Seinfeld - The Best & The Weakest
This list is INCOMPLETE. Till now I've covered 120 episodes. Hopefully there will be more commentary added later.
Most of my comments have SPOILERS. It is intended for fans of the show, not so much newbies. But if you are a newbie, drop this list and download the series... then get back here to check out which the best (and worst) episodes are i.e. why you are wrong and I am right. If you are a "Friends" fan you are likely to prefer the bad ones, and dislike the best ones - or you might indiscriminately like all the episodes about equally.
Yes, it is a wonder/mystery of all anthropological sciences - but many "Friends" fans do actually also like "Seinfeld". I don't understand how that works, but we do not live in a logical world so perhaps anything that is illogical is in fact completely logical, and vice versa of course...
Besides, as an interested newbie you should anyway stay away from these kinds of episode lists because IMDb's "summaries" (or whatever they are) themselves contain spoilers on occasion. Whoever is doing those texts fails to understand that spoilers have no place in these things. The trick is just to introduce an episode in those 2-3 sentences, not reveal its plot-twists...
I've been a fan of "Seinfeld" since the mid-90s, when I finally got a chance to watch it, because a local video club acquired several VHS tapes. (Season 4, I believe, and not even all of it.) This means that I knew those 10-15 episodes by heart, while not getting an opportunity to acquire some more until a few years later when I visited the States. But that still left me with just 30-40 episodes overall. It wasn't until the early/mid 00s that I finally managed to get my hands on the entire series. (Bless the internet age, for preventing any more of this kind of torture. For many years I had been desperate to get access to the rest of the Seinfelds, the numerous MST3Ks, the Larry Sanders, and many others series... DOWNLOAD is a magical word.)
Since October I've been on a Seinfeld binge, and it's been interesting and fun because the series had been ignored by me for at lest a decade prior. Some episodes were completely new to me, that's how long it's been.
I consider it the best sitcom "of all time". Now, considering how utterly awful 99% of all sitcoms are, this statement may not appear to carry much weight (hence the quotation marks), but "Seinfeld" is many levels above the others hence to even call it a sitcom is kind of like an insult - even though it undoubtedly is a sitcom. In fact, its content centers a lot more around "comedic situations" than many other "situation comedies" that have very little plot but a lot of empty cheesy babble instead.
The only other ones that come close are "Larry Sanders Show", "Everybody Loves Raymond" and... That's pretty much it. There are a few more watchable ones, but that's about it. Maybe 10 usable/non-crap sitcoms overall, at the very most. If we count animated series, we can add early "Simpsons" (before it became Marxist propaganda), "South Park" and "Futurama", as well.
What sets this series apart from all the sitcom garbage?
I am baffled whenever I read inept internet texts listing reasons why "Seinfeld" is so good. Nobody ever mentions the most crucial differences. It's as if they barely understand the series.
Aside from the obvious stuff - for example the great casting and top-notch writing - it is the show's completely down-to-Earth cynicism as one of its key traits that propelled it to be light-years ahead of its "competition", the usual sitcom piffle.
Secondly, whereas other sitcoms clumsily hop from cheesy jokes to bargain-basement sentimentality, "Seinfeld" was always 99.999% (mostly non-cheesy) jokes and 0.001% schmaltz. (There may be 2 or 3 very brief scenes in the entire series where the "no-schmaltz rule" was broken.) Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld had vowed not to dilute the series with pathetic soppiness, which is why this series lacks that horrendous stuff, unlike for example hopelessly awful sitcoms such as "Friends" and "The Cosby Show", which predominantly dabbled in ultra-cringy "cute humour" - then suddenly dropped a sentimental scene, like an absurd stink-bomb, as if anyone half-way sane can possibly take all of these cardboard characters seriously enough to accept a tear-jerker scene in the midst of all the corny jokes. That makes zero sense. It's like watching "Star Wars" then suddenly being told it's a BBC documentary.
Thirdly, there was an element of political-incorrectness that was at odds with the then-blossoming neo-Marxist insurgence, which by the 00s had gained some serious momentum and power (and which now almost completely rules Western culture and politics, in a scarily pre-Orwellian way). The show's writers didn't do anything drastic in this regard, but the show did toy around with racial stereotypes, they played around with racial over-sensitivity in America (which by now has reached monolithic proportions), and various subjects weren't treated with as much cowardly caution as nearly all the other shows and sitcoms - especially the current ones. In modern western television, there is no risk-taking anymore: everyone plays it safe. You don't wanna play it safe? You're off the air. Hence "Seinfeld" is already now, just 20+ years after its end, a relic from the past, a reminder of a much healthier world.
In recent months I've been on a binge, re-visiting all of the episodes. However, I opened this list only weeks after the start, so I shall have to re-re-watch many of the episodes again, for the list. Hence why only about half are reviewed so far.
Rating the episodes:
It is tricky to rate individual episodes for two reasons:
1. Repeat viewings may or may not diminish the effect of the first viewing. Some episodes are very repeatable, some aren't. Do I give a rating for the first impression or the 5th one? Who even remembers the first impression?
2. Nearly all (latter) episodes have multiple story-lines, which may or may not drastically vary in quality. How do I rate an episode with one great sub-plot and two average ones?
A 10/10 rating is handed out to the classic ones. 9/10 to the great episodes which are for all practical purposes like 10/10, not much difference there... 8/10 I give to the typically good, reliable episodes that didn't disappoint but fall short of the best ones due to some (minor) flaws. 7/10 are the somewhat disappointing ones (seasons 4 to 7), or the few good ones (season 9) - i.e. it somewhat depends on the context too, because the series took a nose-dive in season 8, and then especially season 9. Any episode rated lower than 7/10 can be considered well below par for the show's usual level. Many of those are to be found in season 9.
I am fascinated that IMDb's ratings averages for season 9 aren't one bit lower. They are just as high as for the previous seasons. Do fans not notice just how much worse that last season was? Are they so easy to please? They don't notice the clumsy and lazy writing, the crap jokes? Or do they simply enjoy cheap farce that much? Some actual prefer cheesy farce to the intelligent humour?
Questions upon questions... But FACT remains that season 9 is totally inferior to the rest of the series. Anyone with a smidgen of sense should be able to have noticed this fact, without my help...
Episodes are listed in chronological order.
Most of my comments have SPOILERS. It is intended for fans of the show, not so much newbies. But if you are a newbie, drop this list and download the series... then get back here to check out which the best (and worst) episodes are i.e. why you are wrong and I am right. If you are a "Friends" fan you are likely to prefer the bad ones, and dislike the best ones - or you might indiscriminately like all the episodes about equally.
Yes, it is a wonder/mystery of all anthropological sciences - but many "Friends" fans do actually also like "Seinfeld". I don't understand how that works, but we do not live in a logical world so perhaps anything that is illogical is in fact completely logical, and vice versa of course...
Besides, as an interested newbie you should anyway stay away from these kinds of episode lists because IMDb's "summaries" (or whatever they are) themselves contain spoilers on occasion. Whoever is doing those texts fails to understand that spoilers have no place in these things. The trick is just to introduce an episode in those 2-3 sentences, not reveal its plot-twists...
I've been a fan of "Seinfeld" since the mid-90s, when I finally got a chance to watch it, because a local video club acquired several VHS tapes. (Season 4, I believe, and not even all of it.) This means that I knew those 10-15 episodes by heart, while not getting an opportunity to acquire some more until a few years later when I visited the States. But that still left me with just 30-40 episodes overall. It wasn't until the early/mid 00s that I finally managed to get my hands on the entire series. (Bless the internet age, for preventing any more of this kind of torture. For many years I had been desperate to get access to the rest of the Seinfelds, the numerous MST3Ks, the Larry Sanders, and many others series... DOWNLOAD is a magical word.)
Since October I've been on a Seinfeld binge, and it's been interesting and fun because the series had been ignored by me for at lest a decade prior. Some episodes were completely new to me, that's how long it's been.
I consider it the best sitcom "of all time". Now, considering how utterly awful 99% of all sitcoms are, this statement may not appear to carry much weight (hence the quotation marks), but "Seinfeld" is many levels above the others hence to even call it a sitcom is kind of like an insult - even though it undoubtedly is a sitcom. In fact, its content centers a lot more around "comedic situations" than many other "situation comedies" that have very little plot but a lot of empty cheesy babble instead.
The only other ones that come close are "Larry Sanders Show", "Everybody Loves Raymond" and... That's pretty much it. There are a few more watchable ones, but that's about it. Maybe 10 usable/non-crap sitcoms overall, at the very most. If we count animated series, we can add early "Simpsons" (before it became Marxist propaganda), "South Park" and "Futurama", as well.
What sets this series apart from all the sitcom garbage?
I am baffled whenever I read inept internet texts listing reasons why "Seinfeld" is so good. Nobody ever mentions the most crucial differences. It's as if they barely understand the series.
Aside from the obvious stuff - for example the great casting and top-notch writing - it is the show's completely down-to-Earth cynicism as one of its key traits that propelled it to be light-years ahead of its "competition", the usual sitcom piffle.
Secondly, whereas other sitcoms clumsily hop from cheesy jokes to bargain-basement sentimentality, "Seinfeld" was always 99.999% (mostly non-cheesy) jokes and 0.001% schmaltz. (There may be 2 or 3 very brief scenes in the entire series where the "no-schmaltz rule" was broken.) Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld had vowed not to dilute the series with pathetic soppiness, which is why this series lacks that horrendous stuff, unlike for example hopelessly awful sitcoms such as "Friends" and "The Cosby Show", which predominantly dabbled in ultra-cringy "cute humour" - then suddenly dropped a sentimental scene, like an absurd stink-bomb, as if anyone half-way sane can possibly take all of these cardboard characters seriously enough to accept a tear-jerker scene in the midst of all the corny jokes. That makes zero sense. It's like watching "Star Wars" then suddenly being told it's a BBC documentary.
Thirdly, there was an element of political-incorrectness that was at odds with the then-blossoming neo-Marxist insurgence, which by the 00s had gained some serious momentum and power (and which now almost completely rules Western culture and politics, in a scarily pre-Orwellian way). The show's writers didn't do anything drastic in this regard, but the show did toy around with racial stereotypes, they played around with racial over-sensitivity in America (which by now has reached monolithic proportions), and various subjects weren't treated with as much cowardly caution as nearly all the other shows and sitcoms - especially the current ones. In modern western television, there is no risk-taking anymore: everyone plays it safe. You don't wanna play it safe? You're off the air. Hence "Seinfeld" is already now, just 20+ years after its end, a relic from the past, a reminder of a much healthier world.
In recent months I've been on a binge, re-visiting all of the episodes. However, I opened this list only weeks after the start, so I shall have to re-re-watch many of the episodes again, for the list. Hence why only about half are reviewed so far.
Rating the episodes:
It is tricky to rate individual episodes for two reasons:
1. Repeat viewings may or may not diminish the effect of the first viewing. Some episodes are very repeatable, some aren't. Do I give a rating for the first impression or the 5th one? Who even remembers the first impression?
2. Nearly all (latter) episodes have multiple story-lines, which may or may not drastically vary in quality. How do I rate an episode with one great sub-plot and two average ones?
A 10/10 rating is handed out to the classic ones. 9/10 to the great episodes which are for all practical purposes like 10/10, not much difference there... 8/10 I give to the typically good, reliable episodes that didn't disappoint but fall short of the best ones due to some (minor) flaws. 7/10 are the somewhat disappointing ones (seasons 4 to 7), or the few good ones (season 9) - i.e. it somewhat depends on the context too, because the series took a nose-dive in season 8, and then especially season 9. Any episode rated lower than 7/10 can be considered well below par for the show's usual level. Many of those are to be found in season 9.
I am fascinated that IMDb's ratings averages for season 9 aren't one bit lower. They are just as high as for the previous seasons. Do fans not notice just how much worse that last season was? Are they so easy to please? They don't notice the clumsy and lazy writing, the crap jokes? Or do they simply enjoy cheap farce that much? Some actual prefer cheesy farce to the intelligent humour?
