In light of the 'underwear' bomber, I thought I would offer this story. I applied for a temp job in the early 90's before McVeigh and Seinfeld became house hold names.
The job was a study in where your lost luggage goes while you complete your destination. This was at SeaTac Airport. I was subjected to a ten year background check by the FBI. There was a period of time to elapse before the green light to show up at the job site and begin work. A strange occurrence happened the night before finding out if I was eligible to work with this project. I was patronizing a local bar. A peculiar group of people approached me during the night. They asked what I do. I told them I'm starting work at the airport. The group consisted of different races including Black, Hispanic and Caucasian. They said they were part of a survivalist group. I was asked to join them in hopes that I would allow explosives to pass through inspection. I laughed my head off. It upset them. They asked what I was laughing at. I told them, "You guys are a bunch of Feds!" Right there I knew I passed the background check and would be hired. There were around forty people applying for the job. Not everyone was hired. After showing up for work, I look to the next work station and there was Newman from Seinfeld. The show didn't really take off at that time, just enough for me to recognize who it was. Of course my interaction with him let him assess my humor was not network worthy. Too adult. Red Foxx, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Rodney Dangerfield, and Steve Martin recordings were my influence.