Jason Alexander on “Seinfeld” and Who Else Auditioned to Play George Costanza (2015)

[@AlonzoPichardo]

I couldn't imagine anyone else playing George but him . Greatest sitcom of all time , till this day still funny

[@bmf0354]

Couldn't agree more. That show was so good, I couldn't even enjoy other sitcoms for many years, b/c they couldn't measure up. I think it was Big Bang Theory that finally was worthy :-)

[@Jeannified]

100% agreed!

[@hellovacay]

I many ways the George & Elaine characters were the heart & soul of the show.

[@1977minicooper1380]

difficult to beat All in the Family for me.

[@GeneralBuckNaked]

Try Always Sunny in Philadelphia.. And My Name Is Earl.. And Eastbound and Down

[@alexruezga5544]

He is truly the greatest marine biologist of all time!!!

[@ambienceclarity1123]

Mind blowing..considering that he would always wanted to be an architect

[@calisongbird]

@@ambienceclarity1123 but there was that side gig in latex sales

[@myOhmy566]

He wasn't actually a marine biologist. He just pretended to be one so the joke is on you. 😜

[@davidkopec9442]

@@myOhmy566 for that MOMENT, he WAS..

[@philyvo]

AND… architect 😂

[@marlone.a.chaplin3357]

George Costanza is a safe bet for funniest television character of all time. Kudos to Jason.

[@malenotyalc]

Funny how?

[@SaulGoodman-w2x]

@@malenotyalc The way he tells the story... what?

[@blakemaxfield4267]

Awesome job by him

[@hallas7584]

Was that wrong? Is that not allowed here?

[@cloficc7234]

It always bothered me that he was the only one out of the 4 who didn't win an Emmy I believe, he was by far the best character on the show.

[@bernlin2000]

He made George look effortless to play, which is kinda stunning considering the different kinds of roles Jason has played over the years. Not just versatile, but very involved, absolutely brilliant!

[@emilywilson696]

The most shocking to me is that horrible McDonald’s musical commercial 😂

[@INYB]

I'm sorry you're wrong. The answer is moops

[@cfamick]

He's angry, he's innocent, he's conniving, he's occasionally cool... he's George.

[@dncviorel]

@@cfamick but...he's bald

[@matrix2297]

There was no show without an excellent George...brilliant casting execution. Whenever I need a pick-me-up I watch Costanza clips and my mood lifts instantly. The marine biologist monologue, forever in my heart.

[@neildavis5119]

And Jerry said in an interview that monologue was the most impressive he witnessed in the entire series as Jason memorized that in about an hour due to time constraints.

[@suzycreamcheesez4371]

he and Wayne Knight shouldve won Emmys.

[@James-em9qz]

So true...but c'mon...Kramer was awesome!!! ;)

[@imtryinghere1]

Wayne Knight should have gotten an Oscar for Jurassic Park. I wept during that film.

[@Kiwionwing]

Wayne was under appreciated by audiences

[@tamazil31]

George was always my favorite character. Jason is hilarious as George.

[@gabedel9456]

He is the main reason why the show was so great! he should have won multiple awards for his acting as George

[@sscamaro9144]

Jason Alexander was born to play George Costanza. Favorite show of all time!

[@Trusteft]

For about 25 years I am watching at least an episode a night. George is my favorite character and yes I couldn't imagine anyone else in the role.

[@piercehubbard4086]

That show would not have been nearly as amazing without Jason (or Michael Richards for that matter!) Jason has skills far beyond what he displayed on Seinfeld. He’s a classically trained theatre actor and Tony Award winner!

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

The show was perfectly cast for the four of them.

[@broadcasttttable]

Also a singer.

[@mikegrizwold2522]

“And you wanna be my latex salesman”😆love George

[@johngallagher72]

When they call you have to answer Vandaleigh Industries.

[@seanwalsh999]

What a power house of an actor, that woody impression was gold Gerry, gold.

[@bmf0354]

I did a literal LOL there Bania ;-)

[@delg1211]

@@Jeazyy87 ...and an "i"!

[@cmcproductions26]

No way in hell George would've been as good of a character, if someone else played him. Jason was so good. George is my favorite character, and it's because of Jason's acting.