Questions upon questions... But FACT remains that season 9 is totally inferior to the rest of the series. Anyone with a smidgen of sense should be able to have noticed this fact, without my help...
Episodes are listed in chronological order.
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- DirectorArt WolffStarsJerry SeinfeldMichael RichardsLee GarlingtonJerry and George argue whether an overnight visitor Jerry is expecting is coming with romantic intentions.
- DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry and George stake out the lobby of an office building to find a woman Jerry met at a party but whose name and phone number he didn't get.8/10
The early episodes were subtler and less manic. Also, there was a more "experimental" touch to it. For example, Jerry's thoughts about Elaine being a nuisance while he tries to flirt with a female lawyer.
GUEST ACTRESS: the lawyer is one of the best-looking guest women in the series.
"I'm an architect."
"What do you do?"
"I build railways."
"Don't engineers do that?"
"They can..." - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsAfter Jerry's apartment is robbed, Jerry starts to look for other apartments. But Jerry and George both want the same apartment, and Elaine wants the apartment of whoever loses out.7/10
A slow start. The rest isn't that much better. A weak episode by the show's standards. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry tries various excuses to avoid meeting with an old friend with whom he no longer shares any interests.7/10
"I would have been friends with Stalin [when I was 10] if he had a ping-pong table!"
An episode that gets too absurd to be truly funny, but there are some good one-liners.
"You can't have people shoving their hands into a 500-degree oven!" - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry becomes apprehensive when he and George buy stock and the price falls while the person who suggested the stock is in hospital and can't tell them when to sell.7/10
Elaine is concerned about dolphins yet considers assassinating a cat. This paradox is typical with hypocritical Elaine, but is actually never addressed. Somehow the writers failed to notice it. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsAfter George breaks up with his girlfriend, Jerry decides that he wants to see her.---------------- SEASON 2 ----------------
7/10
The early seasons were quite different. The tempo was much slower, there was a bit more subtlety, less sub-plots per episode i.e. simpler story-lines, and there was more emphasis on dialog that resembles 90s indie movies. Certainly the contrast between season 2 and season 9 is vast, like two very different shows.
In this early episode George cares about books, which contradicts the George in later seasons who practically never read one, and struggles to get past one page. (For example the Breakfast At Tiffany's episode or the French Impressionists toilet episode.) But it's a sitcom, so this kind of inconsistency is merely interesting, not problematic necessarily.
"So much fluff... I can't be with someone if I can't respect what they do."
"You're a cashier!..."
Legendary.
Nice stand-up routine follows after that, in which Jerry more-or-less mocks women for focusing so much on the profession of a prospective suitor, as opposed to guys who only care about the physical attraction.
GUEST ACTRESS: Interesting face and accent. She appears odd and suitable as a ball-buster hence perhaps they could have expanded her stay by a few more episodes. Some of these (numerous) Jerry/George girlfriends were very pretty and/or charismatic and/or funny even, and I sometimes wonder why they didn't give them more screen time. This doesn't so much apply to this one as it does to a few others - which I mention in other reviews. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry fears that an inappropriate comment he made at a dinner party caused his relative's subsequent death.8/10
Jerry's great pony speech after he upsets his immigrant relative is the highlight.
The bet argument between Jerry and Kramer is a typical good piece of conversational writing, but only possible with someone like Kramer... This is why all four are different, as that allows for each of them to be potentially used for a premise that the other three may not be suited for. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry wears an expensive jacket when he meets Elaine's father, but an argument ensues when Jerry is reluctant to wear it outside during a snowfall.
- DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsGeorge leaves several awkward messages on a girlfriend's answering machine, then decides to steal the tape.
- DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsWhen an apartment becomes available in Jerry's building, he helps Elaine get it, only to regret his decision to do so. George starts wearing a wedding ring because he's heard that it helps single guys pick up women.9/10
"Oh, the marathon is great, isn't it!"
"Yes, particularly if you're not in it."
"I wish we had a view of the finish line..."
"Ah, no big deal... A woman from Norway, a guy from Kenya and 20,000 losers."
How to mock an entire sport in just 15 seconds.
An interesting plot because Jerry tries to prevent Elaine from moving in as his neighbour. The best part about it is Jerry trying to explain to Kramer that he is like an alien hence can't understand humans.
"The thing is... you're not normal."
This line is not only funny, but helps define Kramer better early on in the show. A sign of good, clever writing. Funny - and informative. Win-win. Two flies with one swat.
"People don't turn down money, that's what separates us from the animals."
Silly lines like this one helped make the series as good as it is. I am a big fan of this type of silliness, the kind that uses a cliche and makes a salad out of it. I personally do it all the time.
George missing out on THREE great dates within a short space of time because of his fake wedding ring is a bit too far-fetched for me though, too contrived, completely absurd, but it serves the plot well and is hence worth it when later on him and Jerry once again argue over who is the bigger idiot. Then a third candidate unwittingly volunteers... a typical overly excited woman cheering on the marathon runners.
"You're AAALLLLL winners!!!!!!!" (typical airhead)
"But suddenly a new contender has emerged."
Great line. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsA statue wanted by George is stolen from Jerry's apartment by the boyfriend of a writer Elaine is working with.5/10
Very amusing introductory stand-up routine about junk mail.
"Why don't you settle this like mature adults?"
"Alright... Potato Man."
However, the episode then takes a nose-dive with an extremely unfunny and boring writer character who talks in an absurd antiquated way, plus the ridiculous twist of him stealing the statue. Jerry letting complete strangers stay in his flat, on their own, was always a weak plot-device anyway, too far-fetched even for a sitcom. Sure, sitcoms are about comedic situations, and silly ones too, but there's nothing comedic about this premise. It's just dumb. Plus, FIVE people being nuts about this statue: Kramer, George, the unfunny writer, and the Costanzas. I'd understand if it was an Oscar statuette or something, that'd be more logical hence funny, but it's just a friggin' average statue...
Besides, WHY would the thief leave the statue lying around for Jerry to notice it? Too stupid. This nonsense would have fit right in season 9...
Kramer impersonating a cop in the last scene is the only interesting thing in the last 15 minutes.
However, the statue breaking is so damn predictable, way too predictable.
GUEST ACTRESS: The grumpy, cynical Latino writer (she's supposedly Finnish but comes off as Latino) is another weak and boring character, played by a very average actress. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsGeorge takes revenge on his boss for not hiring him back after he quit and was rude to him, and Jerry and Kramer take revenge on a dry cleaner after Jerry accuses him of stealing $1,500 from his laundry bag.7/10
It's no coincidence that Larry David is the only one credited for writing this episode. The George plot is based on a real-life event involving him losing his cool at work. David once screamed at an SNL producer (I believe it was actually Lorne Michaels himself), then after he realized what a screw-up that was he decided to heed the advice of his friend (real-life Kramer) to simply go to work the next week, pretending nothing ever happened. It actually worked, and he kept his job, unlike George here, who from this episode onwards becomes unemployed hence his loser status increases which gave the writers even more opportunities to exploit his neurotic character flaws and perceived low social status.
The scene in which he meekly tries to return to work is very funny, as are the various conversations between him and Jerry, for example the ones about his potential future careers.
The revenge plot itself is not that great though. Elaine trying to schmooze his ex-boss is too focused on plot and not enough on being funny.
This may be the first episode when Newman gets mentioned. David does the voice, so he's never shown. Fortunately, because I was never a fan of this character, who was very present in the last few seasons. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsAfter suffering what he thinks is a heart attack, George discovers he has inflamed tonsils and seeks alternative medicine to heal.8/10
A clever premise ideal for George's many neurotic symptoms, ideal because you can string many gags to it, basically "it writes itself" so-to-speak. The way George speaks after his hypochondria attack is a great touch too. The way Jerry mocks him is relentless.
"Well, that was really fun, George... Can we go home now?"
The ambulance scene is utter crap though, reminiscent of the kind of dumb farce from seasons 8 and 9. The 2nd half of the episode slows down with the gags, but the finishing scenes are good. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry and Elaine believe that they have found a foolproof way to start having sex again yet still remain just friends, but they quickly start encountering problems.
- DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsKramer convinces Jerry to get illegal cable. Elaine holds a baby shower for a former girlfriend of George, on whom he wants revenge for a callous incident.9/10
Very good stand-up bits in this one. All three of them are great.
"You don't think I can attract beautiful, intelligent women?"
"Thin ice... Very thin ice..."
George however does describe his ex as "beautiful" which isn't a problem at all - until she actually shows up at the baby shower... Yikes!
Elaine gives a brief rant on the Kennedys. Is this why this is one of the lowest-rated episodes? Because too many sensitive libs are offended by it? Or is it because Jerry then makes fun of pregnant women? This is one of the first really good episodes, yet it has a comparatively meager average. 7.4? There must have been way too many "Friends" fans voting for "Seinfeld" shows... That can never end good, or logically.
Kramer's insistence for Jerry to install illegal cable is quite amusing, especially how emotional he gets, as if it's a huge decision that's gonna affect international politics.
"What you're suggesting is illegal!"
"It's not illegal."
"It's against the law!"
"Well, yeah..."
The baby shower contains another highlight, when Jerry gets shouted at by a a disgruntled ex. Followed by a very clever and ironic gag when this woman pushes George's "beautiful" ex so George gets his stained shirt re-stained.
Did these great moments just go completely SWOOSH above the "Friends" fans who voted here? Perhaps the plot needs to be explained to them, it may be a little too demanding than what they're usually used to...
GUEST ACTRESSES: George's ex plays it well, but "beautiful" she ain't. The script should have never mentioned that word early on. The actress who lambasted Jerry was great, and quite attractive. Pity her appearance is so brief, she could have re-appeared in a later episode... - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry, Elaine and George stop for a quick Chinese dinner before seeing "Plan 9 From Outer Space," but circumstances at the eatery make them miss the movie.8/10
Very funny bit about cops being given the additional job of street-cleaning whenever they're "doing nothing".
"Plan 9 From Outer Space", one of the several episodes where it gets mentioned... How many viewers even recognized the title, knew what Jerry was talking about? This was before Burton's film came out...
A single-setting episode, which isn't my favourite way of setting up a story, but the writing is quite good.
We never feel sorry for the three fools, at least I don't, because only idiots would wait this long for a table in a restaurant. I've never understood people who would willfully degrade themselves by waiting to get a table at a restaurant - or even worse: to have a club bunny decide whether you're "hip" enough to enter a smelly, semen-stained night-club dump... (Night-life people are anyway a lower form of species. Only a few levels above the Guido species.)
The longer the wait goes on, the more the episode stretches its credibility hence the more it strains to stay funny. That's the ONLY place to go to? In the Soup Nazi episode there is a rationale that explains the patience and willingness for self-degradation. But here it is missing, hence I'm not ever sure why they subject themselves to this wait. Seinfeld is a show that is funny because it is based to some extent on real situations, but this one seems not real enough. Too forced. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsGeorge tries to apologize to a busboy after one of his comments got him fired, but he only makes things worse. Elaine tries to get one of her male friends out of her house.7/10
"I am not an idiot..."
(long pause) "Certainly not."
One of the first episodes in which the team tries to fix a screw-up, only to make things even worse. Except of course for the ironic plot-twist.
Elaine's panic over getting rid of a boyfriend she no longer has interest in via catching a flight is a fairly clever and original shtick. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsPhysical therapy proves painful for Jerry when his small talk with the therapist leads to a misunderstanding; Jerry uses a dentist note to cover his therapy.--------------- SEASON 3 ----------------
- DirectorDavid SteinbergStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsA bad breakup between George and his girlfriend leads to tax troubles for Jerry.7/10
"I've driven women to lesbianism before but never to a mental institution!"
Perhaps not a very fresh line these days, as that type of gag has been worn out by decades of use, but because George says it the effectiveness is still there.
