Carol Leifer Has Spent a Lifetime Making People Laugh. Now She’s Sharing the Secret

The Emmy-winning writer behind Hacks, Seinfeld and Saturday Night Live talks about her new book, How to Write a Funny Speech, ahead of her appearance at East Hampton Library’s 22nd Annual Authors Night.

Carol Leifer knows a thing or two about making people laugh. A stand-up comedian for more than four decades, the Emmy-winning writer has helped shape some of television’s funniest shows, including Hacks, Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Saturday Night Live, Modern Family and The Larry Sanders Show.

Hamptons fans may know her best as the co-writer of one of Seinfeld‘s most memorable episodes, “The Hamptons,” in which Jerry and the gang head out East for a summer weekend and George Costanza delivers the now-iconic “shrinkage” scene that became part of pop culture history.

Leifer once dated Jerry Seinfeld, and the two have remained friends. She lives in Los Angeles with her spouse, Lori Wolf. The couple has been together for more than 30 years.

Now Leifer is sharing what she’s learned about comedy in How to Write a Funny Speech: …for a Wedding, Bar Mitzvah, Graduation & Every Other Event You Didn’t Want to Go to in the First Place, co-written with comedy writer Rick Mitchell. Already in its third printing, the book combines practical advice with the wit and storytelling that have defined her career.

Leifer won a 2024 Emmy Award as a writer and producer for Hacks and has earned six previous Emmy nominations for her work on Seinfeld, The Larry Sanders Show and Saturday Night Live. She has also written for the Academy Awards telecast 10 times—more than any other female writer—and is part of the writing team nominated this year for the Academy Awards telecast. She currently appears in the Showtime special More Funny Women of a Certain Age.

Leifer will appear at the East Hampton Library’s 22nd Annual Authors Night on Saturday, Aug. 8, where she’ll sign copies of her book and meet readers.

SPARK Fast Five: 5 Questions with Carol Leifer

Before appearing at East Hampton Library’s 22nd Annual Authors Night, Carol Leifer spoke by phone from Los Angeles with Spark Hamptons about comedy, career highlights and her new book, How to Write a Funny Speech.

Why did you write this book?

Carol Leifer: I think my co-author and I did it just because we’ve seen so many bad speeches at events.

I’m sure you can remember events you’ve been to where someone gave a speech and it just was horrible or rude or not appropriate, and it really puts a damper on what’s usually a super-important day in this person’s life.

There are a lot of speechwriting books, but they’re by John Maxwell or people you’ve never heard of, much less funny. My partner, Rick Mitchell, is also a comic, and we felt as two comedians we kind of had the ammo to write a book like this.

The other thing is, we didn’t want to write a tome; it’s a really quick and friendly book—very compact and easy to read. We get to the big points of speech writing right away.

It’s in its third printing, so people are responding to it. I’m excited to share it.

What’s the biggest mistake people make when giving a speech?

CL: Number one mistake is going on for too long.

Whenever I go to a gala, I always wish I could be on the planning committee. Sometimes they keep people there from the cocktail hour to the end of the event—four or five hours. That’s too much. It’s kind of why people RSVP “no.”

You’ve got to keep it comfortable for people—especially the speeches.

The good thing about our book is that it’s not that hard to make a funny speech, and we walk people through how to do it step by step.

What’s nice is I’ve gotten a bunch of emails from people who, once they spoke, said, “I used your book and my speech went over great, and I was so afraid to do it.” That really makes me feel great.

People often fear public speaking, and some people think they’re funnier than they are. What if someone really isn’t that funny? Is there any hope for them?

CL: There’s hope.

We have an index in our book of jokes that people can use—jokes they can take and put into their speeches.

If somebody is worried about being funny, first they can use the jokes from our book because we have them for every occasion.

But heartfelt is always more important than funny.

A lot of times people try too hard to be funny, and that’s painful.

At your own wedding, did someone make a speech?

CL: Yes. I was very honored that both Jay Leno and Bill Maher gave speeches at our wedding, and they were both heartfelt and funny. That’s exactly what you want.

I admire your career so much. Aside from a boatload of talent, what would you say accounts for you having such a long and successful career—and still continuing, obviously, in the business?

CL: Well, thank you. First off, I think resilience and persistence, because there are a lot of ups and downs that you have to manage. A lot of stick-to-itiveness.

I really go after things that I want to do. I’m not shy about approaching people. I like to think I do it in a nice, politic way.

For example, Modern Family—I saw Steve Levitan at a party. He’s one of the showrunners and creators. I told him I was a huge fan, and I asked him if I could come in and pitch some ideas.

He was like, “Sure.”

And that led to Modern Family.

So it’s things like that. I mean, he could have said, “We’re all full of show ideas. Thanks anyway,” and I’m fine with that. But, you know, I’ve always been active in the things that I want to do.

I think there’s a misconception from people that I can kind of “coast” in my career.

There’s never any coasting.

The Hamptons episode, Seinfeld. Co-written by Carol Leifer

The Hamptons episode, Seinfeld. Co-written by Carol Leifer

The Hamptons episode, Seinfeld. Co-written by Carol Leifer

You’ve had so many great writing gigs—can you say which one was the most fun?

CL: I would definitely have to say Seinfeld because I had never written on sitcoms before, and I got hired because of my stand-up and going back to the days of stand-up with Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld.

My inexperience got me the job because they didn’t want to hire experienced sitcom writers.

It turned out to be a good thing.

Last question: What are your favorite things about the Hamptons?

CL: Well, the Hamptons tomatoes of course [laughs] … we put that into a Seinfeld script that I co-wrote called “The Hamptons,” where they went out to the Hamptons and talked about how great the Hamptons tomatoes are.

The produce, the ocean, just the whole relaxing vibe.

You can go to a lot of beach towns, but nothing beats the Hamptons.

IF YOU GO

East Hampton Library’s 22nd Annual Authors Night
Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026

5 p.m. – Authors Reception, Book Sales & Signing
Herrick Park
67 Newtown Lane
East Hampton, NY 11937

Meet more than 100 acclaimed authors, purchase books and have them signed. Premium ticket holders will continue the evening at private dinners hosted in honor of featured authors.

Featured Author: Carol Leifer will be signing copies of How to Write a Funny Speech: …for a Wedding, Bar Mitzvah, Graduation & Every Other Event You Didn’t Want to Go to in the First Place.

Tickets and information: https://www.authorsnight.org

For more information about Carol Leifer, visit: carolleifer.com

Angela LaGreca

Editor, Co-Founder/Publisher

Angela LaGreca, Editor-in-chief and co-Founder/Publisher of Spark Hamptons, is a four-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, producer, writer and comedian/host. Her TV credits include NBC’s “Today,” ABC’s “The View,” and, most recently, the primetime cable news program “Cuomo” on NewsNation. On the East End, she was the Creative Director at LTV, VP Features/Events/Photo Editor at Dan’s Papers, and has performed at Guild Hall, Bay Street Theater and the WHBPAC. Her publishing career began at Modern Photography, where she was managing editor. LaGreca lives in Manhattan and East Hampton and can be reached at angelatvmedia@gmail.com and angela@sparkhamptons.com .