Podcast Host 2]

It's so brave of you.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah, it is. There's certain bravery there.

[Podcast Host 2]

So then you go on, we were just talking about Letterman, a guy that we both love and grew up sort of idolizing. You have the added effect that he's an Indiana guy as well. You go On Letterman in 99, I think.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yes.

[Podcast Host 2]

And those were the days when going on Letterman and killing changed your life overnight. What was that night like?

[Jim Gaffigan]

It was. It was truly, you know, you have to understand, I was also the last of my peers to get a late night spot. So, like, at that point, the late night spots, the most important ones at that time were Letterman and Conan and obviously the Tonight Show. And so for me, Letterman was the thing because I was from Indiana and growing up and seeing him on TV and going, this guy's funny. This guy's from Indiana, you know, it's. He has this. He informed my sensibility.

[Podcast Host 2]

Yeah.

[Jim Gaffigan]

And so getting on that show and getting it two or three years after everyone had done a TV spot. So I was kind of the last one of my peers of my generation of comedians. I was definitely ready. And then when I. After the show, I was informed that Rob Burnett, who's Dave's executive producer, was. Wants to talk to me. I was thrilled. I thought maybe they wanted me to be a writer there. And so when he said they wanted to develop a TV show, I didn't know at the time, but the entertainment industry is such a. If you. If someone of David Letterman's level is okay with you, then everyone else opens the door. So I had been to meetings in LA like, two months earlier, and people were, like, dismissive. And then once Letterman liked me and wanted to do a development deal, everyone wanted me. So. But, you know, I don't want to present it as then, you know, it was just a gravy train. But it was. It's the perception business. It opened a lot of doors, which is huge. Yeah.

[Podcast Host 2]

And I imagine, just on a personal level, to have the validation of one of your heroes.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Oh, yeah. No hearing you away. Because I knew exactly. I mean, I could tell you David Letterman's life, I could tell you Paul Schaeffer's life. And so when you're doing a set, your first television set, a network television set, which. It's hard to understand how important it was to people, that. And hearing those laughs was huge. And then he invited me over, which is much more of a Carson thing, but it was a big deal. It was a very big deal to sit down. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Podcast Host 2]

You don't see that much with Dave. I don't. Can't. I mean, you know, Jerry, those guys would go sit with them. But I don't think a young comedian typically was waved over by Dave, were they?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah. No, and it was very. And I was terrified. And so it was funny because I was, you know, he said, you're from Indiana. And, you know, I'm from outside of Chesterton, which is outside of Gary. And he goes, I've never heard of it. And I was like, all right, I made it up. You know, so it's. It's one of those things where, you know, this is very organic, but usually late night shows, when you would do paneling, it's scripted. But with Letterman now, it's very common, you know, like, you know, both the Jimmies and Colbert, it's very organic, but it used to be pretty scripted. So it was kind of terrifying and fun. Right.

[Podcast Host 2]

You do the pre interview, you know, what stories come, and he tees you up and. Yeah, that's the old.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah, yeah.

[Podcast Host 2]

So from there. So that's. Now you're off and running. Where would you say was the next leap? I mean, that. The Hot Pockets moment.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Oh, my God.

[Podcast Host 2]

Is one that everyone sort of seized on and said, okay, Jim Gaffigan's the Hot Pockets guy. I love that guy.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host 2]

What was the genesis of the Hot Pockets moment?

[Jim Gaffigan]

The Hot Pockets thing, it's the blessing and a curse, right? I mean, it will pay for my children to go to college, but it's also. I don't know if I need more drunk people yelling Hot Pocket to me or my, you know, whenever anything happens in the news, my timelines of all social media people, you know, alert me like I had a child, you know, who was kidnapped. You know, they send me news stories about Hot Pockets. But the Hot Pocket thing started because this initial Hot Pocket commercial was so bad that I thought it was hysterically bad, but I also knew that. So I would do it a couple times. I tried the bit a couple times in New York City at comedy clubs, and no one in New York knew what it was, because in New York City, you can just go and get a piece of pizza. But I knew that the rest of the country, this was the next stage of the 711 burrito. And so then I just kind of started coming up with bits on it. But I got very lucky because it really. It really kind of the material coincided with this Hot Pocket becoming part of our culture. But now whenever I do anything, like, I remember one time I did some event for. I was interviewed for. Because I did something with the Bob Woodruff foundation, and I was being interviewed on cnn and they listed, my name is Jim Hot Pocket Gaffigan. What? Yes.

