bPilot

bPilot

Good News, Bad News

gs: Lee Garlington (Claire) Pamela Brull (Laura)

A girl Jerry met on the road wants to stay with him when she comes to New York. George thinks that she is just using Jerry as contingency plan. Hoffman (Kramer) comes by to borrow a couple of pieces of meat. The girl calls and asks Jerry if she can stay at his apartment for the night, when she arrives she asks to stay for another night. Jerry is disappointed when everything is going his way until he finds out she is engaged.

b: 05-Jul-89 pc: 101 w: Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Art Wolff

NOTE: In this episode, Jerry refers to Kramer as Kessler, because we later learn in "The Betrayal" this was the name on the buzzer for Kramer's apartment. This also discounts the fact that Kramer has sublet the apartment from Paul Buchman from Mad About You in an episode of that series that aired after "The Virgin." I suppose that Buchman could have sublet the apartment to someone named Kessler before Kramer had moved in. As strange as Kramer can be, perhaps he thought it best to not let anyone know he lived there and never changed the name.

In the first scene of this episode, Jerry comments George about the button on his shirt. He repeats this same comment in the last scene of the last episode! [Editor's Note: Yes, as I mention in the description of the final episode.]

In this episode, the coffee shop Jerry and George go to is not Monk's. The exterior shot reads "Pete's".

In the TV Guide entry for this episode, his character is credited as Hoffman. I assume that this is the way it appeared in the script somewhere along the way. There were probably a number of name changes for this character, while Kenny Kramer was deciding whether or not his name could be used.

In this episode, Kramer/Kessler's apartment door is not there. In its place is a picture. Also, Kramer/Kessler has a dog in this episode.

Even in the pilot episode, there is a Superman reference. When Jerry sits down to watch TV, he is wearing a bright blue pair of sweatpants, and a bright red sweatshirt.

Didn't Kramer/Kessler also knock on Jerry's door in this episode?

Check out Jerry's apartment in this episode! It's WAY different then it is in the other episodes! The walls are yellow, the kitchen cabinets are brown and are EMPTY! In the other episodes, the walls and cabinets are blue and the cabinets are filled with kitchen stuff. Another thing I should point out is Jerry has NO bedroom! In this episode all we see is a living room and a bathroom. In the other shows, Jerry has a bedroom and that and the bathroom are connected by a hallway which was also not present in the first episode. (Brandon)

Season 1

2. The Stakeout

gs: Lynn Clark (Vanessa) Phil Bruns (Morty Seinfeld) Liz Sheridan (Helen Seinfeld) Maud Winchester (Pamela) William Fair (Roger) Ron Steelman (Artie Levine) Joe George (Uncle Mac) Ellen Gerstein (Carol) Janet Rotblatt (Woman)

Elaine brings Jerry to a birthday party where he meets a woman who fascinates him. Jerry doesn't know her name and wants to meet her again, so on some advice from his father, he and George stakeout the lobby of the building she works in.

b: 31-May-90 pc: 103 w: Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: When this episode is shown in syndication, Phil Bruns still plays Jerry's dad (a role later assumed by Barney Martin). This is unlike George's dad, who was played by one actor, replaced by Jerry Stiller, and footage was re-shot with Jerry taking over the original dad's part in "The Handicap Spot".

Viewer Mike Greenhaus reminds me that this is the first episode that George uses the name Art Vandelay. The name of Vandelay would be used again in "The Boyfriend" and many other episodes. Another viewer, Jeremy DeMai, also notes that George first mentions his fetish for wanting to be an architect.

Viewer Ross Raniere remembers that when this episode was rerun on NBC, Jerry and Julia come on in a bumper before the show started. Jerry mentions how many episodes they've done so far, with Julia sitting next to him on the set's couch. He then said, "And this is the very first one we did." Jerry then says something about "the chemistry" and just as the bumper was about to fade, he and Julia embraced each other as if they were going to kiss. This of course was the first episode that Jerry and Julia had done together. Jerry discounted the Seinfeld Chronicles episode.

This episode also referenced, for the first time, the business of Importer/Exporter. This was used several times during the series. The most notable one was when George wanted to go out with Marisa Tomei. George and Elaine thought of an elaborate scheme to hide this from Susan. Susan thought George and Elaine were having an affair. Rob David

3. The Robbery

gs: Anita Wise (Waitress) James F. Dean (Larry) Kimberly Kates (Diane) Bradford English (Cop) Kimberley Kates (Diane) David Blackwood (Man #1) George Simms (Man #2)

While out of town Jerry's apartment gets robbed (Kramer left the door open); so he considers moving. However, the apartment that George shows him is also an apartment that he wants, so they try to decide who will get it. Whoever wins, Elaine wants their apartment. Meanwhile, Kramer searches for the stolen property.

b: 07-Jun-90 pc: 104 w: Matt Goldman d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Kyle Westphal notes that Jerry tells Elaine that is she needs to have sex while watching his apartment, do it in the tub. Later in "The English Patient", Elaine says, "Sex in a tub, that doesn't work.

4. Male Unbonding

gs: Kevin Dunn (Joel) Anita Wise (Waitress) Frank Piazza (Customer) Kimberly LaMarque (Teller) Kimberley LaMarque (Teller)

Jerry ponders a few courses of action when he sees that he no longer has anything in common with a clingy and obnoxious childhood friend. George has trouble with his latest relationship. Kramer has the idea to open a chain of make-your-own-pizza parlors and is looking for investors.

b: 14-Jun-90 pc: 102 w: Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: If you exclude the pilot and the 100th episode special, this is the only episode that doesn't have the word "the" as the first word of its title.

While George is at the bank stand with a glass vase full of penny's he says that "he'll have to roll 6000 pennys by himself". I'd estimate about 50,000 pennys in that vase.

5. The Stock Tip

gs: Lynn Clark (Vanessa) Ted Davis (Dry Cleaner) Jill C. Klein (Waitress) Benjamin Lum (Stock Boy) 

Jerry and George get some inside information that gives them hope for a new stock. Elaine has trouble with her boyfriend's cats. She's allergic to them. Jerry plans his first weekend trip with Vanessa. George says they are "relationship killers." Kramer has an idea for a rollout tie dispenser and warns Jerry about the market. Jerry becomes worried when the stock drops and they have trouble locating the broker who has information on when to sell their stock. They find out he's in the hospital. Jerry confronts his dry cleaner about his shirt. Elaine considers the cat problem. Anxious Jerry sells; George plans to go down with the ship. Jerry's trip is a disaster, but the stock turns okay for George.

b: 21-Jun-90 pc: 105 w: Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Tom Cherones

Season 2

6. The Ex-Girlfriend

gs: Tracy Kolis (Marlene) Karen Barcus (Recepcionist)

George has doubts about his current relationship that he broke off. Elaine is curious about a relationship that she has with a guy in her building that has degenerated over the past two years. Jerry is reluctantly drawn into George's ex-relationship when he picks up some books left at her apartment. Although he wants to break it off with her, she has this "psycho-sexual" hold over him and he becomes worried about what George might think if he lets this relationship develop. Elaine confronts the guy in her building and Jerry's relationship maybe in jeopardy when his girlfriend sees his act.

b: 23-Jan-91 pc: 201 w: Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: A glitch was just recently pointed out to me by Eric Wilks. I had listed the original air date for this episode as 16 Jan. Well, every network's programming that evening was preempted for the start of something called "The Gulf War." Gee was it that long ago? Anyhow, the first episode of the season was delayed and shown a week later.

Kyle Westphal notes that George wants his books back, only later we now that George will do anything not to read. Such as in "The Couch". He mentions that Books on Tape have spoiled him "The Fatigues". Perhaps he will changes his ways when he says he'll read a book cover to cover in "The Summer of George". I doubt it.

7. The Pony Remark

gs: Rozsika Halmos (Manya) Liz Sheridan (Helen) Barney Martin (Morty) Len Lesser (Uncle Leo) David Fresco (Isaac) Scott N. Stevens (Intern) Earl Boen (Eulogist)

Jerry's parents come to town for a 50th anniversary party. Jerry bets Kramer that he won't complete his plans to renovate his apartment with levels in a month. Jerry takes Elaine to the dinner and he makes an observation about children who have ponies, this remark offends the guest of honor. When she dies soon afterwards, Jerry wonders if he should go to the funeral or go to his championship softball game. Elaine wonders about the fate of the apartment, when she hears the widower is moving to Arizona. George wonders if it will ever be possible for him to have sex again.

b: 30-Jan-91 pc: 202 w: Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Tom Cherones

8. The Jacket

gs: Lawrence Tierney (Alton Benes) Frantz Turner (Salesman) Susanne Spoke (Customer) Harry Hart-Browne (Manager) 

Jerry buys a real expensive new suede jacket with a colorful inner lining. George has a song from Les Miserables that he just can't get out of his mind. Kramer is supposed pickup a magician friend's doves, and needs someone to help him for two minutes; Elaine takes on the job. Kramer promises she'll get "a lift" to the hotel where Jerry and George are meeting her and her father, Alton Benes, an author cut from Hemingway cloth. Jerry and George suffer while waiting with Elaine's father. When it begins to snow, Jerry turns his new jacket inside out, to protect it, but Alton Benes doesn't want to be seen on the street with him.

b: 06-Feb-91 pc: 205 w: Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Tom Cherones

9. The Phone Message

gs: Tory Polone (Carol) Gretchen German (Donna)

George blows an invitation upstairs with his latest girlfriend and then when he tries to make restitution he leaves progressively nastier messages on her answering machine. He gets the chance to prevent her from hearing her messages by having Jerry switch the tape out of her machine, while he distracts her. Jerry and his girlfriend have a disagreement about TV commercial for pants commercial and his telling his friends about their conflict.

b: 13-Feb-91 pc: 207 w: Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Elaine mentions a brother-in-law which means she either has a sister or a brother, but like Jerry's mentioning of his sister in the Chinese Restaraunt is never refered to again. At least I think not.

10. The Apartment

gs: Tony Plana (Manny) Glenn Shadix (Harold) Jeanine Jackson (Roxanne) Leslie Neale (Rita) Theresa Randle (Janice) Patricia Amaye Thomson (Susie) Melody Ryane (Joanne) David Blackwood (Stan) 

Kramer tries mousse in his hair. Jerry gets Elaine an opportunity to get the apartment right above him, before he realizes the possible implications. George tests the "man with a wedding band" theory of meeting women.

b: 04-Apr-91 pc: 208 w: Peter Mehlman d: Tom Cherones

11. The Statue

gs: Michael D. Conway (Ray) Nurit Koppel (Rava)

Jerry has a box of stuff his grandfather left him. Inside is an interesting looking statue that could replace one George's parents had years ago, but he broke. George plans to pick the statue up later but in the meantime he tells his parents about the replacement statue. Meanwhile the boyfriend of a bitter Finnish author (whose latest work Elaine is going to edit) is going to clean Jerry's apartment. When Jerry returns to his apartment it is cleaned beyond reason. Later when Jerry and Elaine are at the author's apartment, they see the statue on her mantelpiece. Getting it back may jeopardize Elaine's chance at being an editor, but save George from his parent's wrath.

b: 11-Apr-91 pc: 210 w: Larry Charles d: Tom Cherones

12. The Revenge

gs: Fred Applegate (Levitan) John Capodice (Vic) Teri Austin (Ava) Patrika Darbo (Glenda) Marcus Smythe (Dan) John Hillner (Greeny) Deck McKenzie (Bill) Larry David (Voice of Newman (uncredited)) 

George quits his job in a huff after he is demoted to using the regular bathroom. Newman tells Kramer that he plans to jump off the building. Jerry suggests that George just go back into work next Monday morning and pretend like nothing happened; however, that doesn't work. Newman jumps, from the second floor. George plots revenge, and with Elaine's help, tries to slip his boss "a Mickey." Jerry suspects that his launderer is a larcenist after he discovers that $1500 he had stashed in his laundry bag is missing. Kramer helps Jerry get revenge by bringing a bag of concrete in to put into one of the wash machines.

b: 18-Apr-91 pc: 212 w: Larry David d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: While thinking about new career opportunities, George mentions that he might get a job working for a sports team, something he'll realize later. Newman, whom we never see, is said to be unemployed; however, later in the series we learn he is a postal worker. For the syndicated rerun, Wayne Knight supplies the voice of the never seen Newman. For the original network broadcasts Larry David provided the voice for Newman.

13. The Heart Attack

gs: Stephen Tobolowsky (Tor) John Posey (Dr. Fein) John Fleck (Attendant) Jimmy Woodward (Driver) Pat Hazell (Man in other bed) Sharon McKnight (Nurse) Thomas Wagner (Cook) Heather James (Waitress) 

George thinks he's had a heart attack. The doctor tells him otherwise, but he might want to get his tonsils and adenoids removed. Elaine is interested in the doctor and he is interested in her tongue. George not wanting to deal with the cost, follows Kramer's suggestion of going to a holistic healer. The healer's cure turns George purple and the ride to the hospital is delayed over a Chuckle.

b: 25-Apr-91 pc: 211 w: Larry Charles d: Tom Cherones

14. The Deal

gs: Siobhan Fallon (Tina) Norman Brenner (Clerk)

Jerry and Elaine are watching TV late at night and stumble across "naked people" and that gets them both discussing whether they could have a relationship and not jeopardize their friendship. George says it can't be done, but Jerry and Elaine devise "a system"; however, it develops a little trouble when her birthday comes along.

b: 02-May-91 pc: 213 w: Larry David d: Tom Cherones

15. The Baby Shower

gs: Christine Dunford (Leslie) Vic Polizos (Tabachnik) James Lashly (Assistant) Margaret Reed (Mary) George C. Simms (FBI Man) Marla Fries (Stewardess) Don Perry (Passenger) Kate Mulligan (Party Guest) Audrey Frantz (Party Guest)

Elaine needs to use Jerry's apartment to hold a baby shower for a woman that once dated George. George reflects that she was "unequivocally the worst date of my life." Jerry has to go out of town for a show, so he lets Elaine use the apartment. Kramer sells Jerry on the idea on getting an illegal cable hookup. The party begins. The cable guys come to install the hookup. Jerry's show gets canceled, so he returns to the apartment with George (who's prepared to confront the bad date). Jerry is the victim of his own confrontation.

b: 16-May-91 pc: 204 w: Larry Charles d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Bosco, the chocolate that stained George's sweater, is his ATM password in a later episode.

Christine Dunford (Leslie), who is the woman for whom the baby shower is given and "unequivocally the worst date of [George's] life", later plays the acerbic saleswoman in "The Pie"

16. The Chinese Restaurant

gs: James Hong (Bruce) David Tress (Mr. Cohen) Judy Kain (Lorraine) Kate Benton (Woman on Phone) Michael Mitz (Phone Guy) Kendall McCarthy (Man)

Jerry, Elaine and George stop for a quick Chinese dinner before a showing of Plan 9 From Outer Space on the big screen. However, while waiting a really long time to get a table, Jerry sees a woman whose name he can't recall; George needs to use a phone he can't have and Elaine needs food, more than those seated ahead of them.

b: 23-May-91 pc: 206 w: Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Viewer Danny Lee notes that Jerry mentions in this episode that he has a sister. I wonder what ever happened to her?

17. The Busboy

gs: David Labiosa (Antonio) Doug Ballard (Eddie) John Del Regno (Manager)

George inadvertently meddles in the life of a busboy, by getting him fired. He tries to rectify things; however, he winds up compounding them by losing the busboy's cat. Elaine discovers that a week is much too long to have a houseguest. She does everything in her power to get him out. The busboy's life is saved and made for the better after his involvement with George, until he meets Elaine's houseguest.

b: 26-Jun-91 pc: 203 w: Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Tom Cherones

Season 3

18. The Note

gs: Ralph Bruneau (Lloyd) Terri Hanauer (Julianna) Jeff Lester (Raymond) Flo Di Re (Recepcionist) Liz Georges (Pam) Paul Rogers (Man in Waiting Room) Dale Raoul (Dental Patient) Joshua Liebling (Billy)

Physical therapy proves painful for Jerry when his small talk with his therapist leads to a misunderstanding. Jerry uses his dentist friend, Roy, to write a note so that insurance will cover therapy for George and Elaine. Then, George's paranoia about men comes into play when he gets a massage from a man and later says "I think it moved." Kramer thinks he has seen DiMaggio in Dinky Donuts. The notes may cause Roy to lose his license in an insurance fraud investigation.

b: 18-Sep-91 pc: 301 w: Larry David d: Tom Cherones

19. The Truth

gs: Valerie Mahaffey (Patrice) Siobhan Fallon (Tina)

George's relationship with a former IRS worker may ease Jerry's tax audit worries- until she becomes his former girlfriend. She wants to know why, so he tells her the truth, this was after he gave her Jerry's tax records. Elaine sees far too much of Kramer, he's dating her roommate; in return he saw far too much of her, in fact all of her. George tries to get Jerry's tax records back, but he finds she gone into a depression clinic.

b: 25-Sep-91 pc: 302 w: Elaine Pope d: David Steinberg

NOTE: According to viewer Jerry Balsam, George first mentions that he has driven women to lesbianism before, something we'll get to experience in "The Smelly Car." 

20. The Pen

gs: Barney Martin (Morty) Annie Korzen (Doris Klompus) Liz Sheridan (Helen) Len Lesser (Uncle Leo) Roger Nolan (The Chiropractor) Sandy Baron (Jack Klompus) Ann Morgan Guilbert (Evelyn) Magda Harout (Stella) Tucker Smallwood (Photographer)

Elaine regrets accompanying Jerry on a trip to Florida to visit his parents. There are temperature control problems in the condo, a back breaking sofa bed, a slight overdose of muscle relaxants and the disposition of a pen that writes upside down.

b: 02-Oct-91 pc: 305 w: Larry David d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: This is the *only* episode that doesn't contain the character of George Costanza. Kramer doesn't appear in it either, but there another episode that he doesn't appear in either- "The Chinese Restaurant".

21. The Dog

gs: Joseph Maher (Gavin) Tom Williams (Bark of the Dog) Marvin Wright-Bay (Attendant #1) Marvin Wright-Bey (Attendant #1) Kelly Wellman (Attendant #2)

Jerry is watching an unruly dog, for a fellow airline passenger who's sick in a hospital somewhere in Chicago. Jerry, can't leave his apartment, that leaves George and Elaine alone together. They find they have little to say to each other without their conversational third, Jerry; so they talk about him. Kramer tries breaking up with his girlfriend. Jerry can't locate the dogs owner, who was released from the hospital, some time ago.

b: 09-Oct-91 pc: 303 w: Larry David d: Tom Cherones

22. The Library

gs: Philip Baker Hall (Lt. Bookman) Ashley Gardener (Marion) Harris Shore (Mr. Lippman) Cynthia Szigeti (Sandy) Biff Yeager (Heyman) Neal Lerner ("Shusher") Marie Barrientos (Recepcionist) 

The library asks Jerry about a book he checked out in 1971 and never returned, so Jerry looks up an old girlfriend for his defense against a library cop. George thinks the homeless man he'd seen outside the library is a former gym high school gym teacher that he got fired. Kramer has his eye on a librarian. Elaine worries about her career when her boss hates the recommendations she made.

b: 16-Oct-91 pc: 304 w: Larry Charles d: Joshua White

NOTE: According to viewer Jeffrey Abucay, Marion the Librarian says that Mr. Bookman has been working at the library for 25 years, however Lt. Bookman himself states that 1971 was his first year on the job, which would mean he's been working at the library for twenty years, not twenty five.

Jeff Holland notes that this episode features the appearance of the "infamous" green bike. Why is it infamous?

Viewer Bill Watson notes that people often forget, myself included, about Harris Shore's only appearance as Mr. Lippman. Richard Fancy assumes that role beginning in the "The Red Dot."

23. The Parking Garage

gs: David Dunard (Security Guard) Cynthia Ettinger (Michelle) Gregory Daniel (Man in Corvette) Carlyle King (Mother) Adam Wylie (Kid) Joe Farago (Man with Woman) Ron Evans (Bodybuilder) Tucker Smallwood (Man in Mercedes)

Everyone separates to try to find the car in a huge parking garage. Jerry needs the use of a bathroom so he finds a place to go and get 12312u2013m s busted. Elaine tries to get help from people passing by. George joins Jerry in getting busted. Kramer is wearing "the jacket," and forgets where he put down the air conditioner he was carrying and causes George to be real late for his parent's 47th anniversary.

b: 30-Oct-91 pc: 306 w: Larry David d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Viewer Kyle Westphal notes that Kramer parks in Purple 23. This happens to be the 23rd episode. Another viewer, Kyle Matschke notes that Kramer put the air conditioner down in Purple 23 and Jerry peed in Yellow 14.

24. The Cafe

gs: Brian George (Babu Bhatt) Dawn Arnemann (Monica)

Jerry tries helping the owner of a small restaurant attract customers by giving him a suggestion. George must take an IQ test for his latest girlfriend, so Elaine helps him in "a caper" where she takes the test for him. Kramer tries to keep his mother's ex-boyfriend's jacket, because it helps him meet women; however the ex-boyfriend comes looking for it.

b: 06-Nov-91 pc: 307 w: Tom Leopold d: Tom Cherones

25. The Tape

gs: John Apicella (Repairman) Ping Wu (Delivery Boy (Ping)) Norman Brenner (Beder)

George is excited about a new potential baldness cure that was discovered in China. While listening to a tape of his previous nights show, Jerry hears the voice of a mysterious woman who talks dirty into his tape recorder and everyone becomes excited by the voice. Elaine shines in an entirely new light for George when he is let in on the her secret, she's the voice. He is later driven crazy when she plays around with him while goofing around in front of Kramer's new video recorder. George tries the bald cure. Kramer searches for the jacket.

b: 13-Nov-91 pc: 308 w: Larry David and Bob Shaw & Don McEnery d: David Steinberg

26. The Nose Job

gs: Susan Diol (Audrey) Roy Brocksmith (Landlord) Tawny Kitaen (Isabel) Joseph V. Perry (Newstand Owner) David Blackwood (Interviewer)

Jerry's brain and penis play chess against one another to decide whether he should keep dating a vacuous model with whom the "sex is great" but not anything else. George is dating a woman with a big nose, Kramer tells her it like it is and she gets a nose job; however, there is a complication. Kramer gets Elaine to help him retrieve the jacket.

b: 20-Nov-91 pc: 309 w: Peter Mehlman d: Tom Cherones

27. The Stranded

gs: Michael Chiklis (Steve) Teri Austin (Ava) Bobbi Jo Lathan (Patti) Gwen Shepherd (Cashier) Dwayne Kennedy (Frank) Marcia Firesten (Jenny) Michael Milhoan (Security Guard) John Putch (Roy) Melissa Weil (Gwen) Ellen Ratner (Ellen) Frank Piazza (Cop)

Jerry & Elaine go to a party with George, while there they send signals to each other to get out of bad party conversations. Afterward, George abandons them there, when he leaves with a co-worker he has a chance with. Jerry & Elaine keeping the hosts up real late, while waiting for Kramer to come and pick them up. The host later takes Jerry up on his offer to drop by when he is in the city, just as Jerry is leaving. He stays in Jerry's apartment for the evening and parties with Kramer and a lady of the evening. Later George pays the price for his romance in the workplace (he must quit) and he tries to shoplift at the drug store where he says they still owe him ten dollars.

b: 27-Nov-91 pc: 209 w: Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld and Matt Goldman d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: This episode was originally going to be broadcast during the second season on 17 Jul 91. Jerry comes on before the broadcast of this episode and explains that it is from the time before George lost his job and he wanted to "let you know, that we know, you know."

Viewer Jeff Holland notes that one of George's co-workers says she just sold a property at 129 W. 81 St.; that of course is the building where Jerry, Kramer and Newman live.

28. The Alternate Side

gs: Jay Brooks (Sid) Janet Zarish (Rental Car Agent) Edward Penn (Owen March) Jeff Barton (Paramedic) 

Jerry's car is stolen and the criminal picks up his car phone. George decides to take a fill-in job moving cars from one side of the street to the other; this turns into a disaster for local traffic flow. Kramer gets a chance to do a line in a Woody Allen film; "these pretzels are making me thirsty." Elaine gets tired of her 66-year-old boyfriend and when she is about to break up with him, he has what might be a heart attack or something.

b: 04-Dec-91 pc: 310 w: Larry David and Bill Masters d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Viewer Burton Reibling notes that while Kramer almost got his line in Woddy's film. Julia Louis-Dreyfus has a single line in Hannah and Her Sisters. In her scene Woody Allen arrives at work (he is working at a television network), and Julia says, "Mickey, we have half an hour until airtime." She delivers this line about 10 - 15 minutes into the film, and about a minute later John Turturro also has a line.

Viewer Kevin Hercules notes the following blooper: Jerry is driving a BMW. In a BMW, the defroster is on the top of the vent positions. Jerry tells the guy that stole his car that it is on the bottom. In the yet another blooper category, viewer Jeff Holland notes that George moves fast. In an editing blooper in one shot he is across the room by the window. In the next shot, he is in the kitchen behind Jerry. He also notes the irony, that Jason has the side job as "Pretzel Boy" when George utters the line "these pretzels are making me thirsty."

Jeff Holland also notes that Jerry's car phone number 555-8383 is used in a later episode as his home number.

29. The Red Dot

gs: David Naughton (Dick) Bridget Sienna (Evie) Rachel Davies (Saleswoman) Richard Fancy (Lippman) 

Jerry is the unwitting cause of Elaine's boyfriend falling off the wagon. Elaine gets George a job, so he buys her a gift, an $85 cashmere sweater. The sweater has a little red dot on it; hence the price. Elaine gives it back, then George gives it to the cleaning woman, to keep her quiet about them having sex on his desk. George gets fired.

b: 11-Dec-91 pc: 311 w: Larry David d: Tom Cherones

30. The Subway

gs: Ernie Sabella (Naked Man) Barbara Stock (Scam Woman) Rhoda Gemignani (Woman with Elaine) Mark Boone Junior (OTB Patrol) Christopher Collins (Thug) Barry Vigon (Player #1) Daryl Roach (Violinist/Cop) Joe Restivo (Player #2) Chet Nelson (Kid)

Everyone has an uncommon experience while going their separate ways on the subway. George meets a beautiful woman who distracts him from his intended destination, a job interview. Jerry falls asleep and then wakes up across from a fat naked man and winds up discussing with him, the New York Mets & Coney Island. Elaine's train stops in the middle of a tunnel on her way to be best man at a lesbian wedding. Kramer overhears a hot tip on a horse on his way to pay $600 in traffic violations.

b: 08-Jan-92 pc: 313 w: Larry Charles d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: In this episode Kramer overhears a tip for the horses. The horse he bets on is named "Papa-Nick". The Key Grip for the series is credited as Pete Papanicklaus. 

31. The Pez Dispenser

gs: Elizabeth Morehead (Noel) Fred Sanders (John) Bill Applebaum (D'Giff) Allen Bloomfield (Polar Bear) Chris Barnes (Ritchie) Steve Kehela (Intervenor) Kate Benton (Roberta) 

Kramer joins the "Polar Bear Club." Jerry gets one of Kramer's Pez dispensers which makes Elaine laugh during a piano recital of George's girlfriend, and that puts their relationship in jeopardy. Kramer has an idea for a cologne that smells like the beach and suggests that George make a preemptive breakup with his girlfriend, that will give him the "upper hand." The Pez dispenser has a remarkable effect during a drug confrontation.

b: 15-Jan-92 pc: 314 w: Larry David d: Tom Cherones

32. The Suicide

gs: Wayne Knight (Newman) Gina Gallego (Gina) Mimi Lieber (Rula) C.E. Grimes (Martin) Howard Schecter (Doctor) Howard Shecter (Doctor) Aimee Aro (Faithy) Peggy Lane O'Rourke (Nurse) Pegg Lane O'Rourke (Nurse)

Elaine needs to fast before an x-ray, so she tries stuffing herself three days before the test. After his neighbor Martin tries suicide, Jerry is hit on by his girlfriend, Gina, while at the hospital. A psychic warns George to cancel his vacation to the Cayman Islands, but never can tell George why. Jerry becomes worried when Newman (a friend of Martins) sees him with Gina. Elaine starts hallucinating from hunger. Everything hinges on a Drake's coffee cake.

b: 29-Jan-92 pc: 312 w: Tom Leopold d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: According to viewer Ben Houghton, Jason Alexander's mother makes a cameo in this episode sitting on a bench next to Elaine.

George mentions he has a brother. He says that once HIS BROTHER impregnated a woman.

33. The Fix-Up

gs: Maggie Wheeler (Cynthia) 

After selling each other on the idea, Jerry and Elaine sell George and Elaine's friend on a blind date, then they await the results. They promise to keep each other updated with "full disclosure," though that doesn't happen. There also may be a problem with a defective condom. "My boys can swim!"

b: 05-Feb-92 pc: 317 w: Elaine Pope and Larry Charles d: Tom Cherones

34. The Boyfriend (1)

gs: Keith Hernandez (Himself) Wayne Knight (Newman) Rae Allen (Mrs. Sokol) Richard Assad (Cabbie) 

Jerry meets Keith Hernandez and wants to make a good impression. Meanwhile, George is out of time on his unemployment and he works harder than ever on his scheme to get a 13 week extension. He tells the unemployment office he was really close on Vandelay Industries, a company that makes latex products and whose main office is Jerry's apartment. Kramer and Newman hate Hernandez back to a time when they were allegedly spit on by him; however, Jerry supports the "second-spitter theory." Keith asks Jerry about Elaine's status. Keith makes a date with her and breaks a date with Jerry.

b: 12-Feb-92 pc: 315 w: Larry David and Larry Levin d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Originally broadcast as part of a 60 min episode. The name Vandelay is used again, this time as a company. Devoted Internet fans of the show decide the company's name will be used for their electronic mailing list.

The spitting reconstruction with Kramer and Newman was an obvious takeoff of the JFK conspiracy. Oddly enough, Wayne Knight (Newman) was in the movie "J.F.K." and his character was used in Kevin Costner's demonstration on how there was likely a second shooter.

Jerry's alias Kal Varnsen is used here for the first time. He'll use it again later in "The Puerto Rican Day". Here he uses when he answers the phone on George's behalf. The name Kal is the first name of Jerry's real life father and is also part of Superman's real Kryptonian name "Kal-El", another Superman reference for the series.

35. The Boyfriend (2)

gs: Keith Hernandez (Himself) Wayne Knight (Newman) Rae Allen (Mrs. Sokol) Carol Ann Susi (Carrie) Lisa Mende (Carol) Roger McDowell (Himself) Stephen Prutting (Michael) Melanie Good (Woman) Richard Assad (Cabbie)

George tries two more approaches with the unemployment officer. Kramer gets Jerry to accompany him to see a former neighbors' new baby, "you got to see the baby." Though he's gone out with Keith once, does that mean he must help him move. Elaine and Keith are hitting it off until he pulls out a cigarette. George wants to sleep with a really tall woman. Keith supports the "second spitter theory." Jerry and Elaine both breakup with Keith and George might get his wish.

b: 12-Feb-92 pc: 316 w: Larry David and Larry Levin d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Originally broadcast as part of a 60 min episode. Viewer Biff Hooper notes that when George runs out of the bathroom to tell Kramer to say "Vandelay Industries," he falls and drops his paper to the right of where he lies. Then, in the shot from Jerry's view, the paper has moved to George's left!

36. The Limo

gs: Peter Krause (Tim) Suzanne Snyder (Eva) Jeremy Roberts (Chauffeur) Jodi Baskerville (Herself) I.M. Hobson (Businessman) Harley Venton (Dan) Adam Leslie (Man at Protest) Norman Brenner (Man at Airport) Aaron Kanarek (Protester #1) Ray Glanzmann (Protester #2) 

On a whim, Jerry and George take a limo from a passenger that Jerry knows never made it on the plane. While taking the limo they call Elaine & Kramer to join them for an event at Madison Square Garden, but it isn't the type of event they were hoping for.

b: 26-Feb-92 pc: 318 w: Larry Charles s: Marc Jaffe d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: A rare episode, where Jerry's apartment is not featured.

