Seinfeld Thank's Benson For Firing Him - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Mr. Television · 06-07-2006, 12:49 AM

From the NY Post

June 5, 2006 -- JERRY Seinfeld told the audience at a taping of TV Land's "Sit-Down Comedy with David Steinberg" that he owes his incredible comedy success to a television failure - an ill-fated, three-episode stint on the show "Benson." Seinfeld played the governor's joke writer, but the character was underdeveloped and went nowhere, reports The Post's Larry Getlen. So the producers decided to fire him. The only problem? "They didn't bother to tell me," says Seinfeld, who told the packed crowd at John Jay Community College that he went to rehearsal, ready to work, only to find no script for him at the run-through. "Hey, where's my script?" he said and was only then told the bad news. The experience hit him like a brick. "I was angry," he said, expressing dismay at how you could reach a pinnacle in acting only to have it ripped out from under you. "That doesn't happen in stand-up," he said. "Once you get to a certain level, they don't make you go back to the beginning." Seinfeld said it was then that he decided to dedicate himself fully to the art of stand-up. "I'm gonna be a comedian," he recalled thinking, "because I can control that."

GSU2004 · 06-07-2006, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I Walk The Line

From the NY Post

June 5, 2006 -- JERRY Seinfeld told the audience at a taping of TV Land's "Sit-Down Comedy with David Steinberg" that he owes his incredible comedy success to a television failure - an ill-fated, three-episode stint on the show "Benson." Seinfeld played the governor's joke writer, but the character was underdeveloped and went nowhere, reports The Post's Larry Getlen. So the producers decided to fire him. The only problem? "They didn't bother to tell me," says Seinfeld, who told the packed crowd at John Jay Community College that he went to rehearsal, ready to work, only to find no script for him at the run-through. "Hey, where's my script?" he said and was only then told the bad news. The experience hit him like a brick. "I was angry," he said, expressing dismay at how you could reach a pinnacle in acting only to have it ripped out from under you. "That doesn't happen in stand-up," he said. "Once you get to a certain level, they don't make you go back to the beginning." Seinfeld said it was then that he decided to dedicate himself fully to the art of stand-up. "I'm gonna be a comedian," he recalled thinking, "because I can control that."

Most stand up comics hate television as they are not in control of their destiny's anymore and they have to deal with scripted comedy rather than fresh material based on the current happenings of the day. They also hate the interfence from networks and not having much creative control. Wanda Sykes told this to the GSU Urbanite in regards to her cancellation. Damon Wayans told this to an Arizona paper in regards to his cancellation in 2005.

TV Knowledge Fan · 06-07-2006, 03:24 PM

...I wasn't too impressed with Seinfeld's appearances on "BENSON". "Frankie"
just seemed to be in the way of everyone else....perhaps the fact that this WAS Jerry's first regular television role, and he simply wasn't "ready" to join a tight ensemble cast, may have cost him any chance of even being a recurring
character. It took him almost an entire decade to get where he got to be in TV....by THEN, he knew what he wanted to do, and HOW to do it!

BensonFan · 06-07-2006, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

...I wasn't too impressed with Seinfeld's appearances on "BENSON". "Frankie"
just seemed to be in the way of everyone else....perhaps the fact that this WAS Jerry's first regular television role, and he simply wasn't "ready" to join a tight ensemble cast, may have cost him any chance of even being a recurring
character. It took him almost an entire decade to get where he got to be in TV....by THEN, he knew what he wanted to do, and HOW to do it!

Quite honestly I never understood his true purpose on the show. A MESSENGER? Is that like the pony express? I don't get why any Governor would need that, unless I'm not fully understanding what it is a messenger does.

catlover79 · 09-13-2007, 10:47 AM

I never saw Seinfeld's Benson appearances - but seeing how his career ended up, I can see why he was glad to be fired!!

TVFactFan · 09-13-2007, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I never saw Seinfeld's Benson appearances - but seeing how his career ended up, I can see why he was glad to be fired!!

He had very quick appearnces in 3 episodes, they were so quick that if you blinked, you would have missed it-lol

catlover79 · 09-13-2007, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingofTVResearch

He had very quick appearnces in 3 episodes, they were so quick that if you blinked, you would have missed it-lol

He's still laughing all the way to the bank!

