1 00:00:01,500 --> 00:00:03,100 - [Announcer] Funding for Overheard with Evan Smith 2 00:00:03,100 --> 00:00:05,733 is provided in part by Hillco Partners, 3 00:00:05,733 --> 00:00:08,466 a Texas government affairs consultancy. 4 00:00:08,466 --> 00:00:10,966 And by Claire and Carl Stuart. 5 00:00:12,733 --> 00:00:14,233 - I'm Evan Smith. 6 00:00:14,233 --> 00:00:16,733 He's a much-loved Grammy Award nominated comedian, 7 00:00:16,733 --> 00:00:18,933 writer, and actor whose latest film 8 00:00:18,933 --> 00:00:21,466 is the political thriller Chappaquiddick. 9 00:00:21,466 --> 00:00:24,433 He's Jim Gaffigan, this is Overheard. 10 00:00:24,433 --> 00:00:25,933 (applause) 11 00:00:25,933 --> 00:00:28,166 Let's be honest, is this about the ability to learn 12 00:00:28,166 --> 00:00:29,733 or is this about the experience 13 00:00:29,733 --> 00:00:31,866 of not having been taught properly? 14 00:00:31,866 --> 00:00:33,766 How have you avoided what has befallen 15 00:00:33,766 --> 00:00:35,033 other nations in Africa? 16 00:00:35,033 --> 00:00:37,533 You could say that he made his own bed, 17 00:00:37,533 --> 00:00:39,033 but you caused him to sleep in it? 18 00:00:39,033 --> 00:00:42,033 You saw a problem and over time took it on, and-- 19 00:00:42,033 --> 00:00:43,600 (audience laughing) 20 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:45,200 Let's start with the sizzle before we get to the steak. 21 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:46,500 Are you gonna run for president? 22 00:00:46,500 --> 00:00:48,000 I think I just got an F from you, actually. 23 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:49,566 (audience laughing) 24 00:00:49,566 --> 00:00:51,800 (applause) 25 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:54,366 Jim Gaffigan, welcome. 26 00:00:54,366 --> 00:00:55,766 - Thank you for having me. 27 00:00:55,766 --> 00:00:56,966 - Can I confess something when I heard you 28 00:00:56,966 --> 00:00:58,233 were in a film called Chappaquiddick? 29 00:00:58,233 --> 00:01:00,200 I thought, a comedy about Chappaquiddick? 30 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:02,200 (audience laughing) - Oh, right! 31 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:03,100 - It's not a comedy. 32 00:01:03,100 --> 00:01:04,333 - No, it's not a comedy. 33 00:01:04,333 --> 00:01:05,566 - It's the actual Chappaquiddick. 34 00:01:05,566 --> 00:01:08,133 - It's a look at the story that 35 00:01:10,566 --> 00:01:14,100 really kind of affected Ted Kennedy's life completely-- 36 00:01:14,100 --> 00:01:15,766 - Arguably changed history, right? 37 00:01:15,766 --> 00:01:17,166 If you believe the idea - Absolutely! 38 00:01:17,166 --> 00:01:18,833 - that Ted Kennedy was going to be president 39 00:01:18,833 --> 00:01:20,000 at some point, and this might have been 40 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:21,033 the thing that disabled it, right? 41 00:01:21,033 --> 00:01:22,533 - Oh yeah, beyond a doubt. 42 00:01:22,533 --> 00:01:26,500 And it's also interesting given our current political 43 00:01:26,500 --> 00:01:30,233 climate, like what Ted Kennedy got away with, 44 00:01:31,566 --> 00:01:33,300 the entitlement and stuff like that. 45 00:01:33,300 --> 00:01:35,600 It's a really fascinating look. 46 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:36,733 - You and I are the same age, we're both 51. 47 00:01:36,733 --> 00:01:39,233 - 51, but I look 50. 48 00:01:39,233 --> 00:01:40,533 (audience laughing) - Is that right? 49 00:01:40,533 --> 00:01:42,566 You don't look a day over 50 and a half. 50 00:01:42,566 --> 00:01:44,066 - I barely look 50 and six months. 51 00:01:44,066 --> 00:01:47,400 - So we were three years old when this happened. 52 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:49,866 So I have no memory of it, I just know 53 00:01:49,866 --> 00:01:51,400 what I've read over the years. 54 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:53,366 And I suspect that when you were contemplating taking this 55 00:01:53,366 --> 00:01:56,866 role, and you contemplated joining the cast, again, not 56 00:01:56,866 --> 00:01:59,533 something that you had a lot of experience with. 57 00:01:59,533 --> 00:02:03,700 - I think everybody of our age knows about Chappaquiddick. 58 00:02:05,133 --> 00:02:08,733 We know that when Ted was running, he was challenging 59 00:02:08,733 --> 00:02:12,900 Carter, that Chappaquiddick essentially stopped his chances. 60 00:02:14,333 --> 00:02:18,066 What I find so fascinating about Chappaquiddick is that 61 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:23,500 the movie is presented as not a hit piece, it's not an 62 00:02:23,500 --> 00:02:26,300 apology, they're not trying to rewrite history, 63 00:02:26,300 --> 00:02:30,466 it's presented as what good art should do, is ask questions. 64 00:02:32,133 --> 00:02:35,066 And Chappaquiddick is a horrible thing. 65 00:02:35,066 --> 00:02:36,033 It's what happened. 66 00:02:36,033 --> 00:02:37,566 - Well, the scene where the 67 00:02:37,566 --> 00:02:41,400 car goes off the bridge is really difficult to watch. 68 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:44,766 And you think you know what's coming, but no. 69 00:02:44,766 --> 00:02:46,766 It's really hard, and the way it's staged is very simple 70 00:02:46,766 --> 00:02:48,600 but it's also very powerful. 71 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:52,533 - Oh yeah, and we went there and we shot the scene in Mexico 72 00:02:52,533 --> 00:02:57,200 but we went to Chappaquiddick, and it's not that deep. 73 00:02:57,200 --> 00:02:58,866 It's really scary. 74 00:02:58,866 --> 00:03:03,200 But what I think is so interesting about Chappaquiddick 75 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:07,266 is Ted Kennedy, whether you love him or you hate him, 76 00:03:07,266 --> 00:03:10,400 I mean I'm an Irish Catholic so I'm predisposed to love 77 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:14,566 the Kennedys, but Ted Kennedy, this horrible event, 78 00:03:16,933 --> 00:03:20,000 and this coverup, you know like the quintessential 79 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:23,066 white guy entitlement rich people get away with murder 80 00:03:23,066 --> 00:03:25,766 thing, but you sit there and you look at the span 81 00:03:25,766 --> 00:03:28,800 of his career, and you go, maybe there should 82 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,300 be some redemption for people. 