Why I Am Doinig This.

This is my 2008 8th grade history fair project for my US history class. I am doing it about Jerry Seinfeld and the television show Seinfeld and how they have influenced modern day American history. I think Jerry Seinfeld and his show have brought many new words and phrases that we use in our everyday conversations. Enjoy!!!

Basic Information

Jerome (Jerry) Seinfeld was born on April 19, 1954 in Brooklyn, New York. At a young age Jerry showed a very inventive sense of humor. He would watch hours of Bill Cosby and based a lot of his comedy off of him. Jerry spent a lot of time with his dad when he was young. He said his dad was a comic genius. He started writing down funny thoughts he had at age 15. He also wrote down funny things he saw and heard. Jerry based a lot of his comedy of of observational humor. His only goal was to make people laugh. He said laughter had great power. When Jerry told his family he wanted to be a comedian they supported his decision all the way.

Seinfeld ran for nine years during prime time on NBC. As it ran, Jerry was considered the "ruler of the prime time world." Jerry Seinfeld's routines for his show and his stand-up comedy career are about stories and jokes about human behavior. Jerry Seinfeld's comedy was literally about nothing!!!

Language

The Seinfeld television show has brought us many new and funny vocabulary words and phrases. "We never set out to make catchphrases. That was never done consciously." Seinfeld said in an interview with People magazine. Many of Seinfeld's words and phrases we now used in our everyday conversations. Here are a few:

• Close talker: a person who stands very close to someone when talking to them
• Indian giver: One who gives a gift, but then takes it back
• Low talker: A person who speaks extremely quiet
• Man hands: A women's hands that look like they would be better suited on a man

• Muffin stumps: The bottom half of a muffin
• Multiple sneezer: A person who sneezes multiple times in a row
• Pop in: an unannounced visit from a person
• Re-gifting: the process of giving a gift you received to someone
• Sentence finisher: One who interrupts you while you are talking and finishes your statement for you
• Stakeout: Staying at a location and watching or waiting for a person to arrive
• Chip-in: Where a group of people all put money into buying a gift
• Wedgie: When a persons underwear is pulled upward toward their head
• Yada yada yada: A phrase used to shorten a story or leave out unnecessary details

Where He is Today

When Seinfeld left prime time it was considered a classic television program, and many called it the best sitcom ever. Seinfeld is currently running on more than 200 stations across the country. It is still going strong after 10 years. It still goes strong because of its great writing, intricate story lines, and how it is really funny. Jerry Seinfeld still does stand-up comedy acts, and he is now doing commercials with Bill Gates for Microsoft. The language of the show Seinfeld has had an extreme impact on the modern American language. Some of the words and catch phrases were originally created for the show and some were already made up and just enhanced by the show, the show made them famous. We use alot of these words and phrases everday and sometimes we don't even recognize it, "yada, yada, yada," "close talker", "the dingo ate your baby", and others. I think Jerry Seinfeld had a major impact on modern American history by introducing new vocabulary and catchphrases to our lives.