Seinfeldian Guest Stars
Well, since it's been over three weeks (a fortnight and a half, really) since a new post has been added here, I thought I'd try and get something going.
I was watching Seinfeld earlier tonight in syndication and was struck by a thought I'd had several times before. I think one of the hidden gems that made this show so good was the quality of the guest starring actors on various episodes. My first example if Bookman, the library investigations officer from the episode where Jerry finds out he forgot to return a book he took out in 1971. His scenes are a bit overdone, perhaps, but the actor just continues to run with it, even to the point where Jerry can't keep a straight face. Pure comic brilliance.
Anyone else?
posted by Kootch @ 6:17 PM
8 comments
8 Comments:
Yeah, '71. That was my first year on the job. Bad year for libraries. Bad year for America. Hippies burning library cards, Abby Hoffman telling everybody to steal books. I don't judge a man by the length of his hair or the kind of music he listens to. Rock was never my bag. But you put on a pair of shoes when you walk into the New York Public Library, fella.
And the best bit characters. When we moved into the place on Lake Como, E had to unpack a bunch if kitchen stuff and the layout of the room didn't make much sense so, whenever she walked into the room she'd stopped and say "Kitchen" with the exact intonation that Jerry said, "Newman" on Seinfeld.
As for minor characters, I'm a fan of Mike, who called Jerry "phoney" and tried to get out of it--"that Michael Jordan sure is phoney!"–-and the criminal played by Clint Howard.
Hey Stix,
I haven't been mad at blogger for weeks. (the fact that they did nothing much wrong contributed to that.) Could you get me back on the site as a contributor?
Well, let me tell you something, funny boy. Y'know that little stamp, the one that says "New York Public Library"? Well that may not mean anything to you, but that means a lot to me. One whole hell of a lot. Sure, go ahead, laugh if you want to. I've seen your type before: Flashy, making the scene, flaunting convention. Yeah, I know what you're thinking. What's this guy making such a big stink about old library books? Well, let me give you a hint, junior. Maybe we can live without libraries, people like you and me. Maybe. Sure, we're too old to change the world, but what about that kid, sitting down, opening a book, right now, in a branch at the local library and finding drawings of pee-pees and wee-wees on the Cat in the Hat and the Five Chinese Brothers? Doesn't HE deserve better? Look. If you think this is about overdue fines and missing books, you'd better think again. This is about that kid's right to read a book without getting his mind warped! Or: maybe that turns you on, Seinfeld; maybe that's how y'get your kicks. You and your good-time buddies. Well I got a flash for ya, joy-boy: Party time is over.
Babu Bhat.
Greatest character who wasn't really a character: Art Vandelay.
Back in the day when Seinfeld was coming to a close, there was some talk about potential spin-offs, starring George, Elaine, or Kramer. I always thought the Peterman and Putty show would've been cool.
And for more of the comic genuis of the man who would be Putty, see The Tick, the short lived live action version that was on Fox for a week.
When his sidekick, Arthur, asks what he brings to the duo, Putty as the Superhero the Tick reassures him with words to this effect . . . you're on a first name basis with lucidity. . . whereas it's strictly Mr. Lucidity with me.
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