Seinfeld - Behind the Scenes - Jerry Stiller as Frank Costanza 

God it literally just made me laugh out loud watching them in the hand scene

I always thought Frank & Estelle should have had their own show ---- like another versious All in the Family show --- would have been hilarious, with some supporting cast.

@@utubeDaveutube - While I think we all loved Jerry Stiller and Elaine Harris as Frank & Estelle Costanza, I'm not sure about a separate show just for them. Honestly, I don't think that would've turned out much better than "The Ropers". We all know that the show "Seinfeld" went bye-bye because Jerry Seinfeld got tired and wanted to leave while the show was on top. Fine. Good for him. And while many just assumed that Jerry, Jason, Julia and Michael were every bit as close as Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer, we know that that's NOT the case. Jason, Julia and Michael all respected the work they were doing with Jerry, but they all resented some of the moves that Jerry made that favored himself financially whilst damaging the others (ending the show prematurely and how the syndication revenues were structured). Obviously, with the show literally titled "Seinfeld", there was no mistake on who the top-billed star was, and of course the actors all knew this going into it. And, they never had a problem with it. But because Jerry Seinfeld had insecurities due to the fact that he had limited acting ability, he opted to go out of his way to remind the others what a big star he had become when the show became a hit. This was not only unnecessary, but it was also a vain and arrogant move on his part; and when he rigged the syndication deals the way he did, he lost his chance at true friendship with these actors. Oh sure, they'll say nice things about him professionally and praise the show, but personally, none of the others care to speak to Jerry Seinfeld. Mainly because they don't have to. But, what I've always maintained is that when Seinfeld decided to cancel the show "Seinfeld", Jason, Julia, & Michael should've secretly called a private meeting and rounded up the writers they liked, producers, etc. and then reached out to Jerry Stiller, Elaine Harris, Wayne Knight, John O'Hurley, Patrick Warburton, & Phil Morris (amongst others) to all join in & create a new show in which they'd reprise their "Seinfeld" roles. The premise would be that Jerry got transferred to a higher security prison because he touched off a riot with his "funny boy antics" and got beat up whilst performing his standup act in jail. George, Elaine and Kramer are still housed at the low-security jail and are eventually visited by folks like George's parents, Newman, Mr J Peterman, Puddy, & Jackie Chiles. The show would be a collaborative combination that both revolves around the lives of these friends, relatives and acquaintances living their own lives in NYC- seemingly without missing their jailed "friends/ relatives", whilst also showing glimpses of George's, Elaine's and Kramer's incarcerations. Eventually, Estelle Costanza cracks & can't take not visiting George, so she goes to visit him... RUINING the fact that he'd actually "found himself" in jail and was enjoying himself as he was finally getting the chance to live "the year of George". Conversely, Kramer is thrilled to be visited by Newman, and the K-Man actually convinces Newman to pay a visit to Jackie Chiles and pressure him. Chiles is SHREWDLY told that since he'd taken up a romantic relationship with Sidra (yes, Terri Hatcher reprises her role) - a witness to the prosecution- whilst the trial was ongoing, he'd breached his fiduciary responsibility as an attorney for the defense.... AND ... unless he goes before the judge and demands a MISTRIAL based on his "own compromised unprofessional conduct"... he'll see this brought to a judge's attention by an outsider (Newman) and his own client (Kramer) - which will be much worse for him - likely resulting in Chiles' not being able to avoid disbarment. Whilst this is all being considered, Elaine and Kramer are ecstatic about the prospect of being released, but George is not. However, George finds out that Susan's parents, Mr. & Mrs Henry Ross (Warren Frost & Grace Zabriskie) have hired their attorney Wyck Thayer (Bruce Davison) with their "many monies" to vigorously fight their release as they still think that George intentionally poisoned the wedding invitation envelopes. Honestly, there's just so many ways they could move on this new show. For instance, Elaine had told Puddy at the trial's conclusion to "move on", where he simply stated "Ok". Perhaps in the new show we see him trying to relaunch himself on the NYC dating scene, hilariously dating some of Jerry's old girlfriends - who also recognize that he'd copied Jerry's "Move". And, perhaps we see J Peterman's catalog in decline because Peterman has lost