“Jim Gaffigan: The Skinny” Review

*This article contains topics of alcohol and death that could be triggering. Read at your own discretion*

Jim Gaffigan takes the stage again in his eleventh stand-up special “Jim Gaffigan: The Skinny” on Hulu. Gaffigan has been in the comedy spotlight since the late 1990s. With the world changing day by day, Gaffigan’s approach to finding the funny bones of his fans continues. This comedy special shows the new Jim Gaffigan to his audience in his own style.

Gaffigan’s newest installment walks viewers through his experience with weight loss, religion, family and outlook on life. The reputation of clean-comic reigns true with a dash of provocative messages. As many comics try to find the line or push it, Gaffigan gives a great performance suitable for watching next to mom or dad.

Whether it is self-deprecating or lacking modesty, Gaffigan finds a way to give the audience a laugh. The Gaffigan family includes five children, so the bounty of parenthood is a big part of his act. As his kids are getting older, he comes to some very rigid observations.

It is admirable for a comic to be clean, but in some cases, this can teeter the fan base. This comedy special could be moderately child-friendly except for talk of alcohol, pharmaceuticals, and death. Although these are not the focus the entire time, Gaffigan’s title as a clean comic is a bit looser in this special.

This trend is not uncommon. As more and more comedy specials are released, most comedians that had prevalence before the pandemic, emerged with a new mindset and a slight change of pace. This was no different for Jim Gaffigan. This could be all related to his newfound swagger after his weight loss. The dynamics of a clean comic still get him the laughs he deserves.

Comedians often find their niche ideal that gets them laughs. For Gaffigan, one of the ideals was making fun of being fat. Now that he lost weight, there was a shift in his act. As much as living a healthy lifestyle is better for his well-being, it also gave him some new material to work on.

For 30 years, he has been a comedian who relied on self-deprecating jokes about being overweight and pale. Now, a slimmer and still pale version of his past image needed a new road to venture down. The interesting part to observe was when “new Jim” antics met “classic Jim” shenanigans.

The special was entertaining, to say the least. Gaffigan has been in the comedy scene for over 30 years, therefore earning his seat at the table. To say that this was his best special would be a stretch. He is able to flow from one topic to the next with his observational style of comedy, but most of the jokes seem like a caricature of himself from past specials.

It is important to give credit where credit is due because Jim Gaffigan is one of the best current comedians and remains relevant in the entertainment industry. Overall, the special was good and, at the very least, gave the audience something to take their mind off of their day-to-day.

Rating 3 / 5

Scott Moorhead is a fifth-year majoring in communications. To contact him, email srm5943@psu.edu.