83 00:03:35,266 --> 00:03:37,333 If Chappaquiddick happened today, Ted Kennedy 84 00:03:37,333 --> 00:03:41,500 would be in jail, but it's not as if he didn't do some good. 85 00:03:44,033 --> 00:03:47,600 - But it had a low ceiling, because he could only do 86 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,366 so much good because of this thing that was sitting there 87 00:03:50,366 --> 00:03:52,000 in his past, you talk about the coverup. 88 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:52,833 So your character-- 89 00:03:52,833 --> 00:03:53,800 - Yeah, Paul Markham. 90 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:55,366 - in this movie is Paul Markham. 91 00:03:55,366 --> 00:03:57,133 Paul Markham was the US attorney in Massachusetts. 92 00:03:57,133 --> 00:03:58,666 He is a Kennedy friend. 93 00:03:58,666 --> 00:04:00,233 - Yeah, a Kennedy friend. 94 00:04:00,233 --> 00:04:02,666 I mean there's the real history, and then there's 95 00:04:02,666 --> 00:04:06,366 what we tried to characterize in the movie. 96 00:04:06,366 --> 00:04:09,233 And Paul Markham, the character I was portraying, 97 00:04:09,233 --> 00:04:13,233 was very much an instrument to show how alluring 98 00:04:14,433 --> 00:04:17,233 being part of the Kennedy clan was. 99 00:04:17,233 --> 00:04:20,266 And so in the movie, Paul Markham my character, finally 100 00:04:20,266 --> 00:04:23,833 gains entry into this Camelot kind of world 101 00:04:25,866 --> 00:04:29,000 of being part of the Kennedy group. 102 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:33,533 But by getting sucked in, he has to then participate 103 00:04:33,533 --> 00:04:34,966 in this coverup, which is-- 104 00:04:34,966 --> 00:04:36,300 - Right, 'cause it's Markham and it's cousin Joey, 105 00:04:36,300 --> 00:04:38,233 who's played by Ed Helms. 106 00:04:38,233 --> 00:04:39,433 - Yes. 107 00:04:39,433 --> 00:04:40,366 - Who gets the call from Kennedy, 108 00:04:40,366 --> 00:04:41,300 who's played by Jason Clarke. 109 00:04:41,300 --> 00:04:42,233 - Yes. 110 00:04:42,233 --> 00:04:43,933 - Jason Clarke, I remembered. 111 00:04:43,933 --> 00:04:45,333 I was looking at Jason Clarke. 112 00:04:45,333 --> 00:04:46,800 I was watching the movie thinking, where have I seen this 113 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:48,866 guy, and I remembered him from Zero Dark Thirty, 114 00:04:48,866 --> 00:04:49,866 but he's actually done quite a lot of stuff since-- 115 00:04:49,866 --> 00:04:50,700 - He's done a lot of stuff. 116 00:04:50,700 --> 00:04:52,200 - Since then. 117 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:56,700 So Markham and cousin Joe get a call from Kennedy, 118 00:04:56,700 --> 00:04:59,866 and then the next day they're actually upset among 119 00:04:59,866 --> 00:05:02,433 other things, at the fact that he didn't report 120 00:05:02,433 --> 00:05:04,200 this incident in a timely fashion. 121 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:05,033 - Right. 122 00:05:05,033 --> 00:05:06,533 - Right? 123 00:05:06,533 --> 00:05:09,500 - There's a lot of different theories on what actually 124 00:05:09,500 --> 00:05:13,100 happened that night, but one of the things that is covered 125 00:05:13,100 --> 00:05:17,266 is at this night out where there was a lot of alcohol, 126 00:05:18,833 --> 00:05:20,900 and there was a lot of married men and single women, 127 00:05:20,900 --> 00:05:25,066 that this event occurred, Ted came back to the house, 128 00:05:27,333 --> 00:05:29,433 and he asked for two people. 129 00:05:29,433 --> 00:05:34,100 One happens to be his cousin who essentially raised 130 00:05:34,100 --> 00:05:38,166 as a brother with him, and another was a lawyer. 131 00:05:38,166 --> 00:05:42,866 And so it was definitely pursuing a legal solution 132 00:05:42,866 --> 00:05:47,033 from this, but it's hard to characterize it without 133 00:05:48,300 --> 00:05:51,566 looking at some of the emotional impact 134 00:05:53,300 --> 00:05:55,466 that Ted had gone through. 135 00:05:56,533 --> 00:05:57,700 We know his brothers were killed. 136 00:05:57,700 --> 00:05:59,366 And we know that he was young, 137 00:05:59,366 --> 00:06:02,133 and we know that he was pursuing good things. 138 00:06:02,133 --> 00:06:06,300 We know he was corrupted, that he was a philandering drunk. 139 00:06:07,700 --> 00:06:11,233 But it's hard to separate that from the humanity 140 00:06:12,700 --> 00:06:15,566 of who he was, and I think Jason does an amazing job 141 00:06:15,566 --> 00:06:17,133 portraying him. - And it's hard also 142 00:06:17,133 --> 00:06:20,566 to not think about the family of the girl who was killed. 143 00:06:20,566 --> 00:06:22,066 - Oh, insane, yeah. - Right, who was 144 00:06:22,066 --> 00:06:23,233 played in this movie by Kate Mara. 145 00:06:23,233 --> 00:06:24,400 - Yes. 146 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:25,966 - Last seen being killed in House of Cards. 147 00:06:25,966 --> 00:06:27,833 - Yes. (audience laughing) 148 00:06:27,833 --> 00:06:29,333 And what's interesting is-- 149 00:06:29,333 --> 00:06:31,933 - We're not making a joke about that, by the way. 150 00:06:31,933 --> 00:06:35,066 - What's interesting, I think, about you watch the movie 151 00:06:35,066 --> 00:06:37,900 and the Kopechnes don't blame Ted. 152 00:06:39,900 --> 00:06:43,466 And that kind of is used as a pivotal point 153 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:49,533 in him maybe going, all right, I'm not gonna be defined 154 00:06:49,533 --> 00:06:53,433 by this one event, or maybe he uses it 155 00:06:53,433 --> 00:06:56,000 to propel this massive coverup. 