Almost two decades after the hit TV series, "Seinfield," celebrated its final episode, issues regarding the working relationship among the cast and crew are now surfacing. In a recent interview with Howard Stern, Jason Alexander revealed that some members of the cast decided to simply kill off the character of Heidi Swedberg because she did not mesh well with the rest of them, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
In the series, Alexander's character, George Costanza, and Swedberg's Susan Ross were engaged to be married following three episodes since the latter was introduced in the show. In an unexpected turn of events, however, Susan was killed off the series. By way of explaining her departure from the show, the writers decided to let the supposedly future Mrs. Costanza die due to the poison she licked from one of the envelopes used to send their wedding invitations.
While the plot twist was created in a satisfying manner, Alexander now reveals that it was not part of the original plan. According to him, the decision to kill off Swedberg's character came after the rest of the members of the cast eventually agreed with him that it was difficult to work with the actress.
Alexander told Stern that he "couldn't figure out how to play off of her. Her instincts for doing a scene, where the comedy was, and mine were always misfiring. And she would do something, and I would go, 'OK, I see what she's going to do - I'm going to adjust to her.' And I'd adjust, and then it would change," according to Time. He also said that working with Swedberg was "impossible." Hence, when "Seinfield" star Julia Louis-Dreyfus jokingly suggested to just kill off Swedberg's character in the series, the show's creator along with Alexander himself immediately agreed.
However, it appears that Alexander's statements were misconstrued and he now wants to make amends. He explains that his responses were taken out of context and reiterates that he and Swedberg have no bad blood between them. In a Twitter post, titled "Oh dear God, leave Heidi alone," Alexander apologizes profusely for his mistake and apologizes profusely to his "Seinfield" co-star.
Ok folks, I feel officially awful. Yesterday on @Sternshow, I retold a story I had told years ago about my personal difficulties and insecurities in playing George against the Susan that Heidi Swedberg created. The impetus for telling this story was that Howard said, "Julia Louis Dreyfuss told me you all wanted to kill her". So I told the story to try and clarify that no one wanted to kill Heidi.
And again I say, I and the cast really liked and like Heidi. She is a kind, lovely person who undoubtedly worked really hard to create Susan and that character was clearly what Larry and Jerry wanted her to be for George. I just felt I was on uncertain ground in how to play off that character and I was always concerned that it wasn't working. And that's what I would voice concern about. But because the scenes were playing the way they were, the relationship with George and Susan sustained a whole season. People clearly liked the interplay even though I believed I was "off".
Larry and Jerry were not sure how that relationship would end. They didn't really want George married but all the alternatives seemed predictable. They were always looking for an inventive end to the engagement. So when the comment was made about "killing", no one was talking about the actress - they were talking about the character. And that made a creative lightbulb go off apparently.
But in telling this story, it sounds like we are putting a heavy burden on Heidi. I, personally, am not. Heidi would always ask if there was anything in the scenes she could do or if I had any thoughts. She was generous and gracious and I am so mad at myself for retelling this story in any way that would diminish her. If I had had more maturity or more security in my own work, I surely would have taken her query and possibly tried to adjust the scenes with her. She surely offered. But, I didn't have that maturity or security. And, Larry and Jerry would probably have killed me as it was all playing exactly as they wanted. Clearly Susan and George were coming off just the way they wanted.
So, to all the press that is now running wild with this 15 year old story, please don't pervert it. No one told Heidi to do anything different - and she surely would have, if asked. And no one that I am aware of, including myself, didn't like her. And now with distance, I can look at those episodes and see that there was a fun relationship there between George and Susan. It works perfectly. I simply couldn't see it or find it at the time.
To Heidi, I personally apologize. You are a sweetheart. I actually launched into this on Stern to defend you. But this is why I'm not a lawyer. Now everybody, calm down and just enjoy the reruns and think, "why did he think this wasn't working? This is great."
JA
Watch the scene where Susan dies in "Seinfield" in the clip below.
