This Is Why NBC Was ‘Afraid’ to Give Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David Notes
A lot of the writers who worked on great TV shows have complained about getting unhelpful editorial notes from network executives. Like Dan Harmon, who once wrote a Community episode about a guy who pens useless notes that no one pays attention to — that he named after a real-life Sony exec.
But Seinfeld, one of the biggest shows of all time, seemingly didn’t have much of a problem with network interference. After all, it was an executive’s note that reportedly led to the creation of Elaine’s character. In general, Seinfeld didn’t have to put up with a ton of network meddling — and that may be because execs were terrified of giving Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David feedback.
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Former Seinfeld writer Carol Leifer recently guested on Jason Alexander’s podcast Really? No Really, and naturally, they discussed their shared history with everybody’s favorite show about nothing.
Alexander admitted that he doesn’t really have a favorite episode of Seinfeld, but he did point out that he was distinctly proud of the show during the making of two specific episodes.
During the production of “The Chinese Restaurant,” the network opposed the unorthodox episode, which was told in real time as the characters (minus Kramer) waited for a table. But the show’s creators stuck to their guns. “NBC came in and said, ‘Are you people crazy? What’s wrong with you?’” Alexander recalled. But after being “read the riot act” by executives, as soon as they left the room, David remarked, “Well, they didn’t say we can’t do it.”
Alexander was also impressed that David and Seinfeld pulled off “The Contest” and that they made it even “more brilliant” by ensuring that Elaine participated in the gang’s masturbation competition.
Leifer noted that the show was able to pull off another storyline involving female sexuality in “The Rye,” an episode she wrote. “Elaine’s boyfriend, who’s a saxophonist, his embouchure is ruined from what is implied (to be him) going down on Elaine. Because he did, quote ‘everything.’”
Leifer claimed that, while the writers did get notes, nobody at the network ever took issue with any of the show’s storylines. “I think after (the success of “The Chinese Restaurant”) they were not going to disagree with Larry David or Jerry Seinfeld,” she speculated.
Alexander then shared another possible reason for the lack of corporate objections. “Jerry told me a story about (how) the network gave Larry notes about, maybe the pilot, or the second episode,” Alexander explained, “and Larry’s response was to sit there very calmly and listen to the notes, and then said, ‘Here is my response to you: NOTHING!!! NOT ONE NOTE!!!’”
According to Alexander, this strategy worked. “I think they were afraid. I think they were afraid to give him a note (after that),” he theorized.
Of course, it should be said that randomly screaming at network executives is unlikely to work for any TV writers who aren’t Larry David.
