WEBVTT 00:01.500 --> 00:03.100 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - [Announcer] Funding for Overheard with Evan Smith 00:03.100 --> 00:05.733 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% is provided in part by Hillco Partners, 00:05.733 --> 00:08.466 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% a Texas government affairs consultancy. 00:08.466 --> 00:10.966 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% And by Claire and Carl Stuart. 00:12.733 --> 00:14.233 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% - I'm Evan Smith. 00:14.233 --> 00:16.733 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% He's a much-loved Grammy Award nominated comedian, 00:16.733 --> 00:18.933 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% writer, and actor whose latest film 00:18.933 --> 00:21.466 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% is the political thriller Chappaquiddick. 00:21.466 --> 00:24.433 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% He's Jim Gaffigan, this is Overheard. 00:24.433 --> 00:25.933 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% (applause) 00:25.933 --> 00:28.166 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Let's be honest, is this about the ability to learn 00:28.166 --> 00:29.733 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% or is this about the experience 00:29.733 --> 00:31.866 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% of not having been taught properly? 00:31.866 --> 00:33.766 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% How have you avoided what has befallen 00:33.766 --> 00:35.033 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% other nations in Africa? 00:35.033 --> 00:37.533 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% You could say that he made his own bed, 00:37.533 --> 00:39.033 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% but you caused him to sleep in it? 00:39.033 --> 00:42.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% You saw a problem and over time took it on, and-- 00:42.033 --> 00:43.600 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% (audience laughing) 00:43.600 --> 00:45.200 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Let's start with the sizzle before we get to the steak. 00:45.200 --> 00:46.500 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Are you gonna run for president? 00:46.500 --> 00:48.000 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% I think I just got an F from you, actually. 00:48.000 --> 00:49.566 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% (audience laughing) 00:49.566 --> 00:51.800 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% (applause) 00:53.400 --> 00:54.366 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% Jim Gaffigan, welcome. 00:54.366 --> 00:55.766 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - Thank you for having me. 00:55.766 --> 00:56.966 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - Can I confess something when I heard you 00:56.966 --> 00:58.233 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% were in a film called Chappaquiddick? 00:58.233 --> 01:00.200 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% I thought, a comedy about Chappaquiddick? 01:00.200 --> 01:02.200 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% (audience laughing) - Oh, right! 01:02.200 --> 01:03.100 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% - It's not a comedy. 01:03.100 --> 01:04.333 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% - No, it's not a comedy. 01:04.333 --> 01:05.566 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - It's the actual Chappaquiddick. 01:05.566 --> 01:08.133 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - It's a look at the story that 01:10.566 --> 01:14.100 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% really kind of affected Ted Kennedy's life completely-- 01:14.100 --> 01:15.766 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - Arguably changed history, right? 01:15.766 --> 01:17.166 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% If you believe the idea - Absolutely! 01:17.166 --> 01:18.833 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - that Ted Kennedy was going to be president 01:18.833 --> 01:20.000 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% at some point, and this might have been 01:20.000 --> 01:21.033 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% the thing that disabled it, right? 01:21.033 --> 01:22.533 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% - Oh yeah, beyond a doubt. 01:22.533 --> 01:26.500 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% And it's also interesting given our current political 01:26.500 --> 01:30.233 align:left position:20%,start line:5% size:70% climate, like what Ted Kennedy got away with, 01:31.566 --> 01:33.300 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% the entitlement and stuff like that. 01:33.300 --> 01:35.600 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% It's a really fascinating look. 01:35.600 --> 01:36.733 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - You and I are the same age, we're both 51. 01:36.733 --> 01:39.233 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% - 51, but I look 50. 01:39.233 --> 01:40.533 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% (audience laughing) - Is that right? 01:40.533 --> 01:42.566 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% You don't look a day over 50 and a half. 01:42.566 --> 01:44.066 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - I barely look 50 and six months. 01:44.066 --> 01:47.400 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - So we were three years old when this happened. 01:47.400 --> 01:49.866 align:left position:20%,start line:5% size:70% So I have no memory of it, I just know 01:49.866 --> 01:51.400 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% what I've read over the years. 01:51.400 --> 01:53.366 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% And I suspect that when you were contemplating taking this 01:53.366 --> 01:56.866 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% role, and you contemplated joining the cast, again, not 01:56.866 --> 01:59.533 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% something that you had a lot of experience with. 01:59.533 --> 02:03.700 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - I think everybody of our age knows about Chappaquiddick. 02:05.133 --> 02:08.733 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We know that when Ted was running, he was challenging 02:08.733 --> 02:12.900 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Carter, that Chappaquiddick essentially stopped his chances. 02:14.333 --> 02:18.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% What I find so fascinating about Chappaquiddick is that 02:19.600 --> 02:23.500 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% the movie is presented as not a hit piece, it's not an 02:23.500 --> 02:26.300 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% apology, they're not trying to rewrite history, 02:26.300 --> 02:30.466 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% it's presented as what good art should do, is ask questions. 02:32.133 --> 02:35.066 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% And Chappaquiddick is a horrible thing. 02:35.066 --> 02:36.033 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% It's what happened. 02:36.033 --> 02:37.566 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - Well, the scene where the 02:37.566 --> 02:41.400 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% car goes off the bridge is really difficult to watch. 02:41.400 --> 02:44.766 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% And you think you know what's coming, but no. 02:44.766 --> 02:46.766 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% It's really hard, and the way it's staged is very simple 02:46.766 --> 02:48.600 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% but it's also very powerful. 02:48.600 --> 02:52.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - Oh yeah, and we went there and we shot the scene in Mexico 02:52.533 --> 02:57.200 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% but we went to Chappaquiddick, and it's not that deep. 02:57.200 --> 02:58.866 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% It's really scary. 02:58.866 --> 03:03.200 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% But what I think is so interesting about Chappaquiddick 03:03.200 --> 03:07.266 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% is Ted Kennedy, whether you love him or you hate him, 03:07.266 --> 03:10.400 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I mean I'm an Irish Catholic so I'm predisposed to love 03:10.400 --> 03:14.566 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% the Kennedys, but Ted Kennedy, this horrible event, 03:16.933 --> 03:20.000 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and this coverup, you know like the quintessential 03:20.000 --> 03:23.