I hope you do a retrospective on The Drew Carey Show. It's really fascinating as it is unfortunate how a show that ran for 9 seasons is all but impossible to find due to legal issues. Love your work!
They're almost all not worth saving for major broadcasters so streaming companies have had zero effort to upload them. Which makes their existence a real curiosity.
@@bigjohnsbreakfastlog5819 And while movies were getting DVD releases all the time, TV shows really weren't, there are some great shows out there that never had a physical release
Failed sitcoms are perhaps one rung above reality shows on the ladder of 'media worth re-releasing'. They just don't really have the capacity to get a nostalgic following or historic importance in the way that similarly failed, say, cartoons or sci-fi can. Which is still a shame, because it's not like there wasn't effort worth remembering put into them, and there's almost definitely jokes worth telling; Listen Up isn't my speed, but I could definitely see it being a good laugh for my parents. Meanwhile I genuinely wish I could watch more of Bob Patterson.
It has always amazed me that a network could spend millions producing seasons of shows, and if they are even slightly unsuccessful they get cancelled and never get archived or are made available for purchased. Seems like such a waste, like there are many movies and shows that become cult classics on home video, why not give these shows a chance to find an audience after airing?
@@kurtwagner350 I think it's notable that while there have been shows that have found success after life like that, mostly back when syndication was a thing (Star Trek's probably the most famous example), sitcoms weren't among them. The ones that are successful post-life are ones that are already successful--hell, some even drop off the radar despite popularity, like Murphy Brown.
If there's one thing I've gotten from these retrospectives, it's that Jason Alexander puts a hell of a lot of work into everything he does. He really gives everything his all, and that's really commendable, even if these shows didn't really deserve it.
I agree. He honestly carried Seinfeld. Elaine was insufferable, Jerry was corny, Kramer (though my favorite) was outrageous and only needed in doses. George was the one to keep you entertained for the full episode.
Duckman was during Seinfeld though so it was kind of his side project, it doesn't count with these others, not least cos it was not live action, but yes it was a good and sadly very much forgotten about cartoon.
Never thought I'd see day that I would learn about a post-Seinfeld Sitcom starring George Costanza and Theo Huxtable as hosts of a sports highlights show...
I think Jason's problem was that he is INCREDIBLY talented but it's the caliber of shows he was trying to work with that's the problem. The man has so much range as a performer with his voice, singing and dancing talent I think he was limiting himself trying to find as basic sitcom where we're told when to laugh at him when he can do that honestly by his own merit, if that makes any sense.
This video really wakes up nostalgia. Out of every show from the Seinfeld curse era, this was actually the one that felt like it was going to work. It had the right energy around it. Jason Alexander as a sports writer and Malcolm Jamal Warner as a retired NFL player felt so right. The name “Listen Up” felt right. I just remember looking at that main graphic on billboards and bus stops. It felt like a hit show with A-list leads…. And then it just hit the wall.
The reason Seinfeld was so successful, as you point out, is because NBC let the series grow and define itself. But it isn't because of the head honchos of NBC and their parent company, it is because of Rick Ludwin. He was the one NBC executive, with a good track record at the company, who believed in the show. He defended it against the powers that be that were above him. In fact, if not for him, the series would probably have been cancelled as well. When the Chinese Restaurant episode was pitched to NBC, the one where it all happens in one location for the whole episode, execs thought it was a betrayal of their trust. But Ludwin, even though he too didn't understand of the concept, had trust in the writers and vehemently defended the show and that episode against the higher ups. And because of that, the episode was allowed to be filmed and aired. And as such, it turned out to be the highest rated episode of the show to that date. In fact, that particular episode helped cement most of the Seinfeld-isms and tropes that the series became known for. If not for Ludwin, Seinfeld would not have had the cultural impact on the public zeitgeist. Fun additional fact: Ludwin was also responsible for keeping Conan O'Brien on the Late Night show. The NBC executives wanted to get rid of Conan after his first year. But Ludwin was able to convince them that O'Brien had promise and would hit his stride as host. This he most certainly did and Late Night became the most successful late night show in that time slot for the remainder of Conan's tenure as host.
This is the same thing that happened to Cheers. It was the lowest-rated TV show its debut, then hit #1 around S9…. Cuz NBC said it was an Adult show they were proud of 👌🏾 I mean first season LITERALLY only takes place in a bar
“Colonel Sandurz, may I speak with you please…How can there be a Forgotten Failures of Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story? We’re still in the middle of MAKING it!”
jason alexander and malcom jamal warner are both great sitcom actors that always star in quickly cancelled shows, its a shame they couldn't score a win with this show
as far as I'm concerned, Jason Alexander's meaningful non-Seinfeld career was Duckman and Aladdin. And that's something to envy. I guess the Fresh Prince brought some palm trees back to Philly. Yeah, that's the ticket.
