The Jerry Seinfeld Game

The Jerry Seinfeld Game
By David Thurston

“What’s the deal with Coffee Cups? Is it a cup made out of coffee? I don’t think so. Head Cheese, wow. I don’t ever want to see those words that close together.”
Classic comedy from the "Great One", Jerry Seinfeld.
It works because there are two interpretations the word "head," obviously. Coffee cup can mean that the cup is for coffee or that it is made of coffee. And To get a better grasp of reinterpreting words Greg Dean’s book on standup is second to none and a must read for every aspiring comic.
Skip a head, skip a head, I was doing an improvised scene in a class at The Annoyance. I played an extremely nervous comedian who is trying out new jokes on a friend right before he is going on stage:
“What’s the deal with a hair tie? Is it a tie made out of hair? What’s the deal with eye glasses? Is it a glass you drink out of made out of eye balls? What’s up Daddy’O? Like everyone’s father is Irish.”
I don’t know why I said that last one about the Irish thing, but anyways, this scene inspired me to write down 25 compound words, try to find a reinterpretation for one or both of those words and put them back together to either explain the new definition or use the new definition in a sentence that would explain or heighten the ridiculousness of the new meaning of the compound word.

How to play the Jerry Seinfeld game:

Step 1:
Write down 25 compound words.

Step 2:
Find more than one definition for one or both of those words.

Step 3:
Explain the new definition and or use it in a sentence that heightens the new definition.

These are the best of the 25 that I wrote. I’m sure you can do better.

What’s the deal with Coat Hangers? It sounds like coats are killing people with rope.
What’s the deal with Brick Buildings? Come on over this weekend Frank we have a brick shortage so we’ll be brick building.
What’s the deal with Desert Dishes? It sounds like a gorgeous women made out of ice cream.
What’s the deal with Bunt Cake? Can’t the cake get on base by taking a full swing?
What’s the deal with Dresser Drawers. Sounds like a choice, “Are you going out tonight wearing a dress or drawers. Or maybe that’s underwear for your dresser.
What’s the deal with a Bill Board? It sounds like you have to pay to be bored.
What’s the deal with Pussy Cat’s? (That’s too easy).
What’s the deal with Bull Dog’s? Why can’t undefined meat in tube form tell the truth?
What’s the deal with Rain Check’s. Isn’t that what you do to see if you need an umbrella?
What’s the deal with Roller Girl’s? Flattening dough with your daughter.
What’s the deal with Foster Home? Wouldn’t that be Australia? Foster’s Australian for write better jokes.
What’s the deal with Out Back? Would that be a returning Gay?
What’s the deal with Digital Clock’s? That’s where they hit you with the numbers.
What’s the deal with Lean Machines? That’s a computer that needs a V8.
What’s the deal with Dry Erase Boards? 7 years that Dry Erase board has been sober.
What’s the deal with Ball Rooms? That’s where your parents send you when you’ve been bad and it’s made out of testicles.
What’s the deal with Abb Busters? That’s a tiny vacuum for your stomach. It could be a team that prevents abb's from cheating. Or Abdominal muscles that fight crime, a new TV show on Spike TV. Abb Buster's 8/9 central.

I hope you enjoyed the Jerry Seinfeld Game. It is a great writing exercise. It’s worth sitting down and writing some out for 15 minutes a day. It’s a good tool to have. It’s a great structure to use if you are going to do the Dave Thurston 10 minute challenge where you challenge yourself to write and perform 10 minutes of new material every week. You can read more about the Dave Thurston 10 minute challenge at www.myspace.com/thurstoncomedy

I also think this would be a great improv game for troupes that like to do short form games.

Here is the challenge. I challenge anyone to write out 25 Jerry Seinfeld's and post you favorites to this blog at www.myspace.com/azstandup. Good luck and may Jerry be with you.

By David Michael Thurston
www.myspace.com/thurstoncomedy