who says jerry can't act?

I have read many times that Jerry Seinfeld can't act (at least not as good as the other cast members). However when I saw him in the Letterman show recently, he was completely unlike his screen character. I am telling u for the last time, this man *can* act!

ALbert,

I agree with Lady Ann's point about Jerry's smirking at the material.

Anyway I read an interview Jerry did about 3 years ago, where he said he can't act. He just tries to be himself.

In a way he is the straight guy of this comedy group.

I like the Kramer character best of all. He really is a down to earth good guy.

And Jason would have to be the best of the lot in my opinion. He can keep a really straight face in the most difficult situaions. And in Australia, we would call him a bloody good sport. Not many famous people could take all the short fat bald jokes he has over the last few years.

By the way, we had the last eposide screening in Australia this evening. Sad to see it go. It finished a bit flat I thought.

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Here's a question:

Would you buy Jerry playing another character in a different TV show or movie? I mean, can you seriously picture Jerry as a cop? (hey, he could replace Jimmy Smits on NYPD Blue)...a doctor? (isn't George Clooney leaving ER?)...newscaster? (isn't there an opening at NewsRadio...that's right, he already played himself on that show, and besides, Jon Lovitz filled the vacancy). I know, how about a 60 Minutes correspondent....nah, they'd never consider an actor to do a journalist's job, would they?

Jerry would never take those roles.

Dallas

Not to me. I can't buy Jerry playing any other role, just as I have great difficulty buying Julia, Jason or Michael playing other roles. No matter what they have done, or will do, they will always be Elaine, George and Kramer. I just saw "Decontructing Harry" a few weeks ago. Julia was in the movie, but when I saw her on screen, I couldn't get past Elaine.

I don't know... I think that time kinda changes things like that (character associations created from years of viewing). I would have to guess that, for most people, Jerry wouldn't be very convincing in any roles besides those which are closely related to that which we've seen for years.

But, look at actors who had defined themselves with certain roles/characters then went on to become much more versatile. Years ago, fans of Robin Williams stand-up or his stunt as Mork probably couldn't see him pulling of the serious roles that he now can. This is due, in part, to Robin's acting skills (which are unquestionably better than Jerry's). But also, because our opinions of him evolved as his career did.

As for the rest of the cast, I think Michael will have the most difficulty overcoming his stereotype. Julia will have some typecasting. And, Jason should do just fine - he, in my opinion, is the best actor on the series.

Do they even want to continue acting?

My thoughts,

Travis

Maybe I would, maybe I wouldn't. What does it matter? he was great as "T.V Jerry." Its very rare for even a good stand up comedian to make the leap into acting. Its just two very different worlds. For instance Margaret Cho, the excellent Asian American comic, does a great routine about growing up as the child of immigrants, growing up in a very religious family, living in San Fransisco and being exposed to so much gay culture, racism, dating & sex, drugs & alcohol, etc. Her imagination knows no bounds and I can listen to her for hours of stand up, but she didn't do so well as a TV character (the short lived show "All American Girl") . Jerry has done better than most stand up comics who try to act--certainly much better than Bill Cosby who turned a fairly decent (if incredibly tame) stand up routine into a very mediocre and timid TV show which became the cult icon of the unbearable "family values" Reagan era in which shallowness and boredom were virtures.

Around the set of Seinfeld, the writers or producers or whoever, would refer to his character on the show as "TV Jerry"

If he was in Jurassic Park: "What is the deal with Tyrannosaurus Rex? Is it Tyrannosaur or Rex?" Kramer: "Yeah. *POP*!"