The Opposite 

George decides to turn his life around by doing the exact opposite of what he would usually do. Elaine is having a lot of bad luck. Jerry keeps breaking even. Kramer gets the coffee table book published.

Director:

Tom Cherones

Writers:

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

Stars:

Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Jerry Seinfeld	...	Jerry Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus	...	Elaine Benes
Michael Richards	...	Kramer
Jason Alexander	...	George Costanza
Estelle Harris	...	Estelle Constanza
Jerry Stiller	...	Frank Costanza
Richard Fancy	...	Lippman
Marty Rackham	...	Jake
Siobhan Fallon Hogan	...	Tina (as Siobhan Fallon)
Paul Gleason	...	Cushman
Dedee Pfeiffer	...	Victoria
Melanie Smith	...	Rachel
Regis Philbin	...	Regis Philbin
Kathie Lee Gifford	...	Kathie Lee Gifford
Hiram Kasten	...	Michael

Storyline

A simple pick up line in the coffee shop proves Jerry's theory that every instinct George has is wrong. George decides to try the opposite, and that lands him an attractive girlfriend, a job offer with the New York Yankees, and an apartment that allows him to finally move out of his parent's house. Simultaneously, Elaine's mistake of stopping off for candy after learning her boyfriend was hospitalized causes her fortune to take a downturn. She gets kicked out of her apartment, breaks up with her boyfriend, and the candy causes a chain reaction that ultimately leads to the end of her longtime employer. Jerry sees the parallel between his two friends and realizes that he breaks even on just about everything. Kramer continues to take the book tour for his coffee table book, but Pendant Publishing's bankruptcy puts the book on the shelf.

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Plot Keywords:

episode title spoken by character | job interview | coffee table book | shadow | sneeze | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 May 1994 (USA)

Filming Locations:

CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, 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

Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Richard Fancy previously appeared together in The Art of Being Nick (1986), a Family Ties (1982) spin-off.

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Goofs

George gets into Jerry's apartment without being buzzed upstairs or the apartment door being opened.

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Quotes

Elaine Benes: [Closing scene at Monk's. Elaine is telling Jerry and Kramer how, by eating Jujyfruits, she couldn't tell Mr. Lippman to take his handkerchief. Because he didn't have it after he sneezed, he didn't shake hands with the Japanese businessmen who were going to buy Pendant Publishing, which led to them not going through with the merger] I must've had at least eight in my mouth. I couldn't talk. I couldn't talk!
Jerry Seinfeld: Why'd you have to eat so many?
Elaine Benes: Because they're Jujyfruit. I like them. I didn't know it ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Episode #8.103 (2010)

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Soundtracks

Seinfeld Theme Song
Written by Jonathan Wolff

User Reviews

This was a perfect culmination of a season of Seinfeld!!!

I absolutely loved this episode. In two weeks I watched nearly five seasons of George Costanza being, well, George Costanza, a bumbling fool whose life is in complete dissaray (to be honest the stark similarities between George and me make me feel a little uneasy about my future). And so, when the status quo was flipped, it was hilarious. The bit where he yells at the guys in the cinema made me laugh for a good minute. This show, is epic. Kramer's humour was on point, but then, when isn't it? I don't find Elaine that funny, it could be the actress, I don't know, I just don't find her as funny as the other three.