If this episode does not include Jerry's apartment does it indeed have an image of Superman in it? It is commomly believed that every Seinfeld episode has an image of Superman in it.

The woman who George and Jerry pick up on the way to the neo-Nazi conference is named Eva...and as we all know, Eva Braun was the name of Hitler's girlfriend during WWII. Clever. (iamthewinter)

37. The Good Samaritan

gs: Melinda McGraw (Angela) Ann Talman (Robin) Joseph Malone (Michael) Helen Slater (Becky Gelke (uncredited)) 

Jerry tracks down a hit-and-run driver, then he wants to date her, after dating her he finds out she hit another woman he's always wanted to date. George has an affair with Elaine's friend. Kramer has violent reactions to Mary Hart's voice.

b: 04-Mar-92 pc: 319 w: Peter Mehlman d: Jason Alexander

38. The Letter

gs: Catherine Keener (Nina) Richard Venture (Leonard West) Elliot Reed (Mr. Armstrong) Elliott Reid (Mr. Armstrong) Justine Johnston (Mrs. Armstrong) Shashawnee Hall (Usher) Richard Fancy (Mr. Lippman)

Kramer poses for a painting, that an elderly couple becomes just crazy about. George feels obligated to buy something when he accompanies Jerry to his new girlfriend's art studio. Elaine wears an Orioles baseball cap in the owner's box at Yankee Stadium and refuses to remove it. Jerry finds out his new girlfriend is a plagiarist after he hears the words she wrote in a letter, on television. Elaine gets a chance to return to Yankee Stadium.

b: 25-Mar-92 pc: 320 w: Larry David d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Viewer Jeff Holland notes that Elaine comments during this episode that no one would want to watch a bris; however in "The Bris" that is just what she and Jerry do! 

39. The Parking Space

gs: Wayne Knight (Newman) Lee Arenberg (Mike Moffit) Jay Brooks (Sid) Maryedith Burrell (Maryedith) Shannon Cochran (Sheila) Zachary Charles (Angry Man) Michael A. Costanza (Truck Driver) Mik Scriba (Cop #1) John Christian Graas (Matthew) Stan Sellers (Cop #2) Peggy Lane O'Rourke (Bystander #1) Steven Marcus Gibbs (Bystander #2) Larry David (Voice of Fight Referee (uncredited))

Kramer tells Jerry about something his friend Mike said about Jerry being "a phony." After borrowing Jerry's car, Elaine comes up with a wild story, because the car is now making a strange clanking noise. George gets into a confrontation with Mike about a parking space in front of Jerry's apartment. Everyone one the street debates about parking etiquette.

b: 04-Feb-92 pc: 322 w: Larry David & Greg Daniels d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Viewer Fabio Sciola notes that this is the episode where George mentions again that he has a brother. However, he hasn't mentioned this brother since this episode. At least that I am aware of.

40. The Keys

gs: Candice Bergen (Herself (as Murphy Brown)) Wayne Knight (Newman) Nina Tremblay (Jerry's Girlfriend) Ricky Dean Logan (Hippie #1) Eric Allan Kramer (Biker) Maud Winchester (Hippie #2) Rickie Dean Logan (Hippie #1) Sharon Barr (Trucker) Heather James (Waitress) Carissa Channing (Kramer's Girlfriend (Gucci))

Kramer invades Jerry's life too much, so Jerry revokes his spare key privileges. Realizing that he has broken the "covenant of the keys" gives Kramer the realization he is now free to come out of the shadows. Kramer takes off for California to follow his acting dream. Jerry gave his spare keys to Elaine, then when he needs them, he goes with George to Elaine's (who has her keys) to search for his spare set. What they find is Elaine's show-biz project. Kramer finds adventure as he journeys across the country to LA where he gets a famous bit part on Murphy Brown.

b: 06-May-92 pc: 321 w: Larry Charles d: Tom Cherones

Season 4

41. The Trip (1)

gs: Corbin Bernsen (Himself) George Wendt (Himself) Debi A. Monahan (Chelsea) Fred Savage (Himself) Peter Murnik (Lt. Martel) Elmarie Wendel (Helene) Debi A. Monaham (Chelsea) Ricky Dean Logan (The Freak) Vaughn Armstrong (Lt. Coleman) Keith Morrison (Himself) Manfred Melcher (Officer) Christopher Michael Moore (Studio Guard) Dyana Ortelli (Lupe) Michael Gerard (Recepcionist)

With Elaine in Europe, Jerry asks George to accompany him on a trip to LA and The Tonight Show; while there they will try to locate Kramer. While auditioning, Kramer must deal with the advances of an older female landlord (an actress who hasn't worked since 1934) and get someone in Hollywood to read his script treatment. A body is discovered; the victim, a young woman, was strangled. Kramer meets a woman at an audition and he gives her a copy of his script. Jerry loses the correct phrasing for some new jokes and George tries to get Lupe, the chambermaid, to make his bed just right. At The Tonight Show, George disturbs the guests and Jerry bombs. The woman Kramer gave the script to is strangled and his script is found in her possession. Kramer's face is shown on the news as the prime suspect for the "Smog Strangler," a serial-killer.

b: 12-Aug-92 pc: 401 w: Larry Charles d: Tom Cherones

42. The Trip (2)

gs: Peter Murnik (Lt. Martel) Elmarie Wendel (Helene) Marty Rackham (Officer #1) Peter Parros (Officer #2) Vaughn Armstrong (Lt. Coleman) Clint Howard (Tobias Lehigh Nagy) Steve Greenstein (Man) Kerry Leigh Michaels (Woman) Keith Morrison (Newscaster (Himself)) Peggy Lane O'Rourke (Reporter #1) Deck McKenzie (Reporter #2) Steve Dougherty (Prison Guard)

Jerry and George try to contact the police to tell them Kramer is innocent. Kramer still doesn't know he's wanted. Jerry and George get a ride in a police car and while en route the officers pick up a possible 519. The 519 suspect is put in the back of the car with George and Jerry and they ask him tipping advice. Then all units are called in on Kramer's building, Jerry and George leave the police car door open and the 519 suspect escapes. While Kramer is in for questioning, another victim is found. He is let go and Jerry and George want to know what he is going to do, he is going to stay in LA. Jerry and George are back in New York and Kramer turns up like nothings changed.

b: 19-Aug-92 pc: 402 w: Larry Charles d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: The remaining episodes in this season have a loose, but interconnecting thread, and should be viewed in order. Of course when syndicated the episodes are shown in anything but a logical order. Marty Rackham will reappear as Elaine's exclamation point avoiding boyfriend, Jake Jarmel, in "The Sniffing Accountant". He will return as Jake in two more episodes.

In part one of this two parter, George's bed is the one on the right, which he asks Lupe the chambermaid for a "no tuck". In this part, George ends up sleeping on the bed on the left, which is "tucked" and Jerry is on George's "no tuck" bed. Contributor "iamthewinter" asks, why would they switch beds? Also, this causes George to lose the bet over who has to tip the maid, which he forgets to do anyway.

Viewer Jeff Holland notes that the hotel the Kramer stays in, is the same one that Julia Roberts stays at in Pretty Woman.

43. The Pitch

gs: Wayne Knight (Newman) Bob Balaban (Russell Dalrimple) Heidi Swedberg (Susan) Peter Crombie ("Crazy" Joe Davola) Kevin Page (Stu) Peter Blood (Jay) Stephen McHattie (Dr. Reston) Julie Blum (Recepcionist) Steve Skrovan (Tommy) Ron Ross (Homeless Man) 

NBC executives ask Jerry to come up with an idea for a TV series. George decides he can be a sitcom writer and comes up with "nothing." Kramer trades a radar detector for a helmet, later Newman gets a speeding ticket. While waiting to meet the NBC executives, George and Jerry meet Joe Davola, a writer and "a total nut" who goes to the same shrink as Elaine. Jerry searching for conversation, mentions Kramer's party, whereto Joe wasn't invited. While discussing the disaster of the meeting with NBC, George focuses on starting a relationship with the female NBC executive. Kramer shows his approval by throwing up on her. The helmet saves Kramer from an attack by "Crazy" Joe Davola. While all this is going on Elaine is in Europe with her shrink.

b: 16-Sep-92 pc: 403 w: Larry David d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Originally broadcast as part of a 60 min episode.

The character of Russell (Dalrimple) is based on NBC executive Warren Littlefield. This is a role Bob Balaban was born to play as he did show in the late night talk show wars movie called The Late Shift.

44. The Ticket

gs: Wayne Knight (Newman) Bob Balaban (Russell) Heidi Swedberg (Susan) Len Lesser (Uncle Leo) Stephen McHattie (Psychiatrist (Dr. Reston)) Steve Eastin (Cop #1) David Graf (Cop #2) Peter Blood (Jay) Al Fann (Judge) Julie Blum (Receptionist) Kevin Page (Stu) 

Kramer suffers side effects from his head injury. NBC gives Jerry and George another meeting and on the way, Jerry throws out a watch his parents gave him. He then meets his Uncle Leo, who picks the watch out of the garbage. Kramer agrees to be an alibi for Newman's trial on a speeding ticket. George and Jerry meet with NBC executives and they give the go ahead for a pilot. Later they hide in the coffee shop, afraid of an attack from "Crazy" Joe. Elaine's shrink realizes that he didn't leave an extra prescription for Joe Davola, for the time while he's on vacation.

b: 16-Sep-92 pc: 404 w: Larry David d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Originally broadcast as part of a 60 min episode.

45. The Wallet (1)

gs: Stephen McHattie (Dr. Reston) David Sage (Dr. Dembrow) Susan Ilene Johnson (Nurse) Denise Dowse (Receptionist) Brian Leckner (Attendant) Liz Sheridan (Helen) Barney Martin (Morty) Len Lesser (Uncle Leo) Heidi Swedberg (Susan)

Jerry's parents come to town to see a back specialist, they hear about "Crazy" Joe not liking Jerry and ask about the watch they gave him. George "negotiates" the deal with the NBC and gets a box of cigars from Susan's father. While at the doctor's office Morty's wallet is "stolen". Elaine returns from her trip and tries to end her relationship with her shrink. The deal with NBC is lost.

b: 23-Sep-92 pc: 405 w: Larry David d: Tom Cherones

46. The Watch (2)

gs: Stephen McHattie (Dr. Reston) Jessica Lundy (Naomi) Christopher Carroll (Maitre d') Lewis Dauber (Doorman) Mimi Craven (Cynthia) Barney Martin (Morty) Liz Sheridan (Helen) Bob Balaban (Russell) Len Lesser (Uncle Leo) Heidi Swedberg (Susan) Peter Crombie ("Crazy" Joe)

Jerry has dinner with his parents and Uncle Leo. Women, who's paying and the watch are all discussed. Elaine uses Kramer as "her boyfriend" in trying to fool her shrink. George gets Russell's address and tries to get the pilot reinstated. Jerry tries to buy back the watch. Outside her shrink's office, Elaine meets "Crazy" Joe, whom she begins to date.

b: 30-Sep-92 pc: 406 w: Larry David d: Tom Cherones

47. The Bubble Boy

gs: Jessica Lundy (Naomi) Brian Doyle-Murray (Mel) Carol Mansell (Mother) O-Lan Jones (Waitress) Jon Hayman (Voice and Arm of Donald) George Gerdes (Man #1) Tony Pappenfuss (Man #2) Heidi Swedberg (Susan)

Jerry's girlfriend, Naomi has a laugh that sounds like "Elmer Fudd sitting on a juicer," and when she hears George's message to Jerry, she breaks up with him. So instead, Jerry asks Elaine to accompany him on a trip to a cabin in the mountain with George and Susan. Kramer isn't invited. Jerry agrees to a side trip to visit a sick fan, a "Bubble Boy." George gets into a fight with the "Bubble Boy" over the correct answer to a Trivial Pursuit question. Kramer and Naomi also make the trip to the cabin and get the fire started.

b: 07-Oct-92 pc: 407 w: Larry David & Larry Charles d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: The Trivial Pursuit question mentioned is an actual error that was discovered in one of the question sets. 

48. The Cheever Letters

gs: Warren Frost (Mr. Henry Ross) Grace Zabriskie (Mrs. Ross) Lisa Malkiewicz (Sandra) Miguel Perez (Luis) Vanessa Marquez (Receptionist) Timothy Omundson (Ricky Ross) Patricia Lee Willson (Sara Ross) David Blackwood (Doorman) Heidi Swedberg (Susan) 

Jerry and George begin to work on the pilot for the series they pitched to NBC. Jerry says the wrong thing while "messing" around with one of Elaine's co-workers. George & Susan tell her father about the cabin fire, he becomes distraught and letters saved from the fire soon explain why. Kramer goes to the Cuban Embassy in search of cigars and makes a deal.

b: 28-Oct-92 pc: 408 w: Larry David s: Larry David and Elaine Pope & Tom Leopold d: Tom Cherones 

NOTE: Cuba is not recognized as a sovereign nation by the United States, so Cuba does not have an embassy in the United States, yet somehow Kramer finds it. It turns out that the Cuban Embassy is located in the United Nations.

Warren Frost and Grace Zabriskie both appeared on David Lynch and Mark Frost's series Twin Peaks. Another Twin Peaks cast member joins Grace and Warren in an appearance in "The Rye".

49. The Opera

gs: Ross Evans (Mr. Reichman) Hariet S. Miller (Mrs. Reichman) Bill Saluga (Usher) Tom Celli (Man #1) Jason Wingreen (Man #2) Glen Chin (Man #3) Peter Crombie ("Crazy" Joe) Heidi Swedberg (Susan)

"Crazy" Joe leaves Jerry a message saying he will put the "kibosh" on him. Kramer has tickets for the opera, Pagliacci, and everyone is going including Elaine and her boyfriend "Crazy" Joe. Elaine drops in on Joe's apartment and is she surprised by what she discovers, so she maces him with cherry Binaca and ends their relationship. Susan can't attend, so George tries to scalp her ticket. Joe, a big fan of Pagliacci, comes to the opera in clown garb; Elaine and Jerry attend together not realizing their different estranged relationships with Joe.

b: 04-Nov-92 pc: 409 w: Larry Charles d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Bill Saluga is best remembered for a character he played in Vegas and on variety television. That character was Raymond J. Johnson Jr.. "Oh you don't have to call me Johnson. Now my name is Raymond J. Johnson Jr. You can call me Ray or you can call me...". You get the idea! Also in the late '70s, Bill released a disco album called "Disco Johnson."

50. The Virgin

gs: Jane Leeves (Marla) Anne Twomey (Rita) Heidi Swedberg (Susan) Kevin Page (Stu) Ping Wu (Ping) Leah Lail (Stacy) Peter Blood (Jay) Derya Ruggles (Woman in Bar) Dayna Winston (Carol) Julie Blum (Receptionist)

After much procrastination, George and Jerry strain to think of an idea for their TV series a few hours before a meeting with NBC executives. Jerry finds out a girl he once met is still a virgin, and later Elaine educates her about men after sex. George wants to end his relationship with Susan so he can exploit his writing profession as a pick-up line. Elaine runs into a Chinese delivery boy. Kramer watches too much television.

b: 11-Nov-92 pc: 410 w: Peter Mehlman s: Peter Mehlman and Peter Farrelly & Bobby Farrelly d: Tom Cherones 

NOTE: Following the broadcast of this episode Michael Richards played Kramer on an episode of Mad About You. It starred Paul Reiser & Helen Hunt. In the episode called "The Apartment," Reiser must get rid of his old apartment, that it seems Kramer has been subletting from him. However, in the first episode of the seventh season, George and Susan are seen watching and commenting on an episode of Mad About You. See also the NOTE associated with "Good News, Bad News." 

51. The Contest

gs: Jane Leeves (Marla) Ilana Levine (Joyce) Rachel Sweet (Shelly) Andrea Parker (Nurse) Estelle Harris (Estelle Constanza)

George's mother 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 self-denial, when he accepts, Elaine and Kramer want in on the action, or rather the lack of it.

b: 18-Nov-92 pc: 411 w: Larry David d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Thanks to this episode, the series won the Emmy for best Comedy, Writing and Supporting Actor (Michael Richards). The episode was based in a real life experience of writer Larry David.

Tom Cherones won the Director's Guild of America Award for this episode. This episode was based on a real contest that Larry David participated in.

TV Guide named this episode, specifically the moment where Kramer says he's out, as the third funniest moment in TV history.

52. The Airport

gs: Jennifer Lynn Campbell (Tia) Scott Burkholder (Prisoner) Jim J. Bullock (Attendant #1) Allan Wasserman (Grossbard) Lenny Rose (Passenger #1) Karen Denise Williams (Attendant #2) Annie Korzen (Passenger #2) Deck McKenzie (Security Guard) Maggie Egan (Ticket Clerk) Mark Christopher Lawrence (Sky Cap) Jack Graiman (Cop) William Evan Masters (Driver) Larry David (Voice of Man ordering the leftover kosher meal (uncredited)) 

When their flight home gets canceled, Jerry & Elaine gets on another flight, the latter gets cramped into coach and Jerry parties in 1st class with a model. George and Kramer go between JFK and La Guardia to pick them up. When they settle on an airport George meets a convict and Kramer sees a man who owes him $240 from years ago.

b: 25-Nov-92 pc: 412 w: Larry Charles d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Larry Charles makes a cameo appearance as the guy who stinks up the bathroom before Elaine goes in. Thanks to Greg Gattuso for this tidbit. Greg is author of the book "The Seinfeld Universe".

Viewer Paul Brackett, who must work in the airline industry, notes the following:

"They were flying from St. Louis to JFK, then to LGA. Only TWA flies these routes non-stop. They showed 2 ground shots of the aircraft, and both of the ground shots were of a Southwest airlines Boeing 737. Then they showed the plane in flight a couple of times, both shots were of a McDonnell Douglas DC-9. Then they showed the interior of the coach section, in which the colors of the seats and the configuration resembled the interior of a Delta coach plane, with 3-3 seating. Both the 737 and the DC-9 are 3-2 seating. Then they showed the interior of the first class section, which looked like the interior of a Continental DC-10 First class section, based on seating arrangements and color of the seats. One would think that folks in the TV industry would fly enough to notice these things!"

A St. Louis based viewer, Randy Canis notes that Jerry and Elaine are not at the real Lambert Field. I wouldn't expect them to be, that would be too expensive to film and only viewers familiar with the airport would ever notice.

53. The Pick

gs: Jennifer Lynn Campbell (Tia) Gina Hecht (Dana Foley) Nicholas Hormann (Calvin) Tony Carlin (Fred) Francois Giroday (Male Executive) Blaire Baron (Female Executive) Steve Schubert (Man in Office) Heidi Swedberg (Susan) Wayne Knight (Newman)

Elaine is humiliated when she accidentally shows a bit too much on her Christmas card photo, that she has sent out to everyone she knows. Jerry has a date with the model from the plane, she later dumps Jerry because of "The Pick." George tries to reunite with Susan, but realizes it's a mistake, and uses "The Pick". Kramer goes to Calvin Klein to complain about "The Ocean," a fragrance they stole from him, and is asked to pose for a risqué underwear advertisement.

b: 16-Dec-92 pc: 413 w: Larry David s: Larry David and Marc Jaffe d: Tom Cherones

54. The Movie

gs: Barry Diamond (Buckles) Perry Anzilotti (Usher) Tom LaGrua (Kernis) Eric Poppick (Maurice) Cathy Lind Hayes (Woman Behind Elaine) Allan Kolman (Cab Driver) Molly Cleator (Cashier) Christie Mellor (Concessionaire) Jeff Norman (Man in Line) Paul Eisenhauer (Man in Theatre) Montrose Hagins (Woman in Theatre)

Jerry tries to make two show dates and afterwards go to the movie theater to meet everyone. George gets in the wrong line for tickets. George, Elaine & Kramer decide to go to another theater to see the movie. Kramer waits outside for Jerry but also wants a hot dog. Jerry misses his first show, then goes to movie theater to tell everyone he won't make the movie, but no one is there. Through a comedy of errors, everyone (but Kramer) misses the movie, they were originally going to see.

b: 06-Jan-93 pc: 415 w: Steve Skrovan & Bill Masters & Jon Hayman d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: According to viewer Jim Gilhooly, writer Steve Skrovan appears in an uncredited cameo as the man with the white hat that sits next to Elaine at the movie.

55. The Visa

gs: Brian George (Babu Bhatt) Maggie Han (Cheryl) Ping Wu (Ping) John Hamelin (Babu's Brother) Gerry Bednob (Babu's Friend)

George meets a Chinese female lawyer who thinks he is real funny; so he tells Jerry not to be funny around her, but she becomes attracted to this. Kramer returns early from baseball fantasy camp, where he accidentally punched Mickey Mantle. A mix-up with Jerry's mail causes Babu to be arrested for not renewing his visa. Jerry tries to get the lawyer to help Babu, but George's honesty when his relationship is threatened causes Babu to be deported and Elaine to still be sued by the delivery boy she hit.

b: 27-Jan-93 pc: 414 w: Peter Mehlman d: Tom Cherones

56. The Shoes

gs: Gina Hecht (Dana (Foley)) Anita Barone (Gail Cunningham) Michael Ornstein (Waiter) Denise Richards (Molly) Bob Balaban (Russell)

Jerry and George struggle to keep their idea for a TV series alive, one of their problems is they don't know how to do the Elaine character. Jerry meets an old girlfriend he never could kiss, later Kramer gets the opportunity. The ex-girlfriend talks about Elaine's shoes, mainly because she wants them. George is caught staring at the cleavage of the daughter of the NBC executive who is approving their script. Elaine's cleavage provides a means to turn the tables on him.

b: 04-Feb-93 pc: 417 w: Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Viewer Jeff Holland notes that it took Jerry and George a while to get around to adding a female to their pilot, just like it took Jerry and Larry to do.

57. The Outing

gs: Paula Marshall (Sharon) Kari Coleman (Allison) Anthony Mangano (Sailor) Ben Reed (Male Nurse) Lawrence A. Mandley (Manager) Charley Garrett (Man #1) Deck McKenzie (Scott) David Gibbs (Man #2) Liz Sheridan (Helen) Barney Martin (Morty) Estelle Harris (Estelle) 

No thanks to Elaine, Jerry must work hard to prove he is straight when a college reporter mistakenly reports that he and George are gay, "not that there is anything wrong with that." Things really get out of hand when the article is picked up by the New York Post.

b: 11-Feb-93 pc: 416 w: Larry Charles d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Viewer Jerry Balsam notes in this episode that Estelle claims to have been helped up by the super; however, we all know that the Costanzas live in a house in Queens.

Kyle Westphal notes George's comment about having to wait for his girlfriend to die. Of course, she becomes his fiancée first and then she does die, in "The Invitations."

The hospital scene with George and his mother, when the male nurse comes in to give the male patient a sponge bath is a take off of a similar scene in the episode "The Contest." The dialogue between George and his mom, and the nurse and patient is almost identical. The only difference is the sex of the nurse and patient, obviously to go with the theme of this episode.

Larry Charles was nominated for an Emmy for this episode.

58. The Old Man

gs: Bill Erwin (Sid Fields) Tobin Bell (Ron) Robert Donley (Ben Cantwell) Lanei Chapman (Housekeeper) Victoria Dillard (Agency Rep) Jerry Hauck (Tim) Wayne Knight (Newman) 

Jerry, Elaine & George volunteer to help the elderly. Jerry gets assigned to a nasty old man. Elaine is repulsed by the goiter problems of hers and George depresses his charge. Kramer and Newman try the business of selling old records to a used record store. Jerry loses track of his man when they try to take him to the dentist to repair his dentures, after the man had bitten Kramer's arm.

b: 18-Feb-93 pc: 418 w: Bruce Kirschbaum s: Larry Charles d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Viewer Eric Scheffel notes that old man's name is Sid Fields. This was the name of the landlord on the The Abbott & Costello Show. Which of featured Jerry's two favorite comedians, Bud Abbott & Lou Costello. In fact on 24 Nov 94, instead of an episode of Seinfeld being on, Jerry hosted a one hour special about the duo. The special was called Abbott & Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld.

Viewer Gerry Myerson notes that the other old man was named Ben Cantwell. Baseball trivia buffs recognize this as the name of a pitcher for the Boston Braves, who lost 25 games in 1935. No one has lost that many games in a season since then.

59. The Implant

gs: Megan Mullally (Betsy) Carol Rosenthal (Ticket Clerk #1) Donald Bishop (Dr. Allenwood) Teri Hatcher (Sidra) Tony Amendola (Sal Bass (Rushdie)) Kieran Mulroney (Timmy) Peggy Stewart (Aunt May) Bruce E. Morrow (Father Jessup) Susan Beaubian (Ticket Clerk #2) 

Jerry dumps his girlfriend after Elaine says her figure is the result of implants. Kramer claims to have seen Salman Rushdie at the health club. By accident Elaine later discovers the breasts are real. George accompanies his current girlfriend to Detroit for her aunt's wake. While there he tries to get a copy of her death certificate so he can get a 50% discount on the airfare.

b: 25-Feb-93 pc: 419 w: Peter Mehlman d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Teri Hatcher plays Jerry's girlfriend in this episode. She will later play Lois Lane, in the series Lois & Clark. A distant Superman reference.

60. The Junior Mint

gs: Susan Walters (Mystery Woman) Sherman Howard (Roy) Victor Raider-Wexler (Doctor)

Jerry has a date with a woman whose name he has forgotten, but it "rhymes with a female body part." Could it be "Mulva"? Elaine visits an old boyfriend who's in the hospital for an operation; he was once fat, thin she's interested again. Kramer gets an opportunity to witness the operation and he drags Jerry along, while watching they have an accident with a "Junior Mint."

b: 18-Mar-93 pc: 421 w: Andy Robin d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Her name is... I can't tell you everything! However, if you must know, see "The Foundation," where she returns assuming that Jerry has grown up.

This episode sparked a lawsuit from an employee of a company located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. The employee claims that this company allegedly used the following incident as an excuse to fire him. He discussed this episode with a female co-worker. She didn't get the joke. So he provided a photocopy of a dictionary definition of the body part in question so he wouldn't have to say it.

For the record, the company from Milwaukee was in fact Miller Brewing Company, of Miller High Life and Miller Lite fame. Second biggest brewer in the country. This is why this case got so much press. He originally won about $25 million in damages, but later had to file for bankruptcy after Miller appealed and the courts threw the case out. (https://www.jsonline.com/news/Metro/dec01/4579.asp for more information)

61. The Smelly Car

gs: Michael Des Barres (Restaurateur) Nick Bakay (Carl) Kari Coleman (Allison) Taylor Negron (Hairdresser) Courtney Gains (Clerk) Raf Mauro (Car Washer) Viveka Davis (Mona) Robert Noble (Salesman) Patricia Place (Wife) Walt Beaver (Husband) Heidi Swedberg (Susan) 

The strong body odor of a valet is left in Jerry's car. George can't believe it when he spots Susan holding hands with another woman. Elaine loses her current boyfriend and Jerry is forced to try to sell the car, because the odor has taken a life of its own and permeated everything. George is turned by Susan's new outlook on life. Susan's friend is swayed to heterosexuality by Kramer, though later turned back off by a whiff of a jacket that Kramer borrowed from Jerry. When the car can't be sold, Jerry winds up leaving it and the keys out on the street.

b: 15-Apr-93 pc: 422 w: Larry David & Peter Mehlman d: Tom Cherones

62. The Handicap Spot

gs: John Randolph (Frank Costanza (see NOTE)) Richard Portnow (Ray) Kathy Kinney (Angry Woman) Rick Overton (The Drake) Nancy Lenehan (Volunteer) Elizabeth Dennehy (Allison) Fritzi Burr (Maj-Jongg Lady #1) Norma Janis (Maj-Jongg Lady #2) Ina Parker (Maj-Jongg Lady #3) Marvin Braverman (Cop) David Blackwood (Security Guard) Eric Fleeks (Kicker) Donna Evans (Lula) Estelle Harris (Estelle) Jerry Stiller (Frank)

Going out to buy an engagement party present for "The Drake," George parks his father's car in a handicap parking spot, after taking Kramer's advice. An angry mob trashes the vehicle when a disabled woman gets injured, because of the illegal parking. While visiting the woman at the hospital, Kramer falls in love and feels compelled to replace the wheelchair. George becomes his father's butler after his father gets arrested for parking in the spot.

b: 13-May-93 pc: 420 w: Larry David d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: The U.S. syndicated version of this episode features Jerry Stiller in the role of Frank Costanza. Viewers overseas, still see John Randolph in the role. The sequences were re-shot in the spring of 1995. A role he didn't formally start until the next season in "The Puffy Shirt". I've been typed that the John Randolph version is still being seen overseas.

Viewer Jerry Balsam notes that in this episode, Kramer was referred to as a "hipster doofus," which is an inside joke Larry David wrote in response to a review of the series by Francis Davis that appeared in the December 1992 issue of The Atlantic Monthly. In the review, Davis describes one of the characters as "Jerry's across-the-hall neighbor, a hipster doofus known simply as Kramer." See the article at the Atlantic Monthly's website.

Viewer Ross Raniere seems to remember some controversy surrounding this episode before it was first aired. There was some backlash and offense taken at the plot. It was written in an article that it may not be aired. Given the production code of the episode, I would suggest that the airing of the episode was delayed and perhaps some of the content adjusted to appease the critics. Anyone have any details?

Overseas viewer Baptiste has noticed that in this episode Jerry says that he wants to buy a yoyo. In the "The Junior Mint", he has one and he is learning to play with it (we actually see him try and try, explaining that he is just learning): an example of losing something when episodes are shown out of production order.

63. The Pilot (1)

gs: Mariska Hargitay (Melissa Shannon) Anne Twomey (Rita) Gina Hecht (Dana Foley) Jeremy Piven (Michael Barth (TV George)) Larry Hankin (Tom Pepper (TV Kramer)) Kevin Page (Stu) Laura Waterbury (Casting Director) Elena Wohl (Sandi Robbins (TV Elaine)) Bruce Jarchow (Doctor) Al Ruscio (Manager) Richard Gant (Fred) Peter Blood (Jay) Roger Rose (Mark) Samantha Dorman (Waitress) Erick Avari (Cabbie) Bob Shaw (Paul) Stephen Burrows (David) Bob Balaban (Russell) Peter Crombie ("Crazy" Joe) 

Jerry and George get the green light to produce Jerry, the pilot for the series based on their "nothing" lives. Russell Dalrimple, the president at NBC behind the pilot, is obsessed with Elaine. George is obsessed with a white spot on his lip and a box of raisins taken by actor playing Kramer. The real Kramer has an internal plumbing problem and on his way to fix it, he gets delayed and is caused to "miss his chance." Jerry has an audition with the new "Elaine," a method actress interested in being Elaine in every way. The real Elaine has a problem with the coffee shop, they appear to be only hiring buxom waitresses, so she tries to get hired and files a report.

b: 20-May-93 pc: 423 w: Larry David d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Originally broadcast as part of a 60 min episode.

