Jerry Seinfeld has revved up the engines and hit the gas, bringing his Emmy-winning comedy Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee to Netflix.
Season 10 of the interview series, which bowed July 6, marks the first time the streaming giant has debuted original episodes after acquiring rights to the franchise — as well as its previous nine seasons — from Sony-owned Crackle. As part of its deal with Seinfeld, Netflix also inherited the Comedians in Cars library, as all 59 episodes that came before season 10 are now home on the subscription service.
For his Netflix debut, Seinfeld recruited an impressive roster of A-list comedians to take a spin with him. The 12-episode season features 20-minute installments with Ellen DeGeneres, Dave Chappelle, the late Jerry Lewis, Kate McKinnon, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Dana Carvey, John Mulaney, Hasan Minhaj, Zach Galifianakis, Neal Brennan and Brian Regan. Here are the four top moments from season 10, with Netflix yet to announce a date for the other 12 new episodes included in its sweeping pact with the comedian.
4. Zach Galifianakis
Although this episode is comical throughout, it is the final seven minutes that really stand out. Seinfeld incorporates a segment of Galifianakis’ comedy talk show, Between Two Ferns at the end of his car chats, where rapper Cardi B is brought on for a surprise appearance. Throughout the webisode, which originally premiered on Funny or Die on June 14, insults are traded back and forth (Seinfeld is introduced as "Jerry Sandusky"/”Jerry Signfeld,” referred to as “Funny: 1993-1997,” and roasted for his “launching pads for whites” sitcom) and Seinfeld is instantly disregarded upon Cardi B’s arrival. Galifianakis tells the “Bodak Yellow” rapper that “the most important thing is that you’re relevant” and poor Seinfeld gets pushed outside of the two ferns. Consider it a win for millennials.
3. Alec Baldwin
Baldwin and Seinfeld both attended Massapequa High School on Long Island, which is why the duo took a trip back to their hometown and reminisced about their teenage days during this episode. Prompted by Baldwin, the comedians discuss their separate, but shared experience of being the “nerd loser who had no friends” in high school.
“I didn’t know there were people gyrating playing naked twister,” explains Baldwin, who then gives a dancing demonstration to Seinfeld as they walk along Jones Beach’s boardwalk. “They’re playing strip trivia and you and your friend are going, ‘Regular Fritos or BBQ Fritos?’”
In another point in the episode, Baldwin brings up The Twilight Zone and its creator Rod Serling, who Baldwin’s aunt claimed to have dated. After randomly running into him on the street in Los Angeles, Baldwin boldly introduced himself and explained his connection to Serling’s alleged ex-girlfriend. “He looks at me and goes, ‘Would you excuse me?’” explained the New York-based actor. Through his laughter, Seinfeld notes Serling’s response “is the best thing you could say to anybody because it’s so polite and so rude.”
2. Jerry Lewis
Filmed a few months before Lewis' death, the 19-minute episode embodies the late comedian’s remarkable presence, natural delivery and comedic talent. Highlighting his work over the span of his lifetime, Seinfeld mentions Lewis’ 1960 film The Bellboy and discusses the comedian’s ability to do essentially “every job on the movie.” (Along with starring in the film, Lewis was credited as director, writer, producer and composer.) Although Seinfeld manages to poke fun at the 91-year-old (upon Lewis’ request for more bacon during their meal despite a resistant Seinfeld, the host quips: “Yeah, we’re gonna need some more bacon, he’s still alive.”) Lewis reflects on his approach to comedy and why after so many years, he kept going.
“The reason [comedy] is tiring is because we’re never satisfied. It’s caution thrown to the wind,” Lewis explains. “I have been dissatisfied with some of the funniest shit I’ve ever put on film.”
Lewis passed away from heart disease at age 91 on Aug. 20, 2017. Following his passing, Seinfeld posted a tribute on Instagram to the iconic comedian with a photo of their ride-along interview. "As I've said many times, if you don't get Jerry Lewis, you don't understand comedy,” he wrote. “Spending an afternoon with him a couple months ago in Vegas for Comedians in Cars was a comedy life moment for me."
1. Dave Chappelle
In an episode where Chappelle takes Seinfeld on a trip to his recently renovated high school in Washington, D.C., the two also share instances of when they’ve been at their maximum physical distress … and it gets personal. Chappelle admits to having to urgently go number two right before he was supposed to go on stage for a performance: “Can it wait an hour?” he tells Seinfeld over their coffee. “It was that precarious.” While Chappelle was able to get through his set without any mishaps, Seinfeld goes on to discuss the underappreciated power of the rectum. Yes, really.
“It’s really got the worst job in the body; it’s the lowest rung of the ladder,” Seinfeld jokingly explains to the comic, who also has his own stand-up special on Netflix. “The amazing thing about it is that it does have a little social awareness of things that need to be dealt with. It’s like, ‘I see there’s a show going on here, but I’m gonna have to hang 'till this show [ends.]’”
The new season of Comedians in Cars is now streaming on Netflix.