In 2021, Seinfeld by reportedly paying over $500 million. The spiritual predecessor to most modern-age sitcoms, Seinfeld's contributions to the modern lexicon, via various Seinfeldisms, and the art of physical comedy are a hot topic among its proactive fanbase on the internet.
Whilst Seinfeld's four - Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer were articulate wordsmiths, the K-Man one went a step further to convey humor using his body. Since there are numerous K-Man pratfalls and physical gags on Seinfeld, s on Reddit took to the site to explain which ones deserve the most praise.
The Bag Of Concrete
The main plot of "The Revenge" deals with Jerry's bad money management and Kramer's evil genius. Jerry suspects his local laundromat owner, Vic, of stealing $1500, and Kramer suggests they stuff cement down one of his machines. Kramer, obviously takes the lead, while Jerry tries his best to keep Vic engaged as a cacophony of sounds emerges from the machine area.
The physical comedy montage that's made mostly of Kramer's pratfalls and tripping is hilarious indeed. The K-Man's grapple with a giant bag of white cement happens to be Redditor yexomj's favorite. They write, "Watching him [Kramer] wrestle the bag of concrete into the dryer gets me every time." They are correct since the brilliance of the scene resonates beyond the episode's script and establishes that physical comedy is Richards' core acting technique.
Leg Clearing The Table Motion
In "The Label Maker," Kramer and Newman spend six hours playing a game of Risk. Since Newman works a job, they decide to keep the board game at Jerry's so neither of them tampers with it.
The walk up to Jerry's apartment features Kramer holding the board game with Newman behind. The K-Man uses his right leg to clear the newspapers off jerry's table and puts the board down in one smooth motion. This physical comedy bit is Redditor Kramer's best moments of physical comedy in Seinfeld.
Kramer Vs. Vittorio
A memorable physical comedy bit lies in "The Calzone" which also happens to be among Seinfeld's best episodes about work. As it's seen, George enlists Kramer's help to pick up Mr. Steinbrenner's lunch from Paisano's, and the latter walks to the restaurant in rainy weather. He has his clothes dried and thus, burnt in the pizza oven and tries to pay Vittorio in change who instantly rejects. The back and forth babbling ends with Kramer stomping the countertop with his right leg.
Redditor engine-beer simply states, "Stomping the table at the calzone place" is their favorite. The bit is memorable because it demonstrates Michael Richards' immaculate strength and timing, which in turn heighten the comedic effect of the joke.
Not On J. Peterman's Watch
Chaos ensues when in "The Shower Head" Jacopo Peterman assumes Kramer is trying to score drugs off of Elaine. Without giving Kramer a chance to explain himself, Peterman grabs him and shoves him out. Kramer's spin from the impact provides comic relief in an already hilarious setting, and his look of bewilderment is unforgettable.
Though Peterman does most of the work in the scene, it's Kramer's pratfalls that steal the show. So, viewers wholeheartedly agree with jmiz5 when they say, "...Peterman slams the door in his [Kramer's] face in th [sic] office because Elaine started testing positive for opium."
The Back Scratch
To Redditor chicagrown the physical comedy in, "the episode where he [Kramer] is itchy and gets that girl friend [sic] to scratch him…" is the best.
The story has a bit of background. When Kramer needs a back scratch in "The Pie," the Monk's cashier, Olive offers help. Her long, sharp fingernails help relieve his itch, and quite amusingly, back-scratching is the genesis of their romance. The K-Man is relieved and conveys his pleasure using the most ostentatious display of twists and turns with quick writhing movements. It's no wonder why Olive is one of Kramer's best love interests on Seinfeld and the hilarious scratching scene is a favorite among the Redditors.
Kramer Models For Calvin Klein
To Redditor DuckDrunkLove, Kramer "Strutting around in his whitey tighties at the Calvin Klein office and falling over on that rounded wall is always hilarious."
In this zany Seinfeld scene that fans love to watch over and over, Kramer learns CK has put out a new perfume based on his idea of beach-scented cologne. He storms into Calvin Klein's office in anger and walks out with an underwear modeling contract. Although unintentional, Kramer's strut and physique impress the boss man and the executives. Although he trips, he gets up instantly, smiles nervously, and provides instant comedic relief in an otherwise awkward situation.
Neon Sign Shine
When the red light bouncing off an unusually large chicken sign shines right into Kramer's apartment, he winds up switching places with Jerry. Due to the red glare, Kramer displays some eccentric mannerisms, such as leaning almost parallel to the ground.
This piece of physical comedy is Redditor Jamstahh's favorite bit and they say, "When he [Kramer] opens Jerry's door and leans back almost parallel to floor because of the red chicken light." Kramer keeps his silence and lets his body do the talking, thereby adding another layer to his hilarious and unforgettable reaction.
An Armoire For Elaine
Elaine's shoves were an expression of excitement and disbelief, and it so happens that "The Soup Nazi," features one of her most hilarious pushes in all of Seinfeld. Reddit S1REN_CHARMS' vividly recalls, "When he [Kramer] tells Elaine that he got that piece of furniture from the soup Nazi. She yells “get out!” And pushes him through the door."
Elaine shoves Kramer after leaning he got her an armoire from Yev Kassem, aka the man she earlier referred to as the Soup Nazi. The K-Man falls on his back and the rest of the conversation continues with just Elaine in the scene. This unique piece is a universal favorite thanks to the duo's rat-a-tat timing and chemistry.
Helen's Hand Lotion
Redditor ahmed_shah_massoud recalls the side-splittingly funny pratfall from the episode "The Raincoats," which features the Seinfelds visiting Jerry. They write, "..when he [Kramer] borrows some of helen’s [sic] hand lotion and then falls over when his hand slips off the doorknob."
Whilst the slip is caused due to Helen's luxurious lotion, the exaggerated pratfall is Michael Richard's doing. George shoots him a look and he perfectly continues to execute his physical comedy without so much as shrieking.
David Puddy's Painted Face
Kramer experiences a sudden and strong body jolt when he sees David Puddy's painted face in "The Face Painter." Kramer's reaction is Redditor BrettFavresJeans' favorite, and they simply state, "When he [Kramer] walks in and Puddy is right there with his face paint."
As it's seen, Kramer, Jerry, Elaine, and her boyfriend, David Puddy, who's a New Jersey Devils fan, catch a Stanley Cup playoff game. Though Kramer's reaction barely lasts 3 seconds, he pulls off the physical humor, thanks to his dexterity and timing. It's impressive how Michael Richards, conveys shock and surprise without using any words whatsoever.