June 2002
Q & A WITH JIM GAFFIGAN

THE BEGINNING:
Ever have a day job or a distinct career path that wasn't entertainment-related?
This is pretty obvious by looking at me but I was a reggae singer in a band called UB Really White. Actually, I majored in finance in college and then was an account executive and then a copywriter at an ad agency.

If you weren't a standup comic, what would you be?
If I weren't a stand up comic, I'd probably be a sit-down comic or a lie down comic. I consider myself an actor and stand up, so if I weren't a stand up I would still be an actor. If I wasn't an actor, a writer or serial killer.

Class clown?
No thanks; I'm trying to quit.
I actually went to a clown high school so being a class clown wasn't that big of a deal. It was a requirement for graduation. A lot of my buddies are now pretty successful rodeo clowns. Yes, I was a class clown.

Did you begin doing standup in Indiana or did you hit the stage for the first time after moving to New York?
First of all, I never hit the stage. It hit me. I started in NYC. I was taking acting classes and doing a lot of improv and someone dared me to do stand up.

MANDATORY NY VS. LA QUESTIONS:
What made you move to New York?
Indiana. Ever been? Just kidding. New York always had allure to me as a kid. The energy and diversity of New York is something that doesn't exist anywhere else.

Have you ever considered moving to Los Angeles?
Is that an invitation? You should know I have a girlfriend. I lived in LA when I was on the VH1 sketch show "Random Play" in 1999 and last year for "The Ellen Show." I love NYC too much to live in LA for anything but acting work reasons.

How would you compare today's New York comedy scene to when you first started?
When I started stand up in the early '90s many of the professional comics were getting out of the business. It was the post-boom of the '80s and pre-Seinfeld. Clubs were closing and stage time was even harder to get. Today the clubs seem much more vibrant.

Would you recommend that a comic move to New York rather than Los Angeles?
Not if they are going to take stage time from me! My view is 90% of all show biz shit happens in LA, but New York or Boston are much better comedy development towns because of the absence of show biz types.

Do you ever go to the Friar's Club or just hang out with other comics?
Are those my only choices? I sometimes think I hang out with comics too much. I don't even know how to give a normal person a compliment. Recently, a plumber fixed my sink and I was like, "very funny."

I'm not part of the Friar's Club and that is just because I lack the time. I would love to get to know some of those old timers. I'm definitely a "show up-do my spot-leave comic" in New York 'cause I can do another spot or meet up with a friend. In LA or on the road I hang out more cause I know less people there and if I'm going to see someone I know it's going to be in a comedy club. But definitely some of my closest friends are comics.

IMPACT OF LETTERMAN APPEARANCES:
Did appearing on (fellow Indiana native) David Letterman's show have special meaning for you?
I think appearing on Letterman today is what appearing on Carson was years ago. For me it was the pinnacle of my stand up career and not just because I'm also from Indiana. I think Letterman has done more to shape American humor than anyone since Mark Twain.

How did "Welcome to New York" happen? "The Ellen Show"?
It's interesting, being a comedian from Indiana, my primary goal of stand up was to appear on the late show with David Letterman but it eluded me for so long. I was getting acting work in film and television but I just couldn't book Letterman.

Once I finally appeared on the show I was ecstatic. After my appearance, Rob Burnett of Worldwide Pants, approached me and offered to develop a sitcom based on my comedy, like they had for Ray Romano ("Everybody Loves Raymond") and of course I jumped at the chance. I've always been a huge admirer of Dave and not just because he's my dad. I just wish he'd admit it.

I was also lucky when it came to "The Ellen Show." Ellen had liked my work on "Welcome to New York" and called me up and offered me the role of her high school boyfriend.

Is there anything you wish you had known before your first national television appearance?
I wish I had known it was going to take so long.

When you think about your sitcom "Welcome To New York" what's the first thing that pops into your head?
Honestly, the first thing that pops in my head is my girlfriend, Jeannie Noth. Without Jeannie's help the whole experience would have been 15 times harder and a lot less fun.

