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"Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee" (2012-) - A Web Series On Crackle, Nope, Netflix By Jerry Seinfeld


DonRocks

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What do people think of "Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee," the web series on the Crackle network by Jerry Seinfeld?
 
I've only watched a few episodes, but it has recently caught my eye, and I'm kind of falling in love with it. Such a simple premise: two funny comedians, one interesting car, and beautiful cinematography of such mundane things as coffee coming out of an espresso machine. 
 
The episodes are about 15-minutes long, and if they were any longer, it would detract from them because, like "Seinfeld," it's essentially a "show about nothing." So I guess there's really not much to say about it other than a thumbs up or a thumbs down.
 
Thumbs up from me - in limited doses for sure, sort of like a "Word-A-Day Calendar." Plus if you go to the home page, the entire series is right there in front of you, and free-of-charge (there's one (annoyingly repetitive) ad before each episode).
 
This is, I believe, the only complete compendium of restaurants visited during this series on the entire internet. No other website would be able to identify the restaurants (I have to say, I'm pretty proud of myself for Baked By Melissa in Season 2, Episode 3).

Season 1
1. Jul 19, 2012, Larry David1952 VW BugJohn O'Groat's (West LA, CA)
2. Aug 2, 2012, Ricky Gervais1967 Austin Healey 3000 MK IIICity Island Diner (City IslandThe Bronx, NYC, NY)
3. Aug 9, 2012, Brian Regan1970 Dodge Challenger TARae's Restaurant (Santa Monica, CA)
4. Aug 16, 2012, Alec Baldwin1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SLFairway Market Cafe (Upper West SideManhattan, NYC, NY)
5. Aug 23, 2012, Joel Hodgson1963 Volkswagon Karmann Ghia (equpped with a Porsche 912 engine, suspension, and brakes)Skylark Diner (Edison, NJ)
6. Aug 30, 2012, Bob Einstein1970 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3Jerry's Famous Deli (Studio City, LA, CA) & Nate & Al's (Beverly Hills, CA)
7. Sep 6, 2012, Barry Marder1966 Porsche 356 SC Cabriolet (Dutch police car)Bendix Diner (Hasbrouk Heights, NJ)
8. Sep 13, 2012, Colin Quinn & Mario Joyner, 1976 Triumph TR-6, Fort Defiance Restaurant & Bar (Red Hook, Brooklyn, NYC, NY)   
9. Sep 20, 2012, Carl Reiner & Mel Brooks, 1960 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II & 1970 Porsche 911 SNorm's Diner (West LA, CA)
10. Sep 27, 2012, Michael Richards, 1962 VW Type 2 (used as body-shop vehicle), Malibu Kitchen & Gourmet Country Market (Malibu, CA)
 
Season 2
1. Jun 13, 2013, Sarah Silverman, 1969 Jaguar E-Type (XK-E) Series 2 Convertible, Millie's Cafe (Silver Lake, LA, CA) & K&C Donuts (Silver Lake, LA, CA) 
2. Jun 20, 2013, David Letterman, 1995 Volvo 960 Station Wagon (rebuilt with a racing engine by Paul Newman) & 2011 Nissan Leaf, Green Granary (New Milford, CT) & Taylor & Son True Value Hardware (New Milford, CT)
3. Jun 27, 2013, Gad Elmaleh, 1950 Citroí«n 2CV, Frites Shop (East Village, Manhattan, NYC, NY), Balthazar (East Village, Manhattan, NYC, NY), French Roast (Upper West Side, Manhattan, NYC, NY), & Baked by Melissa (Upper West Side, Manhattan, NYC, NY)
4. Jul 4, 2013, Don Rickles, 1958 Cadillac El Dorado Seville, Factor's Famous Deli (Pico-Robertson, LA, CA)
5. Jul 11, 2013, Seth Meyers, 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS, Roebling Tea Room (Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NYC, NY)
6. Jul 18, 2013, Chris Rock, 1969 Lamborghini P400S Miura, Allendale Eats! (Allendale, NJ)

