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Entrances and Exits
The man who brought the kavorka to the Seinfeld show through one of the most remarkable and beloved television characters ever invented, Kramer, shares the extraordinary life of a comedy genius—the way he came into himself as an artist, the ups and downs as a human being, the road he has traveled in search of understanding.“The hair, so essential, symbolizes the irrational that was and is and always will be the underlying feature not only of Kramer but of comedy itself. This seemingly senseless spirit has been coursing through me since childhood. I’ve been under its almighty influence since the day I came into this world. I felt it all within myself, especially the physical comedy, the body movements, so freakish and undignified, where I bumped into things, knocked stuff down, messed up situations, and often ended up on my ass. “This book is a hymn to the irrational, the senseless spirit that breaks the whole into pieces, a reflection on the seemingly absurd difficulties that intrude upon us all. It’s Harpo Marx turning us about, shaking up my plans, throwing me for a loop. Upset and turmoil is with us all the time. It’s at the basis of comedy. It’s the pratfall we all take. It’s the unavoidable mistake we didn’t expect. It’s everywhere I go. It’s in the way that I am, both light and dark, good and not-so-good. It’s my life.” —Michael Richards, from Entrances and Exits
425 pages, Hardcover
Published June 4, 2024
About the author
Michael Richards
1 book24 followersMichael Richards, born July 24, 1949, in Culver City, California, is an American actor, comedian, and writer best known for his role as Cosmo Kramer on the iconic television sitcom "Seinfeld." Richards grew up in a middle-class family and discovered his love for performing at an early age. After graduating from Thousand Oaks High School, he attended the California Institute of the Arts and later earned a degree in drama from Evergreen State College in Washington.
Richards began his career in comedy in the early 1970s, performing in various improv and comedy clubs. He gained national attention as a regular on the sketch comedy show "Fridays," which aired from 1980 to 1982. His work on "Fridays" showcased his talent for physical comedy and set the stage for his later success.
In 1989, Richards landed the role that would define his career: Cosmo Kramer on NBC's "Seinfeld." Created by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, the show became a cultural phenomenon, and Richards' portrayal of Kramer, the quirky and eccentric neighbor, was a standout. His physical comedy, unique mannerisms, and impeccable timing earned him three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
After "Seinfeld" ended in 1998, Richards struggled to find a role that matched his success as Kramer. He starred in the short-lived sitcom "The Michael Richards Show" in 2000, but it was canceled after only a few episodes due to poor ratings and reviews.
In 2006, Richards faced significant controversy when he used racial slurs during a stand-up comedy routine at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. The incident was widely publicized and led to a major backlash, damaging his reputation and career. Richards publicly apologized, expressing deep remorse for his actions.
Following the incident, Richards stepped away from the public eye, focusing on personal growth and reflection. He made a few sporadic appearances, including a cameo in Jerry Seinfeld's show "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" in 2012, where he addressed the controversy and his subsequent retreat from the spotlight.
Richards' personal life has been relatively private. He was married to Cathleen Lyons from 1974 to 1993, and they have one daughter, Sophia. In 2010, he married Beth Skipp, and the couple resides in Southern California.
Richards began his career in comedy in the early 1970s, performing in various improv and comedy clubs. He gained national attention as a regular on the sketch comedy show "Fridays," which aired from 1980 to 1982. His work on "Fridays" showcased his talent for physical comedy and set the stage for his later success.
In 1989, Richards landed the role that would define his career: Cosmo Kramer on NBC's "Seinfeld." Created by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, the show became a cultural phenomenon, and Richards' portrayal of Kramer, the quirky and eccentric neighbor, was a standout. His physical comedy, unique mannerisms, and impeccable timing earned him three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
After "Seinfeld" ended in 1998, Richards struggled to find a role that matched his success as Kramer. He starred in the short-lived sitcom "The Michael Richards Show" in 2000, but it was canceled after only a few episodes due to poor ratings and reviews.
In 2006, Richards faced significant controversy when he used racial slurs during a stand-up comedy routine at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. The incident was widely publicized and led to a major backlash, damaging his reputation and career. Richards publicly apologized, expressing deep remorse for his actions.
Following the incident, Richards stepped away from the public eye, focusing on personal growth and reflection. He made a few sporadic appearances, including a cameo in Jerry Seinfeld's show "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" in 2012, where he addressed the controversy and his subsequent retreat from the spotlight.
Richards' personal life has been relatively private. He was married to Cathleen Lyons from 1974 to 1993, and they have one daughter, Sophia. In 2010, he married Beth Skipp, and the couple resides in Southern California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews
June 25, 2024
As a huge Seinfeld fan, it really pains me to leave a negative review here.
First, the positives - I loved the part of the book about his upbringing and his first trip to NYC. I enjoyed reading about his childhood and how he had an early talent and passion for acting.
But, there were a lot of stories that should have been edited out of this book. There was an entire section where Richards decided he was going to enter a bike race, trained for it, and chose not to enter. That's the whole story. In another section, he goes to an Italian restaurant, signs some autographs, and then leaves. Maybe he sold all the good stories to J Peterman?
But, by far the worst part of the book was the philosophical psychobabble that seemed to crop up on every other page. I want to get to know Richards as a person, but this just felt like a heavy-handed attempt to convince the audience that he was an intellectual and/or "enlightened."
Even if I didn't enjoy this book, I'm still forever indebted to Richards for his role in creating my favorite show of all time.
First, the positives - I loved the part of the book about his upbringing and his first trip to NYC. I enjoyed reading about his childhood and how he had an early talent and passion for acting.
But, there were a lot of stories that should have been edited out of this book. There was an entire section where Richards decided he was going to enter a bike race, trained for it, and chose not to enter. That's the whole story. In another section, he goes to an Italian restaurant, signs some autographs, and then leaves. Maybe he sold all the good stories to J Peterman?
But, by far the worst part of the book was the philosophical psychobabble that seemed to crop up on every other page. I want to get to know Richards as a person, but this just felt like a heavy-handed attempt to convince the audience that he was an intellectual and/or "enlightened."
Even if I didn't enjoy this book, I'm still forever indebted to Richards for his role in creating my favorite show of all time.
June 4, 2024
Thoroughly enjoying this so far, it’s like having Michael in the room with you (slightly disconcerting when I’m listening to this in bed). He’s able to speak in such a way that you know the exact expression he’s probably making (or perhaps I’ve watched too much Seinfeld)!
Will update once finished!
Will update once finished!
June 5, 2024
Thank you, Michael, for such a wonderful insight into your life.
Honoured to be the first written review for this book on Goodreads, being Michael's self-proclaimed biggest fan. For a number of years I have owned the internet's one and only Michael Richards fanpage, watched every single piece of media he has starred in, and compiled a very large archive of photos/videos. I felt extremely privileged when my copy of Entrances and Exits arrived a whole week earlier than the publication date! And with my longtime commitment to Michael, it felt like something I deserved.
From the moment I held Entrances and Exits in my hands I felt quite emotional. All of these years which Michael was away from the spotlight, something in the back of my mind was telling me that he was writing a book - and I was right! And now it was here, in my hands. I couldn't wait to get into it and read his personal stories, behind the scenes of his projects and his journey since 2006.
It did not disappoint. A few pages in, I was so happy. Firstly, Jerry Seinfeld's foreword is lovely and really shows how much he cares about his friend. Once the book begins, reading Michael's story in his own words is so captivating. The whole book is in a chronological timeline of his career, which is perfect and takes the reader on a journey through his success. I really enjoyed hearing how he got started in the acting business and his life before we all came to know him on screen.
