Jim Gaffigan says comedy audiences 'want a break' from political drama
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Comedian and actor Jim Gaffigan, in a recent interview with Variety, stated that people are growing tired of political drama dominating public life and are seeking comedy as a respite.
He noted that many people are overwhelmed by non-stop news and commentary, and now gravitate towards light-hearted humor that gives them a chance to unwind.
Jim Gaffigan on avoiding politics in his stand-up material
When the interviewer mentioned the recent crossover between comedy and politics, Jim Gaffigan explained why he's mostly steering clear of politics in his stand-up material these days.
"People are coming to a show to have a break from some of this drama. That’s not to say there aren’t great comedians who talk about social commentary. The spirit of George Carlin is very important," he said.
Recalling his political jokes after President Donald Trump's 2016 victory not landing how he'd imagined, Gaffigan remarked, "I remember when Trump was first elected, and my opening act had some political jokes. During 2016 and 2017, the audience would kind of look at the ceiling. The jokes were well-constructed, and they weren’t on one side or the other, but it was just too much."
"There are great comedians who participate in that conversation, but people are already getting 24-hour news, and everything is clipped and proliferated everywhere. Not only is the material not evergreen — it’s so topical that it lasts half a day. People are looking for a break from that," the comedian expressed.
Gaffigan doesn't think audiences are ignoring serious issues, but that they just want a brief escape.
"They’re not ignoring the serious issues, but they’re going, 'At least I can go see Jim Gaffigan and hear him complain about being a parent,'" he shared. "That’s not to say people don’t care about someone being tackled in the streets; it just means maybe they want a break from that."
Jim Gaffigan on 'not destroying' Trump at AI Smith Dinner
Jim Gaffigan also spoke about the criticism he faced after appearing at the Al Smith Dinner, a charity event known for its political humor, where some felt he should have taken stronger shots at Donald Trump but chose not to.
"My best friend from childhood was furious that I did the Al Smith Dinner. He said, ‘I can’t believe you didn’t destroy Trump.’ And I’m like, ‘I know it’s not going to change anything.’ And the task was to attack both sides — in a setting where you’re surrounded by billionaires," he recalled.
