Comedian Jim Gaffigan brought his hilarious “Mr. Universe” show to the Chicago Theater for a weekend of packed shows much to the delight of his loyal followers and newfound fans alike. Though the weather was frigid, the comedy was as hot as it gets. I had a nice isle seat in row 8, which was great since I am so damn tall I need to stretch my big dawgs in the isle! I may have inadvertently tripped a few people as they walked by but it was worth it - Gaffigan had me cracking up from the moment he took the stage. Lately I have been listening to his comedy on the Sirius Comedy stations and already knew I liked him, but seeing him live made his humor that much funnier.

Gaffigan is best know for his sketch on “Hot pockets” where he makes fun of their jingle – and their contents – and their lava-like burning power. He imagines a room full of executives trying to come up with the product’s jingle when someone sings (in a wavering, unenthusiastic voice), “Hot pockets”! Anyway, Gaffigan brought the house down while he made fun of himself and how out of shape he is. One of his funniest bits was when he talks about bacon. Jim loves his bacon!  “Do you have a fork made out of bacon?” He also talked about being Mr. Universe – the theme of his current tour – and the impact of having such a title on one’s resume. “Would President Obama have to answer to Mr. Universe?” he asked.

What makes Jim so great is his natural presence on the stage. It’s not forced or like he’s spitting out memorized lines. He just talks and often brings to light the “inside voice” of the audience member, which is always funny. “This guy is fatter than I thought.” “I like cake. What does he have against cake?” Gaffigan has a natural flow and the way he speaks alone can make you laugh no matter what he is saying. So, without hesitation, I give him the big thumbs up if you get the chance to check him out.

Jim Gaffigan has already finished his Illinois tour so you may have to wait to catch his show unless you feel like traveling to Ohio. But you can always check is funniest stuff on your tube or Sirius Radio. He also has a couple DVD’s, Beyond the Pale and King Baby, available that I would highly recommend. For more information on upcoming tour dates and merchandise, go to www.jimgaffigan.com.