The episode starts quite well. George's break-up with his girlfriend was a very good scene, especially the whole pretentiousness stuff, so it's a pity that her off-the-wall character was so scarce afterwards; she was talked about but re-appeared only much later. And when she did, the gags weren't as good as they should have been. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry and Elaine travel to Florida for a dinner in honor of his father. Jerry gets into an argument with a neighbor of his parents over an "astronaut pen."
- DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry is forced to care for the disobedient dog of a man he met on a plane.6/10
One of the reasons this episode doesn't work that well is the utterly absurd premise. The script should have had a more realistic motive for Jerry holding someone else's mutt. A pedantic person such as he is agreeing to keep a large, wild, obnoxious crap-machine from a person he spoke to on a plane is just plain stoopid.
Especially knowing how germophobic he is, or the fact that he's the completely wrong person for the task since he lives alone and has nobody to take care of the crap-machine while he's away.
If I can't buy the premise I usually can't laugh at the jokes.
And because Jerry is stuck at home, George and Elaine are forced to have uncomfortable silences, which results in a really stupid gag when Jerry decides to take a leak in his toilet. George and Elaine desperately try to convince him to postpone the peeing at the cinema, later on - just because they are "so afraid" to have another uncomfortable silence. Too far-fetched to be funny. How long does it take a person to do number 2? A minute? Ridiculous... Hence not funny.
Later, the drunkard returns to pick up his trash, but he's drunk, yet again, which is simply not funny. Over-the-top movie/TV drunks are anyway generally rather unfunny, but this one is worse than most.
That bit about aliens assuming that mutts are the masters of the humans was stolen for Travolta's ultra-idiotic sci-fi yarn "Battlefield Earth" 9 years later. Somewhat ironic, because the show mentions "Plan 9" several times during its 9-season run, and "Battlefield Earth" has become somewhat of a "Plan 9" itself... Doubly ironic, because only 2-3 episodes later the show made a sarcastic remark about Scientologists.
Plan 9, and 9 seasons... Will numerologists find hidden cosmic meanings in this? - DirectorJoshua WhiteStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsThe library asks Jerry about a book he checked out in 1971 and never returned, so Jerry looks up an old girlfriend for his defense against a library cop.8/10
The female casting was - on average - so good that even the librarian is played by an attractive actress.
An original episode based on a goofy but not overly stoopid premise, which is why it works. Later, in seasons 8 and especially 9, such things went overboard. The library detective is an over-the-top quirky spoof of old crime film stereotypes, which is in itself unusual, but would later be exaggerated in later seasons. (Not spoofs of detectives, just spoofs in general became too farcical and unfunny.)
The crime/detective genre got spoofed also by the plot itself which plays out like an (intentionally) cheesy mystery plot.
"Maybe he'll hive you a raise."
"Maybe he'll give me a wedgy."
Kramer's romance with the librarian should have been explored more, but there's only so much space in a 22-minute story... - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsThe four friends go shopping at the mall and get lost for hours in the parking garage when they forget where they parked their car.7/10
"Those Scientologists can be so sensitive!"
We could never have this joke now. That sect has become too powerful for show-biz types to dare to mess with them... We know how socially cowardly celebs are, they nearly always play it safe.
Even "Battlefield Earth" failed to taint the sect enough. That speaks volumes about how powerful they'd become. Or how about the "mysterious" success of Elizabeth Moss? That is 100% concrete proof of their power.
I never was a big fan of the uni-location episodes. The writing is definitely pretty good, and there are a number of chance encounters with various characters which provides opportunity for interesting situations hence gags but the whole thing is a bit tiresome, at least on repeat viewings, because the (depressing) setting never changes. Perhaps it's one of those episodes that are much more fun the 1st time around. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry tries to help a new immigrant restaurant owner across the street from him. George, afraid of embarrassment, asks Elaine to take an IQ test for him.8/10
If this episode were made today, people (liberals) would praise it for its imaginary feminism and criticize it for its imaginary racism.
Elaine is given an IQ of 150, which is absurd. She definitely exhibited well below that on many occasions throughout the series... For example when she believed that Tolstoy originally had his classic called "War What Is It Good For" or making an utter fool of herself a few episodes later in "Stranded", when she tried to argue that eating fish as a vegetarian wasn't hypocritical because "fish don't feel pain" - something only a moron would say. I could give a tons of other examples why Elaine definitely isn't particularly smart, or certainly not anywhere genius level.
On the other hand, this is just a sitcom, and characterization takes a backseat to the jokes, hence the logic must suffer to some extent (or too much, as in season 9). The script needed someone with a very high IQ - and so the writers decided Elaine should be that person. That's how sitcoms work...
"Maybe the test was gender-biased. You know, many questions on hunting and testicles."
What a great line. There is a hint of political incorrectness in it too, not just silliness, but I doubt many people picked up on it. Much is made of alleged "test bias", usually by liberals who seek excuses for "uncomfortable" SAT or IQ test score results, nearly all of their rationalizations and criticisms having no basis in logic.
As for racism, there is no racism in the Baboo plot, just well-intentioned, friendly playing around with Middle Asian stereotypes. After all, if Italians can get stereotyped and routinely "mocked"/spoofed in tons of movies, then why should Pakistanis be exempt? Or any other race/ethnicity for that matter... Every culture, race, religion, and ethnic group should be spoof-ready. Otherwise both humour and freedom are severely hampered.
"You know, I think I'll just take the check..."
Baboo's anger and Jerry's blase reactions to it makes for a very funny scene. Baboo is a very interesting character who should have had more appearances, not just another one. His character had ten times more potential than Newman's, but clearly the writers didn't feel that way... - DirectorDavid SteinbergStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsGeorge orders hair growing cream from China. Jerry is mesmerized by a dirty message left on a tape recorder from his last performance. George becomes infatuated with Elaine.6/10
"Doesn't the fat fetish conflict with the minimalism?"
One of the rare good lines.
Neither a particularly funny nor plausible episode. Elaine doing the "sexy" shtick is annoying rather than amusing, and George's obsession with her is 50/50: kinda works and kinda doesn't.
"That was the worst Cockney accent I've ever heard."
Speaking of which, they should have had an episode centering around a Cockney visitor. That could have been fun... - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry dates a vacuous actress and struggles with overcoming his sexual desire for her. George dates a woman with a large nose, who decides to get a nose job after a careless comment from Kramer.9/10
"It's a shnozz."
The nose plot is great. George's ambivalence, Kramer's honesty, the botched surgery, Elaine being pissed off at George, and George's petrified face upon hearing Kramer say she needs a new schnozzle... A lot of great stuff.
"You're as pretty as any of them, you just need a nose-job."
Jerry's bit about 100% honesty during dates is pretty good too.
Jerry's beautiful-Whitesnake-chick-date plot is good too. He is torn between being disgusted by her stupidity (yet another mindless actress wannabe) on the one hand, and her ravishing sexuality on the other. The story of a billion relationships, in a nutshell.
"It's like my penis and my brain are playing a chess game and I am letting him win."
"Wins till you're 40."
"What happens then?"
"He still wins but it's not a blow-out."
It's interesting that "fans" rated this episode, the best one in the 1st half of this season, much lower than the previous one - which is the among the weakest in the early seasons... making me wonder what universe I live in, and whether it's the same one as the mediocreverse fans of "Friends" reside in, those people who dislike the best "Seinfeld" episodes while preferring the dumber ones... It's like all those tone-deaf "music fans" who prefer Bon Jovi to ABBA, making one question the very fabric of reality...
Perhaps (a smaller number of) female fans were upset by the brain-vs-penis premise which may be too close for comfort, the various truths involved in it, which don't just place the male in a bad/silly light...
The boring Kramer sub-plot prevents the highest rating. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry and Elaine join George for a special party, where they send signals to each other to get out of bad party conversations; George had an office romance.7/10
The best shtick is Elaine and Jerry thumping their heads as signals for help during a boring party, great stuff.
Another notable scene is Elaine making a fool of herself with her anti-fur "fish feel no pain" altercation with George's date (another ridiculously absurd George "conquering"), an argument that she initiates but loses. The show's attempt to portray her as very intelligent in certain episodes (for example, the IQ test episode) makes no sense in light of her numerous gaffs. Still, it's just a sitcom, which means that characterization can take a backseat to the jokes.
Which aren't that great, despite the 2-3 highlights. This is in fact a "lost episode", produced for season 2 but postponed until season 3 because David wasn't happy with it. There are certainly some weak points here, such as the long explanation Kramer gives for being late, which is completely pointless, almost like padding. Plus the hooker nonsense, and of course the boring last part with the party host hassling Jerry.
GUEST ACTORS: The actor playing the party's host is uninteresting, unfunny. George's blonde date does a good job; she's decent-looking, nothing special but way above George's league, something that would happen over and over - despite him supposedly being a loser. But, as I said, jokes trump logic, trump characterization, they are above everything, as it should be. Though it's always ideal when we have both logic/character-consistency AND good-quality humour. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry's car is stolen. Elaine dates an older man. Kramer gets a small role in a Woody Allen movie filmed on his and Jerry's block. George must deal with the commotion of the movie filming as he gets a job parking cars on the block.8/10
I have a bit of an issue with whenever Jerry acts too blase about being robbed or taken advantage of in a very blatant way. For example, when Kramer causes him major damage, despite Jerry being allegedly very finicky, a germophobe... Sure, the phone conversation with the car thief is an original shtick, but it so completely lacks realism because of Jerry's reactions that it's not particularly funny.
Is everyone left-handed in this series? First George and Jerry, now even the car-rental woman... Dunno why, but left-handed scribbling always triggers me. On TV and in movies only, not in reality, because I get this impression they do it intentionally on TV and in movies. (Sort of the way they are always doing left-wing propaganda intentionally.) - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsGeorge gets a job at Elaine's office and gets involved with the cleaning woman. Elaine's boyfriend is a recovering alcoholic who falls off the wagon because of Jerry's carelessness. George buys Elaine a marked-down cashmere sweater.
- DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsEveryone has an uncommon experience while going their separate ways on the subway; Kramer overheard a hot tip on a horse on his way to pay a traffic violation.8/10
"Lesbian weddings... How do they decide on the bride and groom? Do they flip a coin?"
"Yeah... They flip a coin..."
"What, was that politically-incorrect? It's a legitimate question."
This wouldn't have gone past the PC Censorship Police just a decade after it was shot, let alone 30 years later. And it's not even a provocative joke, it's very mild. Even lesbians would laugh at it... Some of them at least.
"I hate men but I'm not a lesbian!"
That line would DEFINITELY be deleted from the script these days. In fact, it wouldn't even be in the 1st draft. The writer would come up with the line, then feel ashamed, then experience deep guilt, then shoot himself while falling off a bridge... Because everyone is so damn sensitive these days, and so overwhelmed by fear of being considered racist, sexist, anti-lesbian or whatever else is considered VIP (Very Important Propaganda).
The gag with Kramer trying to sit next to a fat man, that too might be deleted nowadays. It would be considered "fat-shaming" or whatever idiotic word the people in charge of our behaviour and thoughts call it.
"I am not ashamed of MY body."
"Exactly, that's the problem. You should be."
Again, "fat-shaming", this time more blatant. The PC Police should be on high alert whenever "Seinfeld" is playing on TV. They might consider picketing against the show... A good, healthy street-protest with hysterical chanting of hateful slogans never hurt anyone...
First mention of Biff, from "Death of a Salesman".
But it's an atypically visual episode. Several slapstick scenes.
The beautiful woman being flirty with George is utterly absurd. It happens all the time though in the series, George "the loser" miraculously getting hot dates and being noticed by great-looking and even successful women who in reality wouldn't even notice him, not even if he started singing and hopping like a bunny. I prefer my humour based on reality, not on total fantasy. (Unless we're talking about absurdist humour of the ZAZ type.)
Of course, this episode is the big exception: this time George gets conned by a thief. Finally something realistic regarding George and his (great-looking) women...
