Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours To Kill Review - 6 Ups & 3 Downs
6. Up - Smooth Transitions
When a comedian decides to commit to making a special, that means that many subjects will have to be broached in order to fill an hour. That means stringing together the funniest bits, but those bits don't always connect.
Seinfeld discusses a variety of topics, but as he navigates through his jokes, there's a clear path from one point to another. The conversation flows well, and it means there isn't much sudden change; it simply continues.
There are of course distinct topics that are covered, but Seinfeld weaves through the smaller topics within to go from point A to B. It's a bit like Inception - it's all about the topics within the topics.
Some of the biggest laughs in specials are the running jokes. A comedian tells a story with a punchline near the beginning, and at an unexpected time, they bring that scenario back up. It's a common trope, but it's used for a reason; it can be really funny. Seinfeld does this maybe once during the special, but it's a missed opportunity to not do it more.
What he does use, however, is wordplay that from an earlier joke that is provided new meaning and context later, and this is where the largest laughs are. In the grand scheme of specials, it's not all that necessary for bits to connect. But it helps.