64. The Pilot (2)

gs: Anne Twomey (Rita) Jeremy Piven (Michael Barth (TV George)) Larry Hankin (Tom Pepper (TV Kramer)) Kevin Page (Stu) Elena Wohl (Sandi Robbins (TV Elaine)) Al Ruscio (Manager) Richard Gant (Fred) Peter Blood (Jay) Brian Bradley (Butler) Bob Shaw (Paul) Deborah Swisher (1st AD) Jeff Oetjen (Wilton) Pat Hazell (Himself) Kari Coleman (Allison) Bill Erwin (Sid) Lanei Chapman (Housekeeper) Jane Leeves (Marla) Unknown (John-John) Rick Overton (The Drake) Elizabeth Dennehy (Allison) Maggie Han (Cheryl) Ping Wu (Ping) Brian Doyle-Murray (Mel) Carol Mansell (Mother) Jon Hayman (Voice of Donald) Jennifer Lynn Campbell (Tia) Nicholas Hormann (Calvin) Teri Hatcher (Sidra) Tony Amendola (Sal Bass (Rushdie)) Larry David (Man on Raft (uncredited)) Bob Balaban (Russell) Peter Crombie ("Crazy" Joe) Heidi Swedberg (Susan) Barney Martin (Morty) Liz Sheridan (Helen) Wayne Knight (Newman)

Rehearsals for the pilot begin. Russell's obsession with Elaine begins to affect his work. George asks TV Kramer about the raisins. The real Kramer might be forced to work on his plumbing problem by using the "dreaded apparatus." Elaine gets an investigation started on the owner of the diner. George gets the results of the biopsy of his white spot. At the taping of the pilot, Elaine sneaks in disguised and "Crazy" Joe jumps out of the audience. Elaine finds Morty's wallet in Jerry's couch. Everyone from the past season comments on the pilot as it's broadcast, they all think it's great. When Russell disappears, the fate of the pilot is in the hands of the new president, a person convinced that Jerry can't act.

b: 20-May-93 pc: 424 w: Larry David d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Originally broadcast as part of a 60 min episode. The major characters from the past season that make comments on the pilot were not credited for this episode; however, we know who most of them were, so I've included their credit for this episode. 

Season 5

65. The Mango

gs: Lisa Edelstein (Karen) Leonard Termo (Joe) Veralyn Jones (Renee)

George tells Jerry about his lack of confidence below "the equator." Jerry begs Elaine for another chance when he finds out she faked her orgasms. Kramer gets banned from his favorite fruit shop.

b: 16-Sep-93 pc: 501 w: Lawrence H. Levy & Buck Dancer s: Lawrence H. Levy d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: The co-writing credit for the teleplay that was credited to Buck Dancer, is changed to Larry David in the syndicated reruns. Larry must have decided to use a pseudonym for the original broadcast. Buck is also the first name George would use if he was a porn star, the full name being Buck Naked.

66. The Puffy Shirt

gs: Wendel Meldrum (Leslie) David Brisbin (Client) Bryant Gumbel (Himself) Deborah May (Elsa) Michael Mitz (Photographer) Kim Gillingham (Assistant) Terence Riggins (Stage Manager) Ron Ross (Homeless Man) Estelle Harris (Estelle) Jerry Stiller (Frank) 

George is forced to move in with his parents. He gets a job as a hand model and becomes obsessed with keeping his hands safe. Kramer's girlfriend, who designs clothes and talks with a real low voice, asks Jerry a question that he politely answers yes to. He agrees to wear one of her new puffy pirate shirts on a Today Show appearance he is making.

b: 23-Sep-93 pc: 503 w: Larry David d: Tom Cherones

67. The Glasses

gs: Timothy Stack (Dwayne) Anna Gunn (Amy) Tom Towles (Tough Guy) Rance Howard (Blind Man) Michael Saad (Doctor) Len Lesser (Uncle Leo)

George's glasses are stolen and he needs a new pair, so he goes to see Kramer's friend to get a thirty percent discount; all Elaine gets is bitten by a dog and then she becomes afraid of them. While not wearing his glasses, George thinks he sees Jerry's girlfriend kissing Jerry's cousin and Jerry tries to figure out if it's true.

b: 30-Sep-93 pc: 502 w: Tom Gammill & Max Pross d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Dedicated "In Memory of our Friend John Oteri". John was one of the production assistants on the previous seasons.

68. The Sniffing Accountant

gs: John Kapelos (Barry) Christa Miller (Ellen) Wayne Knight (Newman) Patrick Cronin (Farkus) Ralph Harris Jr. (Ralph) Maria Stanton (Woman in Diner) Marty Rackham (Jake) Deck McKenzie (Mitch) Estelle Harris (Estelle) Jerry Stiller (Frank) Richard Fancy (Lippman) 

George's father gets him an interview as a bra salesman. Evidence points to Jerry's accountant being a drug user. So Jerry, Kramer and Newman set out to find out the truth. Elaine's new boyfriend is perfect except for his use of an exclamation point.

b: 07-Oct-93 pc: 504 w: Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: This episode was recorded on 14 Sep 93 and was attended by 18 members of the Vandelay Industries Mailing List. Christa Miller will reappear as another character in "The Doodle". 

69. The Bris

gs: Charles Levin (Mohel) Debra Mooney (Mrs. Sweedler) Tom Alan Robbins (Stan) Jeannie Elias (Myra) John Gegenhuber (Resident) Tia Riebling (Woman) Frank Noon (Patient) 

George gets a great parking spot that becomes a target. Kramer thinks that he has stumbled on the product of a genetic engineering experiment, a "pig man". Elaine and Jerry are nervous about the religious duties they must do when they agree to become godparents to a couple's newborn, including getting the Mohel and holding the baby for the circumcision.

b: 14-Oct-93 pc: 505 w: Larry Charles d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: In a reference to "The Godfather": the "steal" of the Pigman in hospital by Kramer is similar to the Vito Corleone´s one by his son Michael. 

70. The Lip Reader

gs: Wayne Knight (Newman) Linda Cash (Gwen) Linda Kash (Gwen) Christopher Darga (Driver) Jerry Sroka (Todd) Marlee Matlin (Laura) Veralyn Jones (Renee) Dylan Haggerty (Young Man) Bret Anthony (Teen)

Jerry is smitten with a line judge at the US Open, but after he gets her attention, he finds out she is deaf. Elaine has a problem not communicating with a limo driver. George wants to use Jerry's girlfriend to read the lips of his ex-girlfriend to find out what she is saying about him. While she is reading the lips, Kramer does the translation, that gets George in more trouble. Kramer becomes a ball man at the Open, when Monica Seles returns to tennis.

b: 28-Oct-93 pc: 506 w: Carol Leifer d: Tom Cherones

71. The Non-Fat Yogurt

gs: Maryedith Burrell (Maryedith) Peter Keleghan (Lloyd) John Christian Graas (Matthew) Hugh A. Rose (Doctor) Lisa Houle (Cheryl) Jed Mills (Joel) John Gabriel (Newscaster) Darrell Kunitomi (Lab Technician) Wayne Knight (Newman) Estelle Harris (Estelle) Jerry Stiller (Frank)

When they begin to gain weight, Jerry and Elaine suspect that Kramer has made a bad investment in a non-fat yogurt shop. Jerry inadvertently uses the "F" word, as a result so does Maryedith's son Matthew, a lot. George meets an old childhood friend whom he is convinced is trying to humiliate him. Elaine begins dating this friend and gives him an idea for his mayoral candidate's campaign. Kramer's date with a lab technician results in strange test results for the future mayor of New York City.

b: 04-Nov-93 pc: 508 w: Larry David d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Around this time it was reported that four versions of the ending of this episode were shot. The correct one being used based on results of the mayoral election being held at that time. The syndicated rerun of this episode shows more footage of the mayoral campaign, featuring Rudy Giuliani, who was not credited for his appearance (unless you count the caption during his press conference).

72. The Barber

gs: Anthony Ponzini (Enzo) David Ciminello (Gino) Michael Fairman (Mr. Pensky) Jack Shearer (Mr. Tuttle) Kenny Myles (Mike) Peggy Maltby (Clarisse) David Richardson (Customer) Wayne Knight (Newman)

George is uncertain about whether his job interview was successful or not, so he decides to go into the office and act like an employee while the boss is on vacation. Jerry is reluctant to dump his old barber even when he is given a real bad haircut. Kramer arranges to get him a clandestine haircut at the apartment of his barber. Newman is charged by Jerry's barber to get a sample of Jerry's hair when he suspects foul play.

b: 11-Nov-93 pc: 507 w: Andy Robin d: Tom Cherones

73. The Masseuse

gs: Lisa Edelstein (Karen) Jennifer Coolidge (Jody) Anthony Cistaro (Joel Rifkin) John Glen Bishop (Ticket Man) Hiram Kasten (Michael) Lisa Pescia (Lisa)

Elaine meets a man who's perfect except his name is the same as a notorious serial killer. Jerry is frustrated when he can't get his girlfriend, who's a masseuse, to give him a massage, even Kramer is a customer. George is obsessed when Jerry's girlfriend doesn't like him, so he tries extra hard to get her to like him, much to his own girlfriend's dismay.

b: 18-Nov-93 pc: 509 w: Peter Mehlman d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: On an episode of Love and War that was broadcast on 6 Dec 93, Jerry and Larry David appear in a cameo as themselves.

Viewer Jeff Holland notes that one of the names that Elaine suggests her boyfriend change his name to was O.J.. Several months later of course we all know what happened to that name.

74. The Cigar Store Indian

gs: Kimberly Norris (Winona) Sam Lloyd (Ricky) Carissa Channing (Sylvia) Ralph Manza (Gepetto) Al Roker (Himself) Veralyn Jones (Renee) Lisa Pescia (Joanne) Benjamin Lum (Mailman) Irvin Mosley Jr. (Spike) Estelle Harris (Estelle) Jerry Stiller (Frank) Richard Fancy (Lippman)

Jerry helps George out with a coffee stable stain and makes Elaine take the subway home and gives her Mr. Costanza's TV Guide to read. While on the train Elaine meets a strange man obsessed with television. George meets a woman at a refinishing store who he brings back to his parent's home and passes it off as his. A female Native American that he is interested in, thinks Jerry is racially insensitive when he presents Elaine with a cigar-store Indian as a peace offering. George gets grounded when his parents return from vacation and find an unused prophylactic in their bed and a missing TV Guide. Kramer has an idea for a coffee table book on coffee tables that Elaine doesn't like but Mr. Lippman does.

b: 09-Dec-93 pc: 510 w: Tom Gammill & Max Pross d: Tom Cherones

75. The Conversion

gs: Kay E. Kuter (Older Priest) Molly Hagan (Sister Roberta) Tom Verica (Doctor) Kimberley Campbell (Tawni) Jana Marie Hupp (Sasha) Bill Rose (Younger Priest) Randy Brenner (Waiter) Darlene Kardon (Mrs. Lupchek) Karen Rizzo (Woman Hailing Cab) Jerry Stiller (Frank) Estelle Harris (Estelle)

George changes his religion to Latvian Orthodox to keep his girlfriend who must break up with him for religious reasons. Jerry finds a tube of fungus cream in his girlfriend's medicine cabinet and fakes an illness until he can figure out what the cream is used for. He asks Elaine to ask her current boyfriend who's a podiatrist. Kramer meets a sister at George's new church who becomes infatuated with him.

b: 16-Dec-93 pc: 511 w: Bruce Kirschbaum d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Viewer Paul Redkoles notes that Jerry's girlfriend is sub-letting apartment 5E, which we all know to be Newman's apartment.

76. The Stall

gs: Jami Gertz (Jane) Dan Cortese (Tony) 

While in a bathroom stall, Elaine needs some toilet paper, but the woman in the next stall refuses to give her a piece. The woman is Jerry's girlfriend whose voice Kramer recognizes from a telephone sex line. Elaine's boyfriend, whose face she just loves, takes George & Kramer rock climbing. After his accident, Elaine isn't sure his face will be the same.

b: 06-Jan-94 pc: 512 w: Larry Charles d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Viewer Jeff Holland that this is the first episode where Jerry actually uses his computer. He uses it at least once more, during the last season. And on a related note, while the computer in the background has been an Apple Macintosh, some viewers have said that they spotted a copy of Windows 95 lurking in the background in future episodes. 

77. The Dinner Party

gs: Fred Pinkard (Newsstand Guy) Frank Novak (Clerk) Mark Holton (David) Suzy Soro (Barbara) Kathryn Kates (Counterwoman) S. Marc Jordan (Man in Bakery) Langdon Bensing (Man on Street) Sayed Badreya (Foreign Man) Amjad J. Oaisen (Hussein) Roger Eschbacher (Man with Cane) 

The gang struggles to find gifts for a dinner party. Jerry and Elaine stop at a bakery to get a cake, but they forget to take a number and lose the chocolate pastry and the one they get has a hair on it. Kramer and George try to get the wine but must get change for a $100 dollar bill and wait for a double-parker to return to his car.

b: 03-Feb-94 pc: 514 w: Larry David d: Tom Cherones

78. The Marine Biologist

gs: Carol Kane (Corinne) George Murdock (Testikov) Rosalind Allen (Diane) David Blackwood (Hotel Clerk) Heather Morgan (Woman on Beach) Wayne Knight (Newman) Richard Fancy (Lippman) 

Jerry meets an old college classmate who asked about George, whom Jerry says is now a "marine biologist." An infuriated Russian writer tosses an electronic organizer belonging to Elaine out of a limousine that hits a passerby on the head. Kramer struggles with his golf swing and sand. While walking along the beach, George is called on to use his marine biology skills to save a whale.

b: 10-Feb-94 pc: 513 w: Ron Hague & Charlie Rubin d: Tom Cherones

79. The Pie

gs: Suzanne Snyder (Audrey) Christine Dunford (Saleswoman) Reni Santoni (Poppie) Lane Davies (MacKenzie) Mark Beltzman (Bob) Sunday Theodore (Olive) Sam Lloyd (Ricky) Paul Mantee (Health Inspector) Patricia Belcher (Woman #1) Pamela Mant (Woman #2) Bernard Hocke (Guy in Diner) Eamonn Roche (Waiter) Robert Kino (Ricky's Boss) Tony Edwards (Businessman)

Jerry can't believe that his girlfriend won't share a piece of pie with him. There is a mannequin at a store that looks like Elaine and she wants to know where it came from. George is interested in a suit that he makes an enemy over. Kramer has an itch. George's new suit makes a noise.

b: 17-Feb-94 pc: 515 w: Tom Gammill & Max Pross d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Christine Dunford, the acerbic saleswoman who tells Elaine that the "Elaine mannequin" is wearing "a twelve hundred dollar Gaultier dress" previously played Leslie, "unequivocally the worst date of [George's] life", in "The Baby Shower."

80. The Stand-In

gs: Mark Tymchyshyn (Phil) Karla Tamburrelli (Daphne) Debbie Lee Carrington (Tammy) W. Earl Brown (Al) Michael Rivkin (Fulton) Joe Gieb (Johnny) Layne Beamer (Father) Thomas Dekker (Son) Jerome Betler (Director) Danny Woodburn (Mickey)

Kramer talks his stand-in friend, a "little person" into getting lifts, to keep his job. Jerry visits a sick friend, who's in need of a good laugh, at the hospital. George and his latest girlfriend have nothing to say to each other, he wants to break up, but won't when he finds out she is being urged to break it off. One of Jerry's friends "takes it out" while on his first date with Elaine. Jerry's friend takes a turn for the worse after his first visit, so he tries again.

b: 24-Feb-94 pc: 516 w: Larry David d: Tom Cherones

81. The Wife

gs: Courteney Cox (Meryl) Scott LaRose (Greg) Joseph Ragno (Marty) Rebecca Glenn (Paula) Nick LaTour (Grandpa) Susan Segal (Waitress) Lili Bernard (Anna) Lawrence A. Mandley (Owner) Barney Martin (Morty) Liz Sheridan (Helen) Len Lesser (Uncle Leo) 

A girlfriend poses as Jerry's wife so she can get a dry cleaning discount. George uses the shower at the health club as a bathroom and is afraid of being turned in after being seen. Elaine is getting mixed signals from a male friend who may be interested. Kramer's getting ready to impress his girlfriend's parents.

b: 17-Mar-94 pc: 517 w: Peter Mehlman d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: When George talks about his activities in the shower, Kramer comments that he takes baths. Whereas in "The Shower Head," where Kramer and Newman buy black market shower heads due to low water pressure, Kramer comments in disgust that he had to take a bath, bathing in his own bacteria.

Viewer Liz Pollack notes that when Jerry is bickering with Meryl about the can opener every time they switch the shot the bottle that is on the counter switches sides of the six pack case.

82. The Raincoats (1)

gs: Michael G. Hagerty (Rudy) Dorien Wilson (Alec) Annie Korzen (Doris Klompus) Judge Reinhold (Aaron) Lisa Pescia (Joanne) Melanie Smith (Rachel) Jerry Stiller (Frank) Estelle Harris (Estelle) Barney Martin (Morty) Liz Sheridan (Helen) Sandy Baron (Klompus) 

Jerry's parents are staying with him while they wait to take their trip to Paris and he's just returned from three weeks on the road can't get anytime alone with his girlfriend. George tries to get out of the big brother program, just after he gets talked into it. The Seinfelds avoid the Costanza's dinner invitation. Elaine's latest boyfriend, who's a "close talker," becomes unusually fixated on Jerry's parents and shows them New York City. Kramer makes a deal with Jerry's father to sell belt-less raincoats to a secondhand shop and George sells his father's moth-ridden cabana style clothing, right before they plan a cruise.

b: 28-Apr-94 pc: 519 w: Tom Gammill & Max Pross and Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Tom Cherones 

NOTE: Originally broadcast as part of a 60 min episode.

83. The Raincoats (2)

gs: Michael G. Hagerty (Rudy) Dorien Wilson (Alec) Stephen Pearlman (Mr. Goldstein) Annie Korzen (Doris Klompus) Judge Reinhold (Aaron) Melanie Smith (Rachel) LaRita Shelby (Tour Leader) Jason Manary (Joey) Wayne Knight (Newman) Jerry Stiller (Frank) Estelle Harris (Estelle) Barney Martin (Morty) Liz Sheridan (Helen) Sandy Baron (Klompus) 

Jerry and his girlfriend get some time alone with each other at a movie, Schindler's List, they don't see it; however, Newman sees it and them. A delay in the shipment of the raincoats will make the Seinfelds miss their flight to France, George uses this as an opportunity to get his "little" brother back to his father. The Seinfelds manage to avoid meeting the Costanzas in New York City.

b: 28-Apr-94 pc: 520 w: Tom Gammill & Max Pross and Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Tom Cherones 

NOTE: Originally broadcast as part of a 60 min episode.

84. The Fire

gs: Melanie Chartoff (Robin) Veanne Cox (Toby) Dom Irrera (Ronnie) Jon Favreau (Clown) Lisa Pescia (Joanne) Hiram Kasten (Michael) Patience Cleveland (Old Lady) Lawrence LeJohn (Fireman) Jerry Stiller (Frank) Estelle Harris (Estelle)

Kramer is dating one of Elaine's co-workers, a woman who drives her crazy. Kramer brings her to one of Jerry's shows, where she heckles him relentlessly; unfortunately there is a national magazine critic in the audience. George panics when there is a fire at his girlfriend's apartment, during her son's birthday party. Jerry decides to get revenge by heckling the woman where she works. She runs out of the office onto the street and loses her pinkie toe. Kramer finds the toe, takes a bus to the hospital and saves the passengers from a gunman. Inspired by Kramer's tale, George tries to confront his feelings of cowardice.

b: 05-May-94 pc: 518 w: Larry Charles d: Tom Cherones

85. The Hamptons

gs: Melanie Smith (Rachel) Lisa Mende (Carol) Melora Walters (Jane) Richard Burgi (Ben) Mark L. Taylor (Michael) Jesse D. Goins (Cop)

Everyone makes a trip to the Hamptons to "see the baby" and enjoy the weekend. George's girlfriend goes topless and everyone sees her chest before he does. "The baby" is the most hideous thing they've ever seen. Elaine is confused when a handsome doctor refers to her as "breathtaking" - the same term he later uses to describe the baby. Kramer finds a filled lobster trap. Jerry's girlfriend sees George naked, after he's just gotten out of the pool, so something isn't as it should be.

b: 12-May-94 pc: 522 w: Peter Mehlman & Carol Leifer d: Tom Cherones

86. The Opposite

gs: French Stewart (Manager) Marty Rackham (Jake Jarmel) Siobhan Fallon (Tina) Paul Gleason (Cushman) Dedee Pfeiffer (Victoria) Kathie Lee Gifford (Herself) Melanie Smith (Rachel) Regis Philbin (Himself) Hiram Kasten (Michael) Ken Takemoto (Chairman) Fritz Mashimo (Interpreter) Susan Segal (Waitress) Oscar Jordan (Counterperson) Rolando Molina (Punk #1) Michael Friedman (Punk #2) Marvin Braverman (Poker Player #1) Wesley Thompson (Poker Player #2) Jeff Barton (Poker Player #3) Jeffrey von Meyer (Poker Player #4) Larry David (Voice of George Steinbrenner (uncredited)) Estelle Harris (Estelle) Jerry Stiller (Frank) Richard Fancy (Lippman) 

George comes to the realization that he should try to do the opposite of everything, so he does, his luck changes and everything begins to go his way including getting a girlfriend, a job with the Yankees and moving out of his parents house. Things begin to be unlucky for Elaine after she buys a box of "Jujyfruits." Kramer appears on Regis & Kathie Lee to promote his coffee table book. Rachel wants to break up with Jerry and he readily agrees, because his luck has been "even Steven." Elaine's eating of "Jujyfruits" causes Pendant Publishing to go under, and later she realizes that she and George have traded places.

b: 19-May-94 pc: 521 w: Andy Cowan and Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Tom Cherones

NOTE: Starting with this episode, Larry David supplies the voice of George Steinbrenner. Steinbrenner is only seen from the back. Steinbrenner's back is occasionally played by Larry David or actor Lee Bear. Kenny "real" Kramer does a great impression of Larry David and by default does a great impression of Steinbrenner.

Viewer Paul Redkoles notes that in this episode Kramer mentions he thought of the idea for the book while skiing; however, it is in "The Cigar Store Indian", that Kramer first thinks of and mentions the book.

Season 6

87. The Chaperone

gs: Gail Strickland (Landis) Marguerite MacIntyre (Karen) Danny Tartabull (Himself) Buck Showalter (Himself) Ian Abercrombie (Mr. Pitt)

Jerry gets a date with Miss Rhode Island, a Miss America contestant; when they need a chaperone Kramer is available. On the date, Kramer gives her advice and becomes her personal coach. Elaine tries to get a job at Doubleday, filling in the shoes once filled by Jackie Onassis; instead she gets a job being the personal assistant of a top executive who likes white socks. Meanwhile, George decides that the Yankees need to change their uniforms from polyester to cotton.

b: 22-Sep-94 pc: 601 w: Larry David , Bill Masters & Bob Shaw d: Andy Ackerman

88. The Big Salad

gs: Michelle Forbes (Julie) Jerry Levine (Stationer) Marita Geraghty (Margaret) Barry Nolan (Reporter) Dean Hallo (Gendason) Lauren Bowles (Waitress) Wayne Knight (Newman) 

Elaine's boss wants a special mechanical pencil, so Elaine tries to get one from a stationary store where the clerk has a thing for her. George and his girlfriend pick up a "big salad" for Elaine, that his girlfriend gives to Elaine and she thanks her. Later, George points out that he bought the "big salad." Jerry discovers that his current girlfriend once dated Newman, who broke off his relationship with her. Kramer plays golf with an ex-ball player who breaks a rule of golf, they have a fight, and later the ball player is wanted for questioning in the murder of a dry cleaner, where a golf tee was involved. Kramer later helps him evade the police in a white Ford Bronco.

b: 29-Sep-94 pc: 602 w: Larry David d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: The pillow that Newman is sitting on when Jerry first enters his apartment has the same pillowcase as George's pillows over his parents' house.

89. The Pledge Drive

gs: Kelly Coffield (Noreen) Billye Ree Wallace (Nana) Brian Reddy (Dan) Rebecca Staab (Kristin) Danny Tartabull (Himself) Tom Wright (Executive (Morgan)) James Reynolds (Banker) Lauren Bowles (Waitress) F.J. Rio (Street Tough) Thom Vernon (Driver) Len Lesser (Uncle Leo) Ian Abercrombie (Mr. Pitt)

Jerry comments that a friend was hitting on him and Elaine tries to find out if what was true, but gets the voice of the woman and her current boyfriend confused. Elaine's boss eats his Snickers bar with a knife and fork and idea that soon catches on. George thinks a waitress gave him the finger. Jerry gets caught throwing away a thank you card. Jerry cashes some old birthday checks from his grandmother. Jerry's working a PBS pledge drive and gets George to bring a Yankee to appear with him, while en-route to the studio, someone gives George the finger.

b: 06-Oct-94 pc: 603 w: Tom Gammill & Max Pross d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Viewer Rick Streeter notes that in "The Statue" George says that his parents had this exact statue on the mantle of their apartment, but in this episode he says that if his parents had a mantle when he was growing up he might be a completely different person.

90. The Chinese Woman

gs: Kelly Coffield (Noreen) Angela Dohrmann (Donna Chang) William Utay (Dr. Korval) Lucy Lin (Hostess) Jack Tracy (Man) Larry David (Man With Cape (uncredited)) Jerry Stiller (Frank) Estelle Harris (Estelle)

Jerry and Elaine see George's father with a man with a cape but don't say hello. Jerry discovers a Chinese woman on George's phone line after the wires get crossed and he gets a date with her. Kramer gets worried about his sperm count, so he goes to a fertility clinic and then makes a change in his choice of undergarments. Elaine ruins her friend Noreen's latest romance with a long talker. The Chinese woman turns out to be Jewish and from Long Island. Estelle gets advice about her relationship with Frank from the Chinese woman, but discounts it when she meets her. George's life is made miserable when his parent's separate.

b: 13-Oct-94 pc: 604 w: Peter Mehlman d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Kramer is upset because he has to wear boxers and says "There's nothing holding me in place, I'm flippin', I'm floppin'...". Later on he decides not to wear any underwear. I think he'd still be flipping and flopping...yet even more.

91. The Couch

gs: David James Elliott (Carl) Jessica Hecht (Marie) Reni Santoni (Poppie) David James Elliott (Carl) Robert Hooks (Joe Temple) Denise Dowse (Mother) Patton Oswalt (Clerk) Diana Theodore (Remy) Mari Weiss (Woman #1) Tamar Cooper (Woman #2) Beverly C. Brown (Woman #3) Jeris Lee Poindexter (Man)

Elaine begins to date the guy who delivers Jerry's new couch. Kramer plans to start the pizza business he thought of back in "Male Unbonding" with Poppie. George joins a book club, but tries to rent the movie so he can bluff his way through the meeting. Jerry and Elaine's discussion of the abortion issue causes trouble for Poppie, Elaine's relationship & Jerry's new couch. George spends the evening with the family that has rented the film.

b: 27-Oct-94 pc: 605 w: Larry David d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Viewer Shawn Barat notes that the company that moves the couch is the same company whose phone number Elaine uses to avoid receiving a phone call from the Denim Vest Guy in "The Strike".

92. The Gymnast

gs: Jessica Hecht (Lindsay) Lois Nettleton (Mrs. Enright) Elina Löwensohn (Katya) Maurice Godin (Misha) James Sweeney (Aronson) David Blackwood (Beck) Phil Ramsey (Man in Car) Damian London (Party Guest) Ian Abercrombie (Mr. Pitt)

George and Kramer convince Jerry he'll be missing out on something if he stops dating a Rumanian Olympic gymnast. Jerry and Kramer find out about one of George's bathroom habits. Kramer must pass a kidney stone. The mother of George's girlfriend sees him eat something out of a trash bin, later cleaning a windshield & one of his bathroom habits. Elaine's boss becomes obsessed with finding the image in a 3-D painting, so he sends her to represent him in a huge merger deal.

b: 03-Nov-94 pc: 606 w: Alec Berg & Jeff Schaffer d: Andy Ackerman

93. The Soup

gs: Tracy Kolis (Kelly) Daniel Gerroll (Simon) Linda Wallem (Hildy) Lawrence A. Mandley (Manager / Monk's) Michael Kaplan (Waiter) Steve Hytner (Bania)

Elaine brings over a man she met in England and he turns out to be a real bounder. Jerry accepts an Armani suit from an obnoxious comedian, the only condition, he must treat him to a meal at a restaurant; however, what makes up a meal. George goes for a walk with a waitress from Monk's and manure in the path sums up his relationship with her. After his kidney stone, Kramer decides to eat only fresh foods.

b: 10-Nov-94 pc: 608 w: Fred Stoller d: Andy Ackerman

94. The Mom & Pop Store

gs: Jon Voight (Himself) Elsa Raven (Mom) Michael Robello (Pop) Tom Wright (Morgan) Ken Thorley (Car Salesman) Dan Frischman (Guy on Phone) Rick Fitts (Dentist) Nancy Balbirer (Woman at Party) Pat Asanti (Electrician) Steve Brady (Man at Party) Matt Gallini (Tough Guy) Ian Abercrombie (Mr. Pitt) Bryan Cranston (Whatley) 

A salesman convinces George to buy a convertible once owned by "Jon Voight." Kramer tries to save a small shoe-repair business, but his good intentions affect Jerry in a big way. Elaine wins tickets for Mr. Pitt, who's always wanted to participate in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

b: 17-Nov-94 pc: 607 w: Tom Gammill & Max Pross d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: On 24 Nov 94, instead of an episode of Seinfeld being on, Jerry hosted a one hour special highlighting his two favorite comedians, Bud Abbott & Lou Costello. The special was called Abbott & Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld.

The ending of this episode, with Kramer suffering a nosebleed and Jerry comforting him in the back of a bus, was a takeoff on the ending to the movie "Midnight Cowboy". The "Midnight Cowboy" theme was present throughout this episode, as Jon Voigt starred in the movie, Jerry wears cowboy boots during the episode, and the theme song from the movie, "Everybody's Talking at Me" is heard playing twice.

95. The Secretary

gs: Joseph R. Sicari (Willie) Arminae Azarian (Saleswoman) Mitzi McCall (Donna) Richard Marion (Guy) Vicki Lewis (Ada) Thomas Mills (Moviegoer) Glynis McCants (Woman) Courtney Taylor (Attractive Applicant) Steve Hytner (Bania)

Jerry confronts his dry cleaner, whom he spotted wearing a jacket that he brought in for cleaning. George passes over hiring an attractive secretary for a less attractive one, he thinks he'll be able to get some work done; however, the secretary's efficiency turns him on, so he gets her a raise and then she makes more than he does. Kramer gets Uma Thurman's phone number and sells Bania his suit at a women's clothing store then he hides in a dressing room until he can get some clothing. At this same store, Elaine tries to buy a dress, but is unsatisfied with the size of the mirrors in the store.

b: 08-Dec-94 pc: 609 w: Carol Leifer & Marjorie Gross d: David Owen Trainor

NOTE: Viewer Kevin Hercules notes the following blooper: When Kramer is in the dressing room in his underwear, his wallet is in the elastic. After he and Jerry are talking for a while, the wallet disappears without him taking it out.

Another viewer notes that Kramer must have gotten used to wearing boxer shorts, instead of briefs or nothing at all, as seen in "The Chinese Woman."

96. The Race

gs: Todd Kimsey (Ned) Renee Props (Lois) Don R. McManus (Duncan) Vicki Lewis (Ada) Claude Earl Jones (Mr. Bevilaqua) Mark Christopher Lawrence (Boss) Michael Sorich (Castro) Denise Poirier (Arlene) Spencer Klein (Kid) Martin Chow (Lew) Eva Svensson (Woman) Danny Woodburn (Mickey)

Through his current girlfriend, Lois, Jerry meets an old rival, who suspects that he cheated in a high school race and he wants a rematch with Jerry to prove he was faster. Elaine is put on a "blacklist" for Chinese food delivery and finds out her boyfriend is a Communist. George responds to a personal ad in a Communist newspaper while at work, when Steinbrenner hears about it, he wants to see George in his office. Through his friend Mickey, Kramer becomes a department store Santa, who later spouts out Communist propaganda.

b: 15-Dec-94 pc: 612 w: Tom Gammill & Max Pross and Larry David s: Tom Gammill & Max Pross and Larry David & Sam Kass d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Viewer Frank McKinney reminds me that we gets Elaine's address in this episode as 16 W. 75th St., #2-G. 