George being stuck in the subway doors is a very cringey, amusing scene. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry's Pez dispenser makes Elaine laugh during George's girlfriend's piano recital and puts their relationship in jeopardy; Kramer joins the Polar Bear Club.8/10
George gets to date a successful, good-looking pianist. More nonsense, but we can forgive it because how else would we get all these inane neurotic relationship problems then? Besides, do we really want Bette Midler to play his girlfriend instead? Not really...
George getting the upper hand by doing a "preemptive split" from his girlfriend was a nice bit of female psychology. As soon as she was dumped she suddenly liked George a lot more. This isn't sitcom nonsense, it's just an exaggerated version of something that's very true.
Flea market... Interesting joke, because I too had this notion that flea markets had fleas. When I was a bit younger. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsAfter a suicide attempt by Jerry's neighbor lands him in a coma, Jerry begins a relationship with his girlfriend. George visits a psychic who predicts trouble on his upcoming trip. Elaine agonizes over having to fast before surgery.7/10
One of the more overplayed episodes. There's some good stuff here, but more subtlety would have been preferable.
The best bits are Jerry and the Latino woman flirting, and talking nonsense. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsAgainst their better judgment, Jerry and Elaine decide to play matchmaker for the jobless, dateless and possibly hopeless George, setting him up with a single friend of Elaine's.10/10
There's no point for any quotes, because half this episode is very quotable.
It's a more "traditional" Seinfeld approach this time: more dialog-based, no major exaggerations, and with one central plot taking up all the space.
Aside from the clever, funny dialog, the most hilarious scenes might be Kramer acting as referee when his friends getting into scuffles, but always completely misunderstanding the situation. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsElaine and Keith are hitting it off until he pulls out a cigarette; Keith wants Jerry to help him move, leading Jerry along with Elaine to breakup with Keith.9/10
The George plot is absolutely awesome. His many desperate ploys to keep his unemployment checks rolling by lying to the female clerk created some of the best scenes in the series. Whether his rush to tell Jerry about his Art Vandelay conspiracy, or his hilarious attempts to date the clerk's homely daughter, or his dumb panic-stricken plan to bribe the clerk with a famous baseball player - this is all great stuff that almost completely overwhelms the other plot, the baseball-player stuff.
But, evidently the writer of IMDb's synopsis didn't think so, which is why George's plot isn't even mention in it... Duh.
One of the double-episodes that works. The best one, easily. The others generally don't work well. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry and George take a limo from a passenger that Jerry knows never made it on the plane, but their false identities land them in hot water.9/10
A rare uni-plot episode, and it's no wonder because the premise is too good to dilute with sub-plots. That would be stupid. This story demands to be at the center of attention and so any other side-plots would pale by comparison. I even believe this could have easily been turned into a movie, or at least a double episode, because there's so much fun stuff that can be added here.
More attentive fans might recognize the blonde Nazi actress who flirts with George: it's the daughter of the guy who owns a restaurant in a later episode... - DirectorJason AlexanderStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry dates a woman who sideswiped a car, then learns the victim is someone he wants to date. George is drawn into Robin and Michael's marital problems when he says "Bless you" after Robin sneezes. Kramer has mysterious seizures.
- DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry learns that his new artist friend, from whom George has been forced to buy a painting, plagiarized a letter to keep him from breaking up with her. Elaine refuses to remove her Baltimore Orioles cap during a New York Yankees game.9/10
One thing I never understood about Jewish humour in sitcoms and comedies is why they create non-Jewish characters - then make these characters feel weird about uncircumcised penises. Such as in this episode, with Elaine.
"Ever seen an uncircumcised one?"
"Never."
Wut?
She's supposed to be non-Jewish (though Dreyfuss is Jewish in real-life but that's irrelevant in this context) and yet she never...? So does her character date only Jews and Arabs?
This always bewildered me. Because this is not the only time Elaine talked about non-circumcised penises as if they were aliens that landed on her head last week. There's another one.
However, after googling, I was quite shocked to find out that 70-80% of male American infants went through this barbaric procedure, though the numbers are in a constant decline in recent years because most millennials don't support it. (Finally millennials get something right...) In Europe it is a very small number, as it is in Latin America and among Orientals, according to what I read. I've certainly never heard anyone here (in Europe) talk about plans to circumcise an infant. It is a non-topic.
White non-circumcised European settlers colonized America, so what the hell turned Americans into a nation of circumcisers? I know this has nothing to do with "Seinfeld", but it is very puzzling.
I used to be annoyed by this, because I felt that Elaine's character is totally cut off from reality, but now I understand the jokes... Even though I still find it exaggerated that she never saw a non-butchered penis, considering she dated several hundred guys in the show...
"I make one white lie, and my face ends up in the newspapers!"
The baseball cap incident starts soon thereafter, and it's a very silly, rather amusing premise. Elaine trying to steal the newspaper is predictable but funny.
"I'm not paying $500 for this! It's a piece of junk!"
Music to my ears whenever abstract, modern art gets mocked. It doesn't happen often enough, by far. Admittedly, George is portrayed as someone who can't care less about art... (Which technically-speaking isn't relevant because this ISN'T art.)
"Wow, this is the ugliest thing ever!"
Kramer says this, but then again he has brain-damage in this episode... So what's David trying to say? That plebeians/philistines can't appreciate that garbage? This is a very pompous, idiotic hipster attitude which doesn't quite fit with David's personality (or as much as we even know him) but does fall in line with how left-wingers define art. Possibly all this means nothing too specific; he's just going for laughs. I believe David would much rather get laughs that involve contradictory (political/social/whatever) messages than be consistent but non-funny.
He certainly succeeded with the scene in which Kramer reacts to the letter.
The Kramer painting sub-plot is fairly brief but very good too.
The only issue in this episode is one key logic flaw: how did Lippman fail to notice Elaine in the newspapers? It's not a huge flaw, because one could make up a halfway viable excuse for it, but it kind of mars the great twist. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsGeorge becomes trapped in a battle of wills over the rightful ownership of a parking space.7/10
There are some very good moments, but overall the episode seems disjointed. Scenes follow one another a bit randomly in the 2nd half. Plus there's that hat scene in which Newman annoys George: it would have made sense if Newman did this on purpose to mess up George's flirting attempts, but since he didn't it comes off completely contrived, absurd.
Some of the random bits are very good, such as Kramer telling a woman she's pregnant.
"Congratulations on the pregnancy."
"I'm not pregnant!"
"Are you sure...?"
Making Kramer brutally honest is a blessing for any comedy writer: you get to string easy jokes AND get to be politically-incorrect on occasion. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry is fed up with Kramer's coming into his apartment any time he feels like it and asks him to return his spare set of keys. Kramer begrudgingly complies but then lets it be known that he's leaving for California. As for the others, the one key swap leads to multiple exchanges on pretty well everyone's part. When Jerry forgets his keys, he gets George to let him into Elaine's apartment so he can get his spare set. What they find interests them.
- DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsWhen Jerry is asked to appear on The Tonight Show in Los Angeles, George accompanies him to look for Kramer.--------------- SEASON 4 ----------------
5/10
Any plot that puts Candice Bergen (and that idiotic show "Murphy Brown") on a pedestal is bound to irritate me from the get-go. Thankfully, this episode is pretty mediocre, so if there's anywhere her name should be used it's in one of the rare crap episodes.
It's not like Kramer at all to get star-struck by anyone, much less a kid TV star, in this case Fred Savage. Whoever wrote this scene must have been unfamiliar with Kramer's character, or simply didn't give a crap. It is awful slapstick, made worse by a total breach of characterization. You can't COMPLETELY ignore characterization. A small breach is acceptable (especially if a joke is worth it) but this is utter garbage. Kramer was always the guy who didn't give a damn who he talked to: he treats a chimp or a child the same way he'd treat the President (who, ironically, "likes" children and isn't far from a chimp, currently at least).
But what can we expect from a writer who actually reveres "Murphy Brown"? Or at least pretends to...
And then Corbin Bernsen - another subpar nepotist - shows up. Thanks, Head of Casting!
The premise of George being mocked by celebs on The Tonight Shows had potential, but you do actually need to get FUNNY guest actor celebs to make it work... The fat actor and especially Corbin don't fit the bill, at all.
The L.A. murder mystery plot is just dumb farce, really bad, very boring. It's always a bad idea to dilute a sitcom with a sub-plot involving non-regulars i.e. new faces who are supposed to deliver all the laughs, like for example the bland young L.A. detective. A tall order. To make things worse, some very bright producer decided that this nonsense had enough potential for a double episode... - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsKramer is arrested when he is mistaken for a serial killer. After he is exonerated, he, Jerry, and George return to New York.4/10
The 2nd part of the feeble L.A. episode...
One of the actors who play an L.A. cop was one of Elaine's numerous boyfriends in a much later episode... (The one she breaks up with over exclamation marks.) Speaking of which, that cop car scene has George and Jerry behaving like utter morons, like children: it's too much, too farcical. There is a not-so-fine line between adults being immature and adults being exactly like children. This is what separates good comedy from crap comedy, among the many other things...
And then ANOTHER "great talent" nepotist graces this mediocre double-episode. Clint Howard.
The only good scenes are George and Jerry phoning up the cops, and then later them and Kramer celebrating that "the killer struck again".
A definite low point of this entire season. And another reason for this is the extremely rare moment when the show gets "serious" i.e. when Jerry gives Kramer back the keys or apologizes for the keys or whatever that nonsense was about... This writer should have been banned from writing further episodes, just for breaking the "no-schmaltz" rule, which is one of the key reasons (no pun) the series is so good.
GUEST ACTORS: Practically all crap. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsNBC executives ask Jerry to come up with an idea for a TV series. George decides he can be a sitcom writer and comes up with "nothing." Kramer trades a radar detector for a helmet, and later Newman receives a speeding ticket.
- DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsNewman uses Kramer as his witness when the former refuses to pay for a speeding ticket.
- DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry is asked to explain to his parents why he does not wear the watch they gave him. Morty Seinfeld thinks his wallet has been stolen from him at his doctor's appointment.
- DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry tries to buy his watch back from Uncle Leo, who found it in the garbage, having been thrown there by Jerry. George tries to resurrect the fledgling NBC deal, while Elaine plans a break up from her psychotherapist with Kramer's help.
- DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsOn their way to the family cabin, George and Susan visit a boy who lives in a bubble; Kramer and Naomi start a fire that ends up burning down the cabin.
- DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry offends Elaine's assistant. Kramer makes a contact for Cuban cigars. A box of letters from John Cheever is all that remains after Susan's father's cabin burns down.
- DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsElaine unknowingly is dating Crazy Joe Davola, who has just left a threatening message on Jerry's recorder.8/10
"Would you turn that down, what is that crap?!"
One of the many reasons (though a lesser one) why "Seinfeld" is fun, is because I recognize some of my own traits, beliefs and habits in George and Jerry (even with Kramer, though that's more rare). For example, Jerry's dislike of opera and how he rationalizes it.
"If you want to say something then say it, don't sing it!"
I had literally said that several times, before I even knew about "Seinfeld".
It's as if I myself had written that line. Ditto Jerry disliking dancing "because it's so dumb" and refusing to high five because "it's the lowest form of male primate bonding ritual", from other episodes.
Even as a kid I HATED high-fiving and would do it only very grudgingly when playing football, just to avoid having to explain myself to chimps... As for dancing, I couldn't have said it better myself: it's so damn stupid.
"This is not a Metallica concert, it's opera! Show some class."
This was way back when Metallica was still quite new to the mainstream crowd and represented a very heavy band, almost like noise, despite the recent watered-down Black Album which had come out the previous year. The other Metallica reference was in a season 5 episode.
The Elaine fling with Joe the Psycho is more interesting than funny, the highlight being when she pepper-sprays him when escaping his stalker den. But most of the episode anyway relies more on its plot than the actual jokes. It's more about situation, less about (great) comedy.
Still has enough good jokes to not disappoint.
