What’s the deal with Seinfeld?
“What's the deal with this area? Is it called Hampton Roads, Tidewater or the 757? I'm confused. And, how do you say Norfolk? The locals pronounce it in an off-color way with the second syllable sounding a little R-rated. I'm not going to say it. You all know how you pronounce ‘folk.'”
So, this is my mediocre impersonation of one of my favorite comedians of all time. His laid-back delivery always has the right mix of voice inflection mixed with a dose of sarcasm. Who is it? The opener, “What's the deal with… ?” should have been the clue, not my weak attempt at an opening joke. I'm no Jerry Seinfeld, so what did you expect?
Yes, Seinfeld is my favorite comedian. I love his witty humor that's built around the most minuscule observations. He literally says what we're secretly thinking and skillfully crafts it into a comedic routine. He will take a fleeting thought and transform it into a laugh-outloud moment. Also, he's one of the rare comedians that gets a laugh minus the use of swear words. That's talent!
I was first introduced to Seinfeld humor when Jerry starred in his own NBC “Seinfeld” sitcom, which ran from 1989-1998. The episodes resonated with me because of the relatable topics that made nothing sound funny.
As a college kid watching the show, I remember one scenario that really hit home. The story line focused on nonfat yogurt, which was a food trend in the 1990s. When Jerry and Elaine had gained weight, they became suspicious that the nonfat yogurt from the local shop was not fat-free. They had it tested in a lab and found out that it did have fat. That's why they were gaining weight.
This was hysterical to me because I had often wondered myself if the nonfat yogurt served at my dining hall was really nonfat. I had gained the freshman 15 and always thought the fat-free yogurt tasted too good to be true. It was like Seinfeld had read my mind with that script.
Other iconic episodes include classics such as the “Soup Nazi,” “Man hands” and “The puffy shirt.” And, don't forget the “Yada, yada” episode that created new popular slang. Country singer Brandon Lay even used the catchphrase as a title for one of his songs.
Over the years, I've channeled my inner Seinfeld by writing about my little observations with family, dogs and life experiences. Seinfeld is the master of delivering a funny show about nothing, and I try to think like him when writing about everyday topics. I've discovered, like Seinfeld, there's a lot to say about nothing. And it can be pretty darn funny.
So, what's the deal? Why am I going on and on about Jerry? He's coming to Norfolk's Chrysler Hall May 18. I've seen his show twice in Norfolk. You'll spend an evening laughing about real life situations, and you'll find out what's the deal with ___? Seinfeld will give you the answer at the show and deliver it with his signature cadence.