Seinfeld: How It Should Be Re-Cast In 2021
A modern take on the New York Four (and more)
Seinfeld is one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, and has probably carved out its spot on comedy Mount Rushmore for eternity. The singular creation of two perfectly synchronised brains, Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David generated nine seasons of unforgivingly biting episodes that cared only for the joke.
That’s all to say that Seinfeld shouldn’t be tampered with. Sans Larry and Jerry, and to an almost equal extent the peerless cast of Jason Alexander, Joulia Louis-Dreyfus, and the now-disgraced Michael Richards, you’re going from a show about everything to an actual show about nothing.
Hypothetically, though, were you to reboot Seinfeld in 2021 and turn its snide aim on the trappings of 21st century life, the comedy landscape of the day has plenty of choice for a brand new cast. From TV veterans to up and comers, household names to potential breakout stars, putting together a new crew would be a casting director’s dream.
The key Seinfeld characters were so tightly developed and perfectly idiosyncratic that you’d need a little room to put a new spin on things, but while maintaining the key vibes that made Jerry, Elaine et al so memorable. Here’s how we’d do it.
6. Jerry Seinfeld - John Mulaney
Perhaps the easiest choice of the bunch. To “play” Jerry Seinfeld, you need an everyman quality, a breezily detached style, fantastic observational abilities, and of course the chops to cut it on the comedy circuit.
It would be reductive to call stand up ace John Mulaney Seinfeld reborn, but the two have plenty in common. While Mulaney’s on stage style lends itself more to winding anecdotes than razor sharp bits, his longform material belies incredibly honed, word perfect routines that are similarly relatable to that of Seinfeld. Mulaney conjures characters, strange individuals and family members alike, without modulating much in his voice, not unlike his veteran forefather.
Indeed, Mulaney has already had a stab at a titular sitcom exploring the life of a jobbing comic in NYC. That one didn’t go too well - it wasn’t entirely without merit, but its viewership guaranteed its downfall - but the immensely talented performer will surely get another stab on TV, should he want it.
He’s a guy who needs the space to cut loose and find the funny in the world around him - a structure like that of Seinfeld would be ideal.