156 00:07:00,266 --> 00:07:03,700 Ed Helms' character presents the right thing to do. 157 00:07:03,700 --> 00:07:08,533 I'm just this innocent guy who's thrilled to be part 158 00:07:08,533 --> 00:07:11,466 of the Kennedy group, and now I'm 159 00:07:11,466 --> 00:07:12,833 completely corrupted. - Suddenly in the middle 160 00:07:12,833 --> 00:07:14,333 of all this. 161 00:07:14,333 --> 00:07:15,766 - Paul Markham could have been a supreme court judge, 162 00:07:15,766 --> 00:07:17,266 we don't know, but his career was kind of damaged. 163 00:07:17,266 --> 00:07:18,766 - That was pretty much it. 164 00:07:18,766 --> 00:07:20,500 I said at the beginning it's hard to think of this not as a 165 00:07:20,500 --> 00:07:23,000 comedy given the fact that you're in it, but you have done 166 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:24,966 dramatic acting before, this is not the first time. 167 00:07:24,966 --> 00:07:26,200 You like doing this. 168 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:27,300 This is something that you enjoy? 169 00:07:27,300 --> 00:07:28,766 - Oh, I love acting. 170 00:07:28,766 --> 00:07:32,600 It's just the process of getting acting roles that I find... 171 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:34,400 (audience laughing) 172 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:36,933 - Right, it would stand to reason that 173 00:07:36,933 --> 00:07:38,500 that would be one obstacle. 174 00:07:38,500 --> 00:07:40,800 Not getting a role would be an obstacle to being in a film. 175 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:44,466 - Auditioning, I describe it as it's kind of like 176 00:07:44,466 --> 00:07:46,233 stripping but you don't get a dollar. 177 00:07:46,233 --> 00:07:48,000 (audience laughing) 178 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,600 It's a very humiliating process. 179 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:55,600 I love acting, but I work in the perception industry. 180 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:58,600 And so I'm perceived as a funny guy. 181 00:08:01,333 --> 00:08:03,533 And Ed Helms's a very funny guy, but-- 182 00:08:03,533 --> 00:08:06,033 - Although Ed Helms too has made the transition as you have. 183 00:08:06,033 --> 00:08:09,933 - And I think it's odder for a serious person 184 00:08:09,933 --> 00:08:12,266 to do something funny than a funny person 185 00:08:12,266 --> 00:08:13,800 - [Both] To do something serious. 186 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:16,900 - Is the harder time on the perception industry, is the 187 00:08:16,900 --> 00:08:18,700 harder time for them to see you in a dramatic role, 188 00:08:18,700 --> 00:08:20,866 or for you to see yourself in a dramatic role? 189 00:08:20,866 --> 00:08:21,933 - Oh I think it's them. 190 00:08:21,933 --> 00:08:23,633 I think it's those people. 191 00:08:23,633 --> 00:08:24,766 - You're perfectly comfortable with-- 192 00:08:24,766 --> 00:08:25,866 - I enjoy it. 193 00:08:27,266 --> 00:08:29,766 I mean, look, my Twitter feed, there'll be an episode of 194 00:08:29,766 --> 00:08:32,266 Law & Order that will air and people will almost 195 00:08:32,266 --> 00:08:36,266 sound angry that I was in an episode of Law & Order. 196 00:08:36,266 --> 00:08:37,433 - How dare you! 197 00:08:37,433 --> 00:08:38,400 - Yeah, they're like, you're supposed 198 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:39,933 to just be talking about food. 199 00:08:39,933 --> 00:08:41,600 (audience laughing) 200 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:43,233 - Yeah! 201 00:08:43,233 --> 00:08:47,033 We were visiting before we came out here about your program, 202 00:08:47,033 --> 00:08:51,633 TV Land, and I guess it airs on multiple places. 203 00:08:51,633 --> 00:08:54,300 The Jim Gaffigan Show which was two seasons 204 00:08:54,300 --> 00:08:55,766 but is no longer back. 205 00:08:55,766 --> 00:08:58,266 In some respects, that's acting except you are acting 206 00:08:58,266 --> 00:09:00,733 as you, a fictionalized version of you. 207 00:09:00,733 --> 00:09:03,566 And that's become a more or less 208 00:09:03,566 --> 00:09:06,233 common form for people in comedy. 209 00:09:06,233 --> 00:09:08,033 I think about Marc Maron's program, 210 00:09:08,033 --> 00:09:09,966 or Louis CK's program, right? 211 00:09:09,966 --> 00:09:12,933 But nonetheless, it's a pretty good show. 212 00:09:12,933 --> 00:09:14,166 - Oh, thank you. 213 00:09:14,166 --> 00:09:15,366 - You're very good at being you. 214 00:09:15,366 --> 00:09:17,466 (audience laughing) 215 00:09:17,466 --> 00:09:21,633 - We had an episode where I had to audition to be me. 216 00:09:23,100 --> 00:09:27,833 But when we were doing the show, there's me, there's 217 00:09:27,833 --> 00:09:31,300 stand-up comedy me, and then there's actor-y me 218 00:09:31,300 --> 00:09:35,400 in the Jim Gaffigan Show, and we described it as 219 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:38,333 removing IQ points along the way. 220 00:09:38,333 --> 00:09:40,000 (audience laughing) - As you go down the line. 221 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:42,100 - It's like, all right this guy doesn't know anything. 222 00:09:42,100 --> 00:09:45,500 - So you play you, but someone else plays your wife. 223 00:09:45,500 --> 00:09:46,700 - Yes. 224 00:09:46,700 --> 00:09:47,900 - Your actual wife does not play your wife, 225 00:09:47,900 --> 00:09:49,300 although your actual wife has a role. 226 00:09:49,300 --> 00:09:50,833 - Yes. 227 00:09:50,833 --> 00:09:51,933 - In that she had been the co-writer of this program. 228 00:09:51,933 --> 00:09:52,800 We wrote all the-- 229 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:53,666 - Jeanne. 230 00:09:53,666 --> 00:09:55,033 - Jeannie. 231 00:09:55,033 --> 00:09:56,466 And executive producer of it. - Jeannie, and is an 232 00:09:56,466 --> 00:09:58,333 extraordinary writer, accomplished writer herself. 233 00:09:58,333 --> 00:09:59,900 Did she ever consider the possibility 234 00:09:59,900 --> 00:10:01,166 of being herself in this? 235 00:10:01,166 --> 00:10:04,666 - She did consider it, and the show itself 236 00:10:06,666 --> 00:10:11,000 was first at NBC, and then it was at CBS, and then 237 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:13,933 we ended up at TV Land and along that path 238 00:10:13,933 --> 00:10:18,366 there's bureaucracy that exists where people wanted 239 00:10:18,366 --> 00:10:22,533 a household name to play the character of Jeannie. 