Actor Steve Martin has briefly returned to his past life as a stand up comedian, performing as a surprise opening act for Jerry Seinfeld in New York.
Martin, who went on to star in movies including Three Amigos, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band, Father of the Bride, Cheaper by the Dozen and Planes, Trains and Automobiles as well as hosting Saturday Night Live, was famed for his unique brand of conceptual stand up before moving into films. He’s since put together an extensive and impressive selection of movie appearances.
Martin’s stand-up career ran through the late 60s and 70s, before he quit the genre unannounced in 1981, with last night’s brief ten-minute appearance before Seinfeld’s show marking his first return. During the short set, Martin also played the banjo.
Vulture were able to take transcripts of three of Martin’s jokes, as follows:
“Thank you. Jerry couldn’t make it tonight … Have a safe ride home! Actually, I’m here tonight because of that old showbiz saying: Never lose a bet to Jerry.”
Getty“I’ll be honest with you, right off the top, because I’m a little upset with the Beacon Theatre. I was backstage and I used the restroom. And there was a sign that read, ‘Employees Must Wash hands’. [Pause] “And I could not find [pause] one employee [pause] to wash my hands.”
“By the way, I apologize for the ticket prices. [Pause]. I know it seems expensive, because there is like one guy, two guys, and a couple of mics, but it’s not that way. There are like four sound people, and two lighting people, and [pause] drivers, and wardrobe people, and catering, and someone to walk Jerry’s Fitbit around. [Pause]. A celebrity look-alike, in case Steve doesn’t feel like going on. Steve says hi, by the way.”
Vulture also report that Seinfeld heaped praise on Martin in his own performance, calling his appearance “a thrill of my career.”
Martin’s latest movie Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk is currently in post production.