JERRY SEINFELD

WALTER SCOTT ASKS...

The stand-up comic and sitcom star—whose mother, Betty, lived to be 99—is one of the younger subjects featured in the HBO doc If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast, premiering June 5. The celebration of post-90 vitality features comedy legends Carl Reiner, 95, Mel Brooks, 90, Betty White, 95, and Norman Lear, 94, in addition to Seinfeld, 63, who currently hosts the Crackle series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.

In the documentary, you say that life is action. What keeps you in the action?

I love to write stand-up comedy and I do it pretty much every day. That makes me feel alive and makes me feel like my life is worthwhile, because I’ve been doing it my entire adult life.

Was Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee your way of putting together two favorite things—cars and comedy?

I do have a great love of the automobile as one of the world’s greatest toys. Most of the cars are lent to us by car clubs and enthusiasts. But it wasn’t so much about putting together those things as streamlining the idea of a talk show.

What is the legacy of Seinfeld for you?

It stood the test of time. I think that’s the greatest test of anything that people make. If it’s looked back upon fondly, then that proves it was well done.

Why do you still perform stand-up comedy?

It’s the purest form of comedy and it’s the most amazing performing experience I’ve ever had, and I feel fairly comfortable in saying that I’ve done it all. It’s like if you’re going to be on the water, some people want to be on a yacht and some want to be on a surfboard. I’m more of the surfboard type. Stand-up is surfing; it’s like you’re right on top of the energy of an audience.