Every Monday on Boston Public Radio, TV expert Bob Thompson gives his take on the best and worst TV moments of the week. This week, however, Thompson comemorated comedian Jerry Stiller, who died Monday at age 92.
Thompson recounted a few high points of the comedian’s decades-long career, spanning from his days in a comedy duo alongside wife Anne Meara, to his role as Arthur Spooner on “King of Queens.”
But none of Stiller's roles are likely have as lasting a cultural impact, Thompson said, as his celebrated performance as the chaotic, eternally high-strung Frank Costanza on “Seinfeld."
“The New York Times obituary pointed out … he was in fewer than 30 episodes of the 180 episodes — so less than a sixth of that show,” he said. “[But] when you think of Seinfeld, [Jerry] Costanza is certainly near the top of the list.”
Bob Thompson is the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture and a Trustee Professor of Television and Popular Culture at the Newhouse School of Public communications at Syracuse.
