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Michael Richards - Entrances and Exits

Started by Twilkes, April 29, 2024, 04:32:13 PM

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Twilkes

Don't think there was a separate thread on this, and doesn't quite seem right jamming it into one of the Seinfeld threads, but this is released on 6th June so fairly soon. There is an audiobook version narrated by Richards which I will be on like a bag of chips, currently available for pre-order at a discount, no idea if it will come to Audible for a credit, it's not mentioned there yet.

https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details?id=AQAAAEBSL2VvJM

There's a blurb on Amazon, can't comment on the content of the book but he seems to be able to write:

"The hair, so essential, symbolizes the irrational that was and is and always will be the underlying feature not only of Kramer but of comedy itself. This seemingly senseless spirit has been coursing through me since childhood. I've been under its almighty influence since the day I came into this world. I felt it all within myself, especially the physical comedy, the body movements, so freakish and undignified, where I bumped into things, knocked stuff down, messed up situations, and often ended up on my ass.

"This book is a hymn to the irrational, the senseless spirit that breaks the whole into pieces, a reflection on the seemingly absurd difficulties that intrude upon us all. It's Harpo Marx turning us about, shaking up my plans, throwing me for a loop. Upset and turmoil is with us all the time. It's at the basis of comedy. It's the pratfall we all take. It's the unavoidable mistake we didn't expect. It's everywhere I go. It's in the way that I am, both light and dark, good and not-so-good. It's my life."

DrGreggles


dissolute ocelot

Not many reviews yet. Kirkus Reviews suggests it's serious and detailed, covering his entire life and with lots of philosophical stuff, but it skates over certain events including the 2006 heckler whoopsie. There's a lot in his life that could be interesting, but I'd rather have jokes than references to Sufi mysticism (or stuff about Ed Begley Jr).

Twilkes

I'm kind of the opposite, mainly because no-one in the world seems to know who the fuck Michael Richards is, even the people who worked with him, so if he's not trying to be funny that suits me. Interesting that the reviewer even still felt that he was holding back from revealing himself in an environment where he would have total control over it.

QDRPHNC

As I said in the Seinfeld thread - Richards is probably the only one of the four main cast members whose bio I'd be interested in reading. Aside from the curiosity of finding what he has to say about the incident, he also seems like someone who takes their craft seriously and probably has quite interesting and thoughtful things to say about it. I think Jerry Seinfeld does too, but he's always struck me as a very pragmatic person (Jerry's thoughts on craft and work ethic and the rest of it is, I'm sure, very interesting, but could probably be summed up in 20 pages or less), whereas Richards is more of an enigma. I'll definitely be reading this.

Terry Torpid

Quote from: QDRPHNC on April 29, 2024, 05:13:57 PMhe also seems like someone who takes their craft seriously

This comes across in the outtakes. Seinfeld and Louis-Dreyfus corpse all the time, Alexander does a bit, but Richards never breaks. You can see him getting a bit irritated at his co-stars having fun.

When he did that Comedians in Cars thing with Seinfeld, he said that he wishes he'd allowed himself to enjoy the experience more.

I wonder will he give any insight into being a massive Freemason (Lodge No. 780 Pacific Palisades, No. 467 Culver City, Southern California Research Lodge, 33rd degree Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Knight Commander of the Court of Honour).

checkoutgirl

Quote from: QDRPHNC on April 29, 2024, 05:13:57 PMI think Jerry Seinfeld does too, but he's always struck me as a very pragmatic person

Whilst listening to the Office Hours show with Marc Maron, the subject of Seinfeld came up. Maron basically said Jerry wouldn't be drawn on analysis about his childhood etc. His show had the philosophy of "no learning".

Judging by the verbiage above, he seems the very opposite of Richards.

DrGreggles

Quote from: Terry Torpid on April 29, 2024, 05:26:24 PMThis comes across in the outtakes. Seinfeld and Louis-Dreyfus corpse all the time, Alexander does a bit, but Richards never breaks. You can see him getting a bit irritated at his co-stars having fun.

