Seinfeld (TV Series) The Contest (1992) User Reviews

"I'm out!"

[MaxBorg89 · 10/10 · 26 September 2010]

Whenever there's a poll for the greatest Seinfeld episode, The Contest - which happens to be the show's fiftieth, not counting the original pilot - usually comes on top, and for good reason: it perfectly embodies the creative boldness the series is known for, and uses all four of the main characters - plus a couple of guest stars - in the best possible way. Even now, years after Seinfeld went off the air, its brilliance is unmatched.

Premise: having been caught masturbating (!) by his mother (Estelle Harris), George vows never to do it again. When Jerry suggests he could last longer, all four decide to make a bet to see who can refrain from their impulses the longest. Naturally, problems arise almost immediately: Kramer is tempted when he sees a naked woman in the building across the street, George fantasizes about the nurses in the hospital where he goes to visit his mom, Elaine has a run-in with John Kennedy Jr. and Jerry is nervous because Marla still hasn't agreed to sleep with him. The contest can begin...

Based on a real incident involving, among others, Larry David (who won a deserved Emmy for the script), the concept is still incredibly brave from a conceptual standpoint, at least for network television: even more than a decade later, few producers would green-light an episode that's entirely focused on masturbation. That they did is purely down to the ingenious writing: by replacing the "dirty" word with the now classic euphemism "master of his domain", David draws huge laughs from a subject few mainstream comedians had contemplated joking about, and the self-censorship is part of the episode's appeal: if the word had been used even once, it wouldn't be as funny.

Alongside the snappy dialogue, the other source of comedy gold is the cast. As expected, Richards (who won his second Emmy thanks to this episode) and Alexander make the most of it, with the former delivering the single funniest line of the entire season and the latter enjoying his first on-screen pairing with Harris, a TV mom to be reckoned with. As for the other leads, Dreyfus brings a welcome feminine view on the matter, while Seinfeld himself has to carry an excruciating payoff scene with Jane Leeves that plays out like a cringe-worthy Curb Your Enthusiasm with an added studio audience.

Proving once again, and perhaps in the strongest fashion, that no subject is taboo in American sitcoms, The Contest is the definitive Seinfeld episode, and a milestone in US television. How many other shows can boast an Oustanding Comedy Series Emmy on the grounds of a script about masturbation?

"Here, have some Tic-Tacs"

[juanmaffeo · 9/10 · 1 July 2016]

And here we are with the "creme de la creme" of... Seinfeld. Okay, that's debatable but nobody will deny The Contest is among the show's best ones. It has everything a classic episode must have: memorable moments, funny clever dialogue, great direction, great performances and a killer idea.

Killer idea: if you think that an episode revolving around 4 people trying to hold the longest without masturbating is a risky-weird choice, imagine what people thought back in 92'. Aside from its historical importance, the idea about a contest is perfect because the episode unfolds itself almost like a game. It is one of the most entertaining episodes and our four protagonist are all fundamental to the plot.

Memorable moments: some great Seinfeld episodes have one memorable moment, maybe two. The Contest has around 4 of these. The opening conversation, George visiting his mother for the first time, Kramer caving and George visiting his mother for the second time. Each one of these moments has the audience going absolutely wild.

Funny clever dialogue: from the masterfully written opening scene, to George's conversations with his mother and Kramer numerous speeches, it's perfect from every way you look at it.

Great direction: Master Cherones appearing once again in a review. His subtle camera-work is beyond believe, adding so much to the material. The pace is near perfect, nor rushed nor slow.

Great performances: every actor here gives an Emmy-winning performance. From the main protagonists to Estelle and Marla, everyone is on point. I don't know which is the peak of the episode, if Kramer or George. Either way, they are all fantastic.

One of the best of the show (if not the best), an episode that changed history and that remains an incredible one even taking its importance aside.

Greatest episode in TV history

[look_at_it_go_85 · 10/10 · 5 October 2020]

Title says it all. Cleverly crude and accurate. Favourite episode, followed by the sponge.

The greatest episode of Seinfeld

[SupermanDude90 · 9/10 · 17 June 2006]

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'.