[@howamilooking5952]

That roll call list is jaw dropping. Jason took it the best way. ✌️❤️

[@LivingSanFranciscoBayArea]

Great interview. The complexity of George is unmatched thanks to Jason. But Chris Rock as George Costanza is Wild. 🤣🤣

[@joelouis-arena4061]

His acting is so good especially when George gets humiliated. Comedic gold

[@INFJparadox]

I have always thought about a Jerry and Larry show! Fan since the beginning and I still watch Seinfeld daily. George is my favorite and I can't imagine anyone else playing George--he is absolutely perfect and they cast all the characters perfectly. Definitely one of the best shows ever!

[@michaelkim159]

Jason Alexander is one of the most brilliant actors. He played that role perfectly. It seemed so believable.

[@cherryonasundae]

Thank goodness they found Jason to do the role!!!

[@gst013]

Watching Larry David trying to play George gave me a new appreciation of just how good Jason is in that role. Made for it.

[@aasche04]

Costanza--The greatest character in a TV series ever...

[@genecase9464]

You mean "Can't-standga!". (You should know what this refers to!).

[@Novastar6]

Agreed.... the GOAT

[@RedPillGrimReaper]

I still wouldn’t put him ahead of Lucy Ricardo. Best male TV character for sure.

[@redrick8900]

@@RedPillGrimReaper Rickey was much better than Lucy.

[@thinkforyourself828]

@@redrick8900 There was no Ricky without Lucy.

[@policeofficer94]

A very underestimated and under appreciated actor of great talent

[@FPOAK]

Please please upload more of this interview, this is great

[@jam1ga]

Well, Jason was fantastic in the role as George Costanza. I don’t think there’s another person on the planet that could’ve done a better job. I can’t even imagine Steve Buscemi in that role. As wonderful as an actor as he is.

[@RichV20]

90s Buscemi seems to be more close to Kramer

[@rodsimpson518]

I always wished they would have done a spinoff called The Costanza's. Some of his scenes with his parents were the funniest on Seinfeld. He was easily my favorite character on the show.

[@saifonlawrence2044]

Jason is the most Important part of Seinfeld

[@OnlyInItalyVideos]

Couldn't be more true...

[@michaelblanchette2787]

Now that we know he's playing one of the head writers, there's no debate

[@mikekock927]

Totally agree

[@plawson8577]

@@OnlyInItalyVideosJason Alexander IS Duckman.

[@jamesc7277]

Steve Buscemi is a true hero. An ‘ex’ NYC firefighter with a successful career as an actor, he went back to the FDNY (I don’t think he actually ‘rejoined’ the FDNY, he just went back to work with his brother firefighters) to help with the clean-up, search for remains/evidence in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center horror. A great man in an era of ethical/moral pipsqueaks.

[@boredapathetic]

Nucky

[@stevencramsie9172]

ok...

[@aitoraguirre8706]

Hi Steve

[@alanrix5344]

Yes I agree Steve Buscemi is a great person and wonderful actor but I can't imagine him as George

[@angelareese390]

he has a hilarious cameo in Porlandia @ the women's bookstore

[@jimmyc6686]

Jason made the show extra funny! Great actor!

[@baconlatte]

It was the ensemble that was magic, but Costanza was the best character individually.

[@paulzenco6182]

Jason Alexander is so talented.

[@kauaihawaii5836]

Thank God Jason got it!!! PERFECT!!

[@sumeetkripalani2598]

He is one of the best architects.

[@lorrainem.swartzentruber3077]

Should have won an Emmy!

[@Tolbiny]

He made the show. How he was passed over for the Emmys was a travesty.

[@keepcool319]

@@octavius8562 Oh fiddlesticks!

[@johnd3124]

Jason being passed over the Emmys is the most Costanza thing ever 😂😂

[@ErdTirdMans]

Hoh-HO! You think TED DANSON is getting passed over for the Emmys?

[@FullyMelanin]

simply brilliant character and performance.

[@adamburgess3949]

Seinfled would not have been the show that it was without Jason Alexander as George. Period.

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

I guess you're the authority on this, so I'll accept it.