[Podcast Host 2]

On the Chiron.

[Jim Gaffigan]

On the Chiron So friends of mine sent me that. So that was classic.

[Podcast Host 2]

Well, it is like, you know, if you go see the Stones and they don't play Satisfaction, you're like a little bummed. So do you feel like you've got to like place crowd pleasers into your sets?

[Jim Gaffigan]

You know, there is, you know, there's certain bits that. And the good thing about Hot Pockets is there's always news and there's new stuff so it can move and flow. But like there's bits that people really like. But there's a. The weird thing about stand up is people fall in love with bits. But when you go and see a live performance, you want new stuff. There's an unspoken agreement that it is going to be new. And so. But when I tour, I usually do it as an encore. And that usually cleans up, you know. Cause there are some eight year olds in the audience that just want to hear that and only that. And you're like, well, I don't want this kid to be sad. And I've gone through dreading doing the joke to, you know, reinventing it. So it's all good.

[Podcast Host 2]

Do you. You mentioned 8 year old kids and.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Now I don't even know how to do standup.

[Podcast Host 2]

You've totally lost. I cannot wait for those first shows in August. So you've been described as clean and family friendly and you've heard all the descriptions of your act. Do you like those descriptions? Are those. Or how do you view yourself as a comedian?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Well, I mean as a comedian, I guess I am. I don't curse, but as an individual, I'm a horrible person. But I would also say that the only adjective comedians want is. Is funny. Yeah. So all the other, I guess I can't speak for other comedians, but that's the only adjective, you know, whether you're clean or in my case, good looking, I don't need that. I just want funny. So. And also the clean thing is it's a little, you know, I know people have to, you know, put things in categories, but, but it's not as if anyone is going to a comedy show. When we used to go to comedy shows just to hear someone not curse, there's a certain, I feel like there's a certain. Culturally we live with a certain dishonesty about cursing. Now I understand there are some people that never curse. They stub their toe and they say oh darn right. But the reality is most of us do. But for me, for my standup, it's very, it's hopefully when I used to do it. It's about authenticity. And so if I'm discussing something, even if I feel passionate about it, is it necessary to curse? You know, for Lewis Black, it is. That's authentic for him. Right. But if, you know, I'm from a small town in Indiana, you know, if someone was cursing in my town, people would be like, is he okay? You know what I mean?

[Podcast Host 2]

Right.

[Jim Gaffigan]

But if he stubbed his toe, people would be like, ah, he stubbed his toe. I don't know.

[Podcast Host 2]

Were there people, though, along the way?

[Jim Gaffigan]

No one in my town ever cursed.

[Podcast Host 2]

No one ever. Were there people along the way who said, jim, maybe you should have a little edge and drop an F bomb in here? Do people say things like that really?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Well, you know, I have. When I start. Some of it is as a comedian, you. You don't immediately obtain your voice on stage, meaning your point of view. You try things on. So often people will imitate a favorite comedian or they'll. There's different aspects to everyone's personality. Sometimes people will be super sarcastic. Sometimes people will be doing voices. Some people will be high energy. Do you know what I mean? And if it's usually. The irony is usually people just end up being who they are. But there was a time when I tried being filthy. There was a time when I tried being a political comedian. You know what I mean? But, yeah, no, when I. And so then I just ended up like, I'm just gonna do what I do. But there was a time when one of the first times I released a comedy album, there was someone from the label that was like, hey, when you do the recording, throw in some curse words, because the kids will like the curse words. Because, by the way. And I don't think. I think I did a little bit. But the weird thing is I've seen comments where people are like, this guy doesn't curse. I don't like it. You know, from. So there are people that are like, you know, there's no cursing. I don't want it. You know what I mean? Like, that's what people are.

