There are plenty of universal and easy targets for humor, and most of us can score a laugh or two riffing about fast food or cell phones. But really gifted professional comics can take the same topics and make you laugh so hard your lungs melt. Big difference.

Jim Gaffigan is among the best at that sort of everyday observational humor. He's been a big star for years now, and the only surprise is that he can keep rolling with fresh, just-as-funny jokes working within roughly the same topical parameters. Which is why his last performance film, "Jim Gaffigan: Noble Ape," is such a triumph. Partly inspired by his wife, Jeannie — also a collaborator — and her successful fight against a brain tumor, Gaffigan is able to find humor in the grim source material that comes with age and maturity. It proves not only that laughter is great therapy, but also that he's damned funny and not too old or lazy to branch into new territories.

Gaffigan performs Friday, Saturday (two shows) and Sunday in the Grand Theater at Foxwoods. The first two are sold out, but tickets are still available for Saturday's late set and for Sunday.

Jim Gaffigan, 8 p.m. Friday (sold out), 7 p.m. (sold out) and 9:55 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday, Grand Theater, Foxwoods; $55-$135; 1-800-200-2882.