Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee has returned with a new season. In terms of household names moving onto other projects, it’s not the worst thing in the world, but it’s a far cry from something I’m itching to watch again.
The thing about Jerry Seinfeld is that he’s been so successful for so long, and it can be difficult not to view the show through the lens of “look how much money and free time I have.” That’s just part of Seinfeld’s whole bit though; he’s always been aloof and carefree, insulated from the consequences that befall the lives of mere mortals.
But to boil it down to just “Jerry Seinfeld likes to brag about his wealth” does it a disservice as well, as his guests are often interesting, engaging comedians at different points in their careers, and for anyone hoping to study comedy, this is a gold mine of advice and stories about the bizarre nature of the comedy world and overcoming the obstacles to get out there and make people laugh.
Featuring guests Zach Galifianakis, Dave Chappelle, Ellen DeGeneres, Tracy Morgan, Brian Regan, Dana Carvey, Hasan Minhaj, Neal Brennan, John Mulaney, Kate McKinnon, Alec Baldwin, and none other than legendary Jerry Lewis, the sheer variety of experience and influence in terms of their comedic careers (not to mention their wildly different styles and subjects they explore in their performance) is really something else to take in, especially hearing the stories of when they were starting out, how they got famous, etc.
It’s not exactly anything refreshing or innovative, but it is a great example of the conversational sort of programming that people are really starting to tune into, and it makes these people more relatable, whether they’ve made us laugh for five years or fifty. Topics come and go in a pretty freewheeling fashion, and it’s not always the most riveting discussion, but every now and then they’ll touch on something really moving and discuss its impact on the comedy world, and the entertainment world at large.
Seinfeld will be a household name long after he is no longer with us. The sheer amount of material he has amassed through his career and the general high quality have assured this. While Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee may have its share of out-of-touch wealthy participants, it somehow does help to almost bring everyone to a level where we can understand Seinfeld, his guests, and their art in a more personal way. I’m not a fan of every one of those guests, but I am huge fan of some, and it’s fun to see them in a more stripped-down scenario, just being people.
While not the best thing that’s ever graced Netflix, Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee is far from the worst; insightful, reasonably funny, and the episodes aren’t too long, and they take very little investment from the viewer. So pour a cup of joe and hit the road. It’s a good enough ride.
Overall rating: 7 out of 10