Season 3
1. Jan 2, 2014, Louis C.K., 1959 Fiat Jolly, Louis C.K.'s Meridian 341, (Chelsea PiersChelsea, Manhattan, NYC, NY)
2. Jan 9, 2014, Patton Oswalt, 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 & 2012 Honda Accord SE Sedan, Handsome Coffee Roasters (Arts District, LA, CA)
3. Jan 16, 2014, Jay Leno, 1949 Porsche 356/2, Jones Coffee Roasters (Pasadena, CA)
4. Jan 23, 2014 Todd Barry, 1966 MGB Roadster, Tom's Brooklyn (Coney Island, Brooklyn, NYC, NY), Nathan's Famous (Coney Island, Brooklyn, NYC, NY), William's Candy (Coney Island, Brooklyn, NYC, NY), It'Sugar (Coney Island, Brooklyn, NYC, NY), Everyman Espresso (lobby of Classic Stage Company, East Village, Manhattan, NYC, NY)
5. Jan 30, 2014, Tina Fey, 1967 Volvo 1800S, Floridita (Harlem, Manhattan, NYC, NY) Dominique Ansel Bakery (Soho, Manhattan, NYC, NY)
6. Feb 2, 2014, George Costanza (Jason Alexander in character), 1976 AMC Pacer D/L, Tom's Restaurant (Morningside Heights, Manhattan, NYC, NY)
7. Feb 6, 2014, Howard Stern, 1969 Pontiac GTO "The Judge", Bel-Aire Diner (Astoria, Queens, NYC, NY), Associated Supermarket (Astoria, Queens, NYC, NY)

Season 4
1. Jun 19, 2014, Sarah Jessica Parker, 1976 Ford Country Squire LTD, Starbucks (Kips Bay, Manhattan, NYC, NY), Colony Diner (East Meadow, NY), Francesco's Bakery (Hicksville, NY)
2. Jun 26, 2014, George Wallace, 1965 Buick Riviera 2-Door Hardtop, The Flamingo Hotel (Las Vegas, NV), Peppermill (Las Vegas, NV)
3. Jul 3, 2014, Robert Klein, 1967 Jaguar Mark 2, Landmark Diner (Ossining, NY), Sing Sing Correctional Facility (Ossining, NY)
4. Jul 10, 2014, Aziz Ansari, 2012 Prevost X3-45 VIP Touring Coach, Brody's Diner, (Shrewsbury, MA)
5. Jul 17, 2014, Jon Stewart, 1978 AMC Gremlin & 1969 AMC AMX, NEP Studio 52 (Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, NY), Tick Tock Diner (Clifton, NJ), Petco (Clifton, NJ)

Season 5
1. Nov 6, 2014, Kevin Hart & Dick Corcoran (Michael Richards in character), 1959 Porsche 718 RSK Spyder, Pier 212 (Santa Monica, CA), Undefeated (Santa Monica, CA)
2. Nov 13, 2014, Amy Schumer, 1971 Ferrari Daytona 365 GTB/4, Short Stop Coffee Shop (The Bronx, NYC, NY) Parkview Sports Center (The Bronx, NYC, NY)
3, Nov 20, 2014, Bill Burr, 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302, The Novel Cafe (Santa Monica, CA), Hollywood Smoke (Santa Monica, CA)
4. Nov 27, 2014, Miranda Sings (Colleen Ballinger in character), 1960 Austin-Healey Sprite, Art's Delicatessen and Restaurant (Studio City, CA), Fountain, Hollywood and Highland Center (Hollywood, LA, CA), Hot Topic, Hollywood and Highland Center (Hollywood, LA, CA)
5. Dec 4, 2014, Fred Armisen & Dick Corcoran (Michael Richards in character), 1965 Saab 96 Monte Carlo 850, Coava Brew Bar (BuckmanPortland, OR), The Grilled Cheese Grill (Buckman, Portland, OR), Paxton Gate (Boise, Portland, OR)
6. Dec 11, 2014, Ali Wentworth, 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE Low Grille Cabriolet, Blue Tree (Upper East Side, Manhattan, NYC, NY) (Fiddler's Elbow Country Club, Bedminster, NJ)
7. Dec 18, 2014, Jimmy Fallon (Parts 1 and 2) & Dick Corcoran (Michael Richards in character), 1956 Chevrolet Corvette Convertiblle, 1994 Land Rover Defender 90, & 13-Foot Boston WhalerJohn's Pancake House (Montauk, NY)

