in front of his spare at the Hollywood Bowl and the launch of his netflix comedy On the origin of Pop-Tarts this week, Jerry Seinfeld reflected on “Seinfeld” storylines that wouldn't air today and other ways “the far left” is influencing comedy.
In an interview with the New Yorker, the comedian said that some of his jokes from the '90s would be subject to “cancel culture” today. Of a “Seinfeld” plot involving Kramer’s business venture to get “homeless people to pull rickshaws” because “they’re outside anyway,” the comedian asked, “Do you think I could air that episode today?”
When the New Yorker's David Remnick said he couldn't watch “Unfrosted” without thinking about the war between Israel and Hamas and other humanitarian issues around the world, Seinfeld dismissed the idea that the comedy could or should be affected or diluted by the events. global.
“Nothing really affects the comedy. People always need it,” she said. “They need it so badly and they don't get it.”
Seinfeld continued to reflect on the lack of comfort in comedies like “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “MASH,” “Cheers” and “All in the Family,” which ensured audiences had something fun to watch. He said he believes that is no longer the case.
“This is a result of far-left and PC crap, and people who care so much about offending other people,” Seinfeld continued.
He noted that if audiences are looking for edgier comedy, they have to turn to comedians because “nobody's watching them,” adding that they know when they're “off the rails.”
When Remnick, who had previously asked Seinfeld about his longtime collaborator Larry David and the recent end of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” wondered how David could pull off provocative, irreverent comedy today, Seinfeld said he had been “protected.”
David, who began his career in the '70s, can break the “rules” in place today, according to Seinfeld, because he had been doing comedy for decades before those rules existed. Seinfeld said he doesn't think a younger person could start today making television shows like “Seinfeld” or “Curb,” even though audiences look for innovative content on HBO and its competitors, as opposed to network comedies. .
“HBO knows that's what people come here for, but they're not smart enough to ask themselves, 'How do we do this now?' Do we accept the pressure or are we just not funny? And what they've decided is: 'Well, we're not going to do comedies anymore.'”
The comedian said he believes younger comedians are pushing the boundaries, as he and his peers did before, and praised Nate Bargatze, Ronny Chieng, Brian Simpson, Mark Normand and Sam Morril for their work.
Seinfeld is also continuing his own stand-up gigs, including performances at the Hollywood Bowl on Wednesdays and Thursdays with Bargatze, Jim Gaffigan and Sebastian Maniscalco for Netflix's Is a Joke Fest.
Beyond his monologue, he made his directorial debut with “Unfrosted,” a film that follows the race to make Pop-Tarts. He also wrote, starred in and produced the film, which premieres Friday on Netflix.
