Comedian Jim Jefferies will once again make a half-hour comedy. The boisterous, enigmatic and exceptional comedian and host of Comedy Central’s The Jim Jefferies Show, both physical and thoughtful on stage, will star in a new and co-write a new half-hour NBC comedy. What’s the show about? Australia’s finest, Jim Jefferies.
Jefferies
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jefferies will play a fictionalized version of himself in the series as “a comedian with a unique and often controversial take on modern life, relationships, and co-parenting with his best friend.” Jefferies will co-write the series with Suzanne Martin, who worked on Frasier, so that’s a nice melding of comedy minds right there.
Jefferies’ opinions and jokes are less edgy than they were, say, five or ten years ago. The man went hard on stage. He’s grown up and wisened up as a comedian, though, and is better for it. The comedian still is not afraid to joke about the things you’re not supposed to joke about, but he does so in a fairly innocent context. There’s rarely any malice in his darker material. You know the jokes are coming from someone who actually cares about the real horrors of the world and doesn’t only joke about them.
Following Up The Jim Jefferies Show
Last November, The Jim Jefferies Show came to an end. No more of Brad Pitt as a late nigh show’s happy-go-lucky weatherman? A true American tragedy. Comedy Central cancelled the series after three solid seasons, even though it was a breath of fresh air in terms of one-on-one, late night talk shows. Jefferies was more off-the-cuff, played things a little less safe, and mixed low-brow and high-brow very well. He was different. He’d travel the world, show different perspectives and issues, and as he does on stage, tell great stories.
Watch Legit Because it’s Legit
Jefferies doesn’t call himself an actor personally, but he says he does “a bit of acting.” So far, he’s most comfortable playing himself because the NBC comedy isn’t the first time he’s done so. Years ago, he starred as himself in an overlooked FX series by the name of Legit, which only lasted two seasons. It was funny, thoughtful and immature, and Jefferies was pretty damn good in it. The comedian is a charismatic guy on stage or in front of a camera.
Legit ended without an ending, but still, it’s two seasons of fun and a pinch of melancholia worth enjoying while it lasts. FX and Jefferies got the tone of that show just right; crass but never offensive and sincere but never cloying. Legit easily could’ve gone on for another season or two. The FX comedy was embraced by critics and, most notably, the disabled community. It was a comedy that portrayed characters with disabilities as prominent characters, not plot points or awful punchlines. For a show with a lot of drugs and human garbage, the half-hour comedy was kind-hearted in its own way.
Jim Jefferies’ Upcoming Tour Dates
There’s no word on when we might see Jefferies air on NBC, but any fan of the comedian can catch him in-person over the next few months. He’s currently on his “Oblivion Tour,” which continues until June. Here are Jefferies’ upcoming tour dates:
Jan. 25 – New Orleans, LA – Joy Theatre
Feb. 14 – Las Vegas, NV – The Mirage Hotel and Casino
Feb. 15 – Las Vegas, NV – The Mirage Hotel and Casino
March 6 – National Harbor, MD – MGM National Harbor
March 7 – Columbus, OH – Palace Theatre
March 14 – Thousand Oaks, CA – Fred Kavli Theatre
March 20 – Kansas City, MO – Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
March 21 – Tulsa, OK – The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
April 3 – Long Beach, CA – Terrace Theatre
April 4 – Salt Lake City, UT – Eccles Theater
April 17 – Portland, OR – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
April 18 – San Jose, CA – San Jose Civic
May 29 – Austin, TX – Paramount Theatre
May 30 – Thackerville, OH – WinStar World Casino Resort
June 13 – Albuquerque, MN – Route 66 Casino