[Podcast Host 2]

I interviewed a couple years ago on this show, Jerry Seinfeld about this same question. He said the gratuitous F bomb in the middle. He says whenever he hears that, that's the red flag. Oh, we haven't fully thought through this joke, have we? Just to, like, give it a little punch because we don't feel like it has enough behind it.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah. To carry. Yeah. That's where, I mean, I discovered when I was doing. When I started doing TV spots, On Letterman and Conan I, you have to get these four minute sets approved and you obviously have to get rid of curse words or wildly inappropriate things. And so what I realized is that a lot of those jokes weren't done. There were these crutches that held them up. And so. But it's. Yeah, it is. You know, there is something that it's strange because the relationship a comedian has with their audience is you have to challenge them. And that's what it's like any conversation with a friend. Like, if you have the exact same conversation with a friend, you're like, I can't talk about this anyway. But if they challenge you and surprise you, then it's fun. So as a comedian, I do feel as though I'll bring some topics up that are not me eating a deli sandwich. Do you know what I mean? Or you think it's that, but I'm actually making a commentary on gluttonous behavior.

[Podcast Host 2]

Right, right. You have. You're one of the most popular stand ups in the world, most successful in the world. Is it fair to say that your career and where you've arrived is sort of vindication for just being yourself, being who you are and not listening to the people who told you to be this character on stage or cover these topics on stage and just listen to your gut and just do what you think is funny and watch the audience come to you?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah, there's some of that, but I think it's also, it's about, you know, doing, doing work on your, you know, it's also a lot of the advice I got is advice that was right in some ways. So I think that there's a lot of advice we get that we only understand once. We don't take the advice and then we learn it.

[Podcast Host 2]

Right.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Do you know what I mean? It's like as a parent, you're like, all right, I'm going to tell you this, you're not going to believe me, but eventually you'll realize it. So there is something about, I don't know, I feel like things take longer for me anyway. So it's. Some of it is like all these lessons I had to learn. I wish that I could have absorbed them by reading a book, but I kind of had to learn them on my own, you know what I mean? To kind of just be yourself. So even though that's one of those things people say, you really have to find the meaning behind that on your own.

[Podcast Host 2]

Yeah, that's true. Probably event most professions and most lives, you just gotta live it to figure it out. What's cool now too is your turn toward dramatic stuff. You were awesome in Chappaquiddick.

[Willie Geist]

Really good.

[Podcast Host 2]

You got linoleum coming out. You're doing a live action Little Mermaid.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Oh no. Peter Pan.

[Podcast Host 2]

Peter Pan, sorry. Peter Pan. Is that a conscious move by you to sort of like keep your stand up career but also do some heavy stuff too?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Well, I always wanted, I've always wanted to act. It's just the opportunities were not there. And so the entertainment industry is. It's really, I know that we live in this perception that people are discovered in soda shops, but the reality is it's really risk averse. If you are a director or a producer, you want to put someone in the role that is going to be able to do the job and is not going to be a pain in the ass. And so once you can do a job and not be a pain in the ass, other people are like, he can do the job and not be a pain in the ass. I'll hire him. And so, and the strange thing with comedian is I think that there are plenty of comedians that are good actors, but most of them, it's not a true passion. And so for me it's something I always, I always wanted to act. It's just, you know, the reputation of comedians being Robin Williams is just something that people always think they're like, oh, like Robin Williams. You're like, well, you know, he's a completely different person.

[Podcast Host 2]

But yeah, no, not remotely like Robins actually. Was it a hard sell at first? I remember seeing you in Chappaquiddick and I was like, oh, look at Jim in the middle of this like movie about this moment in history at the side of Teddy Kennedy. Was it a hard sell at first for people to see you that way? Directors and anybody else to see you stand up as an actor?

[Jim Gaffigan]

I think it's, you know, I think the entertainment industry puts people in buckets and it's easier to keep them in buckets. So it is difficult to prove that you can do certain things and to get the opportunity to do that. So yeah, it's, it is, yeah, it's, it's, it's one of those things where you, I mean, I love the process of doing it. I love small things, you know, Chappaquiddick, it's not like I had tons of lines in there, but I could build the character around. And you know, the process of film is so fun because you're building this story with someone who has a vision and you can, you Know, you're showing them, you're kind of like the eye doctor. You're like, is this better and this better to someone? And there's something very rewarding of being the partner. And by the way, the whole being in charge of everything thing sounds like a nightmare because I was an executive producer of a TV show. I need too much sleep.

