Extended interview: Jerry Seinfeld on comedy, directing, and Pop-Tarts

In this extended conversation with "Sunday Morning" correspondent Mo Rocca, comedian Jerry Seinfeld goes deep when talking about the precision of his approach to comedy, and how he made a fondly-remembered part of his youth - the breakfast staple Pop-Tarts - the subject of his directorial debut, the Netflix comedy "Unfrosted."
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[@lindadorman2869]

"I didn't have a salad until I was 40." So true! My mother's idea of a good meal was cut-up chicken pieces boiled to death in hot salty water, soggy canned green beans, jarred sweetened applesauce and a glass of whole milk. I didn't have fresh vegetables or fruit until I was out on my own. It was years later I realized my family was too poor to afford fresh produce and my mother hated cooking!

[@Accountdeactivated_1986]

And yet the meal you described is still healthier and better for you than most people get today. The food wasn’t made with high fructose corn syrup and chemicals, and most people weren’t morbidly obese.

[@JA-tg2if]

"We can lose a few kids" lmao😂

[@harm7602vicount-Visconti]

What’s with the sound of Jerry’s mic? He sounds like he is at the other end of the room…

[@MANZANOADRIAN]

his mic wasn't plugged in

[@chepad1]

Sounds like there is 1 overhead and it’s angled toward interviewer.

[@harm7602vicount-Visconti]

@@MANZANOADRIANyou can say that again. And Jerry needs to do that too…

[@vince9771]

I was gonna say just that. My hypothesis:” Mr Seinfeld, I’m gonna set up a mic on your shirt. Jerry- Don’t bother, you’ll hear me just fine! There’s plenty of mics in here!”

[@CT-vm4gf]

I noticed that to. But I don’t care, I could hear him. Life will go on just fine.

[@Worklikeyoushouldbe]

Jerry is 69! One of the old timers of Hollywood that deserves serious respect from the next generation. Thanks for all the laughs Jer

[@jcc152509]

He also has an affinity for young girls. The dude dated a 17-year-old when he was 38. That is creepy and WRONG.

[@alramone1]

@@jcc152509 Get over it, zoomer.

[@jcc152509]

@@alramone1 Do you have children i.e. a daughter? I would presume you don't. Good one, alramone1, "zoomer!" Your comment is rather presumptuous and hurtful.

[@annehajdu8654]

He turns 70 today, 29th.

[@Worklikeyoushouldbe]

@@annehajdu8654 no kidding? Geez

[@rickyiglesias5384]

I feel like a lot of y'all complaining don't realize that this is an EXTENDED interview. Interviews that air on TV are like 5 minutes and heavily edited to be tight and concise. This is like the full convo, so there's gonna be gaps and missteps. Calm down and stop being so critical. I'd love to see you speak with another human being PERFECTLY for over a half-hour.

[@BluesImprov]

Sir, it all comes down to relating to your guest. . .This guy doesn't. . .But, he obviously thinks projecting his somewhat "prissy" attitude makes him interesting in some way. He's kind of annoying, and that's why many people are critical of his "style." And it's NOT about being "PERFECT", it's about being more "real" and not trying to project an attitude that ends up interfering with the flow of the conversation. And you're wrong about TV. I spent 35 years directing "live" TV newscasts and interviews. It's not about being "perfect", it's about getting out of the way and enjoying the flow of an interview that your guest reveals to you. You just pick up on where your guest wants to go and help them get there. Because THEY are the show. . .NOT YOU!!! The best interviewers understand this.

[@rickyiglesias5384]

@@BluesImprov I honestly can't think of a better person at CBS to interview Jerry than Rocca. he's been in the comedy world for 25+ years now. I feel like he relates to him fine and never seems to have an attitude to me. but to each their own.