240 00:10:23,966 --> 00:10:26,266 And we also realized that it was good to have someone 241 00:10:26,266 --> 00:10:30,033 who could direct or who could be the executive producer 242 00:10:30,033 --> 00:10:31,966 and have a perspective on the scene, 243 00:10:31,966 --> 00:10:33,433 rather than being involved in it. 244 00:10:33,433 --> 00:10:34,966 - Right, or you could just decide to be like Kevin James 245 00:10:34,966 --> 00:10:36,933 and randomly kill your wife on the show and then put a 246 00:10:36,933 --> 00:10:40,133 new person in, they said nobody would actually know it. 247 00:10:40,133 --> 00:10:41,400 It's convenient that way. 248 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:42,266 Hard to kill your actual wife, right? 249 00:10:42,266 --> 00:10:43,100 - Hard to kill. 250 00:10:43,100 --> 00:10:43,933 I tried. 251 00:10:43,933 --> 00:10:45,700 (audience laughing) 252 00:10:45,700 --> 00:10:48,033 - And there are five kids on the show, who are your kids. 253 00:10:48,033 --> 00:10:49,466 And you have five kids in real life. 254 00:10:49,466 --> 00:10:51,900 And they're also played by not your actual kids. 255 00:10:51,900 --> 00:10:55,833 - We did a pilot episode where it was our kids. 256 00:10:58,933 --> 00:11:01,200 It was just a bad idea. 257 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:03,866 And I've done a lot of stuff. 258 00:11:03,866 --> 00:11:06,433 I did commercials with my kids. 259 00:11:07,533 --> 00:11:10,133 Acting is relatively boring. 260 00:11:10,133 --> 00:11:11,500 It's a lot of sitting around 261 00:11:11,500 --> 00:11:13,133 and waiting. - Waiting, right. 262 00:11:13,133 --> 00:11:17,300 - We want our kids to have somewhat of a normal childhood. 263 00:11:18,666 --> 00:11:21,633 And there are plenty of actor kids that wanna do that. 264 00:11:21,633 --> 00:11:24,900 - Right, I love the fact that you are as devoted 265 00:11:24,900 --> 00:11:28,300 to the story of your family in the show as you are, 266 00:11:28,300 --> 00:11:30,400 because it is the case and I think 267 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:31,833 it's quite admirable honestly. 268 00:11:31,833 --> 00:11:34,300 I make a lot of it that in real life 269 00:11:34,300 --> 00:11:35,800 you're a devoted family person, too. 270 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:37,266 I know people who are devoted to their families. 271 00:11:37,266 --> 00:11:40,733 Part of the Gaffigan brand is that you put family first. 272 00:11:40,733 --> 00:11:42,400 That despite your career being so busy and all the 273 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:44,500 things that you do, you always find time to have dinner 274 00:11:44,500 --> 00:11:46,866 with your family if you're in New York, 275 00:11:46,866 --> 00:11:48,266 you take your kids with you 276 00:11:48,266 --> 00:11:50,300 and your wife on tour if you can. 277 00:11:50,300 --> 00:11:51,933 As we're sitting here in Austin, Texas, you don't 278 00:11:51,933 --> 00:11:53,766 have your family with, but you could encounter 279 00:11:53,766 --> 00:11:56,433 you with your family around. 280 00:11:56,433 --> 00:11:58,833 I just think that's an admirable thing 281 00:11:58,833 --> 00:12:01,033 and it must be difficult to manage in the course of 282 00:12:01,033 --> 00:12:03,700 having a busy career as a comedian and actor. 283 00:12:03,700 --> 00:12:07,866 - It is complicated, but it's also a luxury, I should say. 284 00:12:09,700 --> 00:12:13,466 I'm very lucky that when we've done stuff on a tour bus, 285 00:12:13,466 --> 00:12:18,033 and we have five kids on a tour bus, that I'm fortunate 286 00:12:18,033 --> 00:12:20,733 that I can do a theater in a city and then drive overnight 287 00:12:20,733 --> 00:12:25,166 to another theater, and I'm also fortunate that my wife is 288 00:12:25,166 --> 00:12:27,900 interested in doing stuff like this. 289 00:12:27,900 --> 00:12:30,600 And you know, say, all right for Columbus Day weekend, 290 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,266 now we're going to Seattle! 291 00:12:33,266 --> 00:12:35,133 I think some people would be like, no we're not doing that. 292 00:12:35,133 --> 00:12:36,333 (audience laughing) 293 00:12:36,333 --> 00:12:37,133 - Right, not only are we not doing that, 294 00:12:37,133 --> 00:12:37,800 you're not doing that. 295 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:39,066 - Right. 296 00:12:39,066 --> 00:12:40,066 - But it's the family business. 297 00:12:40,066 --> 00:12:42,300 - It's the family business. 298 00:12:45,366 --> 00:12:49,533 And I feel like I'm very fortunate to do what I enjoy. 299 00:12:52,333 --> 00:12:54,066 And the reason I am a comedian, I was raised to seek 300 00:12:54,066 --> 00:12:57,833 security, to wear a collared shirt and a tie, 301 00:12:59,333 --> 00:13:03,500 and so when I chose this path of being a comedian and actor, 302 00:13:03,500 --> 00:13:07,566 I kind of put it in this rocking chair test. 303 00:13:07,566 --> 00:13:09,866 Like at the end of my life I'm in a rocking chair, 304 00:13:09,866 --> 00:13:12,600 what am I gonna look back and regret. 305 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:16,833 And that's the same approach I have with being a parent 306 00:13:16,833 --> 00:13:18,366 or being around my children. 307 00:13:18,366 --> 00:13:20,066 It's like in hindsight, am I gonna sit there and go, 308 00:13:20,066 --> 00:13:24,933 why didn't I just bring my family too when I did a show 309 00:13:24,933 --> 00:13:27,433 in London and I didn't make any money because I brought 310 00:13:27,433 --> 00:13:30,000 everyone, but at least everyone was there. 311 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:31,300 - And they have an experience that they remember, 312 00:13:31,300 --> 00:13:32,800 and you get to be with them. 313 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:33,766 And this is the important part, so you have five kids. 314 00:13:33,766 --> 00:13:35,166 The oldest is 13? 315 00:13:35,166 --> 00:13:36,400 - 13. 