The Jim Gaffigan Show

Author, Grammy Nominated for Best Comedy Albums, Stand-Up Comedian Jim Gaffigan is to comedy today what Carol Burnett was to comedy in the 70s; clean and funny. Refreshing! His deadpan sarcasm is done beautifully for those of us who use and appreciate it. The entire cast of this show plays their part effectively and humorously. I love Ashley Williams who plays his wife. Adam Goldberg as a a fellow friend and Michael Ian Black are also spot on. I first became familiar with Gaffigan when he did a very small part in the wonderful 2004 movie 13 Going On 30. This show has a running time of about 22 minutes on Wednesday evenings on TV Land which is perfect as it keeps the viewer wanting more!

I feel the need to dispel the review by the individual who gave this a 1/10 and stated that Jim Gaffigan is awful and that no other comedians have the heart to tell him so. Well, here is a list of comedians who have appeared/will be appearing in Jim's show: Fred Armisen, Janeane Garafalo, Dave Attell, Hannibal Burress, Robert Smigel, Adam Goldberg, Michael Ian Black, and also includes appearances by Seth Meyers, Jon Stewart, Keith Olberman, Jimmy Fallon, etc. The bottom line - don't make silly statements that you can't effectively back up because as evidenced by this stellar cast, Gaffigan has more than enough backing and support within the comedy and television world. If you don't care for his comedy, that's a 'you' thing.

Jim Gaffigan is a standup comedian in Manhattan. He and his wife Jeannie (Ashley Williams) have five little kids in their small 2-bedroom apartment. His best friend is the aggressively single-without-kids Dave (Adam Goldberg) who annoys Jeannie. Her best friend is her gay college boyfriend Daniel (Michael Ian Black) who annoys Jim. Jim's jokes are often about food and his usually large Manhattan family. He is always eating.

This is a sitcom based on Jim's real life. The first season is great fun with a meta joke with his real family in the last episode. I would put that joke in the pilot episode or maybe have his real family live in an adjacent apartment with a far more handsome Jim. That way, his family could show up every once in awhile as a recurring joke. The second season goes down a darker path with Dave. Dave is always a jerk but the second season has him being a truly awful self-serving frenemy. Will Ferrell shows up as a mercurial comedy power. He needs to be serious but he goes down a wacky path and takes away the comedy. He's trying to make a wacky sitcom when the role calls for a satire. The second season does need to lighten up a bit. The show lasted two seasons on TV Land. If Jim wants to spend more time with the kids, hire them for the show. This deserves more seasons.

I really enjoy Jim Gaffigan's stand-up, probably even more so than most people. I've watched every episode of the the Jim Gaffigan Show so far though (midway through season 2 now), and with each episode I'm eking closer to dropping it.

There's a few laughs here and there, but all in all, during 95% of the episode I don't even laugh. It's more of a drama about a comedian than an actual comedy. It's very self-deprecating of Jim, sometimes harshly and unbearably so. I know it's a TV show and it's ironic and for fun, but the jokes (against Jim) are so real and harsh sometimes that you literally feel bad for him - and wonder if this is even hurting his image!

At least if there was a captivating plot line, it could work as a drama. But it still follows the silly, whimsical story line that a comedy would - save for the laughs.

If there were some good supporting characters at least, it could work. But none of the other characters are funny either. Adam Goldberg is boring, dull, unfunny, and same with everyone else. The only other character I kind of like is Michael Ian Black (who I think is BRILLIANT in Another Period), but even in this show, he's not truly "funny".

Jim is the only person on the show you can rely on for laughs, and there aren't really much at that. So, it's not funny as a comedy. It's not interesting as a drama. I don't know what it is, but either way, it's just not holding my interest so I think I'll drop it.

I really really really enjoy this show.

This show goes way beyond the stand up routine (per my headline).

I really appreciate all the character interactions and although the main cast is small, they are all an integral part of the show and create plenty of depth.

I have enjoyed Jim Gaffigan's stand-up for years, so maybe I am biased. But I have also enjoyed other comedians' stand up and their shows fell flat for me. This is not the case with this show.

All chemistry between characters is great.

I love how the show isn't on a laugh track (...that I can tell, I think I'm usually naturally laughing when there is supposed to be laughter).

This show isn't just a replay of all of Jim's humorous stand-up, it's real life and I hope this is a close portrayal to how your* life is (*if Jim is reading this) because it makes me happy.

Maybe the reviewer who gave it a one star is anti-Gaffigan or maybe he didn't drink his two alcoholic beverages suggested by comedy clubs to lighten the mood.

I'm so glad this show got signed on for a second season. You should start watching now before there are too many seasons to catch up on!