`Seinfeld' star pushes comedy cure for Mideast

Tha Atlanta Journal Constitution ^ | 6-24-09 | JOSEPH MARKS

[slumber1]

JERUSALEM — "Seinfeld" star Jason Alexander told a crowd in Jerusalem Wednesday that the search for an Israeli-Palestinian solution and the "show about nothing" that launched him to fame have one thing in common — neither seemed destined to succeed.

But just as the show managed to bounce back with comedy, Alexander said, a solution might be found for Mideast troubles if people write and laugh with one another.

"We were canceled, we were gone, we were a distant memory and somehow we came back and eventually everybody caught on and started paying attention," he said. "Other than that, we shed no wisdom."

[slumber1]

Just for laughs

[jiggyboy]

Ah, it’s George. I had been thinking that “stringing ‘em up!” might have been part of the strategy.

[onedoug]

islamism is NOT funny.

[traderrob6]

Potentially the worst analogy in the history of man to be ever concocted.

[GraceG]

You can laugh at a Jew, but the second you laugh at an Islamic extremist is the second you become head and shoulders above the rest, meaning your head will become separated at the shoulders and from the rest of you.

[Soothesayer]

This might work with the moderates but the hardcore Islamists will not tolerate jokes about Islam.

[HerrBlucher]

You are an idiot Costanza. Seinfeld was a great show though.

[behzinlea]

The only Muslim I have come across who is funny is Achmed the Dead Terrorist. And someone else writes and delivers all his lines.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

“Cantstandya!”

[Larry Lucido]

Wow, what a sad, sad man. Maybe he means well but he is naive to a fault.

[rockabyebaby]

I love Achmed, funny funny stuff, I KILL YOU!

[hecht]

Before Greenspan embarks on such drivel, he should visit a local Chabad House and learn to put on Tefillin.

[NordP]

ELAINE: "Was that your first INSTINCT, or the OPPOSITE?

.....STICK with the opposite!"

[behzinlea]

"Jewish humor is self-deprecating humor," said Alexander, who is Jewish. "Nothing makes a Jew laugh more than jokes about Jewishness. It's purely speculation, but my guess is that's probably not as true for the Arab world."

Now THAT'S funny! Good one, Jason.

Poke fun at a Muslim for his Muslimness and he'll laugh your head off.

[TADSLOS]

“And you want to be my latex salesman...”

[Larry Lucido]

Okay, I’ll try one:

“Mr. Costanza, you seem to know everything. We’d like to give you the job of mideast comedy ambassador. Now, you are aware......”

“Sir, your car is being blown up.”

“Damn this city!”

“I am aware! I am aware!”

[Eric in the Ozarks]

How well we remember all those Islamic comedians from the Catskills...