Jerry Seinfeld Was Once Kicked Out Of The Real Soup Nazi's Line After The Episode Aired

What is your favorite 'Seinfeld' episode? For me, it's when Kramer finds the old Merv Griffin Show set and hosts a talk show in his apartment. My all-time moment is when zoologist Jim Fowler asks, "Where are the cameras?"

The Hollywood Reporter has a new article about how 30 years ago, Seinfeld writer Spike Feresten created a TV icon when he wrote the 'Soup Nazi' episode. He was inspired by the real-life soup Manhattan chef Al Yeganeh, who refused him service when he visited his shop and was turned away.

Feresten remembered the cultural moment after the episode aired: “The next morning, it was all over the New York media. It’s still the thing I’m known for. It’s always Soup Nazi.”

Yeganeh was last seen in 2017 when his shop went bankrupt, and his whereabouts are unknown: “I haven’t read any epitaphs. I like to believe he’s out there somewhere, traveling the world, collecting recipes," Feresten says.

Feresten also talked about the iconic moment Jerry Seinfeld visited the soup shop after the episode aired: “He walked up, ordered, and the guy did a triple take — not a double take, a triple take. Then the Soup Nazi exploded, yelling at Jerry in full view of the packed line, who got the show of a lifetime." Jerry then sent an assistant to get his soup. "No one tells Jerry, ‘No soup for you.’ ”

Actor Larry Thomas, who played the Soup Nazi, turned his appearance into a lifetime of income, which he explained in an interview with Jane Wells: "I just got cast and I'm getting paid $2,610, which is top of show, whatever that means. That was the most they would pay any guest-star. And that includes like Bette Midler who guest-starred on an episode of Seinfeld."

"Put it this way, since 2003 I have made a pretty decent living doing nothing but autograph shows, personal appearances, and then, finally, Cameo. In the year 2020, when all my friends were hurting bad [due to the global pandemic], I made more money than I've ever made in my life. And I wrote that in an email to Jerry. And his response to me was, 'What a wonderful thing to hear. I'm so glad that perfect performance you did all those years ago is still serving you.' He goes, 'Any work is good work in this crazy business of ours.' Wasn't that sweet?"

What is your favorite 'Seinfeld' scene? Comment below with your thoughts.

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Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Photo Credit: NBC