📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

Here's Why Jerry Seinfeld Likens YouTube to a 'Giant Garbage Can' 'I think show business is for talent, that's who should be in it,' the comedian said. 'And I like being at the top of the pyramid.'

By Geoff Weiss

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Shutterstock | Entertainment Press
Jerry Seinfeld

Though Jerry Seinfeld has been a trailblazer in the realm of online video, the beloved comedian takes a decidedly old-school stance when it comes to the state of new media.

At a presentation yesterday to promote his hit web series, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, which counts more than 100 million viewers and has been nominated for an Emmy, Seinfeld took a swipe at the user-generated content running rampant today across YouTube -- which he referred to as "a giant garbage can."

"I think show business is for talent, that's who should be in it," Seinfeld said, according to Tubefilter. "Let's keep it in its hierarchy. And I like being at the top of the pyramid."

Related: This 9-Year-Old Makes $1 Million a Year ... Opening Toys

Though many homespun creators on YouTube have turned their digital notoriety into lucrative careers, Seinfeld has higher aspirations for the medium, noting that Comedians is "trying to generate a little higher level" -- and succeeding amid a sea of amateurs. "You can be in the same world as cat videos and still deliver a great demo for the advertiser," he said.

During Seinfeld's presentation for Crackle, the Sony-backed digital studio and distribution platform behind Comedians, he also discussed why, given his unprecedented success on television, he opted to take the digital plunge. "When you get to a certain point in the business, what a man is looking for in a network is the same as in his underwear," he said. "A little bit of support and a little bit of freedom."

And he's just getting started on the web. In the future, Seinfeld says he envisions his own online hub, where all of his work over the years might live. "That's what people that get to a certain point in the business are looking for," he said.

Related: Mark Cuban Bashes YouTube Strategy: 'What Have They Done Right?'

Geoff Weiss

Former Staff Writer

Geoff Weiss is a former staff writer at Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

These Coworkers-Turned-Friends Started a Side Hustle on Amazon — Now It's a 'Full Hustle' Earning Over $20 Million a Year: 'Jump in With Both Feet'

Achal Patel and Russell Gong met at a large consulting firm and "bonded over a shared vision to create a mission-led company."

Resumes & Interviewing

6 Traits to Look For in Your Next Boss

These are the characteristics you need to look for to find a manager who understands they're in service to their teams — not the other way around.

Making a Change

Expand Your Business with a New Language — Beelinguapp Is Just $30

This language-learning app uses audiobooks and music to help you better grasp vocabulary and speech.

Productivity

Want to Be More Productive? Here's How Google Executives Structure Their Schedules

These five tactics from inside Google will help you focus and protect your time.

Business News

These Are the 10 Most Profitable Cities for Airbnb Hosts, According to a New Report

Here's where Airbnb property owners and hosts are making the most money.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.