Fans discuss instances of Jerry breaking the fourth wall in Seinfeld, identifying the clip show episodes where he speaks directly to the camera as examples of this theatrical technique.
I believe in acting/showbusiness "the fourth wall" is an expression that refers to the separation of the actors on stage and the audience. It is usually very important not to break the fourth wall as the audience then loses the magic of the show being a real event.
In any case I can think of only one episode of Seinfeld where Jerry breaks the fourth wall.
Can you identify it. Are there others?
Well, in two or three shows (including the very last one), he talks to the camera...They were all clip shows I think...Is this what you mean?
Introducing The Clip Show (1998), Jerry talks directly into the camera. Is that the type of thing you mean?
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art vandelay wrote:
Yes and I did not think of that one.
News Guy Mike put this question before this assembly: <<<<.....I can think of only one episode of Seinfeld where Jerry breaks the fourth wall. Can you identify it. Are there others?>>>>
Uncle. Surrender. White flag. We officially give up. What is the instance you have in mind? (yes, it's driving me a bit batty)
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art vandelay wrote:
The one I had in mind, but is interesting to read others, was in The Race. At the end when Jerry hugs Lois he looks over her shoulder, at the camera, and gives us a wink or smile.
The News Guy(Mike) wrote in message news:[email]...
> snip <
Just as George Reeves (T.V. Superman/Clark Kent) did at the end of every Superman episode.
Seinfeld, the ultimate Superman fan, combined the Superman motion picture theme music with the Superman television ending "wink." That's a unique piece of insight on the part of the Seinfeld writers. Small wonder that "Seinfeld" is the hallmark against which all other 90's sitcoms will be measured.
JG
John Gross wrote:
WOW - Thanks John. I did not remember that. And I grew up with TV Superman in the fifties.
PS - do you believe in the Superman "Curse"?
The News Guy(Mike) wrote in message news:[email]...
Race.
camera,
Superman in
Kirk Alyn played the first movie Superman in the Saturday morning serials. Kirk, who recently died at the age of 88, was unfortunately typecast after only two appearances in the movie serials and couldn't find steady work. Although, he did play Lois Lane's father in the original 1978 Superman film.
T.V.'s Superman, George Reeves, who had a minor role in Gone With the Wind, was also typecast and later died under questionable circumstancs. And we're all aware of Christopher Reeve's misfortune.
We'll have the see history unfold with Dean Cain (Lois & Clark) and Patrick Warburton.
Little known fact: Bud Collier was in fact the first Superman, or at least the voice of Superman on the old radio shows and in the Superman cartoons. (You can "hear" some of his work on the Cartoon Network. Collier's voice is almost falsetto for Clark Kent and is lowered several octaves for Superman. Sounds somewhat like Ted Knight - another popular cartoon voice.) He later hosted "Beat the Clock" and several other game shows. (You can see reruns of him in some pretty awful game shows on the cable Game Show Network. Very un-Superman looking !) But he did appearently "beat" the curse.
This long winded answer is probably more than you wanted to know. Sorry.
JG
The News Guy (Mike)'s - Seinfeld Lists Site -
John Gross wrote:
That's great. but you did not mention Margot Kidder [was that because she's Canadian? ha ha] who played Lois in the Superman movies. Margot had tremendous medical and mental misfortune after her stardom, lost all her money, looks and health.
[extra space to confuse newserver stupid rules]
The News Guy(Mike) wrote in message news:[email]...
>>> snip <<<<
she's
tremendous
and
You're right, I did forget Margot. And, no, I didn't realize she's Canadian. However, according to a recent biography, I believe she suffers from "Bi-Polar" disorder (used to be called Manic/Depressive) and is being treated with medication. She is slowly going back to work with two film projects completed in 1999.
Since you mentioned Margot, would you also include Richard Prior in the "curse"?