The Funniest

[coverplex-12802 · 10/10 · 4 May 2018]

This probably has to be the best episode in situational comedy. A show that had everything including slapstick comedy went right to the line and never crossed it.

"Are You Master Of Your Domain?"

[JosephPezzuto · 9/10 · 18 September 2014]

George confesses to jerking off at his parent's home to his friends in Monk's Cafe as his mother had caught him, as she is now hospitalized from falling over in shock as he describes. They then make a bet on who can go the longest without doing "that". Upon all finger-swearing, what follows thus is one of the most memorable Seinfeld, nay TV episodes, of all time.

Airing on November 18, 1992, this was the fifty-first episode of the NBC sitcom series. On its original airing, the episode was seen by 18.5 million viewers. This would be the episode that would really and truly help launch Seinfeld into the ratings of immortality that soon followed. The first repeat airing was seen by ten million more people than the original airing, which is pretty much unheard of today, having to make it the most popular rerun of all time. Written by the co-founder of the show Larry David, he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Comedy Series and also won a Writers Guild of America award as well for his work on the episode for without once penning the word "masturbation" into the script. Jerry Seinfeld thought that, even if they had used the word "masturation," censors would've allowed it (the word has been used once before on the series), but part of the reason the episode was so funny is because the word is never used. The only note the censors gave the show was not to use the word "Snapple" as a euphemism. Weird, really. The subject is described, however, in innocuous euphemisms, while the meaning of the subject is still made clear to the audience. One of the euphemisms used in the episode is "master of my domain", said by Jerry while still in the contest. It has become a catchphrase in popular culture, although it is not always used in reference to..."that". Other double entendres include "Lord of my Manor" and "Queen of my Castle", as Elaine puts it. Director of the episode, Tom Cherones, won a Directors Guild of America award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series for this episode and was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing. Jonathan Boudreaux for tvdvdreviews.com said, "'The Contest' effortlessly takes a potentially incendiary subject and renders it utterly inoffensive yet hilarious." He also said that it was "one of the series' most infamous" episodes. And Donna Dorsett from audaud.com commented on the refusal to use the word "masturbation," saying, "If the word had been used, even once, the show would not have been nearly as hilarious. The episode was totally inoffensive." Perhaps yes to some, unless of course to those that enjoy this type of humor.

Being cited as the best Seinfeld episode, it also carries its share of fun facts, or as I like to call them Seinfacts: The American stand- up comedian Kenny Kramer, the inspiration for the actual Kramer on the show, claimed that there actually was a "Contest" in which David and some friends took part. Although he did not want to initially partake in the event because he thought he could not win it, it was David who won it in the end. Jerry, to avoid sexual temptations in this episode, forces himself to watch Tiny Toons on his TV while averting his gaze from the "I'm out!" Kramer in joining him to watch the nude woman across the street, singing "The Wheels on the Bus" to himself, staring intently at his screen. Seinfeld claimed that he had never heard of the song before recording the episode. The original screenplay featured Jerry watching Flipper, but was changed due to concerns over music rights. The naked female across the street nor Kennedy, Jr. also never appear in this episode. Although it is implied George won in The Puffy Shirt episode, it was in The Finale as the plane is going down where George, imminent of his certain demise, confesses to Jerry that he cheated, therefore making Jerry the true winner. When asked why, George simply replies, "Because I'm a cheater!"