his "pep"; only to realize that he misses Elaine - who had been his one true reliable employee, who he always kinda yearned for. Thus he starts visiting Elaine in jail to both cheer her up, but also to get catalog ideas. With Puddy not visiting Elaine, she's boosted by Peterman's interest in her, and the two start to have feelings for each other. Perhaps, she feels obligated to write Puddy a "goodbye letter" and inform him that he's been dumped (AGAIN!) and that she has a new "beau". Unlike in the past, this actually jolts Puddy; and when he comes to visit Elaine she's now suddenly torn between two men. To make matters more complicated Newman had told Kramer that he won't go to Jackie & threaten him UNLESS Kramer convinces Elaine to go out with Newman. Elaine totally balks at this, prompting her to join George in refusing to be released - figuring that she could use the alone time to sort out her life. But Kramer... well... he gets released. Upon Kramer's release we immediately see him relaunch Kramerica Industries; he tracks down his former intern, Jason, & the company takes off. Part of Jackie Chiles' conditional arrangement with the state of NY on keeping his license to practice law was tied to Kramer still wanting to retain him as his personal attorney. So in similar fashion to storyline for Jerry & George's NBC "Pilot" - where a court forced a man to become Jerry's "Butler", Kramer now has Jackie forced to be his unpaid attorney. Soon Kramer has opened a chain of pizza joints where the customer makes their own pies, he's back to developing "the bladder", "the bro / manziere", & the coffee table book, ... etc. Chiles is scrambling like a dog, and the money's rolling in at Kramerica! The K-man is on magazine covers, & he's throwing wild parties in Jerry's apartment. But, he's seen having less fun than guests like Newman, Tim Watley, the Soup Nazi, and yeah... even Mr. Bookman (the Library Cop) can't resist coming to Jerry's apartment and having a wild time - knowing & relishing the fact that Jerry is incarcerated. Eventually, Kramer realizes that his life is still empty, because neither Jerry, George nor Elaine are there to witness his success. Having gotten Newman laid at one of these parties, Kramer gets Newman to begrudgingly back off of his demands to date Elaine. With this new dynamic, we see Kramer finally convince Elaine to agree to being released. They then pursue George, who's begun to get paranoid that the Ross' are trying to get George shanked in jail, since they can't get him brought up on charges of murdering Susan; as such, he's now ready to cut short his "Year Of George" and agrees to being released. The three of them descend upon Monk's cafe for a celebratory meal with the logical next step being that they'll discuss a plan on how to get Jerry released. But, the mistrial declaration that had them all released isn't cut & dry for Jerry, since he got his sentence stiffened to a maximum security prison & got another year tacked on for inciting the riot. Soon, the discussion shifts to how none of them has actually really missed him. George & Elaine both claim to feeling "refreshed", & how they feel like they can NOW tackle the world, and that they realized that paling around with "that comedian", Jerry, all those years had just "held them back". Kramer asserts it, "I'm living proof! Look at me, look at Kramerica Industries- we're soaring!" Then in spectacular fashion the subject is changed, and he states, "You know, I could use a couple good minds like you. People I trust.... George, I always admired how you always knew where the cleanest restrooms were in the city! And Elaine, well I thought it was BOLD for you to create 'The Urban Sombrero'. And while that wasn't the right hat for Peterman's customers, it's exactly the kind of stuff we strive for here at Kramerica! Whatya say, will you two come work for me?" Smiles all around. Cut to the back of "George Steinbrenner" in his office reading a newspaper article saying, "Well, I see Costanza's out of jail! Looks like he's cooking up some more lame-brained ideas. Can't believe I missed the boat in seeing what a moron he truly was. 'Big Stein' really messed up badly there, no telling how many more Pennants and World Series we'd have won!" Then immediately cut to the back of slender dark haired man behind bars in an orange jump suit looking at the same newspaper article chuckling, "Well, this just has 'Can't Miss' written all over it!" The End. Obviously, this could never be as funny or as good as the original Seinfeld series, BUT... Each of the actors who'd played "2nd Fiddle" (or lower) would get a chance to show their chops in a One-year/one-off series (perhaps simply called, "New York, New York") that would've tweaked Jerry Seinfeld both professionally and personally. And, you know who'd ultimately have to respect that? Jerry Seinfeld.