@@SuperCosmicMutantSquid i would have stabbed myself with a fork repeatedly to get a live action show in the 90s starring Jason and James Avery. I don't care what their roles are, you put those two together and it's magic. Haroud was an absolute treat.
You nailed it in the beginning. Jason Alexander and MJW had years of sitcom experience. Imagine that.... putting your most accomplished actors on the screen together and let them cook. What a novel idea.
I actually watched this show. I was 10 when it was new so I can't remember it well. The only episode that I can remember is when he gets really excited to buy a pickup truck, but can't afford the gas once he buys it. I don't remember thinking it was hilarious but it must not have been that bad since I watched it every week.
The one I remember was when his daughter scored the winning goal in a soccer and Tony spends the whole episode making a big deal of it only for the episode to end when a professional female soccer player to point out the goal wasn't valid due to Tony's daughter being on a foward position, and Tony then trying to brush the whole thing off.
Even after its rating slipped a bit, Listen Up still had almost nine million people watching by its final episode. Kind of wild that networks used to have the luxury of just throwing away shows that could draw an audience that big, today nine million viewers would be a hit, that's like Young Sheldon numbers. I should also note that when The Office premiered the next year, it had like half the viewership Listen Up did, but NBC opted to give it a chance, and look how that worked out for them. I think NBC has had the best sitcoms of any American network over the last few decades because they've been willing to take a chance on shows that don't attract big audiences right out of the gate, like 30 Rock and Community. Even Seinfeld itself didn't have great ratings at first.
And “Office” was only given that shot because “40 Year Old Virgin” was predicted to be a big hit, which it was. So a second season was ordered. And the writing and ratings improved a lot.
@@drygnfyre yeah office was a huge bubble show considered to be cancelled that season. Of the considered to be cancelled list for that year the shows that somehow snagged a renewal didn’t survive beyond 2006 with exception of The Office which became a huge hit.
@@dannigro8794 The first season was criticized for basically being a straight remake of the UK original. Whereas the second season onward they changed up the plots, the characters, etc. Once the writers were given more room to be a bit more creative, the reception changed for the better, and became the iconic series it is today. This is a good example of what some other comments said, that it's ridiculous for these networks to have been expecting Seinfeld-esque numbers right out the gate. You need to give shows times to grow and learn. Which is ironic, because Seinfield also was not a massive hit out the gate.
There's a couple other post-Seinfeld shows you could still do, like Jason Alexander's family band sitcom "Hit the Road" for AT&T, or even that Kirstie Alley sitcom that Michael Richards co-starred in.
@@francishollingshead2134Produced by AT&T. Audience Network started as a channel exclusive to DirecTV that rolled over to AT&T when their U-Verse service absorbed that cable provider, and it had some original content. Hit the Road lasted 1 season of 10 episodes before being cancelled.
Kirstie would certainly be worth looking at, especially as it's a rare Richard's later work not connected to Jerry Seinfeld [and despite the great guest stars-including Jason Alexander-wasn't very good].
"Listen Up" deserved a better fate. The cast was absolutely outstanding--particularly Daniella Monet (who was incredible in her role) and Wendy Makkena. The genius of the show, unlike "Bob Patterson", was that it DIDN'T have Jason Alexander playing a neurotic single guy. We saw instead what George might have become, as the husband and father of a loving, close-knit family. And that, in my book, is more than worth the price of admission.
While he's not the lead, Michael Richard's was a regular in 'Kirsty' in 2013 [with Cheers' Kirsty Ally+ Rhea Perlman] which featured Jason Alexander in an episode and became another 'post Seinfeld' series which only lasted one series and was poorly received.
@@yellowblanka6058 Some people might bring up Michael Richards as a counterargument, but he seems to have had genuine remorse for his behavior. He could have paraded himself around as if he were the world's greatest victim, but didn't.
Any other year Listen Up probably would’ve been renewed, but it was expendable because CBS chose to order more episodes of still standing and yes, dear for the next season to add to their syndication package, both of which ended up being canceled that season but then we got how I met your mother.
Have just discovered Monk and the first Whale guy episode couldn't have the same impact now. That something as extreme as his obesity is overfamiliar (normalized is maybe too far) now is a little depressing.
I've been watching Seinfeld from the beginning recently, and thought the same thing. There are plenty of jokes that revolve around him being overweight and generally unattractive, but there's also a few scenes where he has his shirt off for one reason or another, and by modern metrics he looks just like an average guy. Is it because the average American male is now fatter, or are we just more accustomed to seeing a wider (no pun intended) array of body types on TV? Probably a little of both.
I always hated the super fake visual style of 2000's sitcoms. The lighting and sets just looks too over the top artificial in them. They all look like Hanah Montana Disney show. Compared to how 90's shows Friends, Seinfeld, Roseanne and Home Improvement have a "yeah it's a set but I feel like I'm in their house/apartment when I watch them act in it" vs "fake, fake, fake, I've never seen a house and lighting like this ever in real life" 2000s sitcom set. I was a teen during this time and was spoiled by those 90s shows and was always excited to check out new shows like this and others but man ZERO 2000s sitcoms have that 60s-90s magic in them. They all feel completely soulless and only existing to make $$$>
I have been following the Seinfeld Curse Files since the beginning and although only a few episodes I will miss the in-depth research conducted. Thank you for making each episode, I love coming back to the older episodes from time to time.
