Does Seinfeld still do stand up?

Jerry Seinfeld is one of the most successful and influential stand-up comedians of all time. He rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s with his observational comedy focused on the minutiae of everyday life. Seinfeld co-created the hit sitcom Seinfeld, which ran on NBC from 1989 to 1998 and is regarded as one of the greatest TV shows of all time.

Even after the end of his iconic sitcom, Jerry Seinfeld continued performing stand-up comedy, touring extensively and releasing several highly successful comedy specials. However, some fans have wondered in recent years if Seinfeld still actively does stand-up at his previous frequency. This article will look at whether or not Jerry Seinfeld still regularly performs stand-up comedy.

Seinfeld’s Stand-Up Career

Jerry Seinfeld started performing stand-up comedy after college in the late 1970s. He spent years honing his craft on the New York City comedy circuit, appearing frequently on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Seinfeld’s comedy was conversational and observational, pointing out the humor and absurdity in mundane aspects of daily life.

In 1989, Seinfeld teamed up with fellow stand-up Larry David to create the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. The show, starring Seinfeld as a fictionalized version of himself, was hugely influential and ran for 9 seasons until 1998. Even during the run of his namesake sitcom, Jerry Seinfeld never stopped doing stand-up. He would often go out to comedy clubs in New York City to try out new material when he wasn’t filming the show.

Stand-Up During Seinfeld

During the 9 season run of Seinfeld from 1989 to 1998, Jerry Seinfeld continuously developed new stand-up material in comedy clubs when not filming the sitcom. He periodically put together tours where he would perform his latest stand-up act across the country.

Some key tours and stand-up performances Seinfeld did during the Seinfeld sitcom years include:

• The Seinfeld Chronicles (1992) – Stand-up special aired on HBO
• I’m Telling You for the Last Time (1998) – Comedy special that marked Seinfeld’s return to stand-up after the sitcom ended
• Numerous stand-up performances on late night shows like The Tonight Show and Late Night with David Letterman

So even with his hectic sitcom filming schedule, Jerry Seinfeld remained committed to developing and performing new stand-up material in the 1990s.

Post-Seinfeld Stand-Up Career

After Seinfeld ended its run in 1998, Jerry Seinfeld dedicated himself to returning to his stand-up roots. He no longer had a weekly sitcom filming schedule, allowing him to focus entirely on crafting comedy sets and going on extensive tours.

Seinfeld released a series of very successful comedy specials and albums in the years after his sitcom ended:

• I’m Telling You for the Last Time (1998) – Seinfeld’s first special after the sitcom finished
• Jerry Seinfeld: Comedian (2002) – Documentary on Seinfeld’s return to stand-up
• Jerry Seinfeld: The Comedian Award (2005) – TV special
• Jerry Seinfeld: ‘I’m Telling You for the Last Time’ Revisited (2007) – 10th anniversary special
• Jerry Before Seinfeld (2017) – Netflix special exploring his early years in comedy

Additionally, Seinfeld went on several highly lucrative national and world tours where he performed his stand-up act for sold-out crowds in large theaters and arenas. Some of his major national tours included:

He also did tours across Europe, Australia, and Asia during the 2000s, solidifying his status as a stand-up star across the globe. Even with his touring schedule slowing down in the 2010s as he focused on other projects, Jerry Seinfeld was back solidly as a touring stand-up act who could sell out arenas.

Does Seinfeld Still Tour and Perform Stand-Up Regularly?

So clearly Jerry Seinfeld toured extensively and did stand-up consistently in the years immediately after Seinfeld ended its run in 1998. But what about currently? Does Jerry Seinfeld still regularly perform stand-up comedy?

The answer is yes, but on a more limited scale than hispacked touring schedule in the late 1990s and 2000s. Seinfeld continues to do periodic tours where he performs new stand-up material across the United States and the world.

For example, Seinfeld had a successful 2017 national tour called Jerry Seinfeld: The Homestead Tour. He followed that up with an international tour in 2019 called Jerry Seinfeld: The Funniest Person in the World Tour. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Seinfeld also did some limited capacity outdoor stand-up shows.

He continues to occasionally make appearances on late night talk shows like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon where he does short stand-up sets. Seinfeld also remains regularly active on the New York City comedy circuit, dropping into comedy clubs like the Comedy Cellar to workshop new material.

So while no longer touring nearly as extensively as he did in the past, Jerry Seinfeld does still clearly have a passion for developing new observational comedy routines and performing them for live audiences. Now nearly 50 years into his stand-up career, Seinfeld proves he still has a dedication to the craft.

Potential Factors in Seinfeld’s Reduced Touring

There are a few possible factors that contribute to why Jerry Seinfeld may have cut back on extensive touring compared to the peak years of the late 90s/early 2000s:

• He is now in his late 60s, so grueling tours may be more physically exhausting
• His family obligations may make long tours less feasible
• He enjoys focusing on other projects like his show Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
• He no longer feels the need to tour constantly to build his popularity

Seinfeld has earned the ability to work a more limited schedule after establishing himself as one of comedy’s living legends. Fans should not expect him to return to the breakneck touring pace of his early post-Seinfeld days. However, Seinfeld clearly still loves developing stand-up material and plans to continue performing comedy live regularly as long as he can.

Seinfeld’s Continued Impact and Legacy in Comedy

Even if he is not touring at the same frequency as previously, Jerry Seinfeld remains an absolute titan in the world of stand-up comedy. Some key things he has done recently that show his ongoing impact:

• Seinfeld still draws rave reviews whenever he does perform live or appear on talk shows with new stand-up material
• His show Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee has further built his brand and introduced him to newer audiences
• He regularly helps emerging comedians through advice, mentorship, and promoting them through his comedy connections

Seinfeld also still loves performing and has ruled out ever having a final retirement tour or show. He says stand-up comedy and constantly developing new material is what keeps him sharp and engaged creatively, and he plans to keep at it as long as he can.

Even with a reduced touring schedule compared to 20 years ago, Jerry Seinfeld remains one of the most popular draws in stand-up and clearly still has a deep passion for the artform he helped redefine. His days of performing 100+ shows per year on extensive tours may have passed, but Seinfeld proves he can still craft brilliant observational comedy and dazzle audiences, even as he approaches his 70th birthday in 2024. Seinfeld’s lasting impact on comedy remains obvious through the number of artists he has influenced and the continued reverence audiences have for his stand-up mastery.

Conclusion

To summarize:

• Jerry Seinfeld established himself as a stand-up star in the 80s before creating his hit sitcom Seinfeld
• Even during the show’s 9 season run, he continuously honed new material at comedy clubs
• In the years immediately after Seinfeld ended, he toured extensively with hugely successful national and world tours
• He still regularly develops new stand-up material and does periodic tours, but not at the breakneck pace of the late 90s/early 2000s
• While touring less, Seinfeld remains hugely influential and still clearly has a passion for stand-up comedy even as he approaches 70

So while Jerry Seinfeld may have reduced the frequency of his touring and stand-up performances compared to his post-Seinfeld peak, he does still actively work on new material and do shows, proving he remains dedicated to the craft that made him a household name. Seinfeld loves stand-up comedy and will continue honing his observational skills and occasionally performing live as long as he is able. He may tour less than before, but comedy still courses through Seinfeld’s veins, and he can still leave audiences in stitches when focused on that singular goal.