The Boyfriend 

Jerry meets Keith Hernandez and wants to make a good impression, but after being introduced to Elaine, Keith breaks his date with Jerry to make one with her.

Director:

Tom Cherones

Writers:

Larry David (created by), Jerry Seinfeld (created by)

Stars:

Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Jerry Seinfeld	...	Jerry Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus	...	Elaine Benes
Michael Richards	...	Cosmo Kramer
Jason Alexander	...	George Costanza
Keith Hernandez	...	Keith Hernandez
Rae Allen	...	Mrs. Sokol
Wayne Knight	...	Newman
Carol Ann Susi	...	Carrie (credit only)
Lisa Mende	...	Carol (credit only)
Roger McDowell	...	Himself
Stephen Prutting	...	Michael (credit only)
Richard Assad	...	Cabbie
Melanie Good	...	Tall Woman (credit only)

Storyline

In the first hour-long episode, Jerry hooks up with Keith Hernandez at the gym. He tries to meet with Keith only to be shunned because Keith is infatuated with Elaine. George tries to keep his unemployment money coming in when he tells the unemployment officer that he got a job with "Vandelay Industries", a company that manufactures latex. Kramer and Newman recall an incident in which Keith spit on them after a really bad Mets game. The details of the incident strangely mirror that of the JFK assassination.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 February 1992 (USA)

Filming Locations:

727 Sixth Avenue, New York City, New York, 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 originally titled "The New Friend." When this episode was rerun on NBC, Jerry Seinfeld appeared in an introductory segment calling it "The New Friend" as well as his favorite episode at the time.

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Goofs

When Kramer (Michael Richards) comes into Jerry's (Jerry Seinfeld) apartment, he swings the door to shut it and it can be heard to close off-screen, yet when we cut back to the door it is still wide-open.

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Quotes

George Costanza: [George rushes into Jerry's apartment] Did anybody call here asking for Vandelay Industries?
Jerry: No, what happened to you?
George Costanza: All right, listen closely, I was at the unemployment office and I told them I was very close to getting a job with Vandelay Industries, and I gave them your phone number. So now, when the phone rings, you have to answer "Vandelay Industries".
Jerry: I'm Vandelay Industries?
George Costanza: Right.
Jerry: What is that?
George Costanza: You're in latex.
Jerry: What do I do with latex?
George Costanza: I don't know, you manufacture it.
Elaine: [laughing] Right ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Mike & Mike: Episode dated 26 January 2016 (2016)

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Soundtracks

Seinfeld Theme Song
Written by Jonathan Wolff

User Reviews

Classic Sitcom Riot

This 2 part episode is just brilliant in how it plays off all the characters involved with funny quotes galore and then plays off an actual event to illustrate how absurd the original event was. It does this without creating controversial waves. Jerry does have one of his best moments in the series with a long complicated monologue recreating the spitting on Kramer & Newman episode.

According to Jerry on the DVD he did this incredible monologue on the very first take. "Then the spit bounces off Kramer, pauses, in mid-air mind you, turns right, then left, then right & buries itself into Newmans armpit causing him to drop his baseball cap. That is one loaded luggie!" This sequence & the way he is telling it to Elaine, who with her glasses over her nose looks astounded, is priceless. This episode is when the show came of age in my mind. After this episode, things only got better, but this is one brilliant & screwball moment in the history of American sitcoms.