RIP: Len Lesser

From AP:

Len Lesser, the veteran character actor best known for his scene-stealing role as Uncle Leo on "Seinfeld," died Wednesday. He was 88. Lesser's family said in a statement that he died in Burbank, Calif., from cancer-related pneumonia. "Heaven got a great comedian and actor today," his daughter, Michele, said in the statement. "The outpouring of sympathy we've already received has been amazing and is so greatly appreciated. Thank you to all the people who helped make my father's last journey special and surrounded with love." Lesser's lengthy list of television credits included parts on "Get Smart," "That Girl," "The Munsters," "The Monkees," "The Rockford Files," "thirtysomething," "ER," and "Everybody Loves Raymond," which featured Lesser in a recurring role as the arm-shaking Garvin. His film credits included "Outlaw Josey Wales," "Kelly's Heroes," "Birdman of Alcatraz" and "Death Hunt." He most recently appeared on the TV drama "Castle." He is survived by his daughter, Michele; son, David; daughter-in-law, Julie; and grandchildren, Jonathan, Kayla, and Mayah.

Here are some great scenes.

From the NY Daily News:

"I'll never forget when Uncle Leo was in prison and tattooed 'Jerry Hello' on his knuckles," (Jerry) Seinfeld said in the statement, adding that Lesser was "a very sweet guy" and that the cast "always loved having him on the show."

The sentiment was repeated by "Seinfeld" cast member Jason Alexander, who took to Twitter to pay tribute to the native New Yorker.

"Len was a tremendous guy," he tweeted. "He was a smart actor/comedian who knew exactly what he was doing in the creation of Uncle Leo."

Alexander praised Lesser for his "humble" behavior on set and issued condolences to his family.

"Hellooo Uncle Leo," he signed off. "And goodbye. Sleep well. Much love."

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Jailhouse Crock

This is not from the Onion; this is from the Orange County Register:

Festivus may only come around once a year – more often if you watch Seinfeld reruns – but longtime county inmate Malcolm Alarmo King was able to celebrate it three times a day while locked up at the Theo Lacy jail in Orange.

King’s quest for a healthier eating option while behind bars ended with a county lawyer forced to research the origin of Festivus and its traditions and a Superior Court judge recognizing the holiday – which lodged its place in pop culture on an episode of Seinfeld – as a legitimate religion.

The menu selection at Theo Lacy apparently didn’t please King, 38, when he was booked into the jail on drug charges in April...

So King, who is also suspected of being in the country illegally from Liberia, asked for kosher meals.

That was not because of his religion, but because they were healthier – and the 5′8″ 180 lb King wanted double portions to maintain his physique, said his attorney, Fred Thiagarajah.

Judge Derek G. Johnson signed off... .

Judge Johnson pulled King’s lawyer and the prosecutor aside and said he needed a religion to put down on the order to make it stick, explained Thiagarajah.

“I said Festivus,” said Thiagarajah. The order was granted – three non-salami meals a day.

County Counsel researched Festivus, arguing the holiday was the creation of writer Dan O’Keefe to celebrate his first date with his wife in 1966. The holiday was introduced to the world by his son Daniel, a screenwriter for Seinfeld, who wrote it into the show...

Gather 'round the Festivus pole and read more here.

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This Season, Beat The Holiday Crowds With Your Very Own Festivus Pole!

This Sunday: Curb Your Enthusiasm's Seinfeld Finale.

There's Never "Too Much Larry."

Season 7 debuted tonight.

Pretty, pretty, pretty, good...

I Can't Curb My Enthusiasm.

"It's not TV, it's HBO."

No, it's TV...

The funniest show on TV--Curb Your Enthusiasm--returns September 20 with all four of Larry David's Seinfeld cronies lined up to carry the season's story arc.

I don't go to my high-school reunions, but this is one get-together that I'm actually interested in...

