A Laugh A Minute
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld can make an audience
happy without relying on off-color humor
RITA CHARLESTON
I GOING PLACES I
WEEK OF MARCH 25-31
SPECIAL EVENTS
DETROIT SIGN COMPANY-
DEAF THEATER
Royal Oak campus of Oakland
Community College, Bernard
Bragg, Saturday, 288-5598.
COMEDY
Special to The Jewish News
Seinfeld has appeared numerous times on the Carson and Letterman shows.
---
11:1 ising young comedian
Jerry Seinfeld has suc-
cessfully played the.
Johnny Carson and Da-
vid Letterman late-night
TV circuit more times than he can
remember.
His wholesome brand of humor
has so turned on his comic contem-
poraries that Letterman has called
him, "easily one of the best stand-up
comedians working today."
What makes Seinfeld "one of the
best" could be his material. While
many other comedians today rely on
a "gimmick" (Sam Kinison screams,
Richard Lewis acts out his neuroses,
Eddie Murphy uses foul language),
Seinfeld has managed to make it with
material that is acceptable to all au-
diences. He sees the G-rated side in
the absurdities of everyday living,
focusing in on topics like shopping,
family reunions, stubborn pets and
personal relationships.
For example, he ponders, "I
wonder about this new trend that has
everybody running around trying to
save time, looking for short-cuts. At
the end of your life, are you credited
with any time saved up? On the other
hand, if you waste time, do they
deduct it?"
Seinfeld also pokes fun at the
movie industry, although he admits to
being a movie freak, adding he sees
them all but doesn't always under-
stand what he's seeing. "Take the
Rocky movies. Don't misunderstand
me, I like the movies, but I don't
always grasp what's going on. Why
can't they have subtitles for the plots
— sort of like closed captioned for the
movie-impaired?"
How did Seinfeld come to choose
the clean-cut riotous route, bucking
all the odds and ignoring what the
public seemed to enjoy?
"I just think my material should
be funny on its own and not rely on
the gratuitous laughs profanity gets,"
he says. "Personally, I don't think it
makes much difference either way.
You're either sharp or you're not
sharp, that's what it comes down to.
And an audience knows instantly if
you've got something and you know
what to do with it or you don't.
"I don't think audiences pay at-
HOLLY HOTEL
110 Battle Alley, Holly, Barbara
Scott Thursday through
Saturday admission, 634-1891.
DUFFY'S ON THE LAKE
3133 Cooley Lake Rd., Union
Lake, Bob Posch and John
Cionca, now through March 9:30
and 11:30 p.m. Fridays and
Saturdays, admission,
reservations, 363-9469.
COMEDY CASTLE AT
PUZZLES
29900 Van Dyke, Warren, Gary
Mule Deer, now through
Saturday, 751-6010.
COMEDY CASTLE
2593 Woodward, Carol Leifer,
now through Saturday, Vic
Dunlop,now through Saturday,
admission, 542-9900.
THEATER
ATTIC THEATER
Attic Theater Playhouse, Detroit,
Knock Knock today through
April 10, admission, 875-8284.
THE COMMUNITY HOUSE
380 South Bates St.,
Birmingham, The Boy Friend 2
p.m. Sunday, admission,
644-5832.
SOUTHFIELD LATHRUP
HIGH SCHOOL
Lathrup Auditorium, West Side
Story today and Saturday,
admission, 423-8625.
WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
Hilberry Theater, Nicholas
Nickleby Thursday through April
16, admission, 577-2972.
MEADOW BROOK THEATER
on Oakland University campus,
Rochester, Deathtrap Thursday
through April 17, admission,
377-3300.
VILLAGE PLAYERS
Village Players Playhouse,
Birmingham, The Boyfriend
today through April 2,
admission, 644-2075.
DETROIT REPERTORY
THEATER
13103 Woodrow Wilson, Detroit,
The Colored Museum, Mornings
at Seven now through May 8,
admission, 868-1347.
Continued on Page 73
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
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