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Latest News: Jerry Seinfeld Directs and Stars in Unfrosted
Comedian and actor Jerry Seinfeld, known for his sharp wit and observational humor, is making waves again as he prepares for the release of his upcoming Netflix film Unfrosted. While promoting the movie, Seinfeld, 70, has not been shy about sharing his thoughts on the current state of television comedy, lamenting what he sees as the negative impact of political correctness.
In a recent interview with The New Yorker, Seinfeld expressed concern that modern TV lacks the humor that once defined the medium. “It used to be, at the end of the day, people would come home and say, ‘Oh, Cheers is on, MASH* is on, The Mary Tyler Moore Show is on, All in the Family is on,’” Seinfeld said. “You just expected there to be something funny to watch on TV. Well, guess what—where is it? This is the result of the extreme left, P.C. culture, and people being overly cautious about offending others.”
Seinfeld’s critiques come just days after he told GQ that the movie industry has lost its cultural dominance, declaring, “The movie business is over” and no longer holds “the pinnacle in the social, cultural hierarchy.”
Despite these critical views, Seinfeld is hopeful about the reception of Unfrosted, which marks his feature film directorial debut. Set to premiere on Netflix on May 3, the film features an ensemble cast, including Melissa McCarthy, Amy Schumer, and Hugh Grant. Unfrosted tells a (highly fictionalized) origin story of the popular breakfast pastry, Pop-Tarts. Speaking about the film, Seinfeld noted, “We’re going to tell you a story, but if we want to do something funny that doesn’t make any sense, we’re going to do that too.”
Fans of Seinfeld’s humor and style will no doubt be eager to see how his latest creative venture unfolds.
Who Is Jerry Seinfeld?
Jerry Seinfeld is an acclaimed comedian, actor, and writer, best known for his role in creating and starring in the iconic television series Seinfeld. Seinfeld’s comedic career began in the mid-1970s, with his stand-up debut at an open mic night in 1976. He gained national recognition after appearing on The Tonight Show in 1981. By 1987, Seinfeld starred in his own television special, which led to the development of the groundbreaking sitcom Seinfeld, co-created with fellow comedian Larry David. The show, which ran for nine seasons, became a cultural phenomenon and was the highest-rated television series in the United States at the time of its finale in 1998. Seinfeld became the first actor to earn $1 million per episode during the show’s run. In the years following, he continued his success with Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, a popular interview series that aired from 2012 to 2019.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Jerome Seinfeld was born on April 29, 1954, in Brooklyn, New York. His fascination with comedy began at a young age, influenced by his father, who was a sign maker and an amateur comedian. By age eight, Seinfeld had already started honing his comedic skills, immersing himself in television to study the techniques of top comedians. He developed a distinctive comedic style, often focused on witty observations of everyday life.
Seinfeld pursued communications and theater at Queens College, City University of New York. Shortly after his graduation in 1976, he made his stand-up debut at the renowned Catch a Rising Star nightclub. His breakthrough came in 1981, with a successful appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, which gave him national exposure. By the late 1980s, Seinfeld had established himself as one of the leading stand-up comedians in the country.
The Success of Seinfeld
Following the success of his 1987 television special, Jerry Seinfeld’s Stand-up Confidential, Seinfeld was approached by NBC to develop a sitcom. Teaming up with his friend and fellow comedian Larry David, he created Seinfeld, which premiered in 1989.
Produced by Seinfeld, the show became known for its unconventional approach to sitcom storytelling. It featured loosely structured plots focused on the seemingly trivial aspects of daily life, and it employed a comedic “buddy” format. Seinfeld’s character played the straight man alongside his eccentric group of friends: Elaine Benes (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus), George Costanza (Jason Alexander), and Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards). The show’s humor, catchphrases, and memorable episodes quickly entered the cultural mainstream, making Seinfeld one of the most influential television shows of all time.
Throughout its run, Seinfeld garnered widespread critical acclaim and numerous awards, including multiple Emmy Awards. In 1993, it won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series, and in 1994, Seinfeld himself earned two Golden Globe Awards for Best Musical/Comedy Series and Best Television Actor in a Musical/Comedy Series. When the show concluded in 1998, it was the highest-rated television series in the United States, cementing Seinfeld’s status as a comedy legend.
Movies, TV Shows, and Books
In the late 1990s, Jerry Seinfeld returned to his roots in stand-up comedy, embarking on national tours that were highlighted in the 2002 documentary Comedian. He also co-wrote, co-produced, and voiced the lead character in the animated Bee Movie (2007).