Twenty-one plus years later, 'The Contest' continues to air every now and then and still grasps its bouts of hilarity. And because the 'm' word is never mentioned, it makes it all the more so, ever so slightly evading the boundaries of just flat out saying it and how close one not saying it makes this episode all the more genius and timeless as well and also because it had not been done for TV before either. I have to give it to this one in particular for its script and original ingenuity about four friends in the Big Apple who truly have far too much time on their hands for mindless feats such as this. But what else does one expect from a show about nothing? 'The Boyfriend', (S3E17/18) which was placed at number four from the original 1997 list of TV Guides 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time, I felt was funnier in my opinion than this one with a panicky George, his faux latex company under the dumb alias Vandelay Industries, a hilarious magic loogie explanation with clips of mock Zapruder stock inter-spliced, and, of course, Keith Hernandez acting as himself amidst a handful of quirks. I also appreciated that that episode leaned more on the aspect of using comical situations and timing rather than relying on one sexual innuendo spoken in many different forms but all meaning an unsaid word as a comical crutch, while Seinfeld himself actually said that 'The Boyfriend' was his favorite episode overall. Though I personally do not agree with 'The Contest' for the number one spot on the revised list, all I can say is kudos to David, Cherones and the cast for pulling off an ambitious tube classic which never once uttered, nor ever needed to say..."that" because, let's face it, we all knew what they meant.

It has been called the #1 best episode in television history, and for good reason!

[SLionsCricketreviews · 8/10 · 1 December 2015]

"The Contest" is said by many to be the greatest episode of television that has ever been aired, and with good reason. The episode tackles very bold subject matter, even for today's audiences, in the most sublime of ways.

After George masturbates to a Glamour magazine, at his parents' place, he is caught by his mother. Estelle Harris plays the mother, in her first appearance, and describes George's uncivilized behaviour as "treating his body like it was an amusement park!"

The episode is mostly a laugh machine, and they are well earned. "The Contest" actually becomes riveting at points, as we are not sure which of the four would win the contest that they have set up. George's visits to the hospital, for me, were the standout moments of the episode but Kramer and Jerry singing their respective songs was almost excellent. Alexander, Richards and Dreyfus all shine in this episode, as does Estelle Harris in her first appearances. Jerry Seinfeld does a fine job as well.

"The Contest" is easily one of my favourites to date, and additional viewings down the road will likely increase my love for it.

"somethings gotta give "

[akgonen61 · 10/10 · 24 January 2021]

This episode is actually pretty entertaining 10/10 for me

Masterclass in comedy

[chunkylefunga · 10/10 · 31 October 2021]

Not a single wasting scene.

Brillant writing by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld.

Elaine should have had to have put up $1000 though, way easier for women.

Classic episode

[kellielulu · 10/10 · 15 July 2022]

" He left with Marla the virgin?!" Still gets me every time! Lol!

Elaine telling Jerry and George about her encounter with JFK Jr at the gym.

" He asked me my name and I think I said Elaine but who the hell knows?"

He asked to share a cab with Elaine and ask her if she's going uptown and she said yes even though she's going downtown!

Could have been crude and vulgar instead it's the best example on how to write for a tricky subject that goes for the laughs but not in a cheap way. The acting by everyone is stellar.

Oh My!

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 3 September 2022]

This is, without a doubt, one of the sweetest shows ever on TV. George is caught polishing his bayonet by his mother. She is so shocked that she falls and hurts her back. When George explains what happened to the gang, they make a bet that none of them can resist this action. What ensues are women, naked in the apartment across the street, JFK Junior and Elaine, and baths being given by a knockout nurse to a knockout patient. Kramer is the smart one. Each is put through torture as they try to win the bet. Jerry has a real opportunity to get it on with the girl from Frazier, but he has to shoot his mouth off. What a phenomenal episode.

Hype overrates the episode. It's really an 8 without the hype.

[ThunderKing6 · 5/10 · 20 March 2023]

Sorry but I take accord hype when I review products.

March 20 2023.

What is this episode about?: The gang have a contest.

Jerry dates Fraser's girl

George was reading Glamour

Kramer was stalking a girl

Elaine deals with a JFK

The story and the production overview: The hype spoils a would be 8 episode.

It just feel like Seinfeld had to get dirty to get recognition.

Overall and dynamic of an episode.

Highlight: GLAMOUR?!

Villian: Nature and a women's body.

Laugh meter: 8

Girlfriend attractiveness level: 7. She's Fraser's girl.

What can be learned?: Do what feels good.

Verdict: Jerry actually won the contest not George.

Perhaps one of the best episodes in the history of America...

[tarascopablo · 10/10 · 12 May 2023]

Wow... oh boy oh boy... What an episode!