I listened to the Kornheiser podcast for over ten years, and that whole time, I didn’t understand what Listen Up was. They referenced it at least once a month, usually through the mailbag, and only now do I know what that was about. I wish I still liked his show, but covid ruined it for me. It became just another sports show because he had no guests, saw no movies, and was alienated from what little he watched on TV. But that’s another subject. Thanks for finally clearing up my confusion!
Wayne Knight did ok. Larry did amazingly. Julia did great too, especially with Veep. Michael did his own 'thing'. And Jason has a lot of swing and a misses. Most people who guest starred in Seinfeld went into much bigger things
Im a simple girl. I see Malcolm-Jamal Warner in a thumbnail and i click before i read the title. But the video was interesting and now I'll check the rest
I was a huge PTI fan and really tried to watch this show but it was definitely hard to get through, which is crazy cause the real Tony is must watch TV.
Have you covered the failed Newman spinoff pilot yet? It was uploaded to YT by the showrunner a few years back. Channel: Larry Charles Projects Video: Introducing My First FAILED Pilot
there kinda was. nothing he's done has been hugely successful post Seinfeld. But look at Larry, he co-created Seinfeld and Curb. Curb was on the air for more than twenty years and Jerry did the Bee movie.
@@jonnyleeconway I looked it up last Seinfeld curse video, he really doesn't "do" anything. Comedians in Cars is probably the only thing he did with any sort of longevity.
Great to see another installment in this series Joe. It’s unfortunate how some of these shows didn’t last long as the premises, or initial premise before network meddling came into play, sounds pretty good, yet for one reason or another, things didn’t pan out and so now we just talk about how they didn’t work out and are interesting things that cast members of Seinfeld did after the show ended. Keep up the great work Joe and take care!
@@Atlee_Stewart Yeah, that was weird. When it happened, the media reaction at the time was, "Huh, that's unusual". There would be a much stronger reaction to this today.
@ilearncode7365 if the best defense you have is his bank account and "well it's legal", you're on quicksand morally. She was a literal child and he was nearly 40. He was wealthy and successful and she was high school age. If It's not clear what a massive power imbalance that is, i dont know what to tell you. It's unacceptable.
Very strange, I watched the other episodes as they came out, and the last few days UA-cam has been recommending them to me, then this new one comes out. 🤔
Jason deserves a lot better - but the character needs to be starkly different than George. I actually think his resurgence could come from a 'Better Call Saul' sort of move; a drama lead by a skilled tragic/comedic protagonist. Worked for Lithgow to some degree too.
@@drygnfyreI had no idea the dad in Malcolm was the dentist in Seinfeld before also being Walter White. Whatley, Wilkerson, White, three consecutive Ws.
I'm glad you did this show. I remember seeing it and thinking about how weird the chemistry between Jason Alexander and Malcolm Jamal Warner was. MJW is a grossly underused actor in my opinion, btw. He almost always seems to be my favorite part of every show I see him in.
The reason for the curse is that Richards, Alexander and Louis-Dreyfus all assumed they could headline a show as the main character. Consider the great Phil Hartman who could have led any show he wanted but chose a co-starring role in the cult classic Newsradio. Consider Jerry Stiller who went on to co-star in the King of Queens for many seasons. Only Louis-Dreyfus was able to pull off shows centered around her talent - Richards and Alexander would have been fine if they had sought strong shows where they could star without making themselves the main attraction.
Has Arsenio Hall’s sitcom, Arsenio, been talked about yet? Similarly to The Michael Richards Show, Arsenio doesn’t have Arsenio Hall playing a character with the same first name as him.
That Penn & Teller appearance is a good reminder that the magnificent disaster Penn & Teller Get Killed was basically born to be a Forgotten Failures feature
There is kind of one "last sitcom" Jason Alexander have done. Last year Audio Up released the original scripted comedy podcast "Bedtime Stories from the Ingleside Inn" starring Jason Alexander as the hotelier Mel Harper. The podcast really gives the vibes of listening to a sitcom that would have been on TV in the early 2000's witch I love. It have only been one season and I don't know if there will be a season 2 but the 8 episodes that are out are great and worth your time.
Glad thhe Seinfeld Curse Files is still going on to a degree, because I think the other videos were the first of your channel that I found and got me hooked.
My mom used to watch this. She hated it, but it was on either before or after something else she liked on CBS' sitcom block so she often just let it play.
Fun fact, Rob was actually one of the highest rated shows to get canceled that season. Any other network would’ve killed for those numbers but they didn’t need it..
