|
Post by sbtbfanatic on Jun 16, 2015 12:10:34 GMT
Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch – “The Shoes” (S4, E17)
Best Character
Justin: Interesting episode here and while I enjoy George and Jerry’s scheming act quite a bit, I have to go with Elaine. I really enjoyed how frustrated and maniacal she got about the shoe gossip. And the dress. The dress was pretty great too. All of it.
Aaron: I love it when Elaine operates in extremes (for that matter I love it when everyone operates in extremes. I’m a huge fan of “More Than Words”) and her turn around from being outraged that Gail would dare to talk about her shoes into desperate woman, painfully clinging to the attention said shoes bring her is a masterful performance. Like a mighty rhinoceros she charges into that kitchen to get the justice she so rightly deserves. That alone would hand her the episode, but then we get awkward sexy Elaine. If it’s a crime to be incredibly attracted to someone who eats breadsticks in the least phalically seductive way in the history of mankind, then put me in sex jail. The playful way in which she drops a pile of bread down her shirt is as painful to watch as it is arousing. The choice to say “pounding and pounding” unsexy and “ketchup secret” sexy is the kind of ballsy choice that only an actor at the top of their game makes.
Andrew: Elaine is close, but I think the winner has to be George. Shattered confidence George always makes me laugh, and he’s got some of the best lines: “What am I, waiting to win an Oscar here? [Cleavage] is all I have in my life.” Most of all, I love that his default response to criticism is to go on the attack, which is very relatable for me, almost uncomfortably so. The way he turned on his therapist was especially good, partly because her criticism, “I didn’t buy that”, is the kind of vague and meaningless thing people say when they don’t know what they’re talking about. (Oh, you’d like to point out that I use “I didn’t buy that” all the time in my reviews? They’re still better than whatever crap you could come up with, you jerk). Anyway … George is great.
Jordan: Here I am watching the show, and George is just rolling as usual. Five minutes in, and I’m thinking, “George has this wrapped up.” Ten minutes in, and my mind has yet to change. Elaine is putting up a fight, but it’s futile. Halfway through the episode, I’m certain George wins this. And then…Elaine entered my field of vision. She wins guys. She wins.
Best Storyline
Justin: I’ll go with Kramer and his flip flopping of allegiance to Jerry. At first, he was a true warrior, a real friend, when he snubbed Gail. A day later and he got weak in the knees and planted one on Chef Hellcat and he caved. Watching him totally disregard how he snubbed her earlier, not even mentioning it, when he tells Jerry about the liplock. He was on point the rest of the episode too when helping to orchestrate the jig.
Aaron: Elaine and Gail’s high stakes game of “who’s going to end up with the shoes” should be studied by every military on Earth as one of the most pure cases of psychological warfare in existence.
Andrew: The cleavage storyline is certainly memorable, and was even more memorable when I first saw this episode in high school. But I enjoyed the shoes more this time around. Elaine being offended by Gail’s seemingly innocuous comment is a very relatable moment, and the ensuing feud over Gail telling people about the shoes is quite funny. And the capper with Elaine not wanting to give them up because “everybody talks about them!” is great.
Jordan: I really liked Elaine being so upset over the shoes and the guys’ confusion over it, specifically Jerry. Just added layers to them not knowing how to write for Elaine in the show, because they legitimately don’t understand her.
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
Justin: Should Russell have pulled the plug on the pilot just because George took a look at his daughters breasts? Sigh. I guess she IS fifteen, so probably. But just when you want to applied him for being ethical and putting class and family over business, as soon as he gets a glance at Elaine’s boobs he caves and reverses course. What is your agenda, Russell?
Aaron: If you ask a question, you’d better damn sure be certain that you want to hear the answer. Jerry and especially George fall into the trap of asking people what they think of their script waaaaaaaay before they are ready to accept the slightest bit of criticism. If you ask someone if they like your art, and they respect you, they will tell you. The key is to only ask those select few whose opinion you value. Hopefully then you can be secure enough in your work to either accept the criticism or decline. That being said, Elaine and Dana could have had a little more tact. “It’s not funny” is much too much of a definitive to ever give someone as feedback. If you want people to actually value what you have to say you need to be constructive or helpful. Otherwise you’re just a dick who’s not confident enough in yourself.
Andrew: Should George have had his therapist read the script? I could see that being OK if they had become friendly, but that doesn’t seem to apply here, and it seems like George was just looking for more validation. And if this therapist was any good, shouldn’t she have known how George would react to her critique? Maybe he was better off not seeing her anymore.
Jordan: Russell’s daughter had some big boobs, and they were on full display as Jerry gave George the poke for the peek. Here’s the problem: Russell told them she was 15. You don’t poke or peek when you know the girl doesn’t even have a drivers license. You avert your eyes at all costs.
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
Justin: Kramer and Gail really had something special going on. You know, with the cooking and all. Jerry didn’t seem to care much, so they cleared that hurdle without much resistance. Now they can celebrate with bowls of pasta primavera and some sweet, hip Botticelli shoes. Relationship Grade: Erotic Cooking/10
Aaron: So I got a funny feeling when Jerry and George were in Russell’s apartment. It felt odd, familiar in a way it took me a while to place. Then it hit me. That apartment belongs to Frasier Crane. The decor, the lighting, the overall pretentiousness, it all fit. This leads me to believe that Russell is engaged in some sort of father/son fuckfest with Fraiser and Martin. Either that or I’ve totally lost my mind. Relationship Grade: What?
Andrew: Kramer certainly isn’t shy about going after Jerry’s former interests. But Gail seems much more into Kramer than she ever was with Jerry, so I can’t say I blame him. Relationship Grade: 5/10
Jordan: Kramer and Gail are like Sofia Vergara and Jon Favreau in that movie where one of them is a chef. At least, I’m assuming they are. I didn’t see that movie. Does Sofia Vergara avoid kissing people and love shoes? Anyone? Relationship Grade: Pasta Primavera/10
What Worked
Justin: I enjoyed getting back into the script writing stuff; George pissed off about his therapist not liking the script was believable and his reaction was great, including the freak out at the end; Kramer giving in to kissing Gail and turning on Jerry like a backstabber, but what can you do; Kramer also has turned into a gossip; Elaine confronting Gail was ballsy and fun, her sneezing on Russell’s pasta primavera was not; The whole scene in Russell’s apartment was great, between the script, the vomiting and the cleavage, it had it all; George’s face when staring at the cleavage was phenomenal; The scheme to get back at Russell had good intentions, especially George’s dig about Elaine’s cleavage; Elaine in the black dress, hache mache!
Aaron: I continue to really enjoy all the “writing” scenes. They truly capture the essence of the excitement of finding hilarity in the most mundane lines that you write. I felt Gail was strong and I like the recurring theme of busting Jerry’s balls about what’s wrong with his friends. Kramer is his usual excellent self especially when he finally gets that he understands women. The confidence and the plosive consonants that follow are fantastic. I probably should have mentioned it above, but I always enjoy when they need something crass to be said they always go to Elaine. “Cause she caught you j…” is a line that only makes sense coming from her mouth.
Andrew: I always enjoy the self-referential jokes about writing a sitcom. I was really entertained by George and Jerry being so confident while writing, but immediately doubting themselves whenever someone doesn’t love the script. Jerry saying a cleavage comedy is too “broad” for his pilot was a nice meta moment, and I have to think the stuff about not being able to write for women comes from someplace real. Kramer’s snub is really good, the fact that he ends up dating Gail is even better, and George’s line about his snubbing attempts is great (“You never see people so pleased”). Speaking of George, I thought having him waiting by the door to ambush Elaine about the therapist was a nice touch. I don’t always love the stand-up interstitials, but Jerry’s “sexual rulebook” made me laugh. There are a lot of great lines in this one, and Russell’s “get a good look Costanza?” is an all-timer, but my favorite this time around was George’s observation on divorce: “I’m the result of my parents having stayed together, so you never know.”
Jordan: Pointing out the favorite story again – I like that Jerry and George have absolutely no clue how to write for Elaine, and her actions in the episode only confuse them further. George getting furious at his therapist is great, and the fact that he even had her read it is kind of funny. Kramer is kind of sleazy here, but it’s enjoyable. The scene at Russell’s apartment was good, with Russell getting violently ill and Jerry and George just sit listening to it. The poke, peek and field of vision explanations are cool. Elaine’s look of victory when Russell finally looks is a nice touch.
What Didn’t Work
Justin: Gail Cunningham sucks; How did Kramer know Gail’s shoe size? Seemed odd
Aaron: It’s starting to stretch the believability a bit that Jerry is continuing to write this pilot with George. He’s brought nothing but strife since to the project from day one. This episode should have been called “The Tits” or “The Mindfuck” but the unfortunate naming is merely a victim of the times.
Andrew: So they trick Russell into looking at Elaine’s cleavage, and all is forgiven? I didn’t buy that. (Shut up.)
Jordan: Gail does not seem like someone who would date Jerry once, let alone three times. Gail demanding the shoes is kind of dumb, but I get it.
Key Character Debuts
Gail Cunningham
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
– “You know what I did? I snubbed her.” – Kramer “What do you mean, you snubbed her?” – Jerry “I walked right by her – bffffft – never said a word.” – Kramer “Right by her?” – Jerry “Right by her!” – Kramer “What you do say about a guy like this, huh! You are some great friend, I tell ya, snubbed her! Not that I condone it. I’ve never condoned snubbing in my administration. Your loyalty is beyond question.” – Jerry “Yeah. Well, you know, she was lucky I was in a good mood – coulda been a lot worse.” – Kramer
– Elaine buys Botticelli’s shoes
– “Ooh, so…I understand you’re buying new shoes now at Botticelli’s.” – Kramer “What? Who told you that?” – Elaine “Gail Cunningham.” – Kramer “I don’t understand, why is this woman talking about my shoes? Why are my shoes a topic of conversation?” – Elaine “Well, you know, we were just talking, and she mentioned how you’re buying your shoes now at Botticelli’s.” – Kramer
– “My cousin worked for Bouchard’s. They used to use the bouilla-base for a toilet.” – George “What are you saying?” – Russell “Well, you didn’t hear it from me, but needless to say, if you go in there – stick with the consumee.” – George
– “Get a good look, Costanza?” – Russell
– “You’re supposed to just take a peek after a poke. You were like you just put a quarter into one of those big metal things on top of the Empire State Building.” – Jerry “It’s cleavage. I couldn’t look away. What am I, waiting to win an Oscar here? This is all I have in my life.” – George “Looking at cleavage is like looking at the sun, you don’t stare at it. It’s too risky. You get a sense of it and then you look away.” – Jerry “All right. So, he caught me in a cleavage peek, so big deal. Who wouldn’t look at his daughter’s cleavage? She’s got nice cleavage.” – George “That’s why I poked.” – Jerry “That’s why I peeked.” – George
– “Right in the kitchen. Disgraceful.” – Kramer
– “You don’t consider age in the face of cleavage. This occurs on a molecular level, you can’t control it! We’re like some kind of weird fish where the eyes operate independently of the head.” – Jerry
– “What do you mean, Gail? You don’t think I can attract attention? You don’t think I can put asses in the seats?” – Elaine
– “Elaine, this pilot…it doesn’t matter to me, it’s not me I’m concerned about…it’s my mother. I’ve been over to the hospital to see her…” – George “Oh yeah, because she caught you jer -” – Elaine “Nevermind!” – George
– “Pasta primavera! Back on the horse.” – George
Oddities & Fun Facts
– Denise Richards portrayed Molly Dalrymple
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
Justin: This is an episode that is hurt by the overall quality of the season and show. It was a really good sitcom episode, but it was a bit too sitcomy at times and just fell short of the standard the series had set in season four. There was some really funny parts and I enjoyed getting back to the pilot storyline, but I felt like things never quite kicked into that next gear. Lots of good cleavage though. Lots of it. Final Grade: 6/10
Aaron: Solid writing with fun performances, including a deep portrait of a young girl by Denise Richards. This one flew by and while not the greatest of episodes, it’s still light years ahead of most of the first three seasons. Final Grade: 7/10
Andrew: This was a really solid, entertaining episode, but it lacks a certain something. Maybe, to use Jerry’s words, it’s a little “too broad”; a cleavage storyline isn’t exactly groundbreaking material. And while there are plenty of memorable moments, the episode could have used a big laugh at the end to put it over the top. As it stands, it’s a really enjoyable watch, but a notch below the season’s best. Final Grade: 7/10
Jordan: This was OK. I enjoyed most of the scenes, but outside of Elaine showing off the girls, nothing is memorable. This seemed like more of a set up for where the season is going with the pilot and NBC, bringing Russell back into the equation. Even a show about nothing sometimes needs some time to set up stories sometimes, and that’s what this one felt like. Final Grade: 6/10
|
|
|
Post by sbtbfanatic on Jun 16, 2015 12:11:01 GMT
Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch – “The Old Man” (S4, E18)
Best Character
Justin: I may have to go four way tie here with George, Newman, Kramer and Sid. They were all top of the line here. George flaming out as a volunteer was perfect, followed by his oiled head dream coming true. Sid was the man, a cantankerous, rotten, angry, bitter piece of shit. In the best kind of way. Newman and Kramer were tons of fun during their escapade, closed out with their brouhaha at the record store thanks to Kramer’s acid tongue and Newman’s ballsy delivery.
