"Seinfeld" The Deal (1991)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Tom Cherones

Writers:

Larry David (creator) &
Jerry Seinfeld (creator) ...

TV Series:

"Seinfeld" (1990)

Original Air Date:

2 May 1991 (Season 2, Episode 9)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Jerry and Elaine believe that they have found a fool-proof way to start having sex again but still remain just friends, but they quickly start encountering problems. |

Plot Keywords:

Neurotic | Eccentric | Stand Up Comedian | Friendship | Neighbor

US TV Schedule:

Wed. July 22

7:00 PM

TBS

The Deal

#2.9

Cast

Jerry Seinfeld	...	Jerry Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus	...	Elaine Benes
Michael Richards	...	Kramer
Jason Alexander	...	George
Siobhan Fallon	...	Tina
Norman Brenner	...	Clerk

Runtime:

23 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Canada:PG (video rating)

Company:

Shapiro/West Productions

Trivia:

This was the final episode made in season two. Co-creator Larry David thought the show was going to be cancelled, so he decided to end it with Jerry and Elaine back together as a couple, which is what NBC executives had been asking for. Ironically, NBC showed the final four episodes of the second season out of order. This episode was fourth from the last, so the final three episodes, having been made before this one, made no reference to Jerry and Elaine as boyfriend and girlfriend. And after the show was picked up for a third year, no further reference was made to Jerry and Elaine and their one episode reunion.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Kramer gives his gift to Elaine and is speaking to Jerry, Jerry's door behind Kramer opens and closes between shots.

Quotes:

Jerry: [Discussing The Deal with Elaine] Because this...
[gesturing between them]
Jerry: is very good.
Elaine: [Gesturing to the bedroom] And that would be good.
Jerry: That would be good too.
[repeating gestures]
Jerry: See the idea's to combine this and that. But this cannot be disturbed.
Elaine: Yeah, we just want to take this and... add that.
[Jerry makes a "There you have it" gesture]

Movie Connections:

References Laura (1944)

"This" is very good

Technically, this is the last episode of Season Two (and listed as such on the DVD), but with NBC running the last four shows in the wrong order, the "finale" made no reference to the pivotal events of The Deal, which was the perfect ending for the season (in fact, Larry David had envisioned it as the end of the series, fearing Seinfeld wouldn't live past its second year - how wrong he was!).

The whole idea is based on the network's request that Jerry and Elaine get back together. Larry was against it but, fearing cancellation, he eventually relented and decided to use one of his personal experiences (he says so in the DVD interviews) for the storyline: after seeing an adult channel on TV (a random event that also spawns some priceless input from George), the former couple ponders whether to resume their relationship. Following some serious discussion, they strike a "deal": they will mix "this" (their friendship) and "that" (sex), meaning they can sleep together but not become romantically involved. No phone calls, no cuddling - just emotionless sex. Needless to say, this will cause problems.

One of the show's most unlikely set-ups becomes one of its best moments: The whole conversation about "this" and "that" is one of Larry David's finest achievements as a screenwriter (surpassed only by the "Master of your domain" jokes in Season Four), as is the unusually sweet epilogue, which some might find too moving for a show that made its lack of sentiment something to wear with pride. But maybe that's the point: ending it any other way would have been predictable by Seinfeld's standards, so an old-fashioned, heartfelt conclusion turns out to be the boldest narrative choice of the entire episode. It's also funny as hell.

If a complaint has to be made, it's regarding the fact that The Deal's events didn't affect the third season in terms of continuity. Oh, wait, hang on: continuity and Seinfeld? Forget what I just said: this is a comedy classic from start to finish - don't miss it for anything in the world.