Crashing: The Underrated HBO Comedy That Followed Seinfeld’s Path

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I’ve seen so many shows try to be like Seinfeld, focusing on comedians but completely skipping over the hard parts of getting started. But I love that HBO’s Crashing actually shows what it’s like to struggle when you’re first trying to make it. Seinfeld, created by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, really changed comedy. They famously said ‘no hugging, no learning,’ which meant they just wanted to make people laugh, and they were masters at weaving different stories together with these surprisingly funny, ironic endings. It was brilliant!

Essentially, Seinfeld showed comedians a clear path to having their own TV show. By playing a fictionalized version of themselves, they could avoid needing strong acting skills, highlight their stage personality, and still promote their stand-up comedy. While many comedians have tried to follow this model, not all have managed to create something as successful as the original.

Seinfeld Inspired A Lot Of Sitcoms About Comedians

Following the success of Seinfeld, many sitcoms began to feature comedians playing versions of themselves. Shows like Louie, Maron, and Mulaney followed this trend, as did Curb Your Enthusiasm, which starred Seinfeld co-creator Larry David as himself. Some comedians, like Garry Shandling in The Larry Sanders Show, created fictionalized characters based on their public personas, while others, such as Drew Carey on The Drew Carey Show, simply played themselves.

Crashing Is About The Struggle Of Starting Out On The Standup Scene

Most comedies that feel like Seinfeld start with a comedian who’s already made it. For example, when Seinfeld begins, Jerry is an established headliner performing regularly in New York. Similarly, Larry Sanders already hosts a successful talk show, and David in Curb Your Enthusiasm is comfortably retired thanks to his earnings from Seinfeld.

Unlike shows like Jerry Seinfeld or Louie, which focus on established comedians, Crashing realistically portrays the difficult early days of trying to become a stand-up comic in New York City. It’s a show about the hard work and constant struggle of getting your foot in the door.

The series starts with Pete discovering his wife has been unfaithful, leaving him to crash on Artie Lange’s couch. We then follow Pete as he navigates life as a newly single and temporarily homeless comedian, performing at open mics, crashing with fellow comedians, hustling for free food, and eventually landing paying gigs at places like colleges, synagogues, and even on the Rachael Ray show.

Pete Holmes Is An Interesting Counterpoint To Jerry Seinfeld

Pete Holmes offers a fascinating contrast to Jerry Seinfeld. Like Seinfeld, Holmes finds humor in the small details of daily life. However, Holmes comes across as more genuine and thoughtful, often exploring spiritual themes. Having been raised as a devout Christian, he has a complex relationship with faith, which he explores in his show, Crashing.

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2025-12-13 16:20