Aaron: I’m not sure what his problem is but Sid Fields steals this one like a Senegalian… Sengali… like the woman who’s apparently stealing his things. He’s the perfect storm of old, paranoid and racist which reminds us all of some elderly person we know. He may not like voodoo music, but he knows a fool when he sees one. Sid Fields is a mean, mean man who suffers neither fool, hipster doofus or mailman.
Andrew: Sid Fields is the best character in this episode. That shouldn’t be taken as a slight on the main cast, who are all quite good. I just love that ornery old man. Complaining about his kids, casting aspersions on the housekeeper, picking fights with strangers; the character is perfect, and is the main reason this episode works.
Jordan: As the last one to chime in here, I have to say I thought I was being clever when I said to myself, “I’m going to give Best Character to Sid!” WELP, looks like I wasn’t the only one thinking this. He’s awesome. An old jerk who doesn’t care and lets everyone know it, and no one is safe – Jerry’s a target, his poor maid is a target, his stupid kids are a target. Sid owns this one.
Best Storyline
Justin: I have to go with the records because it included pretty much everyone at one point or another. It was a great Kramer and Newman scheme and led to the best scenes of the episode in Sid’s apartment and at the record store at the end.
Aaron: I really enjoyed Kramer and Newman: treasure hunters. Newman was hilarious in every scene and his parroting of Kramer’s insults is fantastic.
Andrew: This may be stretching the definition of “storyline” a bit, but I’ll go with oiling up your bald head and rubbing it all over a woman’s body. That’s one of the all-time great fictional sex acts, completely ridiculous and immediately hilarious to imagine. Adding Gandhi to the mix is the icing on the cake. I love that they have two characters bring it up independently, and it leads to an excellent episode capper, as the search party bursts in on an oily, semi-nude George. Good stuff.
Jordan: I like the very specific storyline of Elaine and her old person. She was the one that got Jerry and George into it, and she struggled the most. George got a healthy old man who didn’t want to be around him, Jerry got a mean old man, and Elaine got…the goiter. Her scenes were hilarious as she couldn’t even look up or maintain a conversation, and it’s capped off with her saying she wishes she had one.
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
Justin: I know it looked bad at the end, but Jerry had every right to take those records. He clearly asked Sid at least three times if he was just trashing them, and that old coot insultingly said yes every time. And while I am at it, the company representative really gave Jerry the business, but do they do any background checking before sending these people in for visits? I one quick sweep of the past of Jerry and George would show they are untrustworthy, selfish dickheads that shouldn’t be given custody of elderly folks for even an hour.
Aaron: Is it necessary to be nice and kind to a mean old bigot? Look I want to show everyone kindness and love but I think I may have drawn the line at Sid Fields. Perhaps on his first bite I may have dropped him on his head and had sex with his Segegalitian slave.
Andrew: Is it OK to do charity, or volunteer your time, if your only purpose is to feel good about yourself? Of course it is; regardless of motives, giving of yourself to help others is a net gain for all involved. As Bill Clinton once said, “There’s no real difference between selfish and selfless if you understand how the world works.” And I defer to our former President on all ethical matters.
Jordan: Maybe I’m confused here, but isn’t the purpose of spending time with these people because they are aging and have no one? Sid’s son was there at the end, and clearly knew about his record collection. How crappy of a son are you that your dad has charities sending him people to visit? Go see your dad, chump!
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
Justin: George and the housekeeper really could have had something special there and honestly nothing that bad went down that could prevent them from moving forward. She was his perfect woman, everything he was looking for. And she clearly seemed into him, given her excitement to spread oil on his bald dome. Give love a chance! Relationship Grade: 10/10
Aaron: Sid and the woman with the goiter probably would have had the driest sex this side of Jack Nicholson banging Helen Hunt. Unfortunately she just had to add milk to his tea without asking. What kind of monster does that??? Relationship Grade:2/10
Andrew: I found George’s language-barrier-crossing relationship more moving than the one in Love Actually, which says a lot, about both myself and Love Actually. Relationship Grade: 5/10
Jordan: Mrs. Oliver and Mohandas sounded like true love. Since she is living in the Seinfeld universe, I assume she is white, so their love transcended race. It probably transcended religion. I can picture Gandhi taking Mrs. O out to fancy restaurants, then not ordering anything for himself as he was fasting. Then things got hot and heavy once the oil came out. Relationship Grade: GANDHI/10
What Worked
Justin: The Spring Break line in the opening stand up bit made me laugh; George continues to be miserable when he is single, pining for a woman; Jerry’s dig about George being like an old person that needs companionship was good; Newman’s postal meltdown was fantastic as was Kramer and Newman at the record store, especially when Kramer was feeding him lines; Sid is delightfully out of his mind, especially with his treatment of Jerry; I love that George can’t wrap his head around Ben’s inability to think about death and then caps it by asking for money for lunch; Poor Elaine, she can never win; Only George can get fired from volunteering; Kramer and Newman taking Sid’s albums, ending with Kramer getting bit and George grinding his false teeth up was so great; That cab scene, so good; Kramer feeding Newman the insults was tremendous; George’s oiled head was the best possible way to end this whole fiasco until we got Sid and Ben showing us future George and Jerry, including an awesome callback to the goiter lady!
Aaron: George’s sorrowful complaining is always nicely balanced by Jerry callous indifference. Kramer, while mostly playing second fiddle to Newman, was extremely solid, especially when he trumpeted the cause of the alternative media and exposed helping the elderly for the con that it is. I’m a big fan of uncomfortable Elaine. George is also pretty great throughout and it’s a nice touch that even the elderly can’t stand to be around his level of annoyance for too long.
Andrew: The mysterious goiter works so well. The shadowy room, the descriptions, and most of all Elaine’s reactions, combine to make it much more horrifying than if they had actually shown it. It haunts my dreams. Newman is a force of nature in this one, starting off strong with the panicky knocking, raising the bar with his “the mail never stops” monologue, and capping it off by acting as Kramer’s mouthpiece in the record store. I thought Jerry was really good, once again playing to his strengths as the aloof, condescending counterpart to George’s misery. And his “old people backing out” stand-up bit is one of my favorites in the series. The scene with Sid and Ben in the diner is fantastic; it was a great idea to have it mirror a George and Jerry conversation, and they executed it really well. It’s either a harrowing or comforting glimpse into the future of George and Jerry, depending on your perspective.
Jordan: I like all the pairings this episode: Jerry and Sid, George and Mr. Cantwell, Elaine and the goiter, and Kramer and Newman. Sid wound up interacting with just about everyone, but it all worked just fine. I loved Mr. Cantwell pushing George down and saying life is too short to waste on him. The goiter scenes are great as I already mentioned. Kramer and Newman’s record hunt is a nice subplot that ties in at the end. Newman going berserk over everything gives George a run for his money and he would fit in fine as an every day character, in my opinion. I like the scene at the end with Sid and Ben at the diner together.
What Didn’t Work
Justin: Honestly, nothing this time around, I dug it all.
Aaron: As much as I love stories where stuff ties in, this one was a bit much. George laments wanting a woman who doesn’t speak English and he finds one, Sid ends up taking out the goiter lady, it just feels a little too neat. Maybe I’m just becoming a cynical asshole, who knows. I also found it weird that Elaine was so into the story of the woman banging Gandhi. If she was so repulsed and distracted by the goiter there’s no way she doesn’t picture Mahatma peacefully penetrating it. Did anyone else find it infuriating that they never told us what to call people from Senegal?
Andrew: Jerry goes from “Eh, it’s not for me” to signing up with the volunteer organization awfully quick, and without an explanation. It’s not a huge plot hole, but it’s not great. I was feeling weary of George’s relationship moping in the beginning, but it bookends really well with the old men, so I’ll take it.
Jordan: As I mentioned earlier, it bugs me that Sid’s son is around. If they just threw in a line like, “I pay people to visit him so I don’t have to!”, I’d be fine with it. I just can’t get past the idea of a guy getting visitors from an agency when his son clearly lives nearby.
Key Character Debuts
N/A
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
– “Oh, what’s the point? When I like them, they don’t like me, when they like me, I don’t like them. Why can’t I act with the ones I like the same way I do with the ones I don’t like?” – George “Well, you’ve only got another fifty years or so to go before it’ll *all* be over…” – Jerry “Maybe I need someone who doesn’t speak English.” – George “Yeah, how about a mute?” – Jerry “A mute would be good.” – George “Ah, where you gonna meet a mute?” – Jerry “This is what my life has come to… Trying to meet a mute.” – George
– “Your misery is my pleasure.” – Jerry
– “What kind of a person are you?” – George “I think I’m pretty much like you…only successful.” – Jerry
– “Oh, Jerry, I’m surprised at you!” – Kramer “What?” – Jerry “It’s a con. These agencies are usually a front for some money laundering scheme. Or they’re bunko artists; bilkin’ people out of their life savings, oh yeah.” – Kramer “Where do you get this?” – Jerry “The alternative media, Jerry. That’s where you hear the truth.” – Kramer
– Hello, Newman
– We first find out Newman is a postal worker
– “Because the mail never stops. It just keeps coming and coming and coming, there’s never a let-up. It’s relentless. Every day it piles up more and more and more! And you gotta get it out but the more you get it out the more it keeps coming in. And then the barcode reader breaks and it’s Publisher’s Clearing House day!!!” – Newman
– “Are you going to kill me? I’m an old man for crying out loud, you gonna kill an old man, you coward?!?” – Sid
“Oh listen, before you go, would you mind changing my diaper? Ha!” – Sid
“What are you talking about? How can you sit there and look me in the eye and tell that me you’re not worried?! Don’t you have any sense?!! Don’t you have a brain!? Are you so completely senile that you don’t know what you’re talking about anymore!!?!” – George
– “I don’t know what I’m going to do. I can’t look the woman in the face. I mean I keep thinking that that goiter’s gonna start talking to me…” – Elaine
– “They really should mention that in the breakdown: height, weight, goiter.” – Jerry
– “Yeah, I’m a great quitter. It’s one of the few things I do well. I come form a long line of quitters. My father was a quitter, my grandfather was a quitter… I was raised to give up. Kramer and Newman come in, albums in hand…” – George
– “Oh yeah, you and your Sergio Mendes…” – Jerry “Hey, hey, hey, hey, that guy can’t even go to the bathroom in South America!” – Kramer
– “And who were these other people. What were they doing in the apartment!?” – Tim “Well, I brought them up there to take his records.” – Jerry
Oddities & Fun Facts
– Jerry owns Journey’s Escape album
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
Justin: I have to say, this was way better than I remember it being. I wasn’t totally looking forward to watching it, but it won me over quickly. The guest elderly actors all delivered in spades, especially Sid. Seeing George fail spectacularly at volunteering was perfect and the whole scene with Kramer and Newman taking the records and the capper with the cab pile-in was amazing. Also, we need more Newman and Kramer team antics, as they were fantastic here. I won’t say it was the perfect episode, but it was really strong writing throughout, moving at a rapid pace and tying everything together perfectly, right down to the final scene with Sid and Ben bringing it all full circle at the coffee shop. Good showing, idiots! Final Grade: 7/10
Aaron: This one is pretty solid throughout, but at no time did I imagine I was watching a classic. There’s some pretty great performances which put it a little above the average, but the lack of any classic moments hurts this one a little. It’s a solid seven, but it’s like the worst of the sevens. Still definitely worth a watch if you enjoy the red hot rage of the elderly. Final Grade: 7/10
Andrew: This episode was a pleasant surprise for me. I remember enjoying a lot of these scenes, but I had never really thought about the episode as a whole before, and I thought it worked very well. I feel like I may be overrating this one a bit, as it’s still a level below the season’s best, but I had a really good time re-watching it. Final Grade: 7/10
Jordan: What’s not to like about this one? It hits a lot of the Seinfeld checkmarks: George is scheming and annoying, Jerry is not interested in the care of others, Elaine is uncomfortable, Kramer has a get rich quick scheme, and Newman is angry. The guest characters, especially Sid, deliver in a huge way. I’m talking GOITER huge! This was a lot of fun. Final Grade: 8/10
|
|
|
Post by sbtbfanatic on Jun 16, 2015 12:11:52 GMT
Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch – “The Implant” (S4, E19)
Best Character
Justin: Man, this is another close race. George, Jerry and Elaine were all quite good, but I have to go with the K-Man. Kramer was a real fly in the ointment for Jerry and George and I loved his Rushdie stuff and wish we got more of a payoff there. If George had a little more screen time, he probably would have taken it for me. Elaine started hot but cooled off and Jerry’s nonsense about breaking up with Sidra because she was enhanced pissed me off too much to reward him.