I used to watch this with my parents (when it was on) when I was a kid. I remember there being an episode where Jason Alexander and Malcolm Jamal-Warner were having a sleepover and Jason gets mad at Malcolm and he says something to the effect of: “YOU ARE GETTING NO TV OFF OF ME!”
I always liked this show and watched during its original run. Even though it’s basically just a generic family sitcom, I was always fond of it and have rewatched episodes of it every few years.
Jason is a Shakespearean actor in Three Stooges Body.
He's also a surprisingly talented singer.
He honestly had quite a glow-up in recent years, it's pretty funny
All 3 of them
Profound.
@@volusian95 this show could have been the next home improvement. It should have lasted longer. It reminds me of home improvement.
I hope you do a retrospective on The Drew Carey Show. It's really fascinating as it is unfortunate how a show that ran for 9 seasons is all but impossible to find due to legal issues. Love your work!
That show was/is absolutely amazing.
Really messed up when you realize Warner Bros released a soundtrack of the series on CD but won’t come to DVD due to music licensing
Is that why I never see it anywhere? What legal reasons?
I hope Drew himself can help fight those legals. Surely he must have enough income to do something about it by now!
@@cormacthem8406 Song licensing. The Drew Carey Show used a lot of licensed music in place of the usual in-house musical stings.
It's even better that these Cursed shows are often lost media and mainly only exist at all in grainy VHS form
They're almost all not worth saving for major broadcasters so streaming companies have had zero effort to upload them. Which makes their existence a real curiosity.
@@bigjohnsbreakfastlog5819 And while movies were getting DVD releases all the time, TV shows really weren't, there are some great shows out there that never had a physical release
Failed sitcoms are perhaps one rung above reality shows on the ladder of 'media worth re-releasing'. They just don't really have the capacity to get a nostalgic following or historic importance in the way that similarly failed, say, cartoons or sci-fi can. Which is still a shame, because it's not like there wasn't effort worth remembering put into them, and there's almost definitely jokes worth telling; Listen Up isn't my speed, but I could definitely see it being a good laugh for my parents. Meanwhile I genuinely wish I could watch more of Bob Patterson.
It has always amazed me that a network could spend millions producing seasons of shows, and if they are even slightly unsuccessful they get cancelled and never get archived or are made available for purchased. Seems like such a waste, like there are many movies and shows that become cult classics on home video, why not give these shows a chance to find an audience after airing?
@@kurtwagner350 I think it's notable that while there have been shows that have found success after life like that, mostly back when syndication was a thing (Star Trek's probably the most famous example), sitcoms weren't among them. The ones that are successful post-life are ones that are already successful--hell, some even drop off the radar despite popularity, like Murphy Brown.
If there's one thing I've gotten from these retrospectives, it's that Jason Alexander puts a hell of a lot of work into everything he does. He really gives everything his all, and that's really commendable, even if these shows didn't really deserve it.
That's because he's acting without acting
I agree. He honestly carried Seinfeld. Elaine was insufferable, Jerry was corny, Kramer (though my favorite) was outrageous and only needed in doses. George was the one to keep you entertained for the full episode.
Duckman was awesome and George played the hell out of that character.
Yeah, Duckman was incredible.
Duckman was his best role and my favorite
Duckman was during Seinfeld though so it was kind of his side project, it doesn't count with these others, not least cos it was not live action, but yes it was a good and sadly very much forgotten about cartoon.
Just calling him George will never not be funny
WHAT?! I had no idea he was Duckman! 😲
Bee Movie is a retroactive success as one of the greatest memes of all time
Never thought I'd see day that I would learn about a post-Seinfeld Sitcom starring George Costanza and Theo Huxtable as hosts of a sports highlights show...
I watched every episode when it was on! Few shows can be Seinfeld, but Listen Up had some good laughs and moments in it.
based off of an ESPN show that was hot then
I always get this one confused with Bob Patterson because LISTEN UP! feels like a motivational speaker tagline.
And Bob Patterson is like a generic Sport Commentator name
They tried to get name similar to Pardon the Interruption, because the show was based on Tony Kornheiser.
I think Jason's problem was that he is INCREDIBLY talented but it's the caliber of shows he was trying to work with that's the problem. The man has so much range as a performer with his voice, singing and dancing talent I think he was limiting himself trying to find as basic sitcom where we're told when to laugh at him when he can do that honestly by his own merit, if that makes any sense.
This video really wakes up nostalgia.
Out of every show from the Seinfeld curse era, this was actually the one that felt like it was going to work. It had the right energy around it. Jason Alexander as a sports writer and Malcolm Jamal Warner as a retired NFL player felt so right. The name “Listen Up” felt right. I just remember looking at that main graphic on billboards and bus stops. It felt like a hit show with A-list leads…. And then it just hit the wall.