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% white guy entitlement rich people get away with murder 03:23.066 --> 03:25.766 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% thing, but you sit there and you look at the span 03:25.766 --> 03:28.800 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% of his career, and you go, maybe there should 03:28.800 --> 03:31.300 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% be some redemption for people. 03:35.266 --> 03:37.333 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% If Chappaquiddick happened today, Ted Kennedy 03:37.333 --> 03:41.500 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% would be in jail, but it's not as if he didn't do some good. 03:44.033 --> 03:47.600 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - But it had a low ceiling, because he could only do 03:47.600 --> 03:50.366 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% so much good because of this thing that was sitting there 03:50.366 --> 03:52.000 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% in his past, you talk about the coverup. 03:52.000 --> 03:52.833 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% So your character-- 03:52.833 --> 03:53.800 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% - Yeah, Paul Markham. 03:53.800 --> 03:55.366 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - in this movie is Paul Markham. 03:55.366 --> 03:57.133 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Paul Markham was the US attorney in Massachusetts. 03:57.133 --> 03:58.666 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% He is a Kennedy friend. 03:58.666 --> 04:00.233 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - Yeah, a Kennedy friend. 04:00.233 --> 04:02.666 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I mean there's the real history, and then there's 04:02.666 --> 04:06.366 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% what we tried to characterize in the movie. 04:06.366 --> 04:09.233 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And Paul Markham, the character I was portraying, 04:09.233 --> 04:13.233 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% was very much an instrument to show how alluring 04:14.433 --> 04:17.233 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% being part of the Kennedy clan was. 04:17.233 --> 04:20.266 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And so in the movie, Paul Markham my character, finally 04:20.266 --> 04:23.833 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% gains entry into this Camelot kind of world 04:25.866 --> 04:29.000 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% of being part of the Kennedy group. 04:29.000 --> 04:33.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% But by getting sucked in, he has to then participate 04:33.533 --> 04:34.966 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% in this coverup, which is-- 04:34.966 --> 04:36.300 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - Right, 'cause it's Markham and it's cousin Joey, 04:36.300 --> 04:38.233 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% who's played by Ed Helms. 04:38.233 --> 04:39.433 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% - Yes. 04:39.433 --> 04:40.366 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - Who gets the call from Kennedy, 04:40.366 --> 04:41.300 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% who's played by Jason Clarke. 04:41.300 --> 04:42.233 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% - Yes. 04:42.233 --> 04:43.933 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - Jason Clarke, I remembered. 04:43.933 --> 04:45.333 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% I was looking at Jason Clarke. 04:45.333 --> 04:46.800 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I was watching the movie thinking, where have I seen this 04:46.800 --> 04:48.866 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% guy, and I remembered him from Zero Dark Thirty, 04:48.866 --> 04:49.866 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% but he's actually done quite a lot of stuff since-- 04:49.866 --> 04:50.700 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - He's done a lot of stuff. 04:50.700 --> 04:52.200 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% - Since then. 04:52.200 --> 04:56.700 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So Markham and cousin Joe get a call from Kennedy, 04:56.700 --> 04:59.866 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and then the next day they're actually upset among 04:59.866 --> 05:02.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% other things, at the fact that he didn't report 05:02.433 --> 05:04.200 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% this incident in a timely fashion. 05:04.200 --> 05:05.033 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% - Right. 05:05.033 --> 05:06.533 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% - Right? 05:06.533 --> 05:09.500 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - There's a lot of different theories on what actually 05:09.500 --> 05:13.100 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% happened that night, but one of the things that is covered 05:13.100 --> 05:17.266 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% is at this night out where there was a lot of alcohol, 05:18.833 --> 05:20.900 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and there was a lot of married men and single women, 05:20.900 --> 05:25.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% that this event occurred, Ted came back to the house, 05:27.333 --> 05:29.433 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% and he asked for two people. 05:29.433 --> 05:34.100 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% One happens to be his cousin who essentially raised 05:34.100 --> 05:38.166 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% as a brother with him, and another was a lawyer. 05:38.166 --> 05:42.866 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And so it was definitely pursuing a legal solution 05:42.866 --> 05:47.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% from this, but it's hard to characterize it without 05:48.300 --> 05:51.566 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% looking at some of the emotional impact 05:53.300 --> 05:55.466 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% that Ted had gone through. 05:56.533 --> 05:57.700 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% We know his brothers were killed. 05:57.700 --> 05:59.366 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% And we know that he was young, 05:59.366 --> 06:02.133 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% and we know that he was pursuing good things. 06:02.133 --> 06:06.300 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We know he was corrupted, that he was a philandering drunk. 06:07.700 --> 06:11.233 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% But it's hard to separate that from the humanity 06:12.700 --> 06:15.566 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% of who he was, and I think Jason does an amazing job 06:15.566 --> 06:17.133 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% portraying him. - And it's hard also 06:17.133 --> 06:20.566 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% to not think about the family of the girl who was killed. 06:20.566 --> 06:22.066 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - Oh, insane, yeah. - Right, who was 06:22.066 --> 06:23.233 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% played in this movie by Kate Mara. 06:23.233 --> 06:24.400 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% - Yes. 06:24.400 --> 06:25.966 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - Last seen being killed in House of Cards. 06:25.966 --> 06:27.833 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - Yes. (audience laughing) 06:27.833 --> 06:29.333 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% And what's interesting is-- 06:29.333 --> 06:31.933 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - We're not making a joke about that, by the way. 06:31.933 --> 06:35.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - What's interesting, I think, about you watch the movie 06:35.066 --> 06:37.900 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% and the Kopechnes don't blame Ted. 06:39.900 --> 06:43.466 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% And that kind of is used as a pivotal point 06:45.600 --> 06:49.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% in him maybe going, all right, I'm not gonna be defined 06:49.533 --> 06:53.433 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% by this one event, or maybe he uses it 06:53.433 --> 06:56.000 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% to propel this massive coverup. 07:00.266 --> 07:03.700 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Ed Helms' character presents the right thing to do. 07:03.700 --> 07:08.