"I kinda like this opera crowd, makes me feel tough." - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry finds out that the girl he likes is still a virgin; George wants to end his relationship with Susan to exploit his writing profession as a pick-up line.9/10
"I don't think I could do it [deflower a virgin]... You know they always remember the first time. I don't wanna be remembered, I wanna be forgotten!"
Not tough to guess who said this.
Another good bit is Elaine describing to the virgin woman the male mentality after they'd re done with the act. Of course, Elaine being the polar opposite of a virgin certainly has plenty of experience to draw from...
But this episode is hardly just about the UK virgin (a demographic far more rare now). It's also about the NBC pilot and the duo's total inability to come up with anything substantial, much less write a first draft.
I love the part when the NBC execs start keeling over George's stupid butler premise. There's just so much satire (but also self-parody) about show-biz in this long-running Pilot story.
For example, the way George gets mocked by two women for boasting about being a sitcom writer. (Very good scene.) On several occasions during the Pilot saga the scripts make fun of sitcoms, and it's always very amusing.
And then George stoopidly kisses Susan during the meeting... So many great scenes.
"You are a stupid, stupid man!"
Susan doing Baboo, perhaps? ("You are a very very bad man!") - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsGeorge's mother throws her back out when she falls down after catching George performing a personal act; the gang partakes in a contest of self-denial.9/10
One thing I don't like about the contest is that it's based on very shaky premises.
First there is the "honour system", which is especially absurd considering how conniving, deceitful and egomaniacal all four can be. They are all friends, but they are also liars. There is no honour among thieves, come on... (Or even among much more "decent" people.) Yet the whole game rests on the shoulders of this flawed idea. (Many episodes later, I believe in season 9, George confessed to having won by cheating, which was done as a gag, but also neatly served to expose the absurdity of the "honour system".)
Secondly, Elaine taking part in the "competition". When she said she wanted to join in, the three first refused, then increased the stakes for her from $100 to $150. They should have made it $1000. Or $5000. (In fact, Kramer suggests 1000.) By all logic, and in any situation, and in any other culture or era (past or future), Elaine should have very easily won. About as definitely as a gorilla would have defeated her in arm-wrestling in less than a millisecond.
Many fun moments here though, especially the very original hospital scenes with the rubdowns.
Jerry wanting to ask the woman across the street to stop posing naked is too far-fetched, too absurd to be funny, but Kramer saves the scene with his counter-arguments and begging. Of course, this is the only reason Jerry was written to make such a dumb decision.
The writers forced Jerry to do another dumb thing whereby he decided to tell the virgin about the contest, which no half-way intelligent human would have done... But it's a sitcom, after all, and these "flaws" only become more obvious after repeats.
I also feel the humour gets needlessly juvenile when Jerry sings along to a TV cartoon to avoid the naked woman. But that's just a brief scene.
Btw, the sub-plot with JFK Jr being interested in Elaine isn't far-fetched at all: after all, he dated Sarah Jessica Parker too... - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry and Elaine fly back to New York. Jerry travels on first class while Elaine on coach. George and Kramer run into trouble while trying to arrive on time to pick up Jerry and Elaine at the airport.8/10
The Kramer subplot is a bit too absurd for me, but it does involve three great moments: Doodie (duty), George provoking a serial-killer, and George getting beat up by the psycho.
The Jerry/Elaine plot is much better, and is generally consistent. The economy/business class Jerry-Elaine contrast plays out well, and it's interesting that the writer chose to make the female character suffer while the male character is living it up. In any other sitcom (or cheesy dumb comedy) most writers would have opted for the opposite i.e. the "woman is happy, her husband/boyfriend/buddy is miserable" shtick, which is far less funny, because predictable and cliche.
Besides, it's always fun to have Elaine suffer, because she is by far the lest likable character. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsGeorge has decided he's made a terrible mistake in breaking up with Susan. He moans and groans and is generally driving everybody crazy. Against everyone's advice he decides to tell her he made a mistake . No sooner are they back together than he decides he's the one who made the mistake. Elaine decides to put her picture on her Christmas cards and Kramer agrees to be the photographer. Only problem is that she exposes just a little too much of herself. Jerry meanwhile is dating the model he recently met on a flight and things seem to be going nicely....until she sees him picking his nose, or so she thinks at any rate.10/10
Best scene: George struggling with the jacket zipper instead of talking to the shrink. One of the show's funniest scenes. Just perfect. George brings a calm, collected, confident shrink to the verge. So clever and original.
Elaine's Nipplegate is another original shtick, has her in hysterics which is usually fun. (Because Elaine is essentially an annoying character, plus Dreyfuss plays frustration much better than glee or triumph.) Her rubbing George's head on her chest is another famous scene.
Yet another unique scene is Jerry calling the model agency, but the real action occurring in the background: Elaine angrily snatching the Christmas Card out of George's hands.
A bonus is certainly George hooking up with Susan again, if only briefly. I always like that character and the actress that plays her... Alexander's misgivings about her are completely baseless. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry does a set at a comedy club, then goes to meet George, Elaine, and Kramer afterward to see a screening of Checkmate. However, a simple miscommunication causes the four to keep missing each other at two different theaters.7/10
There is a gag that I believe was lifted from either "Monty Python", "Ripping Yarns" (Palin/Jones) or some older British comedy. It's the one with George asking for Kramer by describing him to the ticket seller, then she answers with "did he have flared nostrils?" but then negates she ever noticed such a person. Some jokes never get old though...
I enjoyed Elaine's/George's/Kramer's descriptions of each other. Very colourful and silly yet precise.
I like Elaine's struggles in and around the movie theater. Any time Elaine "fights the world" and is stressed out has potential to be funny - when handled right. Because she's such an annoying character, so whenever she's peeved I enjoy an episode, much more than when she's succeeding at something.
Jerry being tortured by a boring/leechy/talent-free comedian half-works. I feel the actor playing him isn't interesting enough, which is ironic: I mean it's ironic that the role of a bad comedian gets filled by an actor not much better... - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsGeorge dates Ping's lawyer. Jerry and Elaine argue over mail while Kramer is away at baseball fantasy camp.7/10
George being so insecure and egomaniacal that he fears Jerry will "upstage" him in front of a date, is a typical innovative "Seinfeld" premise, that's both funny and suits a character to a tee - as opposed to creating a "funny" situation at the expense of established characterization. Good writing, as so often.
I found the "Biff" thing amusing despite not understanding it. (I googled it and apparently George is "Biff" again in the episode "Subway", and it's something related to "Death of a Salesman". But because I never read Arthur Miller's left-wing garbage I don't know who Biff is... Americans and their overrated 20th-century literature...)
"Until when is his supposed to go on for?"
"Until consummation..."
"I doubt you have enough material."
It's a pity that the Baboo sub-plot is so buried under the main plot so Baboo barely even appears here.
The Kramer sub-plot is mediocre. The whole Mickey Mantle thing is boring.
"His whole life is a fantasy camp. People should plunk $2000 to live like Kramer for a week: do nothing, fall ass-backwards into money, mooch food off your neighbors, and have sex without dating. THAT'S a fantasy camp."
In this scene George shoots himself in the foot and hence dooms Baboo, in a way that is funny but a bit too far-fetched:
"He's dark and disturbed..."
"His whole life revolves around Superman and cereals!"
GUEST ACTRESS: The Oriental lawyer resembles somewhat Li Na, a former tennis pro who won two slams. She's fairly solid. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsElaine can't seem to figure out why her shoes are a subject of conversation. Jerry and George pitch their pilot to NBC, but the deal is nearly jinxed when George takes a peek at the cleavage of the NBC president's daughter.9/10
How does one write lines for a female character? Any time George and Jerry try to write the pilot some great jokes come out of it. The old "cliche" that male writers struggle to write parts for women, that's what this is obviously about.
"You didn't find it funny?! What am I paying you for???"
I love it how George attacks someone aggressively - then suddenly meekly tries to retract his attack and make amends, as in this scene with his shrink.
I didn't understand the whole shoes business with Elaine... Seems very far-fetched, and forced-written just to connect the other plots.
George being so stupid as to ogle the underage daughter of NBC's boss is absolutely hilarious. This kind of stuff happens in "Seinfeld" and nowhere else. In fact, the teenage girl is the young Denise Richards. And she was 21 at the time, not even close to 15... Not that she couldn't pass off for a teenager, she could.
I love it when the two insult Elaine's cleavage... Elaine's subsequent plan to use it to sway the NBC boss has a touch of "Fawlty Towers" about it, but only because coz it all revolves around a restaurant table...
"What if the Elaine character comins in wearing a low-cut dress and distracts the butler?..."
"Nah. That's kinda broad for us...
Ironic, because 4-5 seasons later the series became very broad hence much less funny. Whether this had to do with Larry David leaving the series after season 7... it probably did. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsA prank by Elaine leads a newspaper journalist to think that Jerry and George are gay.8/10
The "ugliest leader" conversation should have been much longer; very enjoyable. They could have spent half the episode discussing it. Unfortunately, the show wouldn't have had such high ratings if it had been quite that brave...
The main plot relies way too much on sitcomy miscommunication/misunderstanding stuff to be really effective. One of the (many) reasons I dislike sitcoms is because of so much reliance on an exaggerated series of wild coincidences which inevitably lead to misunderstandings - which in turn lead to overly absurd situations.
The "of course there is nothing wrong with that" line is good though. It keeps getting repeated over and over, which in fact ends up MOCKING the politically-correct "training" Americans and the West had been subjected to, because everyone parrots this line like zombies in order to distance themselves from any potential accusations of "homophobia", because most people are such easily intimidated sheep...
George trying to get out of yet another relationship seems too contrived... All these women way above his league... THEY should be dumping HIM. I know this is a very minor or completely irrelevant point for most fans, but to me it's slightly annoying.
The Buck Naked stuff is pretty good. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsElaine gets the gang to volunteer visiting the elderly, each "adopting" an old person. She gets freaked out by hers, George gets fired by his guy, and Jerry loses his. Kramer and Newman scheme to sell records to a vintage music store and steal the records from Jerry's old guy.9/10
"You had an affair with Gandhi?!"
"He used to dip his bald head in oil and rub it all over me."
I love the fact that they chose Gandhi to mock here, of all people, instead of some obvious PC target. Perhaps David or another writer are aware of how utterly fabricated and fake this "icon's" image is? Or maybe it's just a coincidence, whereby they purposefully chose a random famous person whose image is squeaky-clean, just to get a bigger laugh. Either way, a very funny bit - that neatly ties in with George's fantasy involving the Senegalese woman.
One of the few Kramer-Newman adventure plots that mostly works. But in pales compared to the other three.
One of the nuttier scenes when George and the sexy black woman hook up, sort of. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsElaine is adamant that the woman Jerry likes has implants. But when Elaine meets the woman in the sauna and trips and lands on her breasts, she isn't sure if they are implants after all...9/10
Teri Hatcher is doubtlessly one of the best-looking women they had on the show... and that's saying something. Fortunately, it's in a very good episode.
"Salman Rushdie?!... I can understand that. You got 5 million Moslems after you, so you gotta stay in shape."
Not such a great line, but one that would be impossible these days. It would be deemed "islamophobic" or some such rubbish.
"He is one of those guys obsessed with neatness and order. Everything needs to be just so. He would have made a great Nazi..."
A very good line, but another one I'm not sure would have passed the Antifa censorship...
Jerry "breaks up" with Teri because he's under the false impression she has implants. That's another similarity... I too hate fake breasts.
Very fun scene with Jerry hassling Teri about whether she has implants. The way she dumps him is one of the best dumpings in the show.
GUEST ACTRESSES: not only is Hatcher beautiful, but the actress playing George's date isn't far behind. (Yet again he gets a woman way above his league.) - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsElaine decides to visit her former boyfriend, who is in the hospital for a serious operation; Kramer and Jerry have an accident with a Junior Mint; Jerry had a date with a woman whose name rhymes with a female body part.8/10
Atypically weak "commit adultery" stand-up routine opens the episode.
