Just Do It

Jim Gaffigan

by Nick Norlen

Sat., Sept. 29, 7 and 10 p.m., $39.75, Tower Theater, 69th and Ludlow streets, Upper Darby, 610-352-2887, www.jimgaffigan.com

Although he's constantly touring, Jim Gaffigan has somehow managed to do a whole lot more than stand-up. In addition to TV and movie roles, his series of animated shorts, Pale Force, has just returned to Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Somehow, he's making sense of it all.

City Paper: Is it difficult to rein yourself in when writing a no-limits animated show like Pale Force?

Jim Gaffigan: It's definitely a challenge. The great thing with animation, as opposed to live action, is you can literally go anywhere. What would be funny: Conan in the Wild West? Or Conan just in a coma? But you've got to edit yourself. You've got to kill your own babies.

CP: You've taken on some dramatic roles recently. Is that something you want to continue?

JG: Would I turn down great roles? Not at all. There's a lot of voices in my head. That's why I love acting. I love stand-up and acting for two separate reasons. And I'm glad that I do both of them because I think that there are parts of both of them that are purely insane. Stand-up is going up on stage and making strangers laugh. Which is literally insane. I'm a very lucky guy.

CP: Is your stand-up designed that way?

JG: It wasn't something intentional, but I do love the fact that after the show when I do a meet-and-greet, the youth minister will be standing behind three goth girls. That's really fun in my book.