316 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:37,633 - Oldest is 13, so it's five under 13. 317 00:13:37,633 --> 00:13:38,866 The other thing I didn't mention that I love is 318 00:13:38,866 --> 00:13:40,166 that you try not to work on Sunday. 319 00:13:40,166 --> 00:13:41,000 - Yes. 320 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:41,933 - Right? 321 00:13:41,933 --> 00:13:42,900 I mean this is the kind of thing 322 00:13:42,900 --> 00:13:44,166 that the best people I know do. 323 00:13:44,166 --> 00:13:45,633 They say we're never gonna get this time back 324 00:13:45,633 --> 00:13:47,533 with our family, and so I'm gonna construct my life 325 00:13:47,533 --> 00:13:50,100 where we put them first and we schedule around them, 326 00:13:50,100 --> 00:13:52,333 as opposed to the reverse. 327 00:13:52,333 --> 00:13:53,166 And I think that's-- 328 00:13:53,166 --> 00:13:54,400 - Oh, thank you. 329 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:55,600 - It's an honorable and an admirable thing. 330 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:56,900 - Well, thanks. 331 00:13:56,900 --> 00:13:58,400 - So that's part of the Gaffigan brand. 332 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:00,433 Also part of the Gaffigan brand, and we heathens 333 00:14:00,433 --> 00:14:02,566 in the media may make too much of this, 334 00:14:02,566 --> 00:14:05,100 is he doesn't curse in his stand-up. 335 00:14:05,100 --> 00:14:06,966 That it's clean comedy. 336 00:14:06,966 --> 00:14:08,400 Do we make too much? 337 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:10,666 I know that everyone always says that you mention 338 00:14:10,666 --> 00:14:13,866 Jim Gaffigan, and they go, oh he's a clean comic. 339 00:14:13,866 --> 00:14:16,300 As if somehow that's a knock on you or a ding. 340 00:14:16,300 --> 00:14:19,966 - Yeah, it's interesting because I am clean. 341 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:23,966 But my joke when people say, why don't you curse? 342 00:14:23,966 --> 00:14:25,700 I always say Jesus told me not to. 343 00:14:25,700 --> 00:14:27,500 (audience laughing) 344 00:14:27,500 --> 00:14:31,666 But I do feel as though comedians spend a lot of time 345 00:14:33,033 --> 00:14:36,433 developing and discovering their point of view, 346 00:14:37,866 --> 00:14:42,400 whether it be irreverent, or whether it be combative, 347 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:45,333 or whether it be observational, or silly. 348 00:14:45,333 --> 00:14:49,800 And I think a lot of comedians get their point of view 349 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:54,633 or their style, and then people give credit or criticism 350 00:14:54,633 --> 00:14:57,200 to them for embracing it, like oh you're so brave. 351 00:14:57,200 --> 00:15:00,333 It's like, they're not really that brave. 352 00:15:00,333 --> 00:15:02,066 That's just who they are. 353 00:15:02,066 --> 00:15:06,233 And some of it is where they're from and family culture. 354 00:15:08,766 --> 00:15:12,933 I mean, look I curse when I stub my toe or anything like 355 00:15:12,933 --> 00:15:17,466 that, but if I'm on stage in front of a bunch of strangers 356 00:15:17,466 --> 00:15:21,566 talking about muffins, it's not really necessary. 357 00:15:22,633 --> 00:15:25,300 (audience laughing) 358 00:15:25,300 --> 00:15:27,733 So it would seem inauthentic. 359 00:15:28,900 --> 00:15:30,366 - Right, well this is who you are. 360 00:15:30,366 --> 00:15:34,800 - Yeah, and that being said, I've done five hours of 361 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:37,300 stand-up, and I'm touring with this new hour. 362 00:15:37,300 --> 00:15:40,533 And some of it is, and I love stand-up so much, but some of 363 00:15:40,533 --> 00:15:43,100 it is stand-up is this conversation you have, and 364 00:15:43,100 --> 00:15:46,566 similar to talking with friends you challenge them. 365 00:15:46,566 --> 00:15:49,866 You don't have the same conversation with the friends 366 00:15:49,866 --> 00:15:52,066 you really enjoy talking to. 367 00:15:52,066 --> 00:15:53,233 It's evolving. 368 00:15:56,533 --> 00:15:58,466 So you challenge them, and they challenge you. 369 00:15:58,466 --> 00:16:01,433 And so the conversation can shift. 370 00:16:01,433 --> 00:16:05,133 I'm not just talking about food only. 371 00:16:05,133 --> 00:16:07,266 I'm not just talking about my kids only. 372 00:16:07,266 --> 00:16:10,133 But it's the context of knowing, all right this guy 373 00:16:10,133 --> 00:16:14,066 has five kids, that I can talk about some other aspect of, 374 00:16:14,066 --> 00:16:18,233 in this hour my wife having a brain tumor, which was-- 375 00:16:19,866 --> 00:16:21,933 - And saying, let's just accept, thank God she's okay. 376 00:16:21,933 --> 00:16:23,433 - Oh yeah, thank God, right? 377 00:16:23,433 --> 00:16:26,566 - Right, but that's you're just talking to people about 378 00:16:26,566 --> 00:16:28,466 the stuff that is important and interesting to you. 379 00:16:28,466 --> 00:16:29,833 - Right. 380 00:16:29,833 --> 00:16:31,033 - And it doesn't necessarily require you to be 381 00:16:31,033 --> 00:16:32,300 Richard Pryor or Chris Rock. 382 00:16:32,300 --> 00:16:33,833 - Right. 383 00:16:33,833 --> 00:16:35,900 - And you acknowledge that, I mean Richard Pryor I know 384 00:16:35,900 --> 00:16:37,300 is an influence of yours. 385 00:16:37,300 --> 00:16:38,966 You loved Richard Pryor's comedy growing up. 386 00:16:38,966 --> 00:16:40,800 These are people who had no problem cursing. 387 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:44,233 That was part of their approach to the craft. 388 00:16:44,233 --> 00:16:46,400 And you don't begrudge them that, you're not judging them. 389 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:49,166 - No, some of my favorite comedians curse 390 00:16:49,166 --> 00:16:54,000 and stuff like that, but some of it's about being authentic. 391 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:55,900 I had this interview with Larry King, and he said-- 392 00:16:55,900 --> 00:16:57,666 - Oh, please tell me he cursed. 