97. The Switch

gs: Sheree North (Babs Kramer) Gail Strickland (Landis) Charlotte Lewis (Nina) Jann Karam (Sandi) Terry Sweeney (Keith) Heather Medway (Laura) Clive Rosengren (Mr. Clotworthy) Jacqueline M. Houston (Lorraine) Cheryl Francis Harrington (Waitress) Tish Smiley (Woman) Wayne Knight (Newman)

Elaine lets a potential employer borrow Mr. Pitt's tennis racket, but the injury suffered may ruin her chances, especially when she must get his racket back. Jerry's girlfriend never laughs, but he meets her roommate who does, so Jerry decides he would like to make "the switch." George's model girlfriend may be bulimic. He needs proof, so he meets Kramer's mother, who's a bathroom matron. While there he finds out Kramer's first name, Cosmo. Kramer decides it is time to be himself and begins to use his first name. George has the perfect plan for "the switch," a menage a trois.

b: 05-Jan-95 pc: 610 w: Bruce Kirschbaum and Sam Kass d: Andy Ackerman

98. The Label Maker

gs: Jessica Tuck (Bonnie) Cleto Augusto (Scott) Wayne Grace (Ukranian) Wayne Knight (Newman) Bryan Cranston (Whatley)

Elaine and Jerry are suspicious of a friend's gift, when a gift Elaine gave him, a label maker, is given to Jerry in return for some Superbowl tickets Jerry has but can't use because "The Drake" is getting married on Superbowl Sunday and he is in the wedding party. George convinces his girlfriend to get her male roommate to move out, that he soon regrets. Kramer takes playing a game of Risk against Newman seriously. The Superbowl tickets pass through several hands and Jerry sees the game with his worst nightmare.

b: 19-Jan-95 pc: 611 w: Alec Berg & Jeff Schaffer d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Viewer Dave Antonoff note that while the outside of the stadium looked like the formerly named Joe Robbie Stadium, it most definitely was not. I'm not surprised, it would be to costly to shoot that on location, although I suppose someone on the production staff could have gone on a trip to Florida to recreate the setting in Hollywood. 

99. The Scofflaw

gs: Jon Lovitz (Gary Fogel) Marty Rackham (Jake Jarmel) Barbara Alyn Woods (Debby) Ivory Ocean (Officer Morgan) Basil Hoffman (Salesman) Lillian Lehman (Judge) Danny Breen (Guy With Glasses) Bob Shaw (Cabbie) Dale Harimoto (Reporter) Joe Ochman (Customer) Elisabeth Sjoli (Woman) Wayne Knight (Newman) Richard Fancy (Lippman) 

George meets an old friend who's spent the last few months undergoing chemotherapy, that everyone new except him. Kramer calls a litterbug "a pig" near a cop who's on a quest to catch a longtime parking ticket scofflaw. Kramer wanting to change his image, asks Elaine where her old boyfriend got his glasses. He goes to see him at a book signing and says hi for Elaine, that means that she has lost the "upper hand" in their breakup, so she confronts him and then gets even by getting a copy of his glasses. George finds out from Gary, that he lied about his cancer and has been taking advantage of Jerry's kindness. Kramer discovers the identity of "the scofflaw." George gets a toupee.

b: 26-Jan-95 pc: 613 w: Peter Mehlman d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Daniel Benzali was originally scheduled to play the part of the officer.

100. Highlights of a Hundred (1)

Jerry introduces a program that shows highlights from the first 99 episodes of a "show about nothing."

b: 02-Feb-95 pc: 623 w: Peter Mehlman d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: To make my episode count agree with the number that Jerry cited on The Tonight Show in the spring of 1997, I have now included this special in the numbering of the guide and also split it into two parts.

101. Highlights of a Hundred (2)

Jerry introduces a program that shows highlights from the first 99 episodes of a "show about nothing."

b: 02-Feb-95 pc: 624 w: Peter Mehlman d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: To make my episode count agree with the number that Jerry cited on The Tonight Show in the spring of 1997, I have now included this special in the numbering of the guide and also split it into two parts.

102. The Beard

gs: Jon Gries (Rusty) Robert Mailhouse (Robert) Katherine LaNasa (Cathy) Edward Winter (Mr. Stevenson) Georgann Johnson (Mrs. Stevenson) Joan Elizabeth (Denise) John F. O'Donohue (Gus) Jerry Diner (Lou) Mirron E. Willis (Officer #1) Ken Kerman (Officer #2) 

Elaine tries to convert a gay man to heterosexuality. George, who's wearing now wearing his toupee discovers that the woman Kramer has set him up with, is bald. Kramer gives a homeless man some Chinese food and begins standing in police lineups for $50 a lineup. Jerry begins to date a cop, but she wants him to take a lie detector test, she thinks he is lying about NOT watching Melrose Place.

b: 09-Feb-95 pc: 615 w: Carol Leifer d: Andy Ackerman

103. The Kiss Hello

gs: Wendie Malick (Wendy) Billye Ree Wallace (Nana) Carol Leifer (Receptionist) Julio Oscar Mechoso (Julio) Rondi Reed (Mary) Gene Elman (Buddy) Mary Scheer (Joan) Louisa Abernathy (Nurse) Timothy McNeil (Jeff) Mark Fite (Jack) C.D. Labove (Steve) Wendy Worthington (Louise) Belinda Barry (Stephanie) Liz Sheridan (Helen) Barney Martin (Morty) Len Lesser (Uncle Leo)

Elaine's friend, a physical therapist, whom Jerry must "kiss hello," has an old style hairdo, that Jerry and Elaine want Kramer to comment on. Jerry's grandmother wants him to open a ketchup bottle and she tells a story about some money that Uncle Leo was supposed to give his sister. Jerry's father is anxious to collect the money and interest Leo owes. Kramer puts tenant pictures up in the lobby and soon Jerry is giving every woman in the building, the "kiss hello"; however, when he stops, he becomes unpopular. George gets his arm looked at, misses a follow up appointment and must pay for that visit. The therapist skips out on her patients, including George, and goes skiing with Elaine. After their trip, she drops Elaine off 3 blocks from her apartment. Elaine injures her shoulder carrying her equipment home, and can't get any complementary treatment. Jerry gets proof of his uncle's dishonesty.

b: 16-Feb-95 pc: 614 w: Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Andy Ackerman

104. The Doorman

gs: Larry Miller (Doorman) Patrick Cronin (Farkus) Reni Santoni (Poppie) Edith Fields (Mrs. Payton) Nick Jameson (Horst) Jack Betts (Mr. Green) Barbara Pilavin (German Woman) Toni Sawyer (Tenant #1) Nigel Gibbs (Tenant #2) Deck McKenzie (Delivery Man) Trudi Forristal (Buxom Woman) Jerry Stiller (Frank) Estelle Harris (Estelle) Ian Abercrombie (Mr. Pitt)

The doorman in Mr. Pitt's building, cause's trouble for Jerry who was only trying to be nice. Kramer robs George on the street for some German tourists. George's father is living with him and when he removes his shirt, George and Kramer see that he has breasts. So, Kramer develops a new undergarment for males ("The Bro" or "The Manssiere") that will alleviate this problem. Jerry offers his soiled couch to replace the one that was stolen while he was "on duty."

b: 23-Feb-95 pc: 616 w: Tom Gammill & Max Pross d: Andy Ackerman

105. The Jimmy

gs: Anthony Starke (Jimmy) Robert Katims (Deensfrei) Mel Torme (Himself) Alison Armitage (Cheryl) Jimmy Bridges (Paramedic) Elan Carter (Receptionist) Richard Herd (Wilhelm) Bryan Cranston (Whatley)

The guys play a game of basketball with "the Jimmy," a man who talks about himself in the third person. Jimmy sells odd shaped training shoes and George is an interested investor. Fresh from the gym, he attends a Yankees meeting about thefts, during which he sweats profusely. Jerry goes to the dental office and discovers they now carry Penthouse in the waiting room. Elaine gets tickets to a benefit for the AMCA (Able Mentally Challenged Adults) featuring Mel Torme, the "Velvet Fog." Elaine tries to meet a handsome guy at the gym, but instead talks with "the Jimmy," who makes the date for himself. On a follow-up visit to the dental office, Jerry feels the dentist and his hygienist may have lived out a fantasy during his time in the chair, the type of thing you might read in Penthouse. Kramer has a visit to the dentist complete with Novocain, later while wearing a pair of Jimmy's shoes, winds up getting a him a seat at the main table of the benefit.

b: 16-Mar-95 pc: 617 w: Gregg Kavet & Andy Robin d: Andy Ackerman

106. The Doodle

gs: Billye Ree Wallace (Nana) Jill Hennessy (George's Girlfriend (uncredited) (episode # 6.19) 4/6/1995) Dana Wheeler-Nicholson (Shelly) Guy Siner (Mandel) Christa Miller (Paula) Ellis E. Williams (Karl) Coby Turner (Judy) Wayne C. Dvorak (Teacher) Norman Brenner (Passerby) Wayne Knight (Newman) Barney Martin (Morty) Liz Sheridan (Helen) Len Lesser (Uncle Leo)

Jerry is disgusted when he finds out he was eating pecans that were just in his girlfriend's mouth. George finds a doodle that his girlfriend drew of him. Kramer is eating some tasty peaches that come in season for two weeks every year. Fleas force Jerry and his visiting parents out his apartment. Elaine has an interview with a publisher that has suite of rooms at a fancy hotel and that is where Jerry parents get to stay. Jerry stays with his girlfriend. Elaine must go into Jerry's fumigated apartment to get an unpublished manuscript that she is supposed to read for her interview and she can't find it, but Kramer read it in Jerry's apartment and the gas causes him to lose his sense of taste. George finds out that his girlfriend really doesn't care what he looks like. Jerry figures out that Newman gave him the fleas. Meanwhile, Jerry's parents, Uncle Leo and Nana live high on the hog at the hotel.

b: 06-Apr-95 pc: 618 w: Alec Berg & Jeff Schaffer d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Viewer Daniel Massey notes that Newman's apartment in this episode is 5F.

107. The Fusilli Jerry

gs: Marla Sucharetza (Nancy) Lou Cutell (Dr. Cooperman) Yvette Cruise (Clerk) Estelle Harris (Estelle) Jerry Stiller (Frank) Patrick Warburton (Puddy)

Estelle is getting an eye job. Kramer gets his new license plates from the DMV, but the plates say "ASSMAN." Jerry is disturbed when he finds out his mechanic used his "move" on Elaine while making love to her. Kramer makes a statue of Jerry out of fusilli pasta and he makes the most of his new license plates. Jerry confronts his mechanic and later requires his services. Frank becomes the unwitting victim of one of those "freak" accidents proctologists are always telling stories about.

b: 27-Apr-95 pc: 619 w: Marjorie Gross s: Marjorie Gross & Jonathan Gross and Ron Hague & Charlie Rubin d: Andy Ackerman

108. The Diplomat's Club

gs: Tom Wright (Morgan) Robert Hooks (Joe) Debra Jo Rupp (Katie) Kim Zimmer (Lenore) O'Neal Compton (Earl) John Cothran Jr. (Man) William B. Jackson (Doctor) Christine Cattell (Stewardess) Diana Theodore (Remy) Berta Maria Waagfjord (Bridgette) Mark Wheatle (Waiter) Wayne Knight (Newman) Ian Abercrombie (Mr. Pitt)

After his quick trip to Ithaca, Jerry plans to meet a super model at an airport club, but his assistant, Katie, makes the trip a nightmare. Elaine says she will quit working for Mr. Pitt, but finds out that she's going to be in his will. She becomes a suspect when he overdoses his medication. George tries to prove to his boss that he is not a racist, when he says his boss looks like "Sugar" Ray Leonard. To prove it, he tries to find anyone who's black that will be his friend. While at the airport club, Kramer meets a rich Texan with whom he starts making bets. Kramer hasn't gambled in three years and when he begins to lose, he calls in Newman for reinforcement.

b: 04-May-95 pc: 620 w: Tom Gammill & Max Pross d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Viewer Adam Gutschmidt notes that this must be one of writer Steve Koren's favorite stories as a couple of characters from this story have appeared in his stories. These are the characters: Katie who reappears in "The Abstinence" and Earl Haffler in "The English Patient".

109. The Face Painter

gs: Mark DeCarlo (Alec Berg) Raye Birk (Mr. Pless) Pierrino Mascarino (Father Hernandez) Joe Lala (Priest) Katy Selverstone (Siena) Peggy Lane O'Rourke (Waitress) David Richardson (Fan #1) Dave Powledge (Fan #2) Jan Eddy (Fan #3) Lawrence LeJohn (Crowd Member) Patrick Warburton (Puddy)

George and his girlfriend discuss toilet paper and he is in love. Elaine's boyfriend paints his face and his behavior at a hockey game, disturbs Jerry, Elaine and a passing priest. A monkey throws a banana peel at Kramer, when he throws it back, the monkey becomes depressed and the zoo demands an apology. George tries to tell his girlfriend that he loves her, but her reaction surprises him. Jerry refuses to give the "necessary" follow-up courtesy thank you for the hockey tickets and Kramer is outraged.

b: 11-May-95 pc: 622 w: Larry David s: Larry David & Fred Stoller d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Story writer Fred Stoller appears in an uncredited cameo as one of the fans behind the gang and the face painter at the hockey game. Sitting next to Fred wearing a Rangers jersey is the "real" Kramer. Viewer Jerry Balsam noticed that there is a character in this episode named Alec Berg, which also happens to be the name of a one of the show's writer-producers. Coincidence? Also there is a visual reference to the fictional company called Gramercy, that Katy Selverstone worked for in a popular series of commercials that she appeared in.

Viewer Alan Bright notes that in this episode George claims that he has never said I love you, except to a dog. However, in "The Ex-Girlfriend", George says that Marlene squeezed an "I love you" return from him. Perhaps he was in denial.

Finally, Josh Tomel notes that 36-year-old Puddy would have been 20 years old when the Devils moved to New Jersey in 1982 from Colorado. So he couldn't have been watching them as a kid and it is not very likely that he would have been a fan of the Colorado incarnation of the team.

110. The Understudy

gs: Bette Midler (Herself) Michael McDonald (Player #2) June Kyoko Lu (Ruby) Amy Hill (Kim) Adelaide Miller (Gennice) Bok Yun Chon (Lotus) Vonnie C. Rhee (Sunny) Craig Thomas (Player #1) Michael James McDonald (Player #2) Lou DiMaggio (Stagehand) Jason Beck (Umpire) Bob Shaw (Cabbie) Johnny Silver (Vendor #1) William Bastiani (Vendor #2) Jerry Stiller (Frank) John O'Hurley (Peterman)

George and Jerry are suspected, by the cast and Kramer, of deliberately injuring Bette Midler during a softball game, giving Jerry's girlfriend, Bette's understudy, a chance to perform. Kramer becomes Bette's personal assistant. Elaine gets George's father to translate for her when she suspects that her manicurist has made some obvious snide remarks in a foreign tongue. While crying about losing her manicurists, Elaine meets the owner of a catalog, J. Peterman, and gets herself a new job.

b: 18-May-95 pc: 621 w: Marjorie Gross & Carol Leifer d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: According to Kenny Kramer, Jack Luceno is Michael Richard's double when shooting is done in NYC. 

Season 7

111. The Engagement

gs: Mario Joyner (Himself) Janni Brenn (Woman #2) Mailon Rivera (Cop #1) Athena Massey (Melanie) Ron Byron (Man) Renee Phillips (Alice) Cindy Cheung (Woman #1) Wayne Knight (Newman) Jerry Stiller (Frank) Estelle Harris (Estelle) Heidi Swedberg (Susan) 

Jerry and George reevaluate their relationships with women, so they make "a pact" to change their ways, though Jerry doesn't know it. Elaine has a problem sleeping in her new apartment because of a nearby constantly barking dog; Kramer recommends a solution. George gets back with Susan, his former girlfriend from NBC; he asks her to marry him, and after a couple hours of convincing she says yes. Kramer, his solution (Newman) and Elaine commit a dognapping and take the dog far out of the city. Jerry breaks up with his girlfriend again; however, George is now trapped in his relationship with Susan, almost to the point where he is married already. Elaine almost gets a good night of sleep.

b: 21-Sep-95 pc: 701 w: Larry David d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: All of the episodes in the next three seasons will have a loose and connecting thread, very similar to Season Four. George's engagement with Susan is a recurring storyline, as well as Elaine's on and off relationship with Puddy.

112. The Postponement

gs: Bruce Mahler (Rabbi (Glickman)) Kelly Perine (Usher) John Rubano (Man) Evie Peck (Woman) Heidi Swedberg (Susan) 

Elaine's dog problem is solved by a neighborly rabbi with a cable show. Kramer's involvement in the dognapping worries him when he finds out about its impact on his permanent record. Overwhelmed with it all, George decides he wants to postpone the engagement. Elaine isn't "concerned" with George's intentions, but is really jealous that he's the first of the group to get engaged. The neighborly rabbi offers advice on her problem, that he later relates to Jerry and anyone else who'll listen. Kramer and Jerry try to see Plan 9 From Outer Space; however, Kramer "tries" to sneak in a gourmet coffee, spills it and his lawyer says he has a case.

b: 28-Sep-95 pc: 702 w: Larry David d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Bruce Mahler also played a rabbi character with Seinfeld writer/executive producer Larry David on ABC's Fridays from April 1980 to October 1982. That show was ABC's answer to Saturday Night Live and also featured Michael Richards, whose most notable character was a small boy who played with toy soldiers in his backyard sandbox. Other Fridays regular performers that have also appeared in Seinfeld include Maryedith Burrell and Melanie Chartoff.

113. The Maestro

gs: Mark Metcalf (Maestro) Gary Yates (Security Guard) Paul Michael (Giggio) James Noah (Ned) Tim Bagley (Manager) Richard McGonagle (Mr. Star) Kenneth Ryan (Mr. Burns) Kymberley S. Newberry (Ms. Jordan) David Wendelman (Waiter) Heidi Swedberg (Susan) Phil Morris (Jackie Chiles)

George is feeling the pressures of his relationship with Susan and decides that he needs to help a security guard that works at her uncle's store. Kramer's friend "Maestro", makes a comment about getting a rental property in Tuscany that makes Jerry decide to do some research. Elaine begins dating the "Maestro." Kramer's out of court settlement in his lawsuit against the coffee house, free coffee at any location around the world, gets him "hopped up on the caffeine." Jerry asks Poppy about Tuscany and is referred to Poppy's cousin, who makes him an offer he can't refuse.

b: 05-Oct-95 pc: 703 w: Larry David d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Mark Metcalf who played "Maestro" in this episode is probably best remembered for his role of Douglas C. Niedermeyer in National Lampoon's Animal House and the Twisted Sister music video "We're Not Gonna Take It." 

114. The Wink

gs: Tom Wright (Morgan) Stacey Travis (Holly) Brian McNamara (James) Ian Patrick Williams (Stubs) Paul O'Neill (Himself) Thomas Dekker (Bobby) Clive Rosengren (Waiter) Richard Herd (Wilhelm) 

Elaine gets a blind date with the guy from her wake-up service; however, he likes dogs. A bit of grapefruit pulp, from Jerry's healthy breakfast, gets into George's eye and causes problems for him when his winks keep getting misinterpreted. Jerry's healthy diet conflicts with his dating of Elaine's cousin. Kramer promises a sick boy that Yankee Paul O'Neill will hit two home runs for him, so he can get back a birthday card that he sold based on George's wink.

b: 12-Oct-95 pc: 704 w: Tom Gammill & Max Pross d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Viewer Kyle Westphal notes that Jerry mentions he would like to date a deaf woman. Of course he already has in "The Lip Reader".

115. The Hot Tub

gs: Jeremiah Birkett (Jean-Paul) Leon Russom (Clayton) Ernie Lively (Zeke) Charles Cyphers (Gardner) Kate Mulligan (Sheri) Susan Isaacs (Woman) Thom Barry (Manager) Jeff Miller (Event Guard) Richard Herd (Wilhelm)

George picks up a bad habit from some visiting baseball officials. During the time of the New York City Marathon, Elaine has an out of country runner as her house guest. The runner had overslept and missed the big race at the last Olympics and Jerry obsesses with ensuring that it doesn't happen again. Kramer gets a hot tub from his friend Lomez and Elaine has writer's block.

b: 19-Oct-95 pc: 705 w: Gregg Kavet & Andy Robin d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Viewer Ryan Huddleston notes this episode is where Kramer first mentions his friend Lomez. While Kyle Westphal seems to have missed this mention, he's noted that Kramer has also mentioned Lomez in the following episodes: "The Package", "The Fatigues", "The Slicer", "The Betrayal", "The Apology".

116. The Soup Nazi

gs: Alexandra Wentworth (Sheila "Schmoopie") Larry Thomas (Soup Nazi) John Paragon (Ray) Yul Vazquez (Bob) Thom Barry (Super) Vince Melocchi (Furniture Guy) Ana Gasteyer (Woman) Cedric Duplechain (Customer) Mike Michaud (Customer) Wayne Knight (Newman) Heidi Swedberg (Susan) Steve Hytner (Bania) Vivicca Whitsett (Customer #1 (uncredited))

While on their way to the "soup place" Elaine finds an antique cabinet she wants. George makes a mistake while trying to get his soup from the "Soup Nazi." Elaine isn't allowed to move her cabinet into her building, so Kramer offers to watch it for her, out on the street. George and Elaine discuss how annoyed they are by Jerry's sweet-talking with his current girlfriend, especially their calling each other "Schmoopie". Elaine makes an ordering error in front of the "Soup Nazi," gets on his bad side and is banned for a year. In broad daylight and in Kramer's presence, two guys come along and take the cabinet. Kramer relates the story of the cabinet to the "Soup Nazi," who says he has a cabinet in the basement that Kramer can have. Jerry's girlfriend makes a faux pas in the "soup place" and Jerry disavows any knowledge of her. George confronts Jerry and reminds him about their pact. George and Susan see Jerry and his girlfriend at the diner and they begin to compete against each other. Susan appreciates that George is showing his feelings in public. Kramer gives Elaine the cabinet and tells her where he got it. Elaine goes to thank the "Soup Nazi" but gets even further on his bad side. Jerry discovers the cabinet contains the "Soup Nazi's" recipes and Elaine takes them for the final confrontation.

b: 02-Nov-95 pc: 706 w: Spike Feresten d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Spike Feresten, Andy Ackerman and Larry Thomas were nominated for Emmys for this episodes.

The writer of this episode used to be a staff writer on "Late Show With David Letterman". According to an article in the Reader Mail section of Aaron Barnhart's Late Show News, Issue #86, the character of the "Soup Nazi" was based on the owner of a soup stand in the neighborhood of the Ed Sullivan Theater. The Late Show ... staffers referred to him as the "Soup Nazi." The 21 Nov 95 issue of The Star contains an article with the following headline "WATCH OUT SEINFELD, I'M GOING TO SMACK YOUR FACE". The owner of Soup Kitchen International, Al Yeganeh, is the man the character is based on. Al, busy enough already with his business, doesn't like the extra publicity his shop was given by this episode or the use of the word "Nazi". For his performance as the "Soup Nazi" Larry Thomas was nominated for an Emmy Award.

Ana Gasteyer would later join the cast of "Saturday Night Live" at the start of the 96-97 season. She does a mean impression of Hillary Rodham Clinton.

117. The Secret Code

gs: Wayne Tippit (Captain) Lewis Arquette (Leapin' Larry) Ellen Albertini Dow (Momma) David St. James (Doctor) Michael Luckerman (Man) Heidi Swedberg (Susan) John O'Hurley (Peterman) Fred Stoller (Fred Yerkes)

George tries to keep his ATM code a secret from Susan. Elaine is puzzled by a man she once met at a party and talked to for ten minutes, doesn't remember her, but he does remember other party details. Leapin' Larry, a one-legged man, wants Jerry to do spots for his store, but he is angered when he thinks Jerry is doing an impression of him. Kramer gets an emergency band scanner and decides to help reorganize operations at the NYFD. Elaine doesn't want to go on a date with her boss, the storyteller, so she leaves Jerry and George at the restaurant. Jerry escapes, but George isn't as lucky. He is forced to accompany Peterman to his Momma's house, where he winds up staying all night and tells her his secret code before she dies. That is her last word. George's code is needed in a life or death situation.

b: 09-Nov-95 pc: 707 w: Alec Berg & Jeff Schaffer d: Andy Ackerman

118. The Pool Guy

gs: Carlos Jacott (Ramon) Billy Williams (Usher) Alec Mapa (Paul) Dom Magwili (Dustin) Wayne Knight (Newman) Heidi Swedberg (Susan)

Elaine has tickets for a historical clothing exhibit and realizes that she has no female friends, Jerry suggests that she ask Susan. Kramer suggests that is the wrong move and that George's worlds will collide. Jerry meets his pool guy outside a movie, then he can't get rid of him. George is worried by Elaine wanting to get to know Susan, then he finds out it was Jerry's idea. Kramer's new phone number is similar to a film information line. He keeps getting wrong numbers, so he begins giving out the information.

b: 16-Nov-95 pc: 708 w: David Mandel d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: This episode was dedicated as follows: In memory of our friend Rick Bolden. Rick was one of the musicians who worked on the Seinfeld theme. Thanks to Sam Bowen for this information. 

119. The Sponge

gs: Jennifer Guthrie (Lena) John Paragon (Cedric) Yul Vazquez (Bob) David Byrd (Roger) Ileen Getz (Organizer) Scott Patterson (Billy) Steven Hack (Walker #1) Wren T. Brown (Walker #2) P.B. Hutton (Walker #3) Susan Moore (Monica) Heidi Swedberg (Susan) 

Jerry finds the number of girl he wants to contact on Kramer's AIDS walk sponsor list. After finding out that her preferred method of birth control is only available in a limited supply, Elaine must decided whether her current boyfriend is worthy. George tells Susan the secret of the size of Jerry's jeans and that leads to a fight about all secrets, he tells her another of Jerry's secrets when they make up. Jerry finds out that George told Susan one of his secrets a now he's "out of the loop." Elaine adjusts her screening process to find worthy candidates. Kramer causes a disturbance at the AIDS walk when he won't "wear the ribbon."

b: 07-Dec-95 pc: 709 w: Peter Mehlman d: Andy Ackerman

120. The Gum

gs: Matt McCoy (Lloyd) Mary Jo Keenen (Deena) Eric Christmas (Haarwood) Sandy Ward (Pop Lazzari) Ruth Cohen (Cashier) Lionel Mark Smith (Florist) Vito D'Ambrosio (Cop) Alan Watt (Attendant) 

Kramer is active in the re-opening of an old movie theater. He also is keeping an eye on a friend, Lloyd, who's recovering from a nervous breakdown. Lloyd has a pack of Chinese gum, that Kramer insists everyone tries. George thinks the cashier short-changed him and meets a former neighbor (who's had a breakdown) and his daughter, Deena. George lets his former neighbor look at his car. Elaine tries to avoid interacting with Lloyd, loses a button from her blouse and reveals herself to Lloyd and Kramer. Because of Elaine's lie, Jerry must wear glasses while around Lloyd. Deena tells George that she thinks he is showing signs of being on the verge of a breakdown. George's car, once owned by "Jon Voight" in "The Mom & Pop Store", catches fire. Elaine shows more to Lloyd. Jerry gets more gum. George keeps trying to convince Deena he's not crazy.

b: 14-Dec-95 pc: 710 w: Tom Gammill & Max Pross d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Writer / executive producer Larry David makes an uncredited cameo as a guy who sells George a pack of gum.

Actor Peter Keleghan (from "The Non-Fat Yogurt") is replaced by actor Matt McCoy as "Lloyd Braun".

121. The Rye

gs: Grace Zabriskie (Mrs. Ross) Warren Frost (Mr. (Henry) Ross) Jeff Yagher (John) Frances Bay (Mabel Choate) Leonard Lightfoot (Clyde) Don Amendolia (Dennis) Kathryn Kates (Counter Woman) Steve Ireland (Music Guy) Dean Fortunato (Manager) Estelle Harris (Estelle) Jerry Stiller (Frank) Heidi Swedberg (Susan)

Elaine is dating a jazz saxophonist who's sponge-worthy but "he doesn't really like to do everything." Jerry tells one of the members of his band that the saxophonist and Elaine are "hot and heavy." Kramer stocks up on supplies, including 50 cans of "Beef-A-Reeno.". Susan's parents meet and have dinner with the Costanzas for the first time. Both families obsess over a loaf of rye bread that wasn't served with the meal, which Frank takes back home. Elaine's boyfriend writes a song about "their relationship," which later has a big impact on his career. Kramer takes over a friend's horse-drawn carriage for a week and helps George out with his scheme to replace the rye bread. Unfortunately, he feeds the horse a can of "Beef-A-Reeno" right before giving the Ross's their ride. Jerry manages to get his hands on a loaf of marble rye.

b: 04-Jan-96 pc: 711 w: Carol Leifer d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: As stated in "The Cheever Letters" both Warren Frost and Grace Zabriskie appeared on David Lynch and Mark Frost's series Twin Peaks. Another Twin Peaks cast member, Frances Bay also appears in this episode. Coincidence? Viewer Randy Erickson doesn't think so!

122. The Caddy

gs: Brenda Strong (Sue Ellen) Armin Shimerman (Stan) Arthur Rosenberg (Judge) Cynthia Madvig (Woman #1) Marilyn Tokuda (Woman #2) Jerry Stiller (Frank) Estelle Harris (Estelle) Heidi Swedberg (Susan) Phil Morris (Jackie Chiles) Richard Herd (Wilhelm) John O'Hurley (Peterman) 

Kramer befriends a caddy, who helps him to improve his golf game and offer his other advice. George's bosses consider him for a promotion when they think he is so dedicated to his work that he is there in the morning before everyone else and still there after they all leave. They don't know that he's just been leaving his car in the parking lot waiting for his free visit from a locksmith. Taking advantage of the situation, he and Susan go up north to her parent's rebuilt cabin. Elaine meets an old rival who's heir to the Oh Henry! candy bar fortune and has never worn a bra. She wears the bra as a top and cause Kramer and Jerry to have an accident with George's car. With George's damaged car in the parking lot, the Yankees think he's dead. Steinbrenner breaks the news to the Costanza's. Kramer and Elaine take her rival to court and only Jerry may stand in the way.

b: 25-Jan-96 pc: 712 w: Gregg Kavet & Andy Robin d: Andy Ackerman

123. The Seven

gs: Ken Campbell (Ken) Shannon Holt (Carrie) Lisa Deanne (Christie) Charles Emmett (Orderly) David Richards (Maitre d') Matthew McCurley (Kid) Josh Abramson (Man #1) Wayne Knight (Newman) Heidi Swedberg (Susan)

Elaine sees a girl's bike she wants, but she strains her neck trying to getting the bike down from the wall. In pain she promises the bike to whoever fixes her neck. Kramer saves the day and wants the bike. George is angry when Susan's cousin chooses to name her baby with the name he planned to give his first offspring. He desperately tries to convince them to use another name. Kramer works out an arrangement with Jerry to keep track of what he takes from Jerry's kitchen. Jerry is curious when his girlfriend is always wearing the same dress, every time they go out.

b: 01-Feb-96 pc: 713 w: Alec Berg & Jeff Schaffer d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Viewer Bryan Wagg noticed a blooper in this episode. When Newman is sitting on the couch acting as an arbitrator he is wearing his wedding ring. In the next cut back to him, it has disappeared. 