Aaron: Elaine is so good at being smugly superior and this is fully on display as she gleefully boasts to Jerry that Sidra’s breasts are fake, leading him down a path of insanity that surely plagues him to this day. Which is so nicely contrasted with the shame/jealousy she feels when she discovers they are real, and are, in fact, the Mount Olympus to her Indianapolis motor speedway. If you thought that comparison was awkward, watch Elaine’s face as she scopes out Sidra nude for the first time. First class stuff here from Lainey.
Andrew: I’ll go with Kramer. His Salman Rushdie storyline didn’t really go anywhere, but he was the most consistently funny character in the episode. I enjoyed his “it’s like a sauna in here” bit, I liked that he insisted on borrowing Jerry’s bathing suit, and I admire his familiarity with the female form.
Jordan: I like Elaine here, and I feel like I’m inclined to give a bump to whoever gets the ball rolling on the episode’s main story arc. That’s Elaine this time, as she plants the seeds of doubt in poor Jerry’s brain, convincing him that Sidra’s got breast implants. Jerry is a fool for letting that bother him, by the way. Back to Elaine, the scene with her and Sidra in the sauna does a nice job of securing her victory this time around.
Best Storyline
Justin: As classic as the breast test is, I have to go with George’s quest to make out and save money on flights. It had all the best of George: stuck in an aimless relationship, screwed by a phone call, tries to be cheap and he pulls it off with the doctor and then blows it all because he can’t help himself with Timmy. In the end, he loses the girl and the cash. Perfect Costanza.
Aaron: It’s almost Kramer trying to out Salman Rushdie, but I have to give it to George just trying to get laid. He travels to Detroit, the city of losers, (how ’bout it?) just to get into a woman’s pants. Factor in the car rentals, food on the road (god knows he likes to eat) and all the fights he got into, he probably should have just ordered a prostitute.
Andrew: I wasn’t crazy about any of the storylines in this episode, but I think George’s quest for a bereavement fare was the best of the bunch. I don’t know if airlines really require a death certificate for the discount, but if they do, that practice deserves to be made fun of, and it fits in with the established cheapness of the character. And this plot includes the funniest moment of the episode, the double dip.
Jordan: I feel like the implants is the one everyone remembers because of Teri Hatcher, the line, and boobs. But George trying to score by being the doting boyfriend is better. The best part? He’s not doting at all-he just shows up, eats a ton of food, and starts asking around for a death certificate. Also, Detroit is the heart of America, Aaron! You monster!
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
Justin: Should Jerry have dumped Sidra because he thought her breasts were fake? Hell no, idiot. Look at her! At least test drive them first before you do something so rash. She obviously had the hots for Jerome so he could have closed on the next date. Asinine.
Aaron: Where do we stand on double dipping? I think they deserve a place on the scorn shelf right between Holocaust deniers and Nickelback fans. Timmy’s right. It’s like putting your whole mouth in the goddamned bowl. Honestly though with George his hands go so quickly in and out of his mouth while eating that single dipping probably wouldn’t have saved the room from swapping spit with Mr. Costanza.
Andrew: Is it OK to gossip about breast implants? On the one hand, there’s no need to feel pity for someone who gets cosmetic surgery purely out of vanity. On the other, we, as a society, could probably stand to spend less time obsessing over woman’s bodies, and judging them for the choices they make as a result of that pressure. If you couldn’t tell, this episode is depressing the crap out of me.
Jordan: If Salmon Rushdie was working out at your gym, would you want to investigate it further, or would you immediately find another gym out of fear of getting caught in the crossfire of a possible assassination? This is why I don’t work out.
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
Justin: Kramer and Sal Bass really had something brewing. They had instant chemistry and Kramer landed a nice joke to break the ice. I want to see more of this dynamic duo in the future. Relationship Grade: Bass/Salmon
Aaron: Sidra is way too hot for Jerry. Look at that picture up there!!! She’s also way too reasonable. The fact that someone that attractive would go back out with someone who just dumped them to be with their ex is completely implausible. She is the high water mark for Jerry girlfriends though. He’d totally be kicking himself for the rest of his life for not closing that deal. Relationship Grade:8/10
Andrew: Peak Teri Hatcher doesn’t hurt the rating, but neither Jerry nor George had any real chemistry with their respective romantic interests. Kramer taking a steam with Sal Bass was hotter (do you see what I did there). Relationship Grade: 2/10
Jordan: George ruined poor Betsy. Since she had hearing issues, she probably relocated to a quiet place, like….Pawnee, Indiana. And she probably got a job that wouldn’t be difficult with a hearing problem, like……a librarian. Also, to make sure George couldn’t track her down, she probably changed her name to….Tammy. Poor Ron Swanson. Relationship Grade: TAMMY/10
What Worked
Justin: They are indeed spectacular; Elaine bursting Jerry’s bubbles over Sidra’s talent was great; The left/right fiasco was so George, topped by the awful phone call right when he finally got his way; George’s pantomiming during the call was equally good; Kramer’s sauna joke always makes me crack up; I love Kramer again setting up to screw George on plane tickets; Elaine and Sidra dishing on Jerome in the sauna was funny, ending with the test; Kramer’s fine acting skills were on display with the bereavement ticket purchase and I loved him popping up fine with the frequent flier number; The fucking Rushdie/Sidra conversation between Kramer and Jerry; Sal Bass!; Double dip!; Nice touch and callback with Jerry trying to get on Sidra’s left side; Jerry’s breast conversation was masterful; Kramer’s bathing suit mission blowing up Jerry’s spot was well orchestrated;
Aaron: I love the contrasts in the emergency interruptions; first you get George trying to make a move and getting thwarted by an Aunt dying, then we get Jerry getting thwarted by Kramer needing a bathing suit. Both very, very serious situations, which also nicely contrast Sidra’s understanding and George’s callous mocking of his grieving girlfriend. The discussion about needing to be on a particular side of a woman to make a move hit painfully close to home for me. Kramer’s crying is great and I love that they try to revisit the frequent flyer miles scam. Cause it worked so well last time… The conversation about Kramer’s “boys” is something we hope we never need to have with our neighbors. Kramer saying “I like yours” suggests a familiarity rabbit hole that I’d rather not go down at 11:30PM on a Thursday. Timmy instantly hating George upon first sight is great and shows him to be an excellent judge of character. The double dip conversation that follows could easily go down as one of the most memorable in the series. Lastly the entire ending sequence of Sidra’s departure from the great blocking when she decides to leave to the fantastic closing line is a masterful piece of television.
Andrew: I didn’t realize until this very moment that Megan Mullally played Betsy, but it’s always good to see her. George pantomiming a plane during her tearful phone conversation made me laugh. Kramer explaining his familiarity with breast implants with “I lived in Los Angeles for three months” was pretty good, as was Jerry’s “Real busy down at the office?” line. I thought Timmy was perfect as the unpleasant brother, and the double dip scene still holds up. I had no memory of George’s Polaroid with the casket, but it made me laugh this time around.
Jordan: As it relates to Sidra, I would like to borrow a quote from the wise and sophisticated Justin Rozzero: “Hache mache!” I do like that they cast Teri Hatcher in the role since she was well known as Lois Lane, so poor Jerry unknowingly lets his dream girl leave. Her revelation that “They’re real, and they’re spectacular!” at the end is a classic Seinfeld line. Kramer’s insistence that Sal Bass is Salmon Rushdie is a fun story that suits Kramer. I talked about Elaine already above-but I’ll add I liked her talking about Jerry with Sidra and the clumsy trip into boobs is a move I’m surprised more guys don’t try out. George forcibly moving seats on the couch with Betsy is funny, and his explanation that there are only 3 emergencies in the world was good stuff. Kramer wanting to borrow Jerry’s bathing suit is awesome.
What Didn’t Work
Justin: Jerry is insane wanting to ditch super hot Sidra because her tits are fake; Timmy is a weird looking dude
Aaron: I hate when Jerry tries to pick someone up. It’s so awkward and lame that it boggles the mind as to how this man has ever gotten any trim (sorry I was thinking a lot about Eddie Murphy today).
Andrew: Jerry not wanting to hook up with a girl with fake boobs didn’t work for me. I guess it’s supposed to be part of the shallow, petty aspect of the character, but it doesn’t ring true for me, and often came across as arbitrary and mean. Similarly, I didn’t care for the “consolation guy” discussion. I usually enjoy the show’s unsentimental perspective on dating, but leveraging a death in the family to get in a woman’s pants is pushing it a bit. This stuff would probably bother me less if it had been funnier, and the lack of laughs is probably the real flaw here. Other random questions: Was Elaine wearing a flannel tied around her waist as gym attire? George is willing to ask around for a death certificate at a wake, but not admit that it’s for a discount on the plane ticket? Is only being able to make a move from one side a real thing?
Jordan: George works best when he’s an imbecile or a jerk, not when someone else is. Timmy was a real lunatic here, not George. Sure, double dipping is gross, but starting a giant fight at a wake is ridiculous. Jerry’s a fool for not wanting to date Sidra.
