Jim Gaffigan (‘Dark Pale’) on repetition of hitting the audience again with laughs ‘right when the oxygen has left’ [Exclusive Video Interview]
Jim Gaffigan wastes no time on his latest comedy special “Dark Pale” getting into dark places, with an opening about the pandemic. For our recent webchat he explains, “I’ve learned that you really have to grab people’s attention. It’s like all good storytelling. You have to make people want to… get through the first act. Some of it is that I believe in pacing. Ideally I’d like to make people laugh, and then if it is like a punch, right when the oxygen has left, that’s when I hit them again. It’s not just a home run hit; it’s the repetition of it.” Watch the exclusive video interview above.
The Amazon Prime show first premiered this past summer and is Gaffigan’s tenth television comedy special. In addition to the pandemic, some of the topics in the program include funerals, balloon rides, bells, Starbucks and his family.
More from GoldDerby
He has already received seven Grammy nominations for Best Comedy Album, and this one will be eligible for an eighth bid for voters now marking their ballots. Gaffigan will also be eligible for the new Golden Globe category honoring stand-up TV performances in January and at the 2024 Emmy Awards next summer.
In terms of that awards success, he says, “Having those Grammy nominations is kind of reassuring. I’m kind of a workhorse, so it’s not why I do it. I love stand-up and love touring, but it is nice to get that acknowledgment… It provides the stimulation because this business is brutal.”
He adds, “The Grammy is so special. Some of my first memories of stand-up were sitting and imagining what George Carlin was doing while I heard him do these bits on an album. Or what it was like imagining to be in a room with Robert Klein. The mythology around the Grammys is cool.”
PREDICT the 2023 Emmy winners through January 15
Make your predictions at Gold Derby now. Download our free and easy app for Apple/iPhone devices or Android (Google Play) to compete against legions of other fans plus our experts and editors for best prediction accuracy scores. See our latest prediction champs. Can you top our esteemed leaderboards next? Always remember to keep your predictions updated because they impact our latest racetrack odds, which terrify Hollywood chiefs and stars. Don’t miss the fun. Speak up and share your huffy opinions in our famous forums where 5,000 showbiz leaders lurk every day to track latest awards buzz. Everybody wants to know: What do you think? Who do you predict and why?
SIGN UP for Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
Best of GoldDerby
'Big Brother 25' winner predictions: Matt Klotz tops odds for 5 straight weeks [UPDATED OCTOBER 18]
Which limited series and TV movies were nominated in all 7 top Emmy races? [PHOTOS]
Who's performing on 'The Masked Singer' tonight? October 18 lineup includes 4 new costumes
Sign up for Gold Derby's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
