Seinfeld (TV Series) The Barber (1993) User Reviews

Simply brilliant writing

[clacura · 9/10 · 16 July 2019]

More of Seinfeld brilliance in this episode. You can miss viewing for 20 years and still recall the phrases and delivery from the actors. Even the C actor sitting in the barber shop is memorable; "Gino you've outside yourself this time, this is the best haircut I've ever had!"! The classic Seinfeld hook, "Of course..." taking a snippet of life and building an entire episode.

All the peppered phrases; Kramer: I can raise enough money to cure polio/ I'd like to have shoehorn hands George: The Pensky file...it's just removable...his little drum beat w pencils at the desk

What Seinfeld did better than any other TV show is cast guest actors that you remember for 20 years. Every small part is knocked out of the park with character actors, faces you remember...these details pay off like no other show imo. Casting of Enzo is equally brilliant. This actor knocked it out of the park into the street.

Splicing this episode into Edward Scissorhands works to perfection.

Self aware in its absurdity, "The Barber" is immensely entertaining

[SLionsCricketreviews · 8/10 · 3 December 2015]

Newman, played the brilliant Wayne Knight, has now been around for many episodes and yet there does not appear to be any sort of outward conflict between Newman and Jerry. "The Barber" changes that, providing the audience with the first battle between Jerry and Newman, to hilarious results.

George is at an interview, and manages to impress the boss. However, before he can confirm whether or not George has been hired, he gets a call and George leaves, not sure whether he has the job. Jerry gets a terrible haircut, which prevents him from going to a bachelor auction with Elaine.

Wayne Knight and Jason Alexander steal this episode. Knight is especially terrific, creepy and lovable all the same. The conflict between Jerry and Newman is perfect for the episode, over the top as is the episode itself. It resorts to operatic music as a soundtrack, rarely does "Seinfeld" use soundtracks but here they use an operatic theme. It works perfectly, the two barbers are fairly entertaining although the performances do not tend to be excellent.

George's situation is brilliant, as usual George is on the receiving end once more! Newman is perfect, and "The Barber" actually ends with a few short extra scenes rather than Jerry's usual stand up. Really dug that!

You're not Pensky Material- George!

[lbowdls · 9/10 · 19 April 2022]

Yes someone else has used that review title bug I just had to as well. We used to say that line all the time my co Seinfeld friends and myself. While many episodes get a little boring to watch now The Barber actually gets better with each viewing and better as the episode goes along. So much so I've gone up a rating point. So many bows and scenarios to this episode ( like in most Seinfeld's of course) Edward Sicssorhands, feuding barbers, bad haircuts, Kramer falling off a runway and of course "Pensky material".

But the funniest is the triple ending. If you haven't seen it or you never noticed you have to stay until the actual end ie after the credits are finished- just as the logo comes up to see the third spectacular ending between Kramer and Newman.

"You are aware --"

[itamarscomix · 27 September 2011]

Season 5, Episode 8, "The Barber"

"The Barber" is one of the most underrated episodes in the history of Seinfeld, and one of the highlights of the excellent season 5. This episode was successful in picking a theme to parody and running with it all the way, so that even if the plots don't quite connect narratively, they do connect thematically.

The episode is over-the-top in a very operatic way, which is just right for the premise. Jerry takes that over-the-top acting up to eleven, and he makes it one of his best performances. George is also at his best, and Newman provides one of his classic appearances.

"You're not Pensky material"

[juanmaffeo · 8/10 · 28 July 2016]

There are good and bad things about The Barber.

For starters is a hell of an entertaining episode. The pace is fluid, the stories are interesting and it certainly is funny. However, it is a flawed episode. The style they tried to take on this episode (the over-the-top, drama play style) works on occasions. Everything about the barber story line makes sense with itself, but when contrasted with George's or Elaine and Kramer's story it feels out of place. And the music just makes that more notorious. That being said, George's story is pretty much absurd, so it doesn't feel completely out of place, but the way they handle the barber plot is what differentiates them so much. Without a doubt George's story line is the funniest.

Another thing that didn't quite work is the resolution. The barber story had the most lazy and unclear payoff and George story suffered something similar.

Nevertheless it is a funny episode and another piece in the masterpiece that is Season 5.

Fight

[bevo-13678 · 10/10 · 19 June 2020]

I like the bit where the other barber got really angry until they watched Edward scissor hand.

Cutting Edge

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 24 September 2022]

Two plots simultaneously. First of all, George sits in on a job interview. Just as the decision as to whether to hire him is made, the boss is called away. George uses a creative way to barge his way into a job he may not even have. While the boss is away, he simply moves into an office. Of course, he does no work at all (even though he could keep the job). The second plot is Jerry and his barber, Enzo. He gives terrible haircuts and Jerry plot to get someone else to cut it. Of course, he is Italian and we listen to lots of Rossini. He comes off sounding like the Godfather. Jerry's haircut is beyond belief.

Elaine Laughing! Disgusting!

[pbp44 · 8/10 · 26 March 2020]

Did you see when Elaine laughed at me Jerry haircut? What a disgust! -2

Operatic and all

[safenoe · 7/10 · 5 February 2024]

I'm enjoying re-watching selected episodes of Seinfeld, as I first watched them when it debuted in the 1990s, wow, that long ago. Anyway, The Barber has an operatic feel to it, with exaggerated Italian accents and all, with Antony Ponzini playing Enzo and David Ciminello as Gino. Wayne Knight, fresh off his pivotal role as a police detective in Basic Stone where he co-starred with Sharon Stone, relishes his role as Newman.

It's a shame Newman didn't have a spin-off series because that would have been something. Anyway, the part where Newman tries to cut Seinfeld's hair was absolutely hilarious.