Jerry Seinfeld Shares His Favorite “Seinfeld” Joke

It might not be what you expected

Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld speaks prior to presenting Pete Alonso of the New York Mets with the 2019 National League Rookie Of The Year Award during the 97th annual New York Baseball Writers' Dinner on January 25, 2020.
Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Aspect ratio issues aside, Seinfeld‘s addition to Netflix has prompted many fans of the series and television aficionados to revisit the show and remember what they loved most about it. They’re not alone, it turns out — the show’s creator and star has also been looking back on his time on one of the most zeitgeist-y shows out there.

In a recent interview on Extra, Seinfeld hung out at Citi Field and discussed his work on the show. Specifically, he was asked if he had any favorite jokes on the show — and Seinfeld answered without much hesitation.

“I do really like when Kramer is trying to find Elaine’s medical records on the show,” Seinfeld recalls. “He goes into the hospital and says, ‘I’m Doctor Van Nostrand from the Institute.’ The receptionist says, ‘What institute?’ and he goes, ‘That’s right.’” For him, the simplicity and the nuances of the joke were what made it resonate.

He also addressed talk of a reunion, stating that the Curb Your Enthusiasm season focusing on a Seinfeld reunion was as close as they planned to get to that. The interview as a whole makes for interesting viewing, with Seinfeld also discussing his post-Seinfeld work and his unrealized plans to have Joan Rivers on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.

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