124. The Cadillac (1)

gs: Daniel Zacapa (Power Guy) Walter Olkewicz (Nick (Cable Guy)) Annabelle Gurwitch (Katy) Marisa Tomei (Herself) Bill Macy (Herb) Jesse White (Ralph) Liz Sheridan (Helen) Barney Martin (Morty) Heidi Swedberg (Susan) Sandy Baron (Klompus)

Jerry surprises his parents by buying them a new Cadillac, when his last job really pays well. Kramer who now knows about what Jerry makes says it will change their relationship. It certainly changes his relationship with Elaine, she's interested again. George reconsiders his engagement when one of Elaine's friends tells him that she could have set him up with Oscar winning actress, Marisa Tomei. The cable company wants to see Kramer and he takes the opportunity to get revenge on them. George wants to meet Marisa for a cup of coffee, even when Elaine's friend is in the hospital with a heart condition. Jack Klompus accuses Morty of embezzling funds to pay for his new Cadillac.

b: 08-Feb-96 pc: 714 w: Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Originally broadcast as part of a 60 min episode.

125. The Cadillac (2)

gs: Marisa Tomei (Herself) Walter Olkewicz (Nick (Cable Guy)) Ann Guilbert (Evelyn) Frances Bay (Mabel Choate) Bill Macy (Herb) Jesse White (Ralph) Annie Korzen (Doris Klompus) Daniel Zacapa (Power Guy (John)) Golde Starger (Bldg "A") Janice Davis (Bldg "B") Art Frankle (Bldg "C") Liz Sheridan (Helen) Barney Martin (Morty) Heidi Swedberg (Susan) Sandy Baron (Klompus) 

Kramer continues to play with the cable guy. George's obsession with Marisa makes Susan suspicious. Elaine calls Jerry in Florida and tells him she wants to come and join him. Elaine gets George Marisa's phone number and now he needs her for an alibi (which involves her "boyfriend" Art Vandelay, an importer/ exporter). Morty's ace in the hole, to keep him from impeachment, is the woman Jerry stole the marble rye from, but she doesn't remember him, at least at first. The cable guy zeros in on Kramer, but he gets away. George's meeting with Marisa doesn't go as well as planned and Susan thinks he he's having an affair with Elaine. The cable guy concedes defeat.

b: 08-Feb-96 pc: 717 w: Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Originally broadcast as part of a 60 min episode.

Someone once asked why this production number is 717 and not 715, directly following part 1. I can only assume (I can't prove) that production was initially begun on the orginal script and part way into its production they realized that they had enough material for a second part. Since the 715 & 716 scripts were probably already beginning pre-production, the next number available was 717. Of course, this is only a theory.

When Kramer is chased by the Cable Guy, it can be noticed that there is an obvious product placement of Rold Gold Pretzels that Kramer is eating out of his grocery bag. A product that was being endorsed by Jason Alexander.

126. The Shower Head

gs: Wayne Knight (Newman) John O'Hurley (Mr. Peterman) Barney Martin (Morty Seinfeld) Ron West (Dr. Strugatz) Liz Sheridan (Helen Seinfeld) Tim deZarn (Salesman) Estelle Harris (Estelle Constanza) Michelle Bonilla (Waitress) Angelo Di Mascio Jr. (Man) Jerry Stiller (Frank Constanza) Len Lesser (Uncle Leo) Jay Leno (Himself) 

Elaine gets a physical for a pending trip with Peterman to Africa. Her physical test results show positive for opium, so Peterman fires her. Jerry parent's are in seclusion in New York while biding time until they can move back to Florida. George tries to convince his parents to move to Florida. The shower heads in Jerry's building are being replaced with a new low-flow model; Newman finds a source for black market shower heads. The Seinfelds tell the Costanzas that there is no room for them in Florida, that gives Frank all the incentive he needs to move. George is delighted. Elaine finds the cause of her opium addiction and finds a donor for her next physical. Jerry makes a joke on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at the expense of Uncle Leo and he pays the price for making fun of the family.

b: 15-Feb-96 pc: 715 w: Peter Mehlman & Marjorie Gross d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: On 19 Feb 96 as part of the Late Show With David Letterman: Video Special II, Jerry and Jason appear doing a scene about sandwiches. David Letterman interrupts their dialog and put his two cents in, then Paul Shaffer arrives and takes Dave back to their show. After they leave Jerry quips to Jason, "What the opposite of Must See TV?" He then points to where Dave and Paul were standing. 

127. The Doll

gs: Mark Metcalf (Maestro) Mary Jo Keenen (Deena) Kathy Griffin (Sally Weaver) Monica Allison (Stewardess) Larry Braman (Stage Manager) John Lizzi (The Other Guy) Jerry Stiller (Frank) Estelle Harris (Estelle) Heidi Swedberg (Susan)

Susan's old roommate from college, Sally Weaver, gives Jerry a package that she wants him to be careful with; which he is, but he loses his own package in the process. Frank tells George he is turning his room into a billiard room. Elaine tells Frank about a man she saw in Tuscany who looks just like him, Frank thinks it may be the cousin who stayed behind. Kramer challenges him to a game where the space is a bit tight. Jerry is enthusiastic about a new toothbrush, which he is convinced Elaine must have. Susan has a doll that looks uncannily like George's mother; she doesn't believe it, but he does and it affects his performance. Jerry is going to be on Charles Grodin's show with one of the Three Tenors, not Pavarotti or Domingo, but "the other guy." Elaine goes with him the studio, to replace an autographed picture of "the other guy," for "the Maestro" that was damaged while they were in Tuscany. "The Maestro" provides a new fashion for Kramer and Frank while playing pool, and his baton is an answer to the space problem in the billiard room. Susan's roommate comes to town. She tries to help Jerry out by bringing him back a better barbecue sauce and bringing a doll to the studio for Jerry, which in her opinion, is much funnier than the one Jerry wanted. Jerry has no material for his appearance.

b: 22-Feb-96 pc: 716 w: Tom Gammill & Max Pross d: Andy Ackerman

128. The Friars Club

gs: Rob Schneider (Bob) Pat Cooper (Himself) Samantha Smith (II) (Hallie) Lisa Kushell (Connie) Robert Martin Robinson (Maitre 'd) Norman Large (Detective) Peggy Lane (Waitress) The Flying Karamazov Brothers (The Flying Sandos Brothers) Heidi Swedberg (Susan) John O'Hurley (Peterman) Phil Morris (Jackie Chiles)

George is happy because he has a three-month reprieve. The wedding is delayed until June (just in time for the end of the May sweeps and a cliffhanger!). Meanwhile he is also excited because Jerry is going to go out with Susan's best friend. He envisions their friendship in the future as being "Gatsby"-like. Jerry is trying to get into the Friars Club, but loses a jacket he "borrowed" for dinner there, at a performance of comedic jugglers that was "worked on" by Susan's friend. Kramer tries to duplicate the sleeping patterns of Da Vinci and falls asleep at some inopportune moments; one of which puts him put in the Hudson River. Peterman hires a deaf employee and Elaine suffers the consequences, when she gets loaded with some of his work. Trying to see how deaf he really is, Elaine comes on to him, which Peterman overhears and tries to help out their budding relationship.

b: 07-Mar-96 pc: 718 w: David Mandel d: Andy Ackerman

129. The Wig Master

gs: Michael McDonald (Jesse) Patrick Bristow (Wig Master (Ethan)) Harry Van Gorkum (Craig) Gina Mastrogiacomo (Prostitute) Kim Chase (Charmaine) Chaim Jeraffi (Jiffy Park Guy) Michael James McDonald (Jesse) Pamela Dillman (Salesperson) Zack Phifer (Bob) Shashi Bhatia (Flower Girl) Norman Brenner (Ian) Heidi Swedberg (Susan) 

Jerry uses Elaine to prove that a sales clerk is wrong about his looking at an expensive jacket. Elaine is picked up by the clerk. George has an unwanted house guest, a wig master for the touring company of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." He also has found a parking lot that charges $75 dollars a month; Kramer decides to put his car there. Unfortunately, he leaves his apartment key there. When he can't get his key, he is allowed to borrow a pink Cadillac. Jerry is convinced the clerk is working Elaine. George discovers why the lot is so cheap, he finds a used condom in his car and is asking a prostitute for information, just as Susan approaches. George discovers that he may have an out with Susan; she says she must be able to trust him and have no doubts. Kramer stays at Jerry's apartment. Elaine has a walking stick she lets Kramer have. Jerry tries to return his jacket, but discovers that "spite" isn't a viable reason. Kramer is allowed to borrow the back up "Electric Color Dreamcoat." Jerry is put out, when both sexes assume he isn't in a relationship with the person he is with (Elaine in one instance, the Wig Master in the other). Kramer finds a fuzzy white hat. With all the parts put together, his new ensemble is a sight to behold, just ask the NYPD after he is caught pulling a prostitute out of his borrowed car.

b: 04-Apr-96 pc: 719 w: Spike Feresten d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Kramer's mug shot number is NYPD 331781-0404.

In episode 155 "The Muffin Tops" the name from the parking lot "Jiffy park" returns, but this time it´s a dump called "Jiffy dump" where Kramer wants to dump Elaines garbage from the Muffin top store. Also note that it´s the same man who´s working at the dump as on the parking lot.

130. The Calzone

gs: John D'Aquino (Todd) Peter Allas (Counter Guy) Danette Tays (Nicki) Greg Collins (Policeman) Jane A. Johnston (Todd's Mother) Wayne Knight (Newman)

George becomes Steinbrenner's pet, when he shares an eggplant calzone with him. Kramer is raving about wearing clothes "straight out of the dryer." Jerry thinks that Elaine's boyfriend is dating her without really ever asking her out. He offers to bring Jerry some Cuban cigars from Canada. Jerry takes advantage of his girlfriend's ability to get anything she wants. Kramer searches for quarters for the dryer; when he can't find anymore, he starts using an oven. George gets into tip trouble with the counter guy at the calzone shop and he works out an arrangement with Newman. That is unless of course it's raining (Newman doesn't deliver mail in the rain); Kramer helps out.

b: 25-Apr-96 pc: 720 w: Alec Berg & Jeff Schaffer d: Andy Ackerman

131. The Bottle Deposit (1)

gs: Brad Garrett (Tony) Brenda Strong (Sue Ellen) Patrick Kerr (Clerk) Harvey Jason (Auctioneer) Larry Polson (Homeless Guy) Wayne Knight (Newman) Richard Herd (Wilhelm) John O'Hurley (Peterman) 

George doesn't hear the details on an important project that Wilhelm wants him to champion. Peterman wants Elaine to bid on a set of golf clubs at the Kennedy auction, her ceiling is $10,000; however, she gets into a bidding war with Sue Ellen, the Oh Henry! candy heiress. Consequently, she spends a bit more than she was authorized. Newman finds the missing ingredient to make it cost effective in Kramer's scheme to collect used pop bottles and cans and take them to Michigan where the refund is doubled. Jerry takes his car to a mechanic, who's fanatical about car care. Elaine meets Jerry to get the golf clubs out of his car, but the mechanic, distraught over Jerry's negligence, steals it. Kramer and Newman collect their bottles and cans and hit the road in a mail truck.

b: 02-May-96 pc: 721 w: Gregg Kavet & Andy Robin d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Originally broadcast as part of a 60 min episode.

132. The Bottle Deposit (2)

gs: Brad Garrett (Tony) Mary Jo Keenen (Deena) Rance Howard (Farmer) Nicholas Mele (Detective) Karen Lynn Scott (Farmer's Daughter) Sandy Ward (Pop) Dan O'Connor (Young Cop) Bonnie McNeil (Woman) Wayne Knight (Newman) Richard Herd (Wilhelm) John O'Hurley (Peterman) 

Wilhelm is delighted with the job George did on the project; however, he has no idea what he did or how he did it. The detective on the case thinks he's found Jerry's car, damaged beyond recognition. It's not, and later Jerry's mechanic calls him from the car. Kramer spots Jerry's car in Ohio. Steinbrenner calls George into his office about the project report and has him committed. Kramer ditches the cans, bottles, mailbags and Newman in pursuit of Jerry's car. Newman finds a farmer's house, complete with the proverbial daughter. The mechanic throws the clubs and bag at Kramer's truck, allowing him to get away. Deena is happy to see that George is getting the help he needs. Peterman is stunned when he finally gets the clubs, "Elaine, I never knew Kennedy had such a temper."

b: 02-May-96 pc: 722 w: Gregg Kavet & Andy Robin d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Originally broadcast as part of a 60 min episode.

133. The Wait Out

gs: Cary Elwes (David) Debra Messing (Beth) Allan Havey (Policeman) Diana Castle (Mrs. Zanfino) Todd Bosley (Joey) J.C. Hertzler (Mr. Berger) Nicole Tocantins (Barbara) Heidi Swedberg (Susan) Danny Woodburn (Mickey)

After George makes an off-hand remark to a married couple with a rocky relationship, Jerry and Elaine wait in anticipation of their inevitable separation. Elaine sports a new hairstyle, starts driving again and almost makes Jerry car sick. Kramer starts wearing jeans again. The jeans are much too tight, so tight in fact, that he can't get them off when he really needs to. Elaine and Jerry make plans to move in on the separated couple, which they do. George feels guilty about breaking up the marriage and wishes to undo the damage. Jerry and Elaine physically oppose this action. David returns the off-hand remark to George in the presence of Susan. She tells George she has to think about some things- he thinks it is his ticket out.

b: 09-May-96 pc: 723 w: Peter Mehlman s: Peter Mehlman & Matt Selman d: Andy Ackerman

134. The Invitations

gs: Carol Leifer (Bank Employee [uncredited]) Janeane Garofalo (Jeannie Steinman) Stephen Root (Mr. Lager) Victor Raider-Wexler (Doctor) John Riggi (Teller) Sue Goodman (Clerk) Julie Clark (Waitress) Fred Goehner (Delivery Guy) Heidi Swedberg (Susan) 

As the big day grows nearer, George and Susan order their invitations. Susan lets him choose the cheap ones. George tries to think of a way out. Elaine suggests smoking and Kramer suggests a pre-nuptial agreement. Jerry, thinking of a single future with Kramer, nearly gets hit by a car but is saved by his female equivalent, Jeannie. Jerry thinks he is in love with Jeannie. Kramer tries to cash in on a bank's offer of a $100 if one of their tellers doesn't say hello. Is "Hey," hello? George tries the suggestions and strikes out. Susan begins preparing the invitations. Jerry makes a decision. Susan passes out while licking envelopes. Jerry proposes marriage; later he has second thoughts. George finds Susan and the gang meets him over at the hospital, where George gets the news, he's out. Free at last, George makes another attempt at Marisa Tomei.

b: 16-May-96 pc: 724 w: Larry David d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: In an uncredited appearance writer / producer Carol Leifer appears as one of the bank employees. The scenes shot with the real George Steinbrenner for this episode, were cut from the final edit. It is reported that these scenes might be included in an episode, next season. Steinbrenner reportedly missed opening day of the Yankees' baseball season to make this appearance.

ALSO NOTE: "Is Seinfeld the Best Comedy Ever? A Case is Made" was the title of a TV Guide cover story for the week of June 1st through the 7th. This link should take you to the on-line version. In the article Jay McInerney, the author, makes his case for why he thinks it should be. I for one, agree. He also lists out ten of the most significant episodes."The Pen" "The Bubble Boy" "The Pick" "The Parking Garage" "The Junior Mint" "The Subway" "The Outing" "The Soup Nazi" "The Rye" "The Contest"

In another article, Jerry talks about next season, future seasons and the impact of Larry David's departure.

In light of recent anthrax scares in the US, the planned syndicated rerun of this episode on 22 Oct 2001 was cancelled. I don't know if this means we may never see this episode in syndication again, but that is always a possibility.

Season 8

135. The Foundation

gs: Janeane Garofalo (Jeannie Steinman) Bruce Davison (Wyck) Grace Zabriskie (Mrs. Ross) Warren Frost (Mr. (Henry) Ross) Joe Urla (Dugan) Susan Walters (Dolores "Mulva") Todd Bosley (Joey) Diana Castle (Mrs. Zanfino) Stuart Quan (Sensei) Herb Mitchell (Businessman #1) Robert Louis Kempf (Businessman #2) Lawrence A. Mandley (Larry) Lauren Bowles (Waitress #1) Peggy Lane (Waitress #2) Paige Tamada (Clara) Robert Padnick (Willie) Ruth Cohen (Ruthie) John O'Hurley (Peterman) 

Months after her death, George is ready to move on, but Susan's parents want to keep her memory alive. Kramer becomes a karate master, where his opponents are equals in his skill level, but are lacking in size. Jerry runs into Dolores, you remember "her name rhymed with a female body part" in "The Junior Mint", she suggests that they get together again. Peterman has a breakdown and goes to Burma leaving Elaine in charge; a position she is reluctant to assume. Kramer makes a speech that inspires Elaine to go and take charge of J. Peterman. Inspired by a comment that Jerry made, a foundation is established in Susan's name, which will take up all of George's free time. Jerry and Dolores do get together; however, when she hears why Jerry's engagement was broken off, she leaves commenting that he still hasn't matured. Elaine sees Kramer's opponents, vents her frustration and takes him down in front of the class. Jerry decides to research breakups and the effect on future relationships. Kramer's classmates meet him after class. George discovers everything he lost when he lost Susan.

b: 19-Sep-96 pc: 801 w: Alec Berg & Jeff Schaffer d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: This episode was dedicated "In Memory of Our Friend Marjorie Gross." Marjorie died from ovarian cancer earlier this year at the age of 40, in previous seasons, Marjorie was one of show's producers and writers. She was responsible for "The Secretary", "The Fusilli Jerry", "The Understudy" and "The Shower Head." During her battle early in 1996 she wrote an article titled "Cancer Becomes Me" for The New Yorker magazine on what it is like to be dying from the disease. Thanks to Jerry Balsam, Vince Gargiulo and Kenny Kramer for the information on Marjorie's article. Marjorie also wrote some episodes of the early 1980's comedy Square Pegs.

Viewer Mike Hamilin notes that Kramer gets beat up by the kids in much the same way (and perhaps the same set) as he did with the AIDS' walkers in "The Sponge".

136. The Soul Mate

gs: Bruce Davison (Wyck) Tim DeKay (Kevin) Lisa Mende (Carol) Kim Myers (Pam) Rende Rae Norman (Ms. Baines) Tommy Hicks (Mr. Cross) Jill Talley (Gail) Jill Holden (Lisa) Wayne Knight (Newman) 

George thinks the foundation lawyer thinks he might have killed Susan, Jerry suggests using a method employed by Jerry Lewis to find out. Kramer falls for Jerry's girlfriend and he consults Newman for advice. Elaine's friends insist that she have a baby, she'd rather not and meets a man who shares her ideals. George leaves a running tape recorder in his brief case at the next board meeting and leaves the room. He returns to find the briefcase damaged and the tape stopped. Newman gets in the middle of Jerry and Kramer's relationship with Pam; he bribes Jerry in hopes to find out more about his obsession, Elaine. Meanwhile, her new boyfriend gets a vasectomy to show her how committed he is to not having children. The guys find out Pam isn't interested in having children and they line up for their own vasectomies. George gets to the bottom of what happened to his briefcase.

b: 26-Sep-96 pc: 802 w: Peter Mehlman d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: This episode was dedicated "In Memory of Our Friend Victor Wayne Harris." Vince Gargiulo tells me that Victor was the assistant prop master for the series and he died in August following a stroke.

At the start of the episode George is fantasizing about being in prison and then says wistfully, "One day...". Of course at the end of series 9 he gets his wish!

137. The Bizarro Jerry

gs: Tim DeKay (Kevin) Kristin Bauer (Gillian) Pat Kilbane (Bizarro Kramer (Feldman)) Kyle T. Hefner (Bizarro George (Gene)) Justina Vail (Amanda) J. Patrick McCormack (Leland) Harry Murphy (Office Manager) Dana Patrick (Model #1) Shireen Crutchfield (Model #2) Robin Nance (Model #3) Mark S. Larson (Bizarro Newman (Vargas)) James Lesure (Office Worker) Jason Beck (Bouncer)

Kramer uses a bathroom in an office building and just begins working there. He is "TCB." Elaine sets Jerry up with a friend who is very beautiful, but she has "man hands." George uses a picture of her and passes her off as his dead finance Susan; that gets him into the "Forbidden City" where high priced models hang out. Elaine meets Kevin and some of his friends; they are the exact opposite of Jerry, George and Kramer. With Kramer working, George inside the walls and Elaine hanging out with Kevin, Jerry begins to feel alone.

b: 03-Oct-96 pc: 803 w: David Mandel d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: In the scene where Elaine is talking to Kevin at Reggie's, she said something about the tuna tasting like a sponge. Could this be a reference to the episode "The Sponge", where George had to eat at Reggie's after being neglected by Jerry, Elaine and Susan?

Viewers Taylor Lasseigne and Michael Haemlin note in this episode that Kramer is seen working in this episode to the music of Sheena Easton's hit "My Baby Takes the Morning Train" was also used in "The Voice". Mike also notes that George uses "Vandelay" in this episode in his trick to show the picture of his deceased "fiance" to the beautiful receptionist.

138. The Little Kicks

gs: Neil Giuntoli (Brody) Rebecca McFarland (Anna) Joe Urla (Dugan) Tim O'Hare (Vendor) Jerry Stiller (Frank) 

Elaine reluctantly lets George attend a party she is throwing at work. "Sweet fancy Moses" exclaims George when he sees Elaine dance at a party she's holding for her employees. She wonders why they've lost respect for her. Jerry gets 2 tickets to a premiere of a film. Kramer asks him to get an extra ticket for his friend Brody. Elaine thinks the loss of respect might be due to George's influence, so she makes him off limits to Anna, one of the women George talked to at the party. That "bad boy" image makes him all the more desirable. Jerry and Kramer attend the film with Brody, who begins to make a bootleg tape. Brody gets sick and has Kramer take him home, leaving Jerry to finish making the tape. Jerry worries about the implications when Brody likes him camera work and asks him to do another film. However, he complains about the quality of Kramer's work. Elaine finds out the truth about her dancing after she tapes herself. Elaine apologizes to Anna and George, which suddenly makes him undesirable. Brody won't meet Jerry's demands for equipment; George takes on the challenge, but gets arrested. Frank comes to bail him out and Elaine lets him know the truth about his son. Elaine's dance becomes a big hit on the streets of New York.

b: 10-Oct-96 pc: 804 w: Spike Feresten d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: It was reported in Allure magazine that the dance moves Elaine made were completely Lorne Michaels (noted Saturday+Night+Live producer) own moves.

139. The Package

gs: Richard Roat (Dr. Berg) Fort Atkinson (Dr. Stern) David Purdham (Dr. Resnick) Heather Campbell (Sheila) Ramon Franco (Mailman) Bari K. Willerford (Ron) Shuko Akune (Receptionist) F. William Parker (Country Doctor) Lynn A. Henderson (Clerk) Bill Gratton (Postal Official) Susan Leslie (Nurse) Wayne Knight (Newman) Len Lesser (Uncle Leo) 

Elaine has a rash and looks for a doctor who will treat her; despite her doctor -- patient relationship reputation. Kramer offers Jerry a method to get a refund on his stereo that is two years out of warranty. George discovers the woman at the photo store is looking at his pictures. Jerry refuses delivery of a package with no return address. George thinks that the photo store clerk has stuck a revealing picture of herself in with his pictures. Kramer convinces George to return the compliment and offers to take the photos. Uncle Leo signs for Jerry's package. Elaine tries to lift her medical records. Jerry lets Uncle Leo open the package and there is the sound of an explosion. Leo's stove has exploded but eventually Jerry gets the package and opens it up. It contains his stereo in pieces. Kramer sent the package to him insured; now all they must do is collect the insurance money from the post office. Elaine poses as Uncle Leo's nurse to try a diagnosis for her condition. When that doesn't work she tries to get Kramer to lift her records. Newman grills Jerry on suspicion of mail fraud. George drops off his film at the photo store and gets a surprising result.

b: 17-Oct-96 pc: 805 w: Jennifer Crittenden d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: The scene in which Newman "grills" Jerry is a parody of the famous Sharon Stone leg-crossing scene in "Basic Instinct." Wayne Knight (Newman) had appeared in the "BI" leg-crossing scene as one of SStone's sweat-soaked interrogators.

140. The Fatigues

gs: Joe Urla (Dugan) Ned Bellamy (Eddie) A.J. Langer (Abby) Katie Layman (Cynthia) Eddie Allen (Doctor) Gwen McGee (Janine) Lynn Manning (Blind Man) Estelle Harris (Estelle) Jerry Stiller (Frank) Richard Herd (Wilhelm) Steve Hytner (Bania)

Jerry is intrigued by the concept of his girlfriend having a mentor. George prepares to give a lecture on risk management by reading a book, but realizes that book on tape have spoiled him. Elaine prepares to fire an employee, but when face to face with him, she promotes him. Kramer runs a Jewish singles night at Frank's Knights of Columbus hall. Jerry meets his girlfriend's mentor, but she is dating Kenny Bania. George discovers the blind can get any book on tape, so he plans to fail an eye test. Elaine's recently promoted employee has some startling new ideas. She plans to promote him again. Kramer's party plans go awry when he has to cook for over 150 plus people. He needs to get Frank's advice on cooking for the masses, despite George's warning. Elaine's promotional plan backfires, when the rest of her staff quits. Jerry's girlfriend sees Bania's act and loses respect for her mentor. Elaine tries working with her employee. George figures out an angle to get his book read. Jerry finds himself becoming Bania's mentor. Jerry and his now ex-girlfriend get their files mixed up; George speaks on Ovaltine and Bania on risk management. Frank's cooking skills are reborn, until he sees someone choking.

b: 31-Oct-96 pc: 806 w: Gregg Kavet & Andy Robin d: Andy Ackerman

141. The Checks

gs: James Patrick Stuart (Brett) Gedde Watanabe (Mr. Oh) Sab Shimono (Executive #1) John Bowman (Teddy) Jock Plotnick (Crew Leader) George Wallace (Doctor) Toshi Toda (Mr. Tanaka) Goh Misawa (Mr. Yamaguchi) Tony V. (Clicky) Akane Nelson (Executive #2) Cherie Hankal (Nurse) Richard Herd (Wilhelm)

Elaine's new boyfriend, Brett, is obsessed with designer furniture and the song "Desperado." Jerry spots an umbrella salesman using the sales technique he invented. The salesman says it was someone else. Hundreds of twelve-cent royalty checks keep arriving from Jerry's brief appearance on a Japanese television. Kramer warns George that the carpet cleaners he hired are actually a front for a religious cult. Intrigued, George tries to be converted, but they're not interested. Kramer meets some Japanese businessman and he takes them on the town and to the cleaners. He is a little confused about the exchange rate. Brett delivers a large chest of drawers to Kramer and thinks that Jerry might be jealous. Kramer thinks the TV pilot that Jerry and George did would be perfect for Japanese television. They pitch it to a couple of Japanese TV executives. Elaine tries to find a song that she and Brett can share. Kramer puts his Japanese friends up at his place. They're sleeping in the chest of drawers. Jerry caught in the rain meets the man in the street that claims credit for the twirl. He also meets Brett who is convinced Jerry is down on his luck. George gets the cleaners to do the offices at Yankee Stadium where they find a new recruit. Because of the humidity from the hot tub, Kramer's guests get stuck in the chest. Jerry, with writer's cramp from check signing, uses a fire ax to open the chest. That scares the Japanese guests and injures Brett who passes out.

b: 07-Nov-96 pc: 807 w: Steve O'Donnell and Tom Gammill & Max Pross d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Viewer Tony Antoniou notes that the person playing Carl Farbman shown in the red Ferrari was the Transportation Coordinator for the show, Dave Pierce.

The furniture designer with whom Elaine's boyfriend is so obsessed is Carl Farbman. Farbman was also the name of the architecht who designed the house in "The Hamptons".

142. The Chicken Roaster

gs: Mark Roberts (Seth) Kymberly Kalil (Heather) Michael D. Roberts (Ipswich) Wesley Leong (Clerk) Christopher Aguilar (Burmese Boy) Wayne Knight (Newman) John O'Hurley (Peterman) 

Kenny Rogers Roasters opens in the neighborhood and the large neon chicken sign beams right into Kramer's apartment window. Jerry meets an old college buddy who he talks into missing a meeting that it turns out was important enough to get him fired. Elaine makes liberal use of the Peterman expense account. Including a big hat for George, that he tries leaving at the saleswoman's apartment in an attempt to get a second date with her. Elaine tries to justify her expenses to the accounting department and needs the hat. Jerry's college friend becomes "manager" of the chicken place. Kramer and Jerry switch apartments; however, more than just the apartment gets switched. Newman gets Kramer hooked on Kenny's chicken. Elaine brings George to the saleswoman's apartment, dragging George by the ear, in an attempt to retrieve the hat. Jerry's "friend" Bob sells fake Russian hats, but it doesn't help Elaine. Jerry demands his apartment back when he finds out Kramer is hooked. Elaine goes to Burma in search of Peterman to get her expenses authorized. George keeps scheming to get that second date. The fake Russian hat has an impact on the chicken business.

b: 14-Nov-96 pc: 808 w: Alec Berg & Jeff Schaffer d: Andy Ackerman

143. The Abstinence

gs: Debra Jo Rupp (Katie) Brenda Strong (Sue Ellen) Bob Odenkirk (Ben) Meagen Fay (Mrs. Burns) Tamara Bick (Louise) Alex Trebek (Voice of Himself) Derek Jeter (Himself) Bernie Williams (Himself) Lawrence A. Mandley (Larry the Cook) Fern Fitzgerald (Ms. Wilkie) Noelle Balfour (Waitress) Kyle Gass (Smoker) Judy Kerr (Woman) David Letterman (Himself (uncredited)) Phil Morris (Jackie Chiles) 

George's girlfriend has mononucleosis and he can't have sex with her for six weeks. Elaine's met a doctor who's almost gotten his license to practice. Jerry agrees to appear at career day at his former junior high school, first he is bumped and then there is a fire drill. Kramer lights up a cigar in Monk's and is asked to leave. He meets others on the street who face his dilemma so he opens up his apartment as a smoking lounge. Jerry's agent gets him an assembly at the school. George's lack of sex makes his mind sharper. Elaine learns how much her doctor boyfriend doesn't know about medicine. She uses George's technique to help him study to get his license, but in the process she becomes an idiot. Jerry struggles to figure out how to fill two hours in front of a junior high crowd. George uses his new found intellect to give batting advice, speaks Portuguese and prepares a presentation for Jerry's assembly. Kramer sees his lawyer about a case against the tobacco company, smoking has destroyed his looks. He gets a settlement without Jackie's input. George calculates the odds of scoring with a Portuguese waitress. Elaine's boyfriend gets his license and leaves her sexless.

b: 21-Nov-96 pc: 809 w: Steve Koren d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: When George orders lunch from the Portuguese waitress in Portuguese he orders Elaine an "Ensalade Grande". Which in any language is a "Big Salad", a reference back to that 6th season episode "The Big Salad". 