[@Hiluxtaco]

Looking back on his TV Show, Pop-Tarts were all over the place. On his kitchen counter and in his cupboards. He also would pull them out of a bag, like he had just gone grocery shopping, and then proceeded to stick them up on his shelf. The one time that he sticks a box in the cupboard above his microwave, then he turns around, has an epiphany, and then spins around, opens the cupboard, grabs the box and proclaims to the camera, "I can't believe I got the low fat!!" 😂😂

[@PumpkinRose1958]

He’s such a great talent! I still watch reruns of his show everyday.

[@Emmitt2215]

“I don’t know what this is but I’m in on this” lol great line and so true my son loves his pop tarts just we did as kids

[@weebeedesigns]

This whole interview is tongue in cheek and Mo Rocca is just trying to go with whatever Jerry is tossing out, it's like Improv. And I'm really loving Mo Rocca as a silver fox. Mo, "the guy", as someone calls him here, is a seasoned interviewer and regular contributor to CBS for many years.

[@usergodcandy777]

He's also an original Daily Show correspondent.

[@weebeedesigns]

@@usergodcandy777 I completely forgot that! That seems like so long ago.

[@UncleSam-USofA]

Jerry S. is a legend

[@kuegenticomedy]

Interview: I have never had a pop tart? Jerry Seinfeld: YOU NEVER HAD A POP TART??!!!

[@anonymoust8818]

My Girls, now in their 20's, knew a hurricane was coming when I stowed in Pop Tarts "just in case." Wife & I always made sure they had "healthy foods" but, they (Pop Tarts, not my kids) were shelf-stable and had enough enriched what-ever to make it after a storm :-)

[@beninformato9040]

Jerry should have said .... "Ya know Mo, comedy is about timing. It's about knowing when to pause correctly, when to segue, practicing your lines, being prepared. It's about doing the direct opposite of what you're doing here today!." hahahaha! :)

[@user-rq3oj8xn6v]

Whew. I thought I was alone. I like Mo Rocca, that said, this is a clunky and awkward interview. Huh. struggling.

[@Accountdeactivated_1986]

I kinda enjoy frustrated Jerry. A frustrated Jerry dealing with a person who can’t speak the same language as him is an hilarious Jerry.

[@rickyiglesias5384]

@@user-rq3oj8xn6v He's probably starstruck. Jerry probably his idol and he's intimidated.

[@SuperC888]

“I don’t know what you’re talking about”4:22 this is the funniest part… the look on Jerry’s face!!

[@theck672]

I adore this freaking hilarious interview… Thanks Mo & Jerry ❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️

[@jeffainsley6000]

Part of the irony of Unfrosted has to be the media tour that Jerry Seinfeld is on, where the interviewers try to ask him serious questions about his childhood relationship to Pop Tarts.

[@SSerebraSSana]

Typo in the interviewer's name. Should be Mo Ronic. Jerry is so great, even after all these years! He came out of the starting blocks spot-on funny and has stayed right there, which is pretty amazing. Can't wait to see Pop-Tarts!

[@donniemoder1466]

There are moments, you remember all your life. There moments you wait for and dream of all your life. This is one of those moments! Yentil knew about Pop-Tarts?

[@Hiluxtaco]

Ho Ho's rock, Jerry! And yes, they are made by Hostess.. 😜

[@ncgirlfromtx]

Omgosh! I just put brown sugar pop tarts on my grocery list!

[@NevadaBoss]

Snap, Crackle, Pop & Shemp....there's a show, that's a show!

[@Robb3348]

it's gold!

[@cathypreston1095]

In depth conversation about Pop-Tarts... Ha love it!

[@maxmartin2763]

Pop-Tart fun facts. 1. Science to create a fruit filling that didn't need refrigeration (or canning) was stolen from General Foods, Gaines Dog Food Burgers. 2. The POST product, "Country Squares" entered the market 7 months prior to Pop-Tarts but failed because of the stigma associated with the word "square" in the 60's. 3. The guy at Kelloggs who oversaw the Pop-Tart product had the surname POST. His kids ate the very first Pop-Tarts and demanded them when they woke-up every morning, thus the decision to market them as a breakfast food. 4. All Pop-Tart ad photos showed the product broken diagonally in order to make it appear to have more filling than pastry. All tests on versions with more filling resulted in Pop-Tarts exploding in the toaster.

