Kramer's influence

Over break, I found myself watching much of Comedy Central's "Soap" marathon. I had watched it when I was a kid, but had forgotten how funny and cutting edge the humor was.

Anyway, as Im watching it, I noticed that Burt Campbell (played by Richard Mulligan) does an awful lot of physical comedy that just screams Kramer. If I didn't know that this show was from the early 80's, I would have thought Burt was a Kramer rip-off---and a good one!! He does this bit where he thinks he's invisible and to do it he snaps his fingers and waves his arms and distorts his face in vintage Kramer form. I think this must have been an early Kramer (Richards) influence.

Anyone agree????

YES!! ABSOLUTELY!! There must be some relationship between Richard Mulligan and Michael Richards (and I suppose we should include Tom Waits and Lyle Lovett in this list as well.) I don't have cable so I obviously didn't see the Comedy Central _Soap_ marathon, but I think that was on of the funniest sitcoms I've ever seen. Remember Burt being captured by aliens??

(Richards)

Mulligan

Lovett

Comedy

I've

Anyone remember when Burt opened the fridge and found the ventriloquist's dummy in there?!

Sue

I was soooo happy to see the old reruns of Soap return to cable. And yes, Burt does seem to have many of the same mannerisms as Kramer. Plus, he's just as wacko, remember the episodes in Soap when Burt was abducted by aliens? Can't you just imagine Kramer trying to convince the rest of the crew that he had been abducted and brought on board a spaceship as an example of the human race to examine. Imagine what aliens would think if they were to examine Kramer!!!!

Does anyone remember the Night Court episode where Michael Richards was brought before the bench and thought he was invisible. It was hilarious wathcing him think he was invisible while everyone could obviously see him. Another thread in the Richard Mulligan musings.