The Jim Gaffigan Show

The Jim Gaffigan Show
Genre Sitcom
Created by Jim Gaffigan
Peter Tolan[1]
Starring
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 11
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Jeannie Gaffigan
  • Jim Gaffigan
  • Alex Murray
  • Sandy Wernick
  • Jeff Lowell
  • Peter Tolan
Producer(s) David Bausch
Camera setup Single-camera
Running time 22 minutes
Production company(s)
Release
Original network TV Land
Original release July 15, 2015 (2015-07-15) – present
External links
Website

The Jim Gaffigan Show is an American sitcom series on the TV Land network, written and executive produced by comedian Jim Gaffigan and his wife Jeannie Gaffigan. Gaffigan stars as a fictionalized version of himself as a stand-up comedian raising five children in a two-bedroom New York City apartment.[2][3] An 11-episode first season debuted on July 15, 2015.[2][4] On August 31, 2015, TV Land renewed the series for a second season, which is scheduled to premiere on June 19, 2016.[5]

Cast

Comedians Chris Rock, Dave Attell, Hannibal Buress, John Mulaney, Whitney Cummings and political personality Joe Scarborough make guest appearances as fictional versions of themselves, as do TV personality Jimmy Fallon and actors Steve Buscemi, Matthew Broderick and Alec Baldwin. Macaulay Culkin makes multiple cameo appearances as himself holding different low-income jobs and appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[3]

Production

Development

Comedian Jim Gaffigan wrote, executive produced and stars in the semi-autobiographical series.

NBC first showed interest in the show, but eventually passed. CBS previously tried twice to develop Jim Gaffigan's semi-autobiographical series.[6] While still in talks with NBC, Jeannie would have played herself in the show, however CBS decided to cast someone—a decision she agreed with—and she joined in casting the role.[7] The network ordered a pilot episode in January 2013, at which time Mira Sorvino was attached to play Gaffigan's wife, with Christian Barillas and Tongayi Chirisa in supporting roles. CBS passed on the series in May 2013 and instead planned to redevelop it for the 2014-15 television season. The series was recast with new cast members Williams, Goldberg and Black. CBS passed on the series in May 2014, and Sony Pictures Television began shopping it to other networks. It was announced in July 2014 that TV Land had ordered the series and, unlike previous networks, granted the Gaffigans full creative control.[8] Jim Gaffigan said of the announcement: "I am thrilled that TV Land is giving us this opportunity to do this show that Peter, Jeannie and I have been fine-tuning for three years."[9] TV Land president Larry W. Jones said the series was perfect for its target audience of Generation Xers who are raising families. Jones said: "We love Jim Gaffigan's brand of humor. The second we saw this show we knew we wanted it on TV Land."[9]

Writing

The series is partially based on the real lives of Jim and Jeannie Gaffigan, who have five children and live in a two-bedroom apartment in New York City.[9] The age differences between the children were shortened for the television show, and Jeannie said, "The TV kids are sort of a snapshot of an earlier time in our lives when they were all younger".[3] Episodes are built around actual incidents that they've experienced.[8] Other regular topics of Jim Gaffigan's stand-up comedy will be part of the series, particularly his love of food. Jeannie said the list of props for the show is "almost 90 percent food ... which I thought was pretty funny".[3]

Although Jim will play a comedian, a conscious decision was made not to intersperse the show with his stand-up comedy, like in such popular shows as Seinfeld and Louie. He said of this decision: "I want this to be more about what happens off the stage. ... 'Stand-up comedian' is an occupation and, like our pilot, we're evolving into a much more mature show."[3] Jim Gaffigan and Peter Tolan wrote the pilot together.[9] The rest of the series is written by Jim and his wife Jeannie.

