The Real Soup Nazi Hated His Episode
NBC
The figure Seinfeld based his Soup Nazi character on was the owner of NYC’s “International Soup Kitchen,” Ali “Al” Yeganeh. Before the episode, Yeganeh was known around town as “The Soup Terrorist,” even being mentioned in the movie Sleepless in Seattle two years before his Seinfeld episode. In the film, Meg Ryan says, “This man sells the greatest soup you have ever eaten, and he is the meanest man in America. I feel strongly about this Becky, it’s not just about the soup.” After Seinfeld’s take on the soup chef, Yeganeh was *shockingly* a terrible sport about the whole thing. Jerry and the cast went by the soup stand in an attempt to extend the olive branch, but Yeganeh yelled at Seinfeld claiming the show ruined his life. Writer Spike Feresten said Seinfeld gave him “the most sarcastic, insincere apology,” before he was kicked out of the shop.
Related: 5 Villains That Were Thinly-Veiled Versions of Real People
How The Contest Made It To Air
Seinfeld and David were careful about approaching the writing of “The Contest” as they knew the groundbreaking episode would surely be watched closely by NBC censors. Their big agreement with the suits was that the word “masturbation” would never be used in the episode, resulting in the very quotable “master of my domain” line.
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Top Image: NBC