Key Character Debuts
– Sidra
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
– “Hi, Sidra. I usually last about ten minutes on a Stairmaster. Unless of course there’s someone stretching in front of me in a leotard, then I can go an hour.” – Jerry
– “You know, uh…they’re fake.” – Elaine “What? Don’t say that!” – Jerry “Nah! They’re fake!” – Elaine “How do you know?” – Jerry “I can tell. You know how you’re always bragging how you can spot a lesbian?” – Elaine “I’m not bragging, I happen to have a very keen lesbian eye.” – Jerry “Oh, right. C’mon, don’t you think they seem a bit too perfect?” – Elaine “Yes, they do!” – Jerry “I never knew you were so into breasts. I thought you were a leg man.” – Elaine “A leg man? Why would I be a leg man? I don’t need legs. I have legs.” – Jerry
– “Don’t be so sure. Look at George – he’s on his ninth date with Betsy, he still hasn’t gotten anywhere with her.” – Jerry “What’s his problem?” – Elaine “Well, every time he tries to make a move, something screws up. Like on their last date, they were on the couch, but she was sitting on his wrong side.” – Jerry “Wrong side?” – Elaine “Yeah, she was on his right side. He can’t make a move with his left hand. Can’t go left.” – Jerry “He can’t go left.” – Elaine “No! I’m lefty, can’t go right.What about women? Do they go left or right?” – Jerry “Nah, we just play defense.” – Elaine
– “Positive! This chick’s playin’ with confederate money.” – Elaine “Well then, that’s it. That’s the end of that.” – Jerry “What? Just ’cause of that?” – Elaine “Just ’cause of that? It’s like finding out Mickey Mantle corked his bat!” – Jerry
– “You know, sometimes when I think you’re the shallowest man I’ve ever met, you somehow manage to drain a little more out of the pool.” – Elaine
– “Oh man, I wish I could get away.” – Kramer “Real busy now down at the office?” – Jerry
– “You put her on a pedestal.” – Jerry “I put them on a dental chair.” – Kramer
– “Her aunt dying is the best thing that ever happened to you.” – Jerry “It’s like ten dates in one shot.” – Kramer
– “Ah, look who’s here. Silicon Valley.” – Elaine
– “Anyway, touching two breasts doesn’t make you an expert.” – Jerry “Alright, well anyway, I think they’re real. And if they are, I must say they are…spectacular.” – Elaine “Aw, what are you doin’ to me?” – Jerry
– “Hey, of the two of us, I’m the only one who’s touched ’em.” – Elaine
– “Well, I don’t mind someone with a phony personality, but I gotta draw the line somewhere.” – Jerry
– “If that’s Rushdie, they’re real.” – Jerry “If they’re real, that’s Rushdie.” – Kramer
– “Jerry, are you blind? He’s a writer. He said his name was Sal Bass. Bass, Jerry! Instead of salmon, he went with bass! He just substituted one fish for another!” – Kramer “Look, you idiot, first of all, it’s Salman, not salmon!” – Jerry
– “Why do you need a death certificate?” – Dr. Allenwood “Well, Dr, Allenwood, uh…I was hoping to compile an – admittedly, rudimentary – scrapbook of her life. Something that Betsy could have, and hold onto.” – George
– The faux pas of double dipping a chip enters the public lexicon
– “Double-dipped”? What are you talking about?” – George “You dipped the chip. You took a bite. And you dipped again.” – Timmy “So…?” – George “That’s like putting your whole mouth right in the dip! From now on, when you take a chip – just take one dip and end it!” – Timmy
– “Good, feel good…you know that Jayne Mansfield had some big breasts. Really big, huge…just coming out the top of her dress, they were like, chokin’ her.” – Jerry
– “I don’t know, my bathing suit? That’s a little familiar, I don’t want your…your boys down there.” – Jerry “C’mon, what’s wrong with my boys?” – Kramer “Your boys should stay in their neighborhood.” – Jerry
– “I think you’re both mentally ill. And by the way…they’re real, and they’re spectacular.” – Sidra
– “They’re real, and they’re spectacular” becomes a famous catchphrase
– “Well, you see, what happened was…the doctor – the very same doctor that was attending to my late aunt – suffered an untimely stroke, and lost the use of his right hand, so…obviously I was unable to get the death certificate. However, I do have this.” – George “What’s this?” – Clerk “That’s a picture of me next to the coffin.” – George
Oddities & Fun Facts
– Teri Hatcher plays Sidra
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
Justin: Another classic episode in a season stocked with them. This one comes late in the game but has two iconic Seinfeld catchphrases that would penetrate pop culture in double dipping and the spectacular line. Sidra was easily one of Jerry’s best ladies so far as she was very entertaining in her role. George’s issues were pretty much the B plot and was so good it easily could have been the main storyline. Toss in Kramer’s Bass fishing and Elaine’s stumble and we have an easy winner. I can’t say it had that true epic laugh out loud moment so it falls just short of the real classics, but there was a lot here to love. I wouldn’t blame you at all if you double dipped watching this one. Final Grade: 8/10
Aaron: Great, memorable episode with solid writing and a couple of classic moments. What I love about this rewatch is that I start to look forward to The Implant because of the whole “real and spectacular bit” but then it hits me half way through that this is also the “double dip” episode. It’s so easy to forget how much they would cram into every 22 minutes. Final Grade: 8/10
Andrew: I didn’t care for this one at all. It seemed better in my memory, but that may just because “They’re real, and they’re spectacular” became a catchphrase, and the “double dip” became a cultural phenomenon. I didn’t find this episode nearly as funny as recent offerings, and without the distraction of laughs the weaker plot points start offending me more. This was a rare downer in an otherwise excellent season. Final Grade: 4/10
Jordan: This is one that I feel is overhyped. It’s got a classic line, a notable guest star in Hatcher, and a great Seinfeld-ism with the double dipping…..but there’s not a lot else going on. Still, Sidra is the best romantic interest any character has had yet and Kramer’s fascination with Sal Bass is amusing. George’s scenes at the airport are classic Costanza. So while this isn’t as great as I, and many others, remember it being, it’s still a solid outing. Final Grade: 6/10
|
|
|
Post by sbtbfanatic on Jun 16, 2015 12:12:25 GMT
Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch – “The Handicap Spot” (S4, E20)
Best Character
Justin: I am going with the George and Kramer duo here. George was at his best throughout, fretting over all the money he has to spend on meaningless gifts and Kramer spewing wisdom and channeling his inner svengali was tremendous as well. I loved them together at the wheelchair store and the more screen time they get together in these episodes, the better and better their chemistry and timing gets. I have to give shoutouts to Frank Costanza, an immediate force of nature, and the salesman, who was great with his quick delivery and pitches.
Aaron: He’s the recipient of the Silver Circle award and now the winner of the best character of the episode. I’m gonna be straight up honest with you here. It’s always going to be Frank Costanza. Every time. His mix of cruelty and rage is unparalleled in the goddamn universe. He’s even funny when he’s not on. I started cracking up when I saw the car totaled because I knew who George had to explain this to. Just when I’m starting to feel bad about giving him this one despite his scant screen time, he spells out the word DEEEEE-LIV-ERRR while screaming at his son. The man makes me happy to be alive.
Andrew: It’s close, but I’m giving this one to Kramer. He’s just so good at the little things, consistently turning secondary material into gold. I laughed out loud watching him drive the wheelchair into everything in the store, and the “George, am I beautiful?” scene always gets me. I also admire the fact that he has no reservations about dating a woman who uses a wheelchair. He is a “God blessing” to us all.
Jordan: There are things in life that I am certain of, that are unshakable. One of those things was that whenever we finally got to Frank Costanza on Seinfeld, he would immediately take Best Character. And yet…it’s Kramer. My faith is shattered. I no longer know what to believe. Up is down, down is up. Black is white, white is black – so at least the black and white cookie remains. My head is spinning. I don’t know whether to cry, puke or punch something. This world has undone me, and I am forever broken. Kramer was funny, by the way.
Best Storyline
Justin: The whole handicap spot fiasco was great. I love that their shit luck led to the injury, I love George’s rant on the lazy handicapped woman in the bakery, I love the plotting, Kramer’s brief love affair, all of it. It all crests with Frank getting arrested and forcing George to be his butler.
Aaron: I found this one to be a little all over the place so it’s hard to pin down a great storyline. So I guess we’ll go with Kramer trying to date the handicapped woman. He experiences the highest of highs and the lowest of lows seemingly within about a quarter of an hour. What a doofus.
Andrew: This category is close as well, but I like the engagement gift as best storyline. I always enjoy a plot in which the main characters are totally in the wrong, but we still want to take their side. In this case, I can’t see etiquette requiring the return of gifts after an engagement is broken off, and since they were donated to charity, I have no ethical objection. And yet, I totally understand the Seinfeld crew’s frustration, and frankly, I can’t blame them for stealing back the TV in the end. Sometimes, you just have to rob a woman with a disability to get some peace of mind.
Jordan: It’s the handicap stuff, specifically Kramer’s involvement. He’s the one that suggested they park in the spot, he’s the one that fell in love with the handicapped woman, he’s the one that insisted George help him buy a wheelchair. I love him riding into things while testing out the automatic model in the store.
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
Justin: Should you park in a handicap spot if you are not handicapped? Probably not. I am surprised the crew missed the potentially easy way out by just coming to the car and having one of them pretending to be handicapped and just acting like they forgot their tag. I said too much…
Aaron: I totally understand George’s rationale about not asking his father for the car once he has “his spot.” All my father does is talk about the parking situation near his house. His landlord (who lives downstairs of a duplex) has two driveway spaces, neither which my father has access to. The landlord refuses to park in his own driveway and instead parks his three cars out on the street taking up three spaces. This is only magnified in the winter when said landlord cleans out his entire back yard of snow and piles it in the street, taking up at least another two spaces. I’m not sure why he needs his entire patio cleared when it’s minus forty outside, but he does…and so does everyone else on the street. So I get George’s apprehension. I’ve dealt with that kind of crazy. Perhaps that’s why Frank has lost his mind. Years of parking frustration may have driven him to madness. Is my dad going to be all right?
Andrew: Is mob justice an acceptable reaction here? I still have questions about how Lola parking in the handicapped spot would have prevented her from rolling down the ramp; is the idea that her battery wouldn’t have died as quickly if she did? Shouldn’t we be angrier with the people who built the wheelchair, or the ramp? That said, I can get on board with assuming that the kind of person who wrongfully takes a handicapped spot has probably done something to deserve getting their car trashed.
Jordan: Why was it on George and Kramer to buy Lola a new wheelchair? I know that they parked in the spot, but if her batteries died, it seems like she has an insurance claim that she could make. If her insurance rejected it, they are the real monsters here.
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
Justin: Kramer and Lola seemed meant to be. He was ready to put a ring on it. What happened? Why did it go so sour so quickly? Must be her rich family driving the wedge in between them. Kramer did nothing but shower love and wheelchairs on her and she paid him back with scorn. Relationship Grade: Rollin’/10
Aaron: Lola should never have led Kramer on. Don’t take a wheelchair from a man you’re not going to bang. That’s rule number one! Why on earth would she also try to crush his spirit by calling him ugly. As George awkwardly pointed out, he’s very attractive. Just a mess of a relationship which had been built on the best of intentions. Relationship Grade: $242/10
Andrew: If the Drakes can’t make it, I don’t know what hope the rest of us have. Also, I get the sense Lola was just scamming poor, trusting Kramer for a new wheelchair. My faith in love has been shaken to its core. Relationship Grade: 2/10
Jordan: Hate the Drake. I am totally judging by appearances here, but this guy just looked like a geek, just like rapper Drake. Also, after breaking up, he just sobbed like a baby, much like rapper Drake would. All of this revolved around a poor wheelchair bound person, much like rapper Drake in Degrassi. I feel like the entire rapper Drake persona was built from this episode. Relationship Grade: STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM/10
What Worked
Justin: George’s rant on presents is great; The Drake; Isosceles Kramer; Kramer’s suggestion to buy a house for them to all live in was a fantastic idea; Kramer’s take on the handicap spot was pretty intriguing; I love the callback about remembering where the car is parked; Frank Costanza is amazing immediately; Estelle and her mahjong friends are well portrayed; Kramer’s guilt trip on George to buy the wheelchair was tremendous; The salesman was perfect casting and the whole scene at the store was really well done; Elaine and Jerry’s callous reaction to the crumbling of the Drakes; Jerry and Elaine brooding about the breakup to the point that they think it’s a scam was funny; The God Blessing line always made me laugh; Poor Frank; Nice payoff with George having to become Frank’s butler and the big screen TV gift; Lola deserved what she got
Aaron: That was a nice triangle and it was damn kind of Kramer to be so affected by it. You could summarize the entire show nicely by watching the gang try to blame the handicapped person for getting injured when they parked in their spot. There’s something wonderful about the guy selling the wheelchairs being the scummiest man on earth. Subtle callback as George sits on the couch behind his mother playing Mahjong he grabs a “Glamour” magazine and looks VERY interested. I enjoyed the Kramer love story but I especially enjoyed him shaming George into chipping in for the wheelchair. George’s war against presents and good will was also endearing.
