Suited up and sporting a buzz cut instead of the curly hair that made him famous, Jerry Seinfeld took to the Colden Auditorium stage with a roaring “This is where I started the whole goddamn thing!”
Jerry Seinfeld of “Seinfeld” fame — a hugely successful 90s television show — kicked off his latest comedy tour at Queens College on Oct. 18, with a packed audience of 2,200 people. Varying in age, the crowd began lining up for the 8 p.m. show as early as 6:30 p.m., enjoying wine and crackers as they waited for the show to begin.
In true New York fashion, as traffic jammed the Long Island and Horace Harding Expressways the show’s opening act, fellow comedian Colin Quinn of Saturday Night Live fame, used the traffic as his starting line.
QC alumni, Seinfeld graduated in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in communications and theater.
“My first time on this stage — in this very auditorium — was when I was performing in a serious play as a senior at Queens College. I ended up playing my part in a funny way and the director was not pleased and that was when I realized: I don’t want to say things that aren’t jokes,” said Seinfeld.
To cheer him on were fellow class of 1975 alumni, Diane Stabile and her husband Richard, both certified public accountants who met at QC while taking night classes.
“I think it’s great that he’s here,” said the Stabiles, who were there with their sons, all of whom are Seinfeld fans and have seen him live before.
A few last minute attendees walked around outside the theater looking for people who might have extra tickets to the otherwise sold out show.
Keeping the audience laughing and in a humming giggle throughout the show, Seinfeld managed to talk about everything from weather, cabs, his life, his career, his time at QC to poking fun at the front row audience in his usual bantering and extremely energetic way.
“My job is to distract you for a little while, while you sit in a different chair,” said Seinfeld, thanking his audience for coming to the show.
Seinfeld will perform five stand-up shows — one in each New York City borough — on five Thursday nights this fall. QC marked the opening of the “Five Boroughs Tour.”
