Jerry Seinfeld Defends The Word Really To The New York Times
Your Critic’s Notebook column about the overuse of the term “Really?” was so deeply vacuous that I couldn’t help but feel that you have stepped into my area of expertise.
Really, Neil? Really? You’re upset about too many people saying, “Really?”? I mean, really.
O.K., fine, when it’s used in scripted media, it is a little lazy. But comedy writers are lazy. You’re not fixing that.
So, here’s the bottom line.
If you’re a writer, fine, don’t use it. But in conversation it is fun to say.
I did a “Saturday Night Live Weekend Update” segment titled “Really!?!” with Seth Meyers a few years ago. It was a blast and the audience loved it.
Your example with the girl in the office and the bad clothes? It is definitely much more fun to look at her and just say, “Really?” than to actually talk about the stupid outfit. Really, it is.
What I do not say or write, as you did in the part about responses to Einstein’s theories, is “wrap my head around it.”
Are you kidding? No, no, no, Neil. No sir.
When I hear people say, “If you can wrap your head around it,” I want to wrap their heads around something, like a pole.
There’s no “wrapping.” There’s no heads going around.
Don’t preach to us about “Really?” and then wrap our heads around things.
You crumbled a bit of civilization off there yourself.
Really.
JERRY SEINFELD
New York, Oct. 2, 2012
F*cking hilarious!
ReplyDeleteYes!!
ReplyDeleteGood for Seinfeld!
ReplyDeleteI love Jerry. Really.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the author! His next article should be about the overuse of "super", as in "I'm super excited" or "That was super fun"! When I hear adults say it they sound like overgrown kids.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Neil "could care less" about Jerry's response. *stabstabstab* Kudos, JS.
ReplyDeleteHaha! Welcome back amber- hope you enjoyed your trip!
DeleteI too would like to wrap people's heads around inanimate objects when they use that phrase. Really!
ReplyDeleteI really don't mind the use of really. Really. Seriously. I've missed Seinfeld. But while we're at it, can we have a ban on people adding inappropriate LOLs to everything? "I saw a car crash today LOL".
ReplyDeleteI hate that!!!!
Deletelol.
Ut-oh, i think im guilty of this!
Delete@rej - Thank you!! I did. My BF gave me my bday gift early - he got us tickets to see Leonard Cohen @ L'Olympia. There aren't enough words in any language to describe how incredible it was!
ReplyDeleteAMBER!!
ReplyDeleteI am super excited that you are back! I really, really, like really wanna to hear about your super fabulous trip! ;)
Leonard Cohen!!! OMG! I really love that man. I seriously, really do, OK.
ReplyDeleteAww thanks so much, dia! I will have to figure out a way to tell you about it that does not involve hijacking a thread here!
ReplyDeleteOMG, that is soooo wicked awesome!
ReplyDeleteI can't wrap my head around why he felt compelled to write this. *shrug*
ReplyDeleteGreat response!
ReplyDeleteOn Leonard Cohen...I used to date a girl who really, really liked to listen to his music during sexy times. Which I didn't find sexy. At all. Probably because she particularly like "Everybody Knows" and my paranoid mind kept thinking she was trying to tell me something. Like that I wasn't as sneaky as I thought I was. I was such a mess in my mid-20s. Really.
ReplyDeleteAmer - I saw Leonard 4 years ago for my birthday. It was amazing. He Ran around the stage, he jumped in place - unreal for a 74 year old man - and he performed for over 3 hours with a 20 minute break halfway through. He makes all the pissy little runts like Bieber and those 1/2 his age look bad. Enjoy. I know you will.
ReplyDeleteLucas, I have almost an identical story. Leonard Cohen is someone whom I would LIKE to like or at least appreciate, but a psycho ex totally ruined him for me. Go figure.
ReplyDelete(But I do adore "Hallelujah" when it's done by Jeff Buckley.)
ReplyDelete@ Lucas - "Everybody Knows" is NOT sexy at all! Hahaha. "A Thousand Kisses Deep" is, though.
ReplyDelete@ Jason - we went on Saturday! (Just got back from Paris yesterday.) Doors opened at 8, show started at 8:10 and went til 12 with a 20 minute break. And, like you said, he SKIPPED on and off stage and was dropping to his knees while singing. He was so beyond gracious, and really put the spotlight on the musicians performing with him. He was incredible. Only song I was sad he didn't do, was "Chelsea Hotel No. 2", but I think he doesn't do it anymore at all after he spilled the beans about it.
That was REALLY funny....
ReplyDeleteI really like your avi, like, really really like it super much! ;)
DeleteBut seriously, I do think its adorable
I have no problem with "really". I have a serious problem with "amazing" and "awesome".
ReplyDeleteSusanB - I couldn't agree more. I'll take all of society's use of "really" over Katie Holme's 2007-2011 singular over use of the word "amazing" any day of the week. And, JS - you've finally made me forgive you for calling that poor recipe author a nutjob for your wife lifting all her recipes. You were kinda a bully. But, I also see you're still pretty funny. No, really. Just, no more bullying. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMuch like my precious ellipses, "Really?" can say so much with so little.
ReplyDeleteI too, hate the overuse of LOL. I have a friend who's texts look like this:
ReplyDeleteI went shopping today LOL and got some dinner LOL I was so hungry LOL so I'm glad I was able to eat LOL.*
Really? You were that happy the whole time? Did people look at you funny while you were laughing down the aisle?
(*except really(!) it looks like this: I wnt shping 2day lol gt dinnr lol ws so hngry lol gld ws able 2 eat lol)
So Lola, your friend is really auntliddy? LOL ;)
ReplyDeleteYou know I love ya auntieL
That was really, really lovely!
ReplyDelete@dia...
ReplyDeleteYes, but I didn't want to call her out personally or anything.
(sorry, auntliddy. ;P )
Hugs to auntliddy! She knows we need an AL translator button sometimes for her wacky typing. ;)
Delete'really' doesn't bother me at all. 'right?' does. 'i know, riiight?' i recently met a guy who would apply this to every conversational response. he sounded like a total dumbfuck.
ReplyDeleteDon't even get me started on "um" or "like". " Really" seems like a walk in the park in comparison.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back, amber! Hope your aris adventure was amazing, and if you do high jack another thread to talk about your trip, lmk, cause I have always dreamed of visiting Paris....
ReplyDeleteAnd yes! To the LOL thing...it is a running joke with my peeps that we actually refuse to type ths, even when we are legit laughing out loud. People use it in the weirdest way...(much like I do with my thre dots ...)
E Gee Be - I live for the dots.... And explanation points!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for getting this, especially after all my typos!! (Extra ! Just for those who don't judge me!)
ReplyDelete"lol" and "like"....especially "like"...like this...like that...like...totally
ReplyDeleteyes...the three dots...I like live for the three dots...lol...really really amaaaaaaazing....okay ... stick a fork in me
ReplyDeletehaha! i hate that term, "wrap my head around it' i just cant help but thinking weird things. really? yeah that term IS annoying. i say.
ReplyDeleteHeh, I can just hear him saying, "There’s no “wrapping.” There’s no heads going around." Seinfeld forever!
ReplyDelete