144. The Andrea Doria

gs: Tom Gallop (Alan) Ray Stricklyn (Clarence) Diana Bellamy (Mrs. Ricardi) Rick Hall (Vet) Carl Banks (Policeman #1) Barry Cutler (Policeman #2) Kev O'Neil (Waiter) Ossie Mair (Driver) Fred Pinkard (Old Man) Rene Weisser (Ex-Girlfriend) Brian Blondell (Dog Guy) Theresa Mulligan (Woman) Florinel Fatulescu (Stand Owner) Wayne Knight (Newman) Estelle Harris (Estelle) Jerry Stiller (Frank)

George is excited about the new apartment he is going to move into. Elaine is on a blind date, now called a "set-up." Jerry takes Kramer to his self-storage where they discover that Newman has been hiding bags of mail. George finds out he can't get his apartment because the tenant association is going to give it to an Andrea Doria survivor. Elaine is told her date won't be making it because he's been stabbed. She is aroused by the situation. Kramer's cold is getting bad and he's not going to the doctor, they botched his vasectomy, he's more potent now than ever. Jerry tries to get Newman to get rid of the mail; however, he's not interested because he didn't get the transfer to Hawaii. Kramer finds a dog with a cold that he volunteers to take to the vet, so he can get medicine for their colds. Elaine meets her blind date who gets coffee thrown in his face from another ex-girlfriend. She discovers his problem is that he is a "bad breaker upper." George confronts his rival for the apartment and decides to wage war. Elaine's blind date breaks up with her and tells she has "a big head." From a suggestion by Jerry, George asks for a hearing with the association and tells them the story of his life. Jerry forms "an alliance" with Newman that will hopefully get him out of his life forever. Jerry tries to get Kramer to take his medication. He discovers that Kramer is taking dog medication and beginning to exhibit the signs of being a dog. The big head comment begins to hold true for Elaine and she makes a comment about jamming "a fork in his forehead." Jerry tries to take Kramer to a real doctor. After Kramer bites Newman's ankle, Jerry offers to deliver the rest of his mail. He is too efficient for the post office. Elaine meets up with her blind date and makes good on her promise. Kramer saves the day. George and the survivor don't get the apartment.

b: 19-Dec-96 pc: 810 w: Spike Feresten d: Andy Ackerman

145. The Little Jerry

gs: John Michael Higgins (Kurt) Miguel Sandoval (Marcelino) Andrea Bendewald (Celia) Kathryn Joosten (Betsy) Paul Perri (Detective Banner) Al White (Detective Udewitz) Ray Proscia (Guard) Barney Martin (Morty) Liz Sheridan (Helen)

Everyone makes a comment about a bad check of Jerry's that is on display at Marcelino's store. Through the Foundation, George gets the opportunity to visit a women's prison. He is disappointed when the facility doesn't meet his impression of what he thinks a women's prison is. He does however meet a convict that he decides to ask out. He enjoys the liberation that dating a convict offers. Kramer gets a new pet, a rooster that he names "Little Jerry Seinfeld"; of course he really wanted a hen for the eggs. Jerry's parents find out about the check and offer to send money. Elaine finds out her bald boyfriend once had a fine head of hair. She convinces him to start growing it back, but when he does he shows signs of hair-loss. He begins to feel despondent. George's dream relationship hangs on the brink, Celia's up for parole. Kramer enters "Little Jerry" in a cockfight that if he wins, Jerry's bad check will be taken down. George is a character witness for Celia's parole hearing; he testifies to try keeping her in. Jerry's bad check doesn't come down, because Marcelino wants Jerry to do something for him first. Kurt seeks hair-loss advice from George that causes him to propose to Elaine. Jerry and Kramer train "Little Jerry" for the big cockfight. George experiences "fugitive sex" when Celia breaks out after her parole was denied. Celia is tracked down and Kurt is mistaken for George. Marcelino brings a ringer in for the big fight; Kramer tries to save "Little Jerry" but pays the price.

b: 09-Jan-97 pc: 811 w: Jennifer Crittenden d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Viewer Ben Nuckols offers this wild theory about this episode: Here's a wild theory. I think there might have been a TV industry "inside joke" in "The Little Jerry," which was on in syndication this week. I knew I recognized the name of John Michael Higgins, who plays Kurt, from somewhere, and I finally figured it out. He played David Letterman in the HBO movie "The Late Shift." I checked the Internet Movie Database to be sure. Of course, he looks completely different with his head shaved. Here's the connection: when "The Late Shift" came out, the real David Letterman complained that the actor playing him had red hair. Higgins was scheduled to be a guest on Letterman's show, but he was bumped, some say due to Letterman's distaste for his portrayal in the picture. Now, do you suppose it's a coincidence that Higgins was cast as a character whose hair was a central issue? Elaine glamorizes the hair color by describing it as "chestnut with auburn highlights." Do you think Seinfeld was taking a lighthearted stab at his buddy Letterman? Offer any comments to Ben at this email address (for as long as it remains valid): [email protected].

146. The Money

gs: Sarah Silverman (Emily) Leon W. Grant (Counterperson) Liz Sheridan (Helen) Barney Martin (Morty) Jerry Stiller (Frank) Estelle Harris (Estelle) John O'Hurley (Peterman) Sandy Baron (Klompus)

Jerry's parents sell the Cadillac to Jack Klompus for $6000 in order to give Jerry some money to help him out. They along with Kramer suggest that Jerry might try a career move. Elaine talks about her Peterman stock options and buys George's coffee. He thinks she is sticking it to him. Jerry and George talk about the money their parents might have. This piques George's interest. Kramer seeks advice from Elaine about his girlfriend's post-sex bed habits. Jerry flies to Florida to buy the Cadillac back. George seeks information on his family's health history. Kramer works out a deal with his girlfriend. Jerry meets with Klompus and agrees to pay $14,000 for it. George anticipating a big inheritance begins to spend money. Unfortunately for him, so do his parents. Klompus has a problem with the car and Jerry returns to Florida. Jerry's parents are still worried about him and wonder what to do. Morty decides to see Elaine about a job; she reluctantly agrees to give him a job, just as Peterman returns. Kramer, fearing a prowler (Jerry's dad), decides he can no longer sleep alone; unfortunately his girlfriend has decided she can. So he moves in with the Costanzas, who tell George that they are moving to Florida. Elaine returns to her regular position at Peterman, with no options. George and Elaine try to discuss their respective problems. Still in Florida, strapped for cash and credit, Jerry sleeps in the Cadillac. Kramer and Emily spend the night as an old married couple in the Costanzas' house. The Seinfelds make a change in their housing as the Costanzas try to settle into their new place.

b: 16-Jan-97 pc: 813 w: Peter Mehlman d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Viewer Dan Wyszomierski noticed an interesting sidelight to this episode. "With all of Jerry Seinfeld's real-life ad work for American Express (the card with 'no preset spending limit'), I found it ironic that he made the excuse of 'maxing-out' his credit cards when he was telling everyone why he had to sleep in the Cadillac." 

147. The Comeback

gs: Mark Harelik (Milos) Ben Stein (Shellbach) Joel Polis (Reilly) Ivana Milavich (Patty) Danny Strong (Vincent) Richard Livingston (Bill) Charles Kahlenberg (Fred) Stan Sellers (McAdam) Peggy Mannix (Woman) Fatima Love (Secretary) Nancy Linehan Charles (Woman Executive) Jeff Hatz (Manager (Gene))

George has trouble thinking of a comeback to a comment made by Reilly; he does think of one, but it's a little to late. Jerry buys a new tennis racket from a supposed professional. Elaine and Kramer discuss video picks. Elaine prefers picks by Vincent. He prefers picks by Gene or his own. He watches his latest pick and it makes him concerned about spending the rest of his life in a coma. Elaine is intrigued when she receives a phone call from the mysterious Vincent. Jerry discovers that the tennis pro is a hack player. George comes up with what he thinks is the perfect line and will listen to no one else's opinion. Kramer makes a living will, with Elaine as the executor. The tennis pro, fearing he will be exposed, tries to bribe Jerry, including a rendezvous with his wife. Elaine opts for another movie and makes Vincent angry. George finds out that Reilly doesn't work for the Yankees anymore, so he tracks him down to Ohio, where he plans to deliver his line. Kramer finishes the movie he rented and discovers it is possible to recover from a coma, he decides to change his will. Milos' wife has no respect for him; he asks Jerry to let him beat him in tennis. Elaine receives a phone call from Vincent and she convinces him to let her meet him. She is surprised by his appearance. Kramer goes into a coma after being hit with tennis balls. Meanwhile, in Akron, George delivers his line about "the jerk store."

b: 30-Jan-97 pc: 812 w: Gregg Kavet & Andy Robin d: David Owen Trainor

NOTE: Viewer Jeffrey Abucay notes that Kramer should have known that you can come out of a coma, after all he witnessed the event occurring in "The Suicide". Viewer Mark Byerly notes that in an installment of Ben Stein's diary in The American Spectator, Stein reveals that in the original script for this episode he was to play a role closer to Reilly, that is, as George's adversary at the office. However, someone decided that Reilly should be a younger, edgier character, so the character was rewritten. Since Stein had been promised a part already, the part of Shellbach was offered to him instead.

148. The Van Buren Boys

gs: David Moscow (Lomez Jr.) Bruce Davison (Wyck) Christine Taylor (Ellen) Jed Rhein (Steven Koren) Tony Colitti (Leader) Yunoka Doyle (Lydia) Dublin James (Maurice) Justine Slater (Melissa) Michelle Maika (Kim) Steve Hofvendahl (Man) Barney Martin (Morty) Liz Sheridan (Helen) John O'Hurley (Peterman)

Jerry's girlfriend, Ellen, seems perfect in every way, but everyone else seems to have a problem with her. George interviews candidates for the Foundation's first scholarship. The candidates seem over-qualified, until one comes in who is a lot like he was. Elaine is going to ghost write Peterman's biography. Kramer goes to Lorenzo's pizza, where he has an encounter with the Van Buren boys. He accidentally flashes their gang sign and saves himself. Peterman wants his day to day life covered in his bio; the exotic adventures are for the catalog. His day-to-day life is very boring. She tells him about Kramer's encounter with the gang and he suggests buying the story for his biography. George's scholar makes a change in his plans that causes George to disqualify him from the scholarship. Kramer sells Peterman all of his stories for $750 dollars. Elaine is put at his disposal. To Elaine, Kramer's stories aren't much more interesting. George and Kramer perform an intervention on Jerry's relationship with Ellen. George's scholar joins the Van Buren boys, who apply pressure on George to get the scholarship back. Elaine tells Kramer that he can no longer tell his stories, since they now belong to Peterman. Elaine tries to embellish Kramer's stories, but Peterman finds the rewrites "too clichéd and obvious." She tells him the real Kramer story that he finds much more interesting. He tells Kramer he can have his stories back. George tries to save himself from the Van Buren boys. Jerry flies his parents in to get their impression of Ellen. He begins to see the light.

b: 06-Feb-97 pc: 814 w: Darin Henry d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: The character name of Steven Koren is taken from the name of Steve Koren who's on the production team. 

149. The Susie

gs: John O'Hurley (Mr. Peterman) Richard Herd (Mr. Wilhelm) Lee Arenberg (Mike Moffit) Shannon Kenny (Allison) Megan Cole (Peggy) Jane Edith Wilson (Woman)

Kramer decides that daylight saving time isn't coming fast enough, so he sets his watch ahead an hour. Mike, the guy who once referred to Jerry as "a phony," has become a bookie. Peggy, a co-worker of Elaine's calls her "Susie." George is excited about Steinbrenner's ball. He hopes to show off his tall blonde girlfriend with a grand entrance. Instead, she says she wants to talk. He runs away. "If she can't find me, she can't break up with me." He really wants to make that big entrance at the ball. Kramer tells Jerry that he owes Mike $100 for a bet he made on that night's Knicks game. Only Jerry never made the bet; Kramer did it for him. In fact, Kramer attends the game and gets into a fight with a key player that causes Jerry to win his bet. Peggy starts talking to "Susie" about Elaine's memo. Peterman hearing about the complaints demands to see Elaine, Peggy and "Susie" in his office; first thing in the morning. Mike can't pay Jerry, so he offers to help him with his trunk problem, but instead gets his thumbs broken for the trouble. Kramer breaks up with George on behalf of Allison. Elaine makes it through the morning meeting. Mike gets trapped in Jerry's trunk. Elaine and Jerry, in his car, decide it would be best to eliminate "Susie." George reconciles with Kramer. Elaine delivers the eulogy at "Susie's" wake, much to the confusion of Peggy. Kramer, with George, makes a spectacular entrance at the ball. Mike escapes from Jerry's trunk and accuses him of murder. The same fate befalls Elaine that befell George; Peterman puts her in charge of a foundation in "Susie's" honor.

b: 13-Feb-97 pc: 815 w: David Mandel d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: The lyrics to George's singing phone message:

Believe it or not,

George isn't at home,

Please leave a message at the beep.

I must be out, or I'd pick up the phone,

Where could I be?

Believe it or not, I'm not home.

More Seinfeld phone related info can be found here.

150. The Pothole

gs: Jack McGee (Ralph) George Cheung (Owner) Kristin Davis (Jenna) Wayne Knight (Newman) Seraiah Carol (Mrs. Allister) Radmar Agana Jao (Delivery Boy) Walter Addison (Man) 

Jerry's girlfriend uses a toothbrush that he had just pulled out of the toilet. George shows of the new key ring that Steinbrenner has given everyone in the organization, celebrating Phil Rizzuto's induction in the hall of fame. Kramer complains about the failing highway infrastructure, so he adopts a one-mile piece of a highway. Elaine tries to order a new Chinese dish, but she lives out of bounds. George loses his keys. Jerry plans to secretly sterilize his girlfriend's mouth. Despite his attempts, he just can't get past the vision of the toothbrush in the toilet. George theorizes that he may have lost his keys when he did a broad jump over a pothole. Kramer works diligently to keep his part of the road clean. Elaine schemes to get her Chinese food by moving into a janitor's closet, located in the building across the street. A woman who lives in the building begins to complain to her about the cleaning up the building needs. Jenna finds out about the toothbrush and sticks something of Jerry's in his toilet; only he doesn't know what. Kramer's plan to improve his mile of road doesn't go as well as he had hoped. Elaine has the gang over for dinner in the janitor closet she's moved into temporarily. George works to clear the pothole. Jerry breaks it off officially when Jenna's toilet problem becomes to much to bear. Elaine brings the garbage to the dump in Jerry's car. Kramer spills the paint thinner on the highway. Sparks hit the spill and Newman is at the heart of the resulting fireball.

b: 20-Feb-97 pc: 816 w: Steve O'Donnell and Daniel O'Keefe d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: According to an appearance by Jerry on the The Tonight Show, this is the 150th episode of Seinfeld. To make this appear as the 150th episode, I've now split "Highlights of a Hundred" into two parts, no longer call it a special and have integrated it into the guide.

151. The English Patient

gs: Lloyd Bridges (Izzy Mentlebaum) Chelsea Noble (Danielle) O'Neal Compton (Earl Haffler) Lisa Mende (Carol) Gene Dynarski (Izzy Jr.) Marco Rodriguez (Guillermo) Joe Urla (Dugan) Jill Talley (Gail) Jill Holden (Lisa) Todd Jeffries (Blaine) Earl Schuman (Izzy Sr.) Edgar Small (Sid Luckman) Lauren Bowles (Waitress) Juan Garcia (Jaime) Jeff Miller (Neil) Liz Sheridan (Helen) Barney Martin (Morty) John O'Hurley (Peterman) 

A woman mistakes George for her boyfriend Neil, a guy who looks just like him. This intrigues George; he wants to meet Neil. Jerry is going to Florida to help his parents move. Kramer asks him to pick up some Cubans from his cigar guy and also gives him a T-shirt. Elaine and her boyfriend see "The English Patient"; she absolutely hates it and that makes her unpopular and dumped. Jerry's dad gets the T-shirt, #1 Dad, that he is very proud to wear, despite its small size. At his parents' exercise room, Jerry meets Izzy, an 80-year-old man who can't stand to lose; he challenges Jerry to a weightlifting competition; "It's go time!" He throws his back out again and again. Kramer's Cubans arrive; they're real people and not the cigars that Jerry thought he would be getting. George is overly obsessed with Neil, to the point where he is missing out on Danielle. Jerry is back in New York, where Izzy has returned to see a back specialist. Though Kramer's Cubans are really Dominicans he tries to pass them off as "Cubans" anyway; it doesn't work. Elaine's dislike for the film alienates her from everyone. When she tells Peterman that she hasn't seen the film, he immediately takes steps to correct the situation. Jerry meets the rest of Izzy's family all of who are fiercely competitive. He finds work for Kramer's "Cubans." Elaine still hates the movie, but must go to the Tunisian desert to live in a cave to save her job. Kramer thinks his unemployed Dominicans, whom he educated about communism, are planning to revolt; later they do. George gets a last word on Neil when Danielle makes a decision between the two of them.

b: 13-Mar-97 pc: 817 w: Steve Koren d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Viewer Richard McCormick notes that there is blooper in this episode, when the audience behind Peterman and Elaine changes around.

152. The Nap

gs: Stephen Lee (Conrad) Vince Grant (Hal) Angelo Tiffe (Delivery Man) JoNell Kennedy (Secretary) Mik Scriba (Bomb Squad Guy) Terry Rhoads (Father) Sid Newman (Old Man) Kevin Keckeisen (Brian) Kyle Sullivan (Son) Richard Herd (Wilhelm)

George is tired and needs to take a nap while at work; he finds the perfect place, under his desk. Kramer has taken up swimming, but he finds the pool too constricting for his needs; he begins swimming in the East River. Elaine's date is worried about his back and hers; he sends her a mattress and she gets the wrong idea. She gives the mattress to Kramer. Jerry is getting new kitchen cabinets, but the contractor is constantly asking him questions. George gets Jerry's contractor to make some modifications for his desk, including space for an alarm clock. Steinbrenner is in George's office looking for him; he decides to wait for George to return. George gets Jerry to phone in a bomb threat in an effort to get Steinbrenner out of his office. After finding George under the desk, Steinbrenner thinks he has ESP and would be perfect to meet the terrorist's demand of a fitted hat day. Meanwhile, Jerry's contractor, left on his own, has made a change in Jerry's kitchen that no one likes. Elaine gets her mattress back when she gets the right idea; however, Kramer has fouled it up with the stench of the East River. Elaine's boyfriend discovers the benefits of swimming in the East River. Steinbrenner hears a ticking sound in George's office, thinks it's a bomb and calls in the bomb squad. Jerry decides he needs his old kitchen back. Elaine throws her back out trying to get rid of the mattress. Kramer's river gets crowded and George finds a new place to nap.

b: 10-Apr-97 pc: 818 w: Gregg Kavet & Andy Robin d: Andy Ackerman

153. The Yada Yada

gs: Robert Wagner (Dr. Abbott) Jill St. John (Mrs. Abbott) Debra Messing (Beth) Suzanne Cryer (Marcy) Stephen Caffrey (Arnie) Henry Woronicz (Father Curtis) Monica Lacey (Julie) Ali Marsh (Karen) David Chandler (Brian) Virginia Watson (Nun) Walter Franks (Waiter) Jerry Maren (Dad) Danny Woodburn (Mickey) Bryan Cranston (Whatley) 

George's girlfriend is big on using the phrase "yada yada"; Jerry says at least she is succinct. Jerry's dentist just became Jewish and he is already making jokes that make Jerry uncomfortable. Kramer and Mickey double date but they can't decide which of the women is right for them. Elaine is a character reference for a couple who is trying to adopt; a story she tells during the interview destroys all hope of adoption. George drops by Jerry's dental appointment. Mickey and Kramer continue to fight over who gets Karen or Julie. George determines that his girlfriend might be leaving out some significant details with her overuse of the phrase "yada yada." He gets her to fill in the details and discovers more than he wants to know. Jerry confesses to a priest about what he thinks about Tim's conversion. George drops by Jerry's confession. Kramer decides on the right woman and Mickey also decides to make his a commitment. Tim hears about Jerry's dental joke. After hearing Jerry's complaints about Tim, Kramer accuses Jerry of being an "anti-dentite." Elaine lobbies on behalf of Beth and Arnie and makes a sacrifice to try getting them a child. Meanwhile, Beth comes to Jerry for help when her marriage is falling apart. It does and she accompanies Jerry to Mickey's wedding where she reveals an unknown side of her personality.

b: 24-Apr-97 pc: 819 w: Peter Mehlman and Jill Franklyn d: Andy Ackerman

154. The Millennium

gs: Lauren Graham (Valerie) Louan Gideon (Valerie's Mother) Victoria Mahoney (Gladys) Michael Laskin (Minkler) Bruce Jarchow (Mooney) Maria Cina (Saleswoman) Steve Koren (Himself) Wayne Knight (Newman) Richard Herd (Wilhelm)

Elaine gets bad service at a clothing store, so she begins shopping at another similar store. Jerry notices that he is on his girlfriend's speed dial. Kramer plans for his millennium New Year's Eve party two years in advance and he has some strange ideas about what life in that year will be like. George is "offered" a position as director of scouting by the Mets. To get the position he must be fired by the Yankees. Elaine flaunts her purchases in front of the store. Jerry obsesses about his position on the speed dial and then he makes it to number 1. Kramer discovers that Newman is planning his own millennium party. George tries to make a big exit from the Yankees organization; however, all his attempts make him look better in the organization. The step-mother of Jerry's girlfriend's confronts him over his #1 position on the speed dial. Newman compromises with Kramer about their respective parties, they will be combined; however, he only has one condition, the next century must be "Jerry free." Elaine discovers the clothing store she began frequenting is owned by the same woman who didn't help her at the other store. Kramer reluctantly agrees but then has misgivings and gets Elaine to come back to his party. Elaine plans her revenge on the store with Kramer's help. Jerry gets caught in the middle of a speed dial war between his girlfriend and step-mother.

b: 01-May-97 pc: 820 w: Jennifer Crittenden d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Viewer Bentley Roberts notes that Jerry incorrectly states that Kramer and Newman's party will be one year to late, when he should have said it would be one year to early.

Viewer John Thorpe, says that Jerry was correct about his statement. "Newman said he booked his party for the Millennium, which is January 1, 2001, but he really wanted to have his party one year earlier, on 1/1/2000, which is when everyone else on the planet (pretty much) will have Millennium parties. So technically, Newman's party is one year later than the other parties being celebrated, which will make his party, as Jerry said, "lame". Therefore Jerry's statement is correct."

I on the other hand, probably like most people, am confused about the whole thing. Regardless of what is correct, I am sure the marketing and media weasels out there will decide when we start the next millennium.

Jerry does incorrectly state that the millenium party is one year late. Because in the conversation he makes the statement that our world didn't start on the year zero so the millenium started in 2001 and Newman scheduled his party for 2000.

155. The Muffin Tops

gs: Rena Sofer (Mary Anne) Melinda Clarke (Alex) Chaim Jeraffi (Jiffy Dump Guy) Sonya Eddy (Rebecca) Barry Kramer (Bag Guy) Elayn Taylor (Book Fan) Paige Moss (Girl) Viola Kates Simpson (Old Woman) Jack Riley (Rider) Bunny Summers (Rider) Earl Carroll (Rider) Norman Brenner (Rider) Reuven Bar (Foreign Guy) Vince Donvito (Passerby) Chris Burmester (Passerby) Deck McKenzie (Man) Victoria Fischer (Bartender) Keith Sellon-Wright (Guy) Wayne Knight (Newman) John O'Hurley (Peterman) Richard Fancy (Lippman) 

George watches a bag for a tourist who never comes back, so he starts wearing some of the clothes. Elaine tells Kramer that the stories he sold to Peterman were put into the book. Kramer goes to the book signing, claiming he is the real "Peterman." George becomes a tourist from Arkansas when he meets a beautiful woman from the tourist bureau on the street. Jerry shaves his chest and worries about it until he discovers his girlfriend likes hairless dogs. Elaine eats only the tops of muffins and she says that it is a million dollar idea, Mr. Lippman, her former boss, decides to start a business. Kramer starts conducting "Peterman Reality Tours" for $37.50 a piece. When the muffin top business doesn't seem to be working, Lippman asks Elaine for advice. She tells him that he must make the whole muffin and remove the top from the stump, she also demands that he remove the exclamation point from his sign. The stumps can be given to the homeless. Only they don't want them. In fact nobody wants them. Jerry continues to shave his chest despite Kramer's warning about hair growth. George "moves" to New York and takes a job with the Yankees. Steinbrenner is led to believe that George is holding down two jobs and makes a deal to trade George for chicken. Elaine convinces Kramer to get rid of her stumps and he convinces Jerry and his girlfriend to take his tour. Jerry's chest begins itching from hair growth. Elaine hires "a cleaner" to make the muffin stump problem go away.

b: 08-May-97 pc: 821 w: Spike Feresten d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Right or wrong, NBC advertised this as being the 150th episode of Seinfeld. Well we all have decided that was wrong, they appear to be counting the two part episodes as one. Jerry himself, on The Tonight Show when he mentioned that "The Pothole", was the 150th episode. I've renumbered the guide to agree with that scheme.

Viewers who have taken Kenny Kramer's Reality Tour of the Seinfeld sites of New York City will really appreciate this episode. I have and I did. You can find out about the "real" Kramer's reality tours at his web site. You'll find it linked here. He is still conducting them, despite the fact that he has also recently launched a campaign to get in the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City. You can also read all about that at his web site. And don't doubt that this will end up in a future story. Jerry has already been talking with Kenny about it.

Also viewer David Lipke notes, what is the big deal with Kramer's chest hair? We've seen Kramer's bare chest in the "The Pick" and more recently in "The Face Painter". For the sake of comedy I guess the production staff forsook continuity. A problem with many television shows. However, viewer Derrick Jones notes that Kramer was likely showing Jerry a growth of hair below the abdomen, after all Kramer said "I shaved there once when I was a lifeguard."

Viewer Ross Raniere notes that Tyler Chicken was supposed to be Tyson Chicken at one point, but was changed to avoid any legal entanglements.

156. The Summer of George

gs: Raquel Welch (Herself) Molly Shannon (Sam) Amanda Peet (Lanette) Joe Urla (Dugan) Victor Raider-Wexler (Doctor) Peter Dennis (Lew) Tucker Smallwood (Malcolm) Wayne Wilderson (Walter) Blake Gibbons (Lyle) Adrian Sparks (Man) Jane A. Johnston (Woman) Lauren Bowles (Waitress) Sue Goodman (Clerk) Neil Flynn (Cop #1) Tom Michael Bailey (Cop #2) Denise Bessette (Therapist) Dave Mandel (Himself) John O'Hurley (Peterman) 

George discovers he has a severance package from the Yankees that should last him about 3 months. He decides that he is going to take the summer off. Jerry is going to the Tony Awards and so is Kramer. Jerry has a real seat; Kramer is a seat filler. Elaine critiques a co-worker who walks with no arm movements and is accused of being "catty." Jerry's picks up his date, only to find out that she has a man living with her. Kramer gets a Tony Award for a musical in which Raquel Welch is the star. Elaine tries to work things out with her co-worker, to no avail. Kramer uses his Tony as a ticket into a place he really shouldn't be, Sardi's, where the producers of "Scarsdale Surprise" have a proposition for him. Jerry's date decides to commit to him. Elaine's complaints to men about her co-worker only seem to pique their interest in the possibility of a cat fight. Jerry's girlfriend begins to wear him out; she is always on the go. George suggests that perhaps they team up to handle Lanette. To keep his Tony award, Kramer must fire the non-arm swinging Raquel Welch from the production. Jerry goes on a date and needs George to handle the invitations for Lanette's party. He is not to skimp, this time. Kramer does his duty and pays a price. A mad Raquel walking down the street gets into a cat fight with a woman who she thinks is making fun of her, Elaine. George gets distracted and slips on an invitation. Twenty-two episodes later the gang is back where they were a year ago, only this time George is the one in a hospital bed.

b: 15-May-97 pc: 822 w: Alec Berg & Jeff Schaffer d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: The 30 May 97 issue of Entertainment Weekly featured Seinfeld. Click on the magazine name to see the article on-line; however, I am not sure how long the link will last. 

Season 9

157. The Butter Shave

gs: Kristin Davis (Jenna) Gordon Jump (Mr. Thomassoulo) Everett Greenbaum (McMaines) Connie Sawyer (Old Woman) Matthew Fonda (NBC Executive) Chris Parnell (NBC Executive) Frank Van Keeken (Vegetable Lasagna) Shannon Whirry (Cute Girl) Nancy Balbirer (Woman) Erica Y. Becoat (Stewardess) Torsten Voges (Cab Driver) George Georgiadis (Cab Driver) Brian Callaway (Passenger) Wayne Knight (Newman) Steve Hytner (Bania) Patrick Warburton (Puddy)

Not fully recovered from "The Summer of George", George is using a cane to get around. Jerry might have another shot at NBC, through an appearance on a NBC Showcase that might lead to another pilot. He is also annoyed that lame comic Kenny Bania's act is working, only because he is following on Jerry's coattails, a time-slot hit. Bania scores with big laughs and also gets one of Jerry's ex-girlfriends. George gets a job interview. Elaine is on vacation for a month in Europe with David Puddy. If he's lucky he won't "come back in a body bag." Kramer finds butter is a better protection for his skin after shaving. George is hired for the job because of his use of the cane. They think he is handicapped and of course he takes full advantage of the situation. Kramer's skin feels so good with butter; he takes to spreading it all over his body. Unfortunately he lies out in the sun where he begins to cook. It's a long flight back for Elaine and Puddy, who break up and get back together, only to break up again. Newman, reading the cannibalism themed story Alive!, finds the smell of a cooked Kramer appealing. Jerry is informed that Bania is going to follow him on the NBC showcase. George sprains his good leg and Jerry discovers that George is a closet Bania fan. Kramer tries to keep his skin moist but the baked in smell of cooked meat is too much for Newman. George manages to keep up his bluff until he tries to take on some old-timers. Jerry plans to sabotage his own act, surmising that Kenny's act will also bomb, but Kenny gets the last laugh.

b: 25-Sep-97 pc: 901 w: Alec Berg & Jeff Schaffer & David Mandel d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: This episode was dedicated "In Memory of Our Friend Brandon Tartikoff." Brandon was a former executive at NBC who was responsible revitalizing the network in the 1980s. Viewer Arthur Kleynerman reminds me that it was Brandon who believed in the series from the beginning and was responsible for keeping the show alive during the early days of low ratings.

Viewer Jeff Holland notes that Jerry referred to Bania as a time-slot hit, an obvious reference to any show that follows Seinfeld. Will Veronica's Closet be a time-slot hit? It worked for Suddenly Susan. Time will tell.

Viewer Taylor Lasseigne notes that the Sheena Easton hit "My Baby Takes the Morning Train" was also used in "The Bizarro Jerry".

158. The Voice

gs: Gordon Jump (Mr. Thomassoulo) Sara Rose Peterson (Claire) Jarrad Paul (Darin) Ella Joyce (Dean Jones) Nancy Balbirer (Alice) Brian J. Williams (Glenn) Cindy Lu (Worker) Patrick Warburton (Puddy)

George's employer wants to get rid of him, since they now know he isn't really handicapped and they don't like him. He has a one-year contract with Play Now that he will make sure they honor by him showing up for work every day. Jerry and George mock the sounds the Jerry's girlfriend Claire's stomach makes during the night. Jerry envisions the belly button as the mouth and the sound the stomach makes its voice. Because of the "bump into" Jerry tells Elaine that she is destined to backslide into her relationship with David Puddy, she bets him $50 that she won't. The next day Jerry discovers that Elaine didn't go home last night, he accuses her of seeing Puddy. She says the sex they had was an isolated incident. Jerry agrees but the dinner they also had was more of a commitment, he demands that she pay up. Kramer is tired of seeing all his ideas implemented, because all the little day to day incidental things keeps getting in his way and keeping him realizing his ideas. He gets an intern from NYU to help him out with Kramerica Industries; the corporation he had previously setup to develop some of his ideas. With this help he'll be freed from the day-to-day activities and be able to develop his ideas, such as the oil tanker bladder. Meanwhile, George is fighting the siege mentality that he is encountering at work and Elaine just can't get Puddy off her mind. No matter what the obstacle, George endeavors to occupy his office. Jerry tells Claire about the voice and she leaves him. The university takes Kramer's intern away from him. Claire says they can get back together if he won't do the voice ever again, he decides the voice is worth it. Unfortunately, everyone is tired off the voice. Elaine pays ups and they decided on a double or nothing bet. The intern comes back on his own because he believes in Kramerica. Play Now tries to negotiate with George, but he won't give in. Later, he offers his office and one of their rubber balls to allow Kramer to test his oil bladder idea. Jerry continues to cash in on his bet with Elaine, who just can't seem to keep away from Puddy. The big test takes place at George's workplace where Jerry plans to meet Claire. They try to warn her about the falling object, but all she hears is the voice. The lawsuit that is filed by Claire puts Play Now out of business and George out of his contract.

b: 02-Oct-97 pc: 902 w: Alec Berg & Jeff Schaffer & David Mandel d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Viewer Taylor Lasseigne notes that Kramerica Industries was first mentioned in "Male Unbonding" in conjunction with Kramer's pizza idea.