"Interest... an amazing thing. You make money without doing anything."
"I know some friends who base their whole life on that principle..."
"Really? Who...?"
"He's a fat starving artist... Very rare."
It's like all those obese losers who complain about poverty. Meanwhile, they get enough money from welfare to feed half of Africa.
Elaine's GET OUT push is so unfunny... Unfortunately, this recurring shtick makes a particularly dumb appearance here. But I do enjoy how Jerry annoys Elaine by pretending to be her boyfriend.
The junior mint stuff reminds me of "Muppet Show"...
It's the Mulva sub-plot that steals the show. Very typically "Seinfeld" premise without going overboard in needless exaggeration or farce, as happened more often in seasons 8 and 9. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsAfter dinner, Jerry gets his car back from the valet. He and Elaine get in the car and realize that the valet has really bad B.O.. Jerry goes to great lengths to get the smell out of his car while Elaine goes to great lengths to get the smell out of her hair. Jerry soon realizes that the smell isn't just a mere odor, but an entity unto itself, and finally decides that he has to get rid of his car. Meanwhile, George gets reacquainted with Susan and discovers that he drove her to lesbianism, and Kramer dates Susan's girlfriend.
- DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsAt Kramer's insistence, George parks his Dad's car in a handicap spot. After a woman is injured because of it, George becomes his Dad's butler while Kramer tries to help the woman.7/10
"It's just like those feminists! They want equality but when the check comes in they're nowhere!"
Kramer gets called "hispter doofus" the first time here. In a later episode Elaine does it too.
GUEST ACTORS: Both Drake and his ex-fiancee are boring, like wallpaper. The wheelchair salesman is good but his role isn't that well-written. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael Richards"Jerry," the television pilot, gets cast and finally airs. Elaine tries to discourage Dalrymple's romantic pursuit.4/10
"It's your job, you're in television. If you were working for Greenpeace then I might be more interested."
So does this line prove that Larry David is politically as informed as an amoeba, or was he mocking Elaine? It's one of the two.
But there's bigger fish to fry, for example a mediocre script and bad casting, leading to probably the worst episode of seasons 3-5. Perhaps Larry should have joined Greenpeace instead of writing this episode...
Either way, an appropriately bad start to a fairly disappointing episode. George's scene with the shrink is great, as those shrink scenes always are, but otherwise there is the pilot's casting and shooting which is a bit cringey and very rarely funny.
As is the NBC director being in love with Elaine. It feels off, contrived, stupid and is hence boring. It's not even a funny scene, there are no jokes in it. Then the phone conservation, which is also unfunny because it contains no jokes. Then he throws a tantrum, and it's just as lame as the rest.
Then, ironically, they cast a really unappealing actress for the role of Elaine - in the casting for the pilot. This is not the kind of irony I want though.
Kramer vs Kramer is also unfunny. This script is not just very weak by season 4 standards, it is weak even by season 9 standards, proving that David should have left the writing to more capable people (while he's saving the world in a Greenpeace office, or pissing about on a boat like NBC's boss in that stoopid scene). He focused too much on show-biz in-jokes to include actual jokes and funny situations. It is no wonder that relatively few episodes were written by him after this. He either lost interest or just dried up with ideas for jokes. Thankfully, the producers found enough competent writers who understood the show to make it work for a few more seasons.
Fake Kramer vs George is absurd. Which actor would be so pathologically aggressive towards one of the show's producers/writers? Another totally contrived i.e. nonsensical set-up that undermines comedy.
More cringe follows in the scene when various past characters comment on the pilot: most of this is really bad.
And this is a double episode... They usually screwed up those. Because this format is wrong? Who knows. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsElaine makes a startling confession.--------------- SEASON 5 ----------------
9/10
This time the plots are all unified by impotence. George’s impotence is the funniest, of course, due partly thanks to the GF actress who does a great job. Jerry’s obsession with Elaine faking is good too.
GUEST ACTRESS: Decent-looking, and really good in all of her scenes. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsKramer and his soft-spoken friend Leslie start a new line of clothing and Jerry accidentally agrees to wear it on the Today show.9/10
The Monty Python sketch with old upper-class guys competing who had the worst childhood is mimicked here when Seinfeld and Jerry argue over whose parents are weirder. Very funny dialogue.
I also liked Jerry unsuccessfully trying to tell Mrs Costanza a joke. She just couldn't care less about his jokes.
“I don’t think I’d feel comfortable handing out baloney sandwiches in my building.”
The main plot with “the low-talker” and her idiotic “pirate” dress is great stuff.
George wearing gloves after he becomes a hand model is pretty fun too. The speed with which his arrogance and confidence increase also adds to the comedy.
GUEST ACTORS: The low-talker is well cast but uninteresting. Briant Gumbel is awful. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsGeorge loses his glasses at the health club.7/10
A very solid episode.
The flaw is that George gives the dog owner Jerry’s address: his motive for doing that is non-existent. He simply does it as a forced plot-device, because the writer needed it. There is zero explanation given to us to believe he’d actually betray his friends that way. Had no motive. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsThe gang gets suspicious of their accountant.8/10
The guy who plays the cocaine-sniffing accountant is boring, but he doesn't get in the way of a plot that isn't quite as good as rest of the stuff from this season.
The better plot is the bra job stuff. However, a dumb flaw ruins the end, whereby George loses his new job on the spot - just because he touches a random woman who just happens to be the boss there. Why would George touch someone that way? It seems very far-fetched hence not that funny. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsElaine and Jerry are nervous about the religious duties they must do when they agree to become godparents to a couple's newborn; George nabs a great parking spot.8/10
George asking for compensation after a suicider destroys his car is a great premise.
Kramer's “manpig” is an idea taken from the excellent British 1973 movie “O Lucky Man”. Interestingly, nowhere on the internet has anyone made this obvious connection… Probably because extremely few of the peasants even know this movie exists.
The episode’s last 5 minutes were ruined by the mohel expert; neither this character nor the actor who plays him are funny, at all. Lots of overacting and exaggeration in the vein of the weaker season 8 and 9 episodes. Embarrassingly bad, in fact. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsGeorge decides to use Jerry's girlfriend to spy on his friends by having her read their lips. Kramer claims he can also read lips and tries to prove it.10/10
One of the top episodes in season 5. Many clever gags and a very good guest appearance by the then-famous deaf actress.
Metallica gets mentioned.
GUEST ACTORS: The deaf actress is attractive and funny, the cab driver is very good too. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsKramer invests in a new non-fat yogurt store.7/10
A fun episode the first time around, but becomes boring on addition viewings because it's so far-fetched. The writers manipulate the characters too much to do everyhing they need in orer to advance the absurd ploy. For example, the cussing kid inecplicably starts destroying Jerry's tape - just so Jerry can throw a funny F bomb tantrum. Or Kramer hooking up with the lab worker - just so they can mess up Giuliani's blood test. The plot is too convoluted for its own good.
George's school-days nemesis Brown being played by a bland, dull actor doesn't help wither. Perhaps that's why a different actor was in the next episodes when he shows up (in later seasons).
George faking the elbow injury is too ridiculous. It's a bit too much. In comedy less is more... - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry regrets giving his longtime barber the heave-ho after he gets a ridiculous-looking haircut. George gets a job interview but the boss leaves him with a very cryptic ending. Kramer begs Elaine to let him take part in her charity bachelor auction.7/10
The George and Jerry plots are diametrically opposed this time, in terms of quality. The former's is a typical eccentric plot about George's brazenness and ability to BS his way through situations. Going to a job he isn't even sure he got is a unique idea.
The title plot, however, is utter rubbish, like some kind of goofy childish nonsense from season 8 or 9. It's so over-the-top cartoonish it doesn't belong to Seinfeld at all. It's not even logical: why would a barber whom Jerry has been going to for a long time do a total botch job on a regular customer? Makes zero sense. They should have found a real reason for him to ruin Jerry's hair. But because there is none the plot is rubbish. Not to mention the Teletubby humour. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry gets mad when he dates a masseuse. Kramer and George get massages while Jerry doesn't. Meanwhile, Elaine's new boyfriend is Joel Rifkin, an innocent man who shares the same name as one of New York's most notorious serial killers.9/10
Jerry never getting a massage from his masseuse girlfriend is a very funny shtick.
The Rifkin sub-plot is merely OK. Elaine snapping at her colleagues for mocking her boyfriend's serial-killer name is a rather unconvincing, stupid scene.
The George plot is very good though. He is obsessed with Jerry's masseuse girlfriend not liking him, to the extent where he focuses on her far more than his GF (that fun broad from the seasons's 1st episode). - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry is deemed a racist when he purchases a Native American statue for Elaine. Kramer tries to get Elaine's company to publish his coffee table book. Elaine runs into a really creepy man on the subway who steals Frank's TV Guide and follows her to the Costanza's house. Meanwhile, George gets grounded when he has sex with a woman in his parents' bed.10/10
This premise was later bled dry by Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm, a series that started off very well but then committed harakiri when it kept repeating the same formula over and over - namely Larry being a victim of misunderstandings related to PC nonsense.
Except that in this episode of Seinfeld the show seems to make fun of over-sensitive snowflakes rather than promote this degenerate idea.
"Are you crazy?! She is Native American!"
"She is...?"
Instead of acting meek, Jerry should have said "so what if she is!" Was he mocking Indian culture? If this annoying American Indian character gets this offended by what Jerry was doing then the only explanation must be that she is actually EMBARRASSED of her own heritage.
Still, Jerry at one point says "aren't we all getting too crazy with this sensitivity?!"
In Curb Your Enthusiasm there was never such a condemnation of PC-ness. Larry David, being a left-winger, would never too openly lambaste the moronic mentality which he personally probably supports - but which is in opposition to his type of humour. So there's definitely an element of hypocrisy and paradox in all of this...
Indian-giver, reservations, ticket scalper... The various word-plays are great, especially Jerry's inability to deal with them.
I love the fact that hypocritically PC Elaine gets poetic justice when her boss ends up buying the Indian statue.
The TV guide plot is pretty good too. One of the best episodes. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsGeorge changes his religion to Latvian Orthodox to keep his girlfriend happy; Jerry becomes curious as to why his girlfriend needs fungus cream.9/10
George becoming a Latvian Orthodox just to appease his girlfriend is a great premise, but I doubt it would have been approved these days... In America humour is now heavily censored, hence why so much of the more recent sitcoms, comedies and comedians are so bad.
Not that zombies ever notice.
The Kramer sub-plot doesn't work that well though. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsWhen mystery woman withholds toilet paper from Elaine, who turns out to be Jerry's new girlfriend, Jerry tries to stop her figuring it out. George becomes enamored with Elaine's "cool guy" boyfriend. Kramer keeps calling a phone sex line.9/10
BEST SCENES:
Jerry doing a double-take when he realizes that Elaine was the one who Gertz had a toilet-paper war with.
Elaine finally admitting that Dan IS a mimbo, but "he's MY mimbo".
George paralyzed with fear on a cliff.
Elaine rushing to steal all the toilet-paper rolls.
GUEST ACTORS: Jami Gertz is one of the most beautiful Jerry/George girlfriends, which certainly helps fulfil the script's potential. Dan Cortese is ideally suited to portray a "mimbo" airhead "dude" type. The casting was top-notch during the show's best seasons, with rare exceptions. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsEn route to a dinner party, Jerry and Elaine stop off at a bakery and get held up when the bakery runs out of what they want to purchase. Meanwhile, George and Kramer, en route to said dinner party, stop off at a liquor store to buy a bottle of wine and have a hard time picking one out.7/10
"The fabric of society is very complex, George."
Even though it's well-written, I never warmed to this episode as I did with the others from this era. It must be the overly linear, mishap-after-mishap type of plot that grows a bit tiresome after a while.
