Interesting Seinfeld Facts

[CliffClavin]

John Randolf originally played "Frank Costanza" in the episode "The Handicap Spot". But for syndication they re-filmed scenes from this episode with Jerry Stiller. In each version of this episode, George can be seen peeking at a "glamour" magazine.


Larry David was the original voice of Newman in "The Revenge" but Wayne Knight overdubbed the voice for syndication.


The "Restaurant" exterior belongs to "Tom's Restaurant" ("Tom's Diner" from the Suzanne Vega song), near the Columbia University campus in Manhattan at 113th & Broadway.


Jerry tells a polygraph examiner that his address is "129 West 81st Street".


The character of Cosmo Kramer is based on Kenny Kramer, a man who worked across the hall from co-creator Larry David. In a self-confessed move to cash-in on the sitcom's popularity, Kenny Kramer formed the "Kramer Reality Tour", an officially-recognized New York City tour which visits the real-life locations often featured in the sitcom. In the 1997 season of "Seinfeld", Cosmo Kramer's memoirs are published by J. Peterman as his own. Wanting to make the most of the situation, Cosmo Kramer starts a "Peterman Reality Tour", offering a tour of the real-life locations featured in the memoirs.


In the very first episode, the first conversation was between George and Jerry about a button. In the very last episode, when they were sitting in jail, the last conversation they had was the same thing about the button.


The "Soup Nazi" is based on the actual owner of a take-out soup business in Manhattan on W. 55th St, between Broadway and 8th Ave.


Seinfeld's college friend Mike Costanza (who served as a partial model of the character[and name] of George Costanza) appears as an angry truck driver in the episode, "The Parking Space".


The inspiration for the Suzanne Vega song, "Tom's Diner" is based on an actual diner of the same name in Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York.


In the episode "The Sniffing Accountant," Kramer said he likes the idea of staking out in the car and one day he might be a private investigator. After Seinfeld, Michael Richards plays a private investigator in the "Michael Richards Show, The" (2000).


The backwards episode "The Betrayal" is based on a Harold Pinter play "Betrayal" which also uses the same gimmick. Sue-Ellen, Mishkie's fiancée in the episode is named Pinter in tribute to the playwright.


In the episode "The Face Painter", Mark DeCarlo plays a character named Alec Berg. Alec Berg is the name of one of the show's writers and executive producers.


Jerry Stiller plays George's dad. Ben Stiller ( Jerry Stiller's son ) is married to Christine Taylor, who guest starred on the show as Jerry Seinfeld's girlfriend.


In the episode where Elaine dates a man named Joel Rifkin, she tries to have him change his name, since Joel Rifkin is also the name of a brutal serial killer. One of the initial suggestions for a new name was O.J. This episode was shot in 1993, a year before the O.J. Simpson murders.


In Jerry's apartment, he has a picture on the wall of a black Porsche 911 catching air going over a hill. In real life, Jerry is an avid Porsche fan and collector.


In the final episode of the series, the trial pays homage to Inherit the Wind (1960). Particularly, the scene where the attorney discusses how many important people will descend upon their little town, because the case is so high profile.


Voted top TV series of all time, beating out #2 "The Honeymooners" and #3 "I Love Lucy" in list of 50 shows chosen by TV Guide editors April, 2002.


Jerry Seinfeld turned down an offer from NBC that would have made him $110 million for a tenth season of the show.


ABC Entertainment executive Lloyd Braun lent his name to character appearing in three episodes, The Non-Fat Yogurt, The Gum, and The Serenity Now, a neighbor and nemesis of George Costanza.


The character of Lloyd Braun (George's childhood neighbor, and rival) is played by multiple actors, though they have very similar looks, so it's not often noticed.


In one episode they spoof the JFK magic bullet theory, Wayne Knight also appeared in JFK (1991)


The episode where Newman grills Jerry about mail fraud is a parody of Basic Instinct (1992). Wayne Knight appeared in that film.


The costume department of "Seinfeld" always fitted Jason Alexander (George) with an outfit that was one size too small. This was done to make him look "uncool."


In the episode where Kramer options his coffee table book for a movie and moves to Florida, several newspaper headlines are featured as he runs for condo council president. In smaller print on these pages, other headlines read, "Larry David Gets Hole In One; Larry David Injures Elbow;" and "Larry David Never To Play Golf Again."


As Kramer became more popular, his entrance applause grew so prolonged that the cast complained it was ruining the pacing of their scenes. Directors subsequently asked the audience not to applaud so much when Kramer entered.


Larry Miller was one of the original choices to play George Costanza. Miller is featured in the episode "The Doorman" as the doorman.


In the episode "The Parking Garage" Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer spend the episode trying to find their lost car in a parking garage. The episode was suppose to end with the four of them driving around not being able to find the exit, but while shooting, the car wouldn't start, resulting in the revised ending.


