‘Seinfeld’: Most Fans Agree This Is the 1 Worst Decision George Costanza Ever Made
Seinfeld may be one of the most popular, enduring sitcoms of all time, but that doesn’t mean the characters were likable. In fact, Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer seemed to intentionally make selfish choices to make themselves more reprehensible as the series went on.
And George Costanza (Jason Alexander) was perhaps the worst one of all. From episode 1 until the highly controversial series finale, Jerry’s best friend constantly acted in ways that could only be described as rude, petty, selfish, vindictive, and downright criminal.
Most fans of the show agree that one scene from season 5 was the worst moment of all.
George Costanza is based on a real person
A real person named Michael Costanza, who attended college with Jerry Seinfeld, sued the series creators for $100 million for copying his likeness without permission. He even said his high school gym teacher nicknamed him “can’t stand ya” like George on the show. But the Seinfeld showrunners insisted George is based on co-creator Larry David’s alter ego.
No matter where the inspiration came from, it’s true that George is a complicated person. He’s a gifted liar and manipulator who has “numerous psychological problems,” according to WikiFandom. These include, “sociopathy, narcissism, habitual lying, low self-esteem, sudden fits of anger, hypochondriasis, impulsive acts of ill-considered cheapness, selfishness, obsessiveness, living in fantasy.”
Somehow, George managed to date quite a few beautiful women. But he sabotaged all those relationships as audiences came to expect.
The 1 worst thing George ever did was acting selfishly, as usual
There are dozens of examples of George acting terribly on Seinfeld. But fans point to the time he tried to protect his own life in favor of an elderly person and children as the worst of all time.
It happened during “The Fire,” which was episode 20 of season 5. George is dating a woman with a son who invited him to the child’s birthday party. While there, a fire starts in the kitchen, prompting George to yell and push people out of the way as he tries to escape. The only problem? He’s pushing little kids and an elderly woman with a walker rather than trying to help them get out, too.
It’s clear George only cares about protecting himself, not about saving people more vulnerable. “How do you live with yourself?” a fireman chides him later. “It’s not easy,” George deadpans.
It’s a shocking thing to witness even on a fictional show. But then again, maybe not so surprising considering how selfish George was from the beginning.
Other memorable George Costanza moments
The fire fiasco is far from the only instance of George’s relentless selfishness.
Throughout the series, George feels relief at his fiancee’s death, fakes a disability to get a private bathroom at work, double dips potato chips, briefly engages in an incestuous act with his cousin, and constantly lies to get himself out of trouble. It’s a running gag on Seinfeld that George is the most skilled liar of them all.
By the series finale, the character of George hasn’t matured or learned anything. But that’s just how the series creators wanted it to go.