JG
Good one. I watched "The Cartoon" last night and noticed what *might* have been, if not an actual 'breaking' of the 4th wall, at least a severe bending,
While Newman was gushing about how wonderful Sally Weaver's one woman show was, while gradually turning to look right at Jerry, he said, "It's so good to see a show that's *about* something."
He didn't speak directly to the camera/audience, but it was definitely a step outside the Seinfeld TV universe.
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I disagree, I think this could be interpreted as being within the fourth wall, because he could easily have been referring to Jerry's stand-up routine. You know it's strictly observational, and in a sense, about "nothing." Just like the show that outside its walls. But in a more ironic sort of way, yes he was referring to the show. But I think this could easily be seen as within the boundaries of the show's walls.
Ratboy Dave brought to our attention....<<<<<<...... what *might* have been, if not an actual 'breaking' of the 4th wall, at least a severe bending..... Newman....... said, "It's so good to see a show that's *about* something." He didn't speak directly to the camera/audience, but it was definitely a step outside the Seinfeld TV universe.>>>>>
Good call. Another example is from The Butter Shave...Jerry's complains that Kenny Banya was getting big laughs and becoming a success due to Jerry's on-stage lead-in. It's not much of a stretch to assume Jerry was speaking to the programming geniuses at NBC who put on such crap as Union Square, Madman of the People, Veronica's Secret, Suddenly Susan in the 9:30 slot, sandwiched comfortably between Seinfeld and ER. A monkey reading the phone book should be in the Top 10 in that cushy spot.
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art vandelay wrote:
Actually, there are two categories of Thursday night NBC crap... shows that got sandwiched between Seinfeld and ER, and shows that got sanwiched between Friends and Seinfeld. Veronica's Closet, Madman of the People, and The Naked Truth belong to the former category. Union Square, The Single Guy, and Jesse belong to the latter. Suddenly Susan holds the dubious honor of belonging to both.
art vandelay wrote:
There was a lot of this after Jerry announced the end of the show .
In the same vein Kramer's remark that he is type-cast in The Burning is another comment on the reality of Michael Richard's .
Another was George's need to leave the meetings after being a hit and not going on too long with another comment that was not as good (Like the real Jerry, he knew when to quit)
In article ,
Ironically, a monkey reading the phone book is exactly what they have scheduled for that time slot next fall. The slot between Friends and Frasier is going to be filled by a documentary on the evolution of drywall, as told by Wilford Brimley!
[email] wrote:
We wish. Unfortunately, it's Jesse again.
art vandelay wrote in message news:[email]...
It could even be KoKo ...that chimp's allright. :-)
Mo
Yes! Newman's "*about* something" line was classic -- with a nice reaction by an out-of-character Jerry Seinfeld to go along with it!
-JB
Dave wrote in message ...
breaks
Race.
camera,
"It's
a
Or was this a side-swipe at the in-show Seinfeld sitcom, which was also about nothing.... Was the in-show Seinfeld ever broadcast, or was it a pilot that went nowhere....?
This must be my favourite newsgroup - I love Seinfeld, & love the attention to detail people bring to it....
I think there was a scene involving the kitchen in Jerry's Apt. You can see where the counter cut off, where the camera was supposed to keep the edge of that counter in the picture and the camera panned too far out, and you can see the 'fake' edge. I don't recall the episode name. But i do recall that breaking the 4th wall rule.
And there was another scene i found hilarious, when Kramer was trying NOT to break that 4th wall rule, when George was sitting on the couch in Jerrys and Kramer wanted to 'get to' the smaller couch and instead of walking around the coffee table he sifted through Georges legs inbetween the couch and coffee table. Because if he walked around the table, he would be too 'close' to the audience. Did anyone notice that?
Phil
Phil R. wrote in message news:[email]...
Which episode?
Mo
This topic is a little old, but I was watching "The Understudy" yesterday and there is a scene in the beginning where Jerry does an entire bit in front of the audience (looking at the camera). Charlie http://www.angelfire.com/de/unknownuser/seinfeld.html