I love that Michael hasn't forgotten his roots and mentions almost every TV show/movie he has starred in, pre-Seinfeld, even the obscure ones. Seeing Marblehead Manor get so many little references made me very happy, it's one of my favourite projects of his and probably one you've never heard of. He also continuously mentions Fridays, the show which gave him a breakthrough to the television world, which is lovely to see how much he cares about where it all started. You can really tell how much he is grateful for all of the opportunities and friends along his career path.
I also loved the little nod to my favourite film of his, Unstrung Heroes, and another of my favourite TV projects, Kirstie. His little paragraph about the show and how talented Kirstie Alley was made me tear up. She is my favourite actress and I have never been able to get over her passing. His words 'I miss you, Kirstie' broke me!
Most importantly, fans of Seinfeld will love Entrances and Exits. I love Seinfeld, and like most others it was where I discovered Michael's work. He takes the reader on a season-by-season recap of the show, going into detail of certain episodes and telling funny stories about the cast and filming. There's also a lot about how he dealt with the show's success and press events, as well as the entire journey of how Seinfeld came to be. What shines through the most is how much Michael loves the show, how grateful he is to have been part of it, and how much he adores his fellow cast members.
The fact that Seinfeld takes up a very large portion of the book, as well as references scattered elsewhere, just shows his adoration for the show. It's very humbling to see that Michael is proud of his work and hasn't become above it all, like some actors. He talks about being proud of his pratfalls and silliness, and speaks of how talented the other actors, and guest actors were on the show.
It was also very heart-warming to hear that he had never watched Seinfeld and cannot remember a lot of the scenes, but had watched the entire series with his son before writing this book. That was so cute to read. He talks very fondly of his son and wife, it's lovely.
Then of course, possibly the most anticipated part of the book was addressing the Laugh Factory incident in 2006. Running a fanpage, this also hits me hard - I have to turn off comments on certain posts and delete comments religiously because of people saying mean things and bringing up the event. Almost 20 years since it happened and people still can't accept his apology and efforts to make things right again (all whilst celebrities are 'cancelled' for way worse today). I hoped that this chapter in the book would shed more light on it for those still unwilling to move on!
And it did. Michael explains the whole situation and its aftermath perfectly, I think he couldn't have written it better. I'm very glad he gave an articulated and valid argument instead of just writing 'I'm not a racist'. I hope people read this chapter and see what Michael went through afterwards emotionally, and his journey of healing himself, and realise it's very silly to be bringing up the Laugh Factory incident all these years later. Move on.
Though I didn't understand some of the philosophical parts, I'm glad Michael is able to find himself and find peace outside of the spotlight. Michael is a self-confessed introvert, and reading about his spiritual journey, passion for photography, love for his home, wife and son (and dog!) gave a whole other side to the extroverted characters he plays on screen. I hope other readers see that. And I hope that wherever Michael is, that he is happy, healthy and living his best life - he deserves it.
The book ends with a little acknowledgements chapter in which his final line reads 'to my fans, for your support, the letters, and all your interest in my whereabouts and well-being. The feeling is mutual'. A line which, as the owner of his one and only fanpage, hit home.
I'm incredibly grateful for Michael's work and the impact its had on my life, bringing such entertainment and joy. Being able to step into his stories, thoughts and ups-and-downs for those 425 pages was glorious. Reading this book will stay with me for a long time.
From me, Amy.
(michaelrichardsfans on Instagram, though I may be 'shadowbanned' at present...).
Honoured to be the first written review for this book on Goodreads, being Michael's self-proclaimed biggest fan. For a number of years I have owned the internet's one and only Michael Richards fanpage, watched every single piece of media he has starred in, and compiled a very large archive of photos/videos. I felt extremely privileged when my copy of Entrances and Exits arrived a whole week earlier than the publication date! And with my longtime commitment to Michael, it felt like something I deserved.
From the moment I held Entrances and Exits in my hands I felt quite emotional. All of these years which Michael was away from the spotlight, something in the back of my mind was telling me that he was writing a book - and I was right! And now it was here, in my hands. I couldn't wait to get into it and read his personal stories, behind the scenes of his projects and his journey since 2006.
It did not disappoint. A few pages in, I was so happy. Firstly, Jerry Seinfeld's foreword is lovely and really shows how much he cares about his friend. Once the book begins, reading Michael's story in his own words is so captivating. The whole book is in a chronological timeline of his career, which is perfect and takes the reader on a journey through his success. I really enjoyed hearing how he got started in the acting business and his life before we all came to know him on screen.
I love that Michael hasn't forgotten his roots and mentions almost every TV show/movie he has starred in, pre-Seinfeld, even the obscure ones. Seeing Marblehead Manor get so many little references made me very happy, it's one of my favourite projects of his and probably one you've never heard of. He also continuously mentions Fridays, the show which gave him a breakthrough to the television world, which is lovely to see how much he cares about where it all started. You can really tell how much he is grateful for all of the opportunities and friends along his career path.
I also loved the little nod to my favourite film of his, Unstrung Heroes, and another of my favourite TV projects, Kirstie. His little paragraph about the show and how talented Kirstie Alley was made me tear up. She is my favourite actress and I have never been able to get over her passing. His words 'I miss you, Kirstie' broke me!
Most importantly, fans of Seinfeld will love Entrances and Exits. I love Seinfeld, and like most others it was where I discovered Michael's work. He takes the reader on a season-by-season recap of the show, going into detail of certain episodes and telling funny stories about the cast and filming. There's also a lot about how he dealt with the show's success and press events, as well as the entire journey of how Seinfeld came to be. What shines through the most is how much Michael loves the show, how grateful he is to have been part of it, and how much he adores his fellow cast members.
The fact that Seinfeld takes up a very large portion of the book, as well as references scattered elsewhere, just shows his adoration for the show. It's very humbling to see that Michael is proud of his work and hasn't become above it all, like some actors. He talks about being proud of his pratfalls and silliness, and speaks of how talented the other actors, and guest actors were on the show.
It was also very heart-warming to hear that he had never watched Seinfeld and cannot remember a lot of the scenes, but had watched the entire series with his son before writing this book. That was so cute to read. He talks very fondly of his son and wife, it's lovely.
Then of course, possibly the most anticipated part of the book was addressing the Laugh Factory incident in 2006. Running a fanpage, this also hits me hard - I have to turn off comments on certain posts and delete comments religiously because of people saying mean things and bringing up the event. Almost 20 years since it happened and people still can't accept his apology and efforts to make things right again (all whilst celebrities are 'cancelled' for way worse today). I hoped that this chapter in the book would shed more light on it for those still unwilling to move on!
And it did. Michael explains the whole situation and its aftermath perfectly, I think he couldn't have written it better. I'm very glad he gave an articulated and valid argument instead of just writing 'I'm not a racist'. I hope people read this chapter and see what Michael went through afterwards emotionally, and his journey of healing himself, and realise it's very silly to be bringing up the Laugh Factory incident all these years later. Move on.
Though I didn't understand some of the philosophical parts, I'm glad Michael is able to find himself and find peace outside of the spotlight. Michael is a self-confessed introvert, and reading about his spiritual journey, passion for photography, love for his home, wife and son (and dog!) gave a whole other side to the extroverted characters he plays on screen. I hope other readers see that. And I hope that wherever Michael is, that he is happy, healthy and living his best life - he deserves it.