As an author, Seinfeld has written several books, starting with Seinlanguage (1993), a best-seller filled with humorous observations. His other works include the children’s book Halloween (2003) and Is This Anything? (2020), another best-seller compiling material from his extensive career.
Return to TV: The Marriage Ref and Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
In 2010, Seinfeld made his return to television with The Marriage Ref, a reality show featuring a panel of comedians who weighed in on couples’ disputes. Despite the intriguing concept, the show was canceled after one season.
Seinfeld found much greater success with his Emmy-nominated series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, which ran for 11 seasons from 2012 to 2019. The show featured candid interviews with comedy legends like Chris Rock, Tina Fey, Eddie Murphy, and Amy Schumer. In 2015, Seinfeld even interviewed President Barack Obama. Netflix acquired the show in 2017, airing the final two seasons before its conclusion.
However, the series wasn’t without controversy. In 2018, a producer named Christian Charles filed a lawsuit, claiming that Seinfeld had stolen the idea for Comedians in Cars from him after Charles allegedly pitched the concept in 2002. Although Charles directed a pilot episode, Seinfeld’s legal team argued that the show’s premise was too broad to justify a lawsuit. A Manhattan judge ultimately ruled in Seinfeld’s favor in 2019, citing the statute of limitations.
Seinfeld also made notable guest appearances on Louie and Curb Your Enthusiasm, the latter created by his long-time collaborator Larry David.
Netflix Specials: Jerry Before Seinfeld and 23 Hours to Kill
As part of Netflix’s acquisition of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, Seinfeld agreed to produce two new stand-up specials for the platform. The first, Jerry Before Seinfeld, aired in September 2017 and featured Seinfeld performing at Manhattan’s Comic Strip club, where he first developed his iconic comedy routine in the 1970s. The special included off-stage reflections and rare footage of his early life.
In May 2020, Netflix premiered 23 Hours to Kill, Seinfeld’s first special featuring original material in over two decades. The special explored themes like marriage and friendship, with a dramatic stunt showing the comedian jumping from a helicopter into the Hudson River. 23 Hours to Kill earned Seinfeld another Emmy nomination for Outstanding Pre-Recorded Variety Special.
In 2024, Seinfeld and Netflix teamed up again for the release of Unfrosted, a fictional origin story of Pop-Tarts. Seinfeld directed and starred in the film, which debuted on May 3, 2024.
Net Worth
As of April 2024, Jerry Seinfeld’s estimated net worth stands at $900 million. His financial success is largely due to his work on Seinfeld, where he became the first actor to earn $1 million per episode. His wealth has continued to grow through residual income from syndication and streaming rights, with Forbes listing him as the highest-paid comedian multiple times until 2016. Notably, Seinfeld has made an estimated $400 million from syndication deals since 1995. Hulu signed a six-year streaming deal for the series in 2015, worth at least $130 million, before Netflix secured exclusive streaming rights in 2021 for a reported $500 million.
Wife and Children
On December 25, 1999, Jerry Seinfeld married public relations executive Jessica Seinfeld (née Sklar). The couple met at a gym the previous year while Jessica was going through the dissolution of her first marriage. Today, Jessica is a successful cookbook author and the founder of the nonprofit Good+ Foundation (formerly Baby Buggy), an organization dedicated to alleviating poverty.
The Seinfelds have three children: a daughter, Sascha, and two sons, Julian and Shepherd.
Car Collection
Jerry Seinfeld, a well-known automobile enthusiast, has a particular passion for Porsches. His first car was a 1973 Fiat 128 Sport L, but over the years, he has built an impressive collection of classic cars, especially Porsches. Though he keeps the exact number and models of his cars private, his collection is extensive enough that in 1999, he purchased a New York City brownstone and transformed it into a three-story garage. Many of his cars have appeared on episodes of his series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.
In 2016, Seinfeld sold 15 Porsches at auction, raising $22 million. Among the cars was a 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder, famously the same model that actor James Dean drove when he was killed. This car fetched the highest price in the sale, selling for $5.3 million. However, Seinfeld faced legal issues in 2019 when the buyer of his 1958 Porsche 356 A 1500 GS/GT Carrera Speedster alleged it was not authentic. Seinfeld then filed a lawsuit against the dealer from whom he had purchased the car, with both cases being settled in June 2022.
Seinfeld’s collection continues to grow. In June 2023, he acquired a custom-designed 1999 Porsche 911 Classic Club Coupe for $1.2 million, showcasing his ongoing love for rare and unique automobiles.