I'm Telling You for the Last Time

Watching a comedian ceremonially bury the material that made him wealthy is an unusual premise for a comedy release. Taped just months after his television show ended its nine-year run, Jerry Seinfeld treats this set as a final outing for the observational routines that built his career. He vowed to never perform these jokes again after this recording.

The performances were recorded live at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City in August 1998. The recording operates as a polished archive of his most recognizable premises. He runs through the mechanics of scuba diving, pointing out the absurdity of checking a waterproof watch just to realize you are out of oxygen and running late. He questions the logic of skydiving helmets, suggesting that if the parachute fails, the helmet is simply wearing your head for protection. The set also preserves his assertion that since public speaking is the average person’s number one fear, you are technically better off in the casket than delivering the eulogy.

Released on CD and cassette, the album picked up a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Comedy Album. Critics at the time largely agreed the material held up on its own, with Entertainment Weekly noting his riffs remained worthy of preservation.