July 15, 2015 (2015-07-15) – August 21, 2016 (2016-08-21)
The Jim Gaffigan Show is an American sitcom 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, on TV Land.[2][4] On August 31, 2015, TV Land renewed the series for a 12-episode second season, which premiered on June 19, 2016.[5]
On August 22, 2016, Jim and Jeannie Gaffigan announced that the series would not be returning for a third season so they could spend more time with their kids.[6] As of 2021, the whole series is available to watch on streaming apps PlutoTV and Paramount+.[7]
Comedian Jim Gaffigan cowrote, executive produced, and starred in the semi-autobiographical series.
NBC first showed interest in the show, but eventually passed.[8]CBS previously tried twice to develop Jim Gaffigan's semi-autobiographical series.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11] 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."[12] 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."[12]
Writing
The series is partially based on the real lives of Jim and Jeannie Gaffigan, who have five children and lived in a two-bedroom apartment in New York City.[12] 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 they've experienced.[11] Other regular topics of Jim Gaffigan's stand-up comedy are 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 plays a comedian, a conscious decision was made not to regularly intersperse the narrative 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.[12] The rest of the series is written by Jim and his wife Jeannie.
Crew
Jeff Lowell was the showrunner for Season 1 of The Jim Gaffigan Show and served as an executive producer along with Jim and Jeannie Gaffigan, Jim's real-life wife, a fictional version of whom also appeared on the show. Jeannie took over the showrunner position for Season 2. Alex Murray and Sandy Wernick were also executive producers.[2][12]
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.[11]
Broadcast
Comedy Central, a cable network owned by TV Land parent company Viacom, aired episodes of the series one week after they debuted.[12] New episodes were 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 aired on The Comedy Network.[13] The show debuted on the network on December 1, 2015.
Reception
Early critical reviews were largely positive, with mixed comparisons to the show Louie.[14] 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."[15] In an overall favorable review, The New York Times called the show "quite funny."[16] TV critic Ken Tucker said the show "gets better with each episode."[17] Some critics found the show too sterile. The Hollywood Reporter said "Gaffigan's good-naturedness is pleasant, if not particularly interesting."[18]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."[19]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."[20]
Ending
Despite an overall positive critical reception, Jim and Jeannie decided not to pursue a third season. In a statement released on Jim Gaffigan's Twitter, he announced that "the time commitment to make the quality of show we wanted was taking us away from our most important project, our five children."[21]
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.
After learning that Father Nicholas was a star soccer player in Zimbabwe and a graduate of the London School of Business before getting "the calling" to be a priest, Jim wonders if he will ever get called to do something more impactful than just his comedy.
A blogger posts a list of the Top 100 comedians in New York City, and Jim isn't on it, causing Jeannie to track down the blogger while Jim tries to figure out how to get on the list.
Jim has landed a monthly show at Caroline's in NYC and feels pressured to drop his preferred opening act and use Dave. In a parody of The Jim Gaffigan Show itself, Dave selfishly invites TV Land executives to see his set, and manages to drum up interest in a pseudo-reality show depicting his life in comedy.
Dave has chosen John Mulaney to be his cowriter for the TV Land pilot, annoying Jim, but Jim soon gets a call from Will Ferrell and hopes to pitch a TV series idea to the comic icon. Will likes Jim's idea but says he first needs help on a TV Land show he's producing (Dave's show). Ferrell then steals the original idea Jim pitched and offers it back to Dave.
Jim has to audition to play himself on Dave's TV show. Mulaney quits, and Dave has to come up with scripts for a morning read-through, so he asks Jim for help. Jim encourages Dave to write about what he knows, and Dave does, to ridiculous extremes. The read-through goes badly, Will Ferrell is accused of going off his meds, and TV Land passes on the show.
Jim and Jeannie visit Father Nicholas for marriage counseling. After each gives their own version of a recent argument that seems to center on Jim's refusal to rent a storage space, it becomes clear that the real disagreement is over having a sixth child.
Jim's older brother Mitch comes to town, claiming he's tired of the banking business and wants to try his hand at stand-up comedy. Jeannie is convinced Mitch is there because he's getting a divorce.
Guest appearance: Andy Richter, Jack Gaffigan, Marre Gaffigan
When Jeannie has her dentist appointment rescheduled for a Saturday, Jim takes all five kids on a planned trip to the American Museum of Natural History by himself, with disastrous results.
With Jeannie taking the kids out of town for a family wedding, Jim is looking forward to hanging around the apartment eating and not doing much else. But his weekend is spoiled by the arrival of Daniel, who is despondent over catching his latest boyfriend cheating.
When a thunderstorm has the kids too scared to sleep, Jim tells them a story about life with his stern father and a time when a tornado threatened his family's home in Indiana.
Guest appearances: Jeannie Gaffigan, Jack Gaffigan, Marre Gaffigan
^ALAN SEPINWALL (July 14, 2015). "How Jim Gaffigan learned to say no to network sitcoms". HitFix. Retrieved July 14, 2016. "The Jim Gaffigan Show" was originally developed at NBC, then filmed two different pilots at CBS, and tomorrow night at 10 debuts on TV Land.
^KATZ, BRIGIT (July 17, 2015), Behind the Hot Pocket". Women in the World. The New York Times. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