[@jlasf]

I love useless trivia like. I mean "useless" in a complimentary way.

[@jefolson6989]

I knew the heirs to the Post Toasties fortune. They did fine anyway.

[@jlasf]

@@jefolson6989 Can you play "Six Degrees of Separation" between Jerry Seinfeld and Donald Trump? Jerry Seinfeld produced movie featuring Post Toasties. Post Toasties was owned by the Post family. Marjorie Merriweather Post was heir to the family fortune. She lived in Palm Beach and built Mar-a-Lago. Donald Trump bought Mar-a-Lago. Frightening!

[@Lmberjosh]

The interviewer was not equipped to interview Jerry. There were a lot of blank stares back at lines like “90% of the flavor of the pop tart is the heat, 90% of the flavor of ice cream is the cold”

[@user-rq3oj8xn6v]

I like Mo Rocca, that said, this is a clunky and awkward interview. Huh. struggling.

[@alramone1]

Most interviewers are not as witty or smart as JS and too egotistical to acknowledge it. Larry King interviewed JS well because he just laughed at most of what he said.

[@alramone1]

@@user-rq3oj8xn6v Mo Rocca kind of sucks and this is proof enough.

[@Accountdeactivated_1986]

Jerry Seinfeld doesn’t have a high tolerance for people who don’t understand humor, so this was probably painful for him.

[@blunt2416]

😅this interview was brutal. Jerry had to be bored out of his mind.

[@raph151515]

they did him dirty with this sound quality

[@dannyarcher6370]

they did him dirty with this interviewer quality

[@MrSeed333]

i'm too high for this audio right now.

[@VintageModernRemixes]

I'm in the exact same situation. "Duuuuuude, ever listen to Jerry Seinfeld... ON WEEEEED???"

[@jackb4344]

He is a National treasure, continues to make us laugh.

[@makethemost]

Someone forgot Jerry’s mic…

[@meveevem1001]

Jerry ~ We LOVE you!! ❤❤

[@nicraknes]

He starts reminding me of legendary Garry Shandling

[@Tradisrad]

This is straight out of Curb Your Enthusiasm 😂

[@francescalegrand4520]

Brown sugar cinnamon!! 😂😂😂 My favorite also!! Followed up by the frosted strawberry and the frosted blueberry!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@one4blondes]

Without the frosting so you can put it in the toaster 😊

[@terrymott2816]

Hysterical interview - they clearly were having fun feeding off each other - thanks for posting!

[@AtlantaGarden]

I love both of these people so much, I don't give a damn about hair, sound mixing, whatever. So Mo may have been a little star-struck in this interview. I loved the background info. Calendar is marked for the day this movie comes out!

[@corinnewinter-rousset1650]

Brown sugar cinnamon Pop Tarts oh yeah.

[@user-yf8xe8be8n]

My mom and dad and uncles and grandfather all worked at Kellogg’s. At Christmas they would put on a Christmas show for all the kids of the employees. After we got a small suitcase of all the new stuff and I remember getting pop tarts once. Along with Tony the Tiger spoon. And a small box of cereal that was new.

[@frankG335]

It's just good for the soul to see JERRY. I, along with a lot of other people, watch Seinfeld every night before bed so I fall asleep laughing.

[@NenasMund0]

A conversation I never knew I needed 🤎🤎🤎

[@mediajuice]

Oh no what happened to the audio? Always gotta have that LAV mic & boom mic combo for safety

[@davidlong1786]

I had them as a kid a few times but I think we were a Post Toast'ems family. I always thought they tasted better. Now it's Toaster Strudel for me.

