The Letter (25 Mar. 1992)

Jerry 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.

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
Richard Fancy	...	Mr. Lippman
Catherine Keener	...	Nina
Richard Venture	...	Leonard West
Elliott Reid	...	Mr. Armstrong
Justine Johnston	...	Mrs. Armstrong
Shashawnee Hall	...	Usher

Storyline

Jerry's new girlfriend, Nina, is an artist and while he likes her a lot he's a little concerned that she is overly possessive and jealous. It clearly bothers her that he and Elaine have remained such good friends even after they stopped dating. When Jerry obviously begins to waver, she writes him a wildly romantic letter. Only later does he realize it's a piece of dialog given by Marsha Mason in Chapter Two. Sitting in the owner's box at a Yankees game, Elaine insists on wearing her Orioles cap and refuses to remove it when asked to.

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Plot Keywords:

picture in newspaper | hot dog | tv remote | popcorn | head bandage | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 March 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

Kramer mentions that Jerry and Elaine were like Abe Lincoln and Mary Todd on "The Letter" episode. On the show "Histeria! (1998)", one sketch shows the Civil War politics like an episode of Seinfeld, with Lincoln as Jerry and Mary Todd as Elaine. George B. McClellan was George Costanza.

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Goofs

In this episode Elaine claims to have never seen a foreskin on a man. In another episode she says she has seen it and didn't like it, because it had no face, "no personality".

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Connections

References Chapter Two (1979)

User Reviews

"I don't get art"

Paintings, letters, baseball, Catherine Keener: that would be another classic Seinfeld episode, replete with silliness and the adorable double act of Michael Richards and Jason Alexander.

Keener, always a terrific supporting actress, plays Nina, Jerry's artist girlfriend, from whom George is forced to buy a painting. After learning she plagiarized a heartfelt letter in order to keep him from breaking up with her, Jerry goes ballistic, while Nina's portrait of Kramer becomes an instant success. As for Elaine, she gets in the usual amount of trouble when she refuses to remove her Orioles cap during a New York Yankees game (the girl's got principles, you know).

The writing is consistently excellent, and the character of Nina fits Keener's comedic strengths like a glove, although the best moments originate from other people's reactions to what she does, such as when Jerry finds out about the letter and argues with Elaine over its significance. Best of the lot? Jerry and George discussing the Kramer painting. Jerry: "She says she sees something in him.". George: "So do I, but I wouldn't wanna hang him on a wall!". Classy.