Andrew: I enjoy the “love/hate the Drake” bit as much now as the first time I saw this episode; that’s some impressive staying power. George’s nonsensical feminist rant was perfect for the character, and he somehow tops it with the even more ridiculous “rich, spoiled handicapped people” line. Jerry has some really good background material in this one, like being unreasonably proud of a triangle he drew, or thinking about getting a yo-yo. The scene where Kramer tells Jerry and George that he’s been dumped is excellent, from the hipster doofus callback, to “drop dead”, to the “Am I beautiful?” bit. It’s good to finally see the debut of Frank Costanza, and I’m totally with him on the value of a good parking spot. Having him get arrested at the United Volunteer ceremony was a nice touch, as is George being forced to be his butler. Estelle is excellent as usual, especially when blaming the incident with the car on that “troublemaker” Kramer is great. I loved Jerry and Elaine cheerfully walking out of the uncomfortable situation at the Drake’s apartment, and I’ve always enjoyed the out-of-control wheelchair scene.
Jordan: I really like that Kramer thinks if you can drive, you aren’t handicapped. George getting upset over the engagement gift was funny, and I also agree with him! We buy presents for EVERYTHING now. Jerry’s triangle is so random and I love that kind of stuff in the show. I like the guy pounding on the car even if I think a mob destroying the car is kind of stupid. The scene with George and Kramer at the wheelchair store was awesome. The salesman coming off like a used car salesman was done well, and I like him listing all the features of the top models. Kramer driving a wheelchair around and slamming into things was so great, and I kind of wish they went with a story where he loved it so much, he bought his own and just kept driving into things. The awkwardness with Jerry and Elaine at the apartment when the Drake reveals they just broke up is well done, and I like Elaine coming back in with the remote. Frank Costanza’s debut is good, not great.
What Didn’t Work
Justin: Where were the security guards in the parking lot of the mall; Jerry and Elaine gloating over their great gift was overbearing and kind of odd; The fact that the wheelchair would break and the big screen TV would be given to Lola while George happened to be at the house was all linked a bit too easily; The Drake is a pussy
Aaron: I hate all the Drake stuff. Always have, always will. They’re all just trying so hard to get it over. They’re trying as hard to get that saying over as the guy playing Drake is trying to cry. It may be the worst fake cry in entertainment history, and keep in mind I’m a fan of professional wrestling. Whiny George got on my nerves and Elaine was relegated to the background again. It’s like she’s there just to react to Jerry. Unacceptable.
Andrew: I watched the original version of this episode, with John Randolph playing George’s dad rather than Jerry Stiller. It was even weirder than seeing bizarro Morty Seinfeld, and I do not recommend it. I didn’t love the used car salesman routine at the wheelchair store; I get the feeling that was a bit that sounded funnier than it played.
Jordan: The whole big screen TV charity deal didn’t work, and I thought the scene at the end with Lola flying down a hill was cheesy. Would have been funnier to have Kramer retell the story and act it out.
Key Character Debuts
– Frank Costanza
– The Drake
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
– “The better looking they are, the faster they go! I mean, I see they out there on the street, they’re zooming around, like a blur. Like they have a motor on their ass.” – George
– “It never ends, this present stuff! Engagement present! Then they get married, you gonna have to get them something for that! Then the baby, there’s another present. Then the baby starts getting their presents. I don’t even like Drake.” – George “You don’t like the Drake?” – Jerry “Hate the Drake.” – George “I love the Drake.” – Kramer “How could you not like the Drake?” – Jerry “Who’s the Drake?” – George “Who’s the Drake?” – Elaine “The Drake is good!” – Jerry
– “That’s a nice triangle…” – Kramer “It’s Isosceles” – Jerry “Ooh, Isosceles. I love the name Isosceles. If I had a kid, I would name him Isosceles. Isosceles Kramer.” – Kramer
– “No, no, no. Out of the question. I was over there today. He’s got the good spot in front of the good building in the good neighbourhood. I know he’s not gonna wanna move.” – George
– “Have you ever seen a handicapped person pull into a space and park?” – Kramer “Well there’s spaces there, they must drive!” – Jerry “Well they don’t. If they could drive, they wouldn’t be handicapped.” – Kramer
– “Must be one of those rich, spoiled handicapped people, who didn’t want to do any work, and just wanted to sit in her wheelchair and take it easy. ” – George
– “Frank, the important thing is, he didn’t get hurt!” – Estelle’s Friend “No it isn’t!” – Frank
– “Well, I don’t know if I’m happy for them, I mean I’m glad they’re happy, but, frankly, that doesn’t do anything for me.” – Jerry
– George’s father Frank is introduced
– “She’s got everything I’ve always wanted in another human being. Except for the walking.” – Kramer “Oh, what’s the difference, you don’t go out that much.” – Jerry
– “Well, you know I went to the hospital today, and I saw the woman, you know, and the wheelchair is totalled, we gotta get her another one!” – Kramer “Doesn’t she have collision?” – George
– “This is out best model. The Cougar 9000. It’s the Rolls Royce of wheelchairs. This is like… you’re almost glad to be handicapped.” – Salesman
– “Boy, I am really starting to dislike the Drake!” – Elaine “I hate the Drake!” – Jerry
– “So you see George, the whole incident was a God blessing! Yeah!” – Kramer “You mean a blessing in disguise?” – George
– “George, am I beautiful?” – Kramer “…You’re very attractive…” – George
Oddities & Fun Facts
– Elaine ordered a veggie burger at the mall
– The Drew Carey Show’s Kathy Kinney plays a mob member
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
Justin: Another surprisingly good episode here. I knew there were funny bits mixed in before I turned it on, but it was pretty consistently funny throughout. Frank Costanza is amazing right out of the gate, stealing any scene he is in with his charisma and insanity. George and Kramer were top notch too, and I really loved the scene at the wheelchair store. I think there was maybe a bit too much tying everything together here, with the big screen TV and busted wheelchair colliding in the final scenes, but outside of that there was a lot to enjoy in this one but the heightened curve for this show affects it. Final Grade: 6/10
Aaron: Obviously ten for Frank. Everything else was a bit of a letdown though. I’ve said before that watching this series again has made me remember how much stuff was crammed into each episode. This one kind of had the opposite feel. There was nothing going on except everyone pushing this annoying catchphrase. Probably the weakest entry of the season for me. If you’d take Frank out I doubt I would have laughed once. They can’t all be winners. Final Grade: 5/10
Andrew: This episode has a lot going for it: a well-written plot, good performances, and some classic selfish, misanthropic behavior from the main cast. But I didn’t love it. When I try to identify what it is that is holding this one back, I can’t put my finger on anything. And yet, when I compare it to an episode like “The Outing”, it doesn’t measure up. It’s yet another sign of the greatness of season 4 that an offering this solid feels like a disappointment. Final Grade: 6/10
Jordan: I can’t complain about much here, other than it’s not as good as other episodes have been this season. Everyone was on point in this one: Jerry was good with the triangle and love/hate of the Drake, and I even liked his stand up bit at the beginning. Elaine was a little weak this time around, she just didn’t have much to do. George was good, Kramer was great, and the Costanzas are fun, but haven’t hit their stride yet. Overall, this one has some good laughs, especially from Kramer, and it moves quickly – but I think the last five minutes or so hurt it. The charity TV pickup and Frank’s arrest could have been done better. Final Grade: 6/10
|
|
|
Post by sbtbfanatic on Jun 16, 2015 12:13:31 GMT
Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch – “The Junior Mint” (S4, E21)
Best Character
Justin: I have to go Jerry here. Kramer and George had their moments and Elaine was good too, but Jerry was the most consistent throughout. Whether he was discussing history’s kind women, running through women’s names or making fake plans for the Poconos, he had a bunch of classic lines and memorable scenes. Add in the Junior Mint fumble and his Hall of Fame ad lib and you got it all.
Aaron: Kramer. He’s just so excited to find out what’s inside bone.
Andrew: This is a bit of a toss-up, but I’ll give it to Jerry. His dialogue is solid throughout, he has some great reaction shots, and I enjoy his pain-in-the-ass behavior when Elaine asks him to pretend to be her boyfriend. That said, my vote is based entirely on one line: “Then we can go watch ’em slice this fat bastard up.” That’s on the short list for greatest ad lib of all time.
Jordan: In a close battle, I’m giving it to Kramer. This is a case of someone losing the award rather than someone winning it. I was all set to give it to Jerry, then in the last scene where he starts guessing her name, he’s just got a big dopy grin on it the whole time. I imagine they shot it 50 times, and that’s the BEST they got. Poor showing from Jerome there, while Kramer just owns everything.
Best Storyline
Justin: This is really close for me. The Junior Mint incident is an all time classic and yet another crossover moment for the show, as Junior Mint jokes immediately flooded pop culture after this. But the quest to solve the mystery of Mulva locks it up. Watching Jerry transition from cocky to panicky was great and by the end the stakes had risen so high it felt like a brutal kick in the nuts that he figured out the name right after he blew it. Dolores was a hell of a catch. Bad looks, Jerome.
Aaron: The junior mint attempted homicide takes it for me here. It starts off so innocuously with a man trying to take a date to an operation but it quickly descends into secrets, lies and Kramer angrily threatening Jerry in his apartment to keep his mouth shut. Perhaps had he been a little more open to hearing spoilers about the operation he would have paid more attention to his snack and the fantastic slow-motion sequence that nearly cost the world triangles.
Andrew: Jerry not knowing his date’s name is hard to beat. Even without the rhyme angle, that’s a solid, relateably awkward storyline, and the attempts to surreptitiously figure it out are entertaining. But the “female body part” stuff is what really makes it, with some hilarious guesses (“Aretha? Bovary?”) and a legendary payoff (“Delores!”). I never saw it coming the first time I saw this episode, and it still amazes me that they came up with that.
Jordan: Another tight race: The Junior Mint is a classic, and Jerry’s delivery of the line, “It’s a Junior Mint.” is pretty darn solid for Jerry. On the flipside, you’ve got the unnamed woman. Is her name Gipple? Regina? Noob? When the dust settles, I’m just going to be a contrarian, and going with George thinking he may not hate Home Alone 2 as much if he knew the story of the original.
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
Justin: At what point should Jerry have asked Mulva her name? I say right out of the gate, the first date. He is a comedian, make it funny! Stop trying to be so sneaky! Also, why would Dolores really get so angry that he didn’t know her name. She obviously never told him it and then danced around revealing it to Kramer and George. This was all very avoidable.
Aaron: If you rent movies and take them to someone’s house are you, in fact, “doing something?” I think if you want to convince yourself that sitting by yourself in your friend’s apartment crying to Home Alone constitutes a healthy adult lifestyle, fine, but be prepared to do a lot of convincing. Only the most delusional of men would believe anything other than, at worst, doing such a thing is pathetic and at best it is simply fucking weird. You wouldn’t rent a hotel room to masturbate and you don’t show up at your friends with three, (3!!!) movies to watch alone. One of which is Pretty Woman. If only this was the weirdest thing George had ever done…
Andrew: You’d have to tell the doctor if you dropped something into a surgical cavity, right? I mean, I’m not one to talk when it comes to owning up to embarrassing mistakes, but…you’re putting someone’s life in danger, just to avoid getting chewed out. That’s a little too selfish and self-centered, even for me.
Jordan: Should George have blown all his savings on triangle paintings just because the guy wasn’t recovering quickly in surgery? He’s already had experience with art purchases and there was no guarantee of death. Plus, they’re triangles.