The reason Seinfeld was so successful, as you point out, is because NBC let the series grow and define itself. But it isn't because of the head honchos of NBC and their parent company, it is because of Rick Ludwin. He was the one NBC executive, with a good track record at the company, who believed in the show. He defended it against the powers that be that were above him. In fact, if not for him, the series would probably have been cancelled as well.
When the Chinese Restaurant episode was pitched to NBC, the one where it all happens in one location for the whole episode, execs thought it was a betrayal of their trust. But Ludwin, even though he too didn't understand of the concept, had trust in the writers and vehemently defended the show and that episode against the higher ups. And because of that, the episode was allowed to be filmed and aired. And as such, it turned out to be the highest rated episode of the show to that date. In fact, that particular episode helped cement most of the Seinfeld-isms and tropes that the series became known for. If not for Ludwin, Seinfeld would not have had the cultural impact on the public zeitgeist.
Fun additional fact: Ludwin was also responsible for keeping Conan O'Brien on the Late Night show. The NBC executives wanted to get rid of Conan after his first year. But Ludwin was able to convince them that O'Brien had promise and would hit his stride as host. This he most certainly did and Late Night became the most successful late night show in that time slot for the remainder of Conan's tenure as host.
This is the same thing that happened to Cheers. It was the lowest-rated TV show its debut, then hit #1 around S9…. Cuz NBC said it was an Adult show they were proud of 👌🏾 I mean first season LITERALLY only takes place in a bar
Speaking of Seinfeld, I can't wait for the Forgotten Failures episode of "Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story".
I think It looks fascinating
It's got Kyle Dunnigan in it. Sign me up.
I like the plain ones. That “frosting” is hard as a rock
Actually, I think it has a shot to enjoyable and remembered.
“Colonel Sandurz, may I speak with you please…How can there be a Forgotten Failures of Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story? We’re still in the middle of MAKING it!”
I could see Jason as a police captain in a copshow drama. That could break the curse for him.
Kevin James did it!
producer: “what’s our intro design gonna be?”
editor: “you ever seen drake and josh?”
They found a way
I honestly didn't know Daniella Monet starred in a show before Victorious.
Yeah, learn something new everyday
jason alexander and malcom jamal warner are both great sitcom actors that always star in quickly cancelled shows, its a shame they couldn't score a win with this show
I'm convinced you pulled this from another universe cause I never even heard of this show
Same
Wow, I just rewatched all the other “Seinfeld Curse Files” yesterday. Good timing lol
Me too !
Same! Nice to see a new one.
Jason Alexander is such a fascinating Actor that ill actually check rhis out, thanks
God damn, took like 2 years for another update. We been waiting!
Also thanks. Good vid.
dude he uploads like pretty frequently
@@mattalan6618 no I meant on the seinfeld curse files.
And shit, my comment was a month old anyway!
as far as I'm concerned, Jason Alexander's meaningful non-Seinfeld career was Duckman and Aladdin. And that's something to envy.
I guess the Fresh Prince brought some palm trees back to Philly. Yeah, that's the ticket.
Yes, someone else who remembers Abis Mal!
@@SuperCosmicMutantSquid i would have stabbed myself with a fork repeatedly to get a live action show in the 90s starring Jason and James Avery. I don't care what their roles are, you put those two together and it's magic. Haroud was an absolute treat.
He was great on Star Trek Voyageur as well, I wish they could have made him a recurring character
@@sacvideo1998 oh that's right! he was really playing against type in that role, and he naaailed it.
He was Funny as The Voice of catbert in The dilbert animated show..
You nailed it in the beginning. Jason Alexander and MJW had years of sitcom experience. Imagine that.... putting your most accomplished actors on the screen together and let them cook. What a novel idea.
I actually watched this show. I was 10 when it was new so I can't remember it well. The only episode that I can remember is when he gets really excited to buy a pickup truck, but can't afford the gas once he buys it. I don't remember thinking it was hilarious but it must not have been that bad since I watched it every week.
The one I remember was when his daughter scored the winning goal in a soccer and Tony spends the whole episode making a big deal of it only for the episode to end when a professional female soccer player to point out the goal wasn't valid due to Tony's daughter being on a foward position, and Tony then trying to brush the whole thing off.
Even after its rating slipped a bit, Listen Up still had almost nine million people watching by its final episode. Kind of wild that networks used to have the luxury of just throwing away shows that could draw an audience that big, today nine million viewers would be a hit, that's like Young Sheldon numbers.
I should also note that when The Office premiered the next year, it had like half the viewership Listen Up did, but NBC opted to give it a chance, and look how that worked out for them. I think NBC has had the best sitcoms of any American network over the last few decades because they've been willing to take a chance on shows that don't attract big audiences right out of the gate, like 30 Rock and Community. Even Seinfeld itself didn't have great ratings at first.
And “Office” was only given that shot because “40 Year Old Virgin” was predicted to be a big hit, which it was. So a second season was ordered. And the writing and ratings improved a lot.