159. The Serenity Now

gs: Lori Loughlin (Patty) Ross Malinger (Adam) Matt McCoy (Lloyd Braun) Bruce Mahler (Rabbi Glickman) Jerry Stiller (Frank) Estelle Harris (Estelle) Richard Fancy (Lippman) 

Frank is supposed to say "serenity now" every time his blood pressure is in danger of going up. Jerry's girlfriend gives his Knicks tickets away. She comments that she has never seen him get "real mad." George gets Kramer to help him fix his parents' screen door. They remove the old door and Kramer takes it with him. Frank is selling computers; he wants to bring George into his business. Lippman's boy tries taking advantage of becoming a man at his bar mitzvah by using his tongue while kissing Elaine. Kramer installs the screen door outside his apartment to give his apartment "the cool even breezes of Anytown, USA." His initial instinct is to quit, but George decides it is finally time to take on his arch-nemesis, Lloyd Braun, whom Frank has also hired to sell computers. When Jerry learns how to get mad, it releases all his other feelings, including caring and another that results in a proposal. Kramer fights with the neighborhood kids of "Anytown, USA." George tells Elaine she is attractive to the Lippman men because of her "shiksappeal." The result gets her two Lippman "men" who want to denounce their religion. George hatches a scheme to sell more computers; however, continual use of the phrase "serenity now" has an "impact" on computer sales. The release of emotions from George has an impact on emotional Jerry. Elaine seeks help from a "rabbi" to see if she can reduce her "shiksappeal."

b: 09-Oct-97 pc: 903 w: Steve Koren d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Viewer Will Hines notes that George tries to sell Jerry a computer. I'll add that the type of computer Jerry has been using has long been a topic of discussion on the alt.tv.seinfeld newsgroup. He also tries to sell computers to "Art Vandelay." 

160. The Blood

gs: Kellie Waymire (Vivian) Audrey Kissel (Tara) Colton James (Jimmy) Gene Dynarski (Izzy Jr.) Yvonne Farrow (Employee) Lloyd Bridges (Izzy) Wayne Knight (Newman) Barney Martin (Morty) Liz Sheridan (Helen)

Jerry's parents are concerned about his lack of exercise. Elaine visits her friend Vivian and is disappointed when Vivian implies that she isn't responsible enough to watch her son Jimmy. George's girlfriend lights some vanilla scented incense. The overpowering scent makes him hungry. He decides he needs to add food as a part of his sex life. His girlfriend tolerates some food items, but not the "salted cured meats." He also comes up with a way to separate pudding skin from the pudding, creating pudding skin singles. Kramer has been storing his blood at a blood bank that begins to raise their rates. In retaliation he decides that he is going to store the blood himself. Jerry starts a purification program to improve his diet. Vivian decides that Kramer would be a good choice for a baby-sitter; however, Elaine intercepts him en-route and proves her responsibility. Jerry becomes the victim of an Exacto knife wound and winds up with three pints of Kramer blood. Jerry is disturbed by the infusion of Kramer blood. Especially when Kramer calls him a blood brother. George decides that adding television to his equation will make food and sex even better. Jerry's parents buy him sessions with personal trainer, Izzy, who's going to help him work off his spare tire. Elaine hates her new responsibility, so she tries to make herself appear irresponsible. George's girlfriend doesn't like television in the equation; the "free love buffet" is over. Elaine tries to get out of being responsible, by using George as a "pinch weasel"; however, he may have found the woman of his dreams. Kramer borrows Jerry's air-conditioned car to return his blood to the bank. The car overheats because the radiator is bone dry, but not for long. Jerry's last workout with Izzy results in another transfusion of blood; only this time it's not Kramer's.

b: 16-Oct-97 pc: 904 w: Daniel O'Keefe d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Viewer Jeremy DeMai notes that George sheepishly replies "Pleasuring you?" to his girlfriend the way he did to another girlfriend in "The Fusilli Jerry" before he learned about "the move" from Jerry.

A (relatively) rare episode where Newman appears but only says 2 words ("Hello Jerry") at the end in the hospital.

161. The Junk Mail

gs: Laurie Taylor-Williams (Rhisa) Toby Huss (Jack) Dana Gould (Frankie) Richard Kuhlman (Man) Montrose Hagins (Old Woman (Betty)) Peggy Blow (Mail Clerk) Clement E. Blake (Dirt Person #1) D.A. Johnson (Dirt Person #2) Wilford Brimley (Postmaster General Henry Atkins) Wayne Knight (Newman) Jerry Stiller (Frank) Estelle Harris (Estelle) Patrick Warburton (Puddy)

Jerry's childhood friend "Fragile" Frankie promises to get Jerry a new car because of a show he did for Frankie's car dealership. George prepares for his weekly call to his parents. Kramer plans his revenge on a company because of the over abundance of catalogs they've sent him in the past month. Elaine is back with Puddy, but meets the man of her dreams at the diner and plans to keep Puddy in reserve until she finds out if the new guy can "handle the workload." Kramer gets deluged with more catalogs and plans to stop the mail. George's parents cut him short on his weekly phone call. Jerry gets a van and not the Saab he'd hoped for. Frankie reminds him of the childhood dream they had where they got a van a toured the country. George pops in on his parents and reminds his parent's they didn't call him back, but they have to leave right away. Kramer bricks up his mailbox, but that doesn't stop his mail from being delivered. Jerry plans to sell the van; Kramer helps him out with the ad copy that cites interesting trades considered. Kramer goes to the post office to permanently cancel his mail. Newman confesses to him that no one really needs their mail but that there is a greater conspiracy at work. George demands to know what's going on with his parents; they tell him they are cutting him loose. George isn't ready for abandonment; he plans to date his cousin as a means of getting his parents involved in his life. Jerry determines that the appeal Elaine finds in her new boyfriend comes from some old commercial that he appeared in. Kramer wants Jerry's van and offers Anthony Quinn's old tee shirt as an interesting trade. Elaine wants Puddy back, but is rejected by him. Kramer uses the van to launch his anti-postal campaign. George's cousin is into their relationship; however, George schemes to have his parents catch him making out with her. Kramer is captured and enlightened by the postmaster general. Elaine's boyfriend gets his second piece of good news in one day, his TV career has been revitalized and she is taking him back. Jerry must sell the van after seeing what they saw.

b: 30-Oct-97 pc: 905 w: Spike Feresten d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Viewer Ben Nuckols notes that the closing of this episode was only fair after all Estelle once found George pleasuring himself in "The Contest". Of course, did everyone else have to experience that sight!

Viewer Burton Reibling suggests that you watch the contents of Elaine's wineglass in this episode.

162. The Merv Griffin Show

gs: Rick Hall (Vet) Brent Hinkley (Lou) Julia Pennington (Celia) Arabella Field (Miranda) Jim Fowler (Himself) Wayne Wilderson (Walter (uncredited)) Wayne Knight (Newman) John O'Hurley (Peterman) Jerry Stiller (Frank) Estelle Harris (Estelle)

Kramer discovers the set of the old Merv Griffin Show in a dumpster. George's girlfriend, Miranda, is disgusted when George runs over some pigeons with his car. The pigeons have broken their deal with the humans. Jerry is fascinated with his girlfriend's old toy collection that she won't let him near. Elaine's new co-worker is a real sidler; he causes her to spill coffee that creates a stain that looks like Fidel Castro. Kramer reconstructs the set in his apartment and begins to conduct interviews of everyone who enters his apartment. Elaine schemes to out-sidle the sidler who might be sidling her out of a job. While George swerves to avoid a pigeon, he hits a squirrel. Jerry schemes for an opportunity to play with the toys. Kramer adds Newman as a co-host for his show to help relieve the pressure of being a host. Miranda insists that George pay for the special surgery required to fix the squirrel. Elaine gives Tic Tacs to the sidler to make him noisy, unfortunately the sound reminds Peterman of an old Haitian torture. Jerry and George execute a turkey, wine and home movie scheme in an effort to play with the toys. Elaine is disgusted by this unconscionable behavior, until she hears about the Easy-Bake Oven. Kramer decides to change the format of the show, to "Scandals and Animals." On the show, Jerry's girlfriend finds out about the schemes and animal expert Jim Fowler is there with a hawk. George brings the squirrel over to the set to get Jim Fowler's opinion. Hawks like to eat squirrels.

b: 06-Nov-97 pc: 906 w: Bruce Eric Kaplan d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: A rare episode, where Jerry's apartment is not featured.

163. The Slicer

gs: Marcia Cross (Sara) Daniel Von Bargen (Kruger) Larry B. Scott (Arthur Milano) David Moreland (Mr. Parry) 

Elaine is having nightmares and sleepless nights due to her neighbor's inconsideracy. The neighbor is out of the country and has left her alarm clock set for 3:30 a.m.. George gets a dream job at a very badly run company, his new boss seems familiar to him, then a photo in the boss's office reminds him of "the boom box incident." Fearing that he might lose his new position, George listens to Kramer's advice and plots to get hold of the photograph and get it retouched. Kramer's dissatisfied with the meat he is getting with his sandwiches, so he obtains a meat slicer. Kramer suggests Elaine that she short circuit her neighbor's apartment and blow the circuit breaker. Jerry is going to go out on a date with a doctor that Elaine recommended, but the date is annoying when the doctor can only talk about saving lives. The photo lab screws up the retouching by eliminating the boss from the photograph and not George. Jerry discovers the doctor is dermatologist. George recommends a carefully orchestrated revenge date. Kramer uses the meat slicer to help Elaine feed the neighbor's cat; the power outage shut off the automatic feeder. Jerry's revenge date goes well, until he is reminded of the phrase "skin cancer." Elaine is still using the slicer and finds it very handy, until she tries to even her high heels. George goes back to the photo shop to find they put the boss back in the photograph as a cartoon. He now needs to obtain a new bare-chested photo of his boss or find a new job, perhaps the Coast Guard. Jerry's doctor date would provide the perfect opportunity for him as she does skin cancer screenings. Elaine keeps the slicer problem from Kramer by threatening him with seeing some circus clowns. Later, Kramer goes to her apartment to pick up the slicer; she fixes it and quickly shoves it out the door. Kramer sees the dinged up blade and tries to get back into her apartment, but he takes the knob of the door. Jerry has developed an allergic reaction to something as hives have broken out on his neck. Elaine discovers she is trapped inside her apartment. Jerry goes down to George's workplace and confronts the doctor about his hives. She leaves and Kramer, in his white meat slicing coat, steps in as the skin cancer doctor and spots a growth on George's boss. George gets his bare-chested photo. Kramer wants to come clean about the growth; George tells him he will tell his boss to see another doctor. George's boss doesn't think it is a problem, a ten-year-old photo of him shows the mole, it hasn't changed. He also relates to George the story about the dumb guy on the beach with the boom box. He mentions to George (as others have) that he sure has lost a lot of hair in the past ten years. Despite all of that, he gets to keep the job. Later, the guys keep Elaine company as they wait for the locksmith to come and open her apartment.

b: 13-Nov-97 pc: 907 w: Gregg Kavet & Andy Robin s: Gregg Kavet & Andy Robin & Darin Henry d: Andy Ackerman 

NOTE: Viewer Kyle Westphal was the first to note that George says the incident took place in 1989 and Kruger said the picture was from 10 years ago. A difference of two years.

Jeff Holland notes that Kramer again uses the name of Von Nostrand again. He also used it in "The Nose Job" and "The Pilot (1)". Chris Peterson adds that Kramer also used the name again when trying to obtain Elaine's medical records in "The Package".

John "Snapman!!!" Thorpe notes that at the end of the episode, George still appears in the picture if you look closely.

When Kruger comes to the Festivus dinner at the end of "The Strike", he mentions Von Nostrand when he sees Kramer, who agrees silently.....

164. The Betrayal

gs: Brenda Strong (Sue Ellen) Michael McShane (FDR (Franklin Delano Romanosky)) Justine Miceli (Nina) Bart Braverman (Zubin) Shaun Toub (Pinter) Noor Shic (Usha) Jocelyne Kelly (Model) Brian Kaiser (Postman) Shelley Malil (Usher) Bill Lee Brown (Partygoer) Wayne Knight (Newman) Heidi Swedberg (Susan)

Jerry, George and Elaine return from their trip to India that they don't want to talk about. Sue Ellen calls the wedding off and Nina doesn't want George or Jerry. George finds out that Jerry slept with Nina and Elaine slept with the groom. Kramer and FDR settle their score, a snowball with something extra. Jerry "schnapps" Elaine to find out why George is so bitter with him. Kramer tries to out wish FDR. Elaine, Jerry, George and Nina arrive in India, where Elaine discovers that the groom is someone she slept with and that they are the only people from the U.S. who are attending the ceremony. Kramer is angry with Newman because he didn't use his birthday wish to save Kramer from FDR. George "schnapps" Elaine to find out the secret Elaine is keeping about Jerry and Nina. Elaine buys tickets to India to spite Sue Ellen by showing up at her wedding.

Kramer tries to get Newman to use his birthday wish to protect Kramer from FDR. Elaine finds that Jerry and Nina have just slept together. Elaine meets the parents of Sue Ellen's fiancé who try to convince her not to go to India for the wedding; after all they aren't even going. Jerry and Nina suffer an awkward pause in their conversation. Kramer confronts FDR about his birthday wish. Elaine's mail from India is an "unvitation" to Sue Ellen's wedding in India to someone whose name seems familiar to her. George asks Jerry to call Nina about setting them up on a date and realizes he must where his Timberlands every time he sees her. Jerry and George are walking down the street and they run into Nina and old girlfriend of Jerry's whom he never slept with. Kramer attends FDR's birthday and FDR gives him an evil eye right before blowing out the candles on his cake. Elaine receives an item in the mail from India. Two years earlier, Jerry tells George and Susan that Nina might be the one; Kramer nails FDR in the back of the head with a snowball; Elaine is dating an Indian man named Peter (Pinter). Eleven years earlier, new resident Jerry tells his neighbor across the hall, whom he calls Kessler (it's the name on the mailbox), that what's mine is yours.

b: 20-Nov-97 pc: 908 w: David Mandel & Peter Mehlman d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: This episode was shown backwards in the following fashion: all scenes were shown normally, but they were shown in reverse order with a caption indicating the time frame of the scene in relation to the previous scene. Essentially the punch line was delivered and the setup was shown later. The description for the episode reflects the order in which the scenes appear. This was an intriguing concept that forced the viewer to pay closer attention than normal.

Andy Ackerman won the Director's Guild of America Award for this episode.

Kent Yoder e-mailed me that Elaine's boyfriend named Pinter is an obvious reference to that of playwright Harold Pinter whose plays frequently reflect a logical nonsense. He said that Pinter's well known drama, "Betrayal," deals with love triangles as the scenes are performed backwards in time.

Kyle Westphal notes that the part of the episode that took place two years earlier would have occurred between "The Secret Code" and "The Pool Guy" assuming that Jerry, George and Elaine returned on the air date of this episode.

Viewer Rick Marshall wonders why Jerry, the one with the cleanliness fetish, wasn't the character trying to avoid using the bathroom while in India. He also wonders about the name Kessler appearing on the mailbox, shouldn't it have been Buchman? After all, after the broadcast of "The Virgin" we learned that Kramer had sublet his apartment from Paul Buchman in the Mad About You episode called "The Apartment". Did the writer's forget about this little continuity detail? They cleaned up after themselves for the original Kessler reference in "Good News, Bad News" but forgot about the crossover episode!

165. The Apology

gs: Megan Cole (Peggy) Kathleen McClellan (Melissa) Jack Hackett (Alan) Michael Fishman (Gregg) David Dunard (Leader) Wayne Wilderson (Walter) Brian Levinson (Andy) Eric Simonson (Friend) John O'Hurley (Peterman) Patrick Warburton (Puddy) James Spader (Jason "Stanky" Hanky)

Jerry's girlfriend walks around his apartment naked; she even eats breakfast and plays Scrabble naked. An old friend of the gang named Jason is going through Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and is currently working on step 9, where you make amends to individuals for past wrongs. George is anxious to receive Jason's apology for the humiliating neck-hole incident. Elaine is offended when her co-worker, Peggy, can't tolerate Elaine's germs, but easily tolerates the germs of other people. Kramer discovers he's been taking too long in the shower, so he tries to make some changes to his shower routine. Jerry comes to realize there is good naked and bad naked, when he sees his girlfriend coughing. Jason stops by the restaurant to apologize to Jerry, but fails to apologize to George. George confronts him later, only to be humiliated some more. Kramer changes don't work out, so he asks for advice from Jerry and observes the men in the shower at a health club. Elaine confronts Peggy and gives her some germs. George tells Jerry how he can show his girlfriend the concept of bad naked using a belt sander. Kramer decides to live in the shower. George talks to Jason's sponsor, who recommends that he attend a meeting, only it's not AA, it's Rage-oholics Anonymous (RA). Jerry executes George's plan. After doing his dishes in the shower, Kramer decides he needs to add a garbage disposal to bathtub. Kramer calls on Puddy for installation advice. Elaine tells Jerry one of the problems with his body and why a naked male body isn't attractive. Puddy tells Elaine why her co-worker doesn't like her germs, she's a "germ-o-phobe," like he used to be ten years ago. He accompanies Elaine on a visit to Peggy to prove his theory. Jerry convinces his girlfriend to put on her clothes; however, he can only picture her naked and unfortunately she can only do the same with him. Kramer cooks up a meal that he serves to Elaine, Puddy and the recovering Peggy, only they all react badly when they find out the kitchen was in the shower. Jason tries to apologize to George, but it isn't quite what George had in mind so they both go into a rage.

b: 11-Dec-97 pc: 909 w: Jennifer Crittenden d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Viewer Kim Babij, noticed that in the scene where Melissa goes to get the jar of pickles... they didn't quite frame the shot properly because you can see the waistband of her skin-colored body-suit.

When they are playing Battleship, when Melissa gets up you can see her towel or whatever she is wearing to cover up. oops

166. The Strike

gs: Daniel Von Bargen (Kruger) Karen Fineman (Gwen) Dave Florek (Harry) Kevin McDonald (Denim Vest) Tracy Letts (Counterguy) Amit Itelman (Employee) Stacey Herring (Sandy) Colin Malone (Sleazy Guy) Jerry Dixon (Customer) Jerry Stiller (Frank) Estelle Harris (Estelle) Bryan Cranston (Whatley)

George, Elaine and Jerry attend Tim Whatley's Hanukkah party. Jerry meets an attractive woman with whom he sets up a date. Elaine meets a man in a bad denim vest and gives him her fake number. George is offended by Whatley's gift to him, a donation in his name to a charity. George is also reminded of the Festivus holiday his father created many years ago. Elaine's quest to become a submarine captain and get her free sub sandwich is ruined when she realizes she used her punch card at the party to give her fake number to the denim vested guy. Kramer gets word he can return to his job at the bagel place, it seems he has been on strike for the past 12 years. Elaine goes to the place, an off-track betting parlor, that her fake number reaches. She wanted to give them her real number, so when the denim vest guy calls, she can connect with him. The men at the parlor are interested in connecting with her, so she gives the number for the bagel shop where Kramer is working. Jerry meets his date, Gwen, at a restaurant, but it turns out she is two-faced. Sometimes Gwen looks great, other times she's plain; it all depends on the viewer's angle and the lighting. George decides to use the Whatley approach when giving out Christmas gifts at Krugers; however, he makes up his own charity called the "Human Fund." Kramer is intrigued by the concept of the Festivus holiday and contacts Frank, who becomes excited at the prospect of rekindling "Festivus for the rest-of-us." Kramer asks to get the 23rd of December off, when he can't get it, he resumes the strike; meanwhile Elaine waits at the bagel place for a phone call from the denim vest guy. The look of Jerry's girlfriend keeps changing.

Jerry decides that Gwen looks best in the back booth at Monk's, something she grows to dislike. George passes out his gifts at Krugers and reaps great rewards. Kramer warns Elaine about the sabotage he committed; the bagel place becomes very steamy and makes Elaine look ugly. Kruger gives George a check for donates $20,000 to the "Human Fund" and later accounting informs him the charity doesn't exist. Gwen finds out from Kramer that Jerry is seeing another woman, Kramer has seen her and she's not Gwen. Gwen thinks Jerry is two-timing her with an ugly woman. George tries to convince Kruger that he passed out the fake gift cards because he didn't want to be ridiculed for the holiday his family traditionally celebrates, Festivus. To prove it, George brings Kruger to his father's Festivus dinner, where everyone comes together.

b: 18-Dec-97 pc: 910 w: Daniel O'Keefe & Alec Berg & Jeff Schaffer d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Kyle Westphal and I want to know, if everyone else at the bagel shop took other jobs over ten years ago, who called Kramer to let him know the strike was over and why didn't they return to work as well? Rick Marshall reminds me there was probably a union steward, who wasn't connected with the bagel shop, but had Kramer's name on a list.

If George's father hadn't celebrated Festivus in years, "Why did he still send George a card?", asks viewer Miles Galfer. I'd suggest that even though a person may not celebrate a holiday with all the trimmings, it is possible they might just think to send a card, especially if they want their loved ones to remember happy childhood memories.

Sharp-eyed viewer Dave Antonoff notes that name of the moving and storage company on the side of van that "Denim Vest" got his number from was "Azzari Moving and Storage". Since the show's production designer is Tho. E. Azzari, Dave assumes this "had" to be deliberate. I'll note that since he is the production designer, he can have whatever legal will let him paint on the side of the van, including his own name. Viewer Shawn Barat notes that they also moved the couch that Poppie peed on in "The Couch".

SPECIAL NOTE: Around Christmas time, as everyone probably knows by now, Jerry announced that this would be the last season for Seinfeld. Many stories have appeared since the announcement, talking about the future of NBC's Thursday night line-up, possibilities for spin-offs, etc.. Even the New York Post called me to get to my reaction to the announcement. I hear from friends in New York that I wasn't quoted, perhaps my fifteen minutes of fame are yet to come. Anyhow, the only thing we know for sure at this point is that there are going to be 12 more episodes. Let's hope they can all be considered classics!

Recently it was reported that the last episode would command greater than Superbowl size prices for the 30-second commercial spots.

Colin Malone who played the 'Sleazy Guy' in this episode is actually the host of a Public Access TV Show called "Colin's Sleazy Friends"

167. The Dealership

gs: Daniel Hagen (Rick) Joel McCrary (Don) Michael Kagan (Willie) Dee Freeman (Service Assistant) Rif Hutton (Salesman) Howard Mann (Willie Sr.) Steve Susskind (Customer #1) Loretta Fox (Customer #2) Catherine Schreiber (Saleswoman) Unknown (Cab Driver (uncredited)) Patrick Warburton (Puddy)

Jerry plans to buy a car with an insider deal from Puddy, who's been promoted to a car salesman. George warns Jerry to watch out for car dealers. Kramer takes the car Jerry is planning to buy for a test drive with another salesman. Elaine returns from a lunch with Puddy at Arby's. Puddy offers Jerry a "high five." Kramer misses the turn to go back to the dealership; instead, he plans to give the car a full test of a Kramer daily routine. Hungry, George seeks out something to eat and must settle for a vending machine candy bar. Only he can't get one from the machine with a crinkled dollar so he asks a mechanic (who he knows has a crisp dollar) for assistance and is refused service. Finally, when he gets the correct change, the Twix bar hangs. With his errands run, Kramer's next test is to take the car to the limits of its fuel tank. Irritated (when isn't he), George seeks assistance from a salesman. When they return to the machine, the Twix bar George had hanging and the one behind it are gone. George suspects the mechanic. Elaine and Puddy have a fight and break up. Jerry's insider deal is off. George confronts the mechanic. Jerry wants George to help him get a good deal; however, George is only interested in getting back at the mechanic. The car salesman riding with Kramer really gets into driving below empty. George tries to complain about the mechanic, but gets into a debate about candy bars. In an attempt to get a great deal on his car, Jerry tries to put Elaine and Puddy "in a relationship today." George sets up a candy bar lineup, to implicate the mechanic, only to find his lineup being eaten. Elaine and Puddy get back together and Jerry is going to get his deal, until Puddy says "high five me" to Jerry, one time too many. Kramer and the salesman, with the dealership in sight, decide instead to go for it.

b: 08-Jan-98 pc: 911 w: Steve Koren d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Jerry Balsam notes this is one of those rare episodes where Jerry's apartment isn't seen. Jeremy DeMai notes that this is the second one for this season.

The role of the cab driver was played by someone who seems familiar to me, but I'm not sure where from. Since the role was uncredited, I'm not quite sure who it was. Can anyone offer a theory as to the identity? I have a guess, but I want to hear other opinions first. I know he is involved with the production, because I saw him in the crowd with Jerry accepting The People's Choice Award, that were given out the Sunday after this episode aired. Seinfeld of course, got the favorite comedy award. I wonder how they fare at the following week's Golden Globe Awards?

On that same Sunday, a new American Express commercial debuted featuring Jerry and his hero, Superman. The voice of Superman is that of Patrick (David Puddy) Warburton and Lois Lane is played by George's girlfriend, Tara, in "The Blood". Too bad Teri Hatcher couldn't have played Lois in that commercial! Also seen in the commercial is Jack Larson, who played Jimmy Olsen in The Adventures of Superman.

168. The Reverse Peephole

gs: Jon Polito (Silvio) Pat Finn (Joe Mayo) Jennette Robbins (Keri) Fitz Houston (Cop) Joe Basile (Delivery Guy) Lauren Bowles (Waitress) Wayne Knight (Newman) Patrick Warburton (Puddy) 

Puddy is wearing what can only be described as a "man fur." Jerry and Elaine leave it to George to sniff them out a deal on a massage chair, for an apartment warming gift for their friend Joe Mayo. Elaine doesn't like Joe's parties, because he always gives his guests an assignment. Kramer and Newman are going to reverse the peepholes on their doors. The landlord wants to evict Newman, because he is an agitator. Jerry decides to go wallet-less. George is opposed to the idea; he keeps everything in his wallet. Jerry, George, Elaine and "man furred" Puddy go to the party and get their assignments. Elaine, who is in charge of the coats, decides to throw "Dr. Zaius" (Puddy's coat) out the window. Kramer comes to Newman's defense with the landlord. Joe Mayo has the same kind of coat that Puddy had, so he wants Elaine to replace the coat, after all she was in charge. George complains about back problems that Jerry attributes to the size of his wallet. The massage chair gets delivered to George's apartment. Wallet-less Jerry must carry all his girlfriend's stuff, when they go out on their date. Newman admits to Kramer that he is sleeping with the landlord's wife. Kramer and Newman find Puddy's coat hanging in a tree.

Jerry complains about carrying all his girlfriend's stuff and Elaine tells him about Peterman's small men's carryall. "It's not a purse, it's European." Elaine decides she is out of the gift, if she has to replace the coat. George is enjoying the new chair and lies about getting the chair. Elaine finds out that Newman has Puddy's coat and she invites Newman to her apartment. Despite Elaine's come-ons, Newman won't give up the coat, he has given it to the landlord's wife. The landlord confronts Kramer, when he discovers the fur coat. Kramer says that it belongs to Jerry, because he is one of those insecure entertainers. Kramer convinces Jerry to wear the coat in front of the landlord. George continues to lie about the receiving the gift. Jerry drops out of the gift, when he finds out that Joe Mayo didn't like the music he provided at last year's party. Kramer was never in the gift, he just thought it was a good idea for a gift, he doesn't even know Joe Mayo. George will be able to return the chair, after he has the receipt in his wallet. Out on the street, George's wallet explodes. Jerry goes out on the street in the fur coat, where his "purse" is stolen and the landlord finds out the truth about the coat. Puddy gets a new coat.

b: 15-Jan-98 pc: 912 w: Spike Feresten d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: When Jerry opens his european handbag looking for his girlfriend's item (lipstick?), viewer Paul Winters swears he can see an American Express card in there!

169. The Cartoon

gs: Paul Benedict (Mr. Elinoff) Joe Urla (Dugan) Bart McCarthy (Cab Driver) Kathy Griffin (Sally Weaver) Wayne Knight (Newman) John O'Hurley (Peterman) Tracy Nelson (Janet) 

Kramer's brutal honesty, gets Jerry in trouble with Susan's old college roommate, Sally Weaver. Elaine obsesses over the meaning of a cartoon that appears in The New Yorker. Elaine and later Kramer comments that George's new girlfriend looks a lot like Jerry. In fact Kramer says "just because they look-a-like, that doesn't mean you're (George) secretly in love with Jerry." Jerry confronts Kramer's frankness. Sally claims that Jerry has ruined her life, she's quitting the business, Jerry can't have that on his conscience, he talks her back into the business. Kramer makes an important life decision, the only way to keep his mouth shut, is to stop talking. Before he finally stops talking, Kramer's constant references to the looks of George's girlfriend, drives George out of Jerry's apartment. Elaine goes to The New Yorker to seek an explanation for the cartoon. Discovering that the editor didn't understand the cartoon either, he liked the kitty. Sally opens her new one woman show about "Jerry Seinfeld- the Devil." Elaine's complaint, gets her the opportunity to do her own cartoon for the magazine. Jerry confronts Sally about the content of her show. Newman is her biggest fan; finally, he can see a "show that is about something." Kramer discovers the disadvantages of not talking. George worries about why he really likes his girlfriend. A clip of Sally's show appears on channel 9 news, it features Jerry's latest confrontation with her. Elaine works all-night on her first cartoon, it is okay, but it is not the gem that Elaine thinks it is. Jerry calls Sally and the message he leaves on her answering machine appears in her show as well. Later the lawsuit he filed appears in her cable special. Jerry decides to cut off all communication with Sally. Elaine's first comic appears in The New Yorker. Peterman thinks it is a great cartoon, until he realizes it is a Ziggy and he can prove it -- "Quick Elaine, to my archives." George and his girlfriend discuss their relationship, until she gets gum in her hair. Sally starts talking to the silent Kramer, until he can't take it anymore. He tells her to shut-up, then he apologizes and says that he hasn't spoken for days. Sally tells him to lay it on her. To remove the gum from her hair, George's girlfriend cuts her hair, her new hairstyle looks exactly like Jerry's. George runs out of the apartment screaming. Elaine tells Jerry about the Ziggy incident. Ziggy responds to The New Yorker. Sally's new cable show is about to come on and Jerry is convinced she'll have nothing to talk about. He was so wrong. George decides to take a few days off from his relationship with Jerry.

b: 29-Jan-98 pc: 913 w: Bruce Eric Kaplan d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Viewer Jason Diersman notes that in Kathy Griffin's real life HBO comedy special she had a bit about how Jerry Seinfeld was rude to her when they were taping the first episode she appeared on, "The Doll". This is possibly the genesis for the premise of this episode?

Dave Antonoff asks if the character Mr. Elinoff was named after production assistant, Jed Elinoff?

