2018 Commencement Speakers - Jeannie and Jim Gaffigan

[warriorchick]

Quite the get!

From the press release:

The 2018 Marquette University Commencement speakers: Actress, producer, writer and philanthropist Jeannie Gaffigan, Comm '92, and her husband, comedian Jim Gaffigan.

Jeannie recently co-developed, directed and was an Executive Producer on Jim's Netflix comedy special "Cinco." Jeannie was the founder and executive director of "Shakespeare on the Playground," a not-for-profit theater company that produced Shakespearean plays with inner-city teenagers with a focus on literacy and production skills. She and Jim have been open in sharing their family's challenges during a recent health scare, as she recovered from a brain tumor that was discovered in late 2016.

Jim is a three-time Grammy-nominated comedian, actor, writer and producer whose unique brand of humor largely revolves around fatherhood and his observations on life. Both of his books, "Dad Is Fat" and "Food: A Love Story," were featured on the New York Times Bestseller list. He takes on a dramatic role in Entertainment Studios' recently released film "Chappaquiddick." He has a total of 12 films that have been released or are currently in production this year. Jim also is a product of Jesuit education, graduating from Georgetown University in 1988.

[StillAWarrior]

Quite the get!

From the press release:

The 2018 Marquette University Commencement speakers: Actress, producer, writer and philanthropist Jeannie Gaffigan, Comm '92, and her husband, comedian Jim Gaffigan.

I love Gaffigan's work.  When I watched his last special, I noticed that his wife was prominently featured in the credits, but I didn't know the other stuff.  They should be great commencement speakers.  Every year I'm jealous of the graduating class and their commencement speakers.  Not that I'm complaining...University of Chicago Sociologist James Coleman was a laugh riot.

Jim also is a product of Jesuit education, graduating from Georgetown University in 1988.

There have been some good comedians coming from Georgetown over the last couple decades:  Gaffigan, John Mulaney, Nick Kroll, Mike Birbiglia.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Couldn't even tell you the name of my commencement speaker and it was only three years ago. All I know is that she was a nun.

[🏀]

Why is Milwaukee is love with Gaffigan again?

I mean, he's funny, but opening up the arena and now graduation speech? Eesh.

[StillAWarrior]

Couldn't even tell you the name of my commencement speaker and it was only three years ago. All I know is that she was a nun.

Yeah, I had to google.  I probably couldn't have told you the name of ours 15 minutes later...if ever.  Although I do remember actually being embarrassed for the guy because virtually nobody was listening.  The din from conversations nearly drowned him out.  It was not a particularly good showing from the Marquette grads.

[Cooby Snacks]

There have been some good comedians coming from Georgetown over the last couple decades:  Gaffigan, John Mulaney, Nick Kroll, Mike Birbiglia.

A little further back, but Mitch Hurwitz, the Arrested Development creator, went there too. It's weird, I wouldn't really think of Georgetown as a funny place...in my mind I'd lump them in with ND and U of Chicago. 

[JWags85]

A little further back, but Mitch Hurwitz, the Arrested Development creator, went there too. It's weird, I wouldn't really think of Georgetown as a funny place...in my mind I'd lump them in with ND and U of Chicago.

I think it has less to do with it being a "funny place" and more that many comedians, especially those who do a lot of writing for sitcoms and the like, are extremely intelligent.  So coming from very good schools in major metro areas where they can have plenty of places to find creative outlets, makes sense.

I mean Harvard isn't a laugh factory, but the list of comics coming out of there is also quite illustrious.

[MUEng92]

Why is Milwaukee is love with Gaffigan again?

I mean, he's funny, but opening up the arena and now graduation speech? Eesh.

His connection to Milwaukee is that his wife is from here.  Why Milwaukee likes him so much is a different question. (Yes I understand that that is your question, but I can only answer a question you didn't actually ask)

[Cooby Snacks]

I think it has less to do with it being a "funny place" and more that many comedians, especially those who do a lot of writing for sitcoms and the like, are extremely intelligent.  So coming from very good schools in major metro areas where they can have plenty of places to find creative outlets, makes sense.

I mean Harvard isn't a laugh factory, but the list of comics coming out of there is also quite illustrious.

