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Jim Gaffigan Quotes
born 1966 United States
James Christopher Gaffigan (born July 7, 1966) is an American stand-up comic and actor. He is best known for his Comedy Central Presents specials, a recurring role on the show My Boys and several nationwide commercials.
United States Actors Stand-up comedians Random Jim Gaffigan quote
18 quotes
Stand-up is an amazing art form, I think, because it's all about you having complete control of the situation, but absolutely none.
One thing I've always appreciated about Dave is that he can be sarcastic without being alienating and self-deprecating without being self-abusing.
As an actor, you deal with so much rejection and humiliation. When the good things come around, you tend not to trust your instincts.
I talk kinda slow, especially for the Northeast, so it was a way to beat (would-be hecklers) to the punch.
People don't know who I am. Some people don't know I do standup. They just write that I'm that guy from those failed sitcoms. I always joke that 'I've never heard of me either.'
I am a guy who talks about bacon and escalators. Stand-up comedy is very much a conversation. It's very personal, stylistically.
I never want to do material that makes people laugh at the expense of making other people feel bad - not to say I'm not guilty of that at times. ...
In Indiana, I wasn't anything special. But in New York, I've gone out with girls with purple hair who go out with me because I'm exotic!
It's like in most parts of America, where there was industry and there is no longer; there is cynicism mixed with sarcasm and some optimism. That's how my background influenced my comedy.
I curse in everyday life, but usually when I stub my toe. The topics I'm discussing, it's not necessary to curse. I found [cursing] is a sign that a joke is not finished or well-written.
On MySpace … the whole demographic of the stand-up comedy fan has changed. It's like an indie band thing. People think they've discovered you.
Hopefully, some of it has to do with us being good actors, too. There's some of it where you get lucky. You come on the job and there are people with you where there's a chemistry there.
I grew up in a family where no one was in the entertainment business. So stand-up and acting were seen as something unrealistic. I always thought it was just people in L.A. and New York that became actors or comedians.
I liked the idea that my character was not gonna be the typical dumb guy that I play, typically. I also loved the fact that it was dealing with kind of adult-extended adolescence, which I think is always interesting -- a bunch of people that don't wanna grow up.
I'd been acting and doing stand-up in New York about eight years, getting rejected, and I finally got the opportunity to do stand-up on Letterman, which holds even more importance for me. With comedians, that's definitely the pinnacle, but being from Indiana, it was a big to-do.
Yeah, I am a character actor.
There's a silliness that is in my stand-up. I grew up in Indiana, worshipping David Letterman, so it's Letterman-like, observational, a little bit offbeat. I don't go up there and make fun of people's shirts. There's a bit of dryness in it.
Not that I don't think irreverent humor and someone being filthy is funny, I just do what I do. Any comedian would admit throwing an f-bomb in there would help get a reaction. … I'm not on a Puritanical pursuit, but when I would curse in a joke, I believe I'm not done writing it.