Comedian

For an insider’s glimpse into the high stakes world of modern stand-up comedy, you’ll find no better film than last year’s Comedian, out now on video. The film documents Jerry Seinfeld as he starts from scratch, trying to re-conquer the arena that catapulted him toward his own successful television series.

Early in the film Seinfeld returns to the New York-based comedy clubs such as Caroline’s where he first made his mark two decades ago. With about ten minutes of new material, Seinfeld is reborn in front of a live audience, although he experiences some birthing pains this time around. Eventually he pulls together about an hour’s worth of newly-written comedy material and takes it on the road. It is a harrowing ordeal as audiences give him about five minutes of adulation time before they demand hilarity.

Comedian spends more than half of its time back stage where comedians such as Colin Quinn and Chris Rock talk to Seinfeld about their own fears and experiences in the stand-up spotlight. It also documents young comedian Orny Adams as he tries to make his name in the business. Compulsive (think Richard Lewis), self-absorbed (think Richard Lewis), and annoying (again with the Richard Lewis), Adams has the comedic tools to deliver onstage yet offstage alienates all who might be able to help him in his obnoxious push for stardom.

Adams’ behavior is in stark contrast to the nice guy image of Seinfeld. Jerry experiences incredible bouts of self-doubt and onstage jitters, but they don’t keep him from enjoying his audiences and his fellow comedians. His comments about the influential nature of Robert Klein, Bill Cosby and George Carlin may seem more obligatory than sincere, but the fact that he mentions other comedians at all separates him from all the Orny Adamses of the business.

Comedian is rated R for language and is out now on DVD and VHS formats.