[@keith_s32]

Kudos to the sound tech. What cave is CBS using these days?

[@SuperC888]

Pop-Tart owner Kellogg's (1964-2023) Tagline "Crazy Good!"

[@juliacarlson6445]

Why not get Jerry & Hugh Grant together “in conversation”? That would be a meeting of minds who like each other & it would be genuinely funny. Please take this one suggestion away with you to consider?

[@koriandmikenorth1991]

@cbssundaymorning - two technical issues. Jerry’s audio is not very present, his voice sounds like it’s being picked up from the host’s mic. Also the color between A cam and B cam are slightly off.

[@donniemoder1466]

35 minute int😂erview. The movie isn't much longer is it?

[@theck672]

We love you Jerry❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️

[@dannyarcher6370]

I'm 14:30 minutes in on my fourth stint, but I shall persevere for Jerry's sake!

[@Squanderama]

Fun Tech Tip - There are multiple mics on an interview, (over heads & lapels)BUT if an editor decides to engage ALL mics at the same time, you will hear the ambience/echo of the room. Bush-league move for a Prime Network Celebrity interview.

[@mblumenstein1]

Spatial issues with your sound mix, Sunday Morning.

[@taplikechicken7645]

How is that CBS which has been an American institution for 75 can not get the damn audio correct? It sounds like it was recorded through a metal tube.

[@brosan5404]

2:44 funniest part of the interview

[@SuperC888]

Oh Mo 🤦🏼‍♀️ wrong guy to interview Jerry

[@checkthestache]

There is so much opposition to this interview, along with speculating and rampant commenting... Jerry is SO FUNNY! Thanks to the man for staying in the pocket at all times 😂

[@edmunddonnelly3881]

Pop Tarts are a dessert in Bethesda, Maryland? 😂

[@KathySolorzano-qe4di]

Yodels!!...Loved them..Are they still around...

[@FightTalkMMA]

PhAsInG; F'd up the audio but still bearable !

[@raph151515]

how is this sound quality is even possible on a network ! did you film the video from a bad TV with a phone?

[@steveflor9942]

Frosted....? Sugar on the inside. Sugar on the outside. What's not to like?

[@ageis]

31:09 There was Snap, Crackle, Pop and Pow (circa 1954).

[@ageis]

Commercial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rV6XpnSdiNuHbZY

[@DanRosenberg3]

Hostess IS the HoHo…and Little Debbie Swiss rolls were also the same. I never had Drakes growing up in Pittsburgh. And what’s with the audio? They forgot to turn on Jerry’s mic???

[@PumpkinRose1958]

One of the greatest comedic talents of all time.

[@burkelong4376]

The audio in this interview sucks. Jerry's mic must have been on the floor. Not usual CBS quality

[@justintuccimusic]

Does he own stocks in pop tarts now? 😂

[@emmanuel7984]

I love the pop tarts at whole foods market and trader’s Joe.

[@barracuda017]

Tony the tiger, snap crackle pop and many other animated characters, Leo Burnett advertising

[@maxmartin2763]

And L.B. was in Chicago competing with Madison Ave in New York. More L.B. iconic characters: Jolly Green Giant, Keebler Elf, Marlboro Man, Maytag Repairman, Morris the Cat, Pillsbury Dough Boy, Toucan Sam.

[@beritbranch2436]

Love you guys!

[@aaronberga8803]

Jerry is correct that brown sugar cinnamon are the best, period. Unfrosted ones are required to then apply a light coating of peanut butter on the top, after being toasted. Trust me, with a glass of milk, that was breakfast heaven for a latch key kid.

[@thebigcheese5114]

Cinnamon and Oreo pop tart are it!

[@drobbi]

boy are these guys straining to have something to say to each other.

[@monamiiiii]

Pop tart policy 😂

[@emmanuel7984]

I remember the episode of Seinfeld when He was rejected by his girlfriend, I thought that was so funny.