It was only canceled because they chose still standing over it, which needed one more season for syndication
@@drygnfyre yeah office was a huge bubble show considered to be cancelled that season. Of the considered to be cancelled list for that year the shows that somehow snagged a renewal didn’t survive beyond 2006 with exception of The Office which became a huge hit.
@@dannigro8794 The first season was criticized for basically being a straight remake of the UK original. Whereas the second season onward they changed up the plots, the characters, etc. Once the writers were given more room to be a bit more creative, the reception changed for the better, and became the iconic series it is today. This is a good example of what some other comments said, that it's ridiculous for these networks to have been expecting Seinfeld-esque numbers right out the gate. You need to give shows times to grow and learn. Which is ironic, because Seinfield also was not a massive hit out the gate.
Never even heard of this one. Great find. Great episode, dude!
This series of cursed Seinfeld media should continue and end with Bee Movie. What the hell was that?
Ya don't like Jazz?
@@skibbitybebop jazz? Not exactly
Yeah, talk about a total what the f**k moment.
@@JoeChillton whats funny about that is if you remember all those Bee Movie memes that popped up like i want to say 7 maybe 8 years ago
There's a couple other post-Seinfeld shows you could still do, like Jason Alexander's family band sitcom "Hit the Road" for AT&T, or even that Kirstie Alley sitcom that Michael Richards co-starred in.
"Hit the Road" for AT&T. So was it sponsored by AT&T, or was it actually produced by AT&T?
@@francishollingshead2134Produced by AT&T. Audience Network started as a channel exclusive to DirecTV that rolled over to AT&T when their U-Verse service absorbed that cable provider, and it had some original content. Hit the Road lasted 1 season of 10 episodes before being cancelled.
Kirstie would certainly be worth looking at, especially as it's a rare Richard's later work not connected to Jerry Seinfeld [and despite the great guest stars-including Jason Alexander-wasn't very good].
@@francishollingshead2134 both
Jason A had Duckman on USA 🇺🇸 too. That show was funny, innovative for the 1990s.
"Listen Up" deserved a better fate. The cast was absolutely outstanding--particularly Daniella Monet (who was incredible in her role) and Wendy Makkena. The genius of the show, unlike "Bob Patterson", was that it DIDN'T have Jason Alexander playing a neurotic single guy. We saw instead what George might have become, as the husband and father of a loving, close-knit family. And that, in my book, is more than worth the price of admission.
Jason Alexander is great wherever he shows up, he gives so much energy to his roles!
While he's not the lead, Michael Richard's was a regular in 'Kirsty' in 2013 [with Cheers' Kirsty Ally+ Rhea Perlman] which featured Jason Alexander in an episode and became another 'post Seinfeld' series which only lasted one series and was poorly received.
Well technically the Seinfeld curse was already broken when Jason Alexander voiced Duckman in 1994
That debuted while Seinfeld was still on the air. This channel talks about the shows that debuted after Seinfeld ended.
Oh you’re right sorry I thought I had something there oh well could be worse
@@loganmackenzie5294 you should feel bad that you failed and that your life is such a failure
Jason Alexander is a natural talent, and genuinely seems like a class act of a person.
Yeah, everyone associated with Seinfeld except its namesake seem like nice people.
@@yellowblanka6058 Some people might bring up Michael Richards as a counterargument, but he seems to have had genuine remorse for his behavior. He could have paraded himself around as if he were the world's greatest victim, but didn't.
I'm losing to a bird over here! 🐦
@@yellowblanka6058 yeah to bad Jerry is a dick to everyone including his friends and family
I personally loved Listen Up. I wish it would come out on dvd.
Says you and 13 other people…
@@bobsiyt6548 What's your point? I know it wasn't a popular show. Doesn't stop me from liking it.....
Love those authentic native Philly palm trees.......
Shout out to Larry David, possibly the biggest reason for "Seinfeld's" success.
George WAS a character based on a real person
Any other year Listen Up probably would’ve been renewed, but it was expendable because CBS chose to order more episodes of still standing and yes, dear for the next season to add to their syndication package, both of which ended up being canceled that season but then we got how I met your mother.
I used to watch Still Standing
@@MattMangels I love Still Standing all the episodes are free on UA-cam. It got a nice little finale too.
It's crazy to think that just 20 years ago Jason Alexander was considered comedically fat. We really have become unbelievably obese.
Hollywood treating mildly overweight actors as over-the-top fatsos has been a common thing for decades, I wouldn't read much into it.
Same with Kevin James
Have just discovered Monk and the first Whale guy episode couldn't have the same impact now. That something as extreme as his obesity is overfamiliar (normalized is maybe too far) now is a little depressing.
I've been watching Seinfeld from the beginning recently, and thought the same thing. There are plenty of jokes that revolve around him being overweight and generally unattractive, but there's also a few scenes where he has his shirt off for one reason or another, and by modern metrics he looks just like an average guy.
Is it because the average American male is now fatter, or are we just more accustomed to seeing a wider (no pun intended) array of body types on TV? Probably a little of both.