Crew

Jeff Lowell will be the showrunner for The Jim Gaffigan Show, and will serve as executive producer along with Jim and Jeannie Gaffigan, Jim's real-life wife, a fictional version of whom will also appear in the show. Alex Murray and Sandy Wernick will also be executive producers.[2][9]

Filming

Production on the single-camera series began in 2015. Filming occurred at such New York City locations as Katz's Delicatessen and the Gotham Comedy Club.[2] The set is an exact replica of their former apartment, set on a soundstage.[8]

Broadcast

Comedy Central, a cable network owned by TV Land parent company Viacom, will air episodes of the series one week after they debut.[9] New episodes are simulcast on Nick at Nite. Episodes are available on video on demand on cable outlets and for streaming on Hulu (with a paid subscription) three weeks after airing on TV Land.

In Canada, The Jim Gaffigan Show airs on The Comedy Network.[10] The show debuted on the network on December 1, 2015.

Reception

Early critical reviews were largely positive, with mixed comparisons to the show Louie.[11] Grading the show with an "A", Diane Werts with Newsday called the show "This summer's must-see comedy smash," adding, "I can't remember laughing out loud so consistently at a situation comedy maybe, um, ever."[12] In an overall favorable review, The New York Times called the show "quite funny."[13] TV critic Ken Tucker said the show "gets better with each episode."[14] Some critics found the show too sterile. The Hollywood Reporter said "Gaffigan's good-naturedness is pleasant, if not particularly interesting."[15] Entertainment Weekly, giving the show a "B-", said it was mostly "stray one-liners and stilted semi-riffs. Imagine a less nourishing Louie or Curb Your Enthusiasm."[16] The Washington Post remarked that, while "Gaffigan has perfected his shtick...It works as a stage presence, but not so much as a TV character."[17]

Episodes

Season 1 (2015)
No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date Prod.
code		 U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Pilot"Seth GordonJim Gaffigan & Peter TolanJuly 15, 2015 (2015-07-15)1011.58[18]
Jim decides if he should get a vasectomy after his wife has a pregnancy scare.
2"Red Velvet If You Please"Steven K. TsuchidaJim Gaffigan & Jeannie GaffiganJuly 22, 2015 (2015-07-22)1091.47[19]
Jim tries to cut back on eating junk food.
3"A Night at the Plaza"Peter LauerJim Gaffigan & Jeannie GaffiganJuly 29, 2015 (2015-07-29)1061.29[20]
Jim tries to have a romantic evening to celebrate their anniversary.
4"In the Name of the Father"Todd BiermannJim Gaffigan & Jeannie GaffiganAugust 5, 2015 (2015-08-05)1041.16[21]
Jim and Jeannie have dinner with Daniel and his father—who have a tense relationship. Dave later joins them for a crazy night out.
5"Super Great Daddy Day"Todd BiermannJim Gaffigan & Jeannie GaffiganAugust 12, 2015 (2015-08-12)1021.32[22]
Jim tries to help run some errands and spend time with the kids.
6"Go Shorty, It's Your Birthday"Peter LauerJim Gaffigan & Jeannie GaffiganAugust 19, 2015 (2015-08-19)1081.28 [23]
Jeannie gets upset when, after telling Jim that he doesn't have to celebrate her birthday, he celebrates Dave's birthday instead.
7"My Friend the Priest"Steven K. TsuchidaJim Gaffigan & Jeannie GaffiganAugust 26, 2015 (2015-08-26)1101.18[24]
Jeannie invites Jim's priest to his performance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon", which frustrates Jim.
8"Superdad"Peter LauerJim Gaffigan & Jeannie GaffiganSeptember 2, 2015 (2015-09-02)1070.571[25]
Jeannie becomes irritated when a magazine article featuring Jim doesn't mention her.
9"The Bible Story"Steven K. TsuchidaJim Gaffigan & Jeannie GaffiganSeptember 9, 2015 (2015-09-09)1031.10[26]
Jim has some issues regarding the Bible. In the end, it was all a dream.
10"Maria"Todd BiermannJim Gaffigan & Jeannie GaffiganSeptember 16, 2015 (2015-09-16)1051.12[27]
Jeannie's younger sister, Maria, comes to New York for a massage therapy course. Jim and Jeannie conspire to keep Dave from dating her, but when the two arrange a date anyway, they decide to spy on them.
11"Wonderful"Steven K. TsuchidaJeannie Gaffigan & Jim GaffiganSeptember 23, 2015 (2015-09-23)1111.12[28]
After getting frustrated with sick, lice-infested children, Jim wishes that he never got married and became a father.

