In a half-hour show with A-list comedians I learn little or nothing. Instead, I’m treated to a five-minute introduction to the vintage car Jerry is driving that week (who cares?), the obligatory call from the car to the comedian, stock shots or Jerry and his guest walking, and once they get to the coffee shop, seventeen close up shots of coffee being poured.
The interview itself is always clipped, Jerry can’t help but try to top his comedian guest, and there’s a general condescension that only Jerry and his guests really know “funny.” It’s like the cool kids in high school graciously letting us sit at the next table and eavesdrop.
When not trying to top his guests Jerry is generally doubled-over in laughter – at stuff that is just not that funny.
Here’s what I learned from the half-hour John Mullaney episode – he writes his ideas in a notebook. Wow! How revealing!
From Kate McKinnon – she liked school as a kid. Otherwise it was pretty much Kate doing schtick.
When I interview someone I try to get them to really reveal information we didn’t know. If it’s a comedian I want to know his process, how his mind works, how he’s evolved, what’s his worldview, background, goals, amusing anecdotes, etc. But this show is a slickly produced hodgepodge with background music, beauty shots of cars and percolators, and Jerry being the smug host.
The message is clear: YOU’LL never be this funny, YOU’LL never have a career like this, YOU’LL never drive a car like this. Well, you know what? I’ll grab a ride elsewhere.
Now I expect to take a lot of heat for this because like I said, most people love this show. But I’d rather see a comedian in an Uber talking his process for a half-hour and he can grab coffee later.
74 comments :
I've actually never found Jerry Seinfeld funny. I'm obviously in a minority on this but I couldn't watch his show because I could never get past his smugness.
Off-topic #1 - Very, very disappointed to see John Cusack do a Mel Gibson on Twitter.
Off-topic #2: Tweet of the week: "Max Landis is what happens when you have the ultimate helicopter parent."
I agree, Ken. There are one or two good nuggets in certain episodes, but mostly it's what you described. I also think Jerry's definition of "comedian" is being stretched pretty thin these days (Seth Rogan? Matthew Broderick?).
No heat from me, Ken, but I love classic cars, I can get some tips on where (or where not to---see the episode where Seinfeld and the late Bob Einstein walked out of a place because the food was awful) to have breakfast when I'm in L.A. and Jerry and his guest are amusing company. It's not INSIDE THE ACTOR'S STUDIO, and there probably should be a comedy version of that, but COMEDIANS IN CARS isn't it.
I'm guessing Jerry won't be a guest on this season of Hollywood & Levine...Anyone know if Steven Weber is available?
Every time I've seen it I got the impression they took out everything interesting. It's like watching the trailer of a great nonexistant interview.
I couldn't agree more. I watched a partial episode and couldn't sit thru it. Small talk is not interesting. Might as well be grocery shopping. I have a friend who had a crush on Sting back in the day, as did I. She once commented that "just watching him breath" was entertaining. Turns out its not. I've been watching The Big Interview with Dan Rather. I've never been a huge fan of Billy Bob Thornton, but what an interesting mind! He dissects things, understands them at their core and articulates them in an interesting and detailed way. THAT is interesting! Whether it be comedy, drama, real life practices.... Your approach is spot on....the guest should always respectively bring their best to the interview...and they usually do.
David Lettermans new show is the same for me. He is just using his fame to sit in front of a camera and pander to stars. He dropped all the wit and disruption that made him David Letterman. Where is the guy who dropped TV sets off buildings and was a human velcro ball?
Pretty much agree with you on all your points - but still enjoy the show. There are occasions where we do hear insights. And I love the cars. The sneaker thing I can live without. And there are gems IMHO, like the Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks episode. Yes, the show's quirky and gotta a ton fulla 'tude, but I like feeling like a fly on the wall and listening to the banter - even though it's mostly put on.
You're not the only one Ken.
I try to keep watching episodes in the hope it gets better - but your description nails it. There is so much wasted time, and so little insightful or funny discussions.
I love the show but I agree: I couldn't care less about the damn car or the coffee.
