'Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill': King of comedy returns after 40 years, fans feel the laughs are labored
With '23 Hours to Kill', Jerry Seinfeld returned with his first standup special in 22 years. His last stand-up special was 'I'm Telling You for the Last Time', which he performed in 1998. While '23 Hours to Kill' was filmed last year, the special was available to stream on Netflix from May 5 as part of the comedian's deal with Netflix.
For most Seinfeld fans, '23 Hours to Kill' was like going back home after a long break, after all, Seinfeld has been in the business of making people laugh for over 40 years and there's a reason why he is referred to as the pinnacle of stand-up comedy.
The king of observational comedy, Seinfeld can make even the most mundane of things funny, as one fan noted, "Jerry Seinfeld's 23 hours to kill proves how flawless a routine can be on things as trivial as stuffed cookies. #Netflix." Another fan tweeted, "Just got done watching 23 hours to Kill on NetFlix and if you're a Seinfeld fan I highly recommend it."
A viewer wrote, "We need an hour to decompress. Everyone does. I’m watching “23 Hours To Kill” on NETFLIX. Stand up with Jerry Seinfeld. Just watch it. Now. Do your brain a favor and give it [an] hour to escape. You won’t regret and I was no Seinfeld fan in the [’90s]. But he’s on it in this!" Another fan tweeted, "65-year-old Seinfeld is better than the Seinfeld from 30 years earlier."
However, many fans were disappointed with '23 Hours to Kill' and felt that the special missed the mark. One viewer tweeted, "Nothing great. I love #Seinfeld - obsessed with it but @JerrySeinfeld as a standup never reached those heights of pure wit & comedy. As he himself says wonder why he did this one. Average. Watch a Seinfeld rerun instead. 1 hour wasted."
A viewer wrote, "10 min into Jerry Seinfeld 23 hours to kill and I have a bad feeling of disappointment." Another viewer tweeted, "First half of 23 Hours to Kill was some classic Jerry Seinfeld. Really enjoyed it. 2nd half fell off a bit for me."
One viewer wrote, "Watching #JerrySeinfeld 's new #Netflix special #23HoursToKill and [the] only thing I can notice is how labored the audience laughs feels all thru this rather ordinary material from the man. I bet they must be going in their heads - 'Great! This just sucks!'"
'Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill' is now streaming on Netflix.