I first watched Seinfeld when it aired and then rewatched it around 2009. Nowadays (2023) comic series are quite open and discuss a lot of topics and Seinfeld was one of the first tv series to actually discuss the sexuality of the characters in a cool, open way. But this episode is just gold. It is about the gang trying to prove who has the longest self control and it is so so so funny.

Kramer loosing almost right away is so true to his character. Elaine loosing because she met John John is a really fantastic storyline and Jerry loosing because he was frustrated with the virgin girlfriend is amusing... but this episode has to go to George. Those scenes at the hospital with the nurse bathing the next door patient are hilarious.

I always loved this episode because of the class that it shows in dealing with the whole topic.

Master of the universe

[safenoe · 8/10 · 7 March 2024]

The Contest pretty much made Seinfeld the watercooler series two years before Friends came along and pretty much made NBC's Must See TV the powerhouse lineup. Anyway, being in 1992, The Contest is still quite risque and all, and it's hard to imagine a network series doing the same thing now, but it is based on a true story that Larry "Curb Your Enthusiasm" David experienced (apparently he won after three weeks). Anyway, I'm enjoying rewatching many of the Seinfeld episodes that I first watched when it debuted back in the 1990s, and it's hard to believe that Seinfeld was made over three decades ago, and just like the winner of The Contest, it endures.

Wheels of the bus go round and round ..

[kumartalele · 10/10 · 5 May 2024]

In the pantheon of comedic brilliance, few sitcoms shine as brightly as Seinfeld. And nestled within its treasure trove of hilarity lies an episode of legendary status: "The Contest." This timeless gem, which originally aired in the show's fourth season, remains a testament to the sheer genius of its creators and writers, particularly in its impeccable handling of sensitive subject matter with the finesse of a skilled surgeon.

One of the defining characteristics of "The Contest" is its relentless barrage of punchlines. From start to finish, every line crackles with wit and humor, showcasing the razor-sharp comedic timing of the cast. Each character's struggle to refrain from self-gratification becomes a source of endless amusement, leading to a series of uproarious moments that never fail to elicit laughter.

Central to the episode's success are its clever dialogues, which sparkle with a rare blend of intelligence and absurdity. Whether it's Jerry's deadpan observations, Elaine's acerbic wit, George's neurotic ramblings, or Kramer's eccentric proclamations, every exchange brims with comedic brilliance. The dialogue isn't just funny; it's a masterclass in comedic writing, effortlessly weaving together wordplay, irony, and satire to create a tapestry of humor that remains unmatched.

But what truly sets "The Contest" apart is its fearless exploration of taboo subject matter. By tackling the delicate topic of masturbation head-on, Seinfeld ventures into territory that few sitcoms would dare to tread. Yet, rather than resorting to crassness or vulgarity, the episode handles the subject with remarkable tact and sophistication. Like a skilled surgeon, it navigates the intricacies of human sexuality with nuance and subtlety, never crossing the line into gratuitousness.

Moreover, "The Contest" is filled with funny situations that arise organically from its premise. From the hilariously awkward encounters between the characters to the absurd lengths they go to in order to resist temptation, every moment is ripe with comedic potential. Whether it's Jerry's battle with temptation in his apartment or Kramer's ill-fated encounter with a nude neighbor, each scene is a testament to the show's unparalleled ability to find humor in the mundane.

One standout moment is when Jerry, in a bid to distract his mind from temptation, resorts to singing rhymes. This quirky yet ingenious tactic adds another layer of humor to the episode, showcasing Jerry's absurd methods of coping with the contest. It's a small detail, but one that perfectly encapsulates the offbeat humor that Seinfeld is renowned for.

In conclusion, "The Contest" stands as a masterpiece of comedic television, showcasing Seinfeld at the height of its powers. With its relentless wit, clever dialogue, and fearless exploration of sensitive subject matter, it remains a shining example of what great comedy can achieve. Like a surgeon wielding a scalpel, the writers of Seinfeld dissect the human experience with precision and skill, leaving us laughing uproariously at the absurdity of it all.