NBC has had some incredible shows throughout the years, and Seinfeld is considered among its best. In fact, many would argue that Seinfeld is the greatest sitcom to ever grace the small screen.
The show wasn't perfect, as it had controversial scripts and episodes that even the network hated. No matter what came its way, the show made it work, and it was an unstoppable force that turned its performers into household names.
The stars of Seinfeld are all legends in their own right, but many of them have had some career struggles since the show ended. Let's take a look at the possible culprit of the stars' lack of major peak following the end of Seinfeld.
Why Did The 'Seinfeld' Cast Struggled To Get Roles?
In July 1989, NBC rolled the dice on a show about nothing, and no one at the network could have possibly known what the show would develop into. It was not an instant hit, but once it figured out the right formula, it became one of the greatest sitcoms in history.
Starring Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander, and Michael Richards, Seinfeld was an unstoppable show in its prime. Millions of people tuned in each week to see the latest adventures of Jerry and his friends. The show might have been about nothing, but it sure meant something to its fans.
For 9 seasons and 180 episodes, Seinfeld thrived on the small screen. To this day, its reruns are still watched and adored by many, and the fact that it is on Netflix means that even more people have the chance take the time to stream the show whenever they please.
After spending years playing iconic characters on the small screen, some might assume that moving on would be easy, but this has not been the case for the majority of the primary cast of the show.
'Seinfeld's' Performers Struggled To Find Sustained Success
Landing on a timeless show should be the goal of every performer, but they had better keep in mind that a hefty price could be paid. Just take a look at the cast of Seinfeld's careers since the show ended.
Jason Alexander is an exceptional actor, and while he has had some success since Seinfeld conquered TV, for the most part, he is a guest star. Alexander has had chances to anchor his own sitcom, but these have fallen flat with audiences.
Michael Richards was having a similar problem moving on from Kramer. He tried his hands at a variety of projects, but Richards was unable to make anything stick.
Jerry Seinfeld has the benefit of being a powerhouse comedian, but even he has had some disasters since Seinfeld ended. Anyone remember Bee Movie? Sure, it's mostly a meme now, but this thing was a disaster when it came out.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus is a major exception here, as she has been quite successful in recent years. In fact, some might even consider her recent history a personal peak, as she took her name value and raised it considerably thanks to award-winning performances, and an appearance in major franchise.
It's a shame that these performers have yet to hit a peak like Seinfeld again, and there could be a reason why this is the case.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Was The Only Exception
In truth, the stars of Seinfeld have done well for themselves, but overall, almost none of them were able to reach the same heights again. While a number of factors are at play, the truth is that it's hard to shake playing an iconic character.
Takes Jason Alexander, for instance. Alexander has been consistently acting for decades, but by and large, people still see George Costanza when they see Alexander. Because of this, he has yet to find the same type of sitcom success again.
Before his racial tirade sunk his career, Michael Richards was in the same boat. The man was Kramer in the eyes of millions, and it was just too odd watching the guy who played Kramer star on another show.
Again, Julia Louis-Dreyfus has been the exception to this. She has had numerous hits since Seinfeld, including Veep and her recent foray into the MCU. That being said, the actress spent years getting to that point, and some felt that she was destined to be yet another example of a star who was forever linked to their biggest character.
The cast in Seinfeld will always be considered legends thanks to their work on the show, but most of them have yet to have a peak that's come remotely close to matching Seinfeld's success.