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
Justin: George and Susan B. Anthony seemed like oil and water on the surface, but they could have had the passion bright enough to match the light of a million stars. If he could get past his obvious issues, Soos could have been oiling up his bald head in no time. Relationship Grade: 10/10
Aaron: Mulva should have given Jerry a chance. Sure he could have handled the whole “not respecting her enough to know her name” thing better, but it’s not like he cut her into tiny pieces or anything. It’s a big loss for Jerry, as Hest seems sweet, funny and way too hot for him. Relationship Grade: 9/10
Andrew: Roy should have known better than to eat spaghetti in front of Elaine; despite what Disney’s canine romance films would have us believe, that is never sexy. As for Jerry’s friend: looks aside, she doesn’t appear to have anything going for her other than the name mystery. But a little mystery goes a long way. Relationship Grade: 5/10
Jordan: Things started out rough. They kept their distance. One was misunderstood by the other. But thanks to a string of robberies and a snow shovel, Kevin and Old Man Marley formed a bond that could never be broken. Relationship Grade: Macauly/10
What Worked
Justin: I have always loved Kramer’s desire to convert his apartment to a log cabin; I also enjoy George’s rationalization for watching the movie at George’s; I have enjoyed Jerry and Elaine’s random digs at each other about their relationship this season; Kramer’s stealth search for gloves was funny, as was his questioning of the doctor about the retractor; Superficial Elaine is pretty good, falling for Roy after the weight loss and his compliments; The yo-yo callback was awesome; So much random humor in here between Home Alone and the Clara Barton stuff; Jerry’s initial attempt at discovering the name followed up by the coffee shop sleuthing with George was good; Jerry’s fat bastard line was gold; The surgery scene is pretty iconic and instantly became yet another pop culture crossover moment; Kramer and George attempts at outing Mulva’s name; I like to think that the only thing that healed Roy was George Costanza’s terrible luck; Roy housing the spaghetti while the Doctor discusses God’s miracle was a nice dichotomy; The Joseph Puglia line has always been a favorite of mine
Aaron: I love how everyone was so callous to the fact that Roy could have died. Elaine laments that she can’t date “thin” Roy and George just flat out wants him to die so his art will go up in price. All the business with Elaine and Jerry pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend depending on her whims was great, and I’m a little shocked (in a good way) about how mean everyone is regarding Roy’s weight. They’re just waaaaaaay to comfortable with calling this guy fat, or blubbery or a fat bastard. Elaine is also great when she takes “I couldn’t eat for weeks,” as a compliment instead of the horrific time of Roy’s life that it was. Jerry dealing with the struggle to remember Joseph Puglia’s name is wonderful and Kramer dealing with the struggle to live in a log cabin is sublime.
Andrew: Ah, the provocative produce section, filled with romance and soon-to-be-overripe bananas. George’s Home Alone storyline was so delightfully random that I didn’t even care that it had nothing to do with the rest of the plot. Flirty Elaine is always a treat, and I love how charmed she is at the thought of being the cause of Roy’s crippling depression. And I appreciated the yo-yo and “Prognosis Negative” callbacks. What works the most in this episode’s favor is the dialogue. There are so many quotable lines, even in the filler stuff unrelated to the plot. For example, George and Jerry’s impromptu discussion of female historical figures really got me this time around.
Jordan: Kramer at the hospital always works. I liked him grilling the doc about retractors, then giving a concerned look at Roy. Speaking of Roy, him wolfing down the spaghetti at the end with Elaine trying to get out of dinner was good stuff. George weeping at Home Alone was hilarious and a moment I’d totally forgotten about. Mulva was a really good character, and Jerry’s stupid for blowing it by just not asking for her name. Jerry with the yo-yo is a nice callback, and the doc’s reaction to Jerry’s trick is good. Of course, the entire Junior Mint stuff works – especially Kramer wanting to see what’s inside of bone.
What Didn’t Work
Justin: George immediately trying to blow his found money feels a little un-Costanza like; Why exactly would George and Susan B. Anthony not get along?; Jerry should have just asked Mulva her damn name, she was pretty awesome
Aaron: I have no clue how Jerry has children in real life as I’m not convinced he has any clue how to touch a woman. Please stop giving him love scenes. It’s like watching a rhinoceros rape a car. Also the clapping on the entrances is getting to be a bit much now.
Andrew: I have problems with the plot. The Home Alone stuff doesn’t tie into anything else, Elaine’s brief infatuation with Roy is unsatisfying, and Jerry gets a bit too sitcom-y in his awkward attempts to figure out Delores’ name. (“My aunt’s name is Mulva”? Yeah, great cover. She’ll never suspect a thing). George rooting for Roy to die so that the value of his painting will go up is a bit off, too. I think it’s that it’s not quite funny enough to balance out how sick and twisted that is.
Jordan: Jerry’s acting was pretty lousy here, as he was trying too hard to keep a straight face and just broke into a grin. George thinking about spending all his money on a horse race is something Kramer would do, not George.
Key Character Debuts
Roy the Artist
Dr. Siegel
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
– “Produce section. Very provocative area. A lot of melons and shapes. Everyone’s squeezing and smelling…It just happened.” – Jerry
– “The whole apartment. And I’m buying that fake wood wallpaper. I’m gonna surround myself in wood. It’s gonna be like a log cabin. Cuz I need wood around me. Wood, Jerry… Wood.” – Kramer
– “Oh, come on Jerry. You gotta see the operation. They’re gonna cut him open. His guts’ll be all over the place.” – Kramer “Yeah, that’s true…” – Jerry “They’ll saw through bone. You’ll see what’s *inside* bone…” – Kramer
– “Yeah, so she and “Triangle Boy” can go out to fancy restaurants.” – Jerry
– “Y’know what it is? It’s “Clara Nightingale Syndrome”. He falls ill, she falls in love.” – George “You mean Florence Nightingale.” – Jerry “What’d I say? Clara?” – George “Yeah, you must have meant Clara Barton.” – Jerry “Clara Barton? What did she do?” – George “I’m not sure, but I think she was nice.” – Jerry “Susan B. Anthony I think I’d have a problem with.” – George “Yeah, I think you would.” – George
– “Y’know I remember when I was a kid growin up, kids would make fun of my name like you wouldn’t believe– “Jerry Jerry Dingleberry”, “Seinsmelled”.” – Jerry
– “Aretha!” – George “No…” – Jerry “Bovary!” – George “Alright, that’s enough.” – Jerry
– “Alright, alright. Just let me finish my coffee… then we’ll go watch them slice this fat bastard up.” – Jerry
– The Junior Mint incident and subsequent descriptions become another pop culture phenomenon, as does the name Mulva
– “Because it’s a little mint. It’s a Junior Mint.” – Jerry
– “Hey, this wallpaper is very good. My place looks like a ski lodge!” – Kramer
– “Who’s gonna turn down a Junior Mint? It’s chocolate, it’s peppermint — it’s delicious!” – Kramer “That’s true.” – Jerry “It’s very refreshing!” – Kramer
– “I have no medical evidence to back me up, but something happened during the operation that staved off that infection. Something beyond science. Something perhaps from above…” – Dr. Siegel
– “Oh, well, I really think I’m falling for you…Joseph Puglia…” – Jerry
– “Dolores!” – Jerry
Oddities & Fun Facts
– Jerry’s line about going to watch the fat bastard get sliced up was ad libbed
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
Justin: Another episode, another classic. Season four has been amazing. This is clearly the season that saw the show really break through and become iconic in pop culture. The Junior Mint and Mulva lines became very popular and were frequently quoted in the aftermath of the original airing. Jerry was top notch and even in a wicked throwaway storyline George provided some really strong laughs. Depraved Elaine was a lot of fun too as we rarely get to see her be so superficial about a relationship. The K-Man’s log cabin was a good C-storyline as well. Oh, and that fat bastard line. What a line. Final Grade: 7/10
Aaron: Come on what are you expecting by now? It’s great/ solid on every level and has a couple of all-time moments. Season four is finishing strong. This would be the highest of eights. Final Grade: 8/10
Andrew: This is another episode with a lot going for it. The dialogue is particularly good, and there are a handful of truly memorable lines and scenes. But the plot isn’t as good as I would have liked, and there are just enough flaws to keep the episode out of the upper echelon. That said, I had a really good time rewatching it, and I’m still in awe of the brilliant “Delores” payoff. Final Grade: 7/10
Jordan: And the hits just keep on coming. Classic moments, funny stuff, true moments about nothing like Jerry’s yo-yo. This is Seinfeld. Final Grade: 8/10
|
|
|
Post by sbtbfanatic on Jun 16, 2015 12:13:48 GMT
Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch – “The Smelly Car” (S4, E22)
Best Character
Justin: I liked Jerry the best here just for his ongoing pain and descriptions of the BO beast. Plus, anyone that berates a customer service representative into reparations is aces in my book. Elaine, Kramer and George were all strong in support, but this was a Jerome fueled episode all the way.
Aaron: Maybe it’s because he’s always wanted to deal with a Superman type crisis, but Jerry is excellent in this one. The callous manner in which he helps Elaine deal with her rejection is wonderful but it’s his taunting/inviting of the thug to steal his car that puts it over the top for me. Great body language from a man clearly uncomfortable with his body.
Andrew: You could easily make the case for any of the mains in this episode, but I like Kramer the most. He continues to shine even when he’s not the focus of the story. I loved the Steinbrenner rant, and he has the best line readings of the episode with “You stink” and “I’m Kramer”. And imagine the animal magnetism required to attract a woman with no sexual interest in men. He lifts my spirit.
Jordan: Tough call, but I’m going with Jerry. I’ve been hard on poor Jerome lately, as I thought his acting has been pretty bad. This one was much better -it seems he’s more passable when his character just calls for contempt and derisive attitude. He does a good job here, as he’s perpetually annoyed throughout the episode by the smell of the car.
Best Storyline
Justin: The smelly car. Its pungency dominated the entire episode, lingering in the air and affecting everyone along the way. They get the idea of the beast so over that you can almost smell it as the episode goes along. Plus, I love me some customer service victories, so Jerry beating down the restaurant manager was right up my alley. Stink. Stank. Stunk.
Aaron: I enjoy George’s quest to see if he’s driven Susan to her lesbianism. It’s all set against the backdrop of a Rochelle Rochelle callback and it all clicks. He NEEDS to know if he’s driving women to other women, and by the end of the episode the question is no longer if, but how many.
Andrew: The Smelly Car is gold. The horror movie language Jerry uses to describe the smell works so well because this storyline taps into a deep-seated fear: being judged for an odor that isn’t even your own. Plus, I never get tired of seeing the actors react to the B.O.
Jordan: The smelly car. Much like the classic horror movie “The Fog”, it permeates everyone who comes in contact with it The stench envelopes Jerry and poor Elaine, and even George is no match for it. Also I’ve never seen “The Fog” and I have no clue what that movie is about. But really, I did like Jerry’s quest to get rid of the smell with zero success.
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
Justin: Jerry is kind of a selfish dick for having George drive in his car when he knows what could happen with the BO. He should have given full disclosure right off the bat that George may not be able to shake the stink off him. George should make him pay for any and all cleansing that is needed.
Aaron: At what point do the questions about a gay/lesbian lifestyle become too insensitive to ask? Did George really need to know who leads a lesbian dance party? Did he need to know right after he was absolved of turning Susan. I think George crosses a line here demanding answers from his ex when he’s selfishly summoned her to a video store. I’ve always wondered if gay men have an easier time pooping, but I’m not pressing them for answers in line at the hairdresser.
Andrew: Is it OK to break up with someone because they stink? Absolutely. What kind of idiot comes up with these questions?
Jordan: This is an outdated dilemma that hopefully no one ever has to deal with anymore – but why DID video stores charge so much for lost movies back in the day? Nearly $100 for a copy of Rochelle, Rochelle? It’s a skin flick and I guarantee they had 15 copies of it! It’s a scam, I’m telling you! A scam!
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
Justin: Kramer and the Yankees. A true love/hate relationship that is filled with passion. At the time, the Yankees seemingly could never get out of their own way, trading away promising young stars while looking for that instant fix. That is life as a sports fan. You care so much that it can ruin your day when it all goes wrong. But when it goes right…oh, and the lesbian conversion. That too. Relationship Grade: SPORTS & LESBIANS/10
Aaron: Kramer and Mona should have made it. He IS Kramer. Relationship Grade: I’m Kramer.
