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Acura rejoins with Seinfeld, sponsors Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee [w/videos]

Chris Paukert — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Acura, Celebrities, Luxury

We enjoyed the opening season of Seinfeld's offbeat Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee web series, a video serial where Jerry Seinfeld picked up his friends in some of his classic cars and... chatted. It was a simple premise that offered some genuinely enjoyable moments, even if the 'cars' connection was often a bit incidental. In any case, Acura must have felt the same way, as it has just inked a deal to be the sole sponsor for the series' next season.

Acura, you may recall, already enjoys a relationship with the comedian - Seinfeld starred in the company's 2012 Super Bowl ad alongside the NSX supercar concept. So perhaps it's no surprise that it has signed on to sponsor 24 episodes of the series, due to roll out this year and next. Naturally, with any title sponsorship these days, you can expect to see some integration of the sponsor - in this case, Acura says such measures will involve its new 2014 MDX crossover, integrating "short, contextually relevant ads at the beginning and end of the episode."

Will you watch? For a refresher on Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee, check out a couple of our favorite first season episodes with Michael Richards and Alec Baldwin by scrolling below.

Continue reading Acura rejoins with Seinfeld, sponsors Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee [w/videos]

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Seinfeld signs on for 24 more episodes of Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee [w/video]

Chris Paukert — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:44:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Videos, Humor

Jerry Seinfeld and his freeform buddy interview series, Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee, have been picked up for another season. The legendary comic is perhaps best-known for his eponymous television show "about nothing," and his delightfully simple CICGC internet series of shorts isn't entirely dissimilar in spirit.

According to The New York Times, Seinfeld has agreed to put together 24 more episodes with his Sony partners. The initial series of 10 episodes ran last year and featured such comedians as Alec Baldwin (shown), Larry David, Ricky Gervais and Michael Richards milling about in one of Seinfeld's vintage cars and heading out for a cup of joe. Using that basic premise, the celebrities talked about the craft of comedy, told stories, jokes, and chatted about cars, if only a bit.

The next step is to try to figure out how the internet video series can turn a profit - "This next go-round we're going to have to figure out some sort of revenue stream, so it makes more sense," Seinfeld tells the NYT.

For a quick refresher on the series while you're waiting for new episodes to show up, check out a couple of our favorite episodes from the first season by scrolling below.

Continue reading Seinfeld signs on for 24 more episodes of Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee [w/video]

Seinfeld signs on for 24 more episodes of Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Season finale of Seinfeld's CiCGC with Michael Richards might be best yet

George Kennedy — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Truck, Videos, Volkswagen, Celebrities, Humor

Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee has proved its worth as more than just your average web series. Jerry Seinfeld acts almost as an ambassador to the comedy world, bringing us along to spend a few hours with the likes of funnymen that include Larry David, Ricky Gervais, and Alec Baldwin. With cars like a vintage Volkswagen Beetle, Mercedes-Benz 280 SL and Austin Healey 3000, the mode of transport to said coffee is always old and always awesome. The season finale of CiCGC proves to be the most interesting episode yet, as Jerry is joined by his Seinfeld co-star of nine years, Michael Richards, a.k.a. Kramer.

The two set off for java in a 1962 Volkswagen Double Cab, and everything seems normal. Kra - pardon us, Richards shows Jerry sites such as the partially crumbling Getty Villa, and then things take a turn for the strange.

A graphic pops up early on in the clip, informing us that "Certain scenes from this episode seem like they were set up. They were not." That is in reference to a pair of occurrences in the short that were both absurd and serendipitous. We won't spoil it for you.

Also making this video worth watching is the fact that these two professionals who shared a workplace for nearly a decade spent time pondering over the methods they used when they were at their peak. Additionally, Richards offers up an explanation for the incident at the Laugh Factory that appeared both genuine and eloquent. Yeah, it is one of the more downright interesting videos you'll watch all week. Watch it below.

Continue reading Season finale of Seinfeld's CiCGC with Michael Richards might be best yet

Season finale of Seinfeld's CiCGC with Michael Richards might be best yet originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seinfeld's CiCGC pairs Alec Baldwin with 1970 Mercedes-Benz SL

George Kennedy — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Performance, Videos, Dodge, Mercedes-Benz, Celebrities, Humor, Luxury

For both comedy and car fans, Jerry Seinfeld and his "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" web series has been a car-filled, caffeine-fueled, laugh-fest. The trend continues in the two latest installments of his unusual unscripted series.