It was mentioned on the DVD extras (I think) that the first time Richards would do the physical stuff would be during the recording, so the other three's reactions are genuine, but Richards would often hurt himself falling over to get a laugh, so would be a bit pissed off if it needed a retake.
He seems a bit more relaxed during other outtakes, but you're right that it's never him that breaks.

Twilkes

In the round table interview (back in the 90s?) he thought it was unprofessional to break, but also that sometimes even if something goes wrong or not quite to plan you can still get magic, so tried to keep going.

But yeah, he never had to watch himself, whereas the others were often only inches away!

McDead

#9
.

checkoutgirl

When Andy Kaufman is fucking about and refusing to do his lines on live sketch show Fridays as he was wont to do, it's Michael Richards who snaps and grabs the cue card and slaps it down on the table. Read that ye bastard type of thing.

Fuming he was. So yeah bit of a temper on him and doesn't appreciate unprofessionalism.

QDRPHNC

Quote from: checkoutgirl on April 29, 2024, 06:20:36 PMWhen Andy Kaufman is fucking about and refusing to do his lines on live sketch show Fridays as he was wont to do, it's Michael Richards who snaps and grabs the cue card and slaps it down on the table. Read that ye bastard type of thing.

Fuming he was. So yeah bit of a temper on him and doesn't appreciate unprofessionalism.

Pretty sure that was all set up and Richards was in on it, but can't remember where I read that.

Twilkes

Yeah the whole cast were, but the set security/some crew weren't, which is why they cut away to an ad when they started getting rough.

Terry Torpid

Quote from: DrGreggles on April 29, 2024, 05:53:30 PMHe seems a bit more relaxed during other outtakes, but you're right that it's never him that breaks.

Quote from: Twilkes on April 29, 2024, 06:01:58 PMIn the round table interview (back in the 90s?) he thought it was unprofessional to break, but also that sometimes even if something goes wrong or not quite to plan you can still get magic, so tried to keep going.

I've had a look at some outtakes, and to my surprise he's not quite as straight faced as I remember, but certainly still the most serious of the three.


He seems a bit peeved at some of the shenanigans. Bless him, he tries to keep going even when he's dropped something, smacked into the set, or everyone else has fucked up the lines.

Shame about the whole racism thing.

Ballad of Ballard Berkley

I introduced Seinfeld to my girlfriend recently, and she loves it. Kramer is her favourite character. The other night she asked me if Michael Richards did anything else afterwards. What's he up to now?

Well. That was a rather awkward conversation.

Anyway, I'll definitely read this book.

Ferris

Quote from: Terry Torpid on April 29, 2024, 05:26:24 PMI wonder will he give any insight into being a massive Freemason (Lodge No. 780 Pacific Palisades, No. 467 Culver City, Southern California Research Lodge, 33rd degree Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Knight Commander of the Court of Honour).

What do you reckon they research?

letsgobrian

Quote from: Ferris on April 29, 2024, 11:56:19 PMWhat do you reckon they research?

According to their website, Masons and Lodges.

Terry Torpid


Ferris

Quote from: letsgobrian on April 30, 2024, 09:19:16 AMAccording to their website, Masons and Lodges.

Probably not too much more research needed there.

sevendaughters

Quote from: Ballad of Ballard Berkley on April 29, 2024, 08:13:34 PMI introduced Seinfeld to my girlfriend recently, and she loves it. Kramer is her favourite character. The other night she asked me if Michael Richards did anything else afterwards. What's he up to now?

there's a guy on youtube who did a little series called The Seinfeld Curse Files where he talks about Bob Patterson (Alexander), Listen Up (Alexander), Watching Ellie (Louis-Dreyfus), and The Michael Richards Show (not sure). Him just doing Shakin Kramer in a bigger world just seems kind of crap.

He's good in Problem Child though!

