Seinfeld is without a doubt one of the most iconic and legendary sitcoms ever made. Maybe even the most iconic and legendary. Unlike most that have slowly slipped away to time and age, Seinfeld has remained as relevant as ever thanks to its universal glimpse into the human condition, timeless characters, and broad storylines that anyone can relate to.

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And like all great TV shows, the story behind Seinfeld is just as interesting. And it's certainly more provocative and engaging than "friends sit around and complain about their partners."

These are ten behind the scenes facts about Seinfeld you never knew.

The Pilot Was Filmed In The Same Studio As The Dick Van Dyke Show

Originally known as The Seinfeld Chronicles, the pilot of Seinfeld was filmed on Stage 8 in Hollywood's Desilu Cahuenga Studio (now known as Red Studios Hollywood). This was the exact same studio where The Dick Van Dyke Show was filmed, and many people on the crew of Seinfeld considered that to be a good omen. But that isn't the only legendary sitcom filmed at the iconic studio. It has also hosted I Love Lucy, The Andy Griffith Show, and The Golden Girls, among many others.

Test Audiences Hated It

Jerry's girlfriend refuses pie in Seinfeld

Seinfeld is lucky to have even started, because test audiences absolutely despised the pilot. The pilot was first screened for NBC executives, most of whom were left unconvinced by the show's potential. Following that, the pilot was screened to hundreds of everyday citizens, and this experiment was met with the same negative response. Criticisms included the unlikeable characters (especially George), the utter lack of story, and the jarring flip-flopping between Seinfeld's stand-up routine and the fictional segments of the show.

It Received The Smallest Sitcom Order In TV History

NBC executives were not impressed with the show or the reception it received from general audiences. Despite this, they decided to go ahead with The Seinfeld Chronicles. That said, they clearly didn't have much hope for it, as the pilot debuted in July. A summer pilot is never a good sign, as the summer season is usually considered a dumping ground for most networks. Sort of like January in the film industry! Despite this, the pilot was deemed successful enough, so NBC ordered a whopping four additional episodes - the smallest sitcom order in television history.

The Name Was Changed To Avoid Confusion

When it originally aired in the summer of 1989, Seinfeld was known as The Seinfeld Chronicles. It's kind of a lame name, but it's fitting considering the show's episodic and unconnected nature. However, the name was eventually changed to avoid confusion and association with a short-lived sitcom called The Marshall Chronicles.

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The "the" and "chronicles" were obviously dropped, and the show was henceforth known simply as Seinfeld. We think it was the right decision.

The Producers Were Ordered To Add A Female Character

Elaine does not appear in the pilot episode (one of just three episodes in which she does not appear). NBC noticed the male-centric cast of the pilot and ordered Seinfeld, David, and the producers to add a female to the core group of characters. According to the DVD commentary, this demand was NBC's major condition for ordering additional episodes of the show. David and Seinfeld took that deal, and Elaine was written into the show.

It Took A Long Time For The Show To Become A Phenomenon

It's not rare for people to drop television shows after just a few episodes. And if you started watching Seinfeld in 1989, chances are that you would have dropped it too. Seinfeld was never a big deal throughout its early run and was only considered a ratings success because it aired immediately after Cheers and gobbled up a majority of its viewers. Things started to change for the best with season three (which received eight Emmy nominations), but the show didn't become a top-five hit until season 5 in 1993/1994.

Larry David Wanted To End The Show After One Season

If Larry David had his way, Seinfeld would have been a long-forgotten sitcom that once aired on NBC throughout 1990. That's because he wanted to end the series after just one season. After season one completed in 1990, NBC ordered thirteen more episodes to make up a second season.

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However, David told Seinfeld to turn the offer down because he thought they were out of ideas! Seinfeld obviously disagreed and ignored David's request, and Seinfeld went on to tell 175 more stories...

One Episode Was Never Filmed Due To Its Controversial Content

Season two was originally going to contain an episode titled The Bet (or The Gun, depending on who you ask), and it was going to follow Elaine as she attempts to buy a handgun. The episode was written by Larry Charles and was intended to be a dark and experimental departure for the show and its characters. However, the cast wasn't really having it, and Julia Louis Dreyfus found the material particularly provocative and challenging. The crew decided to drop the episode altogether, and David and Seinfeld quickly wrote The Phone Message to replace it.

Seinfeld Was Consistently Beaten By Home Improvement

Midway through season four, Seinfeld's time slot was changed from 9:00 on Wednesdays to 9:30 on Thursdays. Part of the reason was to ride the coattails of Cheers (again). But another, more competitive reason stemmed from Seinfeld being consistently beaten by Home Improvement in the 9:00 Wednesday timeslot. However, Seinfeld got the last laugh, as it beat out Home Improvement for the Outstanding Comedy Series award at that year's Emmys.

Seinfeld Stopped The Stand-Up Segments

Major Seinfeld fans may have noticed that the series' signature stand-up segments abruptly ended after season seven. It's also a well-known fact that co-creator Larry David left the show after season seven. The timing is not a coincidence. Following David's departure, Seinfeld took complete creative control of the show. As such, Seinfeld was writing far more than he used to, and because he was writing so much, he didn't have time to craft additional stand-up material for the show. The stand-up segments were dropped, and Seinfeld was never the same again.

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