I generally enjoy the show, especially if I know who the guest is. Many times I don’t.
I've warched the show selectively. I watch the episodes with the comedians I like. I've always enjoyed it. The one with Garry Shandling is one of my faves. But I can't argue with your points. The intro with the car of the week is something I put up with until the show starts. If I watched it more often it would probably start to come off as smug. But I take it as good light entertainment for an occasional watch.
Seconded... I tried a few episodes, and even though I like Jerry, this show is just not one that I want to watch. I prefer podcasts that interview comedians (and other creative talents) instead, such as Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend. Conan's done a pretty good job, I think, in doing long-term interviews with several interesting guests, mostly comedians, that have been insightful and funny.
I'm with you, but we're both outliers. I realized years ago that, as a writer of crime fiction, what I looked for in a book was not what the average reader looked for. I'll read a book if I don't care for the story but like the writing; most readers care almost excursively about the story. I think that's what's going on here. You a comedy writer, a pro who's always looking fr ways to better your craft. This show--basically all shows like this--is for people who don't care how you're funny; they might not even understand there ARE techniques. They just think some people are born as fully-formed comics. These folks just want to laugh. They don't care how the sausage gets made.
Me, personally? I think it's even funnier if I understand how they got there. Outlier.
I appreciate how you said "I don't like it" and "I'm not impressed," instead of indulging in the common online hyperbolic laziness of "This is horrible" or "the worst thing in history."
Because it's not horrible, it's just "eh," and it's definitely not as funny, hip, or engaging as Jerry seems to want you to think it is.
Jerry has the chops to air a good number of un-PC observations you don't hear anywhere else in the entertainment world. So...I watch.
Sean
You're not wrong! (Though I personally dig the cars.)
I've only watched it once. Not impressed, either. Signed, Anonymous.
This show is terrible. Seinfeld the tv show isn't aging well (too mean spirited in an age that is already mean enough). There's a reason people prefer Friends. And Jerry Seinfeld the comedian has never really been that funny.
Man, it feels good to get that out.
Cheers,
Pat
Ken, I hadn't realized until now, but I pretty much agree with you here. Years ago I sought out the website to watch a few of his car/coffee shows, and then gradually stopped seeking them out, didn't bookmarks his website anymore, and kind of forgot about him. If it was on network TV or some cable channel I might stop by it for a few minutes, but it isn't, is it? The idea of going on the web, typing in his URL, scrolling through the different episodes to pick one, well that is too much trouble for the eventual return I would get. And I do like cars and coffee!
I wasted a couple of years working for a much less successful "celebrity" who wound up stiffing me my pay. Seems like there is a type of performer who enter the "indulge me," stage of their careers, coasting on the past while expecting adulation for much lesser effort. Others still push until the end.
I liked the one with BHO, "sneaking" out of the WH, but generally, you're right.
I agree. Except the one with Garry Shandling was magic.
Excellent Ken! "Spitting on the comedy cross", now I'm not sure you meant the coffee show or Jerry but I'd gladly pay Thurmon Munson to come down from the heavens with a mouth full of chewing tobacco and drench both. Man, you nailed it calling Jerry condescending, and I'll add phony, conceited, egotist and asshole. "Who ARE these people?" You Jerry, you are these people.
This idiot has become Jerry Lewis without the "hey lady" shit. Going on talk shows and being, like Ken said, smug, like he's been anointed the God of comedy. The first season of Seinfeld was shit, it was Jerry doing Jerry. His acting was stiffer then a bird dog encased in cement pointing at a mannequin. Then the other three found their legs and Jerry hopped on their coattails and road them like he was a passenger in one of his own cars. Guy went on Letterman and threw his weight around a couple of times. First time was to defend Kramer after that racist rant, telling the audience to "shssssssssssh" when they laughed every time Kramer said "Afro-American." LOL, come on Jerry it was funny, a racist coming on to apologize and he ends up using an outdated term to describe black Americans! Then you used that same appearance to plug a Seinfeld DVD, fuck me.
