Jason Alexander's Seinfeld ‘Chinese Restaurant Episode’ Story
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2021
- Jason talks at a Write LA event about the table read for that episode, and what it taught him about understanding your creative strengths and sticking to them!
He's speaking with Tim Schildberger - Co-Founder of Write LA.
Jason Alexander was by far the best actor on the show. Its a damn crime that he's the only one to not win an Emmy
But its so poetic that 'George' didn't get an Emmy, that's exactly what would happen to George on the show :D
Is that Ellen sitting next to him?
I wouldn't say "by far." The entire cast was out-of-this-world good. But I would say that Jason created one heck of a character in George.
He was acting without acting
@@TheBehm08 "He was acting without acting." That's a great way to put it. Yes, precisely. 👍
"We're living in a society!"
CARTWRIGHT!!! CAAARTWRIIIIGHT!!!!
"Mr. Cohen always here."
"oh... five, ten minutes."
@@emilyburton4095 "always here?? What does that mean? :O"
@@ADCFproductions He live on Park Avenue.
George was the funniest and most entertaining character for me.
"For I am Costanza - lord of the idiots"
You mean Art Vandelay
@@alpercetiner949 You mean Larry David....George was Larry. After watching Curb, watch Seinfeld again with Larry in place (in mind).
@@justinsane3909
George was based off of Jerry's friend Larry. The first few seasons of Seinfeld Jason played George as Woody Allen, per Jason. Jason realized, after a few seasons, that George was Larry.
@@travzimmerman1340 Once you're inside Larry's head, you don't see anyone else. Even if George was differently portrayed in a few seasons, it was like seeing a more subdued Larry...Woody Allen? I didn't think of him on that angle, Jerry I thought was a calmer/quieter Woody Allen, less whiny.
And you want to be my latex salesman 😑
Jason is the complete opposite of George. Shows you what a great actor he is.
This is stating the obvious by not but he based the character on Larry David. Watching David’s mannerisms then watching Alexander mimic them is genuinely hilarious. George was the most unlikable character on the show but everyone loves him. You’re right, Jason Alexander is a great actor and portrayed that role perfectly.
@@07foxmulder That's true but I've seen interviews where Jason said early on, he based the character on Woody Allen before it dawned on him that basing on Larry David was the way to go. If you watch some of the early episodes compared to later ones, it's easy to see.
@@INYB *role
Exactly
@@07foxmulder George was the most unlikable, But it was not intended to be that way. It's just the vibes George has as a person.
“She called. He yelled Cartwright.”
“Who’s Cartwright?”
“I’m Cartwright.”
“Youre not Cartwright”
“Of course I’m not Cartwright!”
I say that every time my wife and I go to a Chinese restaurant. I also let her know that she is not Penske material if we pass a rental truck.
That's my favorite line. Also, "you know we're living in a society!" That line has LD written all over it. George says this a few times over the years.
It makes sense. "Costanza" rhymes with "Bonanza" which was a western series about a family named Cartwright.
@@ocan1033 this is amazing!! 😂
I KNOW I'M NOT CARTWRIGHT!!
I could watch this episode a thousand times and it’s still better than 99% of what’s on TV today
Didn’t have to scroll very far to get this comment. Predictable and tired
Elaines Dad ( Gene Teirney? ) was the tops.
@@stevencramsie9172 predictable and tired? Like the garbage on TV today.
Jason Alexander is such a great storyteller.
He was just on Inside Of You with Michael Rosenbaum
The sea was ANGRY that day my friends!!!
@@ADCFproductions now that I think about it half of seindeld is about them telling stories.
@@MrNimbus420 it's a fantastic show!
"The only reasonable excuse for me to leave would've been telling her I was in fact Batman, and I just saw the Bat Signal" God I love that episode.
I am Batman - Kramer
"You said that to her after?"
this is the reason why there's never gonna be another SEINFELD. iconicism breathes in this sitcom..nothing compares. every single character was very well written, one never undermined or overshadowed the other. Relatable 3000 equal screen timing to all, unparallel screenplay, HANDS DOWN
AGREED....thank you! 2 of my 3 sons also agree! GREAT old show !
I wouldn't say nothing compare, have you ever seen "Curb Your Enthusiasm"!!!! It's Seinfeld aged like fine wine, the pure essence of Larry David's Genius
@@MasterWoody Yes I've heard a lot about it... It's on my wishlist
@@bxtty You will especially love the 7th season! It's all about having a Seinfeld Reunion! The whole cast reunites!
