I like action figures. Unlike some collectors, I don’t focus on just a single line, like Transformers or GI Joe. I tend to get a little of everything, from Transformers, to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Super Mario, Wall-E, Walking Dead, Back to the Future, Lego minifigures, Marvel and DC, the Muppets, and Ghostbusters, just to name a few. I’m also a huge Seinfeld fan. Since it’s been in syndication for decades, the number of times I’ve seen every episode is in the double digits. I thought it only made sense to combine two of my favorite things.
Seinfeld, the show about nothing, is a cultural icon. Many sitcoms show their age over time, but Seinfeld is still mostly timeless. And, with the number of characters that spanned the 180 episodes, it would not be difficult to create an action figure line based on those characters.
These are my ideas of a possible action figure line, broken down by season, which I would use as “waves”.
Season 1
- Jerry
- Elaine
- George
- Kramer
- Helen Seinfeld
- Morty Seinfeld (Phil Bruns)
Season 1 was a very short season, only 5 episodes. And, there weren’t any really memorable one-off characters from this season. So, I figured we should get the main cast out of the way. In the first season, Jerry’s father Morty was played by actor Phil Bruns. This was Phil’s only appearance as Morty in the show. He was replaced by Barney Martin in season 2.
Season 2
- Alton Benes
- The Chinese restaurant maître d’
- Ray, the cleaning guy (with statue)
- Uncle Leo
- Jerry with suede jacket. Jacket could be water activated to show stains
- Stained chocolate shirt George
- Morty Seinfeld (Barney Martin)
Season 2 is another short season, albeit more than double the episodes of season 1. Still, the show hadn’t yet built the sable of characters we come to love. There are a couple of alternate styles for characters we’ve already seen in series 1, but for fans of the show, they should be some classic must haves.
Season 3
- Jack Klompus (with space pen)
- Naked subway guy
- Newman (first appearance, while he can be heard in episode The Revenge in season 2)
- Keith Hernandez
- Babu Bhatt
- Mr. Lippman
- Ping the Chinese food delivery boy
With season 3, we start to see more of the cast of characters we expect from Seinfeld. While Newman can be heard in season 2 (voiced by Larry David), we don’t actually get to see Jerry’s arch nemesis until season 3.
Season 4
- Joe Davola variant clown costume
- Susan Ross
- Russell Dalrymple
- Sidra
- Ruthie Cohen (Monk’s cashier)
- Estelle Costanza
- Frank Costanza
- Larry the Cook (Monk’s)
- Marla Penny the Virgin
Season 4 is actually the first time we see George’s parents, so if you were wondering why I haven’t included them until now, that’s why. In this season, we’re first introduced to Ruthie Cohen, the cashier at Monk’s. I chose to include her here because it is her first appearance. The alternative was to include her in season 7, for her work in the episode The Doll, but as you will see later on, season 7 is already pretty packed.
Season 5
- Puffy Shirt Jerry
- Jane, with squares to spare
- Laura the lip reader
- Mickey Abbott
- Poppie
- Lloyd Braun (Peter Keleghan)
- Tony the Mimbo
With season 5, we get another version of Jerry, but who wouldn’t want puffy shirt Jerry? We see several one-off characters here, but we also get Mickey, and Lloyd Braun.
Season 6
- Justin Pitt
- Kenny Bania
- Jimmy with shoes
- Frank Costanza with Fusilli Jerry
- David Puddy (with interchangeable face paint head)
- Tim Whatley
- Matt Wilhelm
- Nana Seinfeld
- Barbara “Babs” Kramer
- Mr. Morgan
Season 6 brings us numerous reoccurring characters. With such an action packed line up, I chose not to include the variants, Eye Patch Kramer, and Big Salad Elaine, but I couldn’t pass up Frank Costanza with Fusilli Jerry. We’re introduced to J. Peterman at the end of season 6, but with an already packed roster, I chose to exclude him until season 7, where he really hits his stride.
Season 7
- J. (Jacopo) Peterman
- Bob Cobb (The Maestro)
- The Soup Nazi
- Lloyd Braun (Matt McCoy)
- Sue Ellen Mischke (The Braless Wonder)
- Marisa Tomei
- Jackie Chiles
- Cedric (Ray) and Bob
- Mabel Choate with marble rye
- Rabbi Glickman
I think that season 7 is definitely the most star studded. We get Bob Cobb, the Soup Nazi, Jackie Chiles, Cedric and Bob, and Marisa Tomei playing herself.
Season 8
- Marcelino with Little Jerry and bounced clown check
- Mr. Marbles
- Jenna with toothbrush
- Jillian with man hands, lobster, and loaf of bread.
- Vincent from Champagne Video (with VCR play button)
- Brody with bootleg copies of Death Blow and Cry, Cry Again
- Wyck Thayer, Chairman of the Susan Ross Foundation
- Elaine in Cinco de Mayo apparel
Season 8 brings a few more of Jerry’s girlfriends. Jillian’s man hands would look excellent in action figure form. Marcelino and Brody are good characters, but I really think it’s the accessories that make these two figures. I thought about making Mr. Marbles just an accessory for another version of Jerry, but he really should be a character in his own right. I don’t think that Wyck Thayer is a strong character, but required for completion’s sake.
Season 9
- George with Frogger machine
- Franklin Delano Romanowski
- Mr. Kruger
- Mustache Jerry
- Darin the intern
- Izzy Mandelbaum
- “Fragile” Frankie Merman
- Sara Sidarides Pimple Popper M.D.
With the final season, we have already been introduced to some of the best characters the show has to offer. So, I feel like while this was a great season, we’re not seeing anything too amazing for the action figure line. Although, I think that Mr. Kruger might be one of my favorite characters.