For the first time in 35 years, Steve Martin performed a stand-up routine as part of an opening act at Jerry Seinfeld's show at the Beacon Theatre in New York City on Thursday, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Martin's set went on for about 10 minutes and included some really good material, as transcribed by Vulture's Jesse David Fox.
"Thank you. Jerry couldn't make it tonight ... Have a safe ride home!" quipped Martin, according to Vulture. "Actually, I'm here tonight because of that old showbiz saying: Never lose a bet to Jerry."
"I'll be honest with you, right off the top, because I'm a little upset with the Beacon Theatre. I was backstage and I used the restroom. And there was a sign that read, 'Employees Must Wash hands.' And I could not find one employee to wash my hands," said Martin as the audience roared with laughter.
"By the way, I apologize for the ticket prices," he said during another joke. "I know it seems expensive, because there is like one guy, two guys, and a couple of mics, but it's not that way. There are like four sound people, and two lighting people, and drivers, and wardrobe people, and catering, and someone to walk Jerry's Fitbit around. A celebrity lookalike, in case Steve doesn't feel like going on. Steve says hi, by the way."
The comedian also treated the crowd to a brief banjo performance as Seinfeld walked onto the stage and the two shook hands before Martin exited the stage.
Martin performed his last stand-up act in 1981, and although he has performed on stage during over the last three and a half decades, which includes hosting the Oscars three times, he had not performed an actual stand-up routine until Thursday.
Martin recently opened up about his decision to walk away from stand-up on Seinfeld's "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee." "The audience could tire off so quickly," Martin said, according to Entertainment Weekly. "I was essentially depressed. I couldn't do the old material and I knew I could do new material."
