The book "Top of the Rock", about the glory days of NBC ('80's & '90's) came out on Monday. I didn't realize it when I bought it, but it's an oral history! And you know how big of a fan I am of that format.
I've been plowing through it and it is very enjoyable, which isn't surprising since I grew up during the time it covers and watched every single one of NBC's shows back then.
I've seen a lot of excerpts from the book in magazines and various websites. Well, I just got through the Seinfeld portion, and there's some good stuff that I haven't seen reported on. Here's one:
Jason Alexander hated acting with "Susan". He said their styles were a bad match and he couldn't stand doing scenes with her. He was pissed that the other cast members didn't understand what he was talking about because George and Susan's scenes were almost always just between the two of them.
Then one episode Susan had scenes with Jerry and Elaine. Afterwards, the three of them (Jason, Julia, and Jerry), and Larry went to eat together. Jerry brought up that Susan was kinda hard to act with. Alexander got upset, that's what I've been telling you!
Julia agreed, and said "I just want to kill her".
And that's when Larry got the idea to kill her off before she and George could get married, which they did with the shitty envelopes.
I was surprised at how candid Alexander was about the whole thing. It can't be good form to talk shit about people you work with, though he was clearly trying to be as nice as he could be. But still, pretty interesting.
Anyway, I recommend the book.
10 comments:
Interesting that it took them that long to figure out the actress's acting problem, considering she'd been back for at least two arcs before the engagement arc.
But then, there have been hints that Jason wasn't exactly the easiest person to deal with at times, so maybe that was part of the reason his warnings went unheeded. (I'm sure JA's a decent enough guy - but in some interviews on the DVDs he comes off as very "actor-y.")
actually, funny story about that: jason alexander would complain about it to larry, and larry would just tell him "look, you guys are great together, because you are playing a terrible human being, and are doing awful things, and yet the audience LOVES you and actually takes your side because that's how much they don't like her".
I love your book recommendations! Keep them coming :)
There is a story I have heard that after an episode that Jason did not appear in (it was set in Florida at Jerry's parents), he threatened to quit the show if there was ever another episode he was omitted from. So maybe his history as a complainer is why they did not take him more seriously.
http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20592242,00.html I'm hoping you'll recap the Emily's season on The Bachelorette!!
actually, jason talks at length about doing that (threatening to quit if they did an episode without him and kramer again), and does seem shy about it all. clearly, he was not afraid to speak his mind.
but jerry and julia ended up hating her too. pretty funny.
Given their dislike of her, it's surprising they brought back for a flashback scene in the 'backwards' India episode in the final season.
They never re-air that episode (backwards India). Or the one with the Puerto Rican parade. Odd...
The sea was angry that day my friends...
never let an actor you don't like stand in the way of a great joke.
lisa d, they definitely don't replay the puerto rico episode (too racist!), but i'm pretty sure i've seen the india one rerun a few times lately.
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