Season 6
1. Jun 3, 2015, Julia Louis-Dreyfus1964 Aston Martin DB5Caffe Luxe (Santa Monica, CA), Art's Table (Santa Monica, CA)
2. Jun 10, 2015, Steve Harvey, 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air V8 Convertible, Manny's Deli & Cafeteria (Chicago, IL), Biggs Mansion (Chicago, IL)
3. Jun 17, 2015, Jim Carrey, 1976 Lamborghini Countach LP400, Killer Cafe (Marina del Rey, CA)
4. Jun 24, 2015, Bill Maher, 1979 VW Beetle Police Car (used in Wofsburg, Germany), Brite Spot (Echo Park, LA, CA)
5. Jul 1, 2015, Trevor Noah, 1985 Ferrari GTB qv, One Girl Cookies, (Dumbo, Brooklyn, NYC, NY)
6. Jul 8, 2015, Stephen Colbert, 1964 Morgan +4, Bluestone Coffee Co. (Montclair, NJ), Watchung Booksellers (Montclair, NJ)

Season 7
1. Dec 30, 2015, Barack Obama, 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray & 2009 Cadillac One (Presidental State Car), The White House (Washington, DC)
2. Jan 6, 2016, Steve Martin, 1954 Siata 8V & 1966 Ford Mustang, Pleasantville Diner (Pleasantville, NY)
3. Jan 13, 2016, Kathleen Madigan & Chuck Martin1972 BMW 2002 tii, Alfred Coffee & Kitchen using Stumptown Roasters (West Hollywood, LA, CA)

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As I get deeper into "Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee" (I've now finished Season One) ...

I become more convinced than I've ever been, that "It's not what you know; it's who you know."

Find me something - anything - funny about Barry Marder on The Larry King Show.

I'll say one thing for Jerry Seinfeld, just like I'll say it about James Carville: Loyalty. He's loyal to his long-time friends, and God love him for that undervalued trait.

Can there be anyone *less* funny than Barry Marder? Is it possible that Barry got his break because he's friends with Jerry?

How is this clap any funnier than the unfunny, untalented, angry, mean, derelict Howard Stern making prank phone calls? When Larry King asked them why the hotels and other businesses replied the way they did, both Barry Marder and Jerry Seinfeld replied, "Fear." Fear of losing customers.

Nonsense. They replied like they did because they were showing old-world European courtesies to their individual customers. Try sending a hand-written note to a Michelin three-star restaurant or hotel even now - 2014 - asking a silly question. See what happens: You'll get a hand-written letter back, sent via the postal service, because they're being *polite*.

In this world, that's not something to berate; it's something to celebrate.

This irritates me as much as "Borat" which takes advantage of other cultures' courtesies and politeness, except Borat took it to another level of meanness (I don't think Marder is hard-hearted; just puerile, at least when it comes to this "Letters" bit - his other stuff may well be better).

Don't get me wrong - I like the series; I just don't think Barry Marder seems very funny from my admittedly limited exposure to his work.

How can you not like something which is 10 minutes long, features divey, long-standing restaurants, has beautiful cinematography-nuggets about interesting cars, and gives a hand up to seemingly nice comedians such as Joel Hodgson? (Although most of these people are well-established, multi-multi-millionaires, and hardly need a hand up.) Pretty much one comedian, car, and cafe per episode. This is a winner, at least in the long-term (I'm not sure how it will withstand short-term financial pressures, but in the long-term, this series will be remembered).

And bringing back memories of the pile-driver bit with Super Dave Osborne? Hilarious!

I don't know how Crackle is making their money on this internet comedy production, but I hope it's profitable because I want them to keep making episodes. Rest assured it isn't just Acura paying them. How much, for example, do you think the coffee industry is pitching in? A show like this could be influential enough to stoke a fundamental societal change in terms of the way we think about drinking coffee, particularly since it's tailored to a younger audience.