From Newser.com:

So what are Kramer, George, Jerry, and Elaine up to 11 years after Seinfeld went off the air? Larry David says fans can get an idea of how the characters turned out on the seventh season of his Curb Your Enthusiasm on HBO, reports the (Newark, NJ) Star-Ledger. He shed more details today on the season's main storyline, which will revolve around a show-within-a-show Seinfeld reunion. Jerry Seinfeld and the others will appear in about five episodes of Curb each, though not necessarily together every time.

"For years, I've been asked about a Seinfeld reunion," David told a press tour of TV critics. The real-life David always refused. "Then I thought it might be very funny to do that on Curb. And I kept thinking about it." So if the real David didn't think it was a good idea, why is his TV alter-ego signing on? "That's a very good question, and that will be answered within the show."

Was he always such a master of his domain?

It's A Festivus Miracle!

From Evilbeetgossip.film.com:

Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Michael Richards have begun filming for their multi-episode reunion that will air on Curb Your Enthusiasm when it finally returns to HBO this Fall.

Julia is quoted as saying, “It was really fun to get together with everybody. Frankly, it was as if we never left.”

And there’s more fun to come. “We’re shooting again this month and in May,” she said. “We have a lot more work to do.”

No surprise, everyone has been sworn to secrecy…

Louis-Dreyfus can’t even reveal if they’re riffing on their legendary Seinfeld characters. “I really can’t say,” she said. “I’m sorry. I would if I could, but I’m not allowed.”

Altar Reality.

I have never watched a reality TV show.

Sure, I've flipped channels and landed on Survivor or American Idol, but I've never stayed.

Why would I?

A week or two ago, I answered a Craigslist ad. The poster was looking for a "blogger/marketing" person, and it so happened that it was for some guy who was once on one of these shows, and had since carved out a niche as an "expert." He is a pure Hollywood type; he has a Playmate wife, and he probably doesn't eat lunch as much as do it.

So I talked to the guy. The first sentence out of his mouth was, "A lot of people think I'm looking for a blogger." Well, I thought, that's exactly the wording of the ad, so--yeah--I'm thinking he's looking for a blogger. He went on to describe his needs and his project, and said he was really looking for someone who was "passionate" about "reality."

Look, I love reality. But "reality?"

Anyway,  I listened to his pitch, and after I hung up, I burst out laughing.

Did I mention the reason that I've never watched a reality TV show? Do I have to mention the reason why I've never watched a reality TV show?

I didn't think so.

Which brings me to Jerry Seinfeld.

Now Seinfeld I've watched. I still do, faithfully--its reruns oddly never turning stale on me. Part of the genius of that show is that the "Jerry" character is actually the least interesting of the ensemble. That, and the brilliant comedic mind of co-creator Larry David, of course.

Now what the hell do these two seemingly disparate TV forms have to do with each other? 

 

From THR.com: 

Jerry Seinfeld is reteaming with NBC to launch his first reality series.

The comedian's project is tentatively called "The Marriage Ref" and features celebrities, comedians and athletes who will judge couples in the midst of marital disputes while recommending various strategies to resolve their problems.

Seinfeld is partnering with "The Oprah Winfrey Show" veteran Ellen Rakieten on the project, which reunites the comedian with the network that aired his hit sitcom "Seinfeld" for nine years.

NBC co-chair Ben Silverman said Seinfeld pitched the show as a companion piece of sorts to his classic sitcom. The comedian increasingly has used married life for material in his stand-up act. So while being a bachelor inspired "Seinfeld," the comedian's married years will inspire his unscripted program.

"Some of the greatest comedies in the history of television have been around marriages," Silverman said. "The concept is so universal and accessible, and obviously it works so well when it comes from somebody with a point of view -- and nobody has a stronger point of view on this subject than Seinfeld."

Six one-hour episodes have been ordered for a planned fall release.

I will actually give this a try. I may not stay until the closing credits, but I'll probably make it at least until the first commercial break.

Not that there's anything wrong with that...