“The Seinfeld Chronicles” first aired on NBC on July 5, 1989. NBC’s research department rated the pilot “weak.” Its memo said: “No segment of the audience was eager to watch the show again.” It added: “You can’t get too excited about going to the Laundromat.”
NBC still ordered four more episodes. The executive Rick Ludwin “killed one of the Bob Hope specials” to pay for them. Another three years passed before Seinfeld became “a Top 5 ratings smash.” TV Guide reported in 2014 that it had earned $4 billion worldwide.