The book ends with a little acknowledgements chapter in which his final line reads 'to my fans, for your support, the letters, and all your interest in my whereabouts and well-being. The feeling is mutual'. A line which, as the owner of his one and only fanpage, hit home.
I'm incredibly grateful for Michael's work and the impact its had on my life, bringing such entertainment and joy. Being able to step into his stories, thoughts and ups-and-downs for those 425 pages was glorious. Reading this book will stay with me for a long time.
From me, Amy.
(michaelrichardsfans on Instagram, though I may be 'shadowbanned' at present...).
June 9, 2024
Many thanks to Michael Richards and NetGalley for the ARC/audiobook. From the foreword written and narrated by Jerry Seinfeld's enamoured account of his relationship with Michael to the last words narrated by the author, this has been a thoroughly enjoyable book of a very funny man. Who can't remember Kramer throwing open Jerry's door and sliding across the floor of the latter's apartment? I had a velvet paint-by-number of Kramer in his velvet suit jacket once. Reading more about Michael's life hit all the feels, and I will probably re-visit this one at a later date.
July 13, 2024
https://wendyreadit.wordpress.com/202...
Until I started getting into Michael RIchards memoir, I didn't realize that I only knew him as 'Kramer' from Seinfeld. Jerry Seinfeld narrates the forward and then Michael Richards narrates the book itself. While I enjoyed it and the story flowed nicely, I realized that, outside of the Seinfeld part and his role as Kramer, I just really wasn't interested in Michael Richards the person. He seems to be a nice person who, like the rest of us, makes mistakes. The difference being, as an actor and public figure, everyone knows when he screws up! I wish him and Beth and his kids all the happiness he has worked so hard to achieve! June 2024 pub date
Until I started getting into Michael RIchards memoir, I didn't realize that I only knew him as 'Kramer' from Seinfeld. Jerry Seinfeld narrates the forward and then Michael Richards narrates the book itself. While I enjoyed it and the story flowed nicely, I realized that, outside of the Seinfeld part and his role as Kramer, I just really wasn't interested in Michael Richards the person. He seems to be a nice person who, like the rest of us, makes mistakes. The difference being, as an actor and public figure, everyone knows when he screws up! I wish him and Beth and his kids all the happiness he has worked so hard to achieve! June 2024 pub date
September 20, 2024
The proto-philosophic ramblings of a washed up racist. in-between the actually interesting bits of Richards life it's laced with philosophic bull that he clearly did nothing with. a man who's clearly read a great deal but forgot to use any of it to be a better person. instead of donating to the poor and needy he buys a classic mansion. instead of being kind to his fellow man he goes on a racist rant screeching the n-word. instead of having compassion and care for those he works with he screams at the writers on his failed pilot that the show isn't funny. instead of showing deference and care to the people around him he regales the reader in a story of him street racing with Jerry dodging cyclists and pedestrians trying to cross the road. never once does he stop to talk about how these actions are wrong. he's learned nothing. he is no better as a person. his talks about how fraught his childhood was added context to why he is like this. but not growing from that is inexcusable. grow up Richards. you fucking loser
Edit: I would also like to note that towards the end when addressing his racist past he mentions a PR group brought up the idea of going to a soup kitchen to give back to the community. Which he referred to as "phoney and inauthentic" making it clear that giving back to the poor and needy is out of character for him and something he would never do.
Edit: I would also like to note that towards the end when addressing his racist past he mentions a PR group brought up the idea of going to a soup kitchen to give back to the community. Which he referred to as "phoney and inauthentic" making it clear that giving back to the poor and needy is out of character for him and something he would never do.
July 1, 2024
Very interesting for Seinfeld fans! I can recommend the audio version, narrated by Richards himself with trademark commitment.
June 9, 2024
I simply could not resist the audiobook narrated by Jerry Seinfeld and yours truly.
This book is so perfect for fans of Seinfeld. Michael delves into what it took to become Kramer, which interestingly he based the characters' mannerisms on a dog.. which makes so much sense when you think about his entrances and exits from scenes. He also let's the reader in on all the little bits and pieces that were going on when filming each of the episodes.
It also details Mr Richard's personal life from childhood up until now. With a particularly harrowing childhood and then a continued and constant struggle throughout adulthood, Michael is so much deeper than just the face of the iconic Kramer.
I really enjoyed this biography getting to know Michael Richards himself as in my mind he = Kramer. In reality he is a calm, shy and sensitive man who has been dealt with his fair share of trauma in life and is using comedy as his outlet. I have a lot of respect for this man despite some of the out of line comments he made (mind you these were made DURING a comedy show and in response to a heckler.. the press just had a field day with him, and anyone who is into comedy knows what's said during stand up shows can get a little out of line anyway, this once off occassion just happened to blow up).
This book is so perfect for fans of Seinfeld. Michael delves into what it took to become Kramer, which interestingly he based the characters' mannerisms on a dog.. which makes so much sense when you think about his entrances and exits from scenes. He also let's the reader in on all the little bits and pieces that were going on when filming each of the episodes.
It also details Mr Richard's personal life from childhood up until now. With a particularly harrowing childhood and then a continued and constant struggle throughout adulthood, Michael is so much deeper than just the face of the iconic Kramer.
I really enjoyed this biography getting to know Michael Richards himself as in my mind he = Kramer. In reality he is a calm, shy and sensitive man who has been dealt with his fair share of trauma in life and is using comedy as his outlet. I have a lot of respect for this man despite some of the out of line comments he made (mind you these were made DURING a comedy show and in response to a heckler.. the press just had a field day with him, and anyone who is into comedy knows what's said during stand up shows can get a little out of line anyway, this once off occassion just happened to blow up).
June 13, 2024
Wow!
What a phenomenal book!
What a phenomenal character he is!
And what a terrific actor!
I learned so much about him and his life that I never expected. I always just thought of him as that crazy guy on Seinfeld. But NO, he’s so much more!
From a difficult childhood, to his time spent in Vietnam, to his multiple jobs and trainings… Just wow! What an incredible guy! What a difficult upbringing. And, from an Italian background! I never knew that either!
Thank God for his grandma and her ailing health…or he may not have grown to be who he became!
The book was amazing!
Made me LOL! (Multiple times…)
Yet, also made me cry. He had some really difficult times in his years. Whether it be work, love, people not liking him (or understanding him), network problems… or health issues…
Additionally, I had no idea that he was such a spiritual person.
This book took me by surprise on so many levels…
But when he makes you laugh…well, it’s amazing.
To hear how he prepared for the shows…how he made himself into the character…just, WOW!
And with him narrating the book?
Well, it’s like I’m watching the movie of his life…right in my head!!
I was so lucky to be able to get this last minute via #NetGalley! So, thanks so much to NetGalley and #RBMedia for the ARC of the audiobook which released 6/4/24.
#EntrancesAndExits by #MichaelRichards with a foreword by #JerrySeinfeld. And as I mentioned earlier #MichaelRichards (aka, Kramer) also narrated the book, beautifully!!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me.
Feel free to like, follow and friend me on: Goodreads,
IG @ #BookReviews_with_emsr or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine.
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends!! 📚⭐️
What a phenomenal book!
What a phenomenal character he is!
And what a terrific actor!
I learned so much about him and his life that I never expected. I always just thought of him as that crazy guy on Seinfeld. But NO, he’s so much more!