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I'm just this innocent guy who's thrilled to be part 07:08.533 --> 07:11.466 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% of the Kennedy group, and now I'm 07:11.466 --> 07:12.833 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% completely corrupted. - Suddenly in the middle 07:12.833 --> 07:14.333 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% of all this. 07:14.333 --> 07:15.766 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - Paul Markham could have been a supreme court judge, 07:15.766 --> 07:17.266 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% we don't know, but his career was kind of damaged. 07:17.266 --> 07:18.766 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - That was pretty much it. 07:18.766 --> 07:20.500 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I said at the beginning it's hard to think of this not as a 07:20.500 --> 07:23.000 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% comedy given the fact that you're in it, but you have done 07:23.000 --> 07:24.966 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% dramatic acting before, this is not the first time. 07:24.966 --> 07:26.200 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% You like doing this. 07:26.200 --> 07:27.300 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% This is something that you enjoy? 07:27.300 --> 07:28.766 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% - Oh, I love acting. 07:28.766 --> 07:32.600 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% It's just the process of getting acting roles that I find... 07:32.600 --> 07:34.400 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% (audience laughing) 07:34.400 --> 07:36.933 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - Right, it would stand to reason that 07:36.933 --> 07:38.500 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% that would be one obstacle. 07:38.500 --> 07:40.800 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Not getting a role would be an obstacle to being in a film. 07:40.800 --> 07:44.466 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - Auditioning, I describe it as it's kind of like 07:44.466 --> 07:46.233 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% stripping but you don't get a dollar. 07:46.233 --> 07:48.000 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% (audience laughing) 07:48.000 --> 07:50.600 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% It's a very humiliating process. 07:50.600 --> 07:55.600 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% I love acting, but I work in the perception industry. 07:55.600 --> 07:58.600 align:left position:20%,start line:5% size:70% And so I'm perceived as a funny guy. 08:01.333 --> 08:03.533 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% And Ed Helms's a very funny guy, but-- 08:03.533 --> 08:06.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - Although Ed Helms too has made the transition as you have. 08:06.033 --> 08:09.933 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - And I think it's odder for a serious person 08:09.933 --> 08:12.266 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% to do something funny than a funny person 08:12.266 --> 08:13.800 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - [Both] To do something serious. 08:13.800 --> 08:16.900 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% - Is the harder time on the perception industry, is the 08:16.900 --> 08:18.700 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% harder time for them to see you in a dramatic role, 08:18.700 --> 08:20.866 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% or for you to see yourself in a dramatic role? 08:20.866 --> 08:21.933 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% - Oh I think it's them. 08:21.933 --> 08:23.633 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% I think it's those people. 08:23.633 --> 08:24.766 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - You're perfectly comfortable with-- 08:24.766 --> 08:25.866 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% - I enjoy it. 08:27.266 --> 08:29.766 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I mean, look, my Twitter feed, there'll be an episode of 08:29.766 --> 08:32.266 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Law & Order that will air and people will almost 08:32.266 --> 08:36.266 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% sound angry that I was in an episode of Law & Order. 08:36.266 --> 08:37.433 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% - How dare you! 08:37.433 --> 08:38.400 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - Yeah, they're like, you're supposed 08:38.400 --> 08:39.933 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% to just be talking about food. 08:39.933 --> 08:41.600 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% (audience laughing) 08:41.600 --> 08:43.233 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% - Yeah! 08:43.233 --> 08:47.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We were visiting before we came out here about your program, 08:47.033 --> 08:51.633 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% TV Land, and I guess it airs on multiple places. 08:51.633 --> 08:54.300 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% The Jim Gaffigan Show which was two seasons 08:54.300 --> 08:55.766 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% but is no longer back. 08:55.766 --> 08:58.266 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% In some respects, that's acting except you are acting 08:58.266 --> 09:00.733 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% as you, a fictionalized version of you. 09:00.733 --> 09:03.566 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% And that's become a more or less 09:03.566 --> 09:06.233 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% common form for people in comedy. 09:06.233 --> 09:08.033 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% I think about Marc Maron's program, 09:08.033 --> 09:09.966 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% or Louis CK's program, right? 09:09.966 --> 09:12.933 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% But nonetheless, it's a pretty good show. 09:12.933 --> 09:14.166 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% - Oh, thank you. 09:14.166 --> 09:15.366 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - You're very good at being you. 09:15.366 --> 09:17.466 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% (audience laughing) 09:17.466 --> 09:21.633 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - We had an episode where I had to audition to be me. 09:23.100 --> 09:27.833 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% But when we were doing the show, there's me, there's 09:27.833 --> 09:31.300 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% stand-up comedy me, and then there's actor-y me 09:31.300 --> 09:35.400 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% in the Jim Gaffigan Show, and we described it as 09:35.400 --> 09:38.333 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% removing IQ points along the way. 09:38.333 --> 09:40.000 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% (audience laughing) - As you go down the line. 09:40.000 --> 09:42.100 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - It's like, all right this guy doesn't know anything. 09:42.100 --> 09:45.500 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - So you play you, but someone else plays your wife. 09:45.500 --> 09:46.700 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% - Yes. 09:46.700 --> 09:47.900 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - Your actual wife does not play your wife, 09:47.900 --> 09:49.300 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% although your actual wife has a role. 09:49.300 --> 09:50.833 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% - Yes. 09:50.833 --> 09:51.933 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - In that she had been the co-writer of this program. 09:51.933 --> 09:52.800 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% We wrote all the-- 09:52.800 --> 09:53.666 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% - Jeanne. 09:53.666 --> 09:55.033 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% - Jeannie. 09:55.033 --> 09:56.466 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And executive producer of it. - Jeannie, and is an 09:56.466 --> 09:58.333 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% extraordinary writer, accomplished writer herself. 09:58.333 --> 09:59.900 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Did she ever consider the possibility 09:59.900 --> 10:01.166 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% of being herself in this? 10:01.166 --> 10:04.666 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - She did consider it, and the show itself 10:06.666 --> 10:11.000 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% was first at NBC, and then it was at CBS, and then 10:11.000 --> 10:13.933 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% we ended up at TV Land and along that path 10:13.933 --> 10:18.366 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% there's bureaucracy that exists where people wanted 10:18.366 --> 10:22.