SACRAMENTO, Calif. — This morning I got to spend time with my friend Jack Gallagher.
I say friend in the true Hollywood sense in that I've never spoken with him outside an interview situation. However, I've had these talks routinely for much of his 40-year career. Jack and I both moved to Sacramento from Los Angeles around the same time. Me to hip-hop radio, Jack to serve as the host of a national late-night talk show called "TV LITE."
That show was ultimately canceled, but not before Jack and his wife fell in love with the Sacramento area.
"We didn't want to go back to LA. Jean (his wife) was pregnant with Declan and decided this was a great place," Jack said. "I don't want to sound like Pollyanna, but I've been lucky here."
Jack went on to sell out venues and win awards for his one-man shows.
He had his own family sitcom on ABC Network, made routine appearances on late-night talk shows including Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show," and the shows hosted by Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Arsenio Hall and Jimmy Kimmel.
Several seasons ago he was called in to audition for Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm for a one-time walk-on. The character became Larry's doctor.
He did all this while living in Sacramento.
As for playing to the hometown crowd, Jack said he'll bring it back year after year as long as the team from the B Street Theater and SOFIA have him.
"I mean look at this room. I'm extremely fortunate, very lucky," Jack said. "When I left Boston and LA to move to Sacramento everyone said that my career was going to tank. Then I met these guys and fast forward to now, I've written and produced seven of them. They're good to me and there is nothing in this country that tops the acoustics and sight lines of this room."
Jack also told me about the importance of being on stage here.
"It'll be fun and I always say this to people when I work here. There's all kinds of crap outside those doors, but when you're in here it doesn't exist," Jack said. "It's going to be out there when you leave. Every crappy thing that's going on in the world, but when you're in here it all goes away."
HERE ARE 3 THINGS TO KNOW
- Jack Gallagher was the voice of the Sacramento airport. For three decades if you heard "unattended vehicles will be towed," followed by snark, that's Jack.
- Legendary talk show host Johnny Carson once said Jack is the best of the best but things didn't always go smoothly when he was on the show. Now some of his sets include anecdotal moments from those appearances.
- Though is standup is very funny, it is also thoughtful. His set "A Different Kind of Cool" is about his son Liam's life with autism, while "Letters to Declan" is about his firstborn's near-death at birth experience. Both are unforgettable.
CHECK IT OUT YOURSELF
- Dec. 9 show: https://bstreettheatre.org/other/one-night-only-w-jack-gallagher/
- Jack's guests include Tony V and Ken Rogerson. Each does a set followed by Jack and then the three unite on stage to riff.
MARK EVERY MORNING
Every morning on the ABC10 Morning News Mark S. Allen shines light on the people making a positive difference in our communities and the world. He also routinely chats with A-list award-winning stars of stage, screen and things-to-be-seen as he offers up entertainment options and what to watch.
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