I was looking at the Honeymooners today (well, actually, it was a parody of The Honeymooners, but that's not important right now) and it struck me how similar the characters of Ed Norton and Kramer are.
Or rather, not necessarily the characters, but the roles they play in the show. The position they fill in the overall gestalt of the cast. Whatever.
Now I don't see any other parallels between the two shows but I thought this was interesting as Kramer is such an odd character, you really don't see 'people' like him very often on TV.
(And please god stop all the endless debating about Kramer's name!)
This has occured to me too, but I think the biggest thing Kramer and Norton have in common is that both are masters of physical comedy (which is to say that Michael Richards and Art Carney are). In fact, Kramer sometimes pulls very Norton-esque moves. However, I don't think the characters are all that unique. The 'wacky neighbor' is a time-honored tradition in American TV. Granted, most of them aren't as WACKY as Kramer and Norton, but the classic American TV show almost always has someone living across the street or upstairs or whatever who wanders in at odd moments and puts a different spin on the show. This is especially true of sitcoms. Think about it: Fred Flintsone had Barney; HOME IMPROVEMENT has Wilson (say, wasn't he in DENNIS THE MENACE?); ROSEANNE has several such characters, from Tom Arnold to Sandra Bernhardt to Roseanne's sister; the Jeffersons had the Willises and that English guy; Bob Newhart had Larry, Darryl and Darryl; and on, and on, and on. The important thing is that these characters be different enough from the main characters, be they foils, best buddies, or just neighbors, to give the show an edge it wouldn't otherwise have. A final note: when Babs and Buster Bunny were "creating" TINY TOONS in the first episode, they read off a list of things they would need--setting, bad guys, and so on. One item on the list: "Wacky Neighbors!" Joe Walker [email]
Although I'm sure most of you already know this, the Flinstones was loosely based on the Honeymooners, and so the Barney character was based on Norton...thus the similarity in the "wacky" neighbors. I do see similarities in some of the antics of Norton and Kramer, but the role of the characters in the shows are very different. Norton is Ralph's best friend on the Honeymooners, and he often teaches Ralph a thing or two in the course of the show -- whereas (at least in my opinion) Jerry likes Kramer, but not in a "good friend" kind of way; rather in a "he amuses me so I'll tolerate him" kind of way. But I agree with Joe in that the important thing for both (to the audience) is that they contrast with the main characters in an amusing (hilarious?) way.
Two other great "wacky neighbors" were both the same actor (his name escapes me right now, but I'm sure some of you other fans will remember) -- Tony's friend from "I Dream of Jeanie" and Bob's neighbor in the earlier "Bob Newhart Show".
Obligatory (extra) Seinfeld: Boy are some of you guys quick to skewer. How many great comedies have gone through their entire runs with every single episode being great -- none that I can think of. Give Seinfeld a break...if the whole year is subpar, then you can condemn/reminisce/ whatever. But wait and see what else the show has to offer this year! If you go into every show thinking it can't compare with your favorites of the past it never will!