393 00:16:57,666 --> 00:16:59,500 (audience laughing) 394 00:16:59,500 --> 00:17:01,700 - No, but he asked me, he said you know it's so interesting 395 00:17:01,700 --> 00:17:05,800 as I'm asking you why don't you curse, and this is 396 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:08,066 Larry King, he goes when I started doing this when I would 397 00:17:08,066 --> 00:17:09,766 interview comedians, I would ask 398 00:17:09,766 --> 00:17:11,166 - [Both] Why do you curse? 399 00:17:11,166 --> 00:17:12,300 - This is how the world has shifted. 400 00:17:12,300 --> 00:17:13,800 - Yeah. 401 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:18,033 And so some of it is in New York, developing in New York, 402 00:17:18,033 --> 00:17:19,700 I'm a '90s comedian, 403 00:17:23,266 --> 00:17:24,400 it just didn't sound 404 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:25,233 right coming out of me. 405 00:17:25,233 --> 00:17:26,066 It's not like I didn't-- 406 00:17:26,066 --> 00:17:27,466 - You are who you are. 407 00:17:27,466 --> 00:17:29,800 I was trying to think of another comedian who, if I think 408 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:31,466 about this notion of a clean comedian, and somebody 409 00:17:31,466 --> 00:17:35,100 who's unbelievably funny but who's family friendly 410 00:17:35,100 --> 00:17:37,800 as a comedian, and I was thinking Jerry Seinfeld. 411 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:42,133 And I saw the episode of the Jerry Seinfeld internet thing, 412 00:17:42,133 --> 00:17:43,433 comedians in-- 413 00:17:43,433 --> 00:17:44,266 - Cars. 414 00:17:44,266 --> 00:17:45,700 - Cars with coffee. 415 00:17:45,700 --> 00:17:48,966 He's an idol of yours, or somebody who 416 00:17:48,966 --> 00:17:50,600 you aspire to be like, right? 417 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:51,800 You like him. - Yeah. 418 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:52,600 A big inspiration. - Definitely. 419 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:54,300 I think Seinfeld is-- 420 00:17:54,300 --> 00:17:58,466 - It occurred to me you all were similar in that way. 421 00:17:59,933 --> 00:18:02,866 - I think comedians have to develop a set of principles 422 00:18:02,866 --> 00:18:06,800 or rules for how they write and how they view comedy. 423 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,766 Comedians are constantly talking about comedy, 424 00:18:09,766 --> 00:18:13,533 and Seinfeld is somebody who's, you know Seinfeld 425 00:18:13,533 --> 00:18:15,733 and Chris Rock, and Dave Chappelle, they're always 426 00:18:15,733 --> 00:18:19,900 talking comedy, but Seinfeld believes in these absolutes. 427 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:27,800 His theories about always working on ideas and coming up 428 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:31,966 with a fresh perspective, it's worked great for him. 429 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:35,300 So it's really interesting to talk to him about it. 430 00:18:35,300 --> 00:18:37,600 - And he, like you, is an observational comedian. 431 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:39,133 There are different-- 432 00:18:39,133 --> 00:18:40,533 - I'll tell him that he's an observational comedian. 433 00:18:40,533 --> 00:18:42,066 He hates it. - He hates to hear that. 434 00:18:42,066 --> 00:18:43,766 - Because he's an absolutist. - We need to categorize people 435 00:18:43,766 --> 00:18:45,833 - He goes, it's just funny or not funny. 436 00:18:45,833 --> 00:18:47,333 That's all it is. 437 00:18:47,333 --> 00:18:50,166 - But it's a style of comedy that at least we novices, 438 00:18:50,166 --> 00:18:51,966 lay people on the outside, who like to put people in 439 00:18:51,966 --> 00:18:53,866 categories, that's his category. 440 00:18:53,866 --> 00:18:55,466 - [Jim] Absolutely. 441 00:18:55,466 --> 00:18:56,933 - When did you know you wanted to do this? 442 00:18:56,933 --> 00:18:59,000 If I'm remembering this right, you went to college, 443 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:01,200 you went to Purdue for a short while, 444 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:02,200 and then went to 445 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:03,666 - [Both] Georgetown. 446 00:19:03,666 --> 00:19:06,533 - And then came out of college and went into advertising 447 00:19:06,533 --> 00:19:07,966 immediately, is that right? 448 00:19:07,966 --> 00:19:10,000 - I studied finance in college. 449 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:11,300 I'm the youngest of 450 00:19:11,300 --> 00:19:12,500 six kids - Six kids, right. 451 00:19:12,500 --> 00:19:14,566 - I'm from a small town, like my father was-- 452 00:19:14,566 --> 00:19:15,800 - [Evan] In Illinois. 453 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:18,033 - The first one to go to college. 454 00:19:18,033 --> 00:19:21,933 And so we were raised to seek this security, 455 00:19:21,933 --> 00:19:25,200 and then you'd work your ass off and then when you're in 456 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:28,066 your '60s you play golf for five years, and then you die. 457 00:19:28,066 --> 00:19:29,000 (audience laughing) 458 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:30,266 And so that's how I was raised. 459 00:19:30,266 --> 00:19:31,800 - We have about 10 years left. 460 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:32,933 You make it sound good. 461 00:19:32,933 --> 00:19:34,166 (audience laughing) 462 00:19:34,166 --> 00:19:35,933 They get to work on some other stuff. 