SEINFELD STAR’S THREAT TO QUIT OVER LACK OF SCREEN TIME
In a shocking revelation, Michael Richards, known for his role as Kramer on the hit sitcom “Seinfeld,” has disclosed that his co-star Jason Alexander once threatened to quit the show due to his character, George Costanza, not receiving enough screen time. The incident occurred during Season 3 of the show, specifically during the filming of the episode titled “The Pen.”
During this particular episode, Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) and Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) visit Jerry’s parents in Florida. Surprisingly, neither Richards nor Alexander appeared in the episode. Richards claims that he accepted this situation with “equanimity,” as it had happened before in Season 2.
However, Alexander’s reaction was quite different. According to Richards’ memoir, “Entrances and Exits,” which is set to be released on June 4, Alexander was furious upon discovering that he was not included in the episode. Richards acknowledges Alexander’s frustration, stating that he understands why he was so incensed.
Richards explains that Alexander joined the show with great confidence, having won a Tony Award on the New York stage. He had assumed that “Seinfeld” was a buddy show, starring him and Jerry. However, the nature of the business breeds both massive egos and incredible insecurity, and this episode served as a jarring wake-up call for Alexander.
According to the book “Seinfeldia: How a Show About Nothing Changed Everything,” Alexander confronted head writer Larry David, threatening to quit if he was written out again. David attempted to explain the challenges of accommodating four main characters in every episode, but Alexander responded with, “Don’t tell me your problems. If you don’t need me here, I don’t want to be here.”
Alexander has confirmed this story, admitting that he did lash out at David. However, he expressed gratitude that David didn’t tell him to “take a hike,” as it would have jeopardized his career.
In his memoir, Richards also shares his own experience of insecurity when his character, Kramer, was absent from a Season 2 episode titled “The Chinese Restaurant.” He recalls feeling humiliated during the table read, as he had not been informed that he had no lines. Richards writes, “I sit at the table without uttering a single word, and this is because not a single word has been written for Kramer.”
Fortunately, Richards claims that David sensed his disappointment and reassured him that it would never happen again. David would later go on to star in his own show, “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
Additionally, Richards reveals in his book that when “Seinfeld” began its first truncated season, which only consisted of four episodes, he was convinced that he would be fired. His fears were not unfounded, as he heard through the grapevine that NBC initially wanted to remove him from the show. Furthermore, he was not included in the first official cast photo shoot.
Despite these initial challenges, “Seinfeld” went on to run for nine seasons and is now regarded as one of the greatest sitcoms of all time. In his memoir, Richards also opens up about his infamous racist tirade and a secret battle with prostate cancer.
