Jason Alexander

Performer
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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About
About this interview

In his three-and-a-half-hour Archive interview, Jason Alexander talks about his early interest in magic, which led to a love of performing and acting on the stage. He describes his early acting career and his appearances in the sitcoms Everything's Relative and E/R, and recalls his big break on Broadway in the Tony Award winning play "Jerome Robbin's Broadway." He recounts being cast in The Seinfeld Chronicles, which turned out to be the pilot for Seinfeld, and details the show's long road to becoming a hit. Alexander chronicles the development of his Seinfeld character, "George Costanza," and discusses his personal and working relationships with Larry David, Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Michael Richards. He outlines Seinfeld's effect on popular culture, talks of the show's legacy, and speaks about the series finale. He then describes his more recent work as a director on such shows as Everybody Loves Chris and Mike and Molly, and talks about his stint on the series Criminal Minds. Amy Harrington conducted the interview on May 10th, 2013 in North Hollywood, CA.

"It's the last live taping. It's the four of us and we're holding hands. Jerry says, 'I want to say something. For the rest of our lives, when anyone thinks of one of us, they will think of all four of us. And I can't think of three people I'd rather have that be true of.'"

Interviewee(s)
Jason Alexander
Highlights
Jason Alexander on being cast in The Seinfeld Chronicles, the pilot to Seinfeld
Jason Alexander on the catchphrases of his Seinfeld  character, "George Costanza"
Jason Alexander on his Seinfeld character, "George Costanza," being based on Larry David
Jason Alexander on the reaction to the finale of Seinfeld
Jason Alexander on performing in "Jerome Robbin's Broadway"
Jason Alexander on the "Seinfeld curse"
Full Interview

Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on his early interest in performing; on his first feature film, "The Burning"
On performing on Broadway; on starring in the short-lived sitcom Everything's Relative; on acting on E/R
On performing in "Jerome Robbins Broadway"
On being cast in the Seinfeld pilot; on playing "George Costanza" as Larry David; on Julia Louis-Dreyfus joining the cast of Seinfeld

Chapter 2
On his Seinfeld character, "George Costanza"; on the audience for Seinfeld; on the catchphrases of "George Costanza"
On a typical Seinfeld production week; on Seinfeld and Standards & Practices
On working with Larry David; on working with Jerry Seinfeld; on working with Michael Richards and Julia Louis-Dreyfus
On working with Heidi Swedberg ("Susan Ross"); on doing publicity for Seinfeld; on being nominated for Emmy Awards

Chapter 3
On his favorite Seinfeld episodes; on the end of Seinfeld; on the show's iconic status
On the legacy of Seinfeld; on hosting Saturday Night Live; on appearing on Dream On and in Bye Bye Birdie
On voicing the series Duckman; on guest-starring on Star Trek: Voyager; on his series Bob Patterson
On guest-starring on Curb Your Enthusiasm; on performing on stage in "The Producers"

Chapter 4
On performing with Martin Short in "The Producers"; on guest-starring and directing Everybody Hates Chris; on The Reprise Theater Company
On appearing on the series Criminal Minds and directing Mike and Molly; on how he is different from Seinfeld's George Costanza"; on advice to aspiring actors
Shows

Bob Patterson

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Jason Alexander on starring on the series Bob Patterson

Bye Bye Birdie

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Jason Alexander on appearing in the television adaptation of Bye Bye Birdie

Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior

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Jason Alexander on appearing on the series Criminal Minds

Curb Your Enthusiasm

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Jason Alexander on guest-starring on Curb Your Enthusiasm

Dream On

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Jason Alexander on guest-starring on the series Dream On

E/R

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Jason Alexander on appearing on the series E/R and living in Los Angeles

Mike & Molly

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Jason Alexander on directing Mike and Molly

Saturday Night Live

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Jason Alexander on hosting Saturday Night Live

