So what’s the deal, with the Steve Somers-Jerry Seinfeld feud? To paraphrase a famous line from Seinfeld…it’s a feud about nothing.
“This is the end of a fake feud – just a long absence with life and us not communicating,” Steve said Tuesday night, as he welcomed “Jerry from Queens” back to the show for the first time long time.
“I’m sorry for any misunderstandings or confusion. I missed the feud!” Seinfeld responded. “I wasn’t listening to the station for a while and I missed the whole thing.”
The story you may have heard is indeed true: years ago, Steve asked Jerry for Larry David’s email, which led to a great interview on the air. But when Steve wanted to get David back on the show, Larry’s email had changed, so Steve asked Jerry again – and Jerry said “that’s not what friends do.”
“I heard that story, and I was like, ‘what could I have been thinking?’” Seinfeld said in response to Schmooze telling the story. “The only thing I could come up with is that maybe I didn’t remember Larry had already been on your show, and you were just looking for the new hook-up and I didn’t feel comfortable doing that. In any event, I apologize for how that came off.”
Steve told Jerry he was “a little hurt because I thought I offended you,” to which Jerry shot back: “Oh, gosh no, you can’t offend me!”
So there it is, a friendship repaired, and a loyal station listener restored.
“I’m one of the early adopters and biggest supporters of the station, and still a loyal listener!” Jerry said. “Sports is the perfect lens of all human frailties; it shows us the overreacting and lack of perspective. All we know how to do is complain and celebrate, there’s no moderation or regulation. That’s why I love to listen to sports radio – it’s very emotional and idiotic. All the flaws in human thinking come out! Emotion floats in a leaky boat on the sea of reason, just waiting for the next wave to topple it.”
And, perhaps, it gives him some good material?
“I love these things, this is where we get comedy from: these little tweaks and misunderstandings!” Seinfeld said, adding that it would be “soon, hopefully” that he’ll be able to be back on stage doing what he loves most.
“I have been very fortunate and done well in the business, but I really love to hear the laugh more than any check. Stand-up makes you feel the closest to the public, and that is a special and exciting feeling, when you can actually feel that connection with humanity,” he said. “Comedians get an intimate connection I a unique way when the jokes are hitting just right and everyone is having fun. It’s really a weightless feeling on stage.”
Whether or not a second-generation Seinfeld blossoms – “one of my kids has a flair for it, but we’ll see if the plant germinates in the soil. Comedy is somewhat genetic, so we’ll see where it goes,” Jerry said – we now know that once again, this season, Jerry from Queens will be a frequent guest on the evening Schmooze, because he loves talkin’ Mets when the Mets are worth talking about.
“I have a feeling were going to be talking a lot this year because it’s going to be a long, fun season!” Seinfeld exclaimed.
And if it’s not? Well, the convos may be even better.
“I love to complain to people about how much I don’t like things, but I don’t mind that I don’t enjoy them, because I enjoy complaining – it’s a Jewish cultural tradition!” he laughed. “And I know as a cranky old Jewish guy, that if you’re going to complain, you better be funny and make it entertaining!”
Boutros-Boutros Ghali, it’s going to be a fun Mets season on the 1-877-337-6666 for Jerry from Queens! Check out his entire 30-minute plus appearance with Steve Somers below.
Follow Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @LouDiPietroWFAN
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