Jerry Seinfeld hit with lawsuit over Netflix series 'Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee'
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Comedians in cars getting... court dates.
Jerry Seinfeld's legal team is battling a lawsuit over his hit Netflix show "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee," which first debuted in 2012, TMZ reports. Six years later, a producer named Christian Charles is slapping Seinfeld with a lawsuit claiming he's the show's real creator.
Charles says he first pitched Seinfeld the idea 16 years ago, but Seinfeld wasn't into it. Then, in 2011, Seinfeld allegedly had a change of heart and reached out to Charles to further develop the idea. After that discussion, Charles says, Seinfeld moved forward with the concept and filmed a pilot while refusing to give Charles any creative credit or financial stake.
Jerry's attorney, Orin Snyder, issued a firm statement in response: "This lawsuit is delusional," Snyder said. "Jerry independently created 'Comedians in Cars' and Mr. Charles only concocted this claim after the show became a commercial success. We are confident that this shakedown lawsuit will go nowhere."
The popular show features a different famous face each episode -- primarily comics, but occasionally other figures, including President Barack Obama and "Saturday Night Live" executive producer Lorne Michaels. Jerry then conducts a long-form interview, more like a conversation, as the two head to a local coffee shop in an area familiar to the guest.
Charles claims Seinfeld is compensated $750,000 per episode, and he wants a cut.