How does Jerry Seinfeld shake off his sitcom persona?

The first few months after the series ends production are going to be pivotal for Jerry Seinfeld's career. The show has made him rich and a household name--but it's also created a sitcom alter ego that may hem him in artistically for years to come. (I know--we should all be so unlucky.) If you're Jerry Seinfeld, what are some of the things you do to make the public realize that you're an intelligent stand-up comic with a sly view of the world and human nature, and not a guy who lives in an Upper West Side apartment?

I hate to bring up a Seinfeld/Mary Tyler Moore analogy, but MTM had the same problems after her series ended in 1977. She tried a variety show that bombed terribly (but did give David Letterman his first big break), did a bit of Broadway work and finally achieved modest film success with "Ordinary People." The ghost of Mary Richards was difficult for her to escape. While the sitcom Jerry Seinfeld has many of the traits of his real-life counterpart, they are two different people who also share a name. Short of robbing a bank, how does the real Jerry dismiss his doppelganger?

Your thoughts, please.

VPaterno wrote:

The same way George and Elaine can get up to his apartment from the buzzer in 10 seconds or less. With incredible ease. I mean, he plans on doing stand-up. The only thing this sitcom did to keep Jerry from the stage was stay on the air, and that won't be a problem any longer. If you ask me, I see no strain Jerry will encounter with the transition from what he's doing now to stand-up.

-DK

"And that's ... My Two Cents." - Kent Brockman

Jerry will be packing Arenas all over the world doing his stand up act.

On 30 Jan 1998 05:26:35 GMT, [email] (VPaterno) wrote:

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Hmmm, a guaranteed income of $90 million/year just from the residuals on the "Seinfeld" reruns....yep, poor old Jerry is really at a 'career croosroads', isn't he?

Why doesn't he just get back together with Shoshana Lonstein and enjoy life for a while?

Ray Pezzi

I don't think Jerry is so naive that he will follow in the footsteps of a MTM and do a variety show, or even another sitcom for that matter. How could he possibly do something to follow up to this great series?

I disagree with you when you say that "the next few months are pivitol to his career." His career was established a long time ago, and he has nothing to prove anymore.... I don't think Jerry loses any sleep at night over fear of being 'typecast.'

You gotta respect a guy who's smart enough to know when to pull the plug on something while its still at its peak, and who also knows well enough to stay out of movies and future sitcoms that could never match the success of 'Seinfeld.'

Wish you could say the same about people like Cosby or MTM....

VPaterno wrote:

VPaterno wrote:

But MTM did not have a lot of talent - she had played in a few B movies, was the LEGGS in Richard Diamond and did not do a lot until paired with Dick Van Dyke (there he is again) and then part of an excellent ensemble in the MTM show. In both cases she was not a writer or producer (off camera). She did a good job in both roles but it was other people's great writing that propelled her to stardom.

I believe Jerry was the mastermind (along with LD - OK) of his show and rose to a star in the most difficult of all entertainment roles - a stand-up comic. The Top Guns of humour. He'll find his place and says he'll go back to stand up. He knows he's not an actor. We won't have to see him as a different person. And BTW IMHO Jerry on the show is close to the real Jerry.

Jerry Seinfeld can't shake off his sitcom persona because his sitcom persona is basically who he is (except that he's richer than everyone in real life). I think the real question should be how will Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Michael Richards will shake off their sitcom persona's. Everyone mostly knows Jason as George, Julia as Elaine, and of course Michael as Kramer. They're probably the most popular supporting cast of all time. I think that their careers won't be much after Seinfeld. Even though they might have a lot of projects, everyone will still think of them as George, Elaine, and Kramer.

Check out "Love! Valor! Compassion!" and you will see a very different Jason Alexander. He is a brilliant actor and will have no problem losing the George character. The others will do well also.