The original plan for Seinfeld was missing one key cast member who ended up being the secret ingredient to make it a classic. Seinfeld ended up having one of the most iconic ensemble casts in sitcom history. There’s a special kind of alchemy between those four actors that was a recipe for comedy gold. But the quartet didn’t arrive fully formed.
If you go back and watch the pilot episode of Seinfeld, it has a lot of familiar faces. Jerry is there, gathering material for his standup act; George is there as his curmudgeonly foil; and Kramer is there as his nosy neighbor. But there’s one character who wasn’t added in until the second episode, and she saved the show.
The Original Plan For Seinfeld Didn’t Include Elaine, But NBC Wanted A Female Lead
Adding A Female Character Was One Of NBC’s Conditions For A Series Order
According to a New Yorker profile, Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ iconic character Elaine Benes wasn’t a part of the original plan for Seinfeld. The pilot had already been shot and aired without Louis-Dreyfus’ involvement. But when NBC ordered four additional episodes, one of the network’s conditions was that creators Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David add in a female character.
Seinfeld and David had no interest in writing a romance, so they came up with the idea of bringing in an ex-girlfriend that Jerry had stayed friends with.
Seinfeld and David had no interest in writing a romance, so they came up with the idea of bringing in an ex-girlfriend that Jerry had stayed friends with. This dynamic would dispell the usual “will they or won’t they?” trope, because Jerry and Elaine already tried to make a romantic relationship work and decided they’re better off as platonic friends.
In Hindsight, It’s Hard To Imagine Seinfeld Without Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Character
Elaine Was The Glue That Held The Ensemble Together
Now that Louis-Dreyfus has shined for nine seasons as Elaine, it’s impossible to imagine Seinfeld without her. In many ways, Elaine was the glue that held the ensemble together. Elaine was arguably even more biting and witty than Jerry himself, she was the perfect straight-man foil for Kramer’s antics, and she never hesitated to put George in his place.
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I Love The Elaine Shove In Seinfeld & Its Backstory Makes The Julia Louis-Dreyfus Character Even More Endearing
I love the way Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Elaine shoves people to express surprise in Seinfeld — and I love it even more after learning the backstory of it.
Elaine was a trailblazer for women in comedy. She proved that female characters don’t have to stand on the sidelines, rolling their eyes at their male counterparts; they can be just as hilarious and outrageous as the guys. Without Elaine, we might’ve never gotten Liz Lemon, “Sweet Dee” Reynolds, or Broad City’s Abbi and Ilana.
Seinfeld Would Have Been A Completely Different Series Without Elaine
It Would’ve Been Very Male-Centric
Without Elaine, Seinfeld would’ve been very male-centric. It would’ve had an all-male cast, and there would be no one keeping them in check if Elaine wasn’t there to tear them down and call out their misdeeds. Seinfeld would’ve been a totally different show without Elaine, and it wouldn’t have been anywhere near as great.
Source: The New Yorker