From a difficult childhood, to his time spent in Vietnam, to his multiple jobs and trainings… Just wow! What an incredible guy! What a difficult upbringing. And, from an Italian background! I never knew that either!
Thank God for his grandma and her ailing health…or he may not have grown to be who he became!
The book was amazing!
Made me LOL! (Multiple times…)
Yet, also made me cry. He had some really difficult times in his years. Whether it be work, love, people not liking him (or understanding him), network problems… or health issues…
Additionally, I had no idea that he was such a spiritual person.
This book took me by surprise on so many levels…
But when he makes you laugh…well, it’s amazing.
To hear how he prepared for the shows…how he made himself into the character…just, WOW!
And with him narrating the book?
Well, it’s like I’m watching the movie of his life…right in my head!!
I was so lucky to be able to get this last minute via #NetGalley! So, thanks so much to NetGalley and #RBMedia for the ARC of the audiobook which released 6/4/24.
#EntrancesAndExits by #MichaelRichards with a foreword by #JerrySeinfeld. And as I mentioned earlier #MichaelRichards (aka, Kramer) also narrated the book, beautifully!!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me.
Feel free to like, follow and friend me on: Goodreads,
IG @ #BookReviews_with_emsr or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine.
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends!! 📚⭐️
August 22, 2024
Michael Richards’ “Entrances and Exits” is a fascinating autobiography, the kind that – surprisingly – doesn’t hold back one single iota its personal reflections…sometimes, admittedly, to a painful extent.
Across the book’s 440 pages, Richards details his early life and career leading up to his star-making turn on “Seinfeld,” spends significant time documenting his time on the hit sitcom, and – most interestingly – discusses his life AFTER the show’s conclusion (including the ill-fated detour that was “The Michael Richards Show” and his now-infamous outburst at The Comedy Store in 2006).
There’s a lot to unpack here, and taken altogether, I have to admit that I found “Entrances and Exits” to be a frequently heartbreaking – yet also wholly compelling – examination of Richards’ person, providing a fascinating look “behind the curtain” of the actor, both as a person and artist. As someone who was more or less raised on “Seinfeld,” I was struck by Richards’ transparency here: there’s little to no egotism on his part, and the acceptance that Richards seems to have slowly but surely reached with himself over the years – both in terms of his life, personal and career successes, and his own deep personal failings – is nothing if not humbling to observe.
For fellow fans of “Seinfeld” and Richards’ Kramer in particular, “Entrances and Exits” is pretty much a must-read, and – for my money – every bit on par with Jennifer Keishin Armstrong’s great “Seinfeldia,” published in 2016.
Easily one of my top 10 reads of the year.
Across the book’s 440 pages, Richards details his early life and career leading up to his star-making turn on “Seinfeld,” spends significant time documenting his time on the hit sitcom, and – most interestingly – discusses his life AFTER the show’s conclusion (including the ill-fated detour that was “The Michael Richards Show” and his now-infamous outburst at The Comedy Store in 2006).
There’s a lot to unpack here, and taken altogether, I have to admit that I found “Entrances and Exits” to be a frequently heartbreaking – yet also wholly compelling – examination of Richards’ person, providing a fascinating look “behind the curtain” of the actor, both as a person and artist. As someone who was more or less raised on “Seinfeld,” I was struck by Richards’ transparency here: there’s little to no egotism on his part, and the acceptance that Richards seems to have slowly but surely reached with himself over the years – both in terms of his life, personal and career successes, and his own deep personal failings – is nothing if not humbling to observe.
For fellow fans of “Seinfeld” and Richards’ Kramer in particular, “Entrances and Exits” is pretty much a must-read, and – for my money – every bit on par with Jennifer Keishin Armstrong’s great “Seinfeldia,” published in 2016.
Easily one of my top 10 reads of the year.
August 16, 2024
I absolutely love the show Seinfeld and Kramer is just one of my favorite characters of all time. So obviously I couldn’t wait to read this! The beginning was a great look into what made Michael who he was. His upbringing, family struggles, schooling, time in the army (I had no idea about this and was fascinated by all the stories during this time!). Then he worked through some of his favorite Seinfeld episodes and how he came to create his character and I found myself laughing out loud more times than I could count. For this reason I loved this book. The last third of the book kind of lost me. I know why he wrote it, and that it was probably healing for him. But his stories about enlightenment and spirituality seemed really choppy and honestly confusing. I don’t know if I was just tired (I do have an 8 month old teething baby) or if it really was that all over the place? Then came the part about the comedy club which obviously had to be addressed. I do feel sad for him, because he obviously had some unresolved anger issues and insecurities and it blew up in his face. But I don’t know if enough accountability came through in the book(not saying that there wasn’t enough in real life, I can’t personally say that). It seemed like throughout the book he kept placing little nuggets leading up to this topic to prove that he isn’t racist. Which again, I can see why he would want that to really come through. But it did feel a little heavy handed.
Overall it was great because I loved getting to see how Kramer came to be and getting a behind the scenes look at his character and Michael’s personal life and how those two intertwined.
As I’m writing this I’m remembering the story about him not having a tux for an event and I’m laughing all over again. I do feel like Michael Richards has a bit of Kramer in him.
If you like Seinfeld, read it!
Overall it was great because I loved getting to see how Kramer came to be and getting a behind the scenes look at his character and Michael’s personal life and how those two intertwined.
As I’m writing this I’m remembering the story about him not having a tux for an event and I’m laughing all over again. I do feel like Michael Richards has a bit of Kramer in him.
If you like Seinfeld, read it!
June 10, 2024
ENTRANCES AND EXITS is a thoughtful memoir by Michael Richards, best known for his iconic portrayal of Kramer on the hit sitcom Seinfeld. This book offers readers a unique opportunity to delve into Richards' unconventional life, featuring a blend of behind-the-scenes anecdotes from Seinfeld and a heartfelt exploration of his early years being raised by a single mother in Los Angeles.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this memoir is the stark contrast between Richards' on-screen persona as Kramer and his true self. Far from the eccentric and zany character he played, Richards reveals himself to be deeply thoughtful and intellectual. Through his introspective storytelling, he dismantles any preconceptions and showcases the depth of his intellect and emotional intelligence.
This book provides an intimate glimpse into the world of Seinfeld, offering readers behind-the-scenes stories that will delight fans of the beloved show. Richards shares his experiences working with the talented cast and crew, shedding light on the creative process and the dynamics that made Seinfeld such a groundbreaking sitcom. On the famous parking garage episode, Richards writes: “𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘵…𝘒𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪����𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘒𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘹 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘱. 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘹 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴? …𝘞𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.”
The heart of this memoir lies in Richards' personal journey. From his humble beginnings and the challenges he faced growing up in Southern California, to his rise to fame and the impact it had on his life, Richards lays bare his vulnerabilities and triumphs with sincerity. His unflinching reflections on his spectacular meltdown at a comedy club in 2006 add a touching layer to the narrative.
Whether you're a fan of Seinfeld or simply interested in a heartfelt memoir, this book is a must-read.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this memoir is the stark contrast between Richards' on-screen persona as Kramer and his true self. Far from the eccentric and zany character he played, Richards reveals himself to be deeply thoughtful and intellectual. Through his introspective storytelling, he dismantles any preconceptions and showcases the depth of his intellect and emotional intelligence.
