http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/11/19/people.seinfeld.ap/index.html Seinfeld's puffy shirt in Smithsonian Joins Archie Bunker's chair, Fonzie's jacket Friday, November 19, 2004 Posted: 2:42 PM EST (1942 GMT) WASHINGTON (AP) -- Move over, ruby slippers. That puffy shirt's moving in. The outlandishly unfashionable shirt worn by Jerry Seinfeld on his hit TV show went on display Friday at the Smithsonian, alongside Kermit the Frog, Archie Bunker's chair and Dorothy's magic slippers from "The Wizard of Oz." At the end of its nine-season run, "Seinfeld" -- the "show about nothing" -- left lots of well-loved lines but few tangible relics suitable for enshrinement in the National Museum of American History. Thus, The Puffy Shirt, which appeared briefly in a single episode. What makes that bit of wardrobe so memorable is that it serves as an icon, not only of "Seinfeld" but American popular culture. "It looks funny and it sounds funny, and that's a good combination for a joke," Seinfeld told The Washington Post at a donation ceremony Thursday night. Before the puffy shirt episode aired in 1993, Seinfeld said, he had no idea it would become a classic. On the air from 1989 until 1998, "Seinfeld" won 10 Emmy Awards and was TV Guide magazine's pick for the greatest show of all time. In episode No. 66, comedian Jerry nods politely even though he can't make out what his pal Kramer's girlfriend is asking -- she's a "low talker." Later to his horror, he learns he's agreed to wear the goofy, puffy shirt she designed when he appears on the "Today" show. The white shirt, looking like a pirate's ruffled nightmare, was designed in real life by the show's costumer, Charmaine Simmons. "This might be the first joke inducted into the Smithsonian Institution," Seinfeld noted.
That's pretty cool...They need to put "Kramerica" products in there too...Don't forget Little Jerry S, the rooster...
I would have put the "smelly BMW" in there. Maybe Jerry's Saab. Or the "Ted Danson" plane from the last episode. Of the rigshaw or the "man purse" or George's Timberlans
What about fucili Jerry? Nevermind. That might be a little dirty... What about that painting of Kramer?
No prob. Here he is at the end of that ep. The sequence where the hat gets blown off the lady and he pics it up and then starts walking down the street like a pimp is the funniest **** I've ever seen.
I think they should have displayed "The Bro" Kramer's pimp outfit was the coat from "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," and the Smithsonian probably will give that its own display if and when it creates a display for musicals. They could also have used the coat that Jerry wore in the restaurant, took home with him accidentally, lost and then found (but not before accusing some Gypsy musician/performance artist - with a similar jacket - of stealing his).
My mom had the scooter that George used when he was "handicapped". It ended up being more cumbersome than just walking around is for her (with the loading and unloading into her van). They had to gut it of all its parts so that he could pick it up and run with it (he had it put back together to send to her b/c the show had no further use for it and they couldn't lease it b/c they had to disassemble it). She ended up giving it to a charity auction, I think.
Or they could induct the suede jacket of Jerry's that got ruined when he went to dinner with Elaine, George, and Austin Benes. Or how about the bra that Sue Ellen Mischke was asked to try on in court by Jackie Chiles?
