Seinfeld secondary character poll

Oops--Bania's there!

have we done a Peter Stormare poll here yet? if not we really should.

― Alex in Baltimore, Thursday, November 15, 2007 1:00 PM (3 years ago) Bookmark

haha, otm! dude's a national treasure, despite not being american

As far as talentless goes, I think one of the most charming things about Seinfeld (the show) was that Seinfeld (the comedian) basically admitted that he is a pretty terrible actor and thus surrounded himself with much more gifted comic actors, both in the main roles and the secondary parts. One of my most-quoted/imitated Seinfeld lines isn't even really that funny on paper, it's when he's impersonating someone else and talking to his girlfriend on the phone, trying to find out how she feels about him, and what's hilarious about it is how AWFUL his fake voice is, but it's pretty obvious he knows he can't really do a fake voice and is totally hamming it up.

― n/a, Tuesday, November 6, 2007 3:21 PM (3 years ago) Bookmark

what episode was this?

Jackie Chiles 0

you people...

As far as talentless goes, I think one of the most charming things about Seinfeld (the show) was that Seinfeld (the comedian) basically admitted that he is a pretty terrible actor and thus surrounded himself with much more gifted comic actors, both in the main roles and the secondary parts. One of my most-quoted/imitated Seinfeld lines isn't even really that funny on paper, it's when he's impersonating someone else and talking to his girlfriend on the phone, trying to find out how she feels about him, and what's hilarious about it is how AWFUL his fake voice is, but it's pretty obvious he knows he can't really do a fake voice and is totally hamming it up.

― n/a, Tuesday, November 6, 2007 3:21 PM (3 years ago) Bookmark

this is the tractor story/gonorrhea episode right? i fucking love that scene.

i started to get so much more out of seinfeld when i began to notice how often jerry basically broke character.

i'm always impressed by how distinctive and memorable even the throwaway characters on this show are -- i mean characters who were on the show for literally 30 seconds, like the guy who gets in a fight with george for 'double-dipping' his chip.

yeah it was the tractor story

xposts
yeah i think it's funny when ppl complain about jerry's poor acting, i mean, that was one of the linchpins of the show imo. that and his horrible "regular guy" wardrobe choices

what's wrong with the super tight purple turtleneck?

absolutely nothing, if it's matched with the right high-top basketball sneakers

and it's tucked into jeans, sans belt

this is the scene I was talking about:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo3b2WofpUw

Just recently watched a whole season of this back-to-back thanks to a $6 grocery store price on the one box set - - and god, Frank and Estelle are absolutely the highlight of this show, real pros. Basically everything they ever say is hilarious, quotable, and perfectly-delivered.

There's a line in the hand modelling episode, "Would you believe when I was 18, I had a silver dollar collection?" I can't explain why that's funny but it kills me every time I hear it

It's the pauses, just how excruciating Frank makes it to listen to anything he has to say. Same thing in the bra salesman episode: "There's the B... the C.... and the D. ..That's the biggest."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3AMRHXMfjs

the Costanzas are honestly a part of the show that, while great, hasn't aged as well for me -- like i thought they were way funnier at the time when i was 14 or whatever than i do now, while George and Elaine and a lot of the other supporting characters have aged like fine wine.

oh i love em, there's this .. (YOU come ere)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3rczDq5k4Y

LOL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_nCmj9IyLo&feature=related

the Costanzas are honestly a part of the show that, while great, hasn't aged as well for me -- like i thought they were way funnier at the time when i was 14 or whatever than i do now,

I feel the opposite--they're way funnier now. Partly because I now have parents-in-law, and while they're not exactly like them, they're enough like them for it to be horribly funny

always more of a fan of jerry's parents, tho you're right about frank's amazing line-readings.

susan's parents were great too, especially the dad's excruciating monologue about the cabin kramer (i think) burned down.

One of my favourite Frank bits is when he tells Elaine the story of his Korean affair (with a look of complete mortification on Elaine's face): "I feel I need to unburden myself." From Estelle--I'm not sure which episode it's from--I love the line, "And he's altogether an idiot."

i really wish i'd voted for Jack Klompus, he's incredible.

David Puddy vs. Dennis Duffy

TAKE THE PEN!

"Jack, its' Martie"
"Who died?"
"Nobody died. Jack I want you to do me a big favour. In my garage there's a couple of boxes.
"What boxes?"
"I'm gonna explain what boxes"
"ALRIGHT, How the hell do i know!?"

otm

except Marty Seinfeld doesn't say 'favour'

favor?

I LOVE, SPONGE CAKE!

klompus episodes are fucking JOYS

When I got to work today, the custodian had left one of those spinning chairs in my room (3:15 in clip). I plan to be more Kruger-like than ever this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6kVBGeQeR4

This is a slightly edited/elongated version of one of my favorite things in the history of television, David Puddy apparently staring into space for an indefinite amount of time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIn0eWCyYs4

this poll pretty much nails it. personally i would put Frank Costanza at the top just cos he and Estelle are some of the most believable parental comic foils of all time. they are so perfectly George's parents that by the time they get to festivus, it makes all too much sense.

Otm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3fCt0Smfks

lol just realized Frank does the clapping *clap* on *clap* words *clap* at the end of this scene.

Jerry's parents are cool and entirely believable w their whole Florida country club vibe but George's really hint at the pure rage that is seething through George, ready to fly off the handle at the slightest provocation. Frank has this natural Serenity to him that is tempered with these wonderful outbursts of anger. at the same time he has a sort of absent minded creative wandering spirit. its this anger & wonder that are core to George's character.

surprised at the lack of Newman love

and poor old Uncle Leo too

remember when Uncle Leo had his eyebrows singed off and they drew them on?

Jack Klompus is def a standout from the Fla scene. TAKE THE PEN!

YOU'RE DOING ME A FAVOR!

YOU STILL SAY "HELLO!"

Very deep list. You're all winners!

The pause after "Gnats too, if I'm not mistaken" is perfect - Frank's attention caught by his own sleeve

"Frank! Come'ere"
"YOU come'ere!"

".... and the D. That's the biggest."

rewatching the series currently and i cried laughing at Bookman

this is an incredible list of secondary characters, many of them deserving of any and all accolades they get.

and yet

there is only one viable winner of this poll, and it's not even close.

Puddy is the greatest secondary (i prefer bang-for-your-buck) character in television history.

One of my favorite little character beats ever was how the maestro removed the rubber band here:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=i1kbSm04xdg