NEW YORK (AP) — “Seinfeld” fans are getting an open invitation into Jerry’s apartment.
Hulu has teamed up with production shop Magnetic Collaborative to remake Jerry Seinfeld’s TV apartment for the iconic show’s Wednesday release of all nine seasons on the streaming video service.
Hulu created a free memorabilia museum with the world-famous Upper West Side apartment relocated in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. “Seinfeld” lovers can walk through a real-life model of the apartment and see different set items such as the Monk’s Cafe table and booth, the Festivus Pole and George Costanza’s photo shoot set from different episodes. There is also a canvas “brick wall” full of signatures from the show’s many stars, guests and crew.
Larry Thomas, who played the memorable Soup Nazi, believes “Seinfeld” remains popular because of the show’s relationships and the crazy situations its main characters — Jerry, Kramer, Elaine and George — found themselves in.
“What ‘Seinfeld’ really was about was these people, the way they treat each other, the way they treat the world and, you know, the way the world treats them, and it had nothing to do with the ’90s or the technology or some of the other things,” Thomas said.
Executive producer and co-creator Larry David later created and starred in the HBO series “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” The ’90s sitcom was a ratings success during its NBC run from 1989 to 1998, and “TV Guide” named it the greatest television program of all time in 2002.
“When humor is this finely crafted it never gets old,” Thomas said. “The mark of good comedy is that you still laugh when you know the punch line. It goes right up there with ‘I Love Lucy’ and ‘Honeymooners,’ things that people can watch over and over again and still laugh.”
Thomas appeared as a mean and very particular soup chef in season seven. His character would shout, “No soup for you!” to anyone who did not order correctly. He said the character became much bigger than he expected, and remains the role that gets him the most recognition from fans young and old.
“Some people will go, ‘Oh, you are the Soup Nazi,’ and then they will proceed to tell me that they have never seen ‘Seinfeld,'” Thomas said.
The pop-up exhibit is open through Sunday at Milk Studios. Admission is free.