I mean he's still like Hollywood fat
Please talk about the Marriage Ref. That’s the real cursed project Jerry made post Seinfeld.
Bartender on the Orville is a great gig for him.
I always hated the super fake visual style of 2000's sitcoms. The lighting and sets just looks too over the top artificial in them. They all look like Hanah Montana Disney show. Compared to how 90's shows Friends, Seinfeld, Roseanne and Home Improvement have a "yeah it's a set but I feel like I'm in their house/apartment when I watch them act in it" vs "fake, fake, fake, I've never seen a house and lighting like this ever in real life" 2000s sitcom set. I was a teen during this time and was spoiled by those 90s shows and was always excited to check out new shows like this and others but man ZERO 2000s sitcoms have that 60s-90s magic in them. They all feel completely soulless and only existing to make $$$>
Icarley was + because the Cady meshed together & the set seemed cozy, worth watching but not distracting. Much like Frazier 1990s to 2000s.
I have been following the Seinfeld Curse Files since the beginning and although only a few episodes I will miss the in-depth research conducted. Thank you for making each episode, I love coming back to the older episodes from time to time.
when Malcolm Jamal Warner starts hanging out more in Jason’s house, they start to remind me of Doug and Deacon in King of Queens
Yes!!! Thank you! Been eagerly awaiting this one for quite some time.
I listened to the Kornheiser podcast for over ten years, and that whole time, I didn’t understand what Listen Up was. They referenced it at least once a month, usually through the mailbag, and only now do I know what that was about. I wish I still liked his show, but covid ruined it for me. It became just another sports show because he had no guests, saw no movies, and was alienated from what little he watched on TV. But that’s another subject. Thanks for finally clearing up my confusion!
Awesome, great timing of the upload, needing of Cheering up
Wayne Knight did ok. Larry did amazingly. Julia did great too, especially with Veep. Michael did his own 'thing'. And Jason has a lot of swing and a misses. Most people who guest starred in Seinfeld went into much bigger things
Why sitcoms based on newspaper columns were a thing, like remember Dave's World starring Harry Anderson
i remember watching this 20 years and thinking it was ok.
The curse files finale
Jerry had a show called “The marriage ref” I’m not sure if it’s counts but that show bombed
Don't you mean to "bee" continued? 🐝
Im a simple girl. I see Malcolm-Jamal Warner in a thumbnail and i click before i read the title. But the video was interesting and now I'll check the rest
I was a huge PTI fan and really tried to watch this show but it was definitely hard to get through, which is crazy cause the real Tony is must watch TV.
Yeah this is my first time seeing any clips from Listen Up. I only knew it from Tony’s podcast references.
Same, I was looking forward to the show cause I'm a big PTI fan and well...
Have you covered the failed Newman spinoff pilot yet? It was uploaded to YT by the showrunner a few years back.
Channel: Larry Charles Projects
Video: Introducing My First FAILED Pilot
Goodbye, Newman.
How many curses were there? Shows. Specials. Stand-Up disasters. How many?
0:11 I just love this theme so much. 😂😂
Funny how there was never a “Seinfeld Curse” for Jerry Seinfeld!
Sometimes it’s better to just walk away gracefully! Jerry understood this!
there kinda was. nothing he's done has been hugely successful post Seinfeld. But look at Larry, he co-created Seinfeld and Curb. Curb was on the air for more than twenty years and Jerry did the Bee movie.
His curse was blocked by millions of dollars.
I mean Jerry probably made 10x or more what his co-stars did, definitely probably more of a “I don’t need that network sitcom” thing
@@FrankDux-rq7gothat’s because Larry was debatably the actual talent behind Seinfeld. Jerry is kind of a hack.
@@jonnyleeconway I looked it up last Seinfeld curse video, he really doesn't "do" anything.
Comedians in Cars is probably the only thing he did with any sort of longevity.
i missed this series. glad to see it back
Great to see another installment in this series Joe. It’s unfortunate how some of these shows didn’t last long as the premises, or initial premise before network meddling came into play, sounds pretty good, yet for one reason or another, things didn’t pan out and so now we just talk about how they didn’t work out and are interesting things that cast members of Seinfeld did after the show ended. Keep up the great work Joe and take care!
I actually liked this show when it was on. Still remember it to this day.
Bob's house used to belong to maude and walter findlay.
I love this series and hate that it's coming to an end. Nice work.
Idk I think Jerry's curse was meeting that 17 year old
A happy family and billions of dollars later? Such a curse! lol
@@sean-ew2qv he was 38
@@Atlee_Stewart Yeah, that was weird. When it happened, the media reaction at the time was, "Huh, that's unusual". There would be a much stronger reaction to this today.
He is rich and it is legal in the state they met in. What do you want him to do? What you want?
@ilearncode7365 if the best defense you have is his bank account and "well it's legal", you're on quicksand morally. She was a literal child and he was nearly 40. He was wealthy and successful and she was high school age. If It's not clear what a massive power imbalance that is, i dont know what to tell you. It's unacceptable.