There SHOULDN'T be another Seinfeld. If there ever is, it will just be someone copying Seinfeld. The only thing that could ever "be another Seinfeld" is someone making a brand new totally unique hit show that makes people talk about it the same way and then 30 years later it will be acknowledged as the next Seinfeld.
There have been other shows in the meantime, they're just waiting for their 30 years or whatever to come and bring them some recognition.
He's the actor who played one of the funniest sitcom characters of all time.
I love when Cartwright does these stories
who's Cartwright?
@@gaguy1967 apparently I'm Cartwright
@@khadorstrong youre not Cartwright
@@gaguy1967 OF COURSE IM NOT CARTWRIGHT!
I can proudly say that I've watched every episode from the beginning.
So you think that makes you Pensky material?
@@beardupbeerdown7355 Bear in mind, he is in the smaller office.
You are aware...
I thank you for your service Pensky!
Me too. It was always on a loop here in the workshop in a French forest, until...
I started saying aloud every characters next line!
I challenge anyone to do a better Peterman thaaaaaaaaaan me!
See you on The Green at dawn brave fellow, I will be the magnificent looking fellow in the cap-toe Oxfords..
Available in tan, black and in half size... no exchange on sale items! 💪🇬🇧
Like once? Pffttt I watch the it from start to finish on repeat every couple of months.
The show's concept is fantastic, but in my opinion the actors' performances are what determined it's success. The characters are SO good ! !
Well, Jerry ain't very good, but everyone else was great!
@@ArbitraryLifestyle True but his acting isn't the point, it's his own personality and mannerisms that are so funny.
Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld created a work of comedic genius. It speaks volumes that the network executive did not want it to be aired.
It blows my mind everytime I hear stories like this just how little network execs understand about comedy and what people will think is funny. This was one of the trademark episodes for Seinfeld! How many good shows never made it because execs don't know what they're doing creatively?!
I know they are intent on pushing their woke narrative on us. These people shouldn’t be in charge of a bowling alley let alone a national media broadcast.
"If anything happens here, can I count on you?", is, IMO, the funniest line in TV history. I can totally relate.
Oh.. yeah I want to get Into a rumble
Seinfeld got me through the pandemic... funny even now after watching each episode atleast a dozen times. Priceless!!
Jason Alexander is such a good actor that he shot the final monologue for The Marine Biologist without any rehearsal. The script went through a late-night rewrite, and Jason had to memorize it on the day they were filming. It was the biggest laugh from the audience in the history of the show. I still cannot believe he did not win an Emmy for that season.
I can listen to Jason Alexander all day and all night.
Might I suggest you watch Duckman? (He's the star)
@@NeoTechni I'll look it up. Thanks for letting me know.
If you really want to listen to Jason's voice for hours, buy his audio book on risk management. ...But be warned; even George can't stand the sound of his own voice.
Absolutely. It’s always so crazy to me hearing him as Jason Alexander and then hearing him as Costanza… literally sounds like two different people.
So articulate when he talks. I’m right there with ya.
always wanted to name my dog cartwright just so i could yell his name
almost every moment of my life is relatable to Seinfeld
This is the first episode of Seinfeld I remember seeing with my parents. It is so good. I grew up sitting in restaurant waiting rooms just about every other day and its such a relatable experience
Jason could not have said this any better then he did. His laughter upon talking about the episode is beautiful.
How can you not love Larry David. Honestly, that guy walks his own walk, and I love that.
Jason created one of the best characters ever. He deserves ever accolade given his way.
i been binge watching on the netflix, its incredible 180 episodes and almost all are really good, and kind of have stand out things in your mind..
Welcome to the seinverse 🤗
@Nny You mean the Soup Nazi episode?
To my mind easily the funniest American sitcom for a long time. Now that I think about it, so many of the episodes revolved around George wrestling with life's issues, to which we can all relate; and I'm not just talking about shrinkage.
“Cartwright… FOUR!”
It’s definitely one of my favorite episodes.
I remember watching it when it first aired. The Chinese restaurant episode is when I fell in love with the show. It was like a one-act play, and it was perfect.
Without Jason Alexander, Seinfeld (the show) is a flop. He made every other actor better. High praise for the only guy who was never recognized by his peers for an Emmy. That aside, Jason has my respect and the audience who understood it takes a straw to stir a really satisfying drink. Would love to meet the guy and tell him that.
