It’s hard to picture anyone other than Tony Shalhoub playing Adrian Monk. But long before he nailed the role of the San Francisco-based detective in the hit 2002 series ‘Monk,’ the actor almost joined a completely different iconic television universe.
Back in the early 1990s, he came surprisingly close to landing a main role on ‘Seinfeld.’ While he eventually found massive success anyway, this move that could have completely changed his career trajectory years before his most famous role in ‘Monk.’
Tony Shalhoub Lost Major ‘Seinfeld’ Role To Jason Alexander
It seems like Tony Shalhoub was born to play a smart detective with obsessive compulsive disorder. But before he appeared on ‘Monk,’ he almost secured the part to play George Costanza on ‘Seinfeld.’ To some, it may sound shocking because rumors mainly tied him to the role of Cosmo Kramer.
Related: The Surprising Story Behind Susan Ross’s Death On ‘Seinfeld’
But during his latest appearance on Today, Shalhoub clarified that he auditioned to play George and why it didn’t work out. “I auditioned for George Costanza…I’ll tell you what happened, Jason Alexander happened. I can’t tell you how many roles I’ve lost to Jason Alexander.”
With their roots in theater acting, both Alexander and Shalhoub had a reputation for playing eccentric and sarcastic characters. Back to the hit sitcom, Alexander landed the part. Meanwhile, Shalhoub had to wait a little over a decade to find his own runaway success with ‘Monk.’
It turned out to be one of the most successful detective comedy series, running for eight seasons on the USA Network. It ended with ‘Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie,’ a mystery comedy movie that arrived on Peacock in 2023.
The show starred Shalhoub as Adrian, a private investigator alongside Bitty Schram and Traylor Howard, who played his assistants, Sharona Fleming and Natalie Teeger, respectively. Shalhoub’s character cooperates with the San Francisco Police Department in solving unusual cases in the search for his wife’s murderer.
Moreover, the show also explores the main characters’ personal lives and struggles. It received eight Emmy Awards, one Golden Globe Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. While Shalhoub lost the role in ‘Seinfeld’ to Alexander, he wasn’t the only candidate.
Casting Of George Costanza And Michael Richards’ Connection
While chatting on Inside of You With Michael Rosenbaum in November 2021, Jason Alexander named some of the “gazillion people” who were considered for George Costanza. These included Chris Rock, Danny DeVito, and Paul Shaffer.
In Case You Missed It: Danny DeVito Turned Down A ‘Seinfeld’ Role That Later Became One Of TV’s Most Iconic Characters
Moreover, the star of ‘In Living Color,’ David Alan Grier, shared that he bombed the audition for George. Ultimately, Alexander’s portrayal of George is considered one of the greatest and most iconic comedic performances in television history.
He brilliantly conveyed the character’s neurotic, insecure, and flawed personality. He combined a deep selfishness with a vulnerable ego that makes his numerous failures funny and oddly relatable. Also, Tony Shalhoub had another connection to the world of ‘Seinfeld.’
He didn’t only share similarities with Alexander but also with Michael Richards, who played Kramer. Yep, ABC initially developed ‘Monk’ for Richards, but he didn’t want to be a part of the project. “I had ‘Seinfeld’ and wasn’t able to think ahead in how we could put that into development,” he said.
Richards’ decision ultimately left the door open for Shalhoub’s Emmy-winning turn on ‘Monk.’ Meanwhile, ‘Seinfeld’ first aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998. It consisted of nine seasons totaling 180 episodes.
Its ensemble cast stars Seinfeld as a fictional version of himself, and he deals with his personal life alongside three friends. These were his best friend George (Alexander), former girlfriend Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), and eccentric neighbor Kramer (Richards).
Considering this interesting casting game, things have taken their proper course for both stars. Alexander gave us television’s ultimate self-sabotaging neurotic, while Shalhoub created a multi-Emmy-winning role of TV’s brilliant detective.
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