170. The Strongbox

gs: Illeana Douglas (Loretta) Alex Kapp Horner (Maura) Louis Mustillo (Phil) Nicholas Paul Walker (Glenn) Mary Scheer (Ms. Smoth) Bonnie McNeil (Alison) Rosie Malek-Yonan (Wife) 

George tries to break up with his girlfriend, Maura, only she doesn't agree. Jerry has purchased cuff links worn by Jerry Lewis in Cinderfella. He plans to use them as a conversation starter with Lewis when he goes to an upcoming roast at the Friar's Club. Having the same first name isn't enough. A man of mystery that she has met intrigues Elaine. Jerry suggests that perhaps he is a super-hero. With robberies occurring in the building, Kramer has obtained a strongbox to hold his valuables. He needs to find a place to hide his key. A place that no one knows, except him. His first place doesn't work. George lays out all of the reasons that they should be officially broken up, Maura still doesn't agree "to turn the key." Elaine gives up on her mystery man when he runs from a woman that Elaine deduces is his wife. She returns to Jerry's apartment to find that his intercom is broken. So she shouts to him from the street, about the mystery man, while she waits for the opportunity to get into his building. Jerry inspects his intercom, only to find Kramer's strongbox key hidden inside. Kramer hides his key again. Jerry finds the key again and decides to go down to let George in. While downstairs, a neighbor who's forgotten his key and is unknown to Jerry asks to be let in. Jerry denies him entry. Elaine goes to the mystery man's shabby apartment and discovers he is poor and on welfare. The woman he ran from is his welfare caseworker. Jerry discovers the keyless neighbor, does in fact live in his building, on the 5th floor in apartment 5E (!) right next door to Kramer.

Elaine tells Jerry about her mystery man's super powers. George decides that cheating on Maura might be his ticket out. Kramer lets Phil, Jerry's "new" neighbor, keep his parrot in the hallway. Kramer also hides his key at Phil's. Glenn, the mystery man, takes Elaine on a date in the alley. Jerry needs his cufflinks for the roast, only to find out that Kramer has locked them in his strongbox. The key to the strongbox was hidden in the parrot's food dish, only now the parrot is dead (from food poisoning) and buried in a pet cemetery. George tries getting caught with the other woman, only both women agree that they can work with George through this incident. Elaine discovers that Glenn is, in fact, married. Kramer and Jerry go to the pet cemetery to exhume the key, his neighbor catches only Jerry. George asks what's in the cooler (strongbox) as he easily opens it up.

b: 05-Feb-98 pc: 914 w: Daniel O'Keefe s: Daniel O'Keefe and Billy Kimball d: Andy Ackerman 

NOTE: "New" neighbor Phil lives in 5E, this is the number we have known Newman to live in. We can justify this by assuming that some apartments in the building may have been renumbered. However, it is most likely that someone on the production team just reused Newman's door for the set and didn't think to change the number. Logically, it should have been 5C.

Viewer Brendan Putnam notes that Jerry finally used his computer again, for the second time in the history of the series. The first time was in "The Stall."

171. The Wizard

gs: Grace Zabriskie (Mrs. Ross) Warren Frost (Mr. (Henry) Ross) Samuel Bliss Cooper (Darryl) Edgar Small (Sid Luckman) Vic Helford (Tom) Michael McShane (FDR (Franklin Delano Romanosky)) Bahni Turpin (Waitress #1) Constance Zimmer (Waitress #2) Jeanette Miller (Old Woman) Murray Rubin (Rubin) Liz Sheridan (Helen) Barney Martin (Morty) 

Jerry buys his dad a $200 Wizard organizer for a birthday present. George receives a message from Susan's parents, the Rosses. Jerry and George debate about the race of Elaine's new boyfriend and that intrigues her (is he black?). George returns the call from the Rosses; the Foundation is having an event this weekend, but George can't attend, he has to close on his house in the Hamptons. Kramer announces his retirement, a Hollywood big shot has optioned his coffee table book about coffee tables. Elaine finds evidence that leads her to believe her boyfriend is black. Susan's parents see George on the street in the city, during the time he is supposed to be in the Hamptons. Jerry is woken up early in the morning at his parent's house and gives his father the "$50" organizer that has many features besides a tip calculator. Later he discovers that Kramer has moved down there, to join the other retirees. Elaine laughs when Susan's parents ask her about George's house in the Hamptons. Of course, George just builds on the lie. Morty, who can't run for president of the condo association, decides that Kramer should run for condo board president of Del Boca Vista phase III. Once Kramer is elected, Morty will run things from behind the scenes. Elaine schemes to try to determine her boyfriend's race. George finds out the Rosses knew that he lied. He decides to take them to the Hamptons, to "see who'll blink first."

Kramer begins his campaign and the Boca Breeze has good things to say about him (see NOTE:). When Elaine's boyfriend says they are an interracial couple, she is convinced he is black. George keeps building on his lie, as he picks up the Rosses and takes them on their ride to the Hamptons. Kramer receives some bad press from the Boca Breeze; it's damage control time. Kramer suggests buying each member of the board one of those Wizard tip calculators. Jerry knows he can't get the deal he told his father he'd received, but Kramer says not to worry, Bob Saccamando's father lives down here and can help them out. Elaine and her boyfriend discover that each is not the race they thought the other was. Saccamando's father comes through with knock-off tip calculators called Willard, they are defective and the election is lost. George and the Rosses reach the Hamptons, where the truth wins out.

b: 26-Feb-98 pc: 915 w: Steve Lookner d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: The Boca Breeze also reports on Larry David's hole in one, hurting his elbow and his never playing golf again. 

172. The Burning

gs: Daniel Von Bargen (Kruger) Cindy Ambuehl (Sophie) Daniel Dae Kim (Student #1) Henry Woronicz (Father Curtis) Ursaline Bryant (Dr. Wexler) Alex Craig Mann (Student #2) Brian Posehn (Artie) Alec Holland (Co-Worker #1) Suli McCullough (Co-Worker #2) Patrick Warburton (Puddy) Danny Woodburn (Mickey)

Because of the presets she discovers on his car radio, Elaine thinks that Puddy is religious. The first idea George presents at a Kruger project meeting goes over great, his follow up suggestion isn't as well received. Jerry suggests that George use the old showmanship trick of leaving on a high note. Elaine tells George and Jerry about her suspicions; George suggests that she reset his radio presets as a test. Kramer and Mickey get an acting gig playing sick for some medical students. Jerry's girlfriend, Sophie, calls him with the familiar "it's me" greeting only he doesn't recognize her voice. George leaves a Kruger meeting on a high note. For their acting job, Mickey gets bacterial meningitis and Kramer has gonorrhea. Elaine confirms that Puddy is religious. Kramer picks up on the showmanship idea and really plays up his gonorrhea part. Sophie leaves an "it's me" message on Jerry's answering machine. George suggest he call her back with the "it's me" greeting. Sophie doesn't recognize Jerry's voice and thinks he is someone else; Jerry discovers that she hasn't told him about the tractor story. Puddy doesn't have a problem with Elaine not being religious, after all he is not the one who's "going to hell."

George and Jerry speculate on what the tractor story is. Elaine begins to worry about going to hell. Kruger throws everyone off the project because they are boring, so now George is the only other member of the project team. Kramer receives rave reviews for his portrayal of gonorrhea, but now he feels he has been typecast. Jerry sees a scar on Sophie's leg and assumes it was from a tractor accident. George finds that he has to do all the actual work on the project as Kruger keeps making excuses and doesn't do any actual work. Puddy wants Elaine to steal a paper, after all she is already going to hell and he doesn't seem to care. Kramer takes Mickey's ailment. Elaine and Puddy seek the advice of a priest about where their relationship is going. Sophie tries to tell Jerry the tractor story, but he tells her not to worry about it. Kramer and Mickey come in arguing about getting gonorrhea and Sophie clears it up for both of them. With that, Jerry leaves on a high note. Meanwhile, back at the project meeting, Kruger decides to leave George on a high note.

b: 19-Mar-98 pc: 916 w: Jennifer Crittenden d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: This episode was dedicated "In Memory of Our Friend Lloyd Bridges" who had died since the last new episode aired. Lloyd of course played the hilarious "it's go time" character of Izzy in last season's episode "The English Patient" and this season's "The Blood."

A blooper I noticed in the episode, when Elaine pulls away from the curb in the teaser, where's Puddy in the background? This is of course is the result of using stock footage as opposed to going out and shooting on location.

Also, in the episode of Just Shoot Me! called "The Kiss" that aired before this episode, there was a reference to Seinfeld in the form of a man saying that he was "Kessler from 5B".

173. The Bookstore

gs: Jon Gries (Rusty) Jonathan Penner (Zach) Ted Rooney (Crichton) Sonya Eddy (Rebecca DeMornay) Merrin Dungey (Cashier) Kevin Ruf (Security Guard) Heather Morgan (Server) Lauren Bowles (Waitress) Mark Daniel Cade (Walter) Sloppy Joe (Hobo Joe) Wayne Knight (Newman) Barney Martin (Morty) Liz Sheridan (Helen) John O'Hurley (Peterman) Len Lesser (Uncle Leo)

Kramer "hangs-out" more than usual at Jerry's place. Jerry and George are at a bookstore where George hopes to meet women and Jerry spots Uncle Leo shoplifting. George takes a large book into the bathroom with him. Elaine is at the annual Peterman party, where everyone is anxious to know if she is going to dance again and when. The bookstore makes George buy the book that he took into the bathroom. Elaine didn't dance at the party instead she and a man named Zach got drunk and made out at their table. George suggests that she tell everyone that she and Zach are dating, that way she won't be known as the "office skank." Kramer and Newman plan to implement Kramer's idea for running a rickshaw service in the city. They are getting a rickshaw from Hong Kong, now they need to find someone to pull it. Jerry confronts Uncle Leo about the stolen book. Uncle Leo claims it is a right as a senior citizen. Elaine catches her man with another woman. Kramer and Newman attempt to interview potential rickshaw pullers from a collection of homeless men; however, their first candidate takes off with the rickshaw. George tries to return his book, but is told the book has been flagged as having been in the bathroom. Jerry rats out Uncle Leo at the bookstore.

Jerry talks with his parents about Uncle Leo's theft and finds out about his prior, the crime of passion of which his mother will not tell him the details. His parents also inform him of the senior approach; it is not stealing if you need it. Elaine plans to use the cheating angle to protect her reputation. Jerry tries to talk with Uncle Leo, but the only thing Uncle Leo tells him is that he never forgets when he's been betrayed. George discovers his book has been flagged in all the databases as a bathroom book. Elaine's plan goes awry when Peterman demands that she help Zach get off the "yam yam" by helping him to quit cold turkey. Jerry has a nightmare about Uncle Leo. Newman and Kramer discover where the rickshaw is and Kramer loses the contest to determine who will pull the other. George tries to donate his book to charity, but even they won't take the marked book. When Kramer gets tired pulling Newman in the rickshaw up a hill and lets it go, the results are disastrous for Elaine's recovered "boyfriend" Zach. George plans to steal a good copy of the book, so he can return it to get his money back. Just as Jerry finds out from the manager that the manager has been told that the store needs to make a good example out of a shoplifter, any shoplifter, as long as they catch him in the act.

b: 09-Apr-98 pc: 917 w: Spike Feresten s: Spike Feresten and Darin Henry & Marc Jaffe d: Andy Ackerman 

174. The Frogger

gs: Julia Campbell (Lisi) Peter Stormare (Slippery Pete) Reuven Bar (Shlomo) Sam Shamshak (Sal) Wayne Wilderson (Walter) Mark Daniel Cade (Other Walter) Jack Esformes (Mike) Melissa Denton (Kobe) Oliver Muirhead (Lubeck) Drake Bell (Kenny)

Elaine is confronted with cake from two separate birthday celebrations. She is tired of the forced socializing, so she calls in the sick the following day. Jerry & George are going to their old high-school hangout for one last slice of pizza. Kramer was at the police station where he obtained some caution tape used for crime scenes and also hears about a serial killer that is on the loose in the Riverside Park area. At the pizza parlor, George discovers he still has the high score on the old Frogger video game. Elaine's co-workers give her a cake to celebrate her return to work from being sick, she refuses to take part in any future celebrations. Jerry goes out with Elaine's friend Lisi, but she is a "sentence finisher, it's like dating Mad-Libs." George decides to by the Frogger machine, but Jerry asks him how he is going to move it and keep it plugged in to preserve the high score. (This pizza parlor has never had a blackout in all that time? Sometimes with sitcoms, we must suspend reality. Kramer discovers the last victim of the serial killer looked a lot like Jerry. George works to find a solution to his Frogger problem and Kramer volunteers the help of a man he knows named "Slippery Pete." Elaine misses the 4 o'clock sugar rush she had gotten used to from all the celebrations, so she decides to raid Peterman's refrigerator, where she finds a piece of cake. She finds out from Peterman that the piece of cake he has in his refrigerator is worth $29,000 because of its historical significance. The cake comes from the 1937 wedding of King Edward VIII.

Jerry is looking to breakup with Lisi, but discovers that she lives in Riverside Park area. To avoid the serial killer, he takes Lisi back to his place where she finishes one of his thoughts that takes their relationship to the next level. Elaine tells Jerry and George about the cake and she also tells Jerry that Lisi is planning a weekend trip for them to Pennsylvania Dutch country. Jerry fears that Lisi received the wrong message as that kind of a trip is for a serious relationship. Elaine tries to even out Peterman's slice of cake, but gets swept up in the moment and finishes it off. George tries to coordinate the movement of Frogger machine. Elaine looks for a replacement for Peterman's cake, Kramer suggests an Entemann's cake. Jerry goes to Lisi's apartment, where he tries to break up with her. It goes on for ten hours, when he is ready to leave he discovers it is dark out. After exiting her apartment, he sees a man whom he fears is the serial killer and pleads to be let back in. Peterman has his piece of cake appraised at $2.19. When George finds "Slippery Pete" playing his Frogger game on battery power; it is discovered there only about three minutes of power remaining. The only available power source is across the busy street and Kramer has run out of caution tape. It's up to George to get the Frogger machine across the street; however there is no chance of a high score in this game. Later, Peterman shows Elaine surveillance videotape of her eating and "dancing" with the slice of cake; he is convinced that the age of the cake and its effect on her digestive system are all the punishment she needs.

b: 23-Apr-98 pc: 918 w: Gregg Kavet & Andy Robin s: Gregg Kavet & Andy Robin and Steve Koren & Daniel O'Keefe d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: To add to Slippery Pete's Milk drinking...if you look closely, I am pretty sure he never actually sips the milk. (Brett)

175. The Maid

gs: Daniel Von Bargen (Kruger) Angela Featherstone (Cindy) Anthony Crivello (Maxwell) Markus Flanagan (Charles) Sam Whipple (Phone Guy #1) Kyle Colerider-Krugh (Phone Guy #2) Steve Franken (Brendan) Davenia McFadden (Coco) Damon Jones (Watkins) Chip Chinery (Co-Worker #1) Colin McClean (Co-Worker #2) Anthony Mangano (Fireman) 

George searches for a nickname and decides on "T-bone". Jerry has hired a maid to clean his apartment. Elaine suspects there is more than cleaning going on. Kramer's girlfriend is moving downtown (10 minutes by subway) to a different way of life. Kramer tells Elaine he is having a fax sent to her apartment, only Elaine informs him that she doesn't have a fax machine. George makes a play for being called "T-bone" at work, but a coworker gets the honor. Elaine gets home to find 57 messages waiting for her, most of them the fax machine trying to deliver Kramer's fax. Elaine catches Jerry kissing the maid. Jerry confesses that he has a personal and work relationship with his maid named Cindy. Kramer's girlfriend is gone and he tells Elaine that he signed up for a food delivery service. They're going to fax him menus for all the restaurants for the next year. Elaine gets a new number and with it a new area code, she really wanted a "changed" number. Kramer and his girlfriend have a relationship by phone. George finds out about Jerry and his maid. Elaine tries to give out her new number to a guy, but the new area code scares him off. George wants his nickname and confronts his coworker, Kruger sees George's gestures through a window and it reminds him of "Koko the Monkey." Elaine finds out a woman in her building has died, she had a telephone number with a 212 area code. When Cindy takes her fee but leaves without cleaning anything, Jerry wonders what he's paid for. Kramer calls him "a john".

George and Jerry swap information on their respective situations at Monk's counter. Kramer returns from visiting his girlfriend and reports the oddities he saw there. The gang tries to communicate while sitting at Monk's counter. Jerry's maid tells George that there is woman at the cleaning service named Coco. George sees this as an opportunity to get out from under this nickname. Jerry breaks up with and fires Cindy. Elaine gets the dead woman's number and receives her first phone call from the woman's grandson who hasn't been told she's dead. Kramer breaks up with his girlfriend and she throws him out. He gets lost downtown and calls on Jerry for help. While going to rescue Kramer, Jerry is confronted by his Cindy's pimp-like boss. He says that Jerry must pay Cindy. Elaine convinces the grandson that his grandma is dying, the boy calls 911. Jerry spots Cindy walking down the street and tries to pay her but gets busted by the police. Elaine's door is broken down by the fire department. Cindy's boss picks up Kramer and it might lead to a new career in cleaning. George gets out from under being "Koko," only to get another nickname, "Gammy."

b: 30-Apr-98 pc: 919 w: Alec Berg & David Mandel & Jeff Schaffer s: Alec Berg & David Mandel & Jeff Schaffer and Kit Boss & Peter Mehlman d: Andy Ackerman 

176. The Puerto Rican Day

gs: Mario Joyner (Lamar) Dayton Callie (Cabbie) James Karen (Mr. Canterman) Helen Carey (Mrs. Christine Nyhart) Yul Vasquez (Bob) John Paragon (Cedric) Jenica Bergere (Leslie) Monica Allison (Gail) Marcelo Tubert (Father) Armando Molina (Amigo) Tom Agna (Gary) Tom Dahlgren (Priest) Bert Rosario (Man) Raoul N. Rizik (Parade Goer) Scott Conte (Sketch Guy) Mimi Cozzens (Mrs. Canterman) Alison Martin (Lucy) Marc Hirschfeld (Ellis) Chip Heller (Policeman)

The gang tries to get back into town after leaving the Mets game early in the 8th inning, the Mets are down 8 - 0. On the highway they run into trouble with a maroon Volkswagen Golf. George comments on a new movie he saw about the Hindenburg disaster and the clever comment he made during a quiet moment after the explosion. As they approach 5th Avenue traffic slows down and music can be heard, they realize they have forgotten about the Puerto Rican day parade. Elaine worries about getting home and seeing 60 Minutes as part of her weekend wind down. Kramer spots a way out if Jerry can worm his way over to the right. They almost make it over until they reencounter the maroon Golf. Elaine bails out of the car to find alternate transportation. George bails out of the car when he spots a theater screening the Hindenburg movie; he decides he wants to repeat his glory. Elaine decides the cab she hired isn't working, so she bails out of the cab, only to have it start moving again and again. George's attempt to be funny at the movie is undermined by a guy with one of those funny laser pointers. Kramer suggests that he and Jerry abandon his car. The laser pointer guy (a lousy prop comic) gets all the laughs as George's line bombs and he is humiliated. Kramer cuts a deal with the maroon Golf they are go to get access to the short cut when Jerry makes an apology wave. George returns to the car with the red dot of a laser pointer appearing all over parts of his body. Jerry rescinds his apology wave just as he is about to pull in the alley; Elaine arrives back at the same spot in her cab.

Jerry's apartment is seen, but no one is home. Elaine seeks an alternate way home. Kramer seeks a bathroom. Elaine works her way over to the parade route and looks for a way across. She leads a group of people on an escape route underneath a reviewing stand ala The Poseidon Adventure. Kramer spots an apartment for sale and poses as H.E Pennypacker, a wealthy industrialist, to get access to a bathroom. When he gets back he tells Jerry about the Mets game. Soon after, Kal Varnsen (Jerry's alias), is looking at the television in the apartment. George spots the laser guy and plans a sneak attack. Elaine's route leads to a dead end. George grabs what he thinks is the laser pointer and gets ink all over his hands. Kramer accidentally sets the Puerto Rican flag on fire and a mob of people, led by the armoire stealing tough guys. Art Vandelay seeks the use of a bathroom to clean the ink off his hands and runs into Varnsen. Pennypacker joins them on the run from the mob. Varnsen wants know who's watching the Saab factory. The mob is watching it; however, they leave it in a precarious position.

b: 07-May-98 pc: 920 w: Alec Berg and Jennifer Crittenden and Spike Feresten and Bruce Eric Kaplan and Gregg Kavet and Steve Koren and David Mandel and Daniel O'Keefe and Andy Robin and Jeff Schaffer d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Here Jerry uses his alias, Kal Varnsen, again, he used is previously in "The Boyfriend (1)". The name Kal is the first name of Jerry's real life father and is also part of Superman's real Kryptonian name "Kal-El", another Superman reference for the series.

The episode caused a bit of stir in the Puerto Rican community, causing NBC to issue an apology and never showing the episode on the network again. The controversy involved Kramer and the flag-burning sequence. This episode is the only episode that is not included in the syndication package. So if you missed it when it aired that one original time, you won't see it unless you find someone who has it on videotape.

And now Jerry Balsam tells me that laser pointers have come under attack with legislation in NYC to make it misdemeanor to improperly use one. This is probably a good idea, since laser light can cause harm if pointed into the eyes.

We learn that Elaine went to Tufts University (the archetypal safety school).

You can actually watch the episode on syndication in Latin America. By the way, I taped it.

177. The Clip Show (1)

Jerry, Elaine, George & Kramer plan to go to the movie, but Jerry takes out a little time to look at nine years of memories. Featuring relationships (getting in & out), etc.

b: 14-May-98 pc: 921 w: Darin Henry d: Andy Ackerman

178. The Clip Show (2)

More clips are seen and finally the closing minutes feature a series of bloopers and a musical montage that features the song "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" by the band Green Day, from their 1997 album Nimrod.

b: 14-May-98 pc: 922 w: Darin Henry d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: When originally shown, both parts of this episode were shown in a 45 min time slot. When this episode was rerun on 9 May, the missing fifteen minutes of footage was restored, so future airings in syndication will feature the "whole" episode, less the 1 minute from each part that will be removed to allow for extra commercials. At least now some of the clip sequences make more sense, from some of the net postings I've seen. My cable was out the night the rerun, so I have yet to see this.

Of course we have to ask the question, why didn't NBC just show this in its complete form the first time? We are talking about a television network, so we can't use logic. When they reran The Finale the following week, they allowed their schedule to over run. Was it that important that the season finale of ER start at 10 o'clock eastern? These are of course, rhetorical questions.

179. The Finale (1)

gs: Jane Leeves (Marla Penny) Peter Blood (Jay Crespi) David Byrd (Pharmacist) Steve Carlson (Captain Maddox) David Dunard (Guard) Donna Evans (Woman) Maggie Egan (Ticket Clerk) Geoffrey C. Ewing (Bailiff) Warren Frost (Mr. (Henry) Ross) Keith Hernandez (Himself) Scott Jaeck (Officer Vogel) Wendle Josepher (Susie) Robert Katims (Mr. Deensfrei) Scott Klace (Guard) Bruce Mahler (Rabbi Glickman) Ed O'Ross (Det. Blake) Kevin Page (Stu Chermak) James Pickens Jr. (Det. Hudson) John Pinette (Howie) Victor Raider-Wexler (Dr. Wexler) James Rebhorn (D.A. Hoyt) Peter Riegert (Kimbrough) Geraldo Rivera (Himself) McNally Sagal (Carol) Gay Thomas (O'Neal) Myra Turley (Foreman) Jane Wells (Herself) Grace Zabriskie (Mrs. Ross) Van Epperson (Passerby) Jeff Johnson (Criminal) Sean Moran (Man) Dianne Turley Travis (Receptionist) Jim Zulevic (Bernie) Wayne Knight (Newman) Jerry Stiller (Frank) Estelle Harris (Estelle) Liz Sheridan (Helen) Barney Martin (Morty) Steve Hytner (Bania) Len Lesser (Uncle Leo) Phil Morris (Jackie Chiles) John O'Hurley (Peterman) Patrick Warburton (Puddy) Danny Woodburn (Mickey) 

Jerry and George discuss the movies and George's desire to get his fifteen minutes of fame. Kramer is off to the beach. Elaine calls a friend, whose father is in the hospital, with her cell phone; Jerry and George tell her that is a social faux pas. Jerry gets a message from NBC that they want to talk about the pilot. So Jerry and George go to meet with the new vice president of programming, who is interested in turning their pilot into a 13 episode series. Jerry and George begin to make plans to move to California. Jerry interrupts Elaine's phone call to her friend to tell her about the NBC deal. When he finds out what she did, he tells her that was an even greater faux pas than the cell phone. Jerry and George's parents are excited by the news about the NBC deal. NBC offers Jerry & George a perk, free use of one of their private jets to anywhere they want. Kramer returns from the beach, but has a little bit of water trapped in his ear. Kramer warns they'll never come back from LA, "she's a seductress". Hey! He did.

The foursome decides where they want to take the private jet. They finally decide on Paris. As they are ready to leave, Elaine plans to call her friend again; Jerry tells her it is not right to rush that kind of phone call. Elaine avoids a faux pas. Newman begs to be brought along, when Jerry denies him, he vows to be there at Jerry's day of reckoning. The private jet, except for George who wanted the one Ted Danson would have gotten impresses everyone. With water still in his ear, Kramer tries to get it out mid-flight. He stumbles into the cockpit and the plane starts going into a crash dive. During the descent, George confesses he cheated during "the contest" and Elaine and Jerry are about to tell each other something important, when the plane corrects itself. The plane puts down in the small town of Latham, Massachusetts for a checkup. The foursome goes into town and debates about if they are going to get back on the plane. They witness the robbery of a fat guy, which they all mock and Kramer videotapes. They are arrested under the Good Samaritan law established by the town.

They are looking at a fine of a maximum of $85,000 and up to five years in prison. The guard assumes they are going to be prosecuted since this is the first offense of this kind in the country. Jackie Chiles is called in for their defense. The prosecution decides to look into the past of these four and build a case that will destroy their characters. Rivera Live covers the trial. Jerry and George's parents prepare to go to Latham for the trial. Newman (who's absolutely delighted), Uncle Leo, Peterman, Puddy, Mickey, Bania, Mr. & Mrs. Ross, Rabbi Glickman, Keith Hernandez and George Steinbrenner also make their way to Latham. Jackie tries to give George a moral compass. The judge, Arthur Vandelay, begins the trial. George thinks the name might be a good sign. The trial begins with opening arguments.

b: 14-May-98 pc: 923 w: Larry David d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: There is no such place as Latham, Massachusetts.

180. The Finale (2)

gs: Stanley Anderson (Judge Vandelay) Frances Bay (Mrs. Choate) Peter Blood (Jay Crespi) David Byrd (Pharmacist) Tony Carlin (Co-Worker) Maggie Egan (Ticket Clerk) Steve Carlson (Captain Maddox) Melanie Chartoff (Robin) Brian Doyle-Murray (Mel Sanger) David Dunard (Guard) Geoffrey C. Ewing (Bailiff) Warren Frost (Mr. (Henry) Ross) Brian George (Babu Bhatt) Philip Baker Hall (Mr. Bookman) Teri Hatcher (Sidra) John Hayman (Bubble Boy) Keith Hernandez (Himself) Carlos Jacott (Pool Guy) Scott Jaeck (Officer Vogel) Wendle Josepher (Susie) Robert Katims (Mr. Deensfrei) Scott Klace (Guard) Jane Leeves (Marla) Bruce Mahler (Rabbi Glickman) Wendel Meldrum (Low-Talker) Sheree North (Babs) Ed O'Ross (Det. Blake) Kevin Page (Stu Chermak) James Pickens Jr. (Det. Hudson) John Pinette (Howie) Victor Raider-Wexler (Dr. Wexler) James Rebhorn (D.A. Hoyt) Geraldo Rivera (Himself) McNally Sagal (Carol) Miguel Sandoval (Marcelino) Reni Santoni (Poppie) Gay Thomas (O'Neal) Larry Thomas (Soup Nazi) Myra Turley (Foreman) Jane Wells (Herself) Grace Zabriskie (Mrs. Ross) Van Epperson (Passerby) Dianne Turley Travis (Receptionist) Jim Zulevic (Bernie) Wayne Knight (Newman) Jerry Stiller (Frank) Estelle Harris (Estelle) Liz Sheridan (Helen) Barney Martin (Morty) Ian Abercrombie (Mr. Pitt) Richard Fancy (Lippman) Richard Herd (Wilhelm) Steve Hytner (Bania) Len Lesser (Uncle Leo) Phil Morris (Jackie Chiles) John O'Hurley (Peterman) Patrick Warburton (Puddy) Danny Woodburn (Mickey)

The videotape Kramer made is played for the jury. When the NBC executives arrive, George forgets about the trial for a moment and complains loudly about the plane. The prosecution begins to call their witnesses and each will do more to break down the characters of the foursome. First, the arresting officer is called to the stand, followed by the victim. Then the prosecution begins to call a variety of familiar faces. Starting with the elderly woman that Jerry stole the marble rye from. The virgin, Marla, is called to the stand and she tells the court about the foursome's contest. Further testimony is given by the bubble boy. The woman who needed a handicapped spot. The doctor who was on duty the night Susan died. Sidra, the woman with no implants. Mr. Bookman, the library cop. George's former girlfriend Robin, whose apartment caught on fire. The security guard from the parking garage. A detective from when Kramer was dressed like a pimp. The low-talker tries to testify (only she can't be heard). Steinbrenner talks about calzone and George's communism. The man who runs the cockfights. The pharmacist who sold Elaine a case of contraceptive sponges. A co-worker tells about Elaine's Christmas card. Mr. Pitt tells about when Elaine tried to kill him with a pillow. The soup nazi takes the stand and finally Babu Bhatt returns to the US to tell about the cafe and his deportation. They are "very, very, bad."

Rivera Live reports that the jury is in deliberation. Meanwhile, the foursome speculates on life in prison. Estelle tries to bribe the judge to be lenient on George if he's found guilty. A montage of activity is shown while the jury is in deliberation, that includes people we didn't see testifying like the Rabbi, Wilhelm, Keith Hernandez, Bania, Peterman, Puddy, Newman, Mr. Lippman, Poppie, Mr. Ross browsing for a handgun and ends with Jackie Chiles "cross-examining" Sidra outside the courtroom. The jury comes back. Jerry asks Elaine what she was going to say to him on the plane as it was crashing. She responds, "I always loved U-United Airlines". The jury returns a verdict of guilty. The foursome shows no remorse as they are sentenced to a year in jail, for doing "nothing." Jackie testifies to Jerry about Sidra's lack of implants. As the foursome sits in a prison cell, Jerry comments about the second button on George's shirt. A conversation they had nine years earlier on the 5th of July 1989. Jerry closes with a prison-based monologue.

b: 14-May-98 pc: 924 w: Larry David d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: One of the jurors contacted me via e-mail with the following observations, which I've paraphrased. First the jury was made up of friends and family of the cast and crew. The front row was made up of Dana Alexander (Jason's wife), Darin Henry (Larry David's assistant), the mother of an unknown crewmember, Carol Brown (the mother of Jerry's assistant), Spike Feresten (writer), and actress Myra Turley as the Forewoman. The back row was made up of the parents of the show's production accountant, some production guy, Steve Koren (writer), the show's set designer and Michael Richards' girlfriend. The courtroom scenes took three days to film, with two verdicts being shot. Hilarious interactions between Mickey and Bania, Newman and Keith Hernandez, J. Peterman and Puddy were recorded, however, they all fell victim to time constraints. I, as well as many others, would love to see all this footage. A great idea for a home video release.

A FINAL NOTE: Of all our guides, this one has been the most fun to do. First, I'd like to thank my co-worker Jeff Latzko for his enthusiasm that got me hooked into the show all those years ago. Second, I'd like to thank everyone who has helped to contribute to this guide. In fact, many of you have sent in contributions that have yet to appear in the guide. I haven't forgotten your contributions; I've had numerous time constraints this past couple of years related to the completion of a master's degree and the other guides on this web site. So sometime in the future, I will endeavor to include those items. In addition, after I saw the contents of this guide reprinted with my permission in the publication "Goodbye, Seinfeld", a Gold Collector Series Entertainment Magazine, I realized that all of the early descriptions really do need to be enhanced. I will get to this, someday!