Larry David , Co-Creator and executive producer, appears several times throughout the series. He is the voice of George Steinbrenner, The Man In The Cape (Frank's Divorce Lawyer) and the owner of a newsstand. He was also one of the last voices heard on the show, as the "I'm gonna cut you!" prisoner at the very end of the final episode.


Tom's Restaurant is actually located in 112th and Broadway.


In the Episode "The Big Salad" (#6.2), Elaine gives her phone number as "KL5-2390", and Jerry protests that that's actually his number. ("KL5" translates as the infamous "555" exchange.)


In light of the anthrax scares in the US in late-2001, the planned syndicated rerun of the episode "The Invitations" (originally aired on 16 May 1996) on 22 Oct 2001 was cancelled. Since that time, it has been reported (on summer 2002) that the episode has reappeared in some markets.


When the final episode aired on May 14, 1998, the TV Land network honored the occasion by airing no programming in the show's timeslot. Instead the network just showed a still photo of a closed office door.


At Jerry Seinfeld's high school, Massapequa HS on Long Island, there was a teacher named Mr. Bevilaqua - he was the wrestling coach there. In one of the episodes Jerry had a race that was officiated by Mr. Bevilaqua.


In the episode "The Pilot", when the actors audition for roles on "Jerry," the lines they read for the characters of Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer are from actual episodes of Seinfeld, including "The Deal" and "The Note".


In the episode where George thinks someone stole his glasses from the gym lockerroom, he is eating a bag of Rolds Golds pretzels. At the time, Jason Alexander was a spokesman for the product.


In an initial episode, Jerry calls Kramer as Kessler. The name was subsequently changed to Kramer. In the episode "The Betrayal", towards the very end when we see the scene from "Eleven Years Earlier", Jerry is moving into his apartment, and Kramer comes over to welcome him. Jerry says: "You must be Kessler, I saw your name on the buzzer", to which Kramer replier, "No, it's Kramer."


There is a Superman somewhere in every episode.


Several movie videos can be seen at Jerry's stereo shelf including Child's Play 2 (1990) in the later seasons.


While they are waiting in the Chinese restaurant, Jerry lists the many people that will be getting phone calls as a result of him being seen there. One of the included people was his sister. His sister has never appeared on the show, nor is she ever referenced again.


The apartment used for exterior shots of "129 West 81st" New York is not actually in New York at all, but is 757 New Hampshire Ave., West Hollywood, California. There's a Taco Bell directly across from it.


In the series finale, Kramer suggests that he, George, Elaine, and Seinfeld, do a musical such as "...Bye Bye Birdie, or My Fair Lady." 'Jason Alexander' , who plays George, did in fact star in the TV Movie of Bye Bye Birdie in 1995 as Albert Peterson.

[Brian Damage]

Thanks for contributing that Kevin

[Maestro]

Some good stuff, thanx Cliff.
As we were discussing on another thread, that OJ thing is crazy

[Tweety]

Originally posted by CliffClavin



The character of Lloyd Braun (George's childhood neighbor, and rival) is played by multiple actors, though they have very similar looks, so it's not often noticed.

In the episode where Kramer options his coffee table book for a movie and moves to Florida, several newspaper headlines are featured as he runs for condo council president. In smaller print on these pages, other headlines read, "Larry David Gets Hole In One; Larry David Injures Elbow;" and "Larry David Never To Play Golf Again."


When the final episode aired on May 14, 1998, the TV Land network honored the occasion by airing no programming in the show's timeslot. Instead the network just showed a still photo of a closed office door.

There is a Superman somewhere in every episode.

I never knew that about the Lloyd Braun characters...they do all look alike to me!

I'll have to keep an eye out for the headlines in the Kramer Runs for Condo President episode...that just aired here this week, so it'll be a while before it's on again around here, unless that was one of the episodes I have in my tape collection.

I never knew that about TV Land...then again, a lot of people probably didn't know that, because we were all watching Seinfeld!

I gotta start looking for Superman...I've never been able to notice one in any episode.

[Elaine Benes]

Originally posted by Tweety
I gotta start looking for Superman...I've never been able to notice one in any episode.

WOW! You never noticed Superman? I see him in like every episode.

[Tweety]

Originally posted by Elaine Benes
WOW! You never noticed Superman? I see him in like every episode.

I never remember to look for Superman when I'm actually watching the show... I always read on these boards that there's a Superman in every episode, but I never remember to check when I'm watching. I MUST make sure I remember to check for Superman. Starting.....NOW

Incidentally Elaine, you are quite hot!

[kramer]

Don't look too hard because you wont find one in the early episodes, like season 1 and the pilot. Unless, you mean there is a reference to Superman like George and Jerry talk about Superman not being funny and making the earth spin backwards to reverse time. Then you might be able to say there is a reference in every episode, I would buy that. On the latter episodes you will see an action figure where his stereo is, and a magnet on his refregerator.

I also don't buy it is a show about nothing. I say it is about real life, although sometimes to the extream. I asked the nurse, when I was taking my drug test for my new job, if popy seeds would make me fail. She said I would have to eat a whole trailer of them for it to show up.