Jerry Seinfeld on his place in American sitcom history

On August 13, 2008, comedian Jerry Seinfeld discussed his collaboration with Larry David, the evolution of the American sitcom and the lure of stand-up comedy. Interview conducted by director Michael Kantor for the six-hour PBS comedy series, “Make ‘Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America” (2009).

Chapters:

00:00 – How the American brand of comedy formed at the intersection of struggle and opportunity
02:56 – Stand-up’s solitary nature appealed to Jerry Seinfeld
07:05 – Meeting Larry David and conceiving their “show about nothing”
10:17 – How Seinfeld and David brought the sitcom back to its stand-up comedy origins
13:03 – Maintaining a nationwide audience in the digital age

The American Masters Digital Archive includes over 1,000 hours of never-before-seen, raw interviews: a treasure trove of the movers and shakers of American culture, including Maya Angelou, Gloria Steinem, Patti Smith, Mel Brooks, Carol Burnett, Matthew Broderick, Carl Reiner, Joan Rivers, Dionne Warwick, Lee Grant, Sidney Lumet, Betty White and many others.

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