All through its sensible nine-season run, “Seinfeld” introduced plenty of celebrities on to play amusing caricatures of themselves (or, within the case of Regis Philbin, himself). Raquel Welch (star of “Scarsdale Shock”), Marisa Tomei and “The Velvet Fog” Mel Tormé are just some huge names that obtained in on the enjoyable, however it’s controversial probably the most memorable drop-ins got here from the world of sports activities. Provided that Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David are each large sports activities followers, this should not be stunning, however it’s fascinating that each males managed to get gamers from their favourite, and really completely different, New York baseball groups to visitor on the present.
David, a well known Yankees fanatic, prevailed upon newly minted World Sequence champions Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams to look on the Season 8 episode “The Abstinence” in 1996. Although not wherever close to a top-tier episode, Jeter and Williams have been sport and cozy throughout the comedy style – which isn’t at all times the case for athletes attempting their hand at performing (should you take pleasure in painfully unfunny fiascos, see Wayne Gretzky’s episode of “Saturday Evening Stay”). Nonetheless, the lads in pinstripes could not come near matching the comedic heights of former New York Met Keith Hernandez’ look on the two-part traditional “The Boyfriend” from Season 3.
And whereas the tv model of Jerry handles his unlikely friendship with the five-time All-Star first baseman with aplomb (till he abruptly ends it as a result of he does not need to assist the slugger transfer his furnishings), real-life Jerry wasn’t so suave.
Jerry Seinfeld was sheepish upon encountering New York Mets nice Keith Hernandez
In a 2023 interview with Vulture devoted completely to his efficiency on this all-timer, Hernandez revealed that die-hard Mets fan Seinfeld “was a little bit sheepish however welcoming.” As for the others, Hernandez mentioned they have been all fantastic to work with — besides Jason Alexander.
In keeping with Hernandez, who, throughout the episode, should fend off an accusation of spitting on Kramer and Newman (prompting Jerry to formulate a “second spitter” principle à la the JFK assassination), Alexander “was a little bit standoffish a lot of the week.” When requested why the actor wasn’t as welcoming as the opposite solid members, Hernandez thought it might need one thing to do with him being a comedy interloper.
As he advised Vulture:
“[Alexander] in all probability needed to work his manner by means of bit roles, and right here I come as a visitor star, and who am I? A retired baseball participant? I am simply speculating. Nevertheless it all modified once we needed to do the whole run-through in chronological order in entrance of the NBC executives on Friday evening. I needed to go their litmus check and censors, and I did not make any errors. Jason got here as much as me with an enormous smile and shook my hand and mentioned, “Good going.” From that time on, he was fantastic. I suppose I needed to show myself. I spotted I could not maintain them up and be horrible and never memorize traces. I had a variety of traces. It was a really, very demanding week.”
So there you’ve it: Seinfeld was a little bit nervous and Alexander was a little bit jerk-ish till he wasn’t. Regardless, everybody introduced their A-game for what wound up being the spotlight of “Seinfeld” Season 3.
