A Kramerless Seinfeld

In an Entertainment Weekly Review, journalist Ken Tucker says of Seinfeld! (1989-1999), "The weakest aspect of Seinfeld is a wacky next-door neighbor played by Michael Richards. Richards is doing little more than an impersonation of Christopher Lloyd's Jim on Taxi, and he ought to cut it out" (Entertainment Weekly 1990). Tucker is correct that Kramer (Michael Richards) is a wacky next-door neighbor to Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld). For example, Kramer (Michael Richards) decides to set up a talk show in his living room after finding an old set of The Merv Griffin Show in a dumpster in The Merv Griffin Show (9.6), and Kramer (Michael Richards) is mistaken as a mentally handicapped adult because of his vertical leap running shoes and Novocaine numb mouth in The Jimmy (6.19), and Kramer (Michael Richards) uses a restroom in an office building and randomly ends up being employed there in The Bizzaro Jerry (8.3). However, I believe Tucker is incorrect when he states that Kramer (Michael Richards) was the weakest aspect of Seinfeld! (1989-1999), signifying that the creation of his character was meaningless. For this purpose, I will argue that although Kramer (Michael

Richards) may not be completely sane, Seinfeld! (1989-1999) would be nothing without this character.

Critics Perspective of Cosmo Kramer

Jerry Seinfeld (Jerry Seinfeld) and Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) in Seinfelds! (1989-1999) The Pilot (1.1)

Without Cosmo Kramer, (Michael Richards) Jerry Seinfeld (Jerry Seinfeld) and George Costanza (Jason Alexander) would have never noticed the beautiful naked woman across the street in The Contest (4.11). Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) ultimately loses the contest after pointing out the woman.

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The Little Man Is Always Right

Seinfeld! (1989-1999) with out Kramer (Michael Richards) is like cookies with no milk. Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) was able to captivate the hearts of million viewers with his quirky personality and habit of busting into his neighbor, Jerry Seinfeld’s (Jerry Seinfeld) apartment uninvited. When viewers reflect back on the characters of Seinfeld! (1989-1999) they direct their focus on the characters actions. As they do, many of the viewers begin to develop a relationship with the Seinfeld! (1989-1999) cast: Elaine Baines (Julia Dreyfuss), Jerry Seinfeld (Jerry Seinfeld) and Kramer (Michael Richards). Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) was able to symbolize something more than just a strange human being.

When Jerry Seinfeld (Jerry Seinfeld), Elaine Baines (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and George (Jason Alexander) were busy complaining about society, Kramer (Michael Richards) believed that the little man was always right. For this reason, Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) is solely dedicated to fighting injustice and is seen frequently in Seinfeld! (1989-1999) episodes defending himself against the post office, the cable companies, the O’Henry Candy bar company and more.

(Left image) Shows Kramer attacking Newman (Wayne Eliot Knight) in The Junk Mail (9.161). Kramer argues with Newman about the amount of junk mail he gets and wants no more delivered. He believes the Postal Office is evil. (Middle image) Kramer goes on strike against bagels and his beliefs in The Strike (9.10) (Right image) Kramer refuses to pay with cash for his Calzones, only in pennies – does not give in and leaves without the calzones in The Calzone (7.20).

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For example, in The Sponge (7.9) Cosmo Kramer decides to participate in an AIDS walk, but refuses to wear the red ribbon that everyone else is wearing. Since he does not want to conform to society’s rules, Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) is attacked by other AIDS participants. Because Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) did not want to accept society’s rules, society did not accept him.

By his actions, Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) is able to show viewer’s how easily people can be ostracized by society if rules are not followed. Another example of Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) standing up for his beliefs is shown in “The Strike” (9.10). Kramer (Michael Richards) goes back to work at a bagel shop called H&H Bagels after being on

strike for more than a decade. Once he union settled the strike, Kramer (Michael Richards) goes back to work, but ultimately gets fired after one episode. While viewers and critics viewed Cosmo Kramer (continue on page 4).

When Kramer refuses to wear the red ribbon and conform to society’s rules in “The Sponge” (7.9) , he is physically attacked because of his own beliefs.

When Kramer is not busy abusing the American judicial system for his own purpose, he can be seen attempting to complete one of his many personal interests, or importing Cubans to manufacture his cigars in The English Patient ( 8.17).

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Continued

(Michael Richards) as just the “wacky, meaningless” character on Seinfeld! (1989-1999) it is quite evident in episodes that he is the voice for the non-conformists of society. How could Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) be viewed as the weakest character on Seinfeld! (1989-1999) if he continuously stood up against society’s obsurd rules?

Kramer warns Jerry not to shave his chest because of how fast his hair will grow in. He tells him that conforming to what everyone else does will only end up bad in “The Muffin Tops” (8.21) Kramer shows Jerry how hairy his chest is after shaving one time.

Kramer and Poppie (Reni Santoni) get into a verbal argument about whether a pizza is a pizza when it comes out of the oven or if it is a pizza before putting it in. The argument that Poppie and Kramer have alludes the overall theme of abortion in “The Couch” (6.1). This shows that the arguments Kramer has reflect off of a current issue in the real world.