This book provides an intimate glimpse into the world of Seinfeld, offering readers behind-the-scenes stories that will delight fans of the beloved show. Richards shares his experiences working with the talented cast and crew, shedding light on the creative process and the dynamics that made Seinfeld such a groundbreaking sitcom. On the famous parking garage episode, Richards writes: “𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘵…𝘒𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪����𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘒𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘹 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘱. 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘹 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘴? …𝘞𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.”
The heart of this memoir lies in Richards' personal journey. From his humble beginnings and the challenges he faced growing up in Southern California, to his rise to fame and the impact it had on his life, Richards lays bare his vulnerabilities and triumphs with sincerity. His unflinching reflections on his spectacular meltdown at a comedy club in 2006 add a touching layer to the narrative.
Whether you're a fan of Seinfeld or simply interested in a heartfelt memoir, this book is a must-read.
July 18, 2024
4 stars for the book
5 stars for the audiobook narrator (Michael Richards)
Amazing book. The earlier part of Richards’ life is filled with stories that could easily have been a work of fiction. I was fascinated, riveted, and heartbroken at times. He had quite a childhood and the way he started out in show business is quite the story!
The Seinfeld years were awesome to read about — as a big fan of the show, I thoroughly enjoyed hearing Michael’s inside scoop on the development of the Kramer character. My progress through the book actually slowed down, because I simply had to go back and watch the episodes that Richards kept talking about.
I would’ve given this book a 5/5 rating, but the latter part of the book gets a bit transcendental and “new agey”. It’s fine — it’s how Richards dealt with his anger. But I actually felt that he didn’t fully explain his resolution. It was kind of “out there”. Maybe that’s a reflection on the man himself, and therefore it was an appropriate way to tell his story. I just couldn’t quite understand it.
Finally, I “read” the audiobook — I’m sure anyone who listens to the audiobook will say the same thing: Michael Richards reading is outstanding. In fact, I’ve listened to a lot of audiobooks and Richards is easily the BEST reader I’ve EVER listened to. His delivery is so smooth and natural — you don’t feel like he’s reading anything. It feels like he’s just talking to you. No doubt, this is partly due to the way the book is written (i.e., in a very conversational style). But most of this is due to Richards’ ability to read with expression, emphasis, character, and rhythm. His short impersonations of people (his Jay Leno is awesome) bring the words to life, and you can really picture the conversations that he’s re-enacting. If they could give out Emmys for audiobook reading, Richards should win one for this book.
Overall, it is a fine read. Richards is a very interesting and authentic man, and so lovable in so many ways. I’m glad he came back to “public life” and so glad he wrote this book to tell his story.
5 stars for the audiobook narrator (Michael Richards)
Amazing book. The earlier part of Richards’ life is filled with stories that could easily have been a work of fiction. I was fascinated, riveted, and heartbroken at times. He had quite a childhood and the way he started out in show business is quite the story!
The Seinfeld years were awesome to read about — as a big fan of the show, I thoroughly enjoyed hearing Michael’s inside scoop on the development of the Kramer character. My progress through the book actually slowed down, because I simply had to go back and watch the episodes that Richards kept talking about.
I would’ve given this book a 5/5 rating, but the latter part of the book gets a bit transcendental and “new agey”. It’s fine — it’s how Richards dealt with his anger. But I actually felt that he didn’t fully explain his resolution. It was kind of “out there”. Maybe that’s a reflection on the man himself, and therefore it was an appropriate way to tell his story. I just couldn’t quite understand it.
Finally, I “read” the audiobook — I’m sure anyone who listens to the audiobook will say the same thing: Michael Richards reading is outstanding. In fact, I’ve listened to a lot of audiobooks and Richards is easily the BEST reader I’ve EVER listened to. His delivery is so smooth and natural — you don’t feel like he’s reading anything. It feels like he’s just talking to you. No doubt, this is partly due to the way the book is written (i.e., in a very conversational style). But most of this is due to Richards’ ability to read with expression, emphasis, character, and rhythm. His short impersonations of people (his Jay Leno is awesome) bring the words to life, and you can really picture the conversations that he’s re-enacting. If they could give out Emmys for audiobook reading, Richards should win one for this book.
Overall, it is a fine read. Richards is a very interesting and authentic man, and so lovable in so many ways. I’m glad he came back to “public life” and so glad he wrote this book to tell his story.
June 10, 2024
Just finished:
New York: Permuted Press, 2024.
A vivid picture into Michael Richard's life. The reader travels with him through the pains of his childhood to a comic who would portray one of the most legendary characters in television history.
Richards lays it all out from struggles with anger to his remorse and regret following what happened at the Laugh Factory in 2006. Based on what I read regarding his childhood as well as his responses to schedule changes, his outburst seemed in character. I feel bad for Richards because his behavior at his worst has come to define him.
Growing up, admittedly I saw Seinfeld in syndication, I loved watching Seinfeld and seeing Kramer's antics. It was fun to read about my favorite scenes and stories behind the show.
Additionally, Richards made a mistake when he said that Jerry was wearing the puffy shirt on an interview of The Tonight Show. Bryant Gumble interviewed Jerry in the puffy shirt on the today show.
New York: Permuted Press, 2024.
A vivid picture into Michael Richard's life. The reader travels with him through the pains of his childhood to a comic who would portray one of the most legendary characters in television history.
Richards lays it all out from struggles with anger to his remorse and regret following what happened at the Laugh Factory in 2006. Based on what I read regarding his childhood as well as his responses to schedule changes, his outburst seemed in character. I feel bad for Richards because his behavior at his worst has come to define him.
Growing up, admittedly I saw Seinfeld in syndication, I loved watching Seinfeld and seeing Kramer's antics. It was fun to read about my favorite scenes and stories behind the show.
Additionally, Richards made a mistake when he said that Jerry was wearing the puffy shirt on an interview of The Tonight Show. Bryant Gumble interviewed Jerry in the puffy shirt on the today show.
August 1, 2024
Finished Entrances and Exits by Michael Richards, a powerful memoir by the famous actor and comedian. I heard the “Tears of a Clown” in my mind, as Michael Richards describes life without a father and discovers that the story is mother told of his Dad as a WW2 casualty and then a car wreck victim are lies. The real story is bad. He discovers a gift, the ability to amuse and entertain, ironically as an extreme introvert. He hides most of his life behind the characters he plays, most notably Kramer. Like most gifted and diligent actors he developed his own back story as Kramer and creates an iconic figure. Richards addresses his unfortunate meltdown in a comedy club that nearly ruins him. Michael Richards is a heroic figure who has overcome so much and is finally at book’s end at peace with himself. A really good book.
August 22, 2024
I really loved this book from start to finish! Starting with the foreword from Jerry Seinfeld, going into his years in the military and then struggling before getting his break and finally ending with classic photos from the series. This was the perfect outlet to the wild ride that was Entrances and Exits! I highly recommend to any Seinfeld lover or lover of comedy in general. I also loved that I heard the whole thing in his voice in my head!
August 3, 2024
The infamous heckling that essentially ended Richards’ career hangs like a dark cloud over this surprisingly philosophical memoir. There are a lot of funny Seinfeld anecdotes but a restless searching into his own soul as well (Richards falling into the Clowns Crying on the Inside category).
September 11, 2024
Het was altijd al vrij duidelijk dat van de vier, Michael Richards wel wat afweek. Goed te zien in de bloopers van de eerste seizoenen. Waar Jason, Jerry en Julia redelijk dicht bij het karakter zitten wat ze spelen..speelt Michael wel echt een rol. Hij heeft nooit zijn ware ik blootgegeven, waardoor wij (en bij ook blijkbaar zelf) nooit echt erachter komen wie Michael Richards nu echt is. Mooi om dat ook terug te lezen in zijn memoire. Iemand die veel in zijn hoofd zit en een introvert is en zich soms door de performances heen moet worstelen.