The second time on Letterman he used his time to plug his better half's shitty cookbook! Now I'm not sure if it was the underage woman Jerry was banging who wrote the shitty cookbook or the chick Jerry stole from the poor bastard who proposed to her who wrote the shitty cookbook. Doesn't matter, either way they're both minors who needed Jerry to publish their shitty cookbook. The world doesn't need another fucking cookbook. Ken, I love you but if you ever come out with a "Food we used on "MASH", "Cheers" and "Frasier" cookbook I'm going to hang myself.......after shooting you!
Anyway, Jerry's an asshole! On a brighter note, THE RAPTORS WIN THE PENNANT, THE RAPTORS WIN THE PENNANT, THE RAPTORS WIN THE PENNANT, THE RAPTORS WIN THE PENNANT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry, I had to do it like Russ Hodges because nobody who comes to Ken's blog likes basketball, including me. But it's a win for Canada so I had to mention it, even though I can't even name one player. "Who ARE these people?"
I like the show, but then again I have different expectations than most of the other respondents. I see it as just a friendly conversation between two funny people, not as an "interview".
It's hard enough to be entertained by comedians not doing their act. The nadir episode was with Christoph Waltz, the opposite of a comedian. The car was just bizzare and they went to IHOP. The worst of everything you pointed out, sir.
It's hard enough to be entertained by comedians not doing their act. The nadir episode was with Christoph Waltz, the opposite of a comedian. The car was just bizzare and they went to IHOP. The worst of everything you pointed out, sir.
For the most part, I agree... I do think some episodes were better than others, but it's also interesting to see who tries to be "real" versus trying to be "on".
The Kate McKinnon one was especially awful. When she debuted on SNL, I thought she was hilarious... now, everything seems terribly forced on SNL, and her episode with Seinfeld felt the same to me - terribly forced.
I did especially enjoy Gaffigan and Mulaney.
I find the show an enjoyable 20 minutes or so, though, as you say, there isn't much insight. But I gotta tell ya, the Alec Baldwin episodes are hysterical and I've watched them a bunch of times. The Burt Lancaster/Kirk Douglas story (with impersonations) Alec tells cracks me up every time.
Ocatarineta said...
Every time I've seen it I got the impression they took out everything interesting. It's like watching the trailer of a great nonexistent interview.
I suspect this is the real answer, although I haven't watched the show. There was probably lots of more profound content that was taken out by idiot editors, and the result was just insipid reality TV.
Sigh. Sort of the story of America, innit?
I will give Seinfeld credit in this area: I think he genuinely doesn't understand why he's funny--and is still reeling from his unexpected super-stardom decades ago. I think he has an honest desire to be introspective about what humor is, and why or how he does it, because he's humble enough to admit that he doesn't understand it.
That's a generous take, I know. It could be that he's actually just a smug asshole...but I don't think so.
I love comedians, cars AND coffee, but this show is terrible. Seinfeld needs a writer or two.
I enjoy it more or less based on what comedian he has. Some I’ve watched multiple times, some just once. It’s cool you don’t like the show, Ken. I can dig your opinion, man. I enjoy interviews with comedians and comedy writers about the process but Seinfeld’s Coffee show, to me, doesn’t seem like it’s an interview show. I think he’s going for a “comedians/guest hang-out” vibe but, whatever he wants to call it, I enjoy the format.
While I agree with you, SuperDave hated, "Where do you get your ideas from?"
Norm MacDonald had his sidekick ask him that as a joke.
I generally enjoy most of the segments, but some are very disappointing (like the one with Ellen Degeneres). I would classify them as pleasant little time fillers, nothing more.
I agree that Jerry laughs much too hard at remarks that he wouldn't even smile at if they were said by a non-comedian.
I'm also tired of the recurring theme that doing standup comedy is the bravest job there is. I always wonder where policemen, firemen, astronauts and others would fall on that list.
