#32 - Jerry Seinfeld 06/24/18

A couple weeks ago, I posted my first blog about someone that I look up to, and that I've been inspired by when I posted about CM Punk. Today, I thought I'd go back to that well and touch on my favourite comedian of all time; Jerry Seinfeld.

I loved his tv show Seinfeld before I ever heard Jerry Seinfeld perform comedy. Keep in mind that when that show came out, we weren't "internetting", yet. So his standup wasn't readily available to watch on demand. I was enamoured with the show, although I actually liked George more than anyone else (he's possibly the greatest character in the history of comedic television. Don't argue with me). I just didn't realize the reason he got the chance to do a TV show was because he was already a  successful standup comedian. Then, a few years after I got hooked on the show, I ended up with a copy of Jerry's comedy album; "I'm Telling You For The Last Time". I didn't realize it at the time, but that CD was going to change my life.

I knew every single word of this album. "Do you feel a draft, Bill?"

I listened to that CD constantly. I had one of those yellow ShockWave discmans, and along with Limp Bizkit, Eminem, Blink-182 and N*Sync, Seinfeld was always in my rotation. I would actually walk around lip-syncing that album like I would with music, pretending I was on stage just murdering. I thought the jokes were funny, but I was just as obsessed with how he delivered them. The way he'd wait for the laughs to slow down, and then say something else to bring them right back up. That trademark "Jerry Seinfeld" voice. Everything about this CD blew my mind. For the longest time, it was the only comedy album I knew. I didn't even realize comedians released albums of their comedy, I just figured Seinfeld did one because the tv show had been so big....

I ended up with other comedy CDs down the road, like Dane Cook and Adam Sandler's old skit CDs (Toll Booth Willie will always be my favourite). I started watching standup on tv, like Just For Laughs and stuff. I can vividly remember watching Gilbert Godfrey one night and just laughing so hard. John Pinette was another one of my favourites. I've never been a hardcore comedy nerd like a lot of comedians are, but I would find the standups I liked, and watch them over and over. None of them sunk their claws into me like Jerry Seinfeld, though. I probably wouldn't even have looked into any of them without "I'm Telling You For The Last Time".

I struggle terribly with writing observational humour jokes. I don't know if it's just not my style, or if it's because I look at Seinfeld as the master of it, and I just feel like my jokes aren't up to his level. However, I still feel his comedy has had a big influence on me and the act I'm developing. I prefer clean humour, and I love jokes about everyday situations that people can relate to. I want to be a clean comic, and have set a goal of being able to work clean as well, if not better, than I can dirty, should I become a headliner someday. And it's all because of that damned CD. 

I'm sure most standup comedians have a particular performer or album that set them down the path they ended up on. Mine was Jerry Seinfeld. That CD changed my life.

Thanks for reading. Have a great Sunday!

Adam