Earlier this year, TV Land announced that it ordered 10 episodes of The Jim Gaffigan Show, starring the ever pale, balding, and self-effacing comedian of the same name. Today, Gaffigan released the first episode of his new sitcom. And while the show isn’t slated to hit the airwaves for two more months, you can watch the inaugural episode here for free.
The single-camera sitcom, which was originally a pilot at CBS, is about “one man’s struggle in New York City to find a balance between fatherhood, stand-up comedy, and an insatiable appetite.” In the meta-style series, Jim and Jeannie Gaffigan live with their five children in a two-bedroom apartment in New York City.
Created by Gaffigan and Peter Tolan (Rescue Me), the cast for the series includes Adam Goldberg and Michael Ian Black as Gaffigan’s best friends and Ashley Williams as his wife, Jeannie. The first episode also features cameos by Jon Stewart, Glenn Beck, and Chris Rock. The comedy earned a pilot order in January 2014 and originally had Oscar winner Mira Sorvino attached to co-star as Gaffigan’s wife. After two tries, CBS gave up on developing the project and the series was picked up by TV Land. The show is TV Land’s second single-cam comedy, joining Jennifer Falls.
In May 2013, Crown Publishing released Jim’s first book, Dad is Fat which debuted on the New York Times Best Sellers List. Gaffigan has also recorded multiple comedy specials, as well as making several guest appearances on comedies and dramas including Portlandia, Flight of the Conchords, and Bored to Death. Gaffigan also played dramatic roles in Law & Order.
So far this year seems to be a busy year for the journeyman comic. Gaffigan is currently on his Contagious 2015 tour, which will stop in more than 30 cities and feature new material.
