Seinfeld: 10 Hidden Details You Never Noticed About Jerry’s Apartment

For nine splendid, sardonic seasons, television viewers watched the lives of comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his friends Kramer, George, and Elaine fall apart and come back together again on Seinfeld. Jerry’s Manhattan apartment served as one of the main meeting places for the gang, much like the coffee shop in Friends or the study hall in Community. A fairly consistent, iconic dwelling, the layout of 129 W 81st Street has been examined and assessed by television fans all over the world.

In fact, the streaming service Hulu recreated this space for fans in 2015, giving them an opportunity to survey the fictional home of the fictional comedian played by Seinfeld. The geographic legacy of Seinfeld spans the entire city of New York, but Jerry’s apartment is ground zero. Here are 10 details fans may have missed about Jerry’s abode.

10 His Apartment Number Changes

Fans love to locate and highlight inconsistencies in their favorite shows, and many have written about Jerry’s rotating apartment number. In one episode, it actually says 411 outside his door, while in another it says 3A. Throughout most of the series, though, his apartment number is 5A.

What is that all about? Most likely a continuity error, but it’s fun to contemplate. Jerry’s neighbor and nemesis Newman also has a rotating apartment number and location. In one episode, it’s noted he lives in 5F, but in other episodes, he occupies 5E.

9 In The Pilot Episode, Jerry Has A Leather Couch

In the pilot episode of Seinfeld, Jerry decorates his living room with a large, gray leather couch. The space also includes a dartboard and a Mets poster.

It’s unknown exactly why Jerry has different decor in subsequent episodes, but the blue denim couch and matching chair are much more aesthetically pleasing than a 1980s leather couch. The couch acts as a divider between the living room and dining area, where a small circular table sits.

8 The Furniture Was Really Hard And Uncomfortable

Jerry’s couch and chair set were specially designed for the show. Instead of a normal furniture set, Jerry’s was actually quite hard and uncomfortable.

The reason? Instead of making the actors pull themselves up from soft, cushy furniture they sink into, harder furniture allowed them to jump up with ease. Doing this avoided awkward transitions from the furniture to a standing position.

7 There’s A Vintage Porsche Poster

Jerry is a pretty typical heteronormative American male who loves baseball, cars, and women. His apartment is decorated with posters and memorabilia attesting to his love for sports and vintage vehicles.

A Porsche poster hangs on the far wall of Jerry’s apartment. It turns out this German vehicle is one of Jerry’s favorites. This is one of the many qualities the character Jerry Seinfeld shares with the actor portraying him. In fact, the real-life Jerry Seinfeld has used his earnings from the show to build up a large collection of Porsches. It’s been reported he has 47.

6 He Keeps A Superman Magnet On His Refrigerator

A comic book nerd through and through, Jerry loves Superman, and he fills the apartment with homages to his favorite superhero. Rumor has it every episode of the show includes a reference to something pertaining to the world of Superman.

One such homage to Superman rests on the front of Jerry’s refrigerator: a magnet, about a foot high, of the caped crime fighter in his classic garb. The next time you watch an episode, look out for references to kryptonite, the fortress of solitude, and Bizzaro. They’re all nods to the Man of Steel.

5 Jerry’s Bike Was Switched Out Many Times

Another inconsistency noted by nitpicky fans, Jerry’s bike revolves throughout the series. The hanging bike in his apartment predates the urban bike culture that is so ubiquitous these days, so the prominently displayed bike always stood out to those paying enough attention.

For most of the series, Jerry’s bike is a green Klein mountain bike. While not really practical for city use, it sure makes him look hip.

4 A Few Episodes Contain Glimpses Of The Controversial Fourth Wall

Just beyond the border of Jerry’s kitchen exists a wall rarely seen in the show. Only making an appearance a few times, the wall exists in case the camera veers too far to the right.

Seinfeld was filmed in front of a studio audience, and the limited view of Jerry’s apartment his fans are used to seeing kept television viewers from catching glimpses of the audience and/or the empty studio. This photo also exposes the cabinet where all of Jerry’s mugs are kept. Beneath the cabinet is a small wine collection, presumably in place in case one of Jerry’s dates ends up on his couch after dinner.

3 He Has Quite A VHS Collection

While the days of VHS are long behind us, Jerry displays quite an eclectic and diverse VHS selection on the show, located on the bookcase behind his dining table.

From classic action and westerns like Gunfight and Death Wish to Benny Hill, fans have scrutinized Seinfeld’s taste in film and television for decades. Some have noted that Jer seems to love horror films, including the 1990 gem Arachnophobia. How these particular titles made their way onto the show is, like other details, unknown.

2 There Were Bookcase Changes Over The Years

In Seinfeld‘s first season, Jerry’s apartment has a different look and feel, most notably in relation to his taste in bookcases, demonstrated by the picture of Elaine on the left. In his main living area, he has a shiny white and metal bookcase that matches his 1980s art deco dining table. In his hallway, where his bike would hang in subsequent seasons, sits a standard white bookshelf.

The white hallway bookshelf’s contents change. In certain episodes, it is filled with baseball hats along the top. In other episodes, it contains fewer books and more sports memorabilia.

1 It’s Where The Gang Spends Most Of Their Time

Jerry’s apartment is the most comfortable and consistent space in Seinfeld. While they do spend a lot of time sharing food and drinks at their beloved diner, everyone, eventually, reconvenes at Jerry’s.

Why is this? Maybe it’s because he’s the most stable character on the show. Between Elaine’s job and apartment jumping, George’s laziness, and Kramer’s constant redecorating schemes, Jerry’s apartment serves as the reliable landing spot for these nutty New Yorkers.

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