In some ways, it makes sense.
So the interest was always there, but Seinfeld has written no shortage of jokes in his storied career.
I guess the obvious question is, what made you want to make a movie about Pop-Tarts?
Jerry Seinfeld directing ‘Unfrosted’.John P. Johnson / Netflix
There’s a gift with every tragedy.
There’s a little blessing inside, and this is what I got out of COVID.
We’ve got nothing else to do."
(Top L to R) Will Allen, Sasheer Zamata, Jim Gaffigan, Jerry Seinfeld, Melissa McCarthy, Sarah Cooper, Rachael Harris; (Bottom L to R) Adrian Martinez, Jack McBrayer, Thomas Lennon, Bobby Moynihan, and James Marsden in ‘Unfrosted’.John P. Johnson / Netflix
I never would’ve agreed to it otherwise.
What made you want to direct this yourself?
The writer knows what he wants.
Bill Burr as JFK in ‘Unfrosted’.Netflix
The reason writers don’t direct is because they’re usually not able to communicate with other humans.
They can just write.
Is there anything that was harder or easier about the process than you were anticipating?
Jerry Seinfeld and Hugh Grant in ‘Unfrosted’.John P. Johnson/Netflix
But it’s possible for you to do that.
If you want to do that, you’re able to do that.
They’ll let you do it and you’ve got the option to do it.
What was it like starring in this and directing yourself?
How does that work?
In fact, in some scenes, I’m not even bothering to act.
I’m just watching the other actors, which I did on the TV series quite a bit.
I like how that joke landed very nicely."
Considering your feelings about acting, what made you want to star in this?
Again, it’s just easier.
It’s just easier.
I know how to do that line.
Let me just do it.
So, tell me about breakfast and your fascination with it.
The other food throughout the day, you’re manhandled by adults.
But breakfast is yours.
it’s possible for you to do whatever you want, and everything at breakfast is so fantastic.
The hungriest you ever are throughout the day is breakfast.
You have an incredible cast in this.
What was it like on set?
Was there a lot of improvising?
Quite a bit of improvising.
Kyle Dunnigan completely improvised Walter Cronkite.
Bill Burr completely improvised JFK.
Those were the most improvised two scenes in the movie.
The rest of it is mostly the script.
Was there anybody you really wanted to get that didn’t work out for whatever reason?
There were a lot of people who didn’t work out, mostly due to scheduling.
But nobody just flat turned us down.
Well, there were a couple.
It was the usual casting process.
Some people were intimidated by the JFK part.
They thought it was going to be likeLincoln,that it would take me months to prepare.
And I’m trying to explain, “No, this is notLincoln.
“Bill got it.
And Bill, of course, is a comedian.
Got that right away.
Just be fun, Bill.
Netflix
Did you use any of your favorite comedy movies as a reference?
It’s like, well, that didn’t happen, but nobody cares.
And I also loveThe In-Laws, and I love Peter Sellers.
He was really my biggest comedy hero, period.
What was Big Cereal’s involvement in this?
Did you get any of this cleared up with the Pop-Tarts people?
This movie is the opposite ofBarbie.Barbieis made by Mattel.
Kellogg’s had no idea and would never allow us to do anything like this.
And if we don’t get sued, it’ll be a miracle.
We thought that’d be phenomenal publicity, if we do get sued.
That’s the only possible sequel is to be on trial for Pop-Tart judges.
What’s your relationship with the Pop-Tart today?
You’ll still eat a Pop-Tart today?
A box of Pop-Tarts is something you might find in your house?
John P. Johnson/Netflix
They kind of taste like nothing, but there’s something about them.
They taste like nothing.
See, that’s another thing people say, “Why is it funny?”
The badness is the goodness.
What’s the proper way to eat a Pop-Tart?
Has to be toasted.
I don’t agree with the raw Pop-Tart at all.
[That] really was one of the problems they were having.
And the crimping of the edge to keep the jelly in was a big problem.
How much research did this involve?
There was no desire to get anything right.
We just wanted to make it.
So, when you look up “Who was the voice of Tony the Tiger?”
Oh my God, you don’t think one’s enough?
People are going to want more!
It’s outrageous to think you could do such a thing.
Do you have any other acting projects on the horizon?
I’ve never planned anything.
I didn’t plan the TV series.
I didn’t planComedians in Cars.
I didn’t plan this.
I have no plans.
I never make plans.
But otherwise, there are no plans ever.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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