He's a perfect George.
Serenity now...insanity later
Very strange, I watched the other episodes as they came out, and the last few days UA-cam has been recommending them to me, then this new one comes out. 🤔
Is that Daniella Monet as the daughter?
Yes.
Daniella Monet looks like a 40-year-old woman playing a teen. She literally looks like an SNL actress in this show!
Listen up was a good show, it def deserved another season
I would love a retrospective on Frasier. Kelsey Grammer's work after it and your thoughts on the reboot.
Since the start of the Seinfeld curse files this is the one ive been looking forward to
Jason deserves a lot better - but the character needs to be starkly different than George. I actually think his resurgence could come from a 'Better Call Saul' sort of move; a drama lead by a skilled tragic/comedic protagonist. Worked for Lithgow to some degree too.
I remember thinking “there is no way the dad from Malcolm in the Middle can do a dramatic series.” Wow, was I wrong.
@@drygnfyreI had no idea the dad in Malcolm was the dentist in Seinfeld before also being Walter White.
Whatley, Wilkerson, White, three consecutive Ws.
I'm glad you did this show. I remember seeing it and thinking about how weird the chemistry between Jason Alexander and Malcolm Jamal Warner was. MJW is a grossly underused actor in my opinion, btw. He almost always seems to be my favorite part of every show I see him in.
The reason for the curse is that Richards, Alexander and Louis-Dreyfus all assumed they could headline a show as the main character. Consider the great Phil Hartman who could have led any show he wanted but chose a co-starring role in the cult classic Newsradio. Consider Jerry Stiller who went on to co-star in the King of Queens for many seasons. Only Louis-Dreyfus was able to pull off shows centered around her talent - Richards and Alexander would have been fine if they had sought strong shows where they could star without making themselves the main attraction.
Has Arsenio Hall’s sitcom, Arsenio, been talked about yet? Similarly to The Michael Richards Show, Arsenio doesn’t have Arsenio Hall playing a character with the same first name as him.
Yaaas I remember really liking this show.
Me too!
Not a post-Seinfeld show, but Duckman was Jason Alexander best tv show.
FRIENDS was successful, but to say the show's stars became A-listers would be a lie.
That Penn & Teller appearance is a good reminder that the magnificent disaster Penn & Teller Get Killed was basically born to be a Forgotten Failures feature
There is kind of one "last sitcom" Jason Alexander have done. Last year Audio Up released the original scripted comedy podcast "Bedtime Stories from the Ingleside Inn" starring Jason Alexander as the hotelier Mel Harper. The podcast really gives the vibes of listening to a sitcom that would have been on TV in the early 2000's witch I love. It have only been one season and I don't know if there will be a season 2 but the 8 episodes that are out are great and worth your time.
Duckman video when??
Nancy Travis! 🦆
Glad thhe Seinfeld Curse Files is still going on to a degree, because I think the other videos were the first of your channel that I found and got me hooked.
What happened to your review of the Blazing Saddles TV pilot?
Do you still have the video?
Will you cover Sour Grapes (Larry David's directorial debut) as an offshoot of the Seinfeld Curse?
I think Jason Alexander is also a very underrated dramatic actor. He had a role as bad alien in Voyager as well as. A really creepy cult leader in CSI
I actually loved the show.
I wish it had more time to grow.
Great job on this!
Normal, Ohio? Never heard of that one
Oh yeah! More Curse Files!
Jason Alexander was great in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"... one of the best shows of the past ten years btw
Love this series. Keep it up
My mom used to watch this. She hated it, but it was on either before or after something else she liked on CBS' sitcom block so she often just let it play.
Can you make a Forgotten Failures on the show ¡ROB! the failed attempt from Rob Schneider to have his George Lopez style sitcom ?
Good suggestion!
@@HatsOffEntertainment Thanks, keep up the good work!
Fun fact, Rob was actually one of the highest rated shows to get canceled that season. Any other network would’ve killed for those numbers but they didn’t need it..
I used to watch this with my parents (when it was on) when I was a kid. I remember there being an episode where Jason Alexander and Malcolm Jamal-Warner were having a sleepover and Jason gets mad at Malcolm and he says something to the effect of: “YOU ARE GETTING NO TV OFF OF ME!”
Malcolm Jamal-Warner is so underrated
He deserves better than guilt by association with Pill ¢05b¥.
@@Attmay Definitely. Hope he gets cast in more stuff!
I was a fan of Listen Up when it was on. I was looking forward to this retrospective.
I always liked this show and watched during its original run. Even though it’s basically just a generic family sitcom, I was always fond of it and have rewatched episodes of it every few years.
The Seinfeld Curse Files is an excellent series of videos.
Suggestion for a Forgotten Failure: Powerless. A work sitcom set in the DC Universe that lasted 9 episodes before cancellation.