I probably liked it most on the first viewing, but then found out it wasn't a good "repeat episode". - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsGeorge starts dating a college friend who, thanks to Jerry, thinks George is now a marine biologist. Elaine's electronic organizer injures a person after being launched from a limo by a Russian novelist. Kramer decides to golf on the beach.9/10
Starts off with a funny bit about how we root for the antelope or the big cats depending on whom the documentary makers focus on in a show. This is something I had noticed before this episode, how easily we are manipulated. Make a movie from a serial-killer's perspective and we'll even root for him. People are zombies...
Any episode with George being an architect is better for it. Especially when he complains about not having an opportunity to be one.
"You know that I always wanted to pretend to be an architect!"
Great line. Plus the angry stuff about marine biologist being a crap choice by Jerry.
"I didn't even know it was a job."
Another awesome line.
This conversation, when he finds out his "occupation", is pure gold.
Elaine's sub-plot is good too. Lippman's face upon hearing Elaine babble about "war, what is it good for" is priceless. Lippman, even though he was rarely used as a vehicle for gags, was a much better character than Peterman (Elaine's boss in latter seasons) who bored me and was never funny.
Kramer's face upon realizing his golf ball caused the whale incident...
"I wouldn't want to take any attention away from the hookers!"
GUEST ACTRESSES: George's love interest is played by a rather good-looking actress, which of course helps the plot. Carol Kane was a great addition. Just that face, her voice and Nu Yoik accent lend even more fun to an already top episode. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsWhile shopping for a new suit for a job interview, George and the others stumble upon a mannequin which scarily resembles Elaine. Meanwhile Jerry tries to figure out why his girlfriend won't try his apple pie at Monks.10/10
Many things to recommend here: Elaine's obsession with the mannequin, the weird apple-pie plot, the attractive actress as Jerry's new girlfriend, the pizza-maker not mashing his hands, George tricking a fellow fat guy out of a suit, the snarky Russian saleswoman, Kramer hooking up with a girl just as weird as he is...
GUEST ACTRESSES: Top casting. Jerry's girl is attractive, Kramer's girl is very entertaining (pity she never reappeared later), and "Natasha" is very good too. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsKramer gets a job with Mickey as a TV stand-in. Jerry sets Elaine up with a guy who he says would be perfect for her. At the end of their first date he takes "it" out.7/10
George's new girlfriend is one of those female characters whose presence in the series I wish had been extended to several more appearances. The actress playing her is quite interesting, what with her snarky face and NU Yoik accent, a real ball-buster who could have been a great pain-in-the-ass for George in many situations.
How is it the show's writers and producers missed these opportunities? It wasn't rare that new girlfriends would appear, which had obvious potential to be great long-term characters. Instead they give "Newman" dozens of episodes. I rarely found him funny or useful for the show. I don't find either the character or that actor particularly funny.
The plot isn't that great this time. The whole "heightening" stuff wasn't handled logically. Other little people not noticing that Kramer's buddy was "heightening" makes zero sense. They needed to spy in his locker to find that out? Absurd hence not funny.
Finding good actors among the little people isn't as easy as some people might believe. There are extremely few small people in any given population, so finding competent actors among them can't be that easy, I'd imagine. Must have been a nightmare to cast "Time Bandits"... Still, Danny Woodburn was a good find, and so this Mickey character re-appears in a few more episodes.
Elaine's date "taking it out" was a funny shtick though. Elaine's reactions were great, as was her later description to the guys.
George's staying in a relationship out of spite is a clever gimmick, and very in keeping with what George is about.
"You know, George, they are doing wonderful things in mental institutions these days."
The hospital sub-plot isn't very good, but I liked Elaine's "porno-date" being disgusted by a woman breast-feeding at a hospital: nice touch of irony/hypocrisy... - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry's girlfriend poses as his wife for a dry cleaning discount. Elaine gets mixed signals from a guy at the gym. George pees in the shower. Kramer meets his new girlfriend's family.8/10
Courteney Cox looked decent at this point in her career, kind of pretty in a wholesome way. Too thin but not yet borderline anorexic.
Thing is, she isn't much of an actress - which seems to have been a plague on the "Friends" set where everyone sucked. Fortunately for her this script is very good, so she could ride on its coat-tails, making her semi-incompetence less obvious than it would otherwise have been. For example, in "Friends", where the garbage scripts completely expose the cast's overwhelming incompetence. Six amateurs/semi-amateurs, half of them nepotists: small wonder. Schwimmer being by far the worst actor in the bunch, closely followed by wooden Aniston.
"Friends"... One of the worst sitcoms ever.
Still, Cox is very good in the fake-husband/wife squabble scene. She wasn't totally hopeless. Certainly a much better actress than Kudrow and especially Anistoned... (Lisa was cute, but only after she had her nose fixed, before she hit the big time...)
There is a bit of a logic problem with the Elaine sub-plot, because her love-interest is giving her confusing mixed signals that simply don't add up. The guy cast to play him isn't a good actor, which doesn't help things.
"The guy leaves a puddle of sweat and that's a signal?!... What if he left you a used Kleenex, is that a Valentine?!"
GUEST ACTRESSES: I already discussed Cox... There's of course that hot "Russian" which Jerry meets at the cleaners. Why can't more A-list actresses look like that? Is there a conspiracy against beauty among Hollywood's "elite"? If she were Jon Voight's daughter I'm pretty sure she would have had 100 times more movie/TV appearances.
"I thought you said you're bringing a white boy over. I don't see a white boy, I see a damn fool!"
Great way to close a good episode. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry and his latest girlfriend finally get alone time when they go on a date to see "Schindler's List," where Newman oversees them making out.9/10
"Yeah, and maybe baldness will catch on... Things will ALL be turning your way."
The Paris plot has lots of good stuff in it, but generally speaking this episode doesn't count among my favourites in terms of re-playing, despite the many good moments. Perhaps because the story-lines are numerous making the plot too convoluted. There are like 100 characters in this episode... Cleverly constructed, no question, but "too busy". And too long: it's a rare double episode, running at 43 minutes.
"He wants people to think he's in Paris."
"Why?"
"Because George is a very disturbed individual."
Judge's close-talker character is suitably off-the-wall. Great idea, making people uncomfortable and confused by "close-talking" but without doing it on purpose.
"They are so loud, always fighting, it's very uncomfortable being around [the Costanzas]. Haven't you noticed?"
"I have noticed, but they're from your age group, I didn't think you could detect such abnormal behaviour from your own kind."
Using "Schindler's List" must have been somewhat controversial - among Jews at least? Asking, not saying. I don't know. But I do like David's and Seinfeld's brazenness. Perhaps they felt even a bit mock-happy towards Spielberg because he was being such a virtue-signaling Oscar-fisherman back then, doing ANYTHING just to finally get showered with Oscars. Spielberg was obsessed with getting massive critical "recognition" back in the day, when he was still considered as a commercially successful genius rather than as an "artist", which he was hellbent on becoming/being. Of course, the movie itself doesn't get mocked, but it's a fine line and perhaps some people thought it was crossed... The only reason it was possible to do this in 1995 was because "Seinfeld" is a Jewish show: played by Jews, written and produced by Jews mostly. Nowadays, I'm not sure even Jews would have gotten away with it... - Jerry pays for his parents' Paris anniversary, George becomes a big brother in "The Big Brother" organization, Elaine's odd new boyfriend, Aaron, is a close-talker, Kramer makes a deal selling vintage coats with Jerry's father.
- DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsGeorge struggles to keep his cool in a fire. Elaine's co-worker heckles Jerry's act, and Jerry's retaliation causes an accident where Kramer has to save the day.10/10
This is one of those very rare episodes from seasons 4-7 that I don't even recall. It's as if someone handed me a brand new (lost) episode. So I might not be as objective here as with the other episodes. I may overrate it a bit, or not...
A fairly crazy episode, because we've rarely had a madder guest character than the ginger lunatic - who annoys Elaine and heckles Jerry.
This actress hams it up so much that you can't help but enjoy her insanity, rather than be annoyed by it, which could have easily happened if they had cast some horrible "comic" such as Kathy Griffin. With her in this role this would have been a far weaker episode.
But it's George who once again steals the show, with his fire escape. A scene that ranks among the very best for this season.
The aftermath is great too. The clown trying to kill him, the kids harassing him... The most embarrassing moment for George ever? His attempts to rationalize his selfishness is absolutely mad, but if anyone would try to save face in a 100% hopeless situation, it's him.
"She should be commending me for treating everyone like equals!"
What a great example of desperate fact-spinning. Even some populist politicians/dictators wouldn't have the balls to go as far as George does.
"Did you knock... her over too, or just the kids?"
It gets even crazier when Ginger loses her small toe after Jerry gets his revenge and heckles her.
"Jerry, you're like Rosa Parks!"
Later, inspired by Kramer's heroic pinky-toe rescue, George actually tries to hook up with his ex-girlfriend again, the one whose kid and mother he knocked to the ground - but manages to repeat the same screw-up just minutes later.
Seinfeld being (almost) told by Elaine to "shut the f**k up" is pretty funny too.
Again, I have no idea how this episode slipped under the radar - or how it evaded me. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsThe gang visits a friend's new baby in the Hamptons. George's girlfriend goes topless. A doctor's wording puzzles Elaine. George experiences "shrinkage." Kramer makes a controversial dinner.10/10
"Is it possible they're having babies just so people would visit them?"
Actually, Seinfeld said it in the wrong word order - "they're just having babies so people would visit them" - but I corrected it by moving "just" to where it belongs.
Either way, a very funny line.
The writing is great, but I am annoyed by the casting. George's female friend walks around naked - which is a big aspect of the plot - yet this actress has such a crappy figure that it kind of almost ruins the scene and the whole point. Because she is supposed to be sexy, not un-sexy, which is what she actually is. Kramer even says later that "she has a great body". Had none of the show's casting agents and producers ever seen a great female body before? Because this is not it... Definitely not. This is almost the opposite.
Face-wise also a bad casting decision: neither pretty nor charismatic, this actress is mediocre in every way. I just wonder how they managed to botch the casting this badly.
Aside from this "minor" detail, there is a lot going on: George's shrinkage, an ugly baby, Elaine being confused by "breathtaking", George taking revenge on Jerry's girlfriend, Kramer stealing crab...
Of course, it had to be Kramer as the only person not to hide his shock at the baby's ugliness.
"Worse! Women are far worse than us, they talk about everything!"
Which is not only a funny line but extremely true. Women have far dirtier mouths in the subject of things sex-related than guys.
I do wonder why they called the episode "Hamptons" instead of "Shrinkage"... Or at least "Lobster".
"It shrinks?"
"Like a frightened turtle!"
One of the (many) classic episodes. - DirectorTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsGeorge decides to turn his life around by doing the exact opposite of what he would usually do. Elaine is having a lot of bad luck. Jerry keeps breaking even. Kramer gets the coffee table book published.8/10
Right away, I need to mention how dumb and annoying the Kathy Griffin - Regis Philbin scene is. Not only are those two TV clowns utterly horrible, awful, and unfunny, but the entire scene is badly written, just pure cringe. It's disappointing that the show's writers/producers would give those two the time of day by including them in the show. Perhaps it's just NBC politics, i.e. Regis and Kathy potentially being offended if their show wasn't included in this plot.
The Kramer sub-plot is anyway quite sub-par. His visit to Lippman's office is another pretty dumb scene.
Elaine's sub-plot is quite good though. Her and George "switching places" is a fun premise.
Jerry being completely blase about being dumped (by the actress from the previous episode) is another good scene.