Kramer explains his viewpoint on marriage and how society conforms to it. He believes marriage is a man made prison and he will not conform to it. This is shown in “The Engagmeent “ (7.1)

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In The Face Painter (6.23) Kramer lectures Jerry Seinfeld about how good manners are the key to keeping things together in society. Because his friends are extremely uncivilized, Kramer becomes The Etiquette Watch Dog of the group and points out the problems his friends have in social situations.

The Etiquette Watch Dog Not only is Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) the non-conformist to the group, but he also serves a different purpose in his group of friends. According to David Lavery, author of Seinfeld, master of its domain, “Jerry and George, and to a much lesser extent Elaine, behave like nonmodern, in dead Yiddish, immigrants while at the same time appearing to be knowledgeable urbanites” (132). Lavery continues to explain that etiquette varies from one modern society to the next, which means if one does not want to follow that etiquette, then one must respect it and remove themselves from the situation.

Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) tries to explain to his uncivilized friends that if they do not want to follow the rules then they need to stop complaining and move away. In The Face Painter (6.23) Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) tells Jerry Seinfeld (Jerry Seinfeld) “that good manners are the glue of society and if you don’t want to be a part of society, Jerry, why don’t you get in your car and move to the East Side!?!” (133).

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Audience members are able to view and appreciate Kramer “suggesting an extraordinary reversal, one that parallels the normalizing of Jerry and his friends’ uncivil behavior” (133). Although Kramer is labeled the “zany one of the group” he involuntary becomes the group’s etiquette watchdog. He tries to voice his opinion to his friends that if they do not like where they are at, then they need to remove themselves from that situation rather than conform to it.

Although Kramer is typically viewed as the most outrageous character on Seinfeld!, he tends to be very outspoken about issues at hand. Cosmo Kramer needs to be properly recognized for being extremely wise.

Because Kramers friends are hardheaded and uncivilized, he often has trouble getting through to them and offering them advice. An example is in The Glasses (5.3).

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Accidental Hero Of The 20th Century

Aside from being a conformist and The Etiquette Watch Dog, Cosmo Kramer was an accidental hero of the 20th century. According to an online post from The Independent, “When they were cynical, he was endlessly optimistic. While the other characters were neurotic to the core, Kramer was at ease with his lot. Where the others were endlessly plotting their smallest move in the Manhattan jungle, Kramer was getting recklessly involved in madcap schemes. Kramer didn’t give a fig. He was an artist” (The Independent).

In the episode The Subway (3.13), each character is seen having their own subway experience. Throughout the episode Jerry, George and Elaine seem to be having horrible experiences and are not optimistic at all. On the other hand, Kramer ends up eavesdropping on a conversation and hearing what the results will be for a horse race. He then bets and ends up winning.

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Based off of this quote and article, Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) was not supposed to become as famous as his cast mates, but he accidentally did. Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) could easily be viewed as the weakest character on the show

of the other three self-absorbed characters on Seinfeld! (1989-1999). Jerry, Elaine and George embody many of the qualities of urban, modern day life that were made it quite easy for audiences to become captivated with their characters. Cosmo Kramer’s was strong enough of a character to stand out amongst a group of cynical, strong, personalities.

Kramer confronts Jerry and tells him that he is an Anti-Dentite because Jerry is complaining about the Dentist and calling them “These People in The Yada yada yada (8.19) Kramer is able to stand out amongst his friends by constantly pointing out how much they complain about society.

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With that said, many critics were able to easily pin point Cosmo Kramer as being a weak character because he was different from the rest of the group. “The joke is on Jerry, George, and Elaine, whose unsympathetic characters were such a ground-breaking feature of this sitcom “about nothing” (The Independent).

All in all, journalist Ken Tucker was wrong when he stated that “"The weakest aspect of Seinfeld is a wacky next-door neighbor played by Michael Richards. Richards is doing little more than an impersonation of Christopher Lloyd's on Taxi, and he ought to cut it out" (Entertainment Weekly 1990). Cosmo Kramer was able to stand out amongst a group of strong personalities and create his own unique persona. This unique persona has been able to captivate the hearts of millions of loyal viewers and leave a lasting impression on Seinfield! Although Kramer (Michael Richards) may not be completely sane, Seinfeld! (1989-1999) would be nothing without him.

Today, Kramer still captivates the hearts of millions of viewers and continues to symbolize change and the unwillingness to conform to society’s rules without a fight.

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Works Cited Page

1. Lavery, David, and Sara Lewis. Dunne. Seinfeld, Master of Its Domain: Revisiting Television's Greatest Sitcom. New York: Continuum International Pub. Group, 2006. Print.

2. Independent, The. "Accidental Heroes of the 20th Century." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 3 Apr. 1999. Web. 4 June 2013. < http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/accidental-heroes-of-the-20th-century-34-cosmo-kramer-tv-character-1084741.html >

3. Tucker, Ken. "Seinfeld (1990 - 1998)." EW.com. Entertainment Weekly, 01 June 1990. Web. 15 May 2013. < http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,317498,00.html >