Comedians with Aspergers
Interestingly, I'm a big fan of Seinfeld, and yet I never really identified with any of the characters... Well, except Jerry and Elaine when they visit Jerry's parents in Florida.
Could you elaborate on which characters you think represent which "sides" of Asperger's?
Sir_Beefy
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I do remember the episode where the four of them, out of a dare, made a pact to abstain from masturbation and sex. As a result both George and Elaine turned into different autism spectrum characteristics George became intelligent and obsessed with knowledge. Elaine became easily disoriented and fascinated with spinning, revolving objects.
Each character does seem to describe a part of me. George seems the most aspie. Kramer and Elaine are kooky narcissists, but out of the two, Kramer seems more aspie-ish. Jerry seems like an NT with aspie traits when stressed. Of course all four are merely fabrications from the mind of Larry David who seems like an actual aspie.
You're confusing two different episodes, but that's neither here nor there. In the one you're thinking of, George was abstaining from sex because his girlfriend had mononucleosis, and Elaine was abstaining so that her boyfriend would become intelligent like George and be able to pass his medical licensing exam. I don't think masturbation was mentioned in that one.
Nobody took on any different characteristics that I noticed in the episode with the contest.
To me Kramer seems unusual, but in the wrong way. He seems almost histrionic to me.
None of the main characters seem to have trouble reading social cues.
The one character who seems kind of aspie-esque (in a really irritating way) to me is Frank Costanza.
Anyway, I guess I'm reading too much into it now... However, the idea was supposed to be that Jerry was the "normal" character surrounded by "strange" people.
Thank you for your insights. I will take your word on this assessment; I have no idea whether his diagnosis was correct. It was in news stories when his death was reported. IIRC his family said he was having an episode when he died.
He was a funny man and I'm sorry he suffered so much.
As for "Seinfeld" - I always felt like they were all narcissists - without empathy, no one's real friend, obsessed with the minutiae of their own daily lives. George's reaction when his fiancee died, and his miserly attitude (which helped cause it) is a huge red flag. I get the feeling Larry David himself is an Aspie, though.
I agree that all the main characters in "Seinfeld" seem very narcissistic. I'm certainly not, so if narcissism is an aspie trait, it's certainly not one I have.
As far as I know narcissism is not an Aspie trait. But sometimes people get the two things confused because of the 'lack of empathy' thing. Lack of empathy in an Aspie is pretty innocent though it seems to me. Whereas in a narcissist it can combine with other traits narcissists have to be quite malevolent in action.
The characters on "Seinfeld" were often purposely selfish and mean which is (one reason) why I choose narcissism over Aspieness; none really seem like Aspies to me at all really. If you ever watch "Curb" you might see why I think David could be Aspie. The show is supposedly a lot how he is in real life. But it's just my opinion, and it's just a Tv show.
Interesting thread.
Yeah, I can understand that. I lack empathy but I'm far from malevolent. Just because I don't understand most people and they don't understand me doesn't mean I hate people or wish to do them harm. (Whether they hate me or wish to do me harm is an open question. I hope they don't.)
BattleCreekDavid
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I don't know about the character Kramer, but I suspect Michael Richards has AS. From listening to interviews about how he was on the set and how everything had to be a certain way. Plus, his infamous blow-up that was what on You Tube shouting racially charged comments at some hecklars at one of his stand-up shows. I wouldn't have shouted racially charged comments, but I would get angry in a similar manner.
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musicforanna
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There have been times that I've thought about doing stand-up. I have a lot of funny stories that I've been through with in my life and have a pension for wording things in humorous ways. I've had some experience on stage via doing solos in choirs, orchestra, and learning to mildly dance (although be it like a fool because I was never coordinated with that stuff... hence delivering a flying cane straight into the audience that one time oh, and the time in rehearsal when the stage decided I was tasty and tried to eat me.."Nice work if you can get it!" SHOOOM! I feel into a void between the stage and the backdrop...scared the director half to death too since she was playing the piano behind the backdrop)..
I never tried envisioning the audience naked. considering show choir audience pulled in people young and old alike, methinks that might not look so great. So I stick with the train of thought of trying to give one hell of a show, but if I fail, at least do it entertainingly. I do admit, walking out on stage or letting the curtain rise does get the adrenaline running though.
To me Armando Ianucci is clearly aspie. He is so god damn clever and the brains behind so many of the UKs tv comedies. He has definitely shaped british comedy.
he is involved in or the creator of
alan partridge
the thick of it (awesome!)
time trumpett
armando ianucci show
countless other things.
I could not say for certain but he seems like that anyway.
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