In the first video seen above, Jerry picks up actor Alec Baldwin in a Signal Red Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster. The two exchange anecdotes about their shared hometown of Massapequa, New York and of a Kirk Douglas-Burt Lancaster rivalry. Baldwin also considers his mortality and calls Seinfeld a "lazy, shiftless bastard." Baldwin also decrees that he is the most articulate person in the Screen Actors Guild, and talks about the jealousy induced by watching his neighbors play on a Slip 'n' Slide.

Click below to see the video of the two prolific funny men talk over coffee and while tooling around in Seinfeld's cherry SL.

Additionally, we've added a recent episode of the web series that you might have missed, and this time Jerry is on the West Coast at the wheel of a 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A. Powered by a 340 Six Pack, Seinfeld picks up standup comic Brian Regan.

Continue reading Seinfeld's CiCGC pairs Alec Baldwin with 1970 Mercedes-Benz SL

Seinfeld's CiCGC pairs Alec Baldwin with 1970 Mercedes-Benz SL originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seinfeld's CiCGC series lands Ricky Gervais in an Austin-Healey 3000

George Kennedy — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 19:22:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Videos, Humor

In the second installment of Jerry Seinfeld's new web series Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee, Jerry scares the bejezus out of Ricky Gervais. Hilarity ensues.

Seinfeld picks up the British funnyman in a 1967 Austin-Healey 3000, which Jerry claims is a car that says "Damnit I love British sports cars and I will go down with that ship if I have to." Upon arrival Gervais admits that he did not know the Austin was a British-built car.

On the the way to get coffee, outside of Manhattan, they ponder why the homeless have such wonderful hair and the morality of the death penalty - oh, and Gervais is scared stupid by riding in the tiny British roadster.

Click below to see the video, find out how what Jerry finds so funny in this screen grab, and if Gervais eventually suffers from a nervous breakdown in a sports car built in his native land.

Continue reading Seinfeld's CiCGC series lands Ricky Gervais in an Austin-Healey 3000

Seinfeld's CiCGC series lands Ricky Gervais in an Austin-Healey 3000 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 19:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seinfeld's Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee long promo released

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Celebrities, Humor

Sony's Crackle has released the second, and much longer, promo for Jerry Seinfeld's upcoming web show Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Contrary to the placement of the word "cars" in the title and the first car-centric promo, this trailer suggests are appears only incidentally related to the program; this looks much more like comedians hanging out and chatting in coffee shops, and they needed a better method of transportation than buses or donkeys.

There will undoubtedly be some car talk, and we won't complain about whatever we'll get since it will probably center around samples from Seinfeld's excellent collection. We really just hope the show is funny, and while the promo below has promise, it looks like we'll have to wait for the show itself to see about that.

Continue reading Seinfeld's Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee long promo released

Seinfeld's Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee long promo released originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jul 2012 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seinfeld teases new car show with other comedians

Zach Bowman — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 09:15:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Celebrities, Humor

As it turns out, making a successful television show about cars is more difficult than it looks. Just ask Adam Carolla or the kids from the U.S. version of Top Gear. As we recently heard, Jerry Seinfeld has decided he should give the premise a go with Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, a new web series. If the concept sounds dull, brace yourself for the pointless teaser video below. True to its name, the show looks to feature comedy names like Ricky Gervais, Larry David, Michael Richards and Alec Baldwin all riding along with Seinfeld in some of his more interesting vehicles. We're not exactly sure where the coffee part comes in.

With a roster like the one above, you'd be forgiven for expecting to find yourself weeing with hysterical laughter at the promo. Unfortunately, the YouTube clip features little more than a few glamor shots of some classics from Austin-Healey, Dodge, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Triumph and Volkswagen rolling on public streets and the comics laughing with each other sans actual jokes. We wouldn't call it pulse-quickening by any stretch, but hopefully the actual show will be better. Produced by Sony-owned Crackle, the web program premieres on Thursday, July 19 at 9 p.m. Eastern. Check out the promo video below or head over to the show's site.

Continue reading Seinfeld teases new car show with other comedians

Seinfeld teases new car show with other comedians originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jerry Seinfeld returning to TV with Comics and Cars

Zach Bowman — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Celebrities, Humor

Jerry Seinfeld may be planning to stage a return to television. The comic and car fanatic has been dropping hints about a new project tentatively called "Comics and Cars." Details are iffy at the moment, though the premise seems to circle around Seinfeld and his wealthy friends hanging out and talking about various vehicles.

