Comedian Jim Gaffigan Returning to Beijing, Mar 14; Tickets Now on Sale

The last time Jim Gaffigan went sightseeing in Beijing, he told his five, extremely blond children to line up neatly from tallest to shortest. That way, throngs of Chinese passersby could more easily snap photos of the charming, sizable brood. Now that he's officially slated to perform in Beijing again on Mar 14, we can only hope that Gaffigan will delight us with more dad jokes (tickets go on sale Jan 15 and will likely sell out quick).

The comedian became a star Stateside by cracking wise about raising a huge family with his wife and writing partner Jeannie Gaffigan; junk food binges; and domestic life, all delivered in wryly clean quips that are relatable to a wide swath of viewers.

Gaffigan last tickled Beijingers’ funny bones back in 2017 with a uniquely intimate set at VSports bar in Sanlitun. That odd venue choice reflects how much smaller the English stand-up market is in Beijing compared to the American cities where Gaffigan regularly sells out major theaters. In fact, Gaffigan is such a major drawback home that he opened for none other than Pope Francis in Philadelphia. He details the surrealness of that experience during a new set that aired on the Comedy Central television network in late 2018.

The new special’s best moments zero in on a deathly-serious subject: Jeannie's recent operation to remove a brain tumor. In the vein of Richard Pryor telling cathartic jokes about drug addiction and racism, or Marc Maron’s self-deprecating barbs about career misfires and being raised by negligent parents, Gaffigan got raw and introduced his legions of fans to his true self for the first time. He also, of course, found levity in all that agony, joking about not being allowed to win an argument with his wife again after she endured such a major surgery. Gaffigan's heartfelt retelling of the experience gives his material new depth and allows audiences to see a new side of a comedian who is sometimes dismissed by detractors for being too fluffy and clean.

Regardless of what material he delivers, Gaffigan's return to Beijing is sure to light up the ever-growing local comedy scene. Get your tickets, fast.

Jim Gaffigan will perform at the Super Theatre on Mar 14. For more information, click here.

READ: "It's Interesting How in China EVERYTHING is Food": Q&A With Funnyman Jim Gaffigan

Photos: Slate, ChurchPOP,  Gaffigan's Pinterest