The Contest (18 Nov. 1992)

After George's mother catches him alone in a somewhat embarrassing situation, Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer stage a contest to see who can last the longest without any sexual ... See full summary »

Director:

Tom Cherones

Writers:

Larry David (creator), Jerry Seinfeld (creator),

Stars:

Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Jerry Seinfeld	...	Jerry Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus	...	Elaine Benes
Michael Richards	...	Kramer
Jason Alexander	...	George Costanza
Estelle Harris	...	Estelle Constanza
Jane Leeves	...	Marla
Ilana Levine	...	Joyce
Rachel Sweet	...	Shelly
Andrea Parker	...	Nurse

Storyline

After George's mother catches him alone in a somewhat embarrassing situation, Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer stage a contest to see who can last the longest without any sexual gratification. Temptation quickly sets in for everyone. Kramer is the first to fall after ogling the woman across the street who walks around her apartment naked. George is next after he visits his mother in hospital and her roommate gets a sponge bath across from the curtain separating them. Elaine signs up for a fitness class where none other than JFK Jr. is enrolled. Her fantasizing does the rest. Finally, Jerry's new girlfriend Marla decides it's time to lose her virginity but Jerry has to explain the contest.

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Plot Keywords:

caught masturbating | self discipline | reference to john f kennedy jr | tic tacs | pinkie finger | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 November 1992 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shapiro/West Productions, Castle Rock Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

23 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

This episode was based on a real-life "contest" that Larry David had with friends of his which lasted several months. David won. He had wanted to a write an episode based on the contest earlier in the series but was unsure of what the cast's reaction would be.

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Goofs

When Jerry and Marla are making out on the couch someone walks past the bathroom window.

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Quotes

[after Kramer is out]
Elaine Benes: And then there were three.

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Connections

Featured in 20 to 1: Adults Only 20 to 1: Sex on the Screen (2010)

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Soundtracks

"The Wheels on the Bus"
(uncredited)
Sung by Jerry Seinfeld

User Reviews

The greatest episode of Seinfeld

George's mother is forced to hospital after she throws her back out when she falls down after catching him doing "you know." When George says he'll never do it again, Jerry challenges him to a contest of being "master of your domains", when he accepts, Elaine and Kramer want in on the action, or rather the lack of it.

Things get worse when Kramer discovers that the women across the street is walking around with nothing on. Jerry is in the contest and dating a virgin leads him to say the hilarious rant,,, 'I can't take it anymore! She's driving me crazy! I can't sleep, I can't leave the house, and I' here, I'm climbin' the walls. Meanwhile, I'm dating a virgin, I'm in this contest - something's gotta give'

'The contest' is comedy at it's finest

Are you 'master of your domain'.