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Over its nine-season run, Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David loved corralling celebrities to play themselves on the groundbreaking NBC sitcom “Seinfeld.” Who can neglect New York Mets nice Keith Hernandez getting accused of spitting on Kramer and Newman whereas additionally discovering the time to romance Elaine (“I am Keith Hernandez”)? Or the time George requested Marisa Tomei out on a date earlier than his deceased fiancée Susan had even been buried? After which there’s Jon Voight, who as soon as took a chunk out of Kramer’s arm in a taxi.
“Seinfeld” was delightfully random in its alternative of superstar cameos, however each single one felt like they belonged within the present’s off-kilter universe. Raquel Welch, Mel Tormé, and Bryant Gumbel had been, for no matter cause, destined to seek out their approach onto the present about nothing. Some cameos had been definitely extra apparent than others. Contemplating what number of occasions Seinfeld had been a visitor on his present, David Letterman turning up (if briefly) made excellent sense. And it felt prefer it was solely a matter of time earlier than Jerry stopped by “Reside with Regis and Kathie Lee.”
Right here, nonetheless, Seinfeld and his writers threw a curveball. As a substitute of Jerry approaching the favored morning present, they’d Kramer drop by to advertise his “The Espresso Desk E-book of Espresso Tables.” As with all issues Kramer, this look seems to be a catastrophe. However the cameo itself wound up being a supply of profound disappointment for Regis Philbin, who wasn’t proud of the best way he was written.
Regis Philbin wasn’t bonkos for the phrase ‘bonkos’
In his memoir “How I Received This Method,” Philbin revealed that his dissatisfaction together with his “Seinfeld” look centered on the repeated use of 1 phrase: “This man’s bonkos.” As he wrote in his e book, “I had by no means stated the phrase ‘bonkos’ in my life. I might by no means even heard of the phrase! I imply, it simply wasn’t humorous — and why ought to I develop into the one ‘Seinfeld’ visitor in historical past who by no means received fun?” Philbin took his displeasure straight to Seinfeld, however the star refused to rewrite the strains. “Jerry, too, thought ‘bonkos’ was hilarious,” he wrote.
Philbin was confirmed proper when he shot the scene and received nary fun by repeatedly uttering “bonkos” aloud. “I’ll always remember that silence, nor will I ever recover from it,” acknowledged the discuss present host. “It stays embarrassing to this present day.” Although Philbin is unfortunately now not with us, I’ll shout into the cosmos loud sufficient for him to listen to that “bonkos” is extremely humorous now that I do know Seinfeld and his writers compelled him to say it — and it is humorous exactly as a result of it is so unnatural. In relation to understanding what works comedy-wise, Jerry Seinfeld is something however bonkos (although “Bee Film” was pushing it).