COMEDIAN (JERRY SEINFELD) (DVD) DVD

Comedian
The world of stand-up comedy is explored from the perspectives of two very different talents -- one wet behind the years, another already a legend -- in this documentary from TV-commercial director Christian Charles. Comedian follows Jerry Seinfeld and Orny Adams as they navigate their way through the cutthroat world of New York's comedy clubs, each working toward the ultimate goal of an appearance on Late Night with David Letterman. For Seinfeld, hitting the clubs is a way of proving himself after his years of sitcom success; for the up-and-coming Adams, nightly stand-up routines are an avenue to bigger and better things, preferably comedy festivals, talk show appearances, and sitcom roles. The two occasionally cross paths at such Manhattan comic haunts as The Gotham Comedy Club and Caroline's, where they debate ups and downs of the trade. Comedian also reveals many candid, behind-the-scenes discussions between Seinfeld and such comic legends as Chris Rock, Robert Klein, Dave Chappelle, and Jay Leno, as well as rare glimpses of the star's personal life. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide

Cast Jerry Seinfeld as Himself Greg Geraldo as Sherrod Small as Jim Norton as Godfrey Danchimah as Allan Havey as Colin Quinn as Himself Cynthia Koury as Orny Adams as George Wallace as Eddie Ifft as Robert Klein as Mario Joyner as T. Sean Shannon as Gary Greenberg as Shawn Seymour as Richard Spector as Michael Britt as Craig Figueirido as Nicole Severine as Nicole Beatty as Tom Papa as Ray Romano as William Stephenson as Angel Salazar as Andrew Grose as Dom Irrera as Gary Valentine as Chris Rock as Himself Brad Perry as Garry Shandling as Himself Kevin Nealon as Himself Jay Leno as Jimmy Brogan as Bill Cosby as

Crew Amy Baird - Associate Producer Christian Charles - Director Chris Franklin - Editor Jerry Seinfeld - Executive Producer Chris Franklin - Musical Direction/Supervision Gary Streiner - Cinematographer Christian Charles - Cinematographer Mark Plumber - Cinematographer Gary Streiner - Producer Michael Emory - Sound/Sound Designer Valerie Junge - Supervising Sound Editor

Comedian
Although Comedian may be billed as a documentary charting Jerry Seinfeld's return to standup comedy, that's only half of the story. Or rather, it's only 60 percent of the story, as the other fraction of the film is devoted to the burgeoning career of Orny Adams, a brash young comedian with whom Seinfeld occasionally crosses paths. This sort of compare/contrast approach mostly works, even if it mostly serves to prove how much classier and more accomplished Seinfeld is than the whiny, arrogant, and thoroughly irritating Adams. Even Seinfeld's most ardent followers may be surprised by his dogged work ethic: In one sequence, he goes to the Museum of Television and Radio to watch archived footage of Richard Pryor and George Carlin. In fact, the "comedy is hard work" thesis is applied so strenuously to all the performers in Comedian that it begins to grate against the film; in particular, the screen time devoted to Adams and his tired shtick suggests that the world of standup has more to do with tenacity and stick-to-it-iveness than actual talent. But when it focuses on Seinfeld -- and his fascinating conversations with Chris Rock, Robert Klein, Garry Shandling, Bill Cosby, and others -- Comedian proves that it takes a great mind as well as great effort to become a legend. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
 

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General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: Sound Processing: DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel Additional Features: cc Two feature-length commentaries with the director, producer, Jerry Seinfeld, and Colin Quinn Jerry Seinfeld's & Orny Adams' complete "Late Night With David Letterman" performances from the film Deleted scenes with commentary from the director and producer Jiminy Glick's interviews with Jerry Seinfeld and Orny Adams about "Comedian," made exclusively for the DVD "Where Is Orny Now?": A short film made exclusively for the DVD Complete advertising campaign including the spoof theatrical trailer, TV and radio commercials, posters, and action figures Actual notes from Jerry Seinfeld, Colin Quinn, and Orny Adams on developing material Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound MPAA Rating: R DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 82 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 1. Set Up [2:31] 2. Smelly Gym [5:49] 3. Orny Introduction [6:20] 4. Robert Klein [7:37] 5. I Never Felt Pain [1:55] 6. Meet George Shapiro [4:22] 7. Caroline's [1:49] 8. Orny Meets George [3:12] 9. A Comedian's Age [1:28] 10. Orny in Montreal [7:40] 11. Jerry in Washington [7:10] 12. Letterman & Cosby [2:32] 13. Orny Does Letterman [4:18] 14. Jerry on the Road [:01] 15. Jerry Does Letterman [8:37] 16. Jerry Visits Cosby [7:02] 17. Oakland Paramount [3:29] 18. Credits [1:53]