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 71