Fascinerend om te lezen wat zijn strijd is geweest in de beginjaren, vooral ook het creatieve proces.
Voor iedere fan van Seinfeld en voor iedereen die geïnteresseerd is in het kijkje achter de schermen is het een must read.
Fascinerend om te lezen wat zijn strijd is geweest in de beginjaren, vooral ook het creatieve proces.
Voor iedere fan van Seinfeld en voor iedereen die geïnteresseerd is in het kijkje achter de schermen is het een must read.
June 10, 2024
Was not expecting this to be as good as it was! Enlightening too! Kramer’s very spiritual. I dig it!! Was mostly a beach read the last couple nights / days.
August 25, 2024
Thanks, Recorded Books, for an advanced audiobook review copy via NetGalley.
While the parts about "Seinfeld" were interesting (as was Jerry Seinfeld's forward), the rest of the memoir didn't hold my interest. Richards' performance was top-notch, and it was fun hearing his unique tone and delivery.
While the parts about "Seinfeld" were interesting (as was Jerry Seinfeld's forward), the rest of the memoir didn't hold my interest. Richards' performance was top-notch, and it was fun hearing his unique tone and delivery.
June 30, 2024
Love Seinfeld and enjoyed learning a bit more about the show from the authors experience and perspective. Found the book sometimes interesting and sometimes unsatisfying.
July 15, 2024
4.5 stars. I am so glad I decided to listen to the audiobook of this book. Hear Michael narrate his story was what the book needed! Michael’s life is fascinating and unique. I learned so much about him. I also as expected learned some behind the scenes info about Seinfeld, including the fact that if Jerry hadn’t fought so hard for him, he wouldn’t have been in the show. The show would NOT have been the same!
July 25, 2024
I listened to this on Audible 🎧 which was read by Michael Richards himself.
What I love about Michael Richards:
• He’s 100% authentic.
• He’s humble and not worldly - which seems unusual for Hollywood and makes me love him more.
• What he’s become after a rough upbringing & family situation.
• His immense talent with comedy both physically and verbally and acting skills.
• I think in many ways, Michael is a toned down version of Kramer and that’s why he developed the character so well and made it so believable.
• He was brilliant on Seinfield and I feel that show wouldn’t have been anywhere the same without him!
• That he didn’t have a staff managing his career and image - what you see is him, very down to earth.
• I love that he wasn’t a druggie or into bad stuff - he lived a pretty darn clean life.
For this book, I guess since it’s a memoir you get to hear all the other thoughts and detailed acting parts of Michael’s life. Since I’m less of a details person, hearing his thoughts on religion, philosophy, extreme detail on early scripts, and other things were less interesting to me but I don’t blame him for putting them in - it’s his book and his story.
I’m sad for him during the few years after the show Seinfield ended. I think he was judged harshly and had a hard time separating from his character of Kramer since he did so much to develop him. I’m glad he retired and is doing what he wants and I love that he lives within his means.
I’m thrilled to hear how happy he seems now and that he found love and has a family. I hope he can continue to battle his health challenges and live many more years to come. I will always think highly of Michael not only as a brilliant actor but as an awesome person.
What I love about Michael Richards:
• He’s 100% authentic.
• He’s humble and not worldly - which seems unusual for Hollywood and makes me love him more.
• What he’s become after a rough upbringing & family situation.
• His immense talent with comedy both physically and verbally and acting skills.
• I think in many ways, Michael is a toned down version of Kramer and that’s why he developed the character so well and made it so believable.
• He was brilliant on Seinfield and I feel that show wouldn’t have been anywhere the same without him!
• That he didn’t have a staff managing his career and image - what you see is him, very down to earth.
• I love that he wasn’t a druggie or into bad stuff - he lived a pretty darn clean life.
For this book, I guess since it’s a memoir you get to hear all the other thoughts and detailed acting parts of Michael’s life. Since I’m less of a details person, hearing his thoughts on religion, philosophy, extreme detail on early scripts, and other things were less interesting to me but I don’t blame him for putting them in - it’s his book and his story.
I’m sad for him during the few years after the show Seinfield ended. I think he was judged harshly and had a hard time separating from his character of Kramer since he did so much to develop him. I’m glad he retired and is doing what he wants and I love that he lives within his means.
I’m thrilled to hear how happy he seems now and that he found love and has a family. I hope he can continue to battle his health challenges and live many more years to come. I will always think highly of Michael not only as a brilliant actor but as an awesome person.
September 4, 2024
Greetings with Love
I've been watching Seinfeld as an ardent fan and pop cultural phenomenon follower since its inception in 1989. I even own a Kramer Funko Pop figure so I am partial to the deep man behind the mask and shadow. Hollywood above Baldwin Hills is a great idea like how the state of the American dream is. Few actually attain the level of success and acclaim as Michael Richards. You cannot dispute his authenticity. He oozes so much pathos in his roles. Cosmo Kramer is part of the '90s zeitgeist for prime tv series. If you remember how he slides into Jerry's apartment, you know we are amidst a genius at work. His eccentric manner and the way he approaches comedy with a physical flair is awesome. I loved so many iconic television moments of Seinfeld. His timing for dialogue is as intelligent as Willie Nelson's turn of a phrase. I do realise that Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Jerry Seinfeld were an ensemble cast. Michael Richards acted as if each episode was his last. You were witnessing greatness as each scene and storyline evolved into something sublime. So who is Michael Richards?
Well, Michael is an introspective thinker much like Socrates, Yeats, or Williams were. He grew up by being a class clown like so many other comedians. He worshipped the Marx Brothers, Red Skelton, Keaton (Buster that is), and Charlie Chaplin. There was a sense that he understood the rites of comedy at a precious age. Absurdism was an art form he emulated much how the Surrealists like Dali, Bunuel, and Breton stylized their canvases. Michael was intrigued by street photography as well. He enjoyed capturing moments in an f stop landscape. There is so much passion to the K man. Perhaps he studied the previous actors of yesteryear with obsession, it later shaped his landmark role as Cosmo
Kramer. The way Michael immersed himself in theatre during his twenties was so memorable. He even was involved in the Army with a thespian troupe. The mad genius he portrayed as a Colonel in combat is both hysterical and awe-inspired. Once again, he shimmers like a golden ray of Southern Californian sunshine. One is mesmerized as he auditions for the Seinfeld Chronicles based on the minds of Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David as producers/writers.
Michael Richards is seventy five now after the whole controversy in the Laughing Factory debate. I have yet to actually view the video. Was he negligent to explode and insert racist language on those who mocked him in the audience? He is a flawed human. We aren't perfect yet often we subject those who demonstrate ignorance a heavier cost. Michael was remorseful and candid. He didn't blame his antagonists. He went within and tried to make amends. Is it terrible we refer to the N word as an accusatory noun? No one should have ownership of this diction. Blue, crude humor is a part of the comedy scene. Sam Kinison, Robin Williams, George Carlin, etc all subjected their audience to explicit language and it was deemed acceptable. What has changed? Has the Me Too movement cancelled too many creative artists like Michael Richards?