Jerry is the one who get me to laugh more quick than anyone

Jesus saves 🙂

I wonder how they knew that?

@@edszewczyk they showed how. There were times he didn't manage to remember the line.

I lost my train of thought 😅

He had this halting. Way. Of talking.

Little did we know, they were integral and fully equally important to the comedy equation!

Obviously you’ve never watched Dawson’s Creek…

Definitely up there. The Ropers would also be up there.

All the side characters on this show were so funny, they made this show the funniest show of all time

Don’t forget Newman or Mr. Peterman.

Arthur Spooner is a classic narcissist. And hilarious.

Exactly.

And he also invented Charlie Brown.

Facts

Only reason I watched King of Queens

Crazy is attracted to crazy 😄

Came here to comment the same thing. Kramer and Frank together are some of my favorite scenes.

Kramer stays over is allowed to bring women over but George isn't allowed 🤣🤣🤣

Magic

​@@kittytheflcatmom9566agree!

What The Hell Does That Mean?

And she never smiles

@@patrickwilliams6464 Nor laughs. Not a ha ha, not a tee hee...

@@thetemplelaboratoryWhatever you want it to mean…

Well, they got along smoooothly and they fucked insync! As it should be. Oh those days... lol

Serenity nooww!!! is still my fave. What father of a crazy son, husband to a psycho wife hasn't screamed that?

And you want to be my latex salesman?

I nearly died after hearing that sentence

My favorite moment from him will always be when Mr. Steinbrenner is telling them how George is dead, and as Estelle is crying he just goes on a tangent about Yankees management.

Typical father behavior in the 50's and 60's.....

Hahaha same here, I’m sure the other guy was a good actor, but he was no Jerry Stiller

One of the best lines of the series.

I love it so much. DEEEE-LIVER IT-TO-HERR

I was in that show

Exactly. I can not teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.

Dang, I forgot he passed away

Jerry Stiller is amazing. He said his life was disappearing as an actor reaching his seventh decade mark 😮 Wow, not many actors get to say that phrase! 😎

And Mira! ❤

but then he throws in "what the hell does that mean" and "you want a piece of me" you can't blame Julia for bursting out like that. god bless you Jerry, rip

You wanna piece of me?!?!

@@soimarriedsarah YES! That is one of the best episode ending in the whole series. LOL. It was just great. RIP

@@locutus1126 Lol. It was the syllables he stressed -- "WHAT the HELL does THAT MEAN?"

@@jamie7607 It means whatever the hell you want it to mean!

Absolutely ---- with his expression!! Kills me!

GEORGE LIKES THE BANANAS

my favourite is ''what the hell is this? A PROPHYLACTIC WRAPPER!?''

I love it too. 😊

I love the answering machine one 😂 "Jerry it's Frank, steinbrenner is here, George is dead, call me back"😂😂😂😂

never say never ... Jackie Gleason and Audrey Meadows (The Honeymooners) 1955 ... Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford (The Jeffersons) 1975 ... Estelle and Frank Costanza (Seinfeld)1995 ... every 20 years we get a pair like that. Was there one in 2015?

@@RubyBandUSA I always liked Frank and Marie Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond also.

@@RubyBandUSA There used to be a daily Comic in the newspapers called the Lockhorns while reading captions in the comic i would hear Frank and Estelle's voices in my head . The Lockhorns could of been the basis for all the couples you named . Favorite Frank-isms Serenity Now ! You want a piece of me ? " I got a lotta problems with you people " (Festivus) " How do you just walk into house and take a TV guide "

@@RubyBandUSA I personally think Kitty and Red from that 70s show are in that conversation.

100%!

I wish they’d leave in George’s exit line in the Jello/Beautiful Hands storyline, “I’ll take it in my room,” said with the perfect narcissistic attitude of an ingenue.

"You have no eye for fashion!" "I have no eye for fashion?!"

Not the only one.

