Highlights
- Fans found Michael Richards’ portrayal of Kramer to be the most funny and iconic character on Seinfeld, with his high jinks and absurd situations providing great comic relief.
- Michael’s acting prowess brought him more accolades and Emmys than any other Seinfeld actor, allowing him to earn a living away from the cameras.
- The “Kramer’s Legendary Blooper” scene, featuring Kramer chugging a pint of beer and smoking a cigarette, was cut due to TV standards and was only released to fans on the Seinfeld DVD. Fans think it is funnier than the scene that replaced it.
Michael Richards shot to fame when he was cast as Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld. The show ran for nine seasons and Michael Richards played the part of the eccentric neighbor and close friend of the main character, Jerry Seinfeld, in all but nine of the 180 episodes.
There are uncountable times when fans found Kramer the most funny and iconic of the four friends at the center of the show. However, when a particular blooper was finally released to the audience, fans were quick to point out that it was actually funnier than the scene that replaced it.
Michael Richards’s Kramer Was The Most Over-The-Top Character In Seinfeld
Although Michael Richards claims he took his character too seriously on the show, he brought a lot of fun to it as well. His high jinks and the absurd situations he regularly found himself in were great for comic relief.
In addition, his acting prowess and talent brought him more accolades than any of his cast members. Michael won more Emmys than any other Seinfeld actor, a recognition that also enabled him to make enough money to live away from the cameras.
Much like the other characters on the show, Michael’s real-life inspiration was one of Larry David’s real-life neighbors. Because of that, the show’s co-creator was unconvinced that Michael could match his neighbor’s antics.
[Larry] wasn’t quite sure where I was going with this character,” Michael Richards explained. “It didn’t quite fit in with how he saw Kramer, who we know was Kenny and his experiences there with him in New York. I took it [in a different direction].”
Michael Richards may have gotten away with taking it in a direction that suited him better also because Jerry Seinfeld, who’s shown his support for Michael on other occasions as well, wanted him to get the part. He convinced Larry he was perfect for it.
Eventually, Larry had to concede that Michael was right for the part.
“Michael, of course, brought his own personality into the part, and he created a character that really wasn’t — that evolved over years. It certainly wasn’t what was originally intended,” he said about the character’s arc.
The Kramer Blooper Was Cut From The Show Because Of TV Standards
What’s now known on YouTube as “Kramer’s Legendary Blooper” is a short scene that got re-shot for the show. In it, Kramer chugs down a pint of beer in a pub in one take all the while smoking a cigarette and not having it fall from his mouth it even as he burps from chugging down the liquid.
There are many reasons why this could have been considered unfit for the show. For example, it looks a little like the actor is rehearsing for the actual scene, holding his hand under the glass as if he was unsure whether he was going to be able to hold it as he downed the beer. The burp may also have been a reason to cut it.
However, at the time, TV standards were also stricter. Showing a man smoking, drinking, and burping in a show that aired before 9 p.m. was considered inappropriate for audiences. The writers had to decide whether to go for one of the three actions, but not all of them, unless the show was going to air after midnight. Since Seinfeld was a sitcom, that wasn’t going to happen.
As such, fans only saw the blooper after it was released as an extra on the Seinfeld DVD. Before that, they had only seen the “sanitized” version, in which the cigarette is extinguished and Kramer only downs half a pint.
Fans Still Think The Blooper Is Funnier Than The Scene That Replaced It
When the blooper was released, fans immediately flocked to the comments section to say how much better it was than the scene that replaced it.
Although some fans think that the shot, which comes in at just under two minutes, was too long and the camera angle wasn’t the greatest, they seem to agree that it was the perfect capture of Kramer as a character and a lot funnier than the scene that ended up in the show.
The fact that the cast member who witnesses the blooper also manages to keep a straight face as Kramer burps and hollers after drinking his beer is also something fans love and wish they could have experienced in the show.
Michael’s delivery of his two lines, “Here’s to feeling good all the time!” and “What a d*** good beer!” also sent some fans hollering with laughter. They were quick to recognize his comedic genius and sing his praises.
All in all, fans believe that the “Legendary Blooper” is a great example of how often bloopers are better than the final products that replace them.
Source: NewsFinale
