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Ten years ago today, millions of people were bracing themselves for what would be the final episode of Seinfeld. Technically, it didn’t go off the air until May 14th, 1998 (do you remember where you were and what you were doing that fateful day?), but by mid-March, everyone knew the end was nigh, and just the thought of a final episode caused diehards a lot of angst.
A decade later, and still not a month passes at my office where someone doesn’t evoke Seinfeld—either quoting an episode (actually, generally mis-quoting, but whatever), recalling an episode (“How about the one where…”) or referring to a zany situation as “something right out of a Seinfeld episode.”
Poor Larry David. Around my office, every episode of Curb is parsed for Seinfeld moments and invariably held up against the more famous show—the barometer, as some call it—causing many to take sides as to whether or not each was better or worse than an episode of Seinfeld. Rumor has it, in Detroit a fight once broke out over just such an argument and one man pulled a plastic soup spoon. Granted, it’s just a rumor, but coming from Detroit, you sorta have to believe it.
Anyway, I thought it would be fun to let you all get it out of your systems once and for all. I mean, honestly, it is going on 10 years. What stage of grieving are we in here? Denial? So let us know your favorite Seinfeld moment already.
There were so many classics, everyone has his or her own favorite. Let’s get a list going and see which one or two pops up the most often.
After the jump, you’ll find a whole long list of curious facts about the show, via Ivy’s Seinfeld Page. Many you probably know, but still more you probably don’t.
Frank Costanza was played by two different actors: Jerry Stiller and John Randolph.
George’s ‘real’ wife was in the final episode of Seinfeld (She was in the court room).
The Bubble Boy (Donald Sanger) was played by an old man, John Hayman.
Larry David, co-creator, provided the voice of the faceless George Steinbrenner.
The exterior of the gang’s usual hang-out place is Tom’s Restaurant in New York City, located on the corner of 112th and Broadway.
The Soup Nazi’s place is at the northeast corner of 55th and 8th in New York.
Kramer was named Kessler in the first episode: The Seinfeld Chronicles.
(Thanks to dstopczynskI@hotmail.com)Morty Seinfeld has been played by Barney Martin in every episode except for the second one, when Phil Bruns did.
There is a real Kramer called Kenny Kramer, who is the inspiration for the character Cosmo Kramer.
Michael Richards auditioned for Married With Children and almost became Al Bundy.
Jerry loses $34,275.50 (Plus a TV, a stereo receiver, two charter tickets to Paris, a BMW, two meals at Mendy’s, and numerous amorous visits from maid–actual values unknown).
Kramer’s obsessions are fresh fruit and golf.
Elaine’s first job was at Pendant Publishing.
Elaine has a sister in St. Louis, and an uncle who worked with Lee Harvey Oswald in the Dallas book depository.
George’s first job was at Rick-Bar properties as a real estate agent.
George is a “stall man”.
Jerry gargles six times a day.
Kramer got a line in a Woody Allen movie.
Jerry only wears button fly jeans.
George met Jerry at JFK high school when George fell of a rope in gym class and landed on Jerry’s head.
Frank Costanza, George’s dad, has saved every TV Guide fall preview since the beginning.
Elaine was the cause for the end of Pendant Publishing.
Newman inherited his mail route from Son of Sam.
George has never said “I love you” except to a dog.
Jerry relabels his jeans from a 32″ waist to a 31″.
Jerry’s two obsessions are Superman and cereal.
(Thanks to satyalrk@email.uc.edu)(Rajiv Satyal)Did you know that the first line of the first episode (The Seinfeld Chronicles) is the same as the last line of the final episode. Jerry tells George, “See, now to me, that button is in the worst possible spot. The second button literally makes or breaks the shirt. Look at it, it’s too high, it’s in no-man’s land”. In the first episode George and Jerry are in the coffee shop when he says it, and in the final episode they are in the jail cell.
(Thanks to jmd8658@labs.tamu.edu)(Janice Drabek)Did you know that the first episode Newman appeared in was The Suicide.
(Thanks to FarleyZ57@aol.com)Prognosis Negative (The fake movie in “The Dog”) was the name of an unproduced screenplay written by Larry David.
(Thanks to PearlJam49@aol.com)(Mark)Jerry’s real name is Jerome Seinfeld.
(Thanks to PHOXZI85@aol.com)Jerry claims that he invented the “umbrella twirl” to attract customers back when he was an umbrella salesman.
Jerry proposed to Elaine (Serenity Now episode).
Kramer would name his child Isosceles.
Kramer (Michael Richards) was in Problem Child. He plaed a prisoner.
(Thanks to DryLcyYou@aol.com)Kramer was in the 1980’s movie “Transillvania 6-5000″ and played a wacky butler like character opposite Jeff Goldblum and Ed Bagely Jr.. Also, Jason Alexander is a Boston University graduate.
(Thanks to Vandelay89@aol.com)Michael Richards also played in the movie - “Trial and Error.”
(Thanks to Vaj Bruce@aol.com)Michael Richards was on the dating game and also on the show Friday’s way back. I believe he was also in Young Doctors in Love.
(Thanks to AbbyRoad27@aol.com)Kenny Kramer (The real K-man!) is trying out for the U.S. Open Tennis tournament as a ball boy (ballperson) just like Kramer in the show did.
(Thanks to CinnBOBka@aol.com)Both George and Elaine were in the movie “North.”
(Thanks to Steven Pearson)In real life the real Kramer really lived across the hall from George.
(Thanks to PHOXZI85@aol.com)Earlier this year the J. Peterman company went bankrupt.
(Thanks to Beagle1795@aol.com)When they show the outside of the apartment in the show “Will and Grace,” It’s the same shot from Seinfeld.
(Thanks to Ib716snI83@hotmail.com)Elaine Benes wasn’t in the pilot (The Seinfeld Chronicles). After that episode aired they decided that they needed a female character to kind of balance out the three males.
(Thanks to Beagle1795@aol.com)Kramer had a dog in the first episode of Seinfeld (Seinfeld Chronicles).
Kramer played Stanley Spadowski in UHF with Weird Al Yankovic. “Stanley Spadowski’s Playhouse.”
(Thanks to McElhinny1@aol.com)Julia Louis Dreyfus played in the movie, ‘Fathers Day’.
(Thanks to LazyBoy207@aol.com)Micheal Richards was in the movie ‘Unstrung Heros’.
(Thanks to ElyseElyse@aol.com)When Micheal Richards was in school, he was always the class clown. In fact, he used to slide into his classrooms as a joke!
(Thanks to ElyseElyse@aol.com)The “Kramer Entrance” was actually an accidental discovery. He was late for his cue, so he accidentally slid through the door. Everyone thought it was funny and decided to keep it.
(Thanks to ElyseElyse@aol.com)Michael Richards was in an episode of ‘Cheers’ and a small part in ‘So I married an axemurderer’.
(Thanks to Antixism@aol.com)Michael Richards (Kramer) was in the movie ‘Airheads’ with Brenden Frasier and Adam Sandler.
(Thanks to PHOXZI85@aol.com)Julia Louis Dreyfus and Tom Arnold were involved in a fued with each other that started when Julia Louis Dreyfus parked in his parking spot at their studio. The fued escalated and the two exchanged heated arguments. Finally Roseanne Arnold got involved and apparently wrote BITCH on Julia’s windsheild using soap scuds. Finally NBC ended the ongoing problems because Roseanne Arnold was very powerful in Hollywood and they were afraid of what might happen.
(Thanks to Gloopy7@aol.com)Did you know that Michael Richards once guest starred on an episode of Mad About You as the character Cosmo Kramer. I believe the premise was that when Paul was single, Kramer’s apartment was his apartment and then when he got married, he sub-let it to Kramer. I haven’t seen the episode in a while, so I can’t be too sure if I have the premise right, but I know that Michael Richards appeared as Kramer on Mad About You.
(Thanks to Beagle1795@aol.com)‘Ol George said ‘i love you’ once to this chick-as. You might have suspected he was rather apprehensive about it and also after all his worrying he said it to her and she didn’t say it back. He said it again to her and she said “i know.”
(Thanks to cifelli@bellatlantic.net)(Wheaton)That Newman’s only good quality is that he’s merry.
(Thanks to ProbePhage@aol.com)Michael Richards played the character “Feos” in Transylvania 6500.
(Thanks to (georgeg@lorencook.com)(George Georgiades)Did you know that Julia Louis-Dreyfus was a cast member on Saturday Night Live during the 80’s. She was on the show with Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal and Martin Short, among others, and her husband, Brad Hall was also a cast member.
(Thanks to Beagle1795@aol.com)The boy in the hospital who was promised by Kramer that Paul O’Neill would hit two homeruns and catch a fly ball in his hat in order to get the birthday card for Steinbrenner that was signed by the team, is also the boy who was starring on the TV show when Kramer and Mickey were the stand-ins.
(Thanks to Zup999@aol.com)George’s ATM password is BOSCO.
(Thanks to alain.e.garciadubus@attcanada.net)The restaurant O’Neal’s was used twice in Seinfeld. Once when Jerry and Elaine go out with Kramer and the low-talker, and once when Elaine loses a bet from Todd Gak and she meets his parents.
(Thanks to Zup999@aol.com)Did you know that in “The Airport” the guy who stinks up the
bathroom before Elaine goes in is Seinfeld writer Larry Charles.
(Thanks to WEIER@prodigy.net)That the mother and the child with the dirty mouth in “The Nonfat Yogurt” re also in the episode “The Parking Space.”
(Thanks to WEIER@prodigy.net)The guy in “The Frogger” who is suppose to get the truck is also on the bus on The Peterman Reality Tour in “The Muffin Tops.”
(Thanks to WEIER@prodigy.net)The guy who drives the black Saab in “The Puerto Rican Day” also comes out of the movie “Firestorm” with Jerry in the “The Engagement” while George is stuck seeing “The Muted Heart” with Susan.
(Thanks to WEIER@prodigy.net)Kramer used to work for H&H bagels, but went on strike for 12 years.
(Thanks to ansakt99@student.umu.se)George often claims to be an arcitect.
(Thanks to ansakt99@student.umu.se)Jerry once gave george the important mission to exercise the gascets in his toilet.
(Thanks to ansakt99@student.umu.se)Kramer once made a hole in one…in a vale.
(Thanks to ansakt99@student.umu.se)Jerry didn´t throw up for 13 years. A black and white cookie put a stop to that.
(Thanks to ansakt99@student.umu.se)Mr Lippman started a shop called “Top of the Muffin” after the end of pendant publishing.
(Thanks to ansakt99@student.umu.se)In the episode where George gets into a fight with Ruthie, the lady at Monk’s, he stops with kramer in the street to get a pack of gum; the man selling the gum is Larry David.
(Thanks to Zup999@aol.com)Did you know in “The Muffin Top” when Kramer takes the stumps to Jiffy Dump the man who won’t let Kramer “dump the stumps” is the same man in the episode where Susan’s friend is traveling with Joseph and Kramer to get to wear the technicolored dream coat. Also when Elaine wants the Nicole Miller dress, she dates Craig who hit on her right in front of Jerry when George parks his car in Jiffy Park and the same man won’t admit that hookers are doing business in the cars.
(Thanks to Allie52927@aol.com)The mohair sweater in the sniffing accountant is also worn by Mrs. Sokol’s daughter who George dates while trying to get an unemployment extension.
(Thanks to Kinetic999@aol.com)If you look closely in the episode “The parking garage,” you can see mirror images of the people walking around the garage. This is because they used mirrors to make the studio look like a large parking garage.
(Thanks to Kinetic999@aol.com)The Jackie Chiles actor was in an episode before the Jackie Chiles character was created. He appeared as a cop who calls Jerry “Mr. Steinfeld” when Kramer gets Jerry an illegal cable hookup.
(Thanks to Kinetic999@aol.com)If you pay attention, you can notice that Jason Alexander is actually dying of laughter in the scene when elaine throws George’s hair piece out of the window.
(Thanks to Kinetic999@aol.com)You can hear Jerry laughing at Jason during the scene in which George is asking the Reverend about a death certificate for an airline rebate. Jerry is completely off stage and George piles up his plate with a bunch of appetizers (probably wasn’t part of the original script).
(Thanks to Kinetic999@aol.com)The actress that plays the woman who fired George from his new job as a bra salesman (Christa Miller from The Drew Carey Show) also plays the woman who dates George and eats his peach pit.
(Thanks to presumably_so@hotmail.com)In The Engagement while George and Susan are in the movie theatre after seeing The Muted Heart, Jerry and an unknown character are walking out of another theater talking about how good “Firestorm” was. Now… that unknown character is the SAME guy in The Puerto Rican Day who the gang refers to as “Maroon Golf”
(Thanks to squirt10_@yahoo.com)
Last episode: I was at the U.S. Army Combined Arms & Services Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, in a dorm-style setup with hundreds of other officers. Everyone in this huge building was watching the show. The invariably busy bar in the middle of the complex was closed — an apparently unprecedented-in-a-dozen-years event — as people watched the show. At the end, doors up and down the long, zig-zag hallways opened and small clusters of people formed to express a virtually universal sentiment.
That sucked!
Seriously, I heard more dissent in the ranks over going into Iraq than I did about how crappy the last episode of Seinfeld was.
posted by George on 3-17-2008 at 6:39 am
I don’t really have a fave moment, and, at the risk of being a “hater,” I find it hard to watch Seinfeld, after watching “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
Plus, have you ever noticed how dated Seinfeld now looks? Next time you watch an episode, ask yourself, “How would this plot be different if they had cell phones?” I have found that almost every scenario would just… fall apart.
But maybe I am more of a hater than I want to be.
posted by Max on 3-17-2008 at 7:33 am
I was at the pharmacy yesterday, and the pharmacist was definitely a “low-talker.” I could tell he was asking me questions, and I just said “Yes” to one without really hearing it. My immediate thought afterward was that I hoped I hadn’t just agreed to wear a puffy shirt.
posted by bryn on 3-17-2008 at 7:54 am
George Costanza’s wallet exploding.
posted by zack on 3-17-2008 at 8:06 am
I never understood why the show was so popular. All the characters were selfish and self-absorbed. I need at least one character I can like for me to like a show.
Same reason I didn’t like the Sopranos.
posted by Sheldon Siegel on 3-17-2008 at 8:29 am
I don’t remember exactly what I was doing for the last Seinfeld, other than watching it.
But I remember Frank Sinatra died that night and his daughter Nancy hadn’t gone to see the old man because she was watching the finale.
Sad.
posted by renton on 3-17-2008 at 8:41 am
Jeez, what’s with all the Seinfeld hate here?
The Jerk Store Called, They’re Running out of YOU!
posted by Zach on 3-17-2008 at 8:47 am
I think when Kramer drops the Junior Mint in the body of a person that is being operated on is my favorite moment. That entire episode is classic.
And anyone that does not like Seinfeld just has bad taste.
posted by Daniel on 3-17-2008 at 8:51 am
I am the master of my domain.
I’m the queen of my castle.
. . . I’m out!
posted by Shelly on 3-17-2008 at 8:55 am
Whoa, a little Seinfeld hating going on! Well I for one LOVE the show, and it’s so true- cell phones would completely dissolve almost any plot. I love the one where George leaves Jerry and Elaine stuck at a party… and Elaine saying “A DINGO ATE YOUR BABY!!!” Is one of my favorite moments!
I also love the “bizzaro” episode.
I heard that there is a superman hidden in every episode because Jerry Seinfeld has a small obsession with the superhero… anyone know if there’s any merit to this rumor?
posted by Kelly J on 3-17-2008 at 8:57 am
The funniest Seinfeld moment is when Elaine snatches the toupee off of George’s head in Jerry’s apartment and screams, “I DON’T LIKE THIS THING! AND HERE’S WHAT I’M DOING WITH IT!” before throwing it out the window.
If you didn’t laugh when you saw that scene then you have no soul.
Also, most episodes of Curb are on par with Seinfeld in its prime. The replay value of episodes from both series is greater than 99.44% of other shows, word to Ivory Soap.
PEACE!
posted by ib2quik2c on 3-17-2008 at 9:10 am
I was at a huge university hospital recently, looking for a parking spot. I finally found one. I got out and noted what space I was in so I don’t forget..it was Purple 23!!!
True story.
The Parking Garage was also the best episode… “We’re like rats in a maze!!!!”
posted by Amanda on 3-17-2008 at 9:15 am
I’m with Sheldon. I tried to give this show (and the Sopranos)a chance to see what all the hype was about. There was nothing redeeming or likeable about any of those characters. All they did was give midwesterners another bad stereotype of New Yorkers.
posted by Jose V on 3-17-2008 at 9:18 am
My husband and I rented a car a few days ago and I immediately thought about the episode where Jerry’s car got stolen and he had to rent one. He reserved a mid-sized but got an Escort instead. Did he want the insurance? “Yeah, you better give me the insurance, because I am gonna beat the hell of this car.
posted by Teresa on 3-17-2008 at 9:21 am
There is a boat called the Summer of George on Lake Michigan. I tried to upload a picture, but I can’t. I don’t know who owns the boat, but I would say they deserve the title of die hard Seinfeld fans.
posted by Natalia on 3-17-2008 at 9:21 am
I’m with Sheldon on this. I’ve tried to give both those shows a chance and they didn’t appeal to me and I don’t understand the hoopla. To call someone a jerk or say that one doesn’t have good taste because one doesn’t like “Sienfeld” or to call is just silly. All the characters were self-absorbed unlikeable and bad stereotypes of NY’ers. How is that proof of good tastes?
posted by Jose on 3-17-2008 at 9:24 am
Natalia — You can email that picture to flossypics@gmail.com.
That’s gold, Jerry. Gold.
posted by Jason on 3-17-2008 at 9:26 am
I don’t mean to hate on Seinfeld, but my fave moment was when it went of the air. I never cared for the show. I also never enjoed Seinfeld’s stand up. It just didn’t appeal.
The thing is, I was sort of a freak of nature when this show was on. It seemed like everyone I knew watched it, and talked about it. Most said that the show was so much like their life and their friends. I did not observe this to be true … my friends were funny …
posted by Alice on 3-17-2008 at 9:37 am
If you’re a Seinfeld hater please remember the words of Bambi’s friend Thumper…”If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”. I have had friends in the past hate on Seinfeld, which is why I say they were my friends in “the past”.
It is one of the best shows ever! Hard to say my favorite but I’ve always been a fan of “Top o’ the muffin to ya!”.
posted by Sandy C on 3-17-2008 at 9:52 am
I love “The Opera”, when Joe Devola, dressed as the ‘tragic clown’, approaches Kramer to purchase a ticket…
JD: “Are you selling tickets?”
K: “What are you a cop?”
JD: “No, I’m a clown.”
K: “…You look familiar.”
JD: “Ever been to the circus?”
K: “Yeah, when I was a kid.”
JD: “Did you enjoy it?
K: “Well, ya know it was fun. I was always kinda… scared of the clowns.”
JD: “Are you still scared of clowns?”
K “Yeah…”
Priceless.
posted by PD on 3-17-2008 at 9:58 am
Oh and I forgot… the whole “adopted people / serial killers connection” episode was HILARIOUS… I’m adopted, so my friends had a great time giving me a hard time after the episode aired.
We also refer to one of my girl friends as Newman for some reason… not sure that I even remember how that started.
posted by Kelly J on 3-17-2008 at 10:11 am
Ah how to choose. Best show ever.
I can understand how people could not LOVE this show. Can’t understand how anyone could hate it.
That show was a pinnacle of comedy, which is why I believe none of them have really captured the same success elsewhere. Where do you go from the top?!
My all time fave is also the episode where Elaine rips the toupee off George’s head. That whole scene is pure comedic genius in my opinion.
The line quoted above is the best (I DON’T LIKE THIS THING!..) but it’s also pretty great when she shouts at George: “YOU’RE BALD!!” LOL
posted by mrs.djs on 3-17-2008 at 10:13 am
I second “Top of the muffin…TO YOU!”
posted by Johnny Cat on 3-17-2008 at 10:16 am
The J. Peterman did not go bankrupt “earlier this year” as stated by one of your readers. The company went bankrupt in 1999, closed its doors, and was sold off lock, stock, and barrel. After several years it was resurrected and is now back in the mail-order catalog business again. (See www.jpeterman.com)
posted by Robert B on 3-17-2008 at 10:26 am
I got WAY into this show about six years after the last episode aired. My favorite is definitely “The Library.” Mr. Bookman is great! “Well, maybe that’s how you get your kicks, you and your good time buddies.”
A very close second is the muffin tops episode. Seriously, who wants the stump? I always peel off the top and eat it first, then go to work on the stump only if I’m really hungry.
posted by David on 3-17-2008 at 10:31 am
Mel Torme` serenading Kramer with “When You’re Smiling”. For me, this is one of the funniest moments in the history of television. I’ve seen this more times than I can count, and it never fails to make me laugh. The look on Kramer’s face, combined with Mel’s telethon-worthy condescension…that’s gold, Jerry.
posted by Michael on 3-17-2008 at 10:54 am
I second that David. Mr Bookman is the best! “I’ll be all over you like a pit bull on a poodle.”
We also like “The Marine Biologist” The last scene where George whips out the golf ball and the audience laughs for a full minute before Kramer says “…is that a Titleist?”
Then of course “Kenny Rogers Roasters”
Jerry switches apartments (and identities) with Kramer because of the bright red sign. Kramer has a puppet man called Mr. Marbles (’he’s harmless!’) that wakes Jerry up. He gets scared–Mr.Marbles shadow across the wall and the sound effects! That’s Funny!
posted by Lauren on 3-17-2008 at 11:09 am
Elaine to George, as he wonders why she didn’t mail him one of her Christmas cards, on which Kramer’s photograph of her reveals one of her nipples: “You want a Christmas card? Here’s your freakin’ Christmas card!” as she pushes his head down into her cleavage…
posted by Erika on 3-17-2008 at 11:34 am
Greatest episode of all time: The two-parter entitled “The Boyfriend.”
“I’M NOT TAKING HIM TO THE AIRPORT!”
posted by Lori L. on 3-17-2008 at 11:46 am
I would have to say the entire episode where Jerry and Elaine go to Florida. The astronaut pen, the bad bed, the pain pills…STELLA!
Also the perfect “come around” as I call it. Where we see Kramer hitting golf balls into the water, and at the end of the show, when George regales his story of lying about being a marine biologist and the beached whale, with the….golf ball in his blow hole!
posted by Brian on 3-17-2008 at 11:46 am
My favorite episode is when Kramer gets the Merv Griffith set out of the dumpster and sets it up in his apartment. That or when Jerry hears footsteps in bed and shouts out “Mr. Marbles?”
Also in the facts I believe it was Kramer who said he invented the umbrella twirl not Jerry.
posted by Antanas on 3-17-2008 at 11:53 am
When George takes a new book into the Barnes and Noble bathroom.
posted by Steve on 3-17-2008 at 12:41 pm
I’ll always remember the last episode because it was the same night that Frank Sinatra died.
posted by Jim on 3-17-2008 at 1:28 pm
When Jerry is at the car rental desk and this conversation takes place:
JERRY: I don’t understand, I made a reservation, do you have my reservation?
RENTAL CAR AGENT: Yes, we do, unfortunately we ran out of cars.
JERRY: But the reservation keeps the car here. That’s why you have the reservation.
RENTAL CAR AGENT: I know why we have reservations.
JERRY: I don’t think you do. If you did, I’d have a car. See, you know how to take the reservation, you just don’t know how to *hold* the reservation and that’s really the most important part of the reservation, the holding. Anybody can just take them.
Also, when ever Elaine dances is good along with when she’s drunk in her hotel room in India with Jerry and she calls him ‘Jugdish’
posted by susan on 3-17-2008 at 1:33 pm
“The sea was angry that day my friends.”
posted by Dave on 3-17-2008 at 1:33 pm
Favorite: “No Soup for you!” - Soup Nazi
The last episode, (which BTW, sucked) I was at a dumply little bar at a dumpy little hotel in Metarie, LA. I remember leaving the bar to go watch the episode and then going back afterwards.
As for people’s criticism of the characters, the show depended on them being imperfect. Nearly every show ended with some sort of tragic mishap resulting from one of the character’s ineptitude or selfishness. Yet they were still all likeable, as everyone has friends like these to some extent. The show even made fun of its character’s flaws, like in the Bizarro Jerry episode, where the characters have proper and perfect alter-egos.
posted by Florida on 3-17-2008 at 1:35 pm
Oh, so many great moments…
For one thing, my younger sister is a “low talker,” and we always tell her that. Also, the Lyric Opera of Chicago is doing Pagliacci next year, the opera that crazy Joe Devola is talking about, and I’m am definitely going!
My favorite episode would have to be the one where Kramer has the Kevorka, it’s just so great.
Oh, and I think of Elaine’s New Yorker cartoons whenever I look at the caption contests here.
posted by Will on 3-17-2008 at 1:51 pm
I was very happy when The Seinfeld ended his show. It meant the mind controlling aliens who sent him to our planet had given up on their attempts to conquer our sense of humor in prelude to their invasion. But then I learned of The Will Farrell and knew all hope was lost.
posted by Ego, Egoing, Egone on 3-17-2008 at 1:51 pm
Mangesh and I just got back from the Cooper Station Post Office. According to Wikipedia, that’s where Newman worked.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Post_Office-Cooper_Station
WOMAN: Why does this dummy have a bucket on its head?
KRAMER: Because we’re blind to their tyranny.
WOMAN: Then shouldn’t you be wearing the bucket?
KRAMER: Yeah. Move along, Betty.
FRANKIE: Is this, uh, Jerry Seinfeld’s van?
KRAMER: Well, not anymore. He traded it to me for some Hollywood memorabilia.
posted by Jason on 3-17-2008 at 2:17 pm
George on the floor with his pants around his ankles.
JERRY: “And you want to be my latex salesman.”
earlier in episode:
GEORGE: Now, listen closely. I was at the unemployment office and I told them that I was very close to getting a job with Vandaley Industries and I gave them your phone number. So, when now when the phone rings you’ve got to answer “Vanadaley Industries”.
JERRY: I’m Vanadaley Industries?
….
JERRY: I’m going to hire you as my latex salesman?
GEORGE: Right.
JERRY: I don’t think so.
posted by SaraT on 3-17-2008 at 2:34 pm
Of course we have to thank Seinfeld for popularizing Festivus- my friends and I have been celebrating it for the past 3 years, and always there has been some kind of miracle involved (the first year, my friend bought a hacksaw to cut down/steal a Christmas tree–which obviously didn’t work–but when the aluminum pole we nicked was too tall for our living room…) Although this past year we had a lot of people over and the gas hookup in our stove apparently got disconnected — what a way to clear out a party. And then not one, but two firetrucks showed up (from literally down the street), and a line of firemen, complete with axes and masks, charged into our apartment (You’re gonna be ok, Gammy!), only to confirm that the smell of gas was actually due to the pilot light having gone out. I think Jerry would have been proud.
Also I think the grapefruit pulp episode is one of the best ever.
posted by Colin GG on 3-17-2008 at 3:03 pm
I love Seinfeld, so it’s practically impossible to pick a favorite one. Pretty much the entire S8 and S9 are a well-oiled comedy machine.
posted by Ryan on 3-17-2008 at 3:28 pm
Gotta agree that “The Library” is my favorite. Mr. Bookman is absolutely priceless - his whole monologue in Jerry’s apartment still gets me every time.
posted by Betsy on 3-17-2008 at 3:45 pm
I love the one where Kramer has a bad cough, but instead of going to the doctor, he finds a dog that’s coughing as well and takes him to the vet. Kramer takes the pills the vet prescribes for the dog. Pretty much for the whole episode, Jerry is acting like Kramer’s a dog - trying to pill him, asking if he wants to go for a ride by jingling his keys, Kramer running off when he realizes Jerry isn’t taking him to the park- seriously hilarious.
posted by Meeshell on 3-17-2008 at 5:42 pm
It’s gotta be The Little Kicks. Oh, Elaine.
In The Sims 2, when the sims first start dancing, they aren’t too good, and they dance like Elaine. It’s wonderful.
posted by Nikole on 3-17-2008 at 5:55 pm
The best episode was the one where they pretended to be O’Brien and Murphy at the airport so they could get a free limo ride and found out that O’Brian was a Neo-Nazi who had never been seen and two of O’Brian’s followers were in the limo to go to his speech with him. It was a hilarious episode that show how easy it is for people (or at least George) to slack on their principles.
posted by Beirne on 3-17-2008 at 7:41 pm
“In real life the real Kramer really lived across the hall from George.
(Thanks to PHOXZI85@aol.com)”
Clarification: Kenny (the real) Kramer lived across the hall from Larry David.
Also, Kenny Kramer ran for Mayor of NYC in 1997 - my husband was his campaign manager - but didn’t make it past the primary.
The part of The Implant where George gets caught “double dipping”.
And of course Festivus for the rest of us.
posted by Susan on 3-17-2008 at 7:47 pm
When it goes off.
posted by Sakura on 3-18-2008 at 2:03 am
Oh my- it’s the episode where Elaine has the boyfriend that plays a solo in a club….but can’t, b/c his lips are sore….b/c…. well….oh dear- still makes my eyes water thinking of the whole scene.
second in line: Spongeworthy.
posted by s.brown on 3-18-2008 at 6:32 am
“They’re real, and they’re SPECTACULAR”
ps one of my “reCaptcha” words to prove I’m human is Curacao… fancy.
posted by Kelly J on 3-18-2008 at 8:07 am
Festivus. Definitely.
One of my favorite games with Seinfeld episodes is figuring out how trivial their problems would be if they had cell phones.
posted by Iris on 3-18-2008 at 9:01 am
I get frustrated when I hear people complain about the Seinfeld finale, because I don’t understand what it lacked.
What did you expect? What would you have done differently?
posted by PD on 3-18-2008 at 1:08 pm
Spongeworthy.
And…”Can you spare a square?”
posted by bre on 3-18-2008 at 1:09 pm
I think I might be the only person on the planet who has never actually seen the finale. We were living in France at the time, and the finale aired live. Which meant it aired at like 3 am. My mother would not allow her 16 year old daughter to watch a show on a school night at 3 am. After it aired, everyone kept talking about how awful it was, and since I was never a huge fan of the show, I never bothered to watch it.
posted by greenstrawberries on 3-19-2008 at 4:29 am
Frank Constanza’s Lawyer was played by Larry David (he wore a cape) also in the episode in which George rescues the whale from the beach, some one yells “Is anyone here a Marine Biologist?” That’s Larry David too. When Jerry needed some fake Wizard organizers (Willards) down in Florida he got them from Bob Sacamano Sr. (hilarious)
posted by Fast Eddie on 3-19-2008 at 7:57 am