[Podcast Host 2]

Gets in the way of nap time, for sure.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah, it eliminates it.

[Podcast Host 2]

Before I release you back into the wild, we've got to talk about your wife, Jeannie, who's also a writing partner and a great mom and all the other things. You guys met first, creatively before, romantically.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Is that right?

[Podcast Host 2]

Or was it simultaneous?

[Jim Gaffigan]

So we were dating, and then I had. So I did Letterman for the first time, got this development deal. I met Jeannie. The pilot shot the pilot, the pilot got picked up, and then I was essentially thrust into the lead of this show across from Christine Baranski. And my girlfriend Jeannie, at the time, essentially became my acting coach and helped me through this overwhelming process. And so it was. It was. It worked all around. And so my wife has the same work ethic, which is an unhealthy work ethic. So it's not as if I'm usually the one that's like, hey, can we just not work for, like, an hour? So we both have the same mentality. Like, she always has a bunch of stuff going on, and I have a bunch of stuff going on. And we did the show together. She directs all the specials. You know, there's always. The collaboration is very much part of the relationship, and we've never argued once.

[Podcast Host 2]

Really?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Isn't that amazing?

[Podcast Host 2]

Congratulations on that.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Not once. Not once. Not even a disagreement.

[Podcast Host 2]

Does she write stand up with you, too? I mean, or do you just try it out on her and if she says it doesn't work?

[Jim Gaffigan]

The collaboration has changed constantly. So before we had kids, we used to drink wine and talk about comedy ideas, and then there would be some traveling, even when we had just my daughter, where my daughter slept on, you know, filthy comedy club couches. But it varies. So sometimes it's. She's kind of hired as a. You could view her as a consultant at the last stage of it, but there is very much a collaborative process. But some of it is, you know, if she's writing a book or she's running, you know, a youth program, she doesn't have time to be the collaborative partner that she once was. But, yeah, her fingers are on everything I write.

[Podcast Host 2]

I believe it. She's funny as hell. And I was happy to hear you say she's doing well. Her health is good.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yes.

[Podcast Host 2]

And you talked about her health, her health condition on stage, used it in some of your comedy. Was she, obviously she was okay with that. Was that something that you felt like you needed to get out there? Was that cathartic for you in some way?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah. You know, it's interesting being this observational. Seinfeld hates it when I call myself an observational comedian. But being an observational comedian and at that time having 25 years of standup experience, I took these tools of writing jokes about bacon and naps and I applied it to this medical crisis that my wife went through and my family went through. And so, yeah, I mean, some of it was cathartic for me. But what was really interesting was how the medical crisis that my wife had was as I toured with the material, it was very apparent that that's a universal experience. Everyone has a loved one that is going through a medical issue or has gone through a medical issue that is so deep and dark that we have that lingering memory or we are living with it right now. And so it was really interesting to get exposure to different, a different angle.

[Podcast Host 2]

People would come up and tell you their stories.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yes, absolutely.

[Willie Geist]

Hey guys, stick around to hear more from Jim Gaffingen. And after a quick break.

[Commercial Voice 3]

It'S Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Lifelock is here with tips to help protect your identity. Use strong passwords, set up multi factor authentication and report phishing scams. And for comprehensive identity protection, LifeLock is your best choice. LifeLock alerts you to suspicious uses of your personal information and also fixes identity theft. Guaranteed or your money back. Stay smart, stay safe and stay protected with a 30 day free trial at lifelock.com Specialoffer terms of OnDeck is built.

[Commercial Voice 2]

To back small businesses like yours. Whether you're buying equipment, expanding your team or bridging cash flow gaps, OnDeck's loans up to $250,000 help make it happen fast. Rated A by the Better Business Bureau and earning thousands of five star trust pilot reviews, Ondeck delivers funding you can count on. Apply in [e-mail] depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by Ondeck or Celtic bank on Deck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans an amount subject to lender approval.

