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Friday, July 11, 2014

Seinfeld Had Backup Plan In Case Keith Hernandez Couldn’t Cut It On The Set

It turned out the writers and producers had a backup plan if Hernandez’s nerves got to him. If the memorable performance was average, Hernandez could have seen his scene cut. The hour-long double-episode could have been a single episode, with a greater emphasis on George Costanza’s subplot.

Bullet dodged. I love that episode.

Robert in Manhattan Beach Posted: July 11, 2014 at 06:29 PM | 22 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: keith hernandez, second spitter, seinfeld, tv

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1. Batman Posted: July 11, 2014 at 07:37 PM (#4749105)

I thought the backup plan was either going to be George Hendrick or Dave Magadan.

2. Adam Starblind Posted: July 11, 2014 at 08:20 PM (#4749131)

Danny Heep, I think.

3. Stormy JE

Posted: July 11, 2014 at 10:28 PM (#4749203)

No, it was Tom Selleck.

4. Walt Davis Posted: July 11, 2014 at 10:33 PM (#4749205)

As long as Seinfeld never brings in Starlin Castro for a remake.

5. Howie Menckel Posted: July 11, 2014 at 11:28 PM (#4749240)

I believe this was after they taped the George Steinbrenner sequences that never ran because he sucked?

6. bobm Posted: July 12, 2014 at 02:43 AM (#4749321)

[5] Hernandez appeared Season 3. Steinbrenner taped his scenes for Season 7.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/13/remembering-steinbrenner-as-a-seinfeld-star/

7. Jarrod HypnerotomachiaPoliphili (TeddyF.Ballgame) Posted: July 12, 2014 at 03:17 AM (#4749322)

If you post that url as a link even non-subscribers can read it.

8. Kurt Posted: July 12, 2014 at 08:25 PM (#4749605)

The Keith Hernandez episode was the one that got me into the show. The previous episodes I had seen were the type I couldn't stand (Chinese restaurant, parking garage).

9. Misirlou doesn't live in the restaurant Posted: July 12, 2014 at 10:56 PM (#4749642)

The back up plan was Bonds and Griffey, and it wouldn't have cost that much.

10. Howie Menckel Posted: July 12, 2014 at 11:47 PM (#4749646)

Ichiro could have played the Hernandez part perfectly if he wanted to.

11. Ray (CTL)

Posted: July 13, 2014 at 12:50 AM (#4749655)

The Keith Hernandez episode was the one that got me into the show. The previous episodes I had seen were the type I couldn't stand (Chinese restaurant, parking garage).

It took a couple of years for the show to take off. Most of the episodes of the first couple of seasons are barely watchable. I'm sort of surprised the show stayed on the air long enough for it to realize its potential. (For an analogy I'm trying to think of a crappy baseball player who was given years of chances and then suddenly got really good.)

12. dejarouehg Posted: July 13, 2014 at 01:14 AM (#4749657)

(For an analogy I'm trying to think of a crappy baseball player who was given years of chances and then suddenly got really good.)

Jose Bautista?

13. Random Transaction Generator Posted: July 13, 2014 at 01:24 AM (#4749659)

(For an analogy I'm trying to think of a crappy baseball player who was given years of chances and then suddenly got really good.)

Randy Johnson?
(Though "crappy" would be a bit harsh. 101 ERA+ and 49-48 record isn't really crappy, but he did lead the league in walks for three straight seasons.)

14. Random Transaction Generator Posted: July 13, 2014 at 01:32 AM (#4749661)

It took a couple of years for the show to take off. Most of the episodes of the first couple of seasons are barely watchable. I'm sort of surprised the show stayed on the air long enough for it to realize its potential.

Those were different times.
"Cheers" finished last in the ratings its first season, and was given more time.

15. Random Transaction Generator Posted: July 13, 2014 at 01:50 AM (#4749662)

Oh, and the game that the "magic loogie" was to have happened after (June 14, 1987) was actually a win by the Mets...in Pittsburgh.

Hernandez committed only one error in a loss at home that season, and no runs scored in that inning.
(Top of the 5th.)

16. the Hugh Jorgan returns Posted: July 13, 2014 at 06:37 AM (#4749678)

Huh, Keith Hernandez...wasn't Alfonso Soriano available?

17. Captain Supporter Posted: July 13, 2014 at 09:46 AM (#4749686)

Sandy Koufax

18. cardsfanboy

Posted: July 13, 2014 at 04:28 PM (#4749739)

Those were different times.
"Cheers" finished last in the ratings its first season, and was given more time.

Finishing last in those time frames still meant you had 10 million viewers, nowadays that would be a top 10 show.

19. Ray (CTL)

Posted: July 13, 2014 at 11:45 PM (#4749850)

Bautista is a great example.

20. Howie Menckel Posted: July 14, 2014 at 12:53 AM (#4749858)

Buddy of mine was a huge Seinfeld fan from the early 1980s, somehow would alert us whenever he was on the Tonight Show.

Then we all caught him at Bananas comedy club in Fort Lee, NJ a couple of years before his TV show - great show, and killed with a closing number of some mooses being relocated via helicopter and what the ground-based mooses (or meece, if you're a Republican) must have been thinking. Had the crowd snorting their drinks out their noses, they were laughing so hard.

#yaddayaddayadda

21. Jeff R. Posted: July 14, 2014 at 10:04 AM (#4749914)

Randy Johnson?
(Though "crappy" would be a bit harsh. 101 ERA+ and 49-48 record isn't really crappy, but he did lead the league in walks for three straight seasons.)

Brady Anderson was a career .219 hitter until he broke through with his .271-21-80 season at the age of 28.

22. Misirlou doesn't live in the restaurant Posted: July 14, 2014 at 10:20 AM (#4749921)

Randy Johnson?
(Though "crappy" would be a bit harsh. 101 ERA+ and 49-48 record isn't really crappy, but he did lead the league in walks for three straight seasons.)

Jamie Moyer. To his credit, after his career appeared to be over at age 28, he put in some very good work in AAA, and came back up in the middle of his age 30 season and was immediately a solid to excellent starter for the next 15 years.

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Seinfeld Had Backup Plan In Case Keith Hernandez Couldn’t Cut It On The Set

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