My nephew is a huge Seinfeld fan. When he was sixteen, he had a heart transplant at children's hospital in pgh. He proudly wore his Kramer "Master of my domain" t-shirt during his hospital stay. Now years later, my nephew is fine but Kramer's career died. You never know...
FRIDAY QUESTION:
I'm curious as to your thoughts on this article.
https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/6/19/18660602/tv-streaming-long-chernobyl-superstore
"TV is having an identity crisis. Here’s how to fix it. The rest of TV can learn something important from Chernobyl and Superstore."
From things you've said in the past, I believe that you are of the opinion that longer series are good because they mean steady, lucrative employment for all on staff. But if you can divorce yourself from your bias as a TV creator and put yourself solely in the position of the audience, what are your thoughts on the length of TV series these days?
I personally am of the opinion that the core appeal of TV as a medium is serialization (e.g., the ability to tell a motion picture story in a time frame that is longer than feature-length). Unfortunately, I think too many TV creators have abused this and tell serialized stories that go on and on and on. I'll often be watching a 13-episode series that could have been told in four or five episodes. Too many episodes in the middle are simply marking time.
As an example, as much as I love "Game of Thrones," there was no need for it to be 75-hours long. I contend that the story could have been told in five three-hour films. The same is true of the over-praised and overrated Marvel-Netflix series (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, etc.) that could be told in a third or a quarter of their 13-episode length.
Conversely, the most concise TV series I've seen is the BBC six-episode series, "State of Play" from 2003. Each episode is densely packed. There's not an ounce of fat anywhere. The same with HBO's "John Adams" series from about 10 years ago.
Thoughts?
(And, yes, I'm aware that this comment advocating for brevity and concision is way too long.)
As the title says it's just about two comedians in a car going to get coffee. That's all Seinfeld promised with that title and that's what he delivers. All the criticism comes from folks who don't like Seinfeld to begin with or those that would produce the show differently. You can do that when you have your own show....
I think your expectations for "Comedians in Cars" are too high. There's a reason Seinfeld created it as a Web show -- he didn't want it to be that big a deal. Basically, it's just him hanging out for a little while with someone he likes or is interested in. It was only after the move to Netflix that people thought it should be anything more than that.
I think it's fair to say that this concept of a host just kind of casually hanging out with guests -- rather than doing a formal interview -- has become much more prevalent on the late-night talk shows too. Carson, Letterman and Leno never seemed to care much about most of the people on their shows, other than creating comedy out of scripted questions on cards. (Of course, Letterman famously never even greeted most of his guests outside the confines of taping his show.) By contrast, Jimmy Fallon calls all his guests "pal" and plays parlor games with them as if they were old buddies. (Of course, since so many of the people on his show are involved with "SNL" or promoting some other NBC project, they probably are.) James Corden talks to two or three guests at a time to promote a sort of party atmosphere. And Jimmy Kimmel seems to be real-life friends with half the celebrities in Hollywood, and apparently even vacations with many of them.
So maybe Seinfeld's low-key style of interviewing is actually the wave of the future. It might not be as funny as when writers are scripting virtually every question and answer, but viewers seem to enjoy this "just hanging out" approach.
Thank you sir for saying something I wanted to ask as FQ for a long time, but didn't, fearing that readers may not like me criticizing Jerry Seinfeld - who I believe is one of the icons of your country after the very successful sitcom.
- there’s a general condescension that only Jerry and his guests really know “funny.”
- Jerry being the smug host.
- YOU’LL never be this funny, YOU’LL never have a career like this, YOU’LL never drive a car like this
So true.
In my opinion "Seinfeld" was so successful because of good writing only. Jerry in fact was the weakling in the cast. Even the supporting actors were better than him.
And that show's success somehow has put this idea in his head that he is the greatest comedian.
He is very smug when it comes to what he says. Like in one interview he said something like "I am in funny business and I am interested in you if you are funny, else I am not."
It's like he has been throned as the 'King of Comedy' and he decides who is funny or not and they get to ride in his car.
Of course, there are those who want to be seen with him. Like getting a stamp of approval that they are funny too.