[@carlaharrington5120]

Brad Hall was up for the part? So both he and his wife were up for parts and she got in and he didn't. That's hysterical!!

[@Iwo26]

Jason Alexander as George is my favorite Seinfeld actor

[@davemustaki134]

Jason still looks good for his age him and Elaine aged very gracefully

[@1019caveman]

I'd love to see him get another great TV character. Such a good actor. Costanza, the best character in history of comedy.

[@drakedrones]

I love Jason Alexander; he is so handsome and fantastic actor ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@samyhannah9563]

growing Kramer was my fav, its not till you get older that you realise George was the funniest LOL!!!

[@sprungtv5940]

Awesome actor and person all together.

[@Paradisusinfernalis6815]

George is the reason Seinfeld succeed 💯 I watch because of him

[@BlynkyLand]

I'm re-watching the series now, for the first time since they were originally on. It's still *very* funny. I'm going to force someone else to re-watch it next.😁

[@NPSACobra]

I rewatch the whole run, once a year.

[@getalife7947]

Sounds like Jason is the most mature comedian in Hollywood! So true. Working actors need to be more grateful to have ever gotten a job at all! Thank you for sharing.

[@prince13896]

Wonder if Jerry or NBC still have those audition tapes. Buscemi as George Costanza would be such a trip.

[@peep39]

Always liked jason alexander. even on voyager and in the movie wild card. when he pops up, I'm happy

[@gi822]

Could you imagine Chris Rock playing “George”. Jason was the perfect “George” selection.

[@TheRubberStudiosASMR]

It would have lasted one season if that was the case. Jason was perfect.

[@davidl570]

Much as I love Chris Rock, he would've DEFINITELY been miscast as George.

[@tinobrown1780]

George was by far my favorite character on the show.

[@saragloria53]

i just love Jason Alexander is so funny in cinderella

[@Allagi22]

Many young people today don't know this but Jason Alexander was already an established actor before he did Seinfeld. He was a Tony award winning actor/singer/dancer on Broadway and had been in multiple movies including "Pretty Woman" before Seinfeld happened.

[@lepetitchat123]

Seinfeld was already a hit when Pretty Woman came out

[@monkeyb1820]

he knew about keeping the hot side hot and the cool side cool, wrt burgers.

[@ELECTR0HERMIT]

Even people just talking about Seinfeld is hilarious

[@twobeer3316]

It's always interesting to know what other actors/actresses were considered for the starring roles.

[@jacobpaint]

It suggests that they had a very clear intuition about what they were looking for so they could look through the Woody Allen silliness and see Jason’s natural talent. Someone might also have seen him before and had an idea of his range.

[@upp.social2490]

He made trhe show awesome - Love George

[@Joseph-lz5er]

I really can't imagine Chris Rock playing George lol. I think had Rock gotten the role, they would have evolved George into a different character.

[@mikearchibald744]

If they had then at least there wouldn't have been all the criticism about not having any black people on the show.

[@IPlayOneOnT.V.]

He would've seemed way too young for that part.

[@carolinehaf21]

Chris Rock only ever plays Chris Rock lol

[@hustleman85]

A teenage looking Chris Rock saying "Was that wrong?" to being confronted about having sex with the cleaning lady. Doesn't seem to fit.

[@TheJapanChannelDcom]

So..... Jason's tiny little microphone works as well as the HUGE mic Howard has, The big mics are just a silly prop.

[@markb20]

As many times as SNL produced breakout stars like Eddie Murphy and Will Ferrell, it also failed to utilize hidden talents like Larry David, Robert Downy Jr. and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

[@MrK623]

It took a little while to warm up to the George character, but it turned out he was the best one on the show.

[@sj9367]

George Costanza funniest character of all characters hand down.

[@tonygunk86]

Seinfeld is the greatest TV show to ever air. George is my favorite

[@michaelblanchette2787]

Probably the best that was strictly a comedy

[@michaelwalsh564]

@@michaelblanchette2787 - Great, great show. But can you really claim it was better than All In The Family?

[@michaelblanchette2787]

@@michaelwalsh564 I don't think Seinfeld is better than Mash either. I said strictly comedy

[@stuartmenziesfarrant]

More of Jason please KZbin!

