Viewers question why Jason Alexander's name appears with special formatting in the opening credits, with respondents explaining it results from his contract negotiation for prominent billing.
When the characters names show up on TV at the beginning of every show, how come only Jason Alexander's name shows up as
Jason Alexander as George
Why? In fact I have seen this happen in other shows too. For ex, in Three's Company, you can see 'some name'(I forget) as the Ropers. I wonder if this means anything.
Sharma
When the characters names show up on TV at the beginning of every show, how come only Jason Alexander's name shows up as
Jason Alexander as George
Why? In fact I have seen this happen in other shows too. For ex, in Three's Company, you can see 'some name'(I forget) as the Ropers. I wonder if this means anything.
Sharma
It means the Jason Alexander has a better contract than the rest of the supporting cast and wants us to remember the name "Jason Alexander" and not just "George".
In article [email] (Sharma Kunapalli) writes:
It means Jason Alexander got a good contract deal. You're only just noticing this? :-) It's been happening in movies, theater, and tv for a few decades.
See, the best spot in the acting credits is first, no question. And in a show called Seinfeld, that's gonna go to Jerry Seinfeld. After that, it's kind of a cattle call; who remembers who came second or third or whatever? (Yes, I know True Fans do.)
So, many actors feel that the smart move is to negotiate for last spot. And punch it up with an "and" : "And Mary Tyler Moore" (on the Dick Van Dyke show). Even better, get both "and" and "as". Hill Street Blues had a pair at the end: "Charles Haid as Renko | AND Veronica Hamel as Joyce Davenport." Haid was a leading-type actor who was taking an ensemble job and wanted his credit punched up, and Hamel was the last character to be cast, and all the "good" spots up front were already taken. (Agents negotiate these things for weeks -- months.)
So with Jason Alexander. He gets a little extra recognition this way, he seems like more of a "somebody." And, being a Tony-award winning actor who now finds himself playing sidekick to a standup comedian, such a perk helps keep him happy.
Jon Alan Conrad
This is true. After watching Seinfeld for more than a year now, I STILL don't know Kramers real name. He's my favorite character.
Does that mean I am not a real fan anymore? :(