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Larry David gave two connected reasons for putting George Costanza on the Yankees’ payroll: he was a lifelong Yankees fan who once dreamed of working for the team, and he thought the club’s chaotic atmosphere suited George. In the sitcom, George became the assistant to the traveling secretary.
Why Larry David chose the Yankees
A childhood connection
David’s choice had a personal origin. He said he was a huge Mickey Mantle fan and imagined that, if he could not play center field for the Yankees, he might still work for the team in some capacity. He described the idea as “a kid’s fantasy.” The Spokesman-Review reported David’s explanation on April 9, 1996.
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Seinfeld: Complete Series Box Set (Repackage) ? DVD | $85.86 | Buy on Amazon |
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A job that suited George
The Yankees connection also worked as a character choice. David said, “It’s a chaotic place, and I thought George would fit in perfectly.” The team’s disorder offered a comic setting for a character who was himself often anxious, scheming and at odds with the people around him. David’s fandom explains why he chose the Yankees; George’s fit with the organization explains why the job worked in the story.
What George did for the team
George’s title was assistant to the traveling secretary. The role put him inside the Yankees organization without making him a player, which echoed David’s childhood idea of being connected to the club in some other capacity. MLB’s retrospective on George and the Yankees recounts the position and the show’s real-life Steinbrenner connection.
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How the real and fictional George Steinbrenners connected
George Steinbrenner, the Yankees’ real owner, was nearly part of the show’s on-screen wedding scene in “The Invitations.” The cameo was filmed but did not air; it was included among DVD extras, according to MLB’s account of the planned appearance. Larry David voiced the fictional Steinbrenner on the series. David said he drew on Steinbrenner’s speech patterns in televised interviews and newspaper quotations.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why Jason Alexander played George
George was based in part on David, but David did not consider playing him. In a 2015 Fresh Air interview, he said, “First of all, I never even spoke to him about it,” referring to Jason Alexander. David explained that writing and producing already demanded too much of his time, and that he and Jerry Seinfeld recognized Alexander as George after watching his audition tape. David recalled thinking, “There—there he is. This guy, this is the guy.” The NPR interview transcript preserves his account. Alexander has also discussed the character’s connection to David in a Television Academy oral-history interview.
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