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% a household name to play the character of Jeannie. 10:23.966 --> 10:26.266 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And we also realized that it was good to have someone 10:26.266 --> 10:30.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% who could direct or who could be the executive producer 10:30.033 --> 10:31.966 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% and have a perspective on the scene, 10:31.966 --> 10:33.433 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% rather than being involved in it. 10:33.433 --> 10:34.966 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - Right, or you could just decide to be like Kevin James 10:34.966 --> 10:36.933 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and randomly kill your wife on the show and then put a 10:36.933 --> 10:40.133 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% new person in, they said nobody would actually know it. 10:40.133 --> 10:41.400 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% It's convenient that way. 10:41.400 --> 10:42.266 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Hard to kill your actual wife, right? 10:42.266 --> 10:43.100 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% - Hard to kill. 10:43.100 --> 10:43.933 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% I tried. 10:43.933 --> 10:45.700 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% (audience laughing) 10:45.700 --> 10:48.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - And there are five kids on the show, who are your kids. 10:48.033 --> 10:49.466 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% And you have five kids in real life. 10:49.466 --> 10:51.900 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% And they're also played by not your actual kids. 10:51.900 --> 10:55.833 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - We did a pilot episode where it was our kids. 10:58.933 --> 11:01.200 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% It was just a bad idea. 11:01.200 --> 11:03.866 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% And I've done a lot of stuff. 11:03.866 --> 11:06.433 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% I did commercials with my kids. 11:07.533 --> 11:10.133 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Acting is relatively boring. 11:10.133 --> 11:11.500 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% It's a lot of sitting around 11:11.500 --> 11:13.133 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% and waiting. - Waiting, right. 11:13.133 --> 11:17.300 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - We want our kids to have somewhat of a normal childhood. 11:18.666 --> 11:21.633 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And there are plenty of actor kids that wanna do that. 11:21.633 --> 11:24.900 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - Right, I love the fact that you are as devoted 11:24.900 --> 11:28.300 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% to the story of your family in the show as you are, 11:28.300 --> 11:30.400 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% because it is the case and I think 11:30.400 --> 11:31.833 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% it's quite admirable honestly. 11:31.833 --> 11:34.300 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% I make a lot of it that in real life 11:34.300 --> 11:35.800 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% you're a devoted family person, too. 11:35.800 --> 11:37.266 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I know people who are devoted to their families. 11:37.266 --> 11:40.733 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Part of the Gaffigan brand is that you put family first. 11:40.733 --> 11:42.400 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% That despite your career being so busy and all the 11:42.400 --> 11:44.500 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% things that you do, you always find time to have dinner 11:44.500 --> 11:46.866 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% with your family if you're in New York, 11:46.866 --> 11:48.266 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% you take your kids with you 11:48.266 --> 11:50.300 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% and your wife on tour if you can. 11:50.300 --> 11:51.933 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% As we're sitting here in Austin, Texas, you don't 11:51.933 --> 11:53.766 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% have your family with, but you could encounter 11:53.766 --> 11:56.433 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% you with your family around. 11:56.433 --> 11:58.833 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% I just think that's an admirable thing 11:58.833 --> 12:01.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and it must be difficult to manage in the course of 12:01.033 --> 12:03.700 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% having a busy career as a comedian and actor. 12:03.700 --> 12:07.866 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - It is complicated, but it's also a luxury, I should say. 12:09.700 --> 12:13.466 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I'm very lucky that when we've done stuff on a tour bus, 12:13.466 --> 12:18.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and we have five kids on a tour bus, that I'm fortunate 12:18.033 --> 12:20.733 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% that I can do a theater in a city and then drive overnight 12:20.733 --> 12:25.166 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% to another theater, and I'm also fortunate that my wife is 12:25.166 --> 12:27.900 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% interested in doing stuff like this. 12:27.900 --> 12:30.600 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And you know, say, all right for Columbus Day weekend, 12:30.600 --> 12:33.266 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% now we're going to Seattle! 12:33.266 --> 12:35.133 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I think some people would be like, no we're not doing that. 12:35.133 --> 12:36.333 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% (audience laughing) 12:36.333 --> 12:37.133 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - Right, not only are we not doing that, 12:37.133 --> 12:37.800 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% you're not doing that. 12:37.800 --> 12:39.066 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% - Right. 12:39.066 --> 12:40.066 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - But it's the family business. 12:40.066 --> 12:42.300 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - It's the family business. 12:45.366 --> 12:49.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And I feel like I'm very fortunate to do what I enjoy. 12:52.333 --> 12:54.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And the reason I am a comedian, I was raised to seek 12:54.066 --> 12:57.833 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% security, to wear a collared shirt and a tie, 12:59.333 --> 13:03.500 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and so when I chose this path of being a comedian and actor, 13:03.500 --> 13:07.566 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% I kind of put it in this rocking chair test. 13:07.566 --> 13:09.866 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Like at the end of my life I'm in a rocking chair, 13:09.866 --> 13:12.600 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% what am I gonna look back and regret. 13:12.600 --> 13:16.833 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And that's the same approach I have with being a parent 13:16.833 --> 13:18.366 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% or being around my children. 13:18.366 --> 13:20.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% It's like in hindsight, am I gonna sit there and go, 13:20.066 --> 13:24.933 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% why didn't I just bring my family too when I did a show 13:24.933 --> 13:27.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% in London and I didn't make any money because I brought 13:27.433 --> 13:30.000 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% everyone, but at least everyone was there. 13:30.000 --> 13:31.300 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - And they have an experience that they remember, 13:31.300 --> 13:32.800 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% and you get to be with them. 13:32.800 --> 13:33.766 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And this is the important part, so you have five kids. 13:33.766 --> 13:35.166 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% The oldest is 13? 