Seinfeld on NBC aired on a Thursday at the advent of the nineties and ended nine years later. Michael Richards could entrance us with his physical comedy skills. I recall chuckling so hard when he opened the front door and a beam of red light emanated from the Roaster's storefront below. It was otherworldly like how he viewed alien life as an open-minded messenger. After all, I grew up with the X Files as well as Fringe on FOX. Yes, I am a believer in the strange, irrational, and high weirdness too. You do not need to be normal to enjoy what Cosmo accentuates upon the aura of Seinfeld. His idiosyncratic, hipster doofus ways will leave you in stitches as he reacts to the mundane. I cannot stress more strongly about this memoir. It deserves a five star review. Michael Richards is an institution like his bohemian days at Cal Arts. Yes, there are times where intellectual thoughts overflow. I compose original poetry so I relate to how Boland or Heaney might flood your psyches.
Thank you for everyone who supported me and educated me on English lit, music, poetics, and film studies too. I am indebted to thee. Is Autumn the time to allow the leaves change their hues? Do I wish the decision to withdraw from Goodreads affect me severely? I will miss you all, even those who weren't as cordial or tactful. As Jesus declared, Love thy neighbor and your enemies too. It’s been a long journey online. It’s never easy to say goodbye. Be well my friends. See you on the dark side of the moon.
Always,
Jt aka Soul drifter
I've been watching Seinfeld as an ardent fan and pop cultural phenomenon follower since its inception in 1989. I even own a Kramer Funko Pop figure so I am partial to the deep man behind the mask and shadow. Hollywood above Baldwin Hills is a great idea like how the state of the American dream is. Few actually attain the level of success and acclaim as Michael Richards. You cannot dispute his authenticity. He oozes so much pathos in his roles. Cosmo Kramer is part of the '90s zeitgeist for prime tv series. If you remember how he slides into Jerry's apartment, you know we are amidst a genius at work. His eccentric manner and the way he approaches comedy with a physical flair is awesome. I loved so many iconic television moments of Seinfeld. His timing for dialogue is as intelligent as Willie Nelson's turn of a phrase. I do realise that Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Jerry Seinfeld were an ensemble cast. Michael Richards acted as if each episode was his last. You were witnessing greatness as each scene and storyline evolved into something sublime. So who is Michael Richards?
Well, Michael is an introspective thinker much like Socrates, Yeats, or Williams were. He grew up by being a class clown like so many other comedians. He worshipped the Marx Brothers, Red Skelton, Keaton (Buster that is), and Charlie Chaplin. There was a sense that he understood the rites of comedy at a precious age. Absurdism was an art form he emulated much how the Surrealists like Dali, Bunuel, and Breton stylized their canvases. Michael was intrigued by street photography as well. He enjoyed capturing moments in an f stop landscape. There is so much passion to the K man. Perhaps he studied the previous actors of yesteryear with obsession, it later shaped his landmark role as Cosmo
Kramer. The way Michael immersed himself in theatre during his twenties was so memorable. He even was involved in the Army with a thespian troupe. The mad genius he portrayed as a Colonel in combat is both hysterical and awe-inspired. Once again, he shimmers like a golden ray of Southern Californian sunshine. One is mesmerized as he auditions for the Seinfeld Chronicles based on the minds of Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David as producers/writers.
Michael Richards is seventy five now after the whole controversy in the Laughing Factory debate. I have yet to actually view the video. Was he negligent to explode and insert racist language on those who mocked him in the audience? He is a flawed human. We aren't perfect yet often we subject those who demonstrate ignorance a heavier cost. Michael was remorseful and candid. He didn't blame his antagonists. He went within and tried to make amends. Is it terrible we refer to the N word as an accusatory noun? No one should have ownership of this diction. Blue, crude humor is a part of the comedy scene. Sam Kinison, Robin Williams, George Carlin, etc all subjected their audience to explicit language and it was deemed acceptable. What has changed? Has the Me Too movement cancelled too many creative artists like Michael Richards?
Seinfeld on NBC aired on a Thursday at the advent of the nineties and ended nine years later. Michael Richards could entrance us with his physical comedy skills. I recall chuckling so hard when he opened the front door and a beam of red light emanated from the Roaster's storefront below. It was otherworldly like how he viewed alien life as an open-minded messenger. After all, I grew up with the X Files as well as Fringe on FOX. Yes, I am a believer in the strange, irrational, and high weirdness too. You do not need to be normal to enjoy what Cosmo accentuates upon the aura of Seinfeld. His idiosyncratic, hipster doofus ways will leave you in stitches as he reacts to the mundane. I cannot stress more strongly about this memoir. It deserves a five star review. Michael Richards is an institution like his bohemian days at Cal Arts. Yes, there are times where intellectual thoughts overflow. I compose original poetry so I relate to how Boland or Heaney might flood your psyches.
Thank you for everyone who supported me and educated me on English lit, music, poetics, and film studies too. I am indebted to thee. Is Autumn the time to allow the leaves change their hues? Do I wish the decision to withdraw from Goodreads affect me severely? I will miss you all, even those who weren't as cordial or tactful. As Jesus declared, Love thy neighbor and your enemies too. It’s been a long journey online. It’s never easy to say goodbye. Be well my friends. See you on the dark side of the moon.
Always,
Jt aka Soul drifter
August 10, 2024
3.5 (rounded it up to 4 because of my undying love for this human being)
Seinfeld is one of my favorite TV shows ever. Although I will forever list George as my favorite character, Kramer was an acquired taste for me, because I'm not a fan of physical comedy per se. However, I recognized (as the seasons went by) that the actor playing him, Michael Richards, is indeed something special and I wanted to know more about him (beyond that terrible incident that happened in 2006 - I believe people are more than the mistakes they make).
Michael strikes me as a well-read, intuitive, deep soul, who always strives for the better, even if he fails (miserably) achieving it. A gentle heart looking for God in all the wrong places.I enjoyed reading about his pre-Seinfeld years and was surprised about the level of his involvement in the classical theatre. In Seinfeld bloopers he was the one who seemed most professional about his work. As a fan, I particularly enjoyed reading about Seinfeld seasons breakdown and getting more insights into what was going on behind each episode.
The only downside for me was the focus on the philosophy he believes in - I felt that it was a bit overexplained and didn't really serve the purpose of painting Michael's personality profile. The book could've gone without all the new age BS and it would still be missing nothing.
However, I'm still glad I had the chance to go through Michael's journey in these pages and I'm glad he chose to open up his inner world to us like this. I hope he finds the peace he is looking for.
Seinfeld is one of my favorite TV shows ever. Although I will forever list George as my favorite character, Kramer was an acquired taste for me, because I'm not a fan of physical comedy per se. However, I recognized (as the seasons went by) that the actor playing him, Michael Richards, is indeed something special and I wanted to know more about him (beyond that terrible incident that happened in 2006 - I believe people are more than the mistakes they make).
Michael strikes me as a well-read, intuitive, deep soul, who always strives for the better, even if he fails (miserably) achieving it. A gentle heart looking for God in all the wrong places.I enjoyed reading about his pre-Seinfeld years and was surprised about the level of his involvement in the classical theatre. In Seinfeld bloopers he was the one who seemed most professional about his work. As a fan, I particularly enjoyed reading about Seinfeld seasons breakdown and getting more insights into what was going on behind each episode.
The only downside for me was the focus on the philosophy he believes in - I felt that it was a bit overexplained and didn't really serve the purpose of painting Michael's personality profile. The book could've gone without all the new age BS and it would still be missing nothing.