Seinfeld

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Jason Alexander on being cast in The Seinfeld Chronicles, the pilot to Seinfeld
Jason Alexander on his Seinfeld character, "George Costanza," being based on Larry David
Jason Alexander on the post-pilot Seinfeld and Julia Louis-Dreyfus joining the cast
Jason Alexander on his Seinfeld character, "George Costanza"
Jason Alexander on the evolution of his Seinfeld character, "George Costanza"
Jason Alexander on "George Costanza's" name and how he is similar to the character
Jason Alexander on the audience of Seinfeld
Jason Alexander on the catchphrases of his Seinfeld character, "George Costanza"
Jason Alexander on a typical Seinfeld production week
Jason Alexander on the studio audience of Seinfeld
Jason Alexander on Standards & Practices and Seinfeld, and confronting Larry David with a problem
Jason Alexander on his relationship with Seinfeld's Larry David
Jason Alexander on working with Jerry Seinfeld on Seinfeld
Jason Alexander on working with Julia Louis-Dreyfus as "Elaine Benes" on Seinfeld
Jason Alexander on working with Michael Richards as "Kramer" on Seinfeld
Jason Alexander on real life Jerry Seinfeld vs. television "Jerry Seinfeld"
Jason Alexander on Estelle Harris and Jerry Stiller as his parents on Seinfeld
Jason Alexander on Heidi Swedberg as "Susan Ross" on Seinfeld
Jason Alexander on doing publicity for Seinfeld and being nominated for Emmy Awards
Jason Alexander on his favorite Seinfeld episode and lines
Jason Alexander on the end of Seinfeld
Jason Alexander on shooting the finale of Seinfeld
Jason Alexander on the reaction to the finale of Seinfeld
Jason Alexander on the iconic status of Seinfeld
Jason Alexander on the legacy of Seinfeld
Jason Alexander on the "Seinfeld curse"
Jason Alexander on how he is different from Seinfeld's"George Costanza"

Seinfeld: "The Contest"

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Jason Alexander on his favorite Seinfeld episode and lines

Seinfeld: "The Finale"

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Jason Alexander on the end of Seinfeld
Jason Alexander on shooting the finale of Seinfeld
Jason Alexander on the reaction to the finale of Seinfeld

Star Trek: Voyager

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Jason Alexander on guest-starring on Star Trek: Voyager
Topics

Advice

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Jason Alexander on advice to aspiring actors

Characters & Catchphrases

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Jason Alexander on his Seinfeld character, "George Costanza," being based on Larry David
Jason Alexander on his Seinfeld character, "George Costanza"
Jason Alexander on "George Costanza's" name and how he is similar to the character
Jason Alexander on the catchphrases of his Seinfeld character, "George Costanza"

Classic TV series episodes

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Jason Alexander on his favorite Seinfeld episode and lines

Comedy

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Jason Alexander on his favorite Seinfeld episode and lines

Emmy Awards

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Jason Alexander on being nominated for Emmy Awards

First Big Break

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Jason Alexander on performing in "Jerome Robbins Broadway"
Jason Alexander on being cast in The Seinfeld Chronicles, the pilot to Seinfeld

Memorable Moments on Television

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Jason Alexander on shooting the finale of Seinfeld

Pivotal Career Moments

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Jason Alexander on performing in "Jerome Robbins Broadway"
Jason Alexander on being cast in The Seinfeld Chronicles, the pilot to Seinfeld

Pop Culture

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Jason Alexander on his Seinfeld character, "George Costanza," being based on Larry David
Jason Alexander on his Seinfeld character, "George Costanza"
Jason Alexander on "George Costanza's" name and how he is similar to the character
Jason Alexander on the catchphrases of his Seinfeld character, "George Costanza"
Jason Alexander on his favorite Seinfeld episode and lines

Television Industry

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Jason Alexander on advice to aspiring actors

We Laughed

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Jason Alexander on shooting the finale of Seinfeld
Professions

Actor

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Jason Alexander on advice to aspiring actors

Performers

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Jason Alexander on advice to aspiring actors
Genres

Comedy Series

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Jason Alexander on playing "George Costanza" on Seinfeld
Jason Alexander on playing "George Costanza" on Seinfeld
Jason Alexander on playing "George Costanza" on Seinfeld

Commercials

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Jason Alexander on commercials he did when he was starting out
People

Larry David

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Jason Alexander on his Seinfeld character, "George Costanza," being based on Larry David
Jason Alexander on his relationship with Larry David

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

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Jason Alexander on the post-pilot Seinfeld and Julia Louis-Dreyfus joining the cast
Jason Alexander on working with Julia Louis-Dreyfus as "Elaine Benes" on Seinfeld

Michael Richards

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Jason Alexander on working with Michael Richards as "Kramer" on Seinfeld

Jerry Seinfeld

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Jason Alexander on working with Jerry Seinfeld on Seinfeld

Martin Short

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Jason Alexander on performing with Martin Short in "The Producers"

Jerry Stiller

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Jason Alexander on Estelle Harris and Jerry Stiller as his parents on Seinfeld

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