References

  1. ↑ "Production Underway on TV Land's THE JIM GAFFIGAN SHOW". March 11, 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "TV Land's "The Jim Gaffigan Show" Begins Production in New York". The Futon Critic. March 11, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 McGlynn, Katla (March 30, 2015). "Jim Gaffigan's New TV Show Is Like 'Sex And The City' Starring A Comedian With Five Kids". The Huffington Post. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Why The Jim Gaffigan Show Suddenly Appeared Online This Week". Rotten Tomatoes. 2015-05-14. Retrieved 2015-05-18.
  5. ↑ "Shows A-Z - jim gaffigan show, the on tv land". The Futon Critic. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  6. ↑ KATZ, BRIGIT (July 17, 2015), Behind the Hot Pocket". Women in the World. The New York Times. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  7. ↑ Interrobang staff (July 10, 2015), "Jeannie Gaffigan is the Smart One…and Jim Gaffigan Loves Breakfast Burritos". Interrobang.com. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 Eisenberg, Ophira (July 9, 2015), "According to Jim (Gaffigan)". Ask Me Another. NPR. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Goldberg, Lesley (July 29, 2014). "CBS' Jim Gaffigan Comedy Moves to TV Land With Series Order". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  10. ↑ "'Jim Gaffigan Show' and 'Impastor' make their way to Canada". Toronto Sun. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  11. ↑ Stern, Marlow (July 15, 2015), "Jim Gaffigan’s Time Is Now: The Comic on His New Show, Bill Cosby’s Fall, and Donald Trump". The Daily Beast. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  12. ↑ WERTS, DIANE (July 15, 2015), "'The Jim Gaffigan Show' review: Sitcom hit of the summer". Newsday. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  13. ↑ GENZLINGER, NEIL (July 15, 2015), "The Fibs Of a Pastor And a Dad." . New York Times. 164 (56928):C1-C2
  14. ↑ Tucker, Ken (July 15, 2015), "'The Jim Gaffigan Show': Funny, Food, and Family". Yahoo! TV. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  15. ↑ Uhlich, Keith (July 14, 2015), "‘The Jim Gaffigan Show’: TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  16. ↑ Rahman, Ray, et al. (July 24, 2015), Entertainment Weekly. (1373):53-55.
  17. ↑ Stuever, Hank (July 14, 2015) "‘The Jim Gaffigan Show’: A sunnier ‘Louie’ in the form of a stale Hot Pocket". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  18. ↑ "SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 100 Wednesday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 7.15.2015". Showbuzz Daily. 1994-05-20. Retrieved 2015-07-18.
  19. ↑ "SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 100 Wednesday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 7.22.2015". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved 2015-07-26.
  20. ↑ "SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 100 Wednesday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 7.29.2015". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved 2015-08-02.
  21. ↑ "SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 100 Wednesday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 8.5.2015". Showbuzz Daily. 2015-08-06. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
  22. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (August 12, 2015). "SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 100 Wednesday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 8.12.2015". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  23. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (August 20, 2015). "SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 100 Wednesday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 8.20.2015". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  24. ↑ "SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 100 Wednesday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 8.26.2015". Showbuzz Daily. 2015-08-27. Retrieved 2015-09-14.
  25. ↑ "SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 100 Wednesday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 9.2.2015". Showbuzz Daily. 2015-09-03. Retrieved 2015-09-14.
  26. ↑ "SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 100 Wednesday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 9.9.2015". Showbuzz Daily. 2015-08-27. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
  27. ↑ "SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 100 Wednesday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 9.16.2015". Showbuzz Daily. 2015-08-27. Retrieved 2015-09-14.
  28. ↑ "SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 100 Wednesday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 9.23.2015". Showbuzz Daily. 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2016-01-29.

External links

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