13:35.166 --> 13:36.400 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% - 13. 13:36.400 --> 13:37.633 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - Oldest is 13, so it's five under 13. 13:37.633 --> 13:38.866 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% The other thing I didn't mention that I love is 13:38.866 --> 13:40.166 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% that you try not to work on Sunday. 13:40.166 --> 13:41.000 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% - Yes. 13:41.000 --> 13:41.933 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% - Right? 13:41.933 --> 13:42.900 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% I mean this is the kind of thing 13:42.900 --> 13:44.166 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% that the best people I know do. 13:44.166 --> 13:45.633 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% They say we're never gonna get this time back 13:45.633 --> 13:47.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% with our family, and so I'm gonna construct my life 13:47.533 --> 13:50.100 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% where we put them first and we schedule around them, 13:50.100 --> 13:52.333 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% as opposed to the reverse. 13:52.333 --> 13:53.166 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% And I think that's-- 13:53.166 --> 13:54.400 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% - Oh, thank you. 13:54.400 --> 13:55.600 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - It's an honorable and an admirable thing. 13:55.600 --> 13:56.900 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% - Well, thanks. 13:56.900 --> 13:58.400 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - So that's part of the Gaffigan brand. 13:58.400 --> 14:00.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Also part of the Gaffigan brand, and we heathens 14:00.433 --> 14:02.566 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% in the media may make too much of this, 14:02.566 --> 14:05.100 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% is he doesn't curse in his stand-up. 14:05.100 --> 14:06.966 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% That it's clean comedy. 14:06.966 --> 14:08.400 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% Do we make too much? 14:08.400 --> 14:10.666 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I know that everyone always says that you mention 14:10.666 --> 14:13.866 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Jim Gaffigan, and they go, oh he's a clean comic. 14:13.866 --> 14:16.300 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% As if somehow that's a knock on you or a ding. 14:16.300 --> 14:19.966 align:left position:20%,start line:5% size:70% - Yeah, it's interesting because I am clean. 14:21.400 --> 14:23.966 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% But my joke when people say, why don't you curse? 14:23.966 --> 14:25.700 align:left position:20%,start line:5% size:70% I always say Jesus told me not to. 14:25.700 --> 14:27.500 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% (audience laughing) 14:27.500 --> 14:31.666 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% But I do feel as though comedians spend a lot of time 14:33.033 --> 14:36.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% developing and discovering their point of view, 14:37.866 --> 14:42.400 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% whether it be irreverent, or whether it be combative, 14:42.400 --> 14:45.333 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% or whether it be observational, or silly. 14:45.333 --> 14:49.800 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And I think a lot of comedians get their point of view 14:49.800 --> 14:54.633 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% or their style, and then people give credit or criticism 14:54.633 --> 14:57.200 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% to them for embracing it, like oh you're so brave. 14:57.200 --> 15:00.333 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% It's like, they're not really that brave. 15:00.333 --> 15:02.066 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% That's just who they are. 15:02.066 --> 15:06.233 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And some of it is where they're from and family culture. 15:08.766 --> 15:12.933 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I mean, look I curse when I stub my toe or anything like 15:12.933 --> 15:17.466 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% that, but if I'm on stage in front of a bunch of strangers 15:17.466 --> 15:21.566 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% talking about muffins, it's not really necessary. 15:22.633 --> 15:25.300 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% (audience laughing) 15:25.300 --> 15:27.733 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% So it would seem inauthentic. 15:28.900 --> 15:30.366 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - Right, well this is who you are. 15:30.366 --> 15:34.800 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - Yeah, and that being said, I've done five hours of 15:34.800 --> 15:37.300 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% stand-up, and I'm touring with this new hour. 15:37.300 --> 15:40.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And some of it is, and I love stand-up so much, but some of 15:40.533 --> 15:43.100 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% it is stand-up is this conversation you have, and 15:43.100 --> 15:46.566 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% similar to talking with friends you challenge them. 15:46.566 --> 15:49.866 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% You don't have the same conversation with the friends 15:49.866 --> 15:52.066 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% you really enjoy talking to. 15:52.066 --> 15:53.233 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% It's evolving. 15:56.533 --> 15:58.466 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% So you challenge them, and they challenge you. 15:58.466 --> 16:01.433 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% And so the conversation can shift. 16:01.433 --> 16:05.133 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% I'm not just talking about food only. 16:05.133 --> 16:07.266 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% I'm not just talking about my kids only. 16:07.266 --> 16:10.133 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% But it's the context of knowing, all right this guy 16:10.133 --> 16:14.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% has five kids, that I can talk about some other aspect of, 16:14.066 --> 16:18.233 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% in this hour my wife having a brain tumor, which was-- 16:19.866 --> 16:21.933 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - And saying, let's just accept, thank God she's okay. 16:21.933 --> 16:23.433 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - Oh yeah, thank God, right? 16:23.433 --> 16:26.566 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - Right, but that's you're just talking to people about 16:26.566 --> 16:28.466 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% the stuff that is important and interesting to you. 16:28.466 --> 16:29.833 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% - Right. 16:29.833 --> 16:31.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - And it doesn't necessarily require you to be 16:31.033 --> 16:32.300 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Richard Pryor or Chris Rock. 16:32.300 --> 16:33.833 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% - Right. 16:33.833 --> 16:35.900 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% - And you acknowledge that, I mean Richard Pryor I know 16:35.900 --> 16:37.300 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% is an influence of yours. 16:37.300 --> 16:38.966 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% You loved Richard Pryor's comedy growing up. 16:38.966 --> 16:40.800 align:left position:20%,start line:5% size:70% These are people who had no problem cursing. 16:40.800 --> 16:44.233 align:left position:20%,start line:5% size:70% That was part of their approach to the craft. 16:44.233 --> 16:46.400 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And you don't begrudge them that, you're not judging them. 16:46.400 --> 16:49.166 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - No, some of my favorite comedians curse 16:49.166 --> 16:54.000 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and stuff like that, but some of it's about being authentic. 