And isn't it past time we had a thread on The Improv here in DC?

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I don't know how Crackle is making their money on this internet comedy production, but I hope it's profitable because I want them to keep making episodes. Rest assured it isn't just Acura paying them. How much, for example, do you think the coffee industry is pitching in? A show like this could be influential enough to stoke a fundamental societal change in terms of the way we think about drinking coffee, particularly since it's tailored to a younger audience.

In Season 4, they apparently got the attention of Starbucks (could this have been part of their strategy all along?) There was absolutely no mention of Starbucks that I can remember until Season 4, Episode 1, when Jerry Seinfeld and Sarah Jessica Parker stop the car and dart into the Kips Bay Starbucks (you can scroll up to Post #1 for an index of the episodes). Having gone through all the previous episodes, this "incident" stood out like a sore thumb, plot-wise.

Then, in Season 4, Episode 4, Seinfeld and Robert Klein are walking along in the parking lot of the Landmark Diner, and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, at the 4:50 mark, they're both holding Starbucks coffee cups which they take into the diner and sip on while they're in the booth!

What a shame they went down this road, so to speak. Seinfeld had no problem voicing his opinion about how bad of a car Parker's 1976 Country Squire was; if only he could say the same about the quality of coffee they've been drinking on these episodes, doubly so now that they've turned towards the Great Satan. Seinfeld has made numerous jokes about Acura product placements, but so far at least, he's said nothing about Starbucks.

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Season 5, Episode 2 (Amy Shumer):

Server asks how they want their eggs.

Jerry: "I'm going to have two over-medium, but I don't want anything else on the plate."

Server: "That's it?'

Jerry: "That's it."

Server: "Would you like any toast with that?"

Jerry: <Says nothing, glares in disbelief, complains to Amy when the server walks away>

Jerry, did you ever think that the toast *might come on a separate plate*? I'm not sure whether to call you mean, or just plain dimwitted for this one, but that waitress was being *nice to you*, and took up a total of about three extra seconds of your time.

<several minutes later>

Oh look! It *does* come on a separate plate! Jerry, did you think for one minute that you might have been in the wrong here? No? I didn't think so.

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My favorite episodes so far have been with Brian Regan, Bob Einstein, and David Letterman.

I look forward to new ones and check for them often.

I liked Brian Regan as a conversationalist (this is the episode where they're standing by a railing, looking out over the water, right?) - he just seems like a fun, witty person, but I don't know who he is.

The Letterman episode lets you sort of "get to know" him, and realize that he's a pretty reclusive person (I didn't really care for his comment about "buying the restaurant," but I think he was just being socially awkward (disclaimer: I've never thought he was particularly good on his television show)).

The Bob Einstein episode was perhaps my favorite because I had *no* idea he was Super Dave Osborne, and that character is laugh-out-loud funny - he has some Super Dave videos on YouTube that are well-worth seeking out. Another disclaimer: I *love* slapstick, and Super Dave is pretty much the ultimate in slapstick comedy.

What is Brian Regan famous for? I can't remember.

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Brian Regan's a stand-up comedian. Yeah, he's the one who was rating his "date" with Jerry while they're spying a seal in the surf! No TV shows or movies that I know of. Lots of YouTube clips of him. Clean comic. Just a big old goof! Fond of his emergency room routine and his trip to the eye doctor. Seinfeld seemed to have genuine affection for him.

Letterman was generous with his stories about comic Lenny Schultz. Loved his story about the hopped up Volvo!

Super Dave Osborn had some great moments on Johnny Carson. He'd always call Carson Jimmy, like he was too vain and self-absorbed to even know, and he'd try to bribe Carson with gifts. His Stump the Band routine (with a steel drum band playing Barry Manilow's Copacabana tune) was crazy good!

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I have a question about Jerry Seinfeld:

Has anyone ever laughed at anything he has ever said or done? 

All these people - professional comedians in particular (who may be sucking up to him) - say how funny he is, and what a brilliant comedian he is. 

The best I can say is that I find him to be a keen observer and a great conversationalist - what am I missing?

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