490. THE GENIUS OF COMEDY ON FILM: SEINFELD

Writers Larry Charles and Elaine Pope won a 1992 Emmy for the third-season’s Seinfeld episode "The Fix-Up," in which Jerry and Elaine become matchmakers for George Costanza and Elaine's friend Cynthia, both of whom are looking for the perfect mate—or any mate at all. In another episode entitled "The Boyfriend," a rare two-parter written by Larry David and Larry Levin, Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez becomes entangled in two developing relationships, one with Elaine, and one with a very jealous and very confused Jerry. In another, a famous episode involving actor Wayne Knight as Newman, the writers poke fun at Kevin Costner's courtroom scene in the film JFK. In that film, which was in theaters at the time, Knight is used as Costner’s model to describe the path of a bullet in exactly the same way he is used by Jerry, hilariously spoofing the Oliver Stone movie in the process. 

In this session we will view the above episodes and discuss how the writing and performing in Seinfeld helped to give it a reputation as the best sitcom on television, a reputation which still continues today.

1-3:30 p.m.                                                                                                        1 Session

Thursday, September 4                                                                                     Fee:  $40

ABOUT THE LECTURER

Peter Josyph is an actor, a painter, a photographer, an award-winning filmmaker, and he has published 13 books.