As far as comedy series go, very few have hit the nail on the head quite like Seinfeld. Even though it hasn't been airing since the late 90s, the show remains a staple for fans of the genre, often crossing several generations. After three Golden Globe Award wins and ranking at number 47 on IMDb's best television series of all time, there's no doubt in anyone's mind in regards to the quality of this timeless classic.
There's no indication that the show will ever return to the screens, much to the sadness and dismay of the fans. However, there's always the chance to keep watching re-runs. And, of course, lists like this one! Let's take a moment to remember the genius of Seinfeld and honor everyone who was a part of the show by taking a look at ten hidden details everyone missed.
Where's The Father?
Arguably of the best parts of the show, and what made it so iconic, was the masterful combination of real-life with imagination. Many of the events portrayed on Seinfeld were actually based on things that happened to the crew, and many of the characters aside from Jerry himself were also based on real people.
Interestingly enough, the character of Elaine's father, the intimidating and frightening Alton Benes, was supposed to be a recurring one on the show. As it turns out, actor Lawrence Tierney did intimidate and frighten other members of the cast to such an extent, he never again made an appearance.
The Employment Issue
In sitcoms like Seinfeld, oftentimes the profession of the main characters serves as an optimal chance to crack jokes and further developing the story. In Friends or How I Met Your Mother, for instance, this is true for virtually all of the characters, whose jobs in many ways reflect who they are as individuals.
We all know that Jerry was, of course, a stand-up comedian. Elaine is a writer and has done a fair share of things including writing for Jerry. Throughout the run of the show, however, Kramer is always unemployed. The curious part is that not once do audiences find out what his source of income is!
George Is Woody, George Is Larry
When Jason Alexander first auditioned for the show, he did a Woody Allen impersonation. Allen is mentioned several times during the course of the show, and, because Alexander believed his character was based on the famous director, which is why he wore glasses in the first place.
In reality, the character of George was based on co-creator of the show Larry David, and, once Jason found out, he changed his portrayal. Curiously enough, Larry David himself has been featured in two movies directed by Woody Allen. Coincidences, coincidences everywhere!
Baby On The Way
Actresses can do many things, but not getting pregnant if they don't want to isn't one of them. It's not uncommon for television series to accommodate the pregnancies of some of their stars by writing it into the script—Phoebe's character in friends when she carried her brother's triplets is just one of many examples.
However, pregnancy doesn't always fit into the storyline of a certain show, which forces producers to go to some extent to conceal the condition of the actresses. This is exactly what happened to Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who was pregnant during a part of the series and concealed her pregnancy by carrying several props.
He's Out Of The Contest!
Seinfeld wasn't afraid to push some boundaries during its time on the air. When you realize the show began airing in a more unforgiving era, this becomes even more impressive. One of these instances was during an episode where the main cast enters a contest among themselves to see who can last the longest without masturbating.
Kramer had an iconic line during this episode when he enters Jerry's apartment and announces "I'm out of the contest!" after seeing a woman naked through the window. This line, which has now become a staple, actually marked Kramer's one-hundredth time entering Jerry's apartment.
City Of Angels
When you think of iconic and timeless New York shows, there's a very high probability that Seinfeld will be top of mind. New York has become the stage for some of the most incredible pieces produced for movies and television, and how could it be any other way? It's beautiful, bustling, and eclectic like no other.
But, as it happens with so many other shows, sometimes things are not exactly as they seem. In this case, at least not for the exterior shots of Jerry's apartment, which is supposed to be in New York. In reality, the shots used are in Los Angeles, California.
Jeff Goldblum Homage
Making good on our claim that Woody Allen was referenced several times throughout the run of the show, here's yet another sneaky detail that everyone probably missed. One thing that Seinfeld and Woody Allen movies have in common is, of course, stellar and iconic one-liners.
So, what better way to make an homage to both the director Allen and the actor Jeff Goldblum than to use the latter's only line in the movie Annie Hall? "These pretzels are making me thirsty" was made famous due to Goldblum's extraordinary delivery, and it lived in glory once again after Kramer exclaimed it.
Dressing Retro
Not enough credit is given to costume design departments when it comes to the hard work they put into films and television shows, and we're not just talking about period dramas here where, granted, coming up with outrageous gowns and over the top wigs becomes a full-time job.
But, even in a show like Seinfeld, this can be felt. Kramer's retro wardrobe, comprising mostly OG 60s and 70s clothing, was intentional in order to portray the idea that he hadn't bought clothes in years. As the show and time progressed, it became harder and harder to find the right clothes, meaning they had to hire tailors to make Kramer's clothes with the right fabrics.
Man Hands
When it comes to sitcoms, a very big part of the plots and storylines come from the love life of the characters. Taking real-life and giving it an extra kick, over the top crazy situations lay the ground for some of the most entertaining episodes on television. Seinfeld, of course, was no exception.
Everyone remembers the episode when Jerry was dating a girl who had the so-called man's hands. While this gave way for many giggles from the audience, everyone wondered where the hands came from. Obviously, they didn't belong to the actress. They were actually actor James Rekart's hands!
Kal's Signs
Let's be real, here; if all of us had the opportunity to star in a show where the main character is a fictionalized version of us, would we waste the opportunity of making subtle references of our loved ones? Amongst other slightly less cute things, it's always sweet to see a slight hello aimed at us.
In the case of Seinfeld, it was a not to Jerry Seinfeld's real-life father. When Jarry is walking down the street in one of the episodes, a sign saying "Kal's signs" can be seen. Kal, Jerry's father, actually made signs for a living. We see you, Kal!