[@alexboche1349]

George wasn't a sidekick role. He was the show.

[@ExtremeBeatlesArchive]

Best Woody Allen impression ever. And a darn good Larry David to boot.

[@Moviesrule2011]

I just saw 10 Things I Hate About you for the first time the other day. Larry Miller was incredibly hilarious.

[@michaelwalsh564]

Miller is very funny, and did a great job in a couple of episodes of Seinfeld playing Elaine's doorman.

[@ImaDogTrainer]

@@michaelwalsh564 No matter what you said, he took it as an insult, lol

[@dr.p3637]

Jason was the best character on that show by far but amazingly he's the only one that did not win an Emmy of the four. That's just hard for me to believe.

[@snakeobias]

I’ve only seen this short clip but this is a great interview.

[@BlueCollar1212]

I couldn’t imagine Seinfeld without Jason.

[@berkc06]

Nahhhhhhhh is that what you heard? Jason Alexander is a amazing actor. Its such a shame that we can't see him in big projects.

[@justinhopper5941]

He’s in shallow Hal but is basically the same character. He only has so much depth when it comes to characters. He was that great as George.

[@thankyoujodi]

@@justinhopper5941 that's just typecasting, I'm sure he'd do well in a drama or something. Same with Wayne Knight. Look at Stephen Tobolowski who's always in comedies but really shined in memento.

[@sayak4253]

I watched Seinfeld for George Costanza.

[@benkeel2966]

Jason was is amazing❤

[@nndo6953]

it’s my favorite!

[@1dree1]

He did it by "acting without acting" xD

[@vasjaklun6008]

You mean acting with acting? Having said that, I like what you mean...

[@OMGbecky215]

curb ❤️

[@MnMnBahr.]

He is so talented

[@shanshan8867]

My favorite!!! 😍😍😍😍

[@AttilatheThrilla]

Makes it funny to think Danny Devito played George in an It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia episode 🤔😋

[@lobaggins3328]

Larry is ridiculous and we are all just here for it .. ♥️

[@RattWizz]

George Costanza, plays the sidekick role and steals the show! George was the best!

[@rc70ys]

The beginning of Seinfeld wasn’t as funny but as the cast become more comfortable with one another Seinfeld became one of the funniest shows on TV ❤

[@worstoneyet8098]

Brilliant actor.

[@rupertgrech7097]

Serendipity in casting seems to be the secret of success for so many sitcomes.

[@trippinout.]

Casting Director "are you familiar with shrinkage?" Jason "Hell ya" Casting Director "Great, you got the part"

[@elmerfudd5193]

“ an exercise in nothing “ true Costanza! 😏

[@Nonduality]

I think George would have talked about "no exercise in being something," such as an architect.

[@Rainmanai]

Love George!

[@bbbazzinga]

I've heard that he was a latex salesman at vandalay industries before his role in Seinfeld and got the job because of the very good references they gave for Jason by phone.

[@ey693]

amazing actor !

[@michaelblanchette2787]

They also looked at unknown dramatic actor Arthur Vandelay

[@DyenamicFilms]

You can tell for sure he was imitating Woody Allen in the early episodes. "What is that?"

[@nocalsteve]

The other side of the coin is that Jason Alexander was going to play Lt.Sam Weinberg in A Few Good Men, but because Seinfeld got picked up for a second season the role went to Kevin Pollak.

[@brodjefferson3513]

The episode he's talking about is "The Phone Message" from season 2

[@vassa1972]

Loved Seinfeld

[@Springbok314]

I heard that Patricia Heaton almost got the Elaine part before it went to Julia Louise Dreyfuss. They both got good sitcom jobs.

[@DeanCameron]

I auditioned for that part. Waiting to hear if i get called back.

[@vectorhold6489]

I love George Cantstandya

[@FUY735]

Jason Alexander is so incredible.

[@joseramos4320]

The wallet the jacket quitting and coming back on and on 😂😂😂

[@DanielWayShadow]

Now that's talent.

[@Ron71997]

How could anyone have played that role other then Jason.... could you imagine Danny Devito as George?