Only Stiller could make Michael break

@@dlmhdlmh Yes what thing I have noticed whenever I watch the Seinfeld bloopers or respective, Michael Richards seems really humorless and not very much fun, he never seems to laugh and always seems pissed off when someone blows a line or something. The others all laugh and have fun with it but only Michael Richards seems to not really be much fun

slava Isuzu Christu

@@Mckatt2 Michael Richards found playing Kramer to be very taxing on himself. And it took a ton of effort for him to turn into Cosmo Kramer. So when the other characters would break or screw up, if Richards had broken too then it would take him forever to get back into Kramer. Think of it like you have to get into a full body suit and remain the character for it to seem natural. While the rest of the crew just throw on a coat and do what they normally do. It’s easy for them to screw up bc they’re not put up on such a pedestal.

Because he knows how hard Jerry was trying while the others took it for granted

I rarely empathized with George, but in this scene I wanted to crawl under the table. Seriously.

He stole the Schnitzler's marble rye back... because he didn't get a piece of cake after dinner. So gangster.

The rooster goes with the chicken always used to kill me because back when I was in high school (90s) we would say "Stacey will you GO with me? or Chad and Stacey are GOING together" etc. so we swapped going for dating or seeing and the idea of the rooster "dating" the chicken just cracked me up.

@@boblozaintherealworld3577 All four principal characters, and most of the supporting characters as well, were utterly despicable. Completely devoid of virtue.

dude! The best line!

😂😂😂

Genious.

Love it!!!

Insanity later... :)

Aw yes😂 I've loved Jerry Stillers work first on Seinfeldt then on King of Queens. He was a genius! A brilliant comedian. I've been watching King of Queens every day now for a week. Arthur Spooner😅 Rest In Peace Jerry🙏💕

Never drank or smoked cigarettes and Ben says he never ever heard his father utter a curse word

Well he was 93.

You act like he died too early. 😂

YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!

How long was he supposed to live?

Jerry Stiller was batting a 1000... He was funnier than anything anyone else did in an already funny show. Moving to Del boca Vista, prophylactic wrapper, manzier, festivus, stopping short, Korean war cook, TV guide collection, Serenity now, Rocking seinfelds van, Eating kasha in Georges bed...etc...etc. Everything he did was, and still is funny.

What the hell did you trade Jay Buhner for?

Jerry! It's Frank. George is dead. Call me back!

He is for sure one of the funniest characters in television history just thinking about all of his lines from crack me up

Yeah he really was historical on Seinfeld the Assman episode was another one of my favorites it had to be torture to keep a straight face shooting scenes with him

Totally agree, every single extra... cast perfectly. Susan Ross had psycho parents too, but they werent featured as prominantly. Same goes for Kramers mom Babbs Kramer... who hooked up with Newman!!!

The supporting cast was fantastic and really made the show. My least favorite character was actually Seinfeld.

!!!! How could I forget Alton Benes... Elaines dad. That guy was a TOTAL psycho.

@@MuvoTX Don't for get Elaine's boyfriend David Puddy. Probably my favorite secondary actor.

MuvoTX WHAT. THE. HELL. IS. THIS?? Some kind of joke? Well you DAMN SURE aren’t going out with my daughter looking like that! (When Jerry wore his leather jacket inside out in the rain, with the loud pink inner liner.)

not really. Way more unbelievable. Funnier but definitely not real.

@@shanehunter4274 Ok. So how would George's ongoing adult insecurities be explained with the character of Frank being played the way it originally was?

@@MrT67 i guess it wouldn't. I didn't really think about that. I've known quite a few older jewish father's in my life, Ive never observed one scream like georges father. He basically did the same thing on king of queens but they didn't play him as jewish. It wasn't quite as funny but he still had his moments,

His and Mr. Bookman’s attitude were amazing.

He was great on King of Queens too!!!

@@R-BURQUENO yes he was so good in that 😄

Frank and Estelle made George into the person he was. Their fiery personas could only have been made by Stiller and Harris

@@R-BURQUENO yeah but he was alot better on Seinfeld

Not that there’s anything wrong with that.... I’ve learned one thin in life, if new people I meet don’t get Seinfeld quotes we have no chance at friendship.

@@Rockenstein68 lol I hear you. My girlfriend, and her 13 year old daughter have seen me watching it, and my girlfriend has told me she doesn't like Seinfeld. I said "EXCUSE ME? WE'RE OVER". Not really. But it did offend me.