Good point.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

..University of Chicago Sociologist James Coleman was a laugh riot.

Was this 1991?  I recall a speaker of this ilk.

[warriorchick]

A little further back, but Mitch Hurwitz, the Arrested Development creator, went there too. It's weird, I wouldn't really think of Georgetown as a funny place...in my mind I'd lump them in with ND and U of Chicago.

I guess you aren't aware that Second City started out as a bunch of U of C students doing skits on campus.

[warriorchick]

I think it has less to do with it being a "funny place" and more that many comedians, especially those who do a lot of writing for sitcoms and the like, are extremely intelligent.  So coming from very good schools in major metro areas where they can have plenty of places to find creative outlets, makes sense.

I mean Harvard isn't a laugh factory, but the list of comics coming out of there is also quite illustrious.

National Lampoon was an outgrowth of the Harvard Lampoon.

Smart and funny are not mutually exclusive.  In fact, people who tell good jokes are usually pretty intelligent.

[warriorchick]

His connection to Milwaukee is that his wife is from here.  Why Milwaukee likes him so much is a different question. (Yes I understand that that is your question, but I can only answer a question you didn't actually ask)

For several years he has done a NYE show in Milwaukee (I believe at the Pabst).  It is quite popular.

[GB Warrior]

For several years he has done a NYE show in Milwaukee (I believe at the Pabst).  It is quite popular.

And I think (correct me if wrong) that his wife's family is a big reason why he chooses to do it.

I always found him chuckle-worthy, but as my son gets older, I find Gaffigan funnier and more relatable as dad humor takes hold.

[dgies9156]

At my commencement, my father came out, looked at me and wanted to know if he was going to be tested on the material.

He was feeling guilty because he did not take notes! 

All I remember is that he was some highly regarded (at MU) philosophy professor.

[Coleman]

National Lampoon was an outgrowth of the Harvard Lampoon.

Smart and funny are not mutually exclusive.  In fact, people who tell good jokes are usually pretty intelligent.

There's a great documentary on Netflix about the Lampoon/National Lampoon: Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead. I highly recommend it.

[Coleman]

Gaffigan is funny. He is not my favorite comic, but he is good. His early stuff is absolutely fantastic. The quality of his stand-up has fallen off a little bit in the last few years, but still worth a listen if you haven't heard it. His bits on food/being fat/overeating get kind of old, but the rest of it is great. I have seen him live three times, including one of his New Years gigs in Milwaukee. His sitcom is also very funny and smart. Jeannie is very involved in the sitcom, I believe she may direct and/or write. It is based on their life.

Fun Fact: Gaffigan has done standup for the Pope.

As for the Milwaukee love...I think its just because of the local connection. Jeannie is from Milwaukee, and Jim is from Northwest Indiana (aka Chicago suburbs). They visit Milwaukee all the time because of family, hence the annual holiday shows. 

This will be one of the better commencement addresses. There have been some really boring ones over the years.

[Blue Horseshoe]

This will be one of the better commencement addresses. There have been some really boring ones over the years.

MU is just trying to rebound from the last comic they booked.

[StillAWarrior]

Was this 1991?  I recall a speaker of this ilk.

Yes.  I'm sure you were hanging on every word, right?  I know I was.

[MUDPT]

Jeannie is recovering from a brain tumor, "the size of an apple." My wife (works in neurology) says she has become a big advocate for Neurology as a whole, probably another reason why she was asked.

[tower912]

Chief Justice William Rehnquist.    Somnolent.

[warriorchick]

MU is just trying to rebound from the last comic they booked.

He was awful, and I said that at the time.  He had no respect for the ceremony.  He walked in the procession waving his arms, as if the commencement was all about him.  He took off his robe as soon as he got to the podium (I guess he thought that delivering a commencement address in sweats would be cool), and I heard he left the stage as soon as his speech was over.

[4everwarriors]

Probably hadda drug sum coeds, hey?

[real chili 83]

We had Captain Kangaroo

[UNC Eagle]

We had Lesley Stahl who was much younger then and had just made her mark covering Watergate. It was actually kind of an interesting speech.