About
"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.'"
In his three-and-a-half-hour 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 on 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 on 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 then-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.
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
Jason Alexander on starring on the series Bob Patterson
Bye Bye Birdie
Jason Alexander on appearing in the television adaptation of Bye Bye Birdie
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
Jason Alexander on appearing on the series Criminal Minds
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Jason Alexander on guest-starring on Curb Your Enthusiasm
Dream On
Jason Alexander on guest-starring on the series Dream On
E/R
Jason Alexander on appearing on the series E/R and living in Los Angeles
Mike & Molly
Jason Alexander on directing Mike and Molly
Saturday Night Live
Jason Alexander on hosting Saturday Night Live
Seinfeld
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"
Jason Alexander on his favorite Seinfeld episode and lines
Seinfeld: "The Finale"
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
Jason Alexander on guest-starring on Star Trek: Voyager
Topics
Advice
Jason Alexander on advice to aspiring actors
Characters & Catchphrases
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
Jason Alexander on his favorite Seinfeld episode and lines
Comedy
Jason Alexander on his favorite Seinfeld episode and lines
Emmy Awards
Jason Alexander on being nominated for Emmys
First Big Break
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
Jason Alexander on shooting the finale of Seinfeld
Pivotal Career Moments
Jason Alexander on performing in "Jerome Robbins Broadway"
Jason Alexander on being cast in The Seinfeld Chronicles, the pilot to Seinfeld
Pop Culture
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
Jason Alexander on advice to aspiring actors
We Laughed
Jason Alexander on shooting the finale of Seinfeld
Professions
Actor
Jason Alexander on advice to aspiring actors
Performers
Jason Alexander on advice to aspiring actors
Genres
Comedy Series
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
Jason Alexander on commercials he did when he was starting out
People
Larry David
Jason Alexander on his Seinfeld character, "George Costanza," being based on Larry David
Jason Alexander on his relationship with Larry David
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
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
Jason Alexander on working with Michael Richards as "Kramer" on Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld
Jason Alexander on working with Jerry Seinfeld on Seinfeld
Martin Short
Jason Alexander on performing with Martin Short in "The Producers"
Jerry Stiller
Jason Alexander on Estelle Harris and Jerry Stiller as his parents on Seinfeld