Here is my own theory for this show.
It was Jerry who was the popular public face till the end of the show. Then came Larry David with "Curb Your Enthusiasm" which showed the world as to who really was the brains behind "Seinfeld".
Maybe this is Jerry's way of showing that he is a comic genius too. Or just plain showing off his wealth and rubbing shoulders with other famous people.
Jerry's one of the best stand-ups around, but this might be funnier if it was car buff Jay Leno's show. At least he'd have his buddy Tim Allen on to reciprocate for Jay's occasional guest turns on "Last Man Standing."
I've only watched a few but I did like the one with Robert Klein ("Opera Pimp").
But yeah, that laughing thing...deadly.
My liking an episode varies based on the guest. But if nothing else, the show should hold a special place in our hearts if for no other reason than giving us a front row seat to a Brooks/Reiner dinner before it’s too late.
Jerry Seinfeld and James Corden, two smug assholes who are obsessed with appearing with stars bigger than them as though to show off what famous friends they have.
It reminds me of the time that talentless tool Russell Brand won a British Comedy Award and instead of turning up to the ceremony in London, they played a pre-recorded acceptance speech from Los Angeles in which he got Adam Sandler to present him with the trophy. How utterly, repulsively arrogant. It was like "Look at me, I'm in Hollywood hanging out with Hollywood stars!" Sandler genuinely seemed uncomfortable and awkward and had the look of someone who had been told just 2 minutes before that he'd be doing this.
Like Pat Rock says above, it feels good to get that out.
I agree with your sentiments regarding this show, however the Lewis Black and Don Rickles episodes are priceless.
Well, clearly the cars are soooooooooo much more interesting than the guests.
When Seinfeld isn't faux fawning over his comedian "friends" he's telling the rest of us nobody else matters because we're not comedians...That's an arrogance which borders on the absurd.
So, yeah, you're not alone in your disappointment (though really, what did you really expect from Seinfeld anyway?), there's more than a few of us who aren't amused.
In my opinion SEINFELD is a brillant show and Jerry Seinfeld contributed significantly to its success. I never thought, however, that Jerry Seinfeld is a great stand-up comedian or interviewer. He lacks the interest to truly connect with his audience or his guests. There are some great moments in COMEDIANS IN CARS GETTING COFFEE, but they are usually not the result of Jerry Seinfeld asking the right questions.
It’s not that type of show. It’s just watching Jerry Seinfeld enjoy the company of someone funny. Not sure why it needs to be WTF with Marc Maron (which I also love). It’s a fun, light show. And each episode is a little delight. I love it!
Well put, Ted!
You have accurately described the show. It isn't, and apparently never was intended to be, an insightful show where the host and guest let down their guards and reveal their true, off-camera selves. In a very few cases, that almost happens anyway.
Since we're taking down sacred cows, I've always thought David Bowie is overrated and The Searchers is a painfully boring film.
There, I said it.
I find this perspective very interesting because I've always thought Jerry Seinfeld was the kind of misanthrope I actually like. Someone who says what he thinks, but usually doesn't get all holier-than-thou about it. His guests have a different opinion? He shrugs. Often literally. He is not persuaded by anyone, but not particularly looking to persuade either. I appreciate that more than the Larry David style of misanthropy: petulant, superior, hysterical, theatrical.
@Dhruv: Seinfeld is the first to acknowledge he's not an actor. As far as the writing is concerned, Jerry (and Larry when he was still on the show) did the final polish on every episode, and the writers wrote in his and Larry's voice. If the writing was good, Jerry deserves a large portion of the credit.
If you can find it, you might prefer the, shall we say, prior version of the show, Robert Llewellyn's "Carpool."
Is Robert Klein still doing that "opera pimp" bit? He and Brenda Boozer divorced in 1989.
Talk about an overrated comedian.
I've watched a couple of the shows. They aren't all that memorable. I have no desire to see them again..although the only one worth noting is the one with Garry Shandling that aired either right before or after his death. That one had a punch to it.
