Is Jim Gaffigan’s New Show Any Good? (Answer: Yes!)

If you’ve been paying attention to the current TV Land renaissance featuring the likes of the Sutton Foster hit Younger and the religious satire Impastor, then you may have noticed Jim Gaffigan has a new series on the recently revamped network, aptly titled The Jim Gaffigan Show.

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The longtime stand-up comic turned actor plays a slightly dramatized version of himself, alongside comedians Ashley Williams, Adam Goldberg, and Michael Ian Black. Though it may seem like your run-of-the-mill, family-friendly (i.e. safe, boring) sitcom with Gaffigan’s endearing Everyman demeanor as its core selling point, The Jim Gaffigan Show is sharp, silly, and chock full of awesome talent. Created by Peter Tolan and Gaffigan, each episode is narrated through Gaffigan’s point of view in single-camera format and features guest appearances from Fred Armisen, Janeane Garafolo, Chris Rock, Jon Stewart, and Macaulay Culkin. (Yes, you read that last one right.)

While the series features the comedian’s familiar dripping-with-sarcasm stand-up bits, the heart of the show follows Jim and Jeannie as they attempt to raise five children in a modest, but certainly tight, two-bedroom New York City apartment. Desperate to move (for the sake of breathing), Jeannie calls on the help of her college boyfriend turned gay urban realtor, Daniel (Black), who has a particular distaste for Jim. After scouting listings with no luck and learning Jeannie may very well have another kid on the way, Jim’s schlubby comedy buddy, Dave (Goldberg), convinces him to get a vasectomy. Adamant that Catholic-reared Jeannie would never go for it (but really, just secretly terrified of the procedure), Jim spends the rest of the pilot coming up with an elaborate plan to show his wife who’s in charge of reproduction around the house — while also avoiding anything sharp going near his testicles.

Sincere, deadpan, and, yes, funny: The Jim Gaffigan Show fits in seamlessly to TV Land’s inventive new sitcom lineup that has managed to unofficially become the most watchable chunk of shows on TV this summer. The network’s current theme of hilarity and heart affirms in its latest trio of comedies that it’s totally possible to enjoy something wholesome and feel-good while still laughing out loud. You can stream full episodes on TVLand.com and Hulu (there are only two to catch up on so far!) along with the network’s other new series Younger and Impastor.

 

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Photos: Everett Collection