Jerry Seinfeld, at the Dodge Theatre

Two things might have caught the eye of patrons to comedian Jerry Seinfeld’s show Friday night at the new Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz.

On a nearby sidewalk, people were scalping tickets (Seinfeld has two more sold-out shows tonight, four in all) while country station KNIX-FM (102.5) was broadcasting live outside the theater in downtown Phoenix. At least the scalping made sense. Once inside, Seinfeld’s graceful onstage style won over the crowd, even one in as cavernous as the indoor amphitheater that is Dodge Theatre. People in the balcony probably wished the Dodge had video screens so they could identify him. Seinfeld began his act with morsels of topical humor before delving into the meat, focusing on the evolution of relationships, including his own.

On dating: "Twenty-six years of dating. Do you realize how much pretending to act fascinated that is?"

On big weddings: "Nobody cares about your wedding. Why is it necessary to ruin the day of 150 of your friends?"

On babies: "Let us make no mistake about why these babies are here. They have come to replace us."

He stepped back onstage for a brief question and answer period, hearing the usual requests for his favorite episode from his show (they’re all his favorites) and favorite TV moments ("stealing the rye bread from the old lady") to his love of cars and the chances for a Seinfeld reunion show. "It’s a possibility," he said. "Once all four careers are in the toilet — and we’re working on it as we speak."

A version of this story originally appeared in the Arizona Republic.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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