NBC Says No Spinoffs Afoot to Fill ‘Seinfeld’s’ Shoes

As NBC flips through its programming deck looking for ways to replace “Seinfeld,” a spinoff series doesn’t appear to be in the cards.

Based on initial feelers extended to the high-rated comedy’s other cast members, NBC Entertainment President Warren Littlefield called the prospect of a “Seinfeld” spinoff “doubtful” and “a very long shot,” saying the actors wanted to take some time after the show before even considering such offers.

NBC is moving forward, meanwhile, with efforts to capitalize on the remaining months of “Seinfeld” before the series signs off in May. Addressing reporters in Pasadena on Saturday, Littlefield said NBC has canceled “Union Square”--the first-season comedy airing between “Friends” and “Seinfeld”--and will use that prime Thursday real estate to showcase other programs, including “Just Shoot Me,” with Laura San Giacomo, which will play there Jan. 29 after a promotional push during Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Littlefield said NBC has “a lot of choices” when it comes to filling the “Seinfeld” void but won’t announce a decision before the network unveils next season’s lineup in the spring. “Frasier”--spun off from “Cheers” when that show ended--remains a possibility, and the producers of another candidate, “Friends,” would welcome the assignment.

“Who wouldn’t want the ‘Seinfeld’ time slot?” “Friends” executive producer Marta Kauffman said. “Yeah, sure, we’d love it.”

NBC has already renewed “Veronica’s Closet,” the first-season sitcom starring Kirstie Alley that currently follows “Seinfeld,” for next season. The network also has ordered another year of the critically acclaimed but marginally rated police drama “Homicide: Life on the Street.”