Watch Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours To Kill
- TV-PG
- 2020
- 1 hr
-
6.7 (5,724)
Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours To Kill is a comedy special that premiered on Netflix in May 2020. The special is directed by Joe DeMaio and produced by Seinfeld himself. The show begins with Seinfeld standing in front of a packed audience at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. He begins by riffing on the concept of time, noting that everyone in the room has just willingly given up an hour of their day to be there. From there, he launches into a series of observations and jokes that cover a range of topics, from the absurdity of modern-day parenting to the inherent awkwardness of small talk with acquaintances.
Throughout the show, Seinfeld leans into his signature brand of observational humor, mining laughs from the everyday moments and minutiae of life. He takes on the idea of life hacks - those supposed shortcuts that are meant to make our lives easier but often just lead to more work. He ponders why humans seem to love sitting in chairs so much and muses on the various forms of lying that we all engage in on a regular basis.
One of the highlights of the show is Seinfeld's extended riff on technology and its seemingly unstoppable takeover of our lives. He takes on everything from smartphones to social media to the robots that are slowly but surely taking over the world. He wonders aloud at the sheer amount of data that tech companies are able to collect about us, from our location to our internet search history to our purchase habits. And despite all this data, he notes, there still seems to be no way to get a human being on the phone when you need customer service.
One thing that sets Seinfeld apart from many other comedians is his willingness to venture into darker territory while still mining laughs. In one bit, he tells a story about an old-school comedian he once knew who was so committed to his craft that he continued doing stand-up even as he was dying of cancer. Seinfeld doesn't shy away from the grim reality of the situation, but he finds humor in the profound weirdness of the comic's final days.
Another standout moment comes when Seinfeld decides to dive deep into the concept of punchlines themselves. He deconstructs the logic of a typical joke, pointing out that the punchline is really just the moment when you're supposed to laugh. He then demonstrates how differently a joke can land depending on where you put the punchline. It's a clever bit that showcases Seinfeld's skill as both a performer and a joke writer.
Overall, Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours To Kill is a solid addition to Seinfeld's comedic legacy. It's a well-crafted stand-up special that showcases his sharp wit and impeccable timing. While it may not break new ground or venture into truly revolutionary territory, it's a consistently funny show that will delight Seinfeld's longtime fans and appeal to newcomers as well.
Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours To Kill is a 2020 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.