Jerry Seinfeld Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Jerry Seinfeld happened to be listening when a New York sports radio host made a joke about his iconic sitcom — so he decided to pick up the phone. 

It all started when WFAN host Chris McMonigle made a reference to Seinfeld season 8 episode “The Chicken Roaster” on his Tuesday, November 12, show. 

Paul Rosenberg, the show’s producer and frequent contributor, chimed in and called it “one of the few good Seinfeld episodes.”

“I’m told that the great Jerry Seinfeld was actually listening and has called in,” McMonigle said moments later. “I’m hoping I can defend his honor here.”

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Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Netflix Jerry Seinfeld believes the current political climate is preventing comedians from being funny on television. His self-тιтled NBC sitcom remains very popular now in reruns after airing from 1989 to 1998, but he doesn’t think some of the same jokes would fly today. According to Seinfeld, 70, fans go to […]

That’s when Seinfeld, 70, was given the floor.

“I’m not arrogant enough to think that everybody should like I do,” the comedian said over the airwaves. “I just wanted to let you know it doesn’t bother me. I’m OK with it. One out of two is fine for me.”

Still, McMonigle didn’t let Rosenberg off the hook, insisting that he thrives on creating controversy just for the thrill of it. 

“Well look, we made 180 episodes. Three good ones. We’re like the Giants,” Seinfeld said, referencing the NFL’s New York Giants. 

Seinfeld, a notoriously huge fan of the New York Mets, also used the call to talk about his favorite baseball team. 

“You could make the argument that this season was the most magical, not counting the two [World] Series wins,” Seinfeld said. “This was the most magical because it was the chemistry and it was the energy and it was an emotional thing of guys that weren’t supposed to be that good. 

The Mets, a team with low expectations for the 2024 season, finished 16 games above .500 and advanced all the way to the National League Championship Series where they lost in six games to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the eventual World Series champions. 

Seinfeld also used the radio appearance to gloat about the New York Yankees’ loss in the World Series, particularly after the Dodgers won the series in Game 5. 

“Did you notice the next day, after that game, I don’t know if you noticed the Yankees hats per block in Manhattan went from six to zero in one day,” Seinfeld said. “As a Mets fan, that was a very thrilling moment for me.”

Seinfeld continued, “They were vacuumed. You [couldn’t] walk down one block in New York City without seeing a Yankee hat. And they were all gone. It was fantastic.”

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McMonigle, a Yankees fan, couldn’t help but lament the situation he found himself in. 

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“You know, it’s funny. You call in to let us all know it’s okay that people don’t like your show,” he said. “I applaud you for that. But now you’re taking bows for a very successful losing season from the Mets. And you’re taking more joy in Yankee failures than you are in their success.”

Before hanging up, Seinfeld was appreciative of the hosts giving him a chance to chat — and of McMonigle for having his back. 

“Thank you for taking my call and thank you for sticking up for me,” he said. “I just want to let you know that my feelings were not hurt because I’m happy I can make even one person happy.”