Bravery is a word you would not normally hear when discussing a stand-up comedian. They move exaggeratedly and conjure up ridiculous scenarios. Yet they have the capacity to walk on stage in front of thousands of people and just talk. The material is a well-structured act in an effort to incite laughter. Since comics are usually honest with their personalities on stage, they usually bleed through into their jokes. Don Rickles became more famous for insulting his hecklers instead of his prepared material. Ricky Gervais takes full advantage of his nationality as he brings trademark British comedy with offensive quips. Jerry Seinfeld prefers not to curse in his sets and is obsessed with fine-tuning those lines to get the biggest laughs sex and swear-free.
These qualities don’t always come through in blockbuster movies because they usually follow a script. Huge budgets mean you get to see hilarious, over-the-top scenarios but at the end of the day, it is a movie trying its best to appeal to all sorts of humor. The beauty of stand up is, there is one person with one microphone and if they’re really lucky, they’ll have a bottle of water and a stool too.
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They usually tell stories from their lives that the everyday man can relate to (Seinfeld’s “Supermarket Experience” slots right in here). Or tell very morbid stories in hilarious ways such as TJ Miller’s recap of his own seizure. They have the platform to express any opinion but the one requirement is that it must be funny. George Carlin expressed his displeasure at the English language in rather educational ways and manages to incorporate it into his act. The list of comedians is endless, each and everyone with their unique traits and style. And all of them are honing in on a specific sense of humor, hoping it resonates with the general audience.
At some stage, everyone has been in on an inside joke. The best part about the inside joke is that it’s exclusive. Usually, the reason why they’re limited to a few members of the social circle is because a select few were present for the birth of the joke. It all feels very organic and natural, making it a pleasant experience to recount on. Now imagine someone took the idea of that comedic experience and put it on the internet for free.
Luckily, Jerry Seinfeld created Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee in 2012. The title says it all really. Seinfeld directs, writes and hosts famous comedians for a cup of coffee in a classic car. There is no premise, no plot, and no cheap gags. Just genuine exchanges between two funny people. Seinfeld’s eponymous TV show was famously dubbed ‘a show about nothing’ but doesn’t come close to the nothingness of CICGC (which is a good thing).
Guests range from the iconic to the up and coming. Have you ever wondered what Stephen Colbert is actually like when he isn’t reading from a teleprompter? Or how fast Steve Harvey writes jokes after a disaster hits the news? Maybe you’re just curious to see how famous people talk to waiters. There’s something very layman about it all as if we have all shared an entertaining cup of coffee with someone we are fond of.
Even as he approaches 62 years old, Jerry Seinfeld has not quit his pursuit of comedic gold. And he has unearthed another nugget with CICGC by giving the audience an insight into the stand-up comedy world. At the end of the day, you’re guaranteed to find a guest that shares your sense of humor. So relax and brew a fresh pot because you’re in for the least amount of commitment you can possibly give to a web series, and that’s the charm.
