June 6, 2017 (2017-06-06) – November 19, 2019 (2019-11-19)
The Jim Jefferies Show was an American late-night talk and news satire television program hosted by comedian Jim Jefferies. The show aired Tuesdays on Comedy Central and tackles the week's top stories and most controversial issues. In March 2017, Comedy Central ordered ten half-hour episodes. The series premiered on June 6, 2017, and was later extended with ten additional episodes, which began airing after a five-week hiatus. On January 30, 2019, Comedy Central renewed the show for a third season which premiered on March 19, 2019 and, after a summer hiatus, ran from September 17, 2019 through November 19, 2019 when the show was canceled, ending its three-year run. As of December 2021, seasons 1 and 2 are available to watch on Paramount+.[1]
Background
Jefferies in 2012
Prior to his foray into late night television, Jefferies starred in the comedy series Legit, which ran for two seasons between 2013 and 2014 on FX and FXX.[2] Early in his stand-up career, Jefferies was well known for his off-color humor. In his Netflix special Bare (2014), Jefferies performed a routine on gun control,[3] which was previously used in his stand-up and on Legit.[4][5] The Bare routine has gone viral, especially after mass shootings in the United States.[6][7] Jefferies revisited the topic in his Netflix special Freedumb (2016),[8] in which he also criticized then-Republican candidateDonald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign.[9] Jefferies has since become a commentator, often speaking to newspapers and appearing on television programs to discuss his political opinions.[10]
In late 2016, Comedy Central ordered a pilot for the show, which was taped on December 7.[11] The network picked up the show as a weekly half-hour series in March 2017, with ten episodes set to air in the summer.[12]
Actor Brad Pitt became a fan of Jefferies after seeing clips of his standup, and called him to ask if he could be part of his new show. He was enthusiastic when Jefferies suggested he be the show's weatherman. Pitt, who is only referred to generically as "Jim Jefferies Show Weatherman", is paid the SAG minimum salary of $400 per episode.[13]
The Jim Jefferies Show was taped on Tuesdays around 12:00 p.m. Pacific time at Sunset Las Palmas Studios in Hollywood, California.[22] On November 6, 2019, it was announced that the series would conclude on November 19 as Jefferies moved to focus on a put pilot in production for NBC.[23]
Broadcast
On January 15, 2018, Comedy Central renewed the series for a 20-episode second season,[24] which premiered on March 27, 2018. On September 13, 2018, Comedy Central announced additional new episodes would air beginning September 18, 2018.[25]
Jefferies co-hosted The Jim Jefferies Show Podcast with his fellow comedian Forrest Shaw,[31] which was released alongside the last ten episodes of the first season and served as an aftershow for the television program.[32][33] Each podcast features detailed commentary on news and politics, segments featured in the latest television episode, and jokes that were left out of the show.[34] This was the first series of a new podcast network for Comedy Central.[35]
Reception
In a mixed review of the show for The Hollywood Reporter, Daniel Fienberg wrote that "What The Jim Jefferies Show needs is to stop trying to be like the other kids and to start trying to be like Jim Jefferies."[36] Mike Hale of the New York Times also gave the show a mixed review, writing that "As a late-night host, Mr. Jefferies can appear to be doing nothing much, but there’s a tricky balancing act going on between his ordinary-bloke persona and his sometimes savagely raunchy punch lines. The results are hit and miss, and sometimes it’s a long while between hits." However, Hale also praised Jefferies for occasionally delivering "explosive" lines in the show.[37]
The first season ended with Jefferies listed in Variety's "Fresh Voices in TV Who Broke Out in 2017"[38] and the writing team nominated for Best Comedy/Variety Talk Series at the 2018 Writers Guild of America Awards.[39]
Cancellation
On November 6, 2019, Comedy Central announced the show had been canceled, but would air an additional two weeks of the series, with the last show to be broadcast on November 19, 2019.[40][41]
Trump's inaction on domestic policy issues • Discussion with businessman Mark Cuban • Discriminations in the DOJ's "religious liberty" memo • NFL sponsor Papa John's claim that NFL protests are hurting pizza sales
Responses to the "March for Our Lives" anti-gun violence rallies • Discussion with attendees at "March for Our Lives" in San Diego • Non-violent civil disobedience • Fake news story about Jefferies' death in a car accident
Objectification and unfair wages of NFL Cheerleaders • Interview with comedian Carol Burnett on the relationship between comedy and politics, and a look back at the climate of The Carol Burnett Show • Caravan of Central American asylum seekers stopped at the U.S. border • Jim parodies hedgefund manager Tom Steyer's ad calling for impeachment of President Donald Trump