463 00:19:35,933 --> 00:19:39,133 - And so I was raised to do that, and I 464 00:19:39,133 --> 00:19:43,033 just followed what people were supposed, 465 00:19:43,033 --> 00:19:45,666 you know, they're like do this, you know. 466 00:19:45,666 --> 00:19:49,533 Go to this school, study finance, get this job, 467 00:19:49,533 --> 00:19:51,466 and then you're set. 468 00:19:51,466 --> 00:19:54,733 And the reality is, is it wasn't fulfilling, and so I-- 469 00:19:54,733 --> 00:19:56,500 - How soon after you took the job outta college 470 00:19:56,500 --> 00:19:58,500 did you decide, it's not really for me? 471 00:19:58,500 --> 00:20:01,133 - I'd say it was pretty soon. 472 00:20:01,133 --> 00:20:02,633 - It was? 473 00:20:02,633 --> 00:20:05,600 - It was pretty soon where I had this romantic notion, 474 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:07,666 like the night before graduation I told a friend, 475 00:20:07,666 --> 00:20:11,200 I told her, I said, you know I wanna be a comedian 476 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:14,266 and an actor, and I said, but I know everyone wants to do 477 00:20:14,266 --> 00:20:16,033 that, and she's like, I don't think everyone wants to do 478 00:20:16,033 --> 00:20:17,300 that, and I'm like, no, everyone does. 479 00:20:17,300 --> 00:20:18,233 (audience laughing) 480 00:20:18,233 --> 00:20:19,400 Like I just thought everyone 481 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:20,666 wanted to do that. - Had you done anything 482 00:20:20,666 --> 00:20:24,000 in college that made you think I'm good at this, 483 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:26,900 or had you experimented in any way? 484 00:20:28,300 --> 00:20:32,066 You sort of knew it intuitively that that's what you-- 485 00:20:32,066 --> 00:20:34,766 - I had hosted a talent show in college, 486 00:20:34,766 --> 00:20:36,566 but I was essentially just drunk the entire time. 487 00:20:36,566 --> 00:20:37,933 (audience laughing) 488 00:20:37,933 --> 00:20:42,600 Because I had incredible stage fright for I'd say 489 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:44,533 the first 10 years I did stand-up. 490 00:20:44,533 --> 00:20:45,500 - Really? 491 00:20:45,500 --> 00:20:46,466 - Yeah, it was something-- 492 00:20:46,466 --> 00:20:47,300 - It seems like a problem. 493 00:20:47,300 --> 00:20:48,566 (audience laughing) 494 00:20:48,566 --> 00:20:50,033 - It's huge, I mean actually I pursued 495 00:20:50,033 --> 00:20:52,933 these improv classes because I had such a fear of, 496 00:20:55,333 --> 00:20:58,766 even working in advertising when I started I would talk, 497 00:20:58,766 --> 00:21:01,066 and I would just turn bright red because I would just start 498 00:21:01,066 --> 00:21:04,866 hyperventilating and someone suggested I do an improv class 499 00:21:04,866 --> 00:21:06,700 so that I could feel more comfortable. 500 00:21:06,700 --> 00:21:07,533 - [Evan] Just get better at it. 501 00:21:07,533 --> 00:21:08,966 - Yeah. 502 00:21:08,966 --> 00:21:11,433 - How many nights do you spend on the road now touring, 503 00:21:11,433 --> 00:21:12,833 with or without family. 504 00:21:12,833 --> 00:21:14,900 When you're working on comedy, how often are you out? 505 00:21:14,900 --> 00:21:19,066 - I would say there's 52 weeks, I would say at least 40. 506 00:21:21,633 --> 00:21:23,500 - God, it just seems grueling. 507 00:21:23,500 --> 00:21:25,066 - You know, it's... 508 00:21:26,500 --> 00:21:28,633 First of all there's a big difference between staying in 509 00:21:28,633 --> 00:21:32,300 a Super 8 hotel and staying in a nice hotel. 510 00:21:33,766 --> 00:21:35,400 - Right, you're in the nice hotel phase of your career. 511 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:36,233 - Right. 512 00:21:38,833 --> 00:21:40,300 I'm in Austin right now. 513 00:21:40,300 --> 00:21:41,900 - Doing how many nights? 514 00:21:41,900 --> 00:21:43,333 - Two nights. 515 00:21:43,333 --> 00:21:44,900 - Two nights, but you're here for multiple days. 516 00:21:44,900 --> 00:21:46,966 So when you say that you're on the road a lot, it's not like 517 00:21:46,966 --> 00:21:49,800 literally stop, travel, stop, travel, stop, travel. 518 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:51,966 Sometimes it's like come to a place, hang out for a 519 00:21:51,966 --> 00:21:53,200 few days, right? 520 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:54,800 - It's typically just one or two nights, 521 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:58,300 which is done by design and I'm grateful for it. 522 00:21:58,300 --> 00:22:00,566 So that I can get back and be with my family. 523 00:22:00,566 --> 00:22:03,133 So I might be gone Friday, Saturday, and I'm home Sunday. 524 00:22:03,133 --> 00:22:07,200 And I leave early Friday morning, but I would say 525 00:22:09,066 --> 00:22:12,633 there is something about, I enjoy it. 526 00:22:12,633 --> 00:22:16,800 And believe me, I'm a complainer, traveling is not something 527 00:22:18,233 --> 00:22:22,766 I enjoy, but going through this scare with my wife 528 00:22:22,766 --> 00:22:27,166 being gravely ill, and there was this possibility 529 00:22:27,166 --> 00:22:30,700 where I was gonna be a single father with five kids. 530 00:22:30,700 --> 00:22:34,366 And I was not about to just outsource this to someone else 531 00:22:34,366 --> 00:22:38,266 and continue my career path, so I feel like I'm 532 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:42,366 getting a second wind at this. 533 00:22:42,366 --> 00:22:43,833 - New lease on life. 534 00:22:43,833 --> 00:22:46,066 - Yeah, so it's like, yeah, sitting at an airport's 535 00:22:46,066 --> 00:22:47,400 not great, but-- 536 00:22:48,666 --> 00:22:49,933 - Beats being a single parent. 537 00:22:49,933 --> 00:22:51,233 - Yeah, it beats-- 538 00:22:51,233 --> 00:22:52,166 - Thank God your wife's okay. 539 00:22:52,166 --> 00:22:53,000 - Yeah. 540 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:54,566 - Right. 541 00:22:54,566 --> 00:22:55,666 The shows that you do are typically the same shows? 542 00:22:55,666 --> 00:22:58,200 How iterative is your process? 543 00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:00,466 Do you find that from show to show within a city 544 00:23:00,466 --> 00:23:03,200 or within the course of a week or two that you're refining 545 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:04,733 and adding, and 546 00:23:04,733 --> 00:23:08,100 what's your process like? - I would say it changes. 547 00:23:08,100 --> 00:23:10,366 I work within hours, right? 