[@artfart1486]

What I'd give to read the original script! T_T I want a six hour poptart movie - no joke.

[@joseorozco1383]

@7:25 --- Yeah, Clearly HAHAHAHA

[@electrojones]

Nice sound mix.

[@tv3one]

I think utube and CBS should pay us, the viewer, for watching this....

[@gigilaroux762]

My roommates cat would smell the cinnamon pop tarts in ur hands and she would sneak up to us and jump up and bite it off really quick. One time she got a whole half pop tart.

[@mudwiser1391]

I have eaten a ton of Pop Tarts over my lifetime, but I have never toasted them, am I missing out?

[@billb.2673]

Neither have I

[@tracyc2695]

Wonderful!

[@tv3one]

What happened to Concord grape????

[@aviaforrester1481]

I need show

[@rozwhite4297]

Totally relating to Jerry. Yodel in foil - that was rich. HoHo? Comparing HoHo to Drake was like comparing Coca Cola to RC Cola.

[@jamesdooling4139]

I almost choked at Mo's lack of knowledge pertaining to the space race...

[@kardrey100]

Brown sugar cinnamon is the best!💯

[@fredricclack7137]

Actually Himself 😂😅

[@Craigs_Cartoon_Capers]

Was Jerry’s lapel mic off?

[@Raelspark]

Jerry's right --- it's Drake's and Hostess ... living in NYC we have no idea what a Ho-Ho is. Ring Ding, Yodel, Twinkie, Devil Dogs, Funny Bones, coffee cake.

[@timbailey6105]

Toaster strudels are the king.

[@reyngel]

This guy is a terrible interviewer. But props to Jerry for helping out with good answers to his trash questions

[@marydawkins4190]

Yeah, he's really out of his league and doesn't seem to understand Seinfeld's humor at all. LOL

[@tekgamer33]

I came here to say this. This is one of the worst interviewers I’ve ever seen.

[@reyngel]

@@tekgamer33yep

[@ficklekid_ed86]

the likes are at 312, my grandma's old address

[@patrickfitzsimmons2130]

Why is the audio so poor on this? Hire me as an editor and I'll fix!

[@JimHarold]

I noticed that it myself. Seinfeld has on a lav mic but it sounds like it is coming off the camera feed. My guess is something went wrong with the lav during the shoot. BUT, they could have done some voice isolation to make it less noticable.

[@chestyvulva]

I thought my TV was jacked up 😂

[@edmunddonnelly3881]

Strange background noise.

[@thebod1]

His Lav mic in not switch on the camera, or the battery in the lave died, and they didn't have a spare. We are hearing the audio from Mo Rocca's (the interviewer) mic.

[@clicheguevara5282]

This can't be fixed with editing. It's a mic issue.

[@rayketchem4931]

Why is the sound so poorly recorded?

[@EidolonMedia]

What's the deal with broken microphones?

[@ZenyattaFan1]

Jerry is the best!

[@fredricclack7137]

Edsel Kellogg III 😂

[@Nathanatos22]

I didn’t expect Jerry Seinfeld to justify the killing of children in this interview about Pop-Tarts, but… there it is

[@tv3one]

I hope Seinfeld got paid a lot to have to go through this....

[@SunnyForestTarot]

Poptarts….are too hard…too thin and don’t have enough filling……Toaster strudels are the best!

[@shannonblanchard8195]

Ring dings and devil dogs in foil ❤

[@kevinpiastra]

I really think that Seinfeld looked at the Gaffigan hot pockets and felt threatened so he just wrote the pop tart bit as like a defense and then I truly believe that Kelloggs is secretly an end and sponsoring this whole thing I believe that Jerry doesn’t want to admit he’s basically just a pop tarts mascot at this point

[@Cwgrlup]

It’s HOSTESS HO-HO

[@notsure64]

I miss the unfrosted pop-tarts; they were great with butter!