'Seinfeld' TV-movie in talks

brace yourselves: according to Rueters Entertainment Newsline (as well as recent features on CNN Headline News and SonicNet Flashradio update) NBC is in talks with Jerry Seinfeld & Co. to produce a Seinfeld television movie for broadcast sometime during the summer of 1999. But it won't mark any historic reunion of the characters Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer...the movie will be based on an entirely different fleet of characters : Jerry's parents, their friends, and their foes (Jack Klompas comes to mind). A movie, "Return to the Pines of Mark Gables", will feature a script prepared by two of the show's former writers, with creative consultance from Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld. Barney Martin and Liz Sheridan will reprise their roles as the parents of comedian Jerry Seinfeld, while Jon O'Hurley re-appears as the now retired Jay Peterman (who was Elaine's boss in the final three seasons of the series). The story traces the goings on of your average Florida old-folks community, The Pines of Mark Gables, where the Seinfeld folks are returning to live after years ago Morty was impeached/resigned in an episode spoofing President Nixon's final months in office and the downfall of his presidency. Of course, the show's conflict is Morty's inability to hold his head up where he "disgraced the office", but continues to express that he "never did anything wrong". Besides the dead-on Clinton references, this script is less of a pop-culture satire than an over-all self-indulgant adventure for fans of the series. Not surprisingly, little mention is given to the series finale, which did not fair considerably well with viewers - but Jerry himself is supposed to make a cameo in the final scene of the program. The entire movie event is most obviously going to be treated as sort of a screen-test for NBC to see if these characters could possibly support a weekly sitcom themselves. The Seinfeld people have not ruled out a spin-off as long as it doesn't include one of the four main characters of the original series. Other stars/characters returning in the special : Ian Abercrombie as Justin Pitt; Estelle Harris as Estelle Costanza; Len Lesser as Uncle Leo (undetermined); although Sandy Baro, who played the Jack Klompas character, an important part of the new script, is currently in poor health and may not be available for filming. Well, what do you think, Seinfeldians? You'll most likely be hearing lots more about this soon after Christmas when everything is finalized, and it will probably begin taping in late February/early March.

It may just be my nature, but this sounds bogus for at least a few reasons, like:

Why would this TV movie be broadcast in the summer? Sounds like "sweeps" material to me.

If, in fact, this project is scheduled to be broadcast in the Summer of 1999, I think they'd have to be way past the discussion stage by now.

They would consider doing such a project WITHOUT Jerry Stiller? Not a chance.

Bu, then again, what do I know?

art vandelay wrote in article ...

Not necessarily, it could end up to be a Summer 'fill-in.'

Maybe he doesn't want to do it???

Exactly.

-Dallas

If they were to begin filming in February/March, and the script is fully complete, it would be well and ready for a late summer broadcast.

He does have a new show he's presently involved in - and from the post his appearence in the episode was never ruled out - but unlikely as he said on Entertainment Tonight that he was vacationing in Europe during the "King of Queens" hiatus, far from where the Seinfeld TV-movie will probably be filmed (I could be wrong, tho).

Will someone please explain to me why TV spin-offs are ok if they involve minor characters but not one of the 4 major characters? What is the logic of this? Cynth

I guess the 4 majors are working on their post-Seinfeld careers while the minor character actors might not have much else to fall back on?

Raining wrote:

Ratboy wrote:

Sounds right. But can't help but think about so many other major stars from past great tv shows who wanted to go on to bigger and better things: Ted Danson, Wayne Rogers, Alan Alda, Mike Farrell, Mary Tyler Moore, Dick Van Dyke (until he finally found Diagnosis Murder in his senior years) Tom Selleck--the list is endless. I still don't see what can be too wrong with taking a MAIN beloved character or two or three from one of the greatest shows of all times, and supporting them with great writers who could take these people in new directions. The built-in audience would sure be there, as would the money. Jerry could make cameos and still do all the stand-up he wants.

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