I’d have to agree.
all 4 were needed. without either of any of them the show would have flopped
Are you sure
That's an interesting observation. I would say he is the glue also. You could probably swap out all the other characters, but if you swapped him out it would be most noticeable.
Agree 100% - he is the rock of this show. Congrats on David for hiring him!
I never understood the repeated complaint, " Nothing happens!"
Are you kidding?
So much is happening.
It's a brilliant piece of work!
One of the best episodes of my favorite sitcom! 💖
Loved this story. Cheers to all of you forever! Seinfeld will be the greatest show for eternity.
I just got my wife into Sienfield, she loves it, now we can binge watch together, what a great actor Jason is, he is the only person on earth that could be George.
He never win an Emmy or Golden Globe for his character, that was brutal and a long overdue.
85% of why I watch Seinfeld are George and Elaine. Jason Alexander is a treasure
Jason has such great stories
Jason is a great raconteur. He's entertaining and informative and I always love listening to him.
I absolutely LOVE bottle episodes. They're like concentrated material for actors and specific characters to just shine. Of course, you have to do them sparingly. Generally, you need people to already be invested in the characters and you have to have normal stuff to follow up the bottle episode, but they're excellent changes of pace.
This is great. I love this story even more because The Chinese Restaurant was the episode that really sold me and fascinated me about Seinfeld. I remember watching most of the previous ones because I was familiar with Jerry's stand up appearances, but many of them were very hit and miss. Some were pretty funny but others were a stretch.
The idea of just doing a complete episode about waiting for a table in a Chinese Restaurant was so absurd and against the grain, and the dialogue was funny enough that they pulled it off. That's what I wanted, that odd twist of humor that to me was sadly lacking with shows like Cheers, Full House, Growing Pains and dreck like that etc.
After that episode, I was a fan for life. It reminded me of the deadpan humor of shows like Barney Miller, and even the absurdity of the best Green Acres episodes oddly enough. Plus, a bit of a WKRP in Cinn vibe with the characters. Great clip.
Imagine being such a big star coming from a show based on nothing, which is why it was such a success because most interactions in our lives are based on pretty much nothing
We were at a restaurant last night, waiting for half an hour to get our table, AFTER having made a reservation, and someone mentioned this Chinese Restaurant episode of Seinfeld.
'Yes, Yes, She say curse word, I hang up
Seinfeld and Two and a Half Men (Sheen era only)
My two favorite sitcoms
.
I never tire of watching them
“Button your shirt George! Why do you have to have your shirt open and show all the hair?!?!” - Estelle Costanza
“Leave him alone! If he wants to show his chest hair let him show his chest hair!! It’s the only hair he’s got!!”- Frank Costanza
That episode was HILARIOUS!!!
SEINFELD....FOOOUUURRRRR!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
That episode is all-time top 3 for me, if not the best. All three of them were fantastic. Our family quotes that episode more than any other.
Yes - along with The Marine Biologist and The Contest
"Cartwright" was my favorite Seinfeld moment.
Great episode. If you listen carefully when Elaine goes over to the table to eat an eggroll, Jerry's $50 bet, you will recognize Larry David's voice saying "What did she say?"
Martin Scorsese's mother was also sitting at the table,
You see her as Elaine is walking away.
The episode may be didn't have a plot, but it was very relatable..
Life is about a lot of nothing happening. That’s why it succeeded.
watching seinfeld makes me feel better about life. you run into minor bumps here and there, and you keep going. the character's resiliency is what inspires me.
Mr cohan nice man...he live on Park Avenue.
First episode of Seinfeld that I saw and I was hooked.
The story George tells of experiencing a "pending intestinal requirement" during sex. One of the greatest monologues in the series! 😂
This is, in my opinion, the best-written episode in the entire show. The second one will be the Outing followed by the Pilot.
Alexander is such a great actor and voice actor. I lived him in Duckman. Full episodes are on RUclips.
All the actors on Seinfeld did an amazing job. George sleeping under his desk, and his boss nagging him for a calzone. Kramer putting a disposal in his shower. 😂 The stuff they came up with.
Omg please guys start up Seinfeld again.. You have no idea how many times I replay sienfeld.. Please I'm begging you guys. I'm begging I'm on my knees start sienfeld again. You guys are hilarious and it's help us all happy during these covid and omicron depression lock down times.
Tried that with arrested development (another fantastic and iconic sitcom) but it lamentably did not work. Has magic for a time and then it’s time is done just like some relationships best to cherish it and move on.
0:48: Love how he breaks into a little bit of George here.