Schmoopie · 08-16-2008, 09:17 AM

I vaguely remember reading that he had been on "Benson". After all those years of doing his own thing and writing for "Seinfeld", I don't think he'd be comfortable having to let someone else do all the work. Although he was in that episode of "30 Rock" but I'm sure they let him have some say, since it is an NBC show
Andrea

TVFactFan · 08-16-2008, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

I vaguely remember reading that he had been on "Benson". After all those years of doing his own thing and writing for "Seinfeld", I don't think he'd be comfortable having to let someone else do all the work. Although he was in that episode of "30 Rock" but I'm sure they let him have some say, since it is an NBC show
Andrea

That's when I didn't realize he was that old-lol I was like-"he played on Benson in 1980 which mde me realize that he is in his 50's now

catlover79 · 08-16-2008, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solomon

That's when I didn't realize he was that old-lol I was like-"he played on Benson in 1980 which mde me realize that he is in his 50's now

He's 54, to be exact - April 29, 1954.

Schmoopie · 08-16-2008, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

He's 54, to be exact - April 29, 1954.

Yep, that's what he said when I saw him in Vegas last weekend! Thanks for the reminder of his b-day though. I couldn't remember the date! BTW I was watching an eppy of "Seinfeld" this morning ("The Alternate Side") and Elaine was talking about how she was trying to break up with this 66 year old man that she was seeing. I was thinking how funny it was that he was so "old" and although I don't know Julia Louis Dreyfus' real age, 66 doesn't seem old anymore!

Andrea

Schmoopie · 08-16-2008, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

He's 54, to be exact - April 29, 1954.

Yep, that's what he said when I saw him in Vegas last weekend! Thanks for the reminder of his b-day though. I couldn't remember the date! BTW I was watching an eppy of "Seinfeld" this morning ("The Alternate Side") and Elaine was talking about how she was trying to break up with this 66 year old man

that she was seeing. I was thinking how funny it was that he was so "old" and although I don't know Julia Louis Dreyfus' real age, 66 doesn't seem old anymore!

Andrea

catlover79 · 08-16-2008, 11:44 PM

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is 47 (January 13, 1961) - but I don't know how old she was when that particular episode was made.

Schmoopie · 08-17-2008, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is 47 (January 13, 1961) - but I don't know how old she was when that particular episode was made.

God, I remember when 47 used to sound ancient! I'm 40 (41 in September) and I still feel like I'm in my late 20's/early 30's. Age is just a number, right? Julia must have been in her 30's since it's been ten years since Seinfeld went off the air. That episode was from Season 3, which was about 1991 or 1992.

Andrea

Scoobiedoo30 · 08-17-2008, 12:35 PM

I did not know that Benson Fired Jerry Seinfeld

06-07-2006, 12:49 AM	#1
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,133	Seinfeld Thank's Benson For Firing Him From the NY Post June 5, 2006 -- JERRY Seinfeld told the audience at a taping of TV Land's "Sit-Down Comedy with David Steinberg" that he owes his incredible comedy success to a television failure - an ill-fated, three-episode stint on the show "Benson." Seinfeld played the governor's joke writer, but the character was underdeveloped and went nowhere, reports The Post's Larry Getlen. So the producers decided to fire him. The only problem? "They didn't bother to tell me," says Seinfeld, who told the packed crowd at John Jay Community College that he went to rehearsal, ready to work, only to find no script for him at the run-through. "Hey, where's my script?" he said and was only then told the bad news. The experience hit him like a brick. "I was angry," he said, expressing dismay at how you could reach a pinnacle in acting only to have it ripped out from under you. "That doesn't happen in stand-up," he said. "Once you get to a certain level, they don't make you go back to the beginning." Seinfeld said it was then that he decided to dedicate himself fully to the art of stand-up. "I'm gonna be a comedian," he recalled thinking, "because I can control that."
	__________________ Sonny

06-07-2006, 03:24 PM	#3
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Personally.... ...I wasn't too impressed with Seinfeld's appearances on "BENSON". "Frankie" just seemed to be in the way of everyone else....perhaps the fact that this WAS Jerry's first regular television role, and he simply wasn't "ready" to join a tight ensemble cast, may have cost him any chance of even being a recurring character. It took him almost an entire decade to get where he got to be in TV....by THEN, he knew what he wanted to do, and HOW to do it!

09-13-2007, 10:47 AM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I never saw Seinfeld's Benson appearances - but seeing how his career ended up, I can see why he was glad to be fired!!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

08-16-2008, 09:17 AM	#8
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I vaguely remember reading that he had been on "Benson". After all those years of doing his own thing and writing for "Seinfeld", I don't think he'd be comfortable having to let someone else do all the work. Although he was in that episode of "30 Rock" but I'm sure they let him have some say, since it is an NBC show Andrea
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

08-17-2008, 12:35 PM	#15
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	I did not know that Benson Fired Jerry Seinfeld
	__________________ Who Dat

08-16-2008, 11:44 PM	#13
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Julia Louis-Dreyfus is 47 (January 13, 1961) - but I don't know how old she was when that particular episode was made.