‘Seinfeld’s’ Elaine on the Show’s Everlasting Appeal: “I’m Not Surprised”

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who played the quirky Elaine Benes on Seinfeld, says she’s not shocked that people still love the show 25 years after it ended. 

Seinfeld was about the hilarious adventures of four friends: Jerry Seinfeld (who played himself), George Costanza (Jason Alexander), Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards), and Elaine (Louis-Dreyfus). They became legends of the genre, and the sitcom has become a benchmark for other shows to follow.

Speaking to People, Louis-Dreyfus says that she’s not shocked that Seinfeld is still a hit. She’s glad that people are still enjoying the show and that new fans are discovering it. Here’s what Louis-Dreyfus says:

I think it’s incredibly cool that it continues to have life. I’m not surprised, because it’s funny, and it stands the test of time. ]

Elaine was the only one of the four main Seinfeld characters who didn’t show up in the first episode. She came in the second episode of season 1 because NBC wanted a female friend for Seinfeld. 

This turned out to be an excellent move for the show, as Elaine has become an iconic character within the Seinfeld cult.

Louis-Dreyfus had to push for Elaine to get more attention in the early seasons, but soon she was as important as Jerry, George, and Kramer. 

Elaine is often seen as witty and smarter than the others, but she also has a short fuse and bad luck with men. 

Like the rest of Seinfeld’s characters, her flaws get her into funny trouble with hilarious outcomes.

Seinfeld is still loved today for many reasons, and Elaine is a big part of the love. Without Louis-Dreyfus’ acting as Elaine, the series would have been a boys’ club, which may not have made it as unforgettable as it is today. 

Louis-Dreyfus’ Elaine is one of the many things that make Seinfeld a timeless classic, even 25 years after its goodbye episode.

About Seinfeld

Seinfeld is an American sitcom television series created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld. It aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, over nine seasons and 180 episodes. The show stars Seinfeld as a fictionalized version of himself who is the main protagonist and focuses on his personal life with three of his friends – George Costanza (Jason Alexander), former girlfriend Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), and neighbor across the hall Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards).