Seinfeld originally tested so poorly with focus groups that NBC executives were entirely convinced the pilot was an unmitigated disaster that would alienate viewers with its deeply unlikable characters.

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Seinfeld originally tested so poorly with focus groups that NBC executives were entirely convinced the pilot was an unmitigated disaster that would alienate viewers with its deeply unlikable characters. The only reason the legendary show survived was because a late-night executive named Rick Ludwin diverted money from his own budget for Bob Hope specials to fund four additional episodes, effectively saving the program from early cancellation. This famously labeled show about nothing went on to redefine the entire sitcom format, generating literal billions of dollars in syndication and forever ruining the way annoying people interact in diners. You really have to laugh at the fact that a group of random people in a conference room almost killed the greatest comedy of the nineties because they were upset that George Costanza was petty and neurotic