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kottke.org posts about Jerry Seinfield

Jerry Seinfeld will give you an answer

Jerry Seinfeld did an AMA (Ask Me Anything) at Reddit yesterday. His answers are real, and they’re spectacular.

Q: Where did the idea of, in Seinfeld, your character being a comedian for a profession, but be the straight man for your friends, come from? I always thought that juxtapositioning for the show was genius.

A: Very good observation and analysis on your part, Baxter. You are truly exhibiting a good comedic eye. The reason I would play straight was it was funnier for the scene. And very few people have ever remarked on this, because it was a conscious choice of mine, only because I knew it would make the show better, and I didn’t care who was funny as long as somebody was funny and that the show was funny. So you have hit upon one of the great secret weapons of the Seinfeld series, was that I had no issue with that.

I have seen every episode of the show at least twice and never realized this. Gold, Jerry! Gold!

ps. Favorite episode of Seinfeld? Aside from the nearly perfect The Contest, I’ll go with The Marine Biologist. If I ever decide to be an actor, my audition tape will be me telling George’s whale rescue story:

(via @gavinpurcell)