However, I'm still glad I had the chance to go through Michael's journey in these pages and I'm glad he chose to open up his inner world to us like this. I hope he finds the peace he is looking for.
August 24, 2024
It had been a while since I’d listened to an audiobook, but when I heard Michael Richards was releasing his memoir, and he and Jerry Seinfeld were narrating it, my audiobook drought was over! 😍 I’m a long-time Seinfeld fan, and Cosmo Kramer is one of my all-time favorite TV characters. But my very first exposure to Michael Richards was him playing Stanley Spadowski in Weird Al’s movie UHF, another awesome and quirky character of his. I love all the stories he shared in this book, his voices and impressions, and how his Kramer catch-phrases popped up randomly throughout (“Giddy up!” 😄). I especially enjoyed hearing about his experience being an introvert in the acting world, how he created the character of Cosmo Kramer and other insight into the Seinfeld experience and episodes, and his time in the Army (including his impression of the drill sergeant in basic training 😂). I also love the title Entrances & Exits and how he uses that to share the highs of his life (like all of Kramer’s entrances and exits on Seinfeld), and the lows too (like entering and exiting show biz). Such a quirky, interesting, honest, introspective, hilarious human, and his voice and energy are perfection, so I for sure give this audiobook memoir five opening and closing doors. 🚪🚪🚪🚪🚪
September 22, 2024
I admit I was never a diehard fan of Seinfeld but I did enjoy the show and thought all the actors were hilarious and super talented. Considering that biographies and autobiographies/memoirs are my favorite sub-genres of nonfiction, I was especially drawn to this one when I saw it at the bookstore. So I took a flyer on it with hopes of it being a solid read. And boy was it and then some! This was an outstanding read that took me by surprise. Writing that absolutely felt real and from the heart. I couldn’t put this book down if I tried and flew through it in less than a week. It just flowed so effortlessly and learning about Michael’s life, spiritual journey, and the years of the show made the pages fly by lightning quick. For those who are more of a fan of Seinfeld than Mr Richards, please know this book gives an excellent and thorough behind the scenes view of many of the events that took place throughout the life of the series. You will be amazed and satisfied with all the content about the show. Content I’m willing to bet you never knew before. With all that said, I loved this book and I can strongly recommend it to all my nonfiction peeps. You won’t be disappointed. Happy reading!
July 8, 2024
I really enjoyed reading Michael Richards’ book. I didn’t know anything about his upbringing. I didn’t realize the complicated family life he had in his formative years. I also didn’t realize Michael was such a committed method actor, his time as a Colonel was especially entertaining.
I dropped one star due to finding his explanation of his racial slur episode from his post-Seinfeld stand-up act a bit hollow. I understand the stressful events that led to the rant, however I’m didn’t hear the true remorse and soul search about why he would resort to such an ugly use of such ugly slur. He obviously realized he needed to do internal work, and he had such a difficult upbringing, but there was extreme racism in the act and his explanation left me wanting.
If you are a Seinfeld fan, you will LOVE this book. It is very well done and I was surprised by the depth of Michael’s thoughts and this book.
I dropped one star due to finding his explanation of his racial slur episode from his post-Seinfeld stand-up act a bit hollow. I understand the stressful events that led to the rant, however I’m didn’t hear the true remorse and soul search about why he would resort to such an ugly use of such ugly slur. He obviously realized he needed to do internal work, and he had such a difficult upbringing, but there was extreme racism in the act and his explanation left me wanting.
If you are a Seinfeld fan, you will LOVE this book. It is very well done and I was surprised by the depth of Michael’s thoughts and this book.
July 21, 2024
Just barely a four for me.
You can tell Michael came to this book from a very heartfelt and earnest place. He’s done a lot of work since his incident at the comedy club. (Does that mean he deserves forgiveness? Probably not my question to answer.)
There are some genuinely fascinating tales. I enjoyed reading about his childhood and time in the army. He has a deep appreciation for the theatre. As a Seinfeld fan, I enjoyed some of the retrospective and background on how he created Kramer.
But, this book is so choppy. He overuses exclamation points, and my eyes would glaze over when he got to points discussing his spiritual life. And there’s a really short mention that he saw a UFO once, but that’s never followed up on.
If you’re a Seinfeld fan, you’ll enjoy it, but it’s about 100 pages too long.
You can tell Michael came to this book from a very heartfelt and earnest place. He’s done a lot of work since his incident at the comedy club. (Does that mean he deserves forgiveness? Probably not my question to answer.)
There are some genuinely fascinating tales. I enjoyed reading about his childhood and time in the army. He has a deep appreciation for the theatre. As a Seinfeld fan, I enjoyed some of the retrospective and background on how he created Kramer.
But, this book is so choppy. He overuses exclamation points, and my eyes would glaze over when he got to points discussing his spiritual life. And there’s a really short mention that he saw a UFO once, but that’s never followed up on.
If you’re a Seinfeld fan, you’ll enjoy it, but it’s about 100 pages too long.
July 15, 2024
4.5 stars
This book is exactly what you would expect from the man who played Cosmo Kramer. It is laugh-out-loud funny (especially the parts that delve behind the scenes of Seinfeld) and very introspective, which is to be expected from many gifted comedians.
There's not much I can say without giving away spoilers, considering this is a memoir, but it definitely met my expectations as to what I wanted to get out of it. Michael Richards does not leave any part of his story out. I really appreciate how honest Richards is about his own faults and weaknesses. He doesn't use his memoir as a soapbox to defend himself or to reinvent any narratives; he simply just wants to tell his story as it unfolded.
As a disclaimer: my ratings for memoirs have nothing to do with the actual life story of the author; it has to do with the way they choose to tell it. For me, the main reason this book isn't a 5 star is because I did find myself tuning out sometimes when it comes to some of the more metaphysical passages. But usually those don't last entire chapters, and Richards' humor always has a way of bringing you back to the story.
Truly the only way to read this book is to listen to the brilliantly performed audiobook, narrated by the man himself. Listening to the audiobook made it feel like I was getting bonus scenes of Kramer, which was comforting considering how I had just finished watching the entirety of Seinfeld and was beginning to feel some withdrawal.
Very special thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for sharing this audio ARC with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Entrances and Exits by Michael Richards is available now wherever books are sold.
This book is exactly what you would expect from the man who played Cosmo Kramer. It is laugh-out-loud funny (especially the parts that delve behind the scenes of Seinfeld) and very introspective, which is to be expected from many gifted comedians.
There's not much I can say without giving away spoilers, considering this is a memoir, but it definitely met my expectations as to what I wanted to get out of it. Michael Richards does not leave any part of his story out. I really appreciate how honest Richards is about his own faults and weaknesses. He doesn't use his memoir as a soapbox to defend himself or to reinvent any narratives; he simply just wants to tell his story as it unfolded.
As a disclaimer: my ratings for memoirs have nothing to do with the actual life story of the author; it has to do with the way they choose to tell it. For me, the main reason this book isn't a 5 star is because I did find myself tuning out sometimes when it comes to some of the more metaphysical passages. But usually those don't last entire chapters, and Richards' humor always has a way of bringing you back to the story.
Truly the only way to read this book is to listen to the brilliantly performed audiobook, narrated by the man himself. Listening to the audiobook made it feel like I was getting bonus scenes of Kramer, which was comforting considering how I had just finished watching the entirety of Seinfeld and was beginning to feel some withdrawal.
Very special thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for sharing this audio ARC with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Entrances and Exits by Michael Richards is available now wherever books are sold.
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