But overall, I don't understand why this is one of the highest rated episodes. Must be something to do with fans being thrilled to witness George transform from loser to winner, even if only briefly. - DirectorAndy AckermanStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry dates a Miss America contestant. Kramer tags along.--------------- SEASON 6 ----------------
- DirectorAndy AckermanStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsGeorge gets upset when he buys a large salad for Elaine but his girlfriend Julie gets the thanks for it. Elaine can't believe that he raises the subject with her and gets back to Julie, which doesn't bode well with George. Jerry reassesses his feelings for his new girlfriend when he learns that she went out with Newman--and he dumped her. Kramer gets into an argument with his golfing partner, a former baseball player, who later loses his temper and is sought by the police. Kramer, sure that he caused it all, rushes to his buddy's aid.9/10
BEST BITS: The Neuman's ex-girlfriend plot is awesome. The absurdity of Neuman having dated a beautiful woman - and then dumped her (the icing on the cake) - is milked for all its worth. Jerry's face upon finding this out is priceless, only topped by a hilarious conversation with a stupefied Elaine, and then a conversation with Neuman himself, which is also top writing. The idea that Jerry suddenly loses interest in this woman is very funny, cleverly exploring our slavery to status and pecking order.
The salad plot is good, though not great. George's neurosis is once again exploited, and this is achieved by once again focusing on a very minor subject. George's anger at his GF and Elaine is great.
GUEST ACTRESS: Neuman's ex had a memorable role in Groundhog Day. She was great there and is quite good here. Great casting decision to have an obvious beauty play Neuman's ex, as to heighten the absurdity.
Btw, the absurdity of George dating so many attractive women can be a little bothersome sometimes, because the POINT of those affairs isn't to be absurd - hence why it's absurd, but in a bad way. Jason Alexander himself once said how his wife thought it was absurd that George would have all these good-looking women dating him. - DirectorAndy AckermanStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsKramer finds Jerry's old birthday checks from his grandmother and insists he deposits them, which puts Nana in unexpected debt. Elaine accidentally tells the high talker a secret. Mr Pitt eats a Snickers bar with utensils.8/10
BEST PLOT: Elaine ruining her friend's relationship. The high-talker plot is fun, especially the many misunderstandings which come off funny rather than forced and annoying - as they tend to be in sitcoms.
The high talking very cleverly ties in later when Jerry's granny is mistaken for the high-pitched fatty. Jerry's and Elaine's reactions to this screw-up are great. - DirectorAndy AckermanStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsGeorge's telephone line crosses with that of a woman named Donna Chang, and everyone seeks her advice when she convinces them that she's Chinese. Jerry winds up dating her. Things get worse when Frank and Estelle announce a separation. Jerry and Elaine can't seem to figure out why Frank Costanza is having mysterious business dealings with a man in a cape.9/10
"Isn't that racist?"
"If I LIKE their race then how is it racist."
A great exchange that would be very unlikely in a modern sitcom or comedy. And a bit of a lesson for the current Zoomer/millennial obsession with witch-hunting for racism at every opportunity, like aggressive demented hawks. The show was never PC and that is one of its many strong assets.
Jerry meeting a Chinese-wannabe is a weird and original idea that mostly works. The "ridicurous" and "rhines are crossed" bits are very funny. Again, this would be impossible today. Such jokes would never get past the heavy neo-Marxist self-censors... Nevertheless, it's interesting how the show pokes fun at Oriental stereotypes, while never daring to do the same with black people: this has been a fascinating case of "selective racism" for so many decades in the States, something I'd discussed already on a blog of mine... Somehow Orientals are fair game - not to mention "white trash" who are routinely mocked in popular culture - yet every comedian walks on egg-shells when it comes to black Americans.
It's similar to how Moslem jokes are completely taboo among left-wing writers, yet mocking Christians is as common as mobile phones.
A very funny bit is Jerry summarizing Elaine's destruction of her BFF's life. Especially funny are the bits about going to the army - and then going AWOL. Elaine's response that "she wasn't having fun" in the army is priceless.
Kramer berating Elaine for ruining her friend's life is a decent bit.
GUEST ACTRESS: "Changstein" is a decent-looking actress, does a good job. - DirectorAndy AckermanStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry's new couch is completely ruined when Elaine upsets a man with a bladder condition. Kramer decides to start up his own new pizza business. George joins a book club but instead of reading the book he watches the movie.10/10
BEST BITS: George getting the bizarre idea to invade a family of strangers just to cheat on "Breakfast At Tiffanys" is one of the show's most original ideas - and there were certainly many. The choice of making this family black was completely intentional, as it heightens the absurdity of the situation, increasing the awkwardness (hence humour).
The icing on the cake is when George starts interrupting the black woman, after she arrives home. She talks about a serious issue, an ill person, yet George tries to shush her. This is great comedy indeed. Then he spills a drink all over their sofa - which is not only funny but very cleverly ties in with Jerry's sofa being ruined by pee. The pro-abortion cook makes Jerry pay dearly for the chaos he caused in his restaurant, with the "abortion uprising". Poetic justice, very clever writing.
The plot with Elaine being so hung up on abortion rights is a classic too. The way Jerry manipulates her into shooting herself in the foot over this issue, over and over, is both hilarious and morally sound.
In fact, the fanaticism on display here by Elaine is practically a foreshadowing of the current America - in which liberals have nothing better to do than harass everyone about their crazy beliefs. When people now say "America is so divided" they should always add that this division is caused predominantly by "progressives" who had turned into political extremists in the meantime. Liberals were pretty bad in the 90s, but they morphed into a demonic force hellbent on destroying the country.
Btw, I am pro-abortion, yet I find Elaine a great caricature of a self-righteous moron. The scene when she finds out that her BF is anti-abortion is hilarious.
"If it's not about sports I can't focus on a book."
"You're not very bright, are you."
Best lines in this top-notch episode. - DirectorAndy AckermanStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry's excitement about dating a gymnast diminishes after mediocre sex; George's girlfriend's mom catches him eating out of the trash; Kramer passes a kidney stone.7/10
Not the greatest episode from an otherwise strong season. Jerry and Kramer getting excited over the potential sexual antics of a gymnast is intrinsically not that funny. Kramer leaving the tape with Jerry is a good scene though.
GUEST ACTRESS: Elina Lowensohn is a very poor performer, she's totally wooden and ineffective. - DirectorAndy AckermanStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry accepts an Armani suit from Kenny Bania, provided that he will treat him to a meal; Elaine dates a bounder from England; Kramer decides to eat fresh.8/10
The premise of a sycophantic no-talent comedian trapping Jerry into a dinner by giving him an Armani suit is rather far-fetched and silly, but it works because it's handled so well. - DirectorAndy AckermanStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsGeorge buys a convertible he thinks was once owned by Jon Voight. Kramer tries to save a small shoe-repair business. Elaine answers a radio quiz, enabling Mr. Pitt to participate in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Meanwhile, Jerry tries to solve the mystery of whether or not he's invited to Tim Whatley's annual Pre-Thanksgiving party.
- DirectorD. Owen TrainorStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsGeorge gets a secretary, saying he will go for efficiency and smarts rather than beauty. He hires a librarian-esque woman, only to find himself falling in love with her.9/10
BEST PLOT: George getting involved with his "homely" secretary, then getting pissed off when she gets a higher salary than he has is some great stuff. The scene when the two hook up is one of the best in the series.
The corrupt dry cleaners plot is fun too.
The dress sub-plot doesn't quite work, however. Part of the reason is that Kramer selling his clothes to Bania is too forced/absurd of a plot-device to be funny or effective.
GUEST ACTORS: The dry cleaner guy is very good. The ginger secretary is great: what a pity they didn't use her in some more episodes, a definite mistake because both she and her character had lots of potential.
"A secretary can't make more than their boss!!!"
"Well, apparently they can!" - DirectorAndy AckermanStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsA grade school acquaintance puts pressure on Jerry to finally settle an old score in the form of a race; Elaine is blacklisted from a Chinese restaurant.9/10
The best thing about this plot is George's devious plan to pretend not to have met Jerry since high school. The icing on the cake is that very unpredictably the two start bickering in front of Jerry's "nemesis" and his GF, which almost seems as if it might ruin the plan. They start subtly insulting each other, which is an ingenious idea.
The communist sub-plot is pretty good. Thankfully, these leftist writers mocked it enough to not make this a shit episode. The little kid calling Kramer "a commie" was way too far-fetched too be remotely funny. The blacklisting gag is fun despite being a bit forced - though clever.
GUEST ACTORS: Jerry's "Lex Luthor" is quite solid, and the actress playing his new GF is OK too.
"What do you do?"
"I'm an architect." - DirectorAndy AckermanStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry wants to switch from dating a non-laughing woman to dating her roommate; Elaine has difficulty retrieving a tennis racket she loaned out; George enlists Kramer's mother to spy on his seemingly bulimic girlfriend.8/10
Elaine's racket plot is fairly mediocre. I can't buy the premise that Elaine feels she can't ask for the racket back, it's just way too far-fetched.
On the other hand, Kramer's name is discovered and provides some fun.
Also interesting/fun is the roommate-switch sub-plot. It is a good example of the increasingly scheming nature of the main characters, whose amoral behaviour was amplified from season to season. Their conspiracy plays out like a murder plot, which is quite original.
Seinfeld's speech about not being "an orgy guy" is very funny.
GUEST ACTRESSES: Both the broken-arm actress and Kramer's mother actress are quite uninteresting. - DirectorAndy AckermanStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsTim Whatley gives Jerry a label maker as a thank you for his Super Bowl tickets. George is uncomfortable with his girlfriend's male roommate. Kramer and Newman play a game of Risk.7/10
George's problems with his GF having a male room-mate is the best plot. As so often, George goes out the loser but wins out plot-wise.
Kramer and Newman playing Risk is one of the dullest sub-plots from this era of Seinfeld. The fact that Newman has free access to Jerry's flat is too stupid, even for a sitcom. Aren't they enemies?
"Do you know how they get animals to reproduce? They just put them in the same cage!" - DirectorAndy AckermanStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsJerry and George reunite with an old friend recovering from cancer. Elaine still has feelings for an ex-boyfriend. Kramer helps solve a parking ticket mystery.8/10
Jon Lovitz isn't exactly a great comedian but he serves his purpose decently enough. The plot is pretty good so he anyway doesn't get in the way... - DirectorAndy AckermanJason AlexanderTom CheronesStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsFor the series' 100th episode, Jerry Seinfeld hosts a one hour retrospective with clips from previous episodes: the idea for a show about nothing; the smelly car; the puffy shirt; the astronaut pen; Jerry's hair; George's lack of hair; Mulva; Jerry's virgin girlfriend; the Hernandez incident; the outing; the masters of their domain; the bubble boy - are only a few of the episodes included.A highlights episode...
- DirectorAndy AckermanStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsElaine tries to convert a gay man to heterosexuality; George is upset when his blind date turns out to be bald; Jerry braces for a lie detector test.9/10
Elaine trying to convert a gay guy is a very funny premise. Particularly amusing are the dialogs between Elaine and Jerry, who dissect and analyze Elaine's ridiculous mission.
"I only have access to that equipment half-an-hour a week, whereas they have it 24 hours a day. What chance do I have?"
George's bald date - and him wearing a wig - is another good plot-line. He nevertheless gets dumped, which is both funny and very typical.
The Melrose Place sub-plot is clever too especially the scene when Jerry cracks under pressure, finally admitting he's a fan of the show.
The only minor criticism of this above-average episode is that it contains one of the extremely rare times when the show was being preachy - if we can call it that. Elaine saying "you'd think we would have gone beyond (gay discrimination)" is a breaking of the David/Seinfeld rule that there should be neither sentimentality nor a moral message. It's very brief, however. - DirectorAndy AckermanStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsGeorge gets in an argument regarding a cancellation policy. Jerry and Elaine try to use Kramer's bluntness to deliver some much needed fashion advice.8/10
Not one of the better episodes. Jerry's reluctance to meet and greet his neighbours is something I can relate to, but the kiss with Kramer was utter garbage.
The two other plots are better. George being in conflict with his physiotherapist offers some very good situations and funny lines.
Jerry's uncle owing his sister $50 from when they were kids is an original idea, and is executed decently.
GUEST ACTRESS: The physiotherapist actress always annoyed me somewhat, I'd have preferred a better and more charismatic casting choice.