Seinfeld: The Complete Series Blu-ray Proposal

[stevearino]

Dear Tony Vinciquerra,

I have a proposal for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment: in honor of its impending 35th Anniversary next year, it's my humble suggestion that Sony issue and release, for the first time EVER on Blu Ray, "Seinfeld: The Complete Series," a 25-disc Blu Ray Compilation (with DOZENS of Bonus Features) showcasing all 180 half-hour episodes of the hit 1990-1998 sitcom classic "Seinfeld" 100% Complete, 100% Uncut, 100% Unedited, AND 100% Unremastered, just the way that each episode originally aired on the NBC Television Network, with each episode lovingly sourced from the original NBC Television Network Prints.

Created by Larry David, "Seinfeld" was a hit '90s sitcom originally airing for 8 seasons on NBC from May 31, 1990 - May 14, 1998; the show was originally conceived and created by Larry David as a sitcom vehicle for his real-life best friend, successful stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld, under the working title "Stand Up," in November 1988, while he and Seinfeld were Grocery Shopping.

Soon afterwards, Larry pitched "Stand Up" to execs at the then-infant FOX Television Network, which immediately passed over on the concept, BUT after FOX rejected "Stand Up," NBC bought the concept to Pilot and renamed it "The Seinfeld Chronicles," with the aforementioned Pilot filmed in Spring 1989 at Desilu Studios in Los Angeles, California on Stage 8, the former home of "The Dick Van Dyke Show," and subsequently telecast on July 5, 1989 at 9 P.M. ET / PT after a Summer Rerun of the hit '80s sitcom "Night Court."

Joining Jerry in the cast were Jason Alexander as George Costanza, Jerry's best friend (a character based loosely on Larry David himself); Michael Richards as Kramer (a character based loosely on and named after Larry David's former neighbor Kenny Kramer); and Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Elaine Benes (Jerry's ex-girlfriend and strictly platonic pal), replacing Lee Garlington after the Pilot, who portrayed dim-wit Coffee waitress Claire in the Pilot.

Despite marginal ratings, NBC picked up "The Seinfeld Chronicles" to series, shortening the title to "Seinfeld," as a 4-week Summer Replacement series for the Summer of 1990, where it made its regular-series debut on May 31, 1990, airing Thursday nights at 9 P.M. ET / PT after reruns of the hit '80s sitcom "Cheers" once again to marginal success; despite this, the show was picked up to finish out the season, this time airing Wednesday nights at 9 P.M. ET / PT after "Night Court," with the Summer 1990 "Seinfeld" shows filmed at Desilu Studios before "Seinfeld" moving permanently to CBS Studio Center in L.A.

After briefly airing Thursday nights at 9 P.M. ET / PT after "Cheers" in April 1991, "Seinfeld" moved back to Wednesday nights at 9 P.M. ET / PT after "Night Court" upon being picked up by NBC for a 2nd season in September 1991, with both shows switching time-slots mid-season; whereas "Night Court" ended its own long-run in May 1992, "Seinfeld," despite continued marginal success, was picked up for Season 3 in September 1992--this time head-to-head against Tim Allen's hit rookie Disney sitcom "Home Improvement" on the ABC Television Network, moving to Wednesday nights at 9 P.M. ET / PT from Tuesday nights at 8 P.M. ET / PT after "Full House" the prior season.

Whereas "Home Improvement" continued being a major hit, NBC, rather than cancelling "Seinfeld," moved "Seinfeld" permanently to Thursday nights at 9 P.M. ET / PT just to give it a chance--a move making "Seinfeld" the classic it is now and forevermore, with ratings eventually going through the roof.

In September 1995, at the end of Season 5, "Seinfeld" entered rerun Syndication while new episodes aired on NBC for a while anyway.

In May 1996, after 6 seasons, Larry David quit "Seinfeld," with Jerry Seinfeld himself becoming Executive Producer, with stand-up bits permanently dropped.

In December 1997, after 8 seasons and 180 episodes, Jerry Seinfeld announced that Season 8 of "Seinfeld" would be the last after turning down an offer for a $5 million a show 22-episode 9th-season to concentrate on his personal life; NBC celebrated the show's success with a 2-Hour Series Finale telecast on May 14, 1998, during which a number of events had occurred.

Among other events in the 2-Hour "Seinfeld" finale: 5 years after filming the fictional show-within-the-show Pilot, NBC picked up "Jerry" for a 13-week Series Commitment; in celebration, NBC gave George & Jerry a Private Jet to fly to Paris, which they subsequently tried to along with Elaine & Kramer.

However, the Plane shortly after takeoff made an Emergency Landing to the fictional small town of rural Latham, Massachusetts, during which while George, Jerry, Elaine & Kramer were in town they witnessed a Robbery, during which in true "Seinfeld" fashion they did NOTHING to stop a Crime--resulting in their Arrest by Officer Matt Vogel (Scott Jaeck) for Criminal Indifference.

To clarify, though there are Duty to Rescue laws in America, such laws are NOTHING like what is depicted in the "Seinfeld" finale. Just thought I'd mention it before I continue. As I was saying, the 2nd half of the hour-long "Seinfeld" finale focused on the subsequent trial with cameos by Geraldo Rivera and Jane Wells (both appearing as themselves) covering the trial, which culminated with the 4 principal "Seinfeld" characters being Convicted and Sentenced to a Year in Prison upon their Conviction on Criminal Indifference charges.

In the years since, reruns of "Seinfeld" continue to flourish in Syndication, as well as on cable networks such as TBS, Comedy Central, TV Land, and Nickelodeon, where it had TWO different runs--besides Nick at Nite (where it aired in the USA from May 30, 2022 - November 29, 2022), Nickelodeon also aired "Seinfeld" in the UK as part of its Paramount Comedy Channel (originally The Paramount Channel) programming block from November 1, 1995 - February 4, 2001 until Paramount Comedy became its own separate channel.

In 2006, Michael Richards famously made a famous racist rant after being heckled by Black Men in the Audience at the Laugh Factory while attempting to follow Jerry Seinfeld into stand-up comedy--let's just say Michael Richards is a much better ACTOR than a Stand-Up Comedian.

Sincerely,
Steve Arino