Were you able to enjoy the experience? Was there pressure?
Oh I enjoyed it and I loved the perks. Especially the opportunity to act every day with exceptional actors. There is, however, enormous pressure being the lead of a sitcom. Reviews, ratings, nude pictures of yourself on the Internet, hordes of screaming teenage girls outside my dressing room, chasing me to my car -- oh, wait, that wasn't me, that was the Beatles.

MANAGEMENT/REPRESENTATION:
When did you first get representation?
When I moved to New York I signed with an agent. I found out later he was a double agent and was selling secrets to the other side.

Actually, my first agent (commercial) was the result of fellow comic Jay Potter recommending me. I tried forever to get a legit agent to pursue acting. My first legit agent was Steve Stone of Cornerstone and I credit him for opening many casting director doors for me. I'm still with Steve.

What should a comic consider before signing on with a manager?
Make sure they are not a manager of a McDonald's. What a waste of time. Those free burgers were not worth it. Seriously, anyone can call himself or herself a manager and young comics should be cautious. I've heard horror stories.

ON RECORDING A CD, CHOOSING MATERIAL:
Just like Tom Waits, you have two CDs coming out at the same time. Why not space out the release dates?
My board of directors debated the two CD question for months -- and who is this Tom Waits?

Just kidding, that's very flattering, putting me in the same sentence as Tom Waits. In reality, my girlfriend offered to produce my CDs and it turned out the material was enough for two.

With the two CDs and the numerous television appearances you're really burning through your material. Are you ever worried that the crowd won't laugh at a joke they've heard before?

That's a good question. The only way for you to find the answer is through research; by buying my CDs at www.jimgaffigan.com. Please don't interpret this as me just shamelessly plugging my web site www.jimgaffigan.com. Oh by the way, my website address is www.jimgaffigan.com.

Do you try out most of your new material during paid gigs or do you save it for your NY showcase spots?
I think it's important for headliners to always have fresh material. The showcase environment in NYC is ideal for developing that new material.

ON PERFORMING:
How often do you perform standup these days?
Usually thirty times a month. When I have a lot of acting work less.

On your website you say, "Jim is considered third funniest in his family." Who are the first two?
Here's a hint: They're in my family. In my family of six kids, my brother Joe and Mitch are considered funnier. There is debate in the family about who is the funniest.

Do you believe that most standup comics are considered third funniest in their families?
No and whoever told you that stole that idea from me.
In retrospect, is there any one early incident or series of incidents that sent you on the road to standup?

Probably when I saw Maggie Thatcher speak. Now there's a funny lady! Well, I was funny at our family's Sunday dinners and in school. When I saw MTV's half-hour comedy hour I thought, "Wow, I could do this!"

When people recognize you on the street, what do they usually say?
Put on some pants.

What they say usually depends on if they recognize me from stand up ("you're the manatee guy!"), TV/film ("was that you?"), or commercials ("can you move out of the way?").

You've done many commercials. Care to comment?
Money was tight so it was either do commercials or become a whore -- then I thought, Hell, it's the same thing, but commercials have less risk of disease. I loved doing commercials.

Is it true you improvised most of the commercials you appeared in?
Not all of them. The Rolling Rock, ESPN and some other campaigns were improvised. I helped write the Fleet spots with Derek and Nomar.

Business Week called you "Salesman of the Year" in 1999. Does that help or hurt subsequent commercial bookings. (We've often heard that casting agents are inclined to pass on pitchmen who are over-exposed . . . did this happen in your case?)

That article didn't hurt me at all, but I don't know if it helped me. I continued to get commercials in 2000. I haven't really pursued commercials since that time.

You recently directed an off off Broadway play, "Tales from the Oven." Are you really just a director trapped in an actor's body?
Yes. A female director. Of human relations. And you're fired. No, I think for now I'll stick with acting and stand-up. I wouldn't mind being a dictator though. Of a small country. Populated with hot women.

Besides David Letterman, is there anyone who has had a major influence on you?
Maury Povich is a man of courage and Pope John Paul II is an Internet buddy. He curses a lot more than you'd think. Besides Letterman, I would say Louis Anderson, Dave Attell and Brian Regan influenced me.