Studio audience cheers for Kramer

I got to the show about the middle of its run ('93), and I've noted in watching the reruns that at one time Kramer would draw applause from the studio audience each episode when he made his initial entrance into Jerry's apartment. Now I like Michael Richards as much as anyone--he's a brilliant physical comic actor--but I found the cheering a bit disconcerting, especially since the other actors rarely drew such reaction. Can anyone tell me how this all came about, and why it stopped? Did the producers suggest to the studio audience that they not cheer? Anyone who was at a taping at the time or knows something about this, please respond.

Michael Richards said that the cheering was very disruptive to him because he was forced to wait about 5 seconds before he could deliver his line after entering Jerry's apartment. I assume he suggested that the cheering be stopped, and it was.

I've always wondered about this, and I noticed in "The Fix-Up" episode, when Kramer enters the apartment with the bag full of free condoms, that when the audience cheers, he looks kind of annoyed. I would think this would make him happy, I guess it kind of messes him up and he forgets his line.

It's not really a matter of forgetting a line. It's a timing thing. Richards knows the best way to time his lines so that they're as humorous as possible. Having to wait for the laughter to die down just throws off the timing.

I'm reminded of an old Carson show with Buddy Hackett as a guest. They were talking about what makes for good comedy:

Buddy: "Johnny, ask me what's the most important factor in good comedy." Johnny: "Ok. What's the most..." Buddy (cutting in, loudly): "TIMING!!!"

If I was cheered vertime I walked onto a set I would never want it to stop

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With the their ego sizes being larger than China, there's no way an actor would ask for the audience to stop cheering. My guess is that the novelty of the Kramer character wore off.

Fuad

would ask for the audience to stop cheering. My guess > is that the novelty of the Kramer character wore off.

Nope. For a long time now, the MC at the tapings has asked the audience to not cheer when actors enter or exit because it throws off their timing. I wouldn't be surprised, however, to hear that Michael asked for someone to say something about it.

Michael Alexander

Good guess, but Michael Richards has already said in interviews that the audience cheering threw off his timing.