Covering Seinfeld and THAT racist outburst

Seinfeld actor Michael Richards is to reveal all about the racist tirade that torpedoed his career in 2006.

The comic is writing his ‘unflinching’ autobiography, to be titled Entrances And Exits, which will address the incident at the Los Angeles Laugh Factory for the first time.

Describing the ‘shameful outburst’ against hecklers, publishers  Permuted Press say: ‘Opening up about this for the first time, he describes the way the incident drove him deeper into a lifelong spiritual quest, one that would help him move forward from apology and accountability to a greater appreciation for our shared humanity, a quest that continues to this day almost 18 years later.’

Richards writes in the introduction to the title – which is due out in June next year: ‘My book is a hymn to the irrational, the senseless spirit that breaks the whole into pieces, a reflection on the seemingly absurd difficulties that intrude upon us all.

‘It's like Harpo Marx turning us about, shaking up my plans, throwing me for a loop. Upset and turmoil is with us all the time. It's at the basis of comedy. It's the pratfall we all take. It's the unavoidable mistake we didn't expect. It's everywhere I go. It's in the way that I am, both light and dark, good and not-so-good. It's my life.’

Jerry Seinfeld  provides the foreword to  the book, which also promises insight on Richards’ time on the top-rated comedy, co-created by Larry David and also starring Jason Alexander, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus that would attrack 76.3 million viewers for its final episode.

The description of the book reads: ‘Seinfeld fans will savour Michael's fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the evolution of Cosmo Kramer from the pilot episode to his lasting impression on popular culture. 

‘He shares his take on Kramer's unique style, quirks, and trademark slides through Jerry's apartment door; along with insights into the process of creating comedy with cast members, guest stars, the show's writers and directors.’

Richards also opens up for the first time about being raised by a schizophrenic grandmother, the search for his father, and his time in the army in the the Sixties and early Seventies before emerging through the comedy clubs alongside Robin Williams, Sam Kinison, and Jay Leno. 

Richards also shares a passion for alchemical philosophy, the work of Carl Jung and the psychology of dreams and how it helped him ‘to get real, more natural, more heartfelt.’

He said: ’The first time I entered Jerry's apartment as Kramer, I asked, "Got any meat?"

‘In March 2021, I sat down at my desk looking over four decades of journals and asked myself, 'Got a book in you?' Well, just how meaty will it be? Probably a lot meatier than people expect. So… giddy up!’

Anthony Ziccardi of Permuted Press, added: ‘I am thrilled to present to the world Entrances And Exits, the long-awaited memoir by Michael Richards, whose side-splitting antics as Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld have entertained generations of viewers and left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape.

‘This book captures all the wit, irreverence and outrageousness of the beloved Kramer character, while also parting the curtain of Michael's private life to reveal the background and experiences that helped shape his destiny and eventually catapult him to the top of his profession and "must-see-TV" immortality.’

Published: 8 Nov 2023