Small Man Big Horse

A friend of a friend moved to America well over a decade ago and shortly afterwards became a freemason, he's visited the UK since and swears that it's just a bit of a boys club where they try and do their bit to help each other out if need be, and otherwise it's supposed to be about improving the town they live in. I've no idea if that's the official party line or the actual truth, but he's always seemed like a fairly honest, decent bloke and I don't know anyone who has a bad word to say about him. Though I guess it's more than possible that the masons have murdered anyone who did.

wrec

Quote from: sevendaughters on April 30, 2024, 04:33:49 PMthere's a guy on youtube who did a little series called The Seinfeld Curse Files where he talks about Bob Patterson (Alexander), Listen Up (Alexander), Watching Ellie (Louis-Dreyfus), and The Michael Richards Show (not sure).

Hadn't thought about Listen Up for years, was reminded of it by a mention of Alexander's pre-Seinfeld sitcom Everything's Relative (suspect that would be a tough watch) and this is the second mention of it I've seen in a couple of days. I remember it being, jarringly, confusingly insipid and generic in the wake of Seinfeld. Strange to think that Alexander was playing a guy trying to balance his career and raising teenagers in this crazy world [sitcom shrug] while Curb was four seasons in. But the really distracting thing was seeing Theo Cosby (i.e. Malcolm Jamal Warner) with cornrows.

sevendaughters

Quote from: wrec on April 30, 2024, 06:41:47 PMHadn't thought about Listen Up for years, was reminded of it by a mention of Alexander's pre-Seinfeld sitcom Everything's Relative (suspect that would be a tough watch) and this is the second mention of it I've seen in a couple of days. I remember it being, jarringly, confusingly insipid and generic in the wake of Seinfeld. Strange to think that Alexander was playing a guy trying to balance his career and raising teenagers in this crazy world [sitcom shrug] while Curb was four seasons in. But the really distracting thing was seeing Theo Cosby (i.e. Malcolm Jamal Warner) with cornrows.

I haven't seen a proper episode of Listen Up but they made a persuasive case that the family stuff was generic but the relationship between Alexander and Warner was better than you'd expect!

wrec

Quote from: sevendaughters on April 30, 2024, 08:14:37 PMI haven't seen a proper episode of Listen Up but they made a persuasive case that the family stuff was generic but the relationship between Alexander and Warner was better than you'd expect!

Interesting, have you got a link? I only have a vague memory of it but it seemed part of general mid-noughties malaise and disappointment.

sevendaughters

Quote from: wrec on April 30, 2024, 08:44:27 PMInteresting, have you got a link? I only have a vague memory of it but it seemed part of general mid-noughties malaise and disappointment.


kngen

Quote from: Terry Torpid on April 29, 2024, 06:43:46 PMI've had a look at some outtakes, and to my surprise he's not quite as straight faced as I remember, but certainly still the most serious of the three.

He seems a bit peeved at some of the shenanigans. Bless him, he tries to keep going even when he's dropped something, smacked into the set, or everyone else has fucked up the lines.


It's one of the things that keeps me coming back to the 'You wanna piece of me?' Jerry Stiller blooper - seeing him able to clearly enjoy Dreyfuss's futile attempts to not corpse, but also riding it through, clasping his hands to stay in the moment and keep his energy right there. What a fucking pro he was. But we're not talking about him - so apols.

Led Souptin

Is it really called "Entrances and exits"?

Cos that is a tremendously bad title.

I know people used to love it when he entered Jerry's apartment... but entrances and exits just makes me picture kramer entering Jerry's body repeatedly.

dontpaintyourteeth

It makes me think of Dennis and his "An Erotic Life" in It's Always Sunny

famethrowa

Quote from: Led Souptin on May 01, 2024, 06:13:52 AMIs it really called "Entrances and exits"?

Cos that is a tremendously bad title.

I know people used to love it when he entered Jerry's apartment... but entrances and exits just makes me picture kramer entering Jerry's body repeatedly.

Your pillow talk must be really something

Terry Torpid

Quote from: kngen on April 30, 2024, 09:37:06 PMIt's one of the things that keeps me coming back to the 'You wanna piece of me?' Jerry Stiller blooper - seeing him able to clearly enjoy Dreyfuss's futile attempts to not corpse, but also riding it through, clasping his hands to stay in the moment and keep his energy right there.

Yeah Stiller was brilliant. It's also great to see him nearly forget his lines in every scene he's in, then he pulls it back at the last second.

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