Althouse: "Jerry thinks Marc is pretentious and Marc thinks Jerry is shallow."

June 9, 2020

"Jerry thinks Marc is pretentious and Marc thinks Jerry is shallow."

From a Reddit discussion a year ago on the question "Any reason why Marc hasn’t been on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee?" "Comedians in Cars" is Jerry Seinfeld's show, and Jerry hadn't been on Marc Maron's podcast either.

Now, this week we got an episode of Marc's show with Jerry. Here. I listened. I can sum it up: Jerry thinks Marc is pretentious and Marc thinks Jerry is shallow. But that doesn't mean it's a bad show. I enjoyed the conversation. I would criticize Marc Maron for pushing the theory that Jerry is compulsive when Jerry was talking about the importance of writing. But Maron succeeds in getting Jerry angry... or at least getting Jerry to admit that something on the "anger spectrum" is a necessary element of comedy.

20 comments:

rhhardin said...: Twenty Twelve (2011-2012) had me actually laughing. I've never found Seinfeld funny or interesting.

Mean, clever, bizarre and recognizeable. Four out of six.; 6/9/20, 6:58 AM
Howard said...: Jerry discusses the anger of comics as the root of all humor in almost every episode of comedians in cars getting coffee. Have you ever watched curb your enthusiasm? There seems to be uniform agreement that all successful comics are misanthropes.; 6/9/20, 6:59 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "Have you ever watched curb your enthusiasm?"

I think there's a distinction between Jerry and Larry. Larry is surlier.; 6/9/20, 7:04 AM
Howard said...: I need to take you up on the recommendation for 20:12, RH. Your recommendation for "The Thick of It" was outstanding.; 6/9/20, 7:05 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "Have you ever watched curb your enthusiasm?"

Have you ever searched the archive when you have a question like that?; 6/9/20, 7:06 AM
Howard said...: I've seen most of the comedians in cars getting coffee and Jerry likes to think of himself as an angry misanthrope as well. I think it is much harder to detect because he has an insurance salesman demeanor.; 6/9/20, 7:07 AM
rehajm said...: Jerry isn't compulsive, he's a meticulous craftsman constructing meticulous art. Jerry has talked about it- he's like a watchmaker. He likes Porsches because they are like tiny mechanical toys. He writes like that, too.

Addicts are compulsive. Marc is a fucking addict.; 6/9/20, 7:08 AM
Nichevo said...: Ann Althouse said...
"Have you ever watched curb your enthusiasm?"

Have you ever searched the archive when you have a question like that?

Ooh, a Howie Wowie Eddie Haskell suck-up fail. Sick burn! Quick, say something about cucks.; 6/9/20, 7:08 AM
Howard said...: No I would never think to search the archive. I'm strictly a superficial skimmer and drive-by shooter. If you check the archive that will verify my characterization. As you know I am a troll so I was just being sarcastic and a little bit cruel because anger is a necessary component of humor.; 6/9/20, 7:10 AM
rehajm said...: There seems to be uniform agreement that all successful comics are misanthropes

Comics don't usually hate people. They love the idea of people but hate the reality of people.; 6/9/20, 7:11 AM
GRW3 said...: I just watched Jerry's new Netflix special. I've found him amusing in the past, kind of vanilla pleasant. I remember more about his show than I should, not being a watcher, but I assume that's because it was so quoted and excerpted. Back to the Netflix special, this is the first time I've really laughed hard at his material. The fist part where he talks about the world from his 65 yr old perspective is good but the second part where he talks about the challenges of being married is hysterical (to me YMMV). Worth a look.; 6/9/20, 7:35 AM
M Jordan said...: Blogger Ann Althouse said...
"Have you ever watched curb your enthusiasm?"

Have you ever searched the archive when you have a question like that?

I’m detecting anger. When does the standup start?; 6/9/20, 7:36 AM
daskol said...: Zing. My favorite Jerry interview is one he did with Stern several years ago. He's called in since, but that conversation is terrific radio. Jerry is good at pushing buttons, and he's not the least bit timid about teasing Howard for his fixation with psychotherapy. Jerry comes off as smug and either incredibly well-adjusted, or having deeply sublimated his issues. What was fascinating to me--I had recently been reading stuff about Scientology, as that book Clear was out--was Jerry's vocabulary around personality and issues of the mind was drawn deeply from Scientology. I know it was a long time ago, but clearly his exposure to Scientology made a lasting impression on him.; 6/9/20, 7:38 AM
richlb said...: Two people disagreeing but having a civil conversation? Boggles the mind.; 6/9/20, 8:05 AM
Biotrekker said...: Marc Maron is not that interesting as a podcaster and if he didn't tell me he was a comedian, I wouldn't even know that he was considered one (by people...somewhere...for some reason...); 6/9/20, 8:26 AM
Fernandinande said...: Have you ever watched curb your enthusiasm?

Twice! Or maybe it was 1.5 times. About the same number of times I watched Seinfeld.

"Curb" seemed like a standard "I Love Lucy" plot, but with the sexes reversed: person lies to spouse about something pretty trivial, then lies more to cover up his first lie. Hilarity ensues.

There seems to be uniform agreement that all successful comics are misanthropes.

I was listening to some early Bill Cosby recently and he sure seemed to enjoy the madcap antics of his lovable neighbors, 'cept maybe that gang who wore their pants backwards.

Donald Duck turned 86 today.; 6/9/20, 8:37 AM
Rory said...: "Comics don't usually hate people."

I think that the key is self-loathing, though the best is at a subdued level. After proving self-loathing, the comedian can then branch out and commiserate with the audience that we're all doomed to be ourselves.

And Mr. Jerry Seinfeld may tell jokes, but he is "no comedian."; 6/9/20, 8:46 AM
Will said...: From Bill Burr, to Jerry, on Comedians in Cars:

"You’ve got this ability to make me laugh and to ruin $#!t all at the same time. And people for years have said, he has an act about nothing. No it isn’t. You’re not listening to him. You’re not seeing the anger underneath these bits. This guy has contempt for humanity, and for 90% of activities. "; 6/9/20, 9:31 AM
GingerBeer said...: I've never understood why Seinfeld has never had Steven Wright on CiCGC. But Amy Schumer and Matthew Broderick? C'mon man.; 6/9/20, 10:09 AM
YoungHegelian said...: I have discovered I have an amazing skill. I can watch the first 3 minutes of a "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" episode & tell if it's going to suck or not. So far, in my febrile mind at least, I'm 100%.; 6/9/20, 11:47 AM