A few minutes into his new Amazon Original comedy special “Dark Pale,” hitting the streamer July 25, Jim Gaffigan delves into some topical issues — then speculates on how people might respond. Most people associate the veteran comic with his self-deprecating bits about his laziness, living with five children and his many ruminations on Hot Pockets. So, following jokes about COVID and plane crashes, Gaffigan stops for a second and notes, “This is usually the point when people ask, ‘When’s he gonna do the food jokes?’” As he goes further, discussing funeral decorum, he stops and asks the crowd, “Was that too dark? It’s gonna get worse.” On the contrary, Gaffigan is only getting better. Since his television debut in the mid-’90s on “Caroline’s Comedy Hour,” the comedian has constantly adapted to a changing world while maintaining his incisive wit and affability. “Dark Pale” marks the comedian’s 10th comedy special, and while he finds big laughs in some somber topics, he can also mine humor from something as wholesome as a hot air balloon ride with his daughters. His agent, Nick Nuciforo, partner and head of comedy touring at UTA, has repped Gaffigan since 2005, and praises his wide appeal. “His brand of humor is both clean and hip, and I have seen him excel in both alternative rooms and rural settings,” says Nuciforo. “The ability to succeed with any audience is a superpower that opens up unlimited opportunities.”
