The Seinfeld season 9 premiere, “The Butter Shave,” features an outlandish storyline in which Newman hallucinates that Kramer is a turkey, which was a tricky VFX shot for the crew to pull off. Seinfeld stars Jerry Seinfeld as a fictionalized version of himself, a New York comedian whose wacky antics with his friends inspire his standup material. In “The Butter Shave,” Jerry’s rivalry with hack comic Kenny Bania intensifies, Elaine embarks on a hellish transatlantic flight with David Puddy, and George pretends to be disabled to get preferential treatment at work – all while Kramer starts shaving with butter instead of shaving cream.
One day, when Kramer (Michael Richards) spreads butter all over his body and falls asleep in the sun, Newman (Wayne Knight) is enticed by the smell of a buttered Kramer. While Newman is sitting in Monk’s Café, a waitress brings out a buttery, freshly cooked turkey and Newman hallucinates that Kramer’s head is superimposed on the turkeys body. Since the series revolved around mundane everyday situations, it was rare for the Seinfeld crew to have to use elaborate visual effects technologies like blue screens and CGI. But the shot of Kramer as a turkey required some complex VFX work.
Seinfeld is arguably one of the most iconic and influential sitcoms of all time. One of the standout characters is the eccentric Cosmo Kramer played masterfully by Michael Richards. Kramer consistently delivers some of the most hilarious and unforgettable moments in the show’s history. One such scene occurs in the classic episode “The Butter Shave” where Kramer accidentally transforms into a turkey.
The Context Behind Kramer’s Poultry Predicament
In “The Butter Shave,” Cosmo Kramer discovers that butter makes for a remarkably smooth shaving cream. He starts applying butter all over his body, enjoying the silky feel it provides. Kramer then falls asleep sunbathing after covering himself in butter. This proves to be an egregious error, as the butter essentially fries into Kramer’s skin under the intense heat of the sun.
When Jerry and George encounter Kramer on the roof, he looks exactly like a cooked turkey. His pink, blistered skin resembles the pale plump flesh of a Thanksgiving bird. To complete the imagery the showrunners even superimposed a real turkey over Kramer and animated its wing to wave at his friends. This surreal scene is undoubtedly one of the most iconic snapshots from the show’s entire run.
Kramer – The Human Turkey
The visual of Kramer’s transformation into a turkey is etched in every fan’s memory. His bizarre predicament tickles the funny bone every time the episode replays Several factors make this unforgettable scene work so brilliantly
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Michael Richards’ commitment – Richards embraces the absurdity with gusto. His confused expressions and turkey-like mannerisms are comedy gold.
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Over-the-top concept – The ridiculous idea of literally morphing into a turkey is signature Seinfeld absurdism.
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Newman’s reaction – Wayne Knight’s hungry drooling adds a final comedic flourish.
Kramer’s turkey scene encapsulates the surreal, unexpected humor that makes Seinfeld so rewatchable. The show took an incredibly silly concept and executed it flawlessly to create an iconic moment.
The Wacky World of Kramer
While this scene stands out for its sheer absurdity, Kramer has numerous classic moments throughout the show’s run. Here are some of his other highlights:
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His hilarious seizures when exposed to Mary Hart’s voice.
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The time he adopts a highway and dictates his own traffic laws.
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His transformation into the mysterious “Assman” superhero.
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His insistence that Keith Hernandez spit on him and Newman after a Mets game.
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His chaos-induced levels in Risk, where he invades countries at random.
Kramer’s eccentric energy contrasts brilliantly with the cynical realism of George and Jerry. He adds an element of joyful surrealism that complements the show’s razor-sharp wit.
Kramer – An Unforgettable Character
Cosmo Kramer remains one of the most beloved sitcom characters ever. His popularity stems largely from his utter weirdness and enthusiastic embrace of life’s absurdities. Becoming a human turkey encapsulates Kramer’s appeal – hilarious, bizarre, unexpected, and perfectly executed.
The Butter Shave’s turkey scene crystallizes why Kramer is so iconic. His willingness to commit to ridiculous concepts with enthusiastic gusto makes for legendary comedy. Over 20 years later, Kramer as a turkey remains a timeless highlight of Seinfeld’s monumental cultural legacy.
Kramer’s Head Was Edited Onto A Turkey Via A Blue Screen
In the behind-the-scenes “Inside Look” DVD featurette for “The Butter Shave,” director Andy Ackerman explains how the Seinfeld crew pulled off the shot of Kramer as a turkey. When Newman hallucinates that Kramer is a turkey, Kramer turns his head, waves his turkey wing, and says, “Hey, buddy!” The producers made the wing wave to Newman by pulling a wire off-screen. To put Kramer’s head on the turkey, they laid actor Michael Richards in a particular position on a bluescreen table in front of a bluescreen backdrop so that they could superimpose Richards’s head onto the turkey.
Ackerman said, “It took a while to shoot it, and it probably lasted three seconds on-screen, but it was a really funny shot.” Ultimately, it was worth the effort to make this moment happen. The shot of Kramer as a turkey got a huge laugh from the studio audience and became one of Seinfeld’s most iconic visual gags. Not only is it a hilarious sight gag, but Kramer’s appearance as a turkey marked Seinfeld’s radical tonal shift after Larry David left the show. This moment helped to set the absurdist, cartoonish sensibility for the final season.
Seinfeld HD – Kramer Turns into a Turkey
FAQ
What episode is Kramer a turkey?
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“The Butter Shave”
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Episode no.
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Season 9 Episode 1
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Directed by
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Andy Ackerman
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Written by
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Alec Berg & Jeff Schaffer & David Mandel
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Production code
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901
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Why was Kramer a turkey on Seinfeld?
What is the most controversial episode of Seinfeld?
What ethnicity is Kramer in Seinfeld?
Is Kramer a Turkey on Seinfeld?
The Seinfeld season 9 premiere, “The Butter Shave,” features an outlandish storyline in which Newman hallucinates that Kramer is a turkey, which was a tricky VFX shot for the crew to pull off. Seinfeld stars Jerry Seinfeld as a fictionalized version of himself, a New York comedian whose wacky antics with his friends inspire his standup material.
Did Jerry Seinfeld dress up as a Turkey?
Jerry Seinfeld’s character Kramer is one of the most iconic and beloved figures in American television history. His wild antics, bizarre behavior, and over-the-top personality have made him a household name. But one of Kramer’s most memorable moments came in the episode “The Contest,” when he dressed up as a turkey.
What does Kramer say to Newman when he eats a Turkey?
When Newman is at the diner and the waitress brings a full turkey to the counter, he hallucinates that Kramer is the bird. The turkey version of Kramer waves his wing and says to a sweating Newman, “Hey, buddy.” Let’s take a look at how the “Seinfeld” crew brought this tech-savvy scene to life.
Why is Jerry’s Thanksgiving dinner with Kramer a classic Seinfeld episode?
Jerry’s Thanksgiving dinner with Kramer is a classic Seinfeld episode that is full of humor and memorable moments. The episode highlights Kramer’s unique personality and his ability to make even the most mundane situations chaotic. It also shows how Jerry and George’s friendship can withstand even the most trying circumstances.