16:54.000 --> 16:55.900 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I had this interview with Larry King, and he said-- 16:55.900 --> 16:57.666 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - Oh, please tell me he cursed. 16:57.666 --> 16:59.500 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% (audience laughing) 16:59.500 --> 17:01.700 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - No, but he asked me, he said you know it's so interesting 17:01.700 --> 17:05.800 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% as I'm asking you why don't you curse, and this is 17:05.800 --> 17:08.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Larry King, he goes when I started doing this when I would 17:08.066 --> 17:09.766 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% interview comedians, I would ask 17:09.766 --> 17:11.166 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - [Both] Why do you curse? 17:11.166 --> 17:12.300 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - This is how the world has shifted. 17:12.300 --> 17:13.800 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% - Yeah. 17:13.800 --> 17:18.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And so some of it is in New York, developing in New York, 17:18.033 --> 17:19.700 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% I'm a '90s comedian, 17:23.266 --> 17:24.400 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% it just didn't sound 17:24.400 --> 17:25.233 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% right coming out of me. 17:25.233 --> 17:26.066 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% It's not like I didn't-- 17:26.066 --> 17:27.466 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% - You are who you are. 17:27.466 --> 17:29.800 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I was trying to think of another comedian who, if I think 17:29.800 --> 17:31.466 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% about this notion of a clean comedian, and somebody 17:31.466 --> 17:35.100 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% who's unbelievably funny but who's family friendly 17:35.100 --> 17:37.800 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% as a comedian, and I was thinking Jerry Seinfeld. 17:37.800 --> 17:42.133 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And I saw the episode of the Jerry Seinfeld internet thing, 17:42.133 --> 17:43.433 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% comedians in-- 17:43.433 --> 17:44.266 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% - Cars. 17:44.266 --> 17:45.700 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% - Cars with coffee. 17:45.700 --> 17:48.966 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% He's an idol of yours, or somebody who 17:48.966 --> 17:50.600 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% you aspire to be like, right? 17:50.600 --> 17:51.800 align:left position:30%,start line:83% size:60% You like him. - Yeah. 17:51.800 --> 17:52.600 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% A big inspiration. - Definitely. 17:52.600 --> 17:54.300 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% I think Seinfeld is-- 17:54.300 --> 17:58.466 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - It occurred to me you all were similar in that way. 17:59.933 --> 18:02.866 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - I think comedians have to develop a set of principles 18:02.866 --> 18:06.800 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% or rules for how they write and how they view comedy. 18:06.800 --> 18:09.766 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Comedians are constantly talking about comedy, 18:09.766 --> 18:13.533 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% and Seinfeld is somebody who's, you know Seinfeld 18:13.533 --> 18:15.733 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and Chris Rock, and Dave Chappelle, they're always 18:15.733 --> 18:19.900 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% talking comedy, but Seinfeld believes in these absolutes. 18:23.000 --> 18:27.800 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% His theories about always working on ideas and coming up 18:27.800 --> 18:31.966 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% with a fresh perspective, it's worked great for him. 18:33.400 --> 18:35.300 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So it's really interesting to talk to him about it. 18:35.300 --> 18:37.600 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - And he, like you, is an observational comedian. 18:37.600 --> 18:39.133 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% There are different-- 18:39.133 --> 18:40.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - I'll tell him that he's an observational comedian. 18:40.533 --> 18:42.066 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% He hates it. - He hates to hear that. 18:42.066 --> 18:43.766 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - Because he's an absolutist. - We need to categorize people 18:43.766 --> 18:45.833 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - He goes, it's just funny or not funny. 18:45.833 --> 18:47.333 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% That's all it is. 18:47.333 --> 18:50.166 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - But it's a style of comedy that at least we novices, 18:50.166 --> 18:51.966 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% lay people on the outside, who like to put people in 18:51.966 --> 18:53.866 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% categories, that's his category. 18:53.866 --> 18:55.466 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% - [Jim] Absolutely. 18:55.466 --> 18:56.933 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - When did you know you wanted to do this? 18:56.933 --> 18:59.000 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% If I'm remembering this right, you went to college, 18:59.000 --> 19:01.200 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% you went to Purdue for a short while, 19:01.200 --> 19:02.200 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% and then went to 19:02.200 --> 19:03.666 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% - [Both] Georgetown. 19:03.666 --> 19:06.533 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - And then came out of college and went into advertising 19:06.533 --> 19:07.966 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% immediately, is that right? 19:07.966 --> 19:10.000 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - I studied finance in college. 19:10.000 --> 19:11.300 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% I'm the youngest of 19:11.300 --> 19:12.500 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% six kids - Six kids, right. 19:12.500 --> 19:14.566 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - I'm from a small town, like my father was-- 19:14.566 --> 19:15.800 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% - [Evan] In Illinois. 19:15.800 --> 19:18.033 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - The first one to go to college. 19:18.033 --> 19:21.933 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% And so we were raised to seek this security, 19:21.933 --> 19:25.200 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and then you'd work your ass off and then when you're in 19:25.200 --> 19:28.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% your '60s you play golf for five years, and then you die. 19:28.066 --> 19:29.000 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% (audience laughing) 19:29.000 --> 19:30.266 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% And so that's how I was raised. 19:30.266 --> 19:31.800 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - We have about 10 years left. 19:31.800 --> 19:32.933 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% You make it sound good. 19:32.933 --> 19:34.166 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% (audience laughing) 19:34.166 --> 19:35.933 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% They get to work on some other stuff. 19:35.933 --> 19:39.133 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - And so I was raised to do that, and I 19:39.133 --> 19:43.033 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% just followed what people were supposed, 19:43.033 --> 19:45.666 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% you know, they're like do this, you know. 19:45.666 --> 19:49.533 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Go to this school, study finance, get this job, 19:49.533 --> 19:51.466 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% and then you're set. 19:51.466 --> 19:54.733 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And the reality is, is it wasn't fulfilling, and so I-- 19:54.733 --> 19:56.500 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - How soon after you took the job outta college 19:56.500 --> 19:58.500 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% did you decide, it's not really for me? 19:58.500 --> 20:01.133 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - I'd say it was pretty soon. 20:01.133 --> 20:02.633 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% - It was? 20:02.633 --> 20:05.600 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - It was pretty soon where I had this romantic notion, 20:05.600 --> 20:07.666 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% like the night before graduation I told a friend, 20:07.666 --> 20:11.200 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I told her, I said, you know I wanna be a comedian 20:11.200 --> 20:14.266 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and an actor, and I said, but I know everyone wants to do 20:14.266 --> 20:16.