I, like Seinfeld himself, most definitely care about the cars. The cars featured are all classics in one way or another. Some, like the '63 Split-Window Corvette in which Jerry shares a ride with Barrack Obama (without leaving the grounds of the White House), are absolute works of art on wheels.
Then too, there are moments with the cars which are funny in themselves. Such as when Jerry almost causes an accident while behind the wheel of a '67 Cadillac Eldorado. And what could be funnier than watching Jerry and guest Steve Martin waiting for rescue on the side of the road when the (gorgeous!) '54 Siata 8V they're cruising around town in decides it's had enough for the day? (What could be funnier? The rest of the episode, actually.)
There are some great episodes: Maher, Carvey, Baldwin, Black, Shandling, Carrey, Rock, Letterman, Reiner & Brooks. And then there are good episodes and there are episodes which just simply smash up against a wall. (No cars involved, thankfully.) So it's pretty much like any other talk show. Unfortunately, the "lesser" episodes usually seem to be the ones in which Seinfeld is trying to get an "unknown" some viewer eye-time. Although oddly, episodes featuring Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Sarah Silveman, all very funny female comedians, fell flat.
But hey, it's always good to read opinions even when they're not to the positive.
Funny is really a strange, subjective creature. It takes different shapes, turns and appearances. Jerry Seinfield created a unique standup persona that made us laugh while showing us something about ourselves and our behavior. Honestly? What else can you expect of a human? He has my total respect.
But I hate Comedians in Cars. It could have been good, but it isn’t. I lost consciousness when I tried to watch the Jerry Lewis episode. It’s as much of a gimmick as Corden's self-absorbed Carpool Karaoke. Which I also hate.
Geez, did I really say all that hostile stuff? I hate that.
Since I don't like coffee or Jerry's new haircut, I have no affinity for the show.
I think the big problem with COMEDIANS IN CARS GETTING COFFEE is the same one with SEINFELD: success. As long as it was an amusing little trifle to keep Jerry busy chatting with some of his comedy buddies, I found the show amusing enough and I enjoyed watching it. With COMEDIANS IN CARS becoming something of a breakout success, Jerry has felt compelled to keep the thing going long past its sell by date. As the series as gone on, the show has become strained and forced. Much as SEINFELD did in the latter seasons, COMEDIANS IN CARS has become a parody of itself and not particularly funny.
If Jerry wanted a funny show, he would have on Gilbert Gottfried, but Jerry doesn't like that Gil does a great imitation of Jerry's vacuous comedy. The show is OK, but, yeah, Jerry likes to play superior and he gets way too smarmy.
If Seinfeld wanted the show you desire, he would have done that show. He has discussed process elsewhere. Move on. Most people will not love most shows.
Ken, you pretty much summed up my feeling about this show. I felt it was very boring.
I agree with you. The show is not informative. I imagine the real conversation was stilted, and that's why we see Jerry laughing and 25 close-ups of the espresso machine.
I like both Jerry Seinfeld and some of the episodes can sag, but some have some poignancy, such as the Garry Shandling and Don Rickles episodes, since this was close to the last public appearances they made. The interviews are light, some lighter than others, some occasionally dig a bit deeper, but the show is called what it is, not "Inside the Comedy Mind", a show which Alan King DID do and is sadly do not get rerun. This may be more to Ken Levine's taste, but King tended to get flummoxed by comics he didn't understand. He had a great interview with Seinfeld, but Spalding Gray genuinely confused him.
As for Seinfeld, his style MIGHT lend itself to parody.
https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/the-stand-ups/n9678
I do like the show. I agree with the other reader in that I see it as more a friendly conversation between 2 funny people than an actual interview.
Yes, Jerry comes off as pompous about what is funny, but some of the guests are really funny (Bob Einstein, Mel Brooks, John Mullaney).
And there have been some really fascinating episodes. I've never been a big fan of Jay Leno but he came off as more human and funny than he ever did on the Tonight Show. Also thought the Gary Shandling episode was entertaining thought bittersweet.