Jason Alexander repeats this exact story this exact way every time. Even the « bless his heart »
It's an old person thing. My uncle does the same.
Seinfeld was the first glimpse of what vloging would look like in 2021 from a producers standpoint. Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld were 30 years ahead of there time. Following everyday ppl throughout there day, genius.
Jerry and Elaine invented friends with benefits even though it didn't last!
@@zkman1762 "When Harry Met Sally" might actually have invented that.
What’s funny is that’s one of the most memorable episodes of the entire series
J Alex. Gave me so many laughs growing up, absolute class act, bless.
One of my favorite episodes.
The first one I ever watched was The Parking Garage episode and I was sold instantly on it. A simple story where little incidences happen as they're trying to find their car. I always avoided not checking it out prior to that episode because I thought of Seinfeld as a little too nerdy with bland jokes for my liking but he did this series right without a doubt.
I was just saying the parking garage is a lot like the Chinese Restaurant episode. Neither is a favorite of mine, and I finally found out why--too thin.
Puple 19!!!
It could be the difference between Larry David’s humor and Seinfeld’s. When you watch the stand-up bits at the beginning and end of episodes (for however long they did that) - many were kind of meh, not as sharp as the show itself. I think Larry helped sharpen Jerry’s humor over the years.
@@joeterp5615 Yes that's a good point. I also notice how the characters were starting to find themselves a few seasons in. George though always seemed the same from the start. Kramer got more goofier and Jerry became less stiff. Elaine became more of a brat to George. A lot of interesting side characters too, like Newman, the parents or characters like Jackie Chiles who made a few appearances.
thats the worst one !
My favorite episode.
Happy Festivus everyone!
And Merry Christmas 🎄⛄
Jason looks great here. He needs to keep that goatee! I love how Jason threw in petard. Very Shakespearean of him. : )
How Jason Alexander or George Costanza & Larry David tries & hold onto what little side hairs they have left while the top is glaring like a polished surface is hilarious 😅
That's one of my favourite episodes. CARTWRIGHT! CAAARTWRIIIGHT!!!🤣🤣
Love the cast. Now if they just changed all the main characters with traditional German ones that’d be great! Thanks
The airport episode was my favorite. I loved their first 2 to 3 seasons. Their later seasons, although funny, were so outrageous lol.
Agrees...That airport episode was the best of those seasons and really setup Georges rage character in final seasons
This is a great clip and shows the issues with today's Hollywood. Everything seems to be made by committee now. Where are the people who have a unique vision that makes something different?
Jason talking about Larry is always entertaining.
And it's arguably the best episode of an iconic show- if somebody asked me to point to 1 episode to sum up the show that's what I'd choose
Just amazing!
I still book my Chinese restaurant as "seinfeld, 4" love it when they call it out, and take us to our table.
Jason sum’s it up perfectly.
Jason Alexander MADE that show. Such a talented, funny man.
One of my favorite episodes was the one about the blind date, and one of the funniest bits was George telling Jerry how important it was for him (George) that his blind date has "thick, flowing hair" - as he subtly scratches his scalp.
@@beachplumb yep. Everything he did was spot-on!
I do love every episode but that is a favorite episode.
I always thought if he shaved his head he would be able to get more work and not be immediately thought of as "George". Wonderful storyteller and fantastic actor
That is a profoundly good-sense observation imo. So many actors like Jason Alexander, Mark Hamill, and others, portrayed an iconic character that became more famous than the actor himself/herself, and then complained about it, because, as actors, they had a hard time getting different kinds of roles afterwards. What they seem to miss is that that distinct look you had in the iconic role IS more associated with the character than with you. So change your look, and keep working; then, when you become more famous as an actor than the original iconic character, you'll be free to look however you like and get whatever job you want.
That's the price of creating such a great character before you were known as a great actor with range.
I remember watching the very first episode because I had liked Jerry's HBO special. I thought it was ok. I might have watched the second, but I can't remember, but then life changed drastically for me and I didn't watch tv for a while. I ran into it again around mid-1992-ish and it was the episode where the girl is interviewing Jerry for her college paper and he starts to believe she thinks he might be gay ("not that there's anything wrong with it"). I was like, "I had no idea this show was still on... and it's brilliant!" From then on, I didn't miss an episode.
Genius episode. A perfect Seinfeld episode
I am a big fan of this man.
what a gem of an episode
Episode is pure comedy brilliance
"She say swear word and hang up"
Such a great episode.