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% that, and she's like, I don't think everyone wants to do 20:16.033 --> 20:17.300 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% that, and I'm like, no, everyone does. 20:17.300 --> 20:18.233 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% (audience laughing) 20:18.233 --> 20:19.400 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Like I just thought everyone 20:19.400 --> 20:20.666 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% wanted to do that. - Had you done anything 20:20.666 --> 20:24.000 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% in college that made you think I'm good at this, 20:24.000 --> 20:26.900 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% or had you experimented in any way? 20:28.300 --> 20:32.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% You sort of knew it intuitively that that's what you-- 20:32.066 --> 20:34.766 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - I had hosted a talent show in college, 20:34.766 --> 20:36.566 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% but I was essentially just drunk the entire time. 20:36.566 --> 20:37.933 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% (audience laughing) 20:37.933 --> 20:42.600 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Because I had incredible stage fright for I'd say 20:42.600 --> 20:44.533 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% the first 10 years I did stand-up. 20:44.533 --> 20:45.500 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% - Really? 20:45.500 --> 20:46.466 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - Yeah, it was something-- 20:46.466 --> 20:47.300 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - It seems like a problem. 20:47.300 --> 20:48.566 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% (audience laughing) 20:48.566 --> 20:50.033 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - It's huge, I mean actually I pursued 20:50.033 --> 20:52.933 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% these improv classes because I had such a fear of, 20:55.333 --> 20:58.766 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% even working in advertising when I started I would talk, 20:58.766 --> 21:01.066 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% and I would just turn bright red because I would just start 21:01.066 --> 21:04.866 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% hyperventilating and someone suggested I do an improv class 21:04.866 --> 21:06.700 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% so that I could feel more comfortable. 21:06.700 --> 21:07.533 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - [Evan] Just get better at it. 21:07.533 --> 21:08.966 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% - Yeah. 21:08.966 --> 21:11.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - How many nights do you spend on the road now touring, 21:11.433 --> 21:12.833 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% with or without family. 21:12.833 --> 21:14.900 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% When you're working on comedy, how often are you out? 21:14.900 --> 21:19.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - I would say there's 52 weeks, I would say at least 40. 21:21.633 --> 21:23.500 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - God, it just seems grueling. 21:23.500 --> 21:25.066 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% - You know, it's... 21:26.500 --> 21:28.633 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% First of all there's a big difference between staying in 21:28.633 --> 21:32.300 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% a Super 8 hotel and staying in a nice hotel. 21:33.766 --> 21:35.400 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - Right, you're in the nice hotel phase of your career. 21:35.400 --> 21:36.233 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% - Right. 21:38.833 --> 21:40.300 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% I'm in Austin right now. 21:40.300 --> 21:41.900 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% - Doing how many nights? 21:41.900 --> 21:43.333 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% - Two nights. 21:43.333 --> 21:44.900 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - Two nights, but you're here for multiple days. 21:44.900 --> 21:46.966 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% So when you say that you're on the road a lot, it's not like 21:46.966 --> 21:49.800 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% literally stop, travel, stop, travel, stop, travel. 21:49.800 --> 21:51.966 align:left position:10%,start line:5% size:80% Sometimes it's like come to a place, hang out for a 21:51.966 --> 21:53.200 align:left position:30%,start line:5% size:60% few days, right? 21:53.200 --> 21:54.800 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - It's typically just one or two nights, 21:54.800 --> 21:58.300 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% which is done by design and I'm grateful for it. 21:58.300 --> 22:00.566 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% So that I can get back and be with my family. 22:00.566 --> 22:03.133 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% So I might be gone Friday, Saturday, and I'm home Sunday. 22:03.133 --> 22:07.200 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% And I leave early Friday morning, but I would say 22:09.066 --> 22:12.633 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% there is something about, I enjoy it. 22:12.633 --> 22:16.800 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% And believe me, I'm a complainer, traveling is not something 22:18.233 --> 22:22.766 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% I enjoy, but going through this scare with my wife 22:22.766 --> 22:27.166 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% being gravely ill, and there was this possibility 22:27.166 --> 22:30.700 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% where I was gonna be a single father with five kids. 22:30.700 --> 22:34.366 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And I was not about to just outsource this to someone else 22:34.366 --> 22:38.266 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% and continue my career path, so I feel like I'm 22:39.800 --> 22:42.366 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% getting a second wind at this. 22:42.366 --> 22:43.833 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% - New lease on life. 22:43.833 --> 22:46.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - Yeah, so it's like, yeah, sitting at an airport's 22:46.066 --> 22:47.400 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% not great, but-- 22:48.666 --> 22:49.933 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - Beats being a single parent. 22:49.933 --> 22:51.233 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% - Yeah, it beats-- 22:51.233 --> 22:52.166 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - Thank God your wife's okay. 22:52.166 --> 22:53.000 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% - Yeah. 22:53.000 --> 22:54.566 align:left position:40%,start line:89% size:50% - Right. 22:54.566 --> 22:55.666 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% The shows that you do are typically the same shows? 22:55.666 --> 22:58.200 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% How iterative is your process? 22:58.200 --> 23:00.466 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Do you find that from show to show within a city 23:00.466 --> 23:03.200 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% or within the course of a week or two that you're refining 23:03.200 --> 23:04.733 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% and adding, and 23:04.733 --> 23:08.100 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% what's your process like? - I would say it changes. 23:08.100 --> 23:10.366 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% I work within hours, right? 