I love when comedians get together so I was an early fan. I cant do netflix but it wouldn't surprise me that the series has lost a little as he used up his friends and now has to reach out for new guests. I like the little glimpses of the real person off stage.
Someone mentioned Gilbert Gottfried. If you like old Hollywood, you must listen to his podcast. He and Frank Santopadre are incredibly knowledgeable and their guests are all insiders with great stories. Most people would not expect this from Gilbert.
Conan is killing it with his new podcast. I think it is a gamechanger for podcasts and could outdo Marc Maron. I have always been a fan; but I am blown away how funny and smart Conan really is when unleashed from the talk show format. Now I know why Lorne Michaels chose him.
Sorry--off topic; but your readers might like to check out the growing podcast world.
You struck a chord here, clearly! I respect your opinion, but I'm gonna be the contrarian among contrarians here: I love the show, I love the cars, I love seeing Jerry talk to people like Brian Regan and Norm MacDonald... and I'm gonna go one further and say I love Jerry Seinfeld as both a TV show star and as a standup comedian. I think his bits range from pretty funny to outright hilarious (especially his Halloween costume and dinner buffet bits).
So there!
Ken, will you be seeing the movie Late Night? It's about a comedy writers' room. I've got an aversion to Emma Thompson, so will be skipping it, but curious to know your opinion on it.
All I have to say about this post is THANK YOU
I watched several seasons of this show, but I gradually lost interest. I found that I actually ended up not paticularly liking many of the guests as people. They just seemed small and not very nice. Now, over the years I had come to the conclusion that Jerry Senfeld himself was not a nice person and he did not seem to try to be and seemed aware that he wasn't and was okay with that. He still made me laugh at times, though I confess to never being a fan of namesake show. On a related note, I read Tina Fey's and Mindy Kaling's books and came away thinking they were not great people either--not people I would ever admire, but Fey was hysterical as Palin. On the other hand, Robin williams and jonathan winters seem like they were genuinely kind people as well as gifted comedians. I thought Carl reiner and mel brooks seemed really nice too in car/coffee episode. So did todd barry. Anyway, stand-up comics were the main reason i watched johnny carson growing up and i have always really loved watching it, so i really paid attention to this car/coffee thing for a while.
Enough with the coffee!! Seinfeld made a big deal during his show that he was not a coffee drinker and now that's all he talks about. When this podcast first started he even had a publicity picture taken where he was balancing a cup and saucer on his head. Whenever he performed at Caesar's Palace here in Vegas I had to see that totally unfunny photo every morning on my commute.
As you mentioned, showing coffee being ground, packed and poured more than a dozen times per 20 minute episode has nearly made me a tea guy. And every time he makes his "call" from the car, he mentions to his guest that they're going to get coffee. They don't know this already? It's a staged call and it's right in the title of the show.
Give me Gilbert Gottfried doing his impersonation of Seinfeld. At least IT will be funny.
I enjoy the show as 'background' while I'm doing something else.I see it more as a very breezy chat and I don't have any expectations about it being anything other than that. Some guests have been very good, such as David Letterman, Louis CK, Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin and Larry David. I do agree that Seinfeld has become very preachy about comedy, as if he's the arbiter of what's funny and what's not. He even argues with his own guest if they have a different opinion. The problem is that I saw Seinfeld in his latest comedy show in Melbourne, Australia and it was terrible. He's now completely in his rich-guy bubble so all he has left is whining for 90 minutes without any of the nuance or wordplay from his earlier material.
Hi Ken. If you’re looking for comedians going into their process (in some depth) you might well like the Comedian’s Comedian podcast. It’s here: https://www.comedianscomedian.com/ (And it’s nothing to do with me. This is en entirely disinterested plug.)
If you think Jerry Seinfeld is smug, you're not paying attention. He's remarkably honest and humble. He has no ego and will laugh at himself, and acknowledge his own shortcomings, in a second.
You nailed it. Jerry has an obsessive need to be the top. It's why these interviews fall flat. He should just shut up and let the comedians roll.
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