‘Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee’: 6 Episodes to Celebrate Its Surprise Emmy Nomination

(All Photos: Crackle)

Jerry Seinfeld is no stranger to Emmy voters. Back in the ’90s, his eponymous NBC sitcom was a perennial nominee for Outstanding Comedy Series, a statue it only took home once (!) in 1993. His history with late night television stretches back even further to his 1981 debut on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show. Since then, he’s sat opposite virtually every other host of 11 p.m.-and-later gabfests, from classics like David Letterman and Jon Stewart to current favorites Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel.

Still, it seemed unlikely that he’d one day be nominated alongside them. But that’s exactly what happened when the Emmys unveiled the 2016 nominees for Outstanding Variety Talk Series and Seinfeld’s Crackle Web series, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, was on the list. In nabbing this nomination, Seinfeld leapt over late night personalities like Trevor Noah, Samantha Bee and, most notably, Stephen Colbert, who headline more traditional TV talk shows.

And a case could be made that Emmy voters parked the low-key, low-fi Comedians in the wrong spot alongside larger-scale nightly productions like The Tonight Show, with their armies of writers and viral-friendly mixture of skits and stunts. At the same time, though, the simplicity of Seinfeld’s show is the key to its charm: It’s just about Jerry enjoying a nice car, a good cup of coffee, and the company of a fellow comic. And with each episode generally clocking in between 15 and 20 minutes, there are none of the dead spots you get with shows that are required to last an hour. Still not convinced? We’ve gone ahead and picked out the six episodes from the show’s eight-season run that illustrate why Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee is worthy of its Emmy nomination. You’ll want to ride shotgun on this binge.

“I Want Sandwiches, I Want Chicken,” Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner (Season 1, Episode 9)
Before they were enshrined in the Comedy Hall of Fame, funnymen Brooks and Reiner were lowly scribes writing gags for pioneering variety series like Your Show of Shows. So it’s only appropriate that they were part of Seinfeld’s freshman season, which brought them into the Internet realm with their rapier wit fully intact. Widowers both, the two men have settled into a comfortable routine that involves nightly dinners in front of the television, sometimes falling asleep during DVR’d episodes of Jeopardy. After riding around with Reiner during the day, Seinfeld shows up for one of these repasts with a healthy amount of unhealthy takeout in tow. His obvious reverence for these comedy legends never gets in the way of witty rejoinders. When Brooks taunts him about Louis C.K.’s auteur ways, Seinfeld replies with mock outrage: “I’ll be damned if I’m going to sit here hyping Louis C.K.!” (It would take him two seasons to get around to doing that.)

“It’s Bubbly Time, Jerry,” Michael Richards (Season 1, Episode 10)
So far, Jerry has taken three out of his four Seinfeld pals for a spin: Larry David (who was Seinfeld’s very first passenger), Michael Richards, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. (Jason Alexander has technically appeared on the show, but only in character as George Costanza for a one-off special episode.) Of that trio, his ride with the erstwhile Cosmo Kramer is the most revealing, with Richards opening up about the controversy that engulfed his career in 2006. Naturally, there are lighthearted moments too, like Richards jokingly playing tour guide while he and Seinfeld putter around L.A. Nice to see that, even though they now have a lot, they’re still Kramer and Jerry from the block.

“Comedy, Sex and the Blue Numbers,” Louis C.K. (Season 3, Episode 1)
After Seinfeld guest-starred on a hilarious episode of Louie, Louis C.K. returned the favor by appearing on an uproarious installment of Comedians in Cars. Actually, this particular episode should perhaps be retitled Comedians on a Boat, as the duo spend most of their time together navigating New York’s waterways aboard Louis’s beloved yacht. The centerpiece of their journey is an animated reenactment of a disastrous boat ride that Papa C.K. took with his two daughters, which ended with their ship beached in mud as bystanders stood around shouting out largely unhelpful advice. This episode also reveals Louis’s favorite way to watch IMAX movies: stoned, with snacks he’s smuggled in from home.

“Two Polish Airline Pilots,” George Wallace (Season 4, Episode 2)
Trading the bright lights of New York for the even brighter lights of Las Vegas, Seinfeld reconnects with his pal of nearly four decades, comedian George Wallace. After watching (and laughing) backstage as Wallace slays a Sin City audience, the two old friends retire to the Vegas version of a diner (meaning there’s plenty of neon) and kibitz about their families, their accomplishments, and why the heck bathrooms are also called restrooms. With this episode, Seinfeld indulges in one of the benefits that accompanies having your own talk show: inviting your buddies on for casual conversations that happen to be captured on tape. It’s why David Letterman repeatedly welcomed back Amy Sedaris and Jon Stewart was always at his happiest joshing with Denis Leary. There’s nothing to promote and no pressure to embellish the guest’s star wattage — just two friends enjoying the kinds of conversations they’d have even if they weren’t on camera.

“Happy Thanksgiving, Miranda,” Miranda Sings (Season 5, Episode 4)
Seinfeld’s awkward encounter with YouTube sensation Miranda Sings — the alter ego of comedian Colleen Ballinger — is another example of a late night tradition: the interview gone horribly wrong. Think David Letterman not-so-subtly hating on Paris Hilton or Richard Branson throwing a glass of water all over Stephen Colbert. To be fair, Seinfeld invited this upon himself when he asked Ballinger to stay in character throughout their drive, and she admirably refuses to tone Miranda’s exaggerated awfulness down, embracing her role as a caricature of the Web-savvy millennial. At times, Seinfeld agreeably plays the out-of-touch older guy, but there are moments where you can see the fa?ade slip to reveal genuine irritation. “This is supposed to be a relaxing, fun show to watch,” he tells Miranda at one point. This particular episode isn’t relaxing, but it is fun to see Seinfeld jolted out of his comfortable groove. (Stick around following the closing credits to see Seinfeld chatting with Ballinger after she’s dropped her Miranda Sings persona. This brief but oddly touching scene makes it clear that Jerry was in on the joke.)

“Just Tell Him You’re the President,” Barack Obama (Season 7, Episode 1)
How do you know your podcast and/or Web series has arrived? When you get to interview a sitting president of the United States. On the heels of his sit-down with Marc Maron, Obama invites Seinfeld onto the White House grounds for an extended visit. Aside from a quick (and self-aware) plug for his health care plan, the commander in chief mostly eschews political conversation in favor of more personal topics, like the experience of spending his first night in the White House and how he does drop F-bombs when he’s in private. The production demands of most talk shows require that the president come to them. By going to the president, Seinfeld scores one of Obama’s very best interviews.

Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee is currently streaming on Crackle and its official website.