23:11.733 --> 23:15.666 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And so now I'm in the process of creating a new hour, 23:15.666 --> 23:18.466 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and I'll remove stuff that works and it has to be 23:18.466 --> 23:22.633 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% replacing something, and it has to be strong enough 23:25.200 --> 23:28.200 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% to replace something, and so I'll come up with new material, 23:28.200 --> 23:32.366 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and it typically takes a year to come up with a new hour. 23:33.733 --> 23:37.266 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% But that being said, it changes a lot. 23:37.266 --> 23:41.966 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% We live in a day and age, where it's fascinating 23:41.966 --> 23:44.533 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% being this, whether you wanna call it 23:44.533 --> 23:49.100 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% observational comedian, because I have seen over the past 23:49.100 --> 23:53.266 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% year since the election, there is the mention of politics 23:55.166 --> 23:58.966 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% across the country has made people, I describe it, 23:58.966 --> 24:00.866 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% they start looking at the ceiling. 24:00.866 --> 24:03.433 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And it's because there is, so in other words the type of 24:03.433 --> 24:07.833 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% comedy I'm doing, this break from this topical stuff, 24:07.833 --> 24:09.766 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% is almost more appreciated. 24:09.766 --> 24:11.033 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% I was actually worried. 24:11.033 --> 24:12.100 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% I was like, do I have to talk about politics now? 24:12.100 --> 24:13.833 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - In fact you're the antidote. 24:13.833 --> 24:17.400 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - In fact I'm kind of this reprieve because most of 24:17.400 --> 24:20.133 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% everyone's day either watching news or reading news, 24:20.133 --> 24:22.866 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% so they wanna go and hear about this. 24:22.866 --> 24:24.866 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - How self-critical are you, or are you-- 24:24.866 --> 24:26.100 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Let me ask it a different way. 24:26.100 --> 24:27.466 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Are you a good audience for your stuff? 24:27.466 --> 24:28.700 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Do you know when something is funny 24:28.700 --> 24:30.200 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% and it turns out that you're right? 24:30.200 --> 24:31.966 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% Or does it sometimes, well, we'll see how this goes, 24:31.966 --> 24:36.133 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and then you're surprised by the audience's reaction to it? 24:37.366 --> 24:39.433 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - I would say it's an ongoing thing. 24:39.433 --> 24:42.633 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% There's something about, you can call it laugh ears 24:42.633 --> 24:45.466 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% where that's part of the editing process. 24:45.466 --> 24:48.633 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% You'll present an idea, and you'll hear 24:48.633 --> 24:51.633 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% how an audience responds to it. 24:51.633 --> 24:52.833 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - You ever work it out in advance and have a trusted 24:52.833 --> 24:55.033 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% group of people who you bounce stuff off of? 24:55.033 --> 24:56.766 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - Well, my wife and I, we write together. 24:56.766 --> 24:58.266 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% - Right, so built in. 24:58.266 --> 25:02.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - That's a huge thing, and there will be jokes or lines 25:02.033 --> 25:05.033 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% that might work in the show but my wife will say, 25:05.033 --> 25:08.500 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% you gotta get rid of it, and we'll have a discussion about 25:08.500 --> 25:10.000 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% why we have to get rid of it. 25:10.000 --> 25:10.833 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - [Evan] And she's usually right. 25:10.833 --> 25:12.000 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% - She's usually right! 25:12.000 --> 25:12.933 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% - That's how this goes. 25:12.933 --> 25:14.433 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% We have about a minute left. 25:14.433 --> 25:18.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% What's the funniest line that you're now using out. 25:18.066 --> 25:21.100 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% Can you give us one funny thing? 25:21.100 --> 25:23.100 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% What's your favorite thing that you're working through? 25:23.100 --> 25:24.733 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - Well it's usually the newest joke is always the funniest. 25:24.733 --> 25:27.066 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - So what's the latest joke? 25:28.300 --> 25:29.733 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% - I came up with this line. 25:29.733 --> 25:33.166 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% What kind of antidepressants do you have to be on 25:33.166 --> 25:35.133 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% to enjoy cross country skiing? 25:35.133 --> 25:38.133 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% (audience laughing) 25:40.266 --> 25:43.000 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% And that's one of those where it was, and I just plugged 25:43.000 --> 25:44.066 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% it in, and it was like, all right! 25:44.066 --> 25:44.900 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% - And it worked! 25:44.900 --> 25:45.733 align:left position:20%,start line:89% size:70% (audience laughing) 25:45.733 --> 25:47.200 align:left position:40%,start line:83% size:50% Good. - Yeah. 25:47.200 --> 25:47.866 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - Hey, great to have an opportunity to be with you. 25:47.866 --> 25:48.966 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% - Thank you. 25:48.966 --> 25:50.200 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - Good luck on everything you're doing, 25:50.200 --> 25:50.933 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% and look forward to seeing you again. 25:50.933 --> 25:52.066 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% - Appreciate it. 25:52.066 --> 25:52.733 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% - [Evan] Jim Gaffigan, thanks a lot! 25:52.733 --> 25:54.833 align:left position:30%,start line:89% size:60% (applause) 25:56.033 --> 25:58.300 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% We'd love to have you join us in the studio. 25:58.300 --> 26:01.966 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% Visit our website at klru.org/overheard 26:01.966 --> 26:06.200 align:left position:20%,start line:77% size:70% to find invitations to interviews, Q&As with our audience 26:06.200 --> 26:09.500 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% and guests, and an archive of past episodes. 26:09.500 --> 26:12.666 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - Letterman was this curmudgeon who was sardonic and 26:12.666 --> 26:17.133 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% everything, and we shifted to Jimmy Fallon and Ellen 26:17.133 --> 26:20.066 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% during the day, where it was much more palatable, 26:20.066 --> 26:22.400 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% and there was almost kind of a resistance to 26:22.400 --> 26:26.566 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% the cynicism or the misanthropic tone of a Letterman. 26:28.366 --> 26:31.166 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% And so it kind of shifts. 26:31.166 --> 26:33.066 align:left position:10%,start line:83% size:80% - [Announcer] Funding for Overheard with Evan Smith 26:33.066 --> 26:36.266 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% is provided in part by Hillco Partners, 26:36.266 --> 26:38.600 align:left position:20%,start line:83% size:70% a Texas government affairs consultancy. 26:38.600 --> 26:41.100 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80% And by Claire and Carl Stuart.