John Schinnerer
Jun 20, 2024

Seinfeld may have more skeletons to haul out and rattle. Many decades ago at a theater festival, I saw several solo pieces by a talented young Hispanic writer/actor. One of his pieces was about the time he got cast for a bit part on the "Seinfeld" TV show. His part was a "pool boy" pool maintenance service worker. The part was written as what some at least would now consider unacceptable - a token and racist portrayal of a Hispanic service worker character. The young actor pushed back against that, suggested ways to give the part more dignity and less stereotyping. Seinfeld insisted it be played as written, as he, Seinfeld, wanted it (including with a broken-English Hispanic "accent"). I don't recall if the young actor quit, or was fired, but he refused to demean himself or the role to accommodate Seinfeld's racism.

John Schinnerer
John Schinnerer

Written by John Schinnerer

A generalist in a hyper-specialized society. "How we do what we do is who we are becoming." - Humberto Maturana

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