One of the longest syndicated programs in TV history, NBC (even making the main cast over a billion dollars combined.) Jerry, George, and Elaine are no doubt integral parts of the show's popularity, but none were able to alter the face of pop culture as much as Cosmo Kramer, played by the effervescent Michael Richards.
Known for his multiple eccentricities — from returning bad fruit to his genius/kooky get-rich schemes — Kramer makes the show considerably more fun to watch. He has, nevertheless, performed acts of such blatant disregard for human decency that one might wonder if his character could possibly survive in today's world.
Kidnapping And Abandoning A Dog
This one is pretty high up on the totem pole of all the Newman (who is glad to help due to the stereotypical Canine-Postman relationship.)
Before leaving the dog somewhere in Monticello, it manages to tear out a tag from Kramer's shirt. The episode does not end well for the intrepid dog-nappers, as the cops soon trace the clothing tag back to them. This should have resulted in a far more serious penalty than what they got, but hey, it was the nineties.
The Eternal Bothering Of Jerry
To Jerry's constant chagrin, Kramer takes whatever he needs from his neighbor, including (but not exclusive to) food, groceries, drinks, appliances, and many more. He doesn't really care about his friend's privacy either — and Jerry is so private that he didn't want even Elaine moving upstairs — as he uses the emergency key with casual abandon.
It's almost like Kramer intentionally wants to hurt Jerry's feelings: he re all the times he was scolded for his behavior but continues to do it anyway. The reason is revealed, in The Betrayal, as Jerry's apparent fault for telling Kramer "what's mine is yours" on the day they first meet.
Affording His Apartment
Although Kramer can mostly be found at Jerry's apartment, his own place is shown a few times. Their building is on West 81st Street, in the posh Upper West Side of Manhattan. Apartments in this location are currently rented out for thousands of dollars a month, and even a couple of decades ago the place couldn't have been cheap.
Considering that Kramer has no job, nor does he really find success with most of these wacky ideas, it is nearly impossible that he would be able to afford the rent for his place. In fact, when George questions him about his earnings, he simply says, "I get by". This raises all sorts of doubts and red flags as to his sources of income.
Coffee Table Book Of Coffee Tables
There is no possible universe in which such an idea would be considered by publishers today; to be sure, it is unlikely that it would have worked then as well.
Nevertheless, for sitcom purposes, Kramer's inspiration manifests itself into reality when Pendant Publishing, Elaine's company, agrees to buy the rights for the Coffee Table Book Of Coffee Tables (With Coffee Table Legs.) The gag is pushed to breaking point when Kramer is sent on a "book tour" where he ruins it for himself by humiliating Kathie Lee Gifford on television.
So Many Legal Fiascos
Kramer is the essence of America, in that he is extremely litigious. He tries to sue Calvin Klein for ripping his marine-scented idea, The Beach, and rebranding it into CK's Ocean; and also goes after coffee and tobacco companies for ruining his body/appearance.
None of his attempts work out, but at least they were considered in that time (by his over-enthusiastic lawyer, Jackie Chiles.) Considering how far behind NYC's judicial system presently is, most of Kramer's suits and counter-suits would be thrown back in his face (before he is thrown out himself.)
How Do Women Even Find Him Attractive?
It is as yet a complete mystery how Kramer manages to date women (let alone the fact that they are willing to be seen near him, let alone becoming obsessed.) In one instance, he literally stole Susan's girlfriend, Mona, away from her, proving that he can somehow flip someone's sexuality? A ridiculous notion.
His other relationships also seem too far-fetched, what with Connie trying to "get rid of his body" when he was in deep sleep, or when Kramer doesn't even react to Chelsea's murder by The Smog Strangler, because he "wasn't looking for a long-term relationship."
Brings "Cubans" Into The Country
Kramer has had a weakness for Cuban cigars ever since George lets him have a taste of the illegal delicacy. In The English Patient, he asks Jerry to get him some Cubans from Florida — who turn out to be actual people from Cuba. Kramer's plan is to have these people roll him some fresh cigars.
Setting aside the sheer unlawfulness of this act, this act is extremely unethical as well (bordering on human trafficking.) Most importantly, the state of immigration has since changed, and how, meaning that attempting to do such a thing now would be utter folly.
Getting The Gang Into Trouble
Nobody is safe from the disaster that is Kramer, not George, Elaine, and certainly not Jerry. It remains a mystery how he manages to keep his friendships going after putting them through the fires of literal hell. In one instance, he gets Jerry and George humiliated by a mall security guard for urinating in the parking garage (with his encouragement!), and also gets Elaine's pet fish killed in the same episode.
In The Cartoon, Kramer takes a "vow of silence" for the mess he causes between Jerry and George's girlfriend, Sally. This obviously lasts for that single episode, and by the end, he is spilling all of Jerry's secrets to Sally for her one-woman show: Jerry Seinfeld, The Devil.
Ignorance Of Political Correctness
In The Nose Job, Kramer tells George's perfect girlfriend to get, well, a nose job. This faux pas is perhaps forgivable, given that Audrey herself brushes it off, but that is far from what the Hipster Doofus is capable of. In The Lip Reader, Kramer claims that he has learned American Sign Language from allegedly having a "deaf cousin."
Unfortunately, he is terrible at it, translating "sweep with" as "sleep with" (which results in inevitable consequences for George.) This behavior of his is rather disconcerting, not mention broadly insulting towards people with hearing impairment.
Being Michael Richards
The main thing about Kramer that would absolutely not fly today (and didn't when it happened in 2006) is actor Michael Richards overtly racist ranting. During one of his shows, Richards responded to heckling with racist language.
When told that he wasn't being funny, he responded with an even greater escalation of racial slurs. Although he has since apologized profusely, claiming that he stupidly planned to alleviate the situation by being more scandalous, this sort of attitude is not what fans expect from a star of his caliber. As mentioned, it was seen as shameful then and would be seen as shameful now.