I was a host in a very busy restaurant in Santa Monica in the 70-80s and was personally guilty of doing all the things seen in the Chinese restaurant episode including giving preference to certain customers, misspelling names so people skipped getting their table, and using the "Five, ten minutes" ploy.
"Its not a lie, if you believe it."
What no one gets is something was happening. It wasn't an action it was a feeling. The feeling of tension waiting for the table. Everyone can identify that feeling and understand that tension. That is why it worked.
These stories about the creative geniuses versus "the suits" are always entertaining. Garry Marshall with "Happy Days" relates how "the suits" wanted Fonzie to wear a cloth jacket instead of leather. They thought the leather jacket would be associated with crime and make ABC look bad. Marshall got them to agree Fonzie could wear the leather one so long as he was with his motorcycle. So, Marshall told writers to always have Fonzie with his motorcycle, even indoors such as INSIDE Arnold's restaurant.
I think it’s the series best episode. Even better than the contest.
That's how Mel Brooks worked. He wrote what was funny to him. No test audiences, no focus groups, no second guessing.
It was a massive gamble but as Jason said neither Larry nor Jerry cared about playing the show business game, if it had failed Jerry wouldve just gone back to stand up and lived comfortably and Larry wouldve been relieved he didnt have to write more shows. The pressure wasnt on them until it actually became successful because they didnt care about impressing studio execs like most would.
Wow, nicely said, it's about what is passionate to you, follow what is right by you.
Great stuff The only thing was about that show was that Kramer wasn't there
I had no idea, he is that well spoken.
this man was the show
One of the best Seinfeld episodes ever
"I'm Disturbed, I'm Depressed, I'm Inadequate - I've Got It All!" - George
I wouldn't say "nothing happens" in that episode. It's based on an exaggeration of a real life situation in which the show regulars are being snubbed by the owner of the restaurant as they wait to be seated and continue to be frustrated by being denied. Along the way, they discuss trivial but telling stories and engage in complaints about the long wait, the sense of being dissed, etc. What "happens" is a boiling up of frustration and resentment in comic reactions to the long wait. Seinfeld at its best was very inventive, clever and funny in a way that virtually all sitcoms can't even approach. I can't stand to watch most sitcoms from the last 25+ years, even popular ones like "Friends" and "The Big Bang Theory" that just seem contrived and written by smart aleck college kids trying to be hip and clever, with very phony situations and juvenile dialogue. Seinfeld wasn't consistent, but it frequently hit upon some unique and yet very realistic scenarios while weaving four or five story lines together over a 30 min show. Banal events became monumental, warped and crazy as played out by the regulars in their self-absorbed, often neurotic ways. Although other sitcoms since then have tried to copy aspects of that humor, they don't have the same comic genius with the everyday absurdity as Seinfeld did.
You’re seriously mansplaining what the episode was to a man who was actually there……
@@MinaF99 Oh, please. Don't try to dismiss my comment with a superficial cliche like "mansplaining". I was giving my take on something that someone who was there and at the time felt like the story was unlike anything he had seen in a sitcom episode. Just because Jason Alexander was there doesn't mean that his impression of the story line is accurate. He was relaying how it seemed to him and to studio executives at the time--a story unlike anything sitcoms had done before. I was arguing that the view of that episode as being "about nothing" is wrongheaded. You can agree or disagree, but you haven't articulated why you feel the way you do. The actor is not the final authority.
My only disagreement here is that you say there isnt a show that matches Seinfeld's comedic take on everyday absurdities; I think Curb your enthusiasm does this at the same or an even higher level
@@pablovargas5973 I have mixed feelings about "Curb," but I don't consider it the same kind of warped commentary on banality. I've seen some very funny stuff on that show and some needling commentary at times. But I find it too self-conscious, too hit-and-miss, and repetitive. I'd say it's similar in some ways to "Seinfeld" but very different in other ways, not a matter of levels but stylistic approaches. I also think "Seinfeld" was stronger in terms of ensemble and strong guest characters. "Curb" has a lot of recognizable celebrity types playing themselves or trying to play a very different character but not always convincing at it. I guess I view it as more self-indulgent, and Larry David wears on me when he dominates a show like that. But he's extremely funny in short bits like his tribute to Steve Martin at that award show.
@@MinaF99 you are not a real person
It was a daring episode by daring to do even less than a typical episode. And it worked.
George, " I will not compromise my artistic integrity." Jerry, "you're not artistic and you have no integrity"