Jerry Seinfeld has the respect, accolades and financial security that make it possible for him to create Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, his upcoming comedy series, using his personal phone book and his own renowned collection of classic cars.
He even can grab the public’s attention for his new venture without the need for a marketing campaign. Then he can get the one fish-eye camera show distributed on Crackle, the digital network owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a studio that continues to profit from the comedian’s hit TV show Seinfeld.
Starting July 19, Seinfeld’s latest series features the likes of Ricky Gervais, Alec Baldwin, Larry David and Michael Richards. While some of Seinfeld’s Porsches rank equal to them in fame, the promo video (below) shows vehicles that definitely are not European.
In earlier days, digital-only programs were often seen as market tests or training grounds. But that perception is changing, thanks in part to game consoles, Smart TVs and other technologies that continue to erode differences in how entertainment reaches the viewer.
Choosing this route gives Seinfeld – someone who would have little difficulty getting a traditional network deal– total control without sacrificing too much audience reach. A project like this also represents far less risk to wallet and reputation than recently-canceled network comedies like Best Friends Forever, Bent, I Hate My Teenage Daughter, Work It! and many others.
For audiences, the only significant downside of Seinfeld using his considerable clout for a digital series is the apparent inability for anyone to talk or write about Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee without using a catchphrase from the Emmy Award-winning show. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Related links:
Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee – http://comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com
Crackle – http://www.crackle.com
Deadline – Web Teaser: Jerry Seinfeld’s New Crackle Series
The Wrap – Jerry Seinfeld Unveils ‘Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee’
Photo shows Ricky Gervais (left) and Jerry Seinfeld in a screen grab from “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee”
