PALE BAIT Sorry Ladies: Gaffigan is taken.

You’ve probably seen Jim Gaffigan perform in any of the city’s stand-up clubs over the past decade. He’s always around—an attribute that makes his upcoming New York run of six theater shows even more impressive. His role as Andy in My Boys, his cartoon turns with Conan O’Brien in Pale Force, and his national ad campaigns for Energizer and Sierra Mist helped raise the comic’s profile, but he remains most beloved for his stand-up. Since Gaffigan, 42, trades in observations (his most famous bit deals with a popular frozen food) and self-deprecation (the high-pitched criticisms of his inner monologue have long been a staple of his act), you probably get the joke of his tour.

Time Out New York: How did you come up with the name “Sexy Tour”?
Jim Gaffigan: I wanted something ridiculous. Sometimes performers get some success and then the next time you see them, they have this arrogance, like, “I used to be a nerd—but now I’m sexy.” It’s funny, the adjectives people use to describe comedy: clean, edgy.… Hopefully it’s just funny. Now I’m paranoid that I sound like a dick.

TONY: You have had success: The tour includes six shows at the Town Hall. Also, at that point, why not book a bigger theater and do fewer sets?
Jim Gaffigan: If you’re high-energy and physically big, then maybe it’s not a big deal, but I’m quiet. If I did a big place, I’d feel silly. Plus, when you’re watching someone on a JumboTron, it’s just like watching TV.

TONY: What does your onstage inner voice think about you selling out four of these New York shows?
Jim Gaffigan: He’s like, What’s so special about that? But, he’s not as prominent as he was in the last tour.

TONY: Why?
Jim Gaffigan: I’m getting better at stand-up. It’s all about efficiency of funny. If I did the inner voice as much as I want to, the audience would be miserable. By the way, these are weird questions. I’m used to reporters going, “What kind of comedy do you do? Have you met Robin Williams? Great, I think we got it!”

TONY: Well, you know, I am planning to make you sound like a dick.
Jim Gaffigan: Please do. Also, could you make my wife mad at me?

TONY: I’ll do my best. Here’s a softball: mayonnaisse or bacon?
Jim Gaffigan: Oh, bacon definitely. Bacon is just so unique to that league. Don’t you have foods that you connect with? That you want to spend time with? I eat peanut butter and think, We should hang out all the time. But then I have Domino’s and I’m like, Why do I even know you?

TONY: What about Hot Pockets?
Jim Gaffigan: They’re a blessing and a curse: I’ve had that joke forever, but when I do a theater show, I feel like I have to tell it. Some people say, “I came just for that joke.” If they’re paying $30, how painful is it for me to tell it? Luckily, Hot Pockets are in the news enough that I’ve been able to keep the material fresh. Although, if that’s all I’m known for in ten years, that’s depressing. Did you know that the manufacturer has started sending people to my shows in Hot Pockets costumes to pass out coupons?

TONY: That’s awful. Especially because you’re otherwise a friend to advertising—do your fans think you’re in on the promotion?
Jim Gaffigan: Maybe. “He’s in those Sierra Mist commercials; why wouldn’t he take the Hot Pocket money?” But I don’t know; my material on the topic has gotten pretty scathing. Still, if I died and every person I knew was killed along with me, the funeral home would probably be like, “Well, he loves Hot Pockets—let’s put one on his gravestone.”

Jim Gaffigan: The Sexy Tour takes place at the Town Hall Wed 26–Nov 30