True

May I ask what AA is?

@@elijahchevins378 Alcoholics Anonymous. And I do the same thing! Took a while hearing it before I wouldn't giggle to myself.

SERENITY NOW!

Serenity now, insanity later. 😂

So true !

That’s gold, Jerry, gold!

Agreed, Jerry Seinfeld was too good.

@@Seanonyoutube even with just 3 replies, I knew this comment would be taken. Else I’d have left it

no.... George Carlin, Don Rickles, jk he is aswell

I think you mean that Larry David is one of the funniest people this country produced.

Rest in peace, Legend

Jesus saves 🙂

Probably the last comedian which was produced in the Usa and not Imported from China. BUILD THE WALL

Yes, yes it was...

Jesus saves 🙂

Me too!!!❤

Awww. Festivus is eternal!

Estelle is still alive

I think Estelle is still with us.

We need a national holiday to celebrate Jerrys life. This is it

Estelle Harris is 92 and alive and well

👏 wow. No one will ever match them. They rocked man

Right?

Yea I could watch the whole day

22 minutes flew by. I usually have no patience for anything over 4 minutes

Exactly!!! Why is that? Such an enjoyable experience stepping into the art of humor and good humored actors.

@Seth Organ haha - I forgot about that one! Hilarious!

I loved that line. The insanity was just dripping from every syllable.

My favorite Frank line, ever! 😂

John would've been a good Del Boca Vista resident

Yeah, there's no way I would've been able to work opposite of him, in a comedy. I wouldn't of been able to work opposite of him, in even a drama. He was too damn funny. His facial expressions get me every time.

@@cmcproductions26 Orly? WHAT is that supposed to mean? *raises palms*

Its a compliment in my eyes I would laugh too

Jesus saves 🙂

She breaks character A LOT. Jerry Stiller usually was serious when someone broke character, it's called professionalism. He was not angry, he was just trying to shoot the scene. It must be very annoying to get into character every time someone breaks.

It's Del Vista Beco I believe.

Del Bica Vosta

A Tolman It's ok, lots of people believe all sorts of wrong stuff.

@@kanesanders6669 woosh

Your moving out of spite

Love your name for one (Always Sunny) lol, I watch Seinfeld every night before bed thank god for Hulu

@@cosmokramer5055 Rock, Flag, and Eagle. Right Charlie?

Your right on Mr Bitches, Arthur was perhaps my all time favorite character... and that’s only because he had a larger role on King of queens than on Seinfeld. He was unreal on Seinfeld too!

@@dustinschweser1204 Arthur Spooner always had little bits & pieces that were devastatingly funny, but easily missed; you had to pay attention. Just recently, for the first time, I saw that scene where Doug & Carrie walk down into his basement and say, "Dad, we need to talk to you". He's watching something on his TV. He says, "Okay, just a second". Gets up; just before he shuts it off he says, dryly, "Nobody squeals like Ned Beatty". I came close to having a coronary.

Jesus saves 🙂

What the hell did you trade Jay Buhner for!?

@MachomusPrime YOU CAN LOOK FOR SNEAKERS THE NEXT DAY!!

Serenity forever!

@dm9542 Love it when Lloyd Braun, who was hospitalized, says: "Serenity now, insanity later."

serenity now... insanity later.

@@RossL1946 I LIKED when Lloyd Braun would ring the bell for a phone sale. Turns out he never sold anything, he just INsANE! lol

Chase Orton I never saw king of queens, is Jerry just as good on that show?

chloenkitty Absolutely. He made that show! His character was pretty similar to his “Seinfeld” character, but who cares- he was that excellent at it

chloenkitty I would say he’s better on there because he’s given more screen time, storylines. He makes the show imo. The replay value is similar to Seinfeld.

@@chloenkitty Really, you've never seen King of Queens?? It's been on TVLand every night for years. I must have seen every episode dozens of times! Hilarious show, you should check it out!

Doug Ritzema The great thing is even after seeing them dozens of times its still funny. Great rewatch value

Absolutely! Greatest sitcom of all time. My family quotes it almost daily.