[Commercial Voice]

This week on Meet the Press, as.

[Jim Gaffigan]

The government shows continues with no end in sight. Kristen Welker sits down with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant plus Senator Ruben Gallego and a Meet the Moment conversation with Marcus Samuelsson this week on Meet the Press. Listen to the full episode now, wherever you get your podcasts.

[Willie Geist]

Welcome back to the Sunday Sit down podcast. Now more of my conversation with Jim Gaffigan.

[Jim Gaffigan]

The thing about going through the pandemic and writing just commentaries, this will never be used, is that there is something. There's so many heavy news angles that we've lived with over the past year, and then there's some kind of human angles that are human, equally heavy. But then there's also kind of I'm sick of my family or I'm tired of doing laundry every day, or my kids somehow can't join a zoom, but they can play video games all day. And so those observations, which.

[Willie Geist]

It'Ll be.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Interesting if they will be relevant after this. Right. Because I think that, you know, I do these commentaries, but I think that if you look at the Spanish flu, which there is a certain part of the Spanish flu where a lot of people died from it. A lot of people. It devastated people, and it wasn't really even covered in history books. You know, it's like the, the impeachment of Belknap came up more than the Spanish flu. And so what that leads me to believe is that when this is over, people aren't going to want to talk about it. We're going to want this. And I don't know, I could be wrong, but there is a certain part that's why, like these little tidbits on social media or these commentaries are. I think they resonate because. Yeah. You know, buying online groceries, as much of a luxury that is, it's kind of annoying. You know what I mean? And it is. That little observation of that is rewarding for people.

[Podcast Host 2]

So does that mean when you come back in August, obviously, you have to acknowledge it, but it's not going to be the whole turn the corner.

[Jim Gaffigan]

It's going to be a reference point.

[Podcast Host 2]

Yeah.

[Jim Gaffigan]

But similar to. As New Yorkers, April of 2020 was a devastating month for everyone in New York City or anyone who has.

[Podcast Host 2]

You.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Know, knows health care workers and. But there is like, do we want to bring that up? Yeah. In a sincere. In conversation. But if we're getting ready to laugh. I don't know if you remember that terrifying moment in April when we were like, we gotta wipe down our groceries. It's like, is that funny? I don't know. It's like it's kind of heavy. And so it's, you know, all topics are fair game. But I'm just saying that culturally, we might want to move on Even though, like, even the term move on, it's loaded. Right, Right.

[Podcast Host 2]

No. Yeah. You don't want to wallow in the misery of it, but there are, as you say, elements of it that you.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah. And it's going to be a reference point. It's going to be a reference point and it's, you know, it's going to be. It's loaded. Like, we even forgot that there was this, you know, in April, there were a lot of people that didn't believe it was real.

[Willie Geist]

Oh, yeah.

[Jim Gaffigan]

You know what I mean?

[Willie Geist]

It's like.

[Podcast Host 2]

So it was the flu. Yeah. Yeah, it was the flu. Yeah.

[Willie Geist]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host 2]

Well, whenever you start working again and remember how to do stand up, I'm sure it's going to be great.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Well, let's hope so. Thanks, buddy.

[Podcast Host 2]

Thanks, man. Great to see you.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Thank you.

[Willie Geist]

My big thanks to one of the all time great guys, Jim Gaffigan, for a great conversation and for the excellent cross country ski lessons. I almost enjoyed it. Thanks for listening to this Sunday. Sit down, Rewind. Hope you'll join Jim and me Live on November 10th at City Winery in New York City. Head to today.comfanfest to grab a seat with me and Jim. Can't wait to see you there.

[Commercial Voice 3]

It's Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Lifelock is here with tips to help protect your identity. Use strong passwords, set up multi factor authentication and report phishing scams. And for comprehensive identity protection, Lifelock is your best choice. Lifelock alerts you to suspicious uses of your personal information and also fixes identity theft. Guaranteed or your money back. Stay smart, stay safe and stay protected with a 30 day free [e-mail] Specialoffer terms apply.