Names like Alec Baldwin, Ricky Gervais and Larry David have all surfaced as potential candidates, though it's unclear if Seinfeld will rely on a regular panel of hosts or a slurry of rotating guests. Seinfeld has tried his hand at reality television in the past, though without much success.

The comic's last project, The Marriage Ref, bumbled along for two seasons on NBC before being canceled. There's no doubt that Seinfeld is both funny and a genuine car guy, but if shows like Top Gear USA and The Car Show have proven anything, it's that it takes more than those two elements to succeed.

Jerry Seinfeld returning to TV with Comics and Cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acura apologizes after casting "not too black" actor in Super Bowl ad

Jeff Sabatini — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:28:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising

We loved the hilarious Super Bowl ad for the coming-some-day-but-not-anytime-soon Acura NSX starring Jerry Seinfeld, but we really wish it would have popped back onto our radar for a different reason than this. (Like a production announcement from Honda.) TMZ is reporting that when the commercial was cast, the ad the agency responsible had sought an African-American actor to play the car dealer who was, "Nice looking, friendly. Not too dark." And the website has a copy of the document to prove it.

To paraphrase one of Seinfeld's catch phrases: "Yes, there's everything wrong with that."

While we'd like to think that some day the obvious interpretation might be that the casting director was referring to the actor's mood, clearly that's not the case here. TMZ says an unnamed source associated with the commercial told it that "not too dark" had something to do with lighting and special effects, and we hope that's true. Still, the way the brief description reads, it certainly sounds like whomever was casting the spot thinks dark-skinned people are neither nice nor friendly.

We're not about to throw Honda under the bus - it was, after all, an outside ad agency named RP& that shot the ad, according to Motoramic - as the automaker apologized, issuing the following statement:

We apologize to anyone offended by the language on the casting sheet used in the selection of actors for one of our commercials.

We sought to cast an African-American in a prominent role in the commercial, and we made our selection based on the fact that he was the most talented actor.

The casting sheet was only now brought to our attention. We are taking appropriate measures to ensure that such language is not used again in association with any work performed on behalf of our brand.

While we're glad to see Honda react promptly and properly, re-watching the commercial gave us further pause: If Honda indeed sought to cast an African-American in a prominent role, did it consider an African-American for the part of the guy who's first on the list for the NSX, as opposed to the salesperson?

Scroll down to watch the commercial for yourself.

Continue reading Acura apologizes after casting "not too black" actor in Super Bowl ad

Acura apologizes after casting "not too black" actor in Super Bowl ad originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What's the deal with Fiats? Seinfeld flips car, but fine now

Noah Joseph — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:03:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities

News is just now surfacing that comedian Jerry Seinfeld flipped his 1967 Fiat BTM on Saturday in New York when the classic car's brakes failed. The funny man surely wasn't laughing when the brake pedal stopped responding, so he swerved to avoid the heavily trafficked Montauk Highway, causing the car to flip and come to stop before the intersection. Police credit Seinfeld with avoiding a very serious accident thanks to his split-second decision, and the ever joking ex-TV star said this about the accident:

"Because I know there are kids out there, I want to make sure they all know that driving without braking is not something I recommend, unless you have professional clown training or a comedy background, as I do. It is not something I plan to make a habit of."

We're not quite sure why news of Seinfeld's traffic mishap sat around on some news reporter's desk for four days until it blew up. He flipped the Fiat on Saturday and suddenly news of his near death experience is everywhere on Wednesday. Oh well, we should just be pleased that one of our country's national treasures is safe.

[Source: CBS47TV, Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty]

What's the deal with Fiats? Seinfeld flips car, but fine now originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeep airs new ads: lizard show-down

Noah Joseph — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Jeep

Starting tomorrow (Monday, September 18), Jeep will air five new TV spots. The first clip to surface is this crazy "Lizard" ad, which shows a lizard in the desert, puffing up to challenge an old Wrangler. The Wrangler puffs up even bigger, scares off the lizard and settles down to the shape of the new Wrangler.

The ad reminds us of Jurassic Park, where a Jeep faced off against a similar lizard. Dennis Nedry (played by Wayne Knight, "Newman" from Seinfeld) only wishes his Jeep had stood its ground the same way.

The four other ads will feature two gorillas grooming, a bird hunting for bugs, an insect-like Wrangler rock-crawler and a hip-hop urban spot.

[Source: Carscoop]

Jeep airs new ads: lizard show-down originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Sep 2006 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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