Steve Martin surprised the audience at New York’s Beacon Theatre on Thursday night when he stepped out on stage to open for Jerry Seinfeld at one of the shows in Seinfeld’s monthly residency. It was Martin’s first time doing stand-up in more than thirty years.
“Actually, I’m here tonight because of that old showbiz saying: Never lose a bet to Jerry,” Martin joked, according to Vulture. The actor recently appeared on Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, where Seinfeld asked Martin about his stand-up comedy and his decision to stop, which Martin often does not discuss.
Vulture reported that Martin’s set was brief, and that for most of it he sat down with his banjo.
Below are two of the jokes Martin told, as reported by the publication.
“I’ll be honest with you, right off the top, because I’m a little upset with the Beacon Theatre. I was backstage and I used the restroom. And there was a sign that read, ‘Employees Must Wash Hands.'” [Pause.] “And I could not find [pause] one employee [pause] to wash my hands.”
“By the way, I apologize for the ticket prices. [Pause.] I know it seems expensive, because there is like one guy, two guys and a couple of mics, but it’s not that way. There are like four sound people and two lighting people and [pause] drivers and wardrobe people and catering and someone to walk Jerry’s Fitbit around. [Pause.] A celebrity look-alike, in case Steve doesn’t feel like going on. Steve says ‘hi,’ by the way.”
When Seinfeld walked out as Martin played the banjo, the two comedians shook hands and Martin thanked Seinfeld. “That is really the thrill of my career,” said Seinfeld of Martin later on in his set.
