{"id":611,"date":"2007-11-06T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2007-11-06T10:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/beyondblue\/2007\/11\/seinfeld-on-humor-to-break-the.html"},"modified":"2007-11-06T10:30:00","modified_gmt":"2007-11-06T10:30:00","slug":"seinfeld-on-humor-to-break-the","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/beyondblue\/2007\/11\/seinfeld-on-humor-to-break-the.html","title":{"rendered":"Seinfeld on Humor: To Break the Face"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since I am such a huge Seinfeld fan<\/a>–I swear the script writers studied my life before crafting each episode–I thought I’d include an excerpt from Jerry Seinfeld’s book, “SeinLanguage<\/a>,” which I own, of course. I try to exercise his wisdom and make people “break their face” throughout the day. Because many times I feel that’s more important than feeding them.<\/p>\n

When I was a kid my father used to take me around with him in his truck. He was in the sign business on Long Island and he had a little shop called the Kal Signfeld Sign Co.
\nHe really did.
\nI’d ride in the van with my sneakers up on the dashboard and it was there that I first learned one of life’s great pleasures, watching other people work.
\nIn truth, there are few people as much fun to watch work as my father. There has never been a professional comedian with better stage presence, attitude, timing, or delivery. He was a comic genius selling painted plastic signs that said things like “Phil’s Color TV” and cardboard ones like “If you want to raise cattle, why do you shooting the bull?”
\nThe thing I remember most about those afternoons is how often my father would say to me, “Sometimes I don’t even care if I get the order, I just have to break that face.” He hated to see those serious businessman faces. I guess that’s why he, like me, never seemed to be able to hold down any kind of real job.<\/p>\n


\nOften when I’m on stage I’ll catch myself imitating a little physical move or certain kind of timing that he would do:
\n“To break that face.”
\nIt was a valued thing in my house. I remember when Alan King would walk out on the “Ed Sullivan Show” hearing my mother say, “Now, quiet.” We could talk during the news but not during Alan King. This was an important man.
\nAnd I was proud to be the only kid in my neighborhood with a complete Bill Cosby album collection. He was my favorite comedian and the first black actor to star in a series. But to me, he was the first adult on TV to wear sneakers on a regular basis. I know that affected me, but I’m not sure in what way.
\nMy father lived to see me start to make it as a comedian and he was always my most enthusiastic supporter. He taught me a gift is to be given. And just as he gave it to me, I hope I am able to give it to you.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Since I am such a huge Seinfeld fan–I swear the script writers studied my life before crafting each episode–I thought I’d include an excerpt from Jerry Seinfeld’s book, “SeinLanguage,” which I own, of course. I try to exercise his wisdom and make people “break their face” throughout the day. 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