Andrew: Elaine is so far out of Carl’s league. Which works great for the story, as the attractiveness gap only adds to poor Elaine’s humiliation, and the smell must have been truly horrific for Carl to turn her down. But there’s nothing to get excited about here. Relationship Grade: 1/10
Jordan: Mona and Carol seemed very happy together. Holding hands as they stroll through a video store, perfectly content in life. And then – KRAMER. Mona’s world is shattered. She’s never been with a man, but she’s also never known THIS man. She begins to question her most base desires. Does she dare trade in the safety of a vest wearing, beautiful, wealthy former NBC executive in Susan for a wild, unkempt, Yankee loving and hating madman in Kramer? She caves…and he smells. Kramer has struck again. Relationship Grade: KAVORKA/10
What Worked
Justin: The BO; Lesbian Susan was a great touch; Nice callback with Rochelle, Rochelle; Jerry’s ongoing descriptions of the BO monster all made me laugh; Jerry’s deadpan answers about men having to get up early were fantastic; Kramer’s Yankee bitching was great and was also nice foreshadowing; George immediately being dragged back into his Susan torture chamber was a welcome return; I loved George needing money from Susan to cover losing his softcore porn movie; I liked the back-and-forth scenes of the car and Elaine getting scrubbed clean; Kramer’s ongoing torching of Susan’s life rolls on and him converting a lesbian was perfectly in line with his character; Jerry finally caving and giving his car to a bum was a good finish
Aaron: I love watching Elaine suffer. I also love that Kramer has ruined Susan’s life. When she recaps the vomit, the cabin burning and now the wife thief, (who he’s only using to improve his golf game) we finally get an idea of the might of hurricane Kramer. A hurricane who’s bluntness to anyone who stinks is also hilarious. The maître d who’s also a movie critic is a nice touch as is the hairdresser/scientist who treats Elaine’s stench as though it’s worse than a skunk. All of Jerry’s superlatives about how bad the smell is are so over the top that they totally work with his “man in peril” delivery.
Andrew: The guest star power in this episode is off the charts. Salem from Sabrina, the Teenage Witch? Rickety Cricket from It’s Always Sunny? And the pizza guy from Fast Times? Amazing. Not to be outdone by that star-studded line-up, the main cast all turned in good performances. I enjoyed Jerry and Elaine’s friendly flirting early in the episode, and their increasing panic as they realize they can’t get rid of the smell. George is great with the uncomfortable humor, between the awkward questions about lesbian relationships and the crippling self-doubt. There were several great scenes, like Jerry confronting the maître d’, George giving Susan a pep talk about women, or Kramer’s clandestine meeting with Mona. Rochelle, Rochelle is a great running joke, and I liked that so many minor characters were in on it.
Jordan: The smell carrying over into everyone and causing them problems was good. I like that Elaine is clearly much better looking than Carl, yet her odor is so foul he wants nothing to do with her. The scene at the video store was well done, and while it’s really dated, I remember getting hit with a few rewind fees, and being equally as upset as George was. What a ripoff. No wonder video stores are few and far between anymore. Kramer turning a lesbian straight and saying, “I’m Kramer.” as his explanation fits so well. It’s even funnier when George was fretting about if he drives women to BECOME lesbians. Speaking of lesbians, George hitting up Susan for money, then running into an ex who he also owed money to was funny.
What Didn’t Work
Justin: As much as I enjoy Nick Bakay, I just find it hard to believe Elaine would be so gaga over him with that look; Susan’s wardrobe: woof, Allison is an idiot for admiring the vest
Aaron: I never like when Larry or Jerry write lines where a man is flirting with a woman. Elaine’s guy saying things like “I pillage and plunder” is simply a portrait of a lonely single man, imagining what a woman would laugh at, as he stares himself in the mirror. While the episode had some funny bits it lacked the cohesion and classic moments I’ve come to expect from season four. The Armor All product placement is absolutely out of control.
Andrew: What’s with Jerry’s anti-doggy-bag rant? I don’t appreciate having my manhood questioned because restaurant portion sizes are out of control.
Jordan: It is entirely unbelievable that a loser like George Costanza would date both Susan and Allison. Seeing them all together is jarring – George looks like he could be their father.
Key Character Debuts
N/A
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
– “This guy’s got quite a racket. I take you to dinner and then drop you off at his apartment.” – Jerry
– “Do I smell something? What am I, hard of smelling? Of course I smell something.” – Elaine
– “So when somebody has B.O., the “O” usually stays with the “B”. Once the “B” leaves, the “O” goes with it.” – Jerry
– “Ah, “Rochelle, Rochelle”… “A young girl’s strange, erotic journey from Milan to Minsk”…” – Clerk
– “What about skunk?” – Jerry “I don’t mind skunk.” – Elaine “Horse manure?” – Jerry “I loooove horse manure.” – Elaine
– “Listen, lemme ask you something. When you’re with a guy, and he tells you he has to get up early, what does that mean?” – Elaine “It means he’s lying.” – Jerry “Wow…” – Elaine “Why? Is that what he told you?” – Jerry “Yeah, last night. Oh, come on… Men *have* to get up early some time…” – Elaine “No. Never.” – Jerry “Jerry! I’m sure I’ve seen men on the street early in the morning. – Elaine “Well, sometimes we do actually have to get up early, but a man will always trade sleep for sex.” – Jerry
– “What happened? My car stinks is what happened. And it’s destroying the lives of everyone in it’s path.” – Jerry
– “Oh, this isn’t even B.O.! This is beyond B.O.! It’s B.B.O.!” – George
– “Amazing. I drive them to lesbianism, he brings ’em back.” – George
Oddities & Fun Facts
– Nick Bakay plays Elaine’s boyfriend Carl
– Jerry doesn’t drive too much as he has put 23,000 miles on his car in two years
– Kramer references George Steinbrenner’s tendencies of trading young stars and rants about how he is ruining the team, but he had just been reinstated as owner a month earlier after serving a three year suspension
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
Justin: We are looking to finish Season Four as strongly as we opened it. This was another very memorable episode in an iconic season. The problem is, it is overshadowed by the absurd greatness that preceded it. If this episode was in an earlier season or part of a different show’s catalog, it probably ranks a little higher. But, based on the Seinfeld Season Four scale, it checks in just a tick lower than you may expect. That said, there were lots of laughs here and premise was original and frustratingly relatable in some ways. One of my gripes is that it ended kind abruptly. Just when you are really getting into all three major stories, the episode kind of wraps with little explanation of what happened. Did the lesbian go back to Susan? Did the bum actually take the car? Did George pay up his $50 debt? Did Elaine and Carl make it? Does she still stink? We really got zero resolution of all the main stories. This is one episode that could have easily been an hour. Final Grade: 6/10
Aaron: This one was fine. I laughed quite a bit but wasn’t taken in at all by the story. Hopefully these last two episodes are the lull before the season finale storm. Final Grade: 6/10
Andrew: This isn’t one of my favorite episodes, but I really enjoyed it this time around. It has a quick pace, the plot is entertaining, and the humor never really lags. As second-tier episodes go, you can’t ask for much more than that. Final Grade: 7/10
Jordan: This one still holds up just in terms of laughs, but also suffers from a dated perspective. A lot of this is a time capsule of sorts – time spent at the video store, Susan’s awful vest, George being stunned at the sight of a lesbian couple as if he’d seen a leprechaun. Even the car stuff just seems a little “old”. I also felt conflicted by Elaine’s story – I like that she was repeatedly dumped by a guy who is so beneath her, but then…why was she with him in the first place? In this universe, do schlubs like Carl and George regularly land women far out of their league? Weird. Not weird enough to derail it though. Final Grade: 6/10
|
|
|
Post by sbtbfanatic on Jun 16, 2015 12:14:02 GMT
Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch – “The Pilot” (S4, E23/24)
Best Character
JT: Quite a few choices here. George was really good with his cancer scare and assumption that God will strike him down due to success. Kramer and his wild ride was very entertaining and cringing to watch at times. Jerry kept the episode moving, playing the straw to stir the drink well throughout. But, my hands down favorite here was easily Tom Pepper. He played an awesome Kramer. He stole raisins. He threatened to kill George. He blew off Kramer. He was a force of nature and I kind of wish he stuck around as a foil to the K-Man in future episodes.
Aaron: This one is really the sum of all the parts, and while I really enjoyed Jeremy Piven as Michael Barth he just isn’t in the episode enough to take this one, so I’ll go with Kramer. I love the childlike glee when he gets to audition for himself, and the way he butchers his lines before nearly shitting his pants is magical. I also love that he makes the effort to meet with Tom to help his navigate the minefield that is Kramer. Tom doesn’t give a shit though. About Kramer, about the raisins, about anything.
Andrew: I’ll go with Kramer once again. If you had asked me before today to imagine an actor playing “constipated”, I’m not sure what I would have pictured, but I guarantee it would not have been as funny as Kramer’s subdued entrance to Jerry’s apartment. He really nails the discomfort and apprehension of that undignified condition. I also found his intentionally bad acting to be better than Jerry’s.
Jordan: I’m tempted to give it to Michael Blarth. He’s so great as a guy playing George Costanza. But he’s really not in it enough for me to justify it, so I’ll hand it to the guy he’s pretending to be – George. From being convinced he will die rather than be a success, to obsessing over fake Kramer stealing raisins, George brings the goods. I like that he hated Michael Blarth, even though the guy was perfect for the role.
Best Storyline
JT: The Pilot, easily. I loved the auditions, the fallout from the casting, the actors chosen, the meta jokes and the final sequence of scenes with all of the random characters from the season reacting to the show capped the season beautifully. I am really glad they did this season long story and paid it off so well. Experiment successful!
Aaron: I loved everything about casting and filming the pilot. It’s exactly what a lot of casting calls are, and the eccentricities of the actors, while a joy to watch standing on the outside of the production, no doubt torture and destroy Jerry and George until they are reduced to a quivering mass, questioning why they haven’t ceased to exist. Actors are the worst. Also George is right on the emphasis on “they fooled me,” sure Tom doesn’t want to hear it, but unless you’re making a direct contrast the pronoun is rarely the emphasis.
Andrew: I think it has to be “The Pilot” storyline. There’s lots of funny stuff going on with the casting and production, and I enjoy the meta-joke with the executives saying that Jerry can’t act. I also like seeing George tormented by a fear of success, and I totally identify with him only believing in God “for the bad things”. Most importantly, the airing of the pilot lets us revisit many of the characters from previous episodes. What a great way to reflect back and wrap up an excellent season.
Jordan: The title of the episode is “The Pilot”, and it’s the best thing about it. Russell vying for Elaine’s love is interesting, but even that ties in with the main story. The casting scene is a lot of fun, George playing director to Kramer is nice, and the pilot airing while showing us all the guest stars of the past offering their thoughts is a really fun bit. I wasn’t a huge fan of the end with NBC passing, but it’s not enough for me to get angry with it or anything.
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
JT: Should you prevent your friend from dating your butler just because he is YOUR butler? Get the hell out of here, Jerome. Let Elaine date the man. As long as it doesn’t affect his performance or lead to additional use of Pledge, I say live and let live.
Aaron: I’m not sure who decreed it as such, but I’d really like to get my hands on the people who decided that sweatpants are not acceptable in society any more. I loathe Jerry for accusing George of giving up on life. Can’t a guy be comfortable? We wear all sorts of stupid shit from cravats to hats with fucking feathers, but the second a man chooses the safety of a pair of jogging pants HE’S the outcast. Do you know how much more productive we’d be if we weren’t at the mercy of the tyrannical fashion industry? We went to the fucking moon! You don’t think we’d at least be to Neptune by now if we weren’t forced to adjust out ties/crotches every thirty seconds? Women get to wear comfy dresses, Scotsmen get to wear kilts and bats get to do whatever they want. When is it our turn?
Andrew: Do Jerry and George have any right to be mad at Elaine for Russell’s disappearance? What was she supposed to do, sleep with the guy until the series got picked up? If anything, I think they’d be mad at him for stalking their friend and turning out to be a nutjob. I’m really starting to wonder about the moral integrity of these two.
Jordan: Who is worse – the one who takes a box of raisins, or the one who refuses to let it drop? George didn’t even BUY the raisins, they were purchased by NBC. I feel like Tom Pepper was right to be annoyed by George. Drop it Costanza, they’re raisins. Who even likes them?
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
JT: I feel like there could have been something between George and Tom Pepper. There was a lot of tension and a dominant Tom just demeaning and shouting down the reverent George could have led to romance, or at least lust, at some point. Relationship Grade: Raisins/10
Aaron: Jerry you don’t bang your co-star/employee right out of the gate. Especially when she is obviously insane. Also you should have known she was insane as she’s an actress. You’re better than that. Relationship Grade: 2/10
Andrew: I rarely have anything positive to say here, but this episode is especially weak in the relationship category. Jerry gets stuck in a one-sided relationship with the method actor playing his ex, which is somehow even less appealing than it sounds. But even that is preferable to being harassed by an unhinged Russell. Relationship Grade: DUD
Jordan: Real Jerry and Real Elaine have great flirty chemistry, but we’ve seen in the past that the flirting stage is their peak. Once they date, things go south real quick. So it makes sense that Real Jerry and Faux Elaine is kind of a lame attempt at romance. I did like Jerry explaining how Elaine eats spaghetti though. Relationship Grade: Faux/10
What Worked:
JT: Kramer’s never ending quest to star in the pilot is fun; This is a super meta episode, between the constant bagging on Jerry’s acting and comedy style through the actors cast in the pilot, it was cool seeing them poke at themselves so much; George being nervous about success and his whole cancer scare was perfect George booking; I also enjoy the psychiatrist continuing to torture his psyche; Nice Joe Davola callbacks here, squeezing him in throughout one last episode with the great payoff at the end where he tried to assault Jerry; The pantomiming NBC exec was great; The parade of Kramer entrances was funny; Tom Pepper stealing the raisins is one of my all time favorite random Seinfeld moments, as was Kramer showing up as Martin Van Nostrand and bombing the tryout; George’s doctor is the worst possible choice of a doctor for somebody like him; Jerry’s “He’s a little backed up” cracks me up every time; Sandi becoming Elaine in real life was a nice touch, as was Kramer trying to teach Tom how to be him and Tom just shutting him down; The Haagen-Dazs discussion in the pilot is a good one and I dig George annoying the shit out of everyone on the set; Poor Russell, his swift downfall and complete meltdown mirrors Susan’s demise and we see that the damage this crew wreaked on NBC’s comedy department was not pretty; I love how George’s raisin inquisition with Tom led to another observation about his discolored lip; Poor Kramer has to miss the pilot filming to stay “close to home base”; Kramer’s enema celebration was well earned; Elaine finding Morty’s wallet was a great callback; I have always enjoyed the pilot itself, along with all of the random people from the season watching it at home; John Ritter’s cousin is so randomly great; Sal Bass and Sidra was awesome and enjoyed Newman passed out with baseball on instead of the pilot; It was fitting that Russell went insane because of Elaine, causing the show to get cancelled, when flaunting Elaine in front of him was what got them back in the game, perfect way to wrap things up; Of course I feel bad he probably died, but what can you do
Aaron: I love the touch of Michael auditioning for George wearing jogging pants, completely in a vacuum from the conversation that happened earlier. It’s the little touches like that that make the show truly great. George also revisits double dipping under the watchful eye of “Kramer.” He’s speaking for all of us when he threatens to tear Costanza’s heart out of his chest. Elaine’s cruel dismissal of Russell is great as is her not having any of Jerry’s Eskimo jokes. The self-referential nature of Jerry being a horrible actor almost went too far and veered into “didn’t work” territory, but there was definitely something charming about his giving Kramer acting tips to start the show. The cameos are fantastic as they bring back everyone from season four watching the pilot culminating with Newman sleeping with the ball game on, perhaps defiantly not watching or blissfully unaware, we get to decide. It’s amazing looking back now how many iconic moments came from this season. Of course I LOVED Larry David on the boat at the end first instructing Russell to get down because they were about to shoot and finally saying goodbye and promising to find Elaine for him. “Sic Semper Tyranus,” is not something you’d every expect to hear outside of a bastardized version of Julius Caesar, but it works here as Joe Davola presumably lands hard on the ground breaking both his legs as well as his will to live.
Andrew: I’ve said some unkind things about Russell so far, but I should mention that his breakdown over the course of the episode is quite funny, having him repeat the “show about nothing” pitch was a nice touch, and I enjoyed the downer ending of his disappearance. I found the network executives entertaining in general, especially the really dumb one who just repeats things other people say. This is another strong guest starring cast, with a pre-hair-restoration Ari Gold and pre-SVU Olivia Benson. The fake Kramer has always been one of my favorite parts of this storyline, and it still holds up, especially the scene where the real Kramer is giving him character background. I’m not sure if it was supposed to be funny, but the goofy studio music made me laugh. Elaine’s wig game is really impressive (I’m still trying to figure out how she got all that hair underneath it), which makes it that much funnier when an old camp buddy recognizes her immediately. George is really good in this one, with the aforementioned fear of success, the obsession with the missing raisins, and the scene where he decides to mend the fences with fake Kramer. Most of all, I like the way this episode wraps up the season, with Jerry finding his father’s wallet right before a montage of characters from previous episodes watching the pilot.
Jordan: Again, the entire casting scene was great. Mariska Hargitay auditioning for Elaine is a bit jarring, as I’m half expecting her to request a few dozen rape kits and call in Ice T, but I mean all of that in a good way. Tom Pepper and Michael Barth are great as Kramer and George in the pilot episode. Russell talking about the show was pretty good, and I am never one to complain about a flashback to Elaine’s cleavage. Jerry and Kramer fake laughing was funny, and George immediately calling them on it is good. Speaking of George, I liked him flipping out on his psychiatrist for mentioning the skin discoloration, calling her a sadist. Joe Davola randomly washing a car window and wishing Jerry good luck was super creepy, as it should be. Kramer telling Tom Pepper how to be him was a fun conversation. I loved that Jerry found his dad’s wallet at the end.
What Didn’t Work
JT: Was it written in the script that Kramer enters rooms in a maniacal way or how else would these potential K-Man know to come in the room that way; Kramer running and looking for bathrooms was clearly a stunt double and took me out of the season; The big boobed waitress angle had some good moments and I believe was a take on a real story in the news at the time, but it felt really shoehorned in to keep Elaine busy in this episode and didn’t totally click; Elaine referencing her female friends is random since it is pretty well established she doesn’t have any throughout the majority of the show’s run; Elaine’s interview shirt isn’t much worse than most of her clothing choices honestly; I want to punch the idiot who says “Yeah he flies a plane” when the studio host asked what a pilot was
Aaron: I didn’t care for the sub-plots at all in this one. I like the idea of George not being allowed to be successful, but it just didn’t click for me. Elaine vs. the large breasted women of New York was also kind of a waste for me. I’d even go as far to say that Elaine’s story is a little sloppy in its execution, the owner WAS looking for someone else and clearly looked her up and down before rejecting her. Why do that if they payoff is that all the waitresses are his daughters? I hate lines that are OBVIOUSLY exposition. “So what’s happening here? We film this thing then it airs next week,” has no context and isn’t even properly responded to. Just weak writing there. My big gripe is the pilot itself, and it’s not just the awful intro music they chose. It’s terrible. It’s also strange because Jerry looks and feels right but everyone else is much weaker that the people who usually play the roles/people. This is what Seinfeld would look like if Jerry was the best actor in the show. It doesn’t look good. It’s no surprise it wasn’t picked up. I almost wish they had built a pilot that wasn’t so close to the actual show.
Andrew: Kramer running around looking for a bathroom didn’t work for me. I think we all know the pain of having an urgent need without a friendly bathroom in the area, but seeing him run to various buildings didn’t really get that across, and just wasn’t that funny. There was also a joke where George immediately goes to the bathroom after hearing Kramer talk about “missing his chance”, which I find very funny in theory, but did not land at all in the episode.
Jordan: I’ll echo Andrew’s sentiments on Kramer’s bathroom escapades. It just felt like it was shoehorned in there, and fell very flat. If they wanted to give Kramer more time, have him hanging with Tom Pepper some more. I normally love Larry David appearances, but I thought his role as the Greenpeace guy was pretty lame.
Key Character Debuts
– Michael Barth a/k/a “George”
– Sandi Robbins a/k/a “Elaine”
– Tom Pepper a/k/a “Kramer”
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
– “We have one with a bright young comedian, Jerry Seinfeld.” – Russell “Oh yeah, oh yeah. I’ve heard of him. He’s that “Did you ever notice this? Did you ever notice that?” guy.” – Elaine
– “Again with the sweat pants?” – Jerry “What? I’m comfortable.” – George “You know the message you’re sending out to the world with these sweat pants? You’re telling the world: “I give up. I can’t compete in normal society. I’m miserable, so I might as well be comfortable.”” – Jerry
– “What are you like a sadist? No matter how bad somebody feels, you can make ’em feel worse. I bet you’re rooting for a tumor.” – George
– “Yeah. What are we looking at here? Is this guy like a real loser?” – Michael
– “It’s like a bald convention out there! (she saw George) Sorry. I, uh, made a faux pas.” – Melissa “No you didn’t. He knows he’s bald.” – Jerry “So how about that guy wearing sweat pants? I mean did he do that for the part or does he walk around like that?” – Melissa
– “She’s an eskimo, actually.” – Jerry “Oh, my God…” – Elaine “She came down from Juno by sleigh, she was in the Iditarod. Got to the finish line, just kept going. She’s got the dogs with her in the hotel room.” – Jerry
– “I haven’t seen four women like this together outside of a Russ Meyer film.” – Jerry
– “Hey that’s life. Good-looking men have the same advantages. You don’t see any handsome homeless.” – Jerry
– “Cancer? Is it cancer? Do I have cancer?” – George “Well I don’t know what it is.” – Doctor
– “How could you be a doctor and not say “get outta here”? It should be part of the training at medical school: “Cancer? Get outta here!” “Go home! What are you crazy? It’s a little test. It’s nothing. You’re a real nut. You know that?” I told you that God would never let me be successful. I never should’ve written that pilot. Now the show will be a big hit, we’ll make millions of dollars, and I’ll be dead. Dead Jerry. Because of this.” – George
– “Can’t you at least die with a little dignity?” – Jerry “No I can’t. I can’t die with dignity. I have no dignity. I want to be the one person who doesn’t die with dignity. I live my whole life in shame. Why should I die with dignity?” – George
– “Well, she’s fascinated with Greenland. She enjoys teasing animals, banlon, and seeing people running for their lives. She loves throwing garbage out the window, yet she’s extremely dainty.” – Jerry
– “She likes talking during sex.” – Jerry “Oh… dirty talking?” – Sandi “No. Just chitchat, movies, current events, regular stuff.” – Jerry
– “Now sex, I like the bottom. Let them do all the work.” – Kramer
– “Let me give you a word of advice. O.K.? I want you to stay away from me. I don’t wanna talk to you, and I don’t wanna hear anymore of your stupid little notes and suggestions. I don’t like you. So if you got any other problems whether it’s raisins, prunes, figs, or any other dried fruit, just keep it to yourself and stay out of my way, O.K.?” – Tom Pepper
– “I tried bran– 40%, 50% 100%. The bran isn’t working for me.” – Kramer
– “Well my friend, it may be time to consider the dreaded apparatus.” – Jerry “Pfft! Hold it right there. If you’re suggesting what I think you’re suggesting, you’re wasting your time. I am not Jerry, under any circumstances, doing any inserting in that area.” – Kramer “Oh, it’s not that bad!” – Jerry “Yes it is.” – George
– “This is George Costanza, I’m calling for my test results. Negative? Oh, my God. WHY! WHY! WHY? What? What? Negative is good? Oh, yes of course! How stupid of me. Thank you. Thank you very much.” – George
– