Jim Gaffigan: The biggest baby in comedy - by Tom Keller



Contemporary comedians have the drawing power and versatility of the former Midwesterner. The premiere and release of his new comedy special/DVD King Baby will only further cementhis place among stand-up royalty.
You might get that trademark inner voice of his to admit a bit of brilliance in its creator, but Gaffigan, the 42-year old everyman extraordinaire, stripped all cursing from his act in the last few years, not a moral stand but a challenge to write jokes that didn’t need to lean on an obscenity.
It’s only seemed to make him funnier. Gaffigan’s transcendent observations on the commonplace will be featured in a new one-hour Comedy Central special, King Baby, which premieres on Comedy Central on March 29. The album and DVD comes out March 31.
His previous special, Beyond the Pale, went platinum, and he continues to be one of the most popular live acts in the industry, selling out theaters across the country on his current tour. He’s also put up some impressive indie film credits including the upcoming Away We Go and will be back for a third season as one of the stars of the TBS comedy My Boys.
Here, Gaffigan chats with Punchline Magazine about the limitations of acting, his relationship with ‘the voice’ and his definition of success as an entertainer... More