Review of Jerry Before Seinfeld

When a comic goes back and does his old schtick sometimes it doesn't quite impress as it did when it was topical and fresh. Jerry Seinfeld can, at least in front of a home crowd, re-do his old act and still hold an audience's interest. Will it be the same for everyone who became fans mostly built on his humor in the Seinfeld series is another matter. What will be appreciated is that it's clean and not in any way reaching. Jerry is just doing young Jerry and he's definitely not trying too hard...and, he's still funny to an acceptable degree. But, for a standup comedy video act this isn't overly funny. As a straight comedy video it's even kind of pedestrian. As a look-back with his early act it works much better which is the point.

What's clear is that Jerry always has been a wry observer for whom everything should be questioned to find some absurdity. Jerry does this as good as anyone and definitely has his own style. I'd like to see a less reined-in Seinfeld with material that looks at today's absurdities in his unique style. Maybe that will be the second installment of his specials? For now it is good to see him on stage and having a good time with some modest amount of humor laced with a few killer observations. I think as a fun little look back at his early years it succeeds so don't be expecting a revelatory "Jerry's Back" act. Seinfeld, especially for what he did with his series, is definitely one of the finest comedians of any time.