"Seinfeld" alum Michael Richards is headed back to TV. The star, famous for his portrayal of Jerry's eccentric neighbor Cosmo Kramer on "Seinfeld" has been cast in a new sitcom on TV Land, the network announced Dec. 3.
The 63-year-old actor will co-star opposite "Cheers" duo Kirstie Alley and Rhea Perlman in TV Land's comedic pilot "Giant Baby," The Hollywood Reporter confirmed.
The new TV show is a comedy created by Marco Pennette that "revolves around Broadway star Madison Banks (Alley), who reconnects with her long-lost son after the death of his adopted mother. Richards will play Maddie's limo driver, with Gilles Marini ('Brothers & Sisters') also booking a guest-star gig as her chef. Perlman will play her assistant and best friend," said the Hollywood Reporter.
Aside from a brief stint on "The Michael Richards Show" in 2000, the "Seinfeld" actor hasn't acted much since the iconic show ended in 1998. If picked up, this will be his first recurring regular TV gig since the actor's controversial, racially-charged comments at stand-up comedy gig in 2006 sparked national outrage and debate.
"He lost it with a few hecklers during a stand-up comedy routine, and dropped the N-word to a group of young African-American men. The racist rant was video-recorded and uploaded on the Internet," noted the New York Post.
"Fifty years ago, we'd have you upside down with a f--king fork up your ass," Richards screamed.
"You can talk, you can talk, you're brave now, motherf--ker Throw his ass out. He's a n----r! He's a n----r!"
One of Richards' targets, 32-year-old barber Frank McBride, said the comedian never called to personally apologize. But McBride insists he doesn't hold a grudge.
"Him being back on TV? I don't have a problem with it," McBride told The Post. "That's what he does for a living. That's his job, to be an entertainer."
Fellow "Seinfeld" actor Danny Woodburn, who played Richards' actor friend on the series, Mickey Abbott, said Richards deserves another chance.
"He's a nice guy, he's a sweet guy, he's a comedian who had a bad night,'' Woodburn said. "He's not that [the racist rant]."
Richards nearly dropped off the face of the earth after a Nov. 17, 2006 incident when he inexplicably launched into a racist tirade at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles.
More recently, Richards has guest starred on a "Seinfeld" reunion episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and Jerry Seinfeld's web series "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee."
"Giant Baby's" pilot will be shot next week, the network said.
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