James Spaderbriefly appeared in this iconic ’90s sitcom, but it was as masterful a performance as anything he’s done since.James Spader is an icon of moviesand television. His unique delivery and charming but sinister attitude suit him for comedic and dramatic roles. Even better is when he can tie the genres together.
Seinfeldwas a proving ground for a lot of up-and-coming actors of the era, and the list ofnotable guest stars inSeinfeldis third only toThe SimpsonsandSNL. While many of these guest characters only appear for an episode or two at a time, if they’re good, they’re memory lingers long afterward.
James Spader Plays A Childhood Friend Of George Costanza’s In Seinfeld Season 9
Jason Hanky Refuses To Offer George An Apology
James Spader played one of theseSeinfeldguest stars in season 9, episode 9, “The Apology”, as Jason Hanky, a childhood friend of George Costanza (Jason Alexander). George discovers that Jason, a recovering alcoholic once referred to as “Stanky Hanky”, has joined Alcoholics Anonymous and is going around making amends.
George, of course, is incensed when it turns out that Jason has no plans to apologize to George. Years previously, Jason refused to lend George his sweater at a party because Jason thought George would stretch out the sweater’s neck with his large head. It’s a fear that Jason stands by.
It’s a hilarious story in an episode filled with germophobes, shower dinners, and exhausting nudity.
James Spader Doesn’t Need A Lot Of Screen Time To Create A Memorable Character
Jason Hanky Is A Funny Foil For George
As in manySeinfeldepisodes, there are four storylines that don’t intersect until the end of the episode. Jason’s and George’s is the biggest of these storylines, but it still only amounts to about 7 minutes of the episode, and James Spader is only present in a fraction of even that.
James Spader and Jason Alexander previously appeared in the 1990 movieWhite Palacetogether.
However,even with that small amount of screentime, James Spader manages to create an indelible character. He’s the perfectly frustrating foil to George. He’s stubborn, confident, and completely unwilling to accept George’s side of events. His mild manner while doing so makes it all the funnier.
It’s even more hilarious to see towards the end of the episode when George’s needling actually seems to get to him. At the ice cream shop, Jason begins to lose his cool, snapping at an admittedly annoying customer.James Spaderonly has a few lines in theSeinfeldepisode, but it’s enough to make for a memorable character.
Seinfeld
Cast
Seinfeld is a television sitcom that follows stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his three eccentric friends, George, Elaine, and Kramer, as they navigate everyday life in New York City during the 1990s. Premiering in 1989, the series humorously explores the mundane and often trivial aspects of social interactions.