548 00:23:11,733 --> 00:23:15,666 And so now I'm in the process of creating a new hour, 549 00:23:15,666 --> 00:23:18,466 and I'll remove stuff that works and it has to be 550 00:23:18,466 --> 00:23:22,633 replacing something, and it has to be strong enough 551 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:28,200 to replace something, and so I'll come up with new material, 552 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:32,366 and it typically takes a year to come up with a new hour. 553 00:23:33,733 --> 00:23:37,266 But that being said, it changes a lot. 554 00:23:37,266 --> 00:23:41,966 We live in a day and age, where it's fascinating 555 00:23:41,966 --> 00:23:44,533 being this, whether you wanna call it 556 00:23:44,533 --> 00:23:49,100 observational comedian, because I have seen over the past 557 00:23:49,100 --> 00:23:53,266 year since the election, there is the mention of politics 558 00:23:55,166 --> 00:23:58,966 across the country has made people, I describe it, 559 00:23:58,966 --> 00:24:00,866 they start looking at the ceiling. 560 00:24:00,866 --> 00:24:03,433 And it's because there is, so in other words the type of 561 00:24:03,433 --> 00:24:07,833 comedy I'm doing, this break from this topical stuff, 562 00:24:07,833 --> 00:24:09,766 is almost more appreciated. 563 00:24:09,766 --> 00:24:11,033 I was actually worried. 564 00:24:11,033 --> 00:24:12,100 I was like, do I have to talk about politics now? 565 00:24:12,100 --> 00:24:13,833 - In fact you're the antidote. 566 00:24:13,833 --> 00:24:17,400 - In fact I'm kind of this reprieve because most of 567 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:20,133 everyone's day either watching news or reading news, 568 00:24:20,133 --> 00:24:22,866 so they wanna go and hear about this. 569 00:24:22,866 --> 00:24:24,866 - How self-critical are you, or are you-- 570 00:24:24,866 --> 00:24:26,100 Let me ask it a different way. 571 00:24:26,100 --> 00:24:27,466 Are you a good audience for your stuff? 572 00:24:27,466 --> 00:24:28,700 Do you know when something is funny 573 00:24:28,700 --> 00:24:30,200 and it turns out that you're right? 574 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:31,966 Or does it sometimes, well, we'll see how this goes, 575 00:24:31,966 --> 00:24:36,133 and then you're surprised by the audience's reaction to it? 576 00:24:37,366 --> 00:24:39,433 - I would say it's an ongoing thing. 577 00:24:39,433 --> 00:24:42,633 There's something about, you can call it laugh ears 578 00:24:42,633 --> 00:24:45,466 where that's part of the editing process. 579 00:24:45,466 --> 00:24:48,633 You'll present an idea, and you'll hear 580 00:24:48,633 --> 00:24:51,633 how an audience responds to it. 581 00:24:51,633 --> 00:24:52,833 - You ever work it out in advance and have a trusted 582 00:24:52,833 --> 00:24:55,033 group of people who you bounce stuff off of? 583 00:24:55,033 --> 00:24:56,766 - Well, my wife and I, we write together. 584 00:24:56,766 --> 00:24:58,266 - Right, so built in. 585 00:24:58,266 --> 00:25:02,033 - That's a huge thing, and there will be jokes or lines 586 00:25:02,033 --> 00:25:05,033 that might work in the show but my wife will say, 587 00:25:05,033 --> 00:25:08,500 you gotta get rid of it, and we'll have a discussion about 588 00:25:08,500 --> 00:25:10,000 why we have to get rid of it. 589 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:10,833 - [Evan] And she's usually right. 590 00:25:10,833 --> 00:25:12,000 - She's usually right! 591 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:12,933 - That's how this goes. 592 00:25:12,933 --> 00:25:14,433 We have about a minute left. 593 00:25:14,433 --> 00:25:18,066 What's the funniest line that you're now using out. 594 00:25:18,066 --> 00:25:21,100 Can you give us one funny thing? 595 00:25:21,100 --> 00:25:23,100 What's your favorite thing that you're working through? 596 00:25:23,100 --> 00:25:24,733 - Well it's usually the newest joke is always the funniest. 597 00:25:24,733 --> 00:25:27,066 - So what's the latest joke? 598 00:25:28,300 --> 00:25:29,733 - I came up with this line. 599 00:25:29,733 --> 00:25:33,166 What kind of antidepressants do you have to be on 600 00:25:33,166 --> 00:25:35,133 to enjoy cross country skiing? 601 00:25:35,133 --> 00:25:38,133 (audience laughing) 602 00:25:40,266 --> 00:25:43,000 And that's one of those where it was, and I just plugged 603 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:44,066 it in, and it was like, all right! 604 00:25:44,066 --> 00:25:44,900 - And it worked! 605 00:25:44,900 --> 00:25:45,733 (audience laughing) 606 00:25:45,733 --> 00:25:47,200 Good. - Yeah. 607 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:47,866 - Hey, great to have an opportunity to be with you. 608 00:25:47,866 --> 00:25:48,966 - Thank you. 609 00:25:48,966 --> 00:25:50,200 - Good luck on everything you're doing, 610 00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:50,933 and look forward to seeing you again. 611 00:25:50,933 --> 00:25:52,066 - Appreciate it. 612 00:25:52,066 --> 00:25:52,733 - [Evan] Jim Gaffigan, thanks a lot! 613 00:25:52,733 --> 00:25:54,833 (applause) 614 00:25:56,033 --> 00:25:58,300 We'd love to have you join us in the studio. 615 00:25:58,300 --> 00:26:01,966 Visit our website at klru.org/overheard 616 00:26:01,966 --> 00:26:06,200 to find invitations to interviews, Q&As with our audience 617 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:09,500 and guests, and an archive of past episodes. 618 00:26:09,500 --> 00:26:12,666 - Letterman was this curmudgeon who was sardonic and 619 00:26:12,666 --> 00:26:17,133 everything, and we shifted to Jimmy Fallon and Ellen 620 00:26:17,133 --> 00:26:20,066 during the day, where it was much more palatable, 621 00:26:20,066 --> 00:26:22,400 and there was almost kind of a resistance to 622 00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:26,566 the cynicism or the misanthropic tone of a Letterman. 623 00:26:28,366 --> 00:26:31,166 And so it kind of shifts. 624 00:26:31,166 --> 00:26:33,066 - [Announcer] Funding for Overheard with Evan Smith 625 00:26:33,066 --> 00:26:36,266 is provided in part by Hillco Partners, 626 00:26:36,266 --> 00:26:38,600 a Texas government affairs consultancy. 627 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:41,100 And by Claire and Carl Stuart.