Seinfeld: did George steinbrenner ever Object?

…to his portrayals on the SEINFELD TV show? You never saw the guy’s face…he just kept barking out orders at george. If you don’t show somebodie’s face, can you get away with portrayals (without permission?) :slight_smile:

Don’t have a cite, but I remember reading that Steinbrenner was fine with the characterization. It certainly is far from the worst treatment he has received in the media.

Trivia: The voice of Big Stein was done by producer Larry David.

No cite, but you’re free to dig up the TV Guide where I read it many years ago but Mr. Evil Empire was actually going to appear on the episode where Susan died and fire George. But he bowed out at the last minute depending on which story you believe:

[ul]
[li]Story one says that he pulled himself out because his acting was so bad he “didn’t want to embarass himself.”[/li][li]Or story two says that after reading the script and seeing how Susan was offed, he called the writers “sick” and refused to appear.[/li][/ul]

I remember reading that Steinbrenner actually shot a couple of scenes for the finale. He was going to be one of the witnesses in the “Good Samaritan” trial. IIRC, the scene was trimmed because the episode was running too long.

Actually Larry only did it for a while. Lee Bear took over from 1994 until 1998. (cite)

Damn, another example of the pitfalls inherent to an incomplete education. :wink:

That’s a shame, Dio, because it could only have helped what I consider to be one of the most disappointing final episodes in TV history.

No It was always Larry David. Lee Bear sometimes played Steinbrenner’s back. Cite episode 86.

No cite, but I seem to recall an interview where Big Stein said that his grandkids were MUCH more impressed that he was a “character” on Seinfeld than the fact that he actually owned one of the most storied sports franchises in the world.

(Elaine’s boss) Did he ver complain? I really enjoyed that guy…he was far-out yet quite funny! I think the SENFELD show was pretty unique…I never saw real personalities portrayed on a TV show (albeit withgout showing theuir faces). :rolleyes:

I remember reading once that Peterman had no prior knowledge that he’d be a character on the show, but that he didn’t object.

Disapponting, yes; also depressing as hell. The only thing that remotely saved it, for me, was the very end, the glimpse of Jerry doing his act in prison with Kramer laughing hysterically at every joke and George looking bewildered.

Jerry: "So, anybody here from Cell Block D?

Voice of inmate: “I’m from Cell Block D…”

Jerry: “Really? I’ll speak slower.” :stuck_out_tongue:

You didn’t see the SNL special bit? Seinfeld in Oz?

That made it all better.

Toby Beecher (about Vern Schillinger): First, I was his bitch… then he burned a swastika into my ass… and then I took a crap in his face. And that started a whole thing!

Jerry: Tell me about it. I once dated a girl who I think was always wearing the same dress!

So… how was Susan offed? Feel free to spoilerbox the answer.

She dies licking toxic envelopes for her and George’s wedding invitations. Cheap ones that he insisted on, of course.

The funniest part of this whole thing is that just before this happened, a similar plot development had occurred on the soap opera As The World Turns, where a character named Lily was being deliberately poisoned by her mother-in-law through her stationery.

And Kramer referred to Susan as “Lily” after she died because of the similarity.

:eek: I didn’t know that.

“But she looks like a Lily!”

-K Man’s defense