by Marlin Bressi

Created on: January 12, 2009

Ever since the television show "Seinfeld" ended in 1998, the debate has raged on over whether or not Jerry Seinfeld should star in another television series. Unfortunately, much to the chagrin of many fans, Mr. Seinfeld has made it clear in many interviews that he has no desire to return to the world of television sitcoms.

It has been years since Seinfeld has entertained us as a loveable but neurotic stand-up comic living in a Manhattan apartment, sharing adventures with his zany friends George, Elaine, and Kramer. Over a decade later, Jerry Seinfeld remains a neurotic stand-up comic, but he is no longer the loveable type. When he's not lending his voice to second-rate animated films, Mr. Seinfeld shows up as a guest on shows like Larry King, where he comes off as a smug and miserable entertainer who still likes to believe that he is on top of the world.

Well here's a newsflash, Mr. Seinfeld. It's 2009, and you haven't been relevant since your forgettable appearances in American Express commercials. While there's much to be said for going out on top, as you did when the Seinfeld series ended over a decade ago, it must be understood that in the world of television, out of sight means out of mind. It's one thing to go out on top if you are an athlete, as did Mario Lemieux or Michael Strahan, but retiring from television is a sufe-fire way to ruin a legacy which had taken years to build.

Surely it must bother Jerry Seinfeld knowing that the only cast members who were able to maintain a legitimate television career into the 21st century are those who only had bit parts in Seinfeld's series. Jerry Stiller, who played George Costanza's father, went on to be one of the stars of "King Of Queens". John O'Hurley, known to Seinfeld fans as J. Peterman, went on to host Family Feud. Patrick Warburton, who played Elaine's boyfriend in 11 episodes, is the voice of Joe Swanson on the hit animated series "Family Guy". Even Bryan Cranston, who played Jerry's dentist in 5 episodes of Seinfeld, went on to become a star as Hal on television's "Malcolm in the Middle".

Fate has not been so kind to the main characters of Seinfeld. Julia Louis-Dreyfus has starred in several small-screen bombs. Jason Alexander also has a history of starring in sitcom flops. Michael Richards got back into the news after making off-color remarks at a comedy club. And what about the alleged King of Comedy himself, the once-great Jerry Seinfeld? He's the voice of an animated insect in the mind-numbingly bad animated film "Bee Movie".

Jerry Seinfeld was once on top of the world, and ended his series under the guise of being able to get out while the getting was good. Perhaps he was right. Outside of "Seinfeld", none of the stars have produced anything remotely entertaining. If Mr. Seinfeld wants to believe that he went out on top, he has every right to do so. But the reality is that being the best comes along with the responsibility of having to prove it on a continual basis, something Jerry Seinfeld can only accomplish by returning to television.

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