Nice Work If You Can Get It

I am not entirely sure of the genesis of Jerry Seinfeld’s web series, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, but I think it went something like this: Jerry Seinfeld owns a lot of nice cars, has a lot of funny friends, and developed an interest in coffee – you combine those and voila! A web series is born.

Now in its third season, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee is a delightful show that allows you a 15-minute glimpse into the friendships and lives of entertainers who enjoy hanging out and talking about work. It’s sort of like a less pretentious Here’s The Thing. Guests include: Larry David (who does not drink coffee, naturally), Carl Reiner (joined later on by his pal, Mel freaking Brooks), Chris Rock (who discusses parenting philosophy with Seinfeld), and Louis CK (ask him about seeing movies in 3D).

Each episode is a pretty charming look in to Jerry Seinfeld’s pretty charmed life. Financially, most of these comedians are in the same tax bracket. Conversations with Leno, Fey, and Baldwin are all easy and amusing because these successful comedians speak the same language of privilege and success. This is not a criticism; in fact, I think it’s fantastic to hear people who don’t technically have to work talk about what motivates them (or doesn’t) to create new material. Two particular exceptions come to mind in the history of the series – a recent interview with Todd Barry, and an older episode with Colin Quinn (joined briefly by Mario Joyner).

Barry is an interesting guy. He’s a real working comedian (or, more politely, “comedian’s comedian”) – I’d put him in the class of Mike Birbiglia, H. Jon Benjamin, and Eugene Mirman. All these guys are names you’ve heard of probably once or twice, and you’ve most likely encountered their work without even knowing it. They do stand up. They travel to pay the bills. They get big paychecks from some network gigs, but it’s most likely not 90’s Seinfeld syndication money. Seinfeld notes, “It seems to me like your life is going great… you’re a working stand up.” There’s something a little oblivious in Seinfeld saying this to someone who lives an relatively quotidian life and has an apartment across from an NYU dorm on East 11th Street. Barry, who is kind of a smug guy in the first place, responds: “Are you serious? … you wanna trade for a while?”

It’s a really honest and interesting reaction. Seinfeld is pretty good at getting Terry Gross-level responses because he’s clearly been friends with a majority of his guests for quite some time. Aside from the product placement, you feel like you’re watching conversations that aren’t hyper self-aware. Quinn’s interview is also a good example of this. In general, Quinn’s comedy is edgier than Seinfeld – he’s more aggressive, angrier. Quinn laments the gentrification and hipsters that have taken over his childhood borough of Brooklyn. At some point during their conversation, Seinfeld mentions that having kids keeps life from being “brain-numbingly repetitive,” to which Quinn responds: “Everyone says Downtown [sic] Abbey’s pretty good.” The contrast in their attitudes adds to the hilarity of the moment. When Joyner meets up with them, the contrast between Seinfeld and his companions sharpens. Joyner tells a long story about taking the bus – an activity I am entirely certain Jerry Seinfeld has not endeavored on in many a year. Ultimately because they all speak the language of comedy, they bond on debating whether or not the tale can be turned into a bit.

For all his success, Seinfeld comes across as a normal guy. I think it’s a really shrewd way of turning the stand up act/interview platform on its head. As an observational comedian, the line between Seinfeld’s joke material and matter-of-fact conversation material is somewhat blurry. Each episode he’s essentially workshopping his ideas through chats with friends, but broadcasting it. I think it’s an interesting choice that he made to produce a series that gives the public insight into his friendships and personal perspectives in such a casual (and free) way. It’s also pretty telling that he can choose to do this, but if he keeps up the good “work” I’ll certainly keep watching.

The world of Rolexes inscribed by Chris Rock (see: Fey, Tina and CK, Louis) may not be the world you or I inhabit, but it is still an entertaining world to have some insight into. It’s not the most grueling work, but it’s certainly nice work if you can get it. So if you haven’t yet tired of musings of rich white guys (and a lady or two), you should get a cup of coffee and check out his show – it’s worth a few minutes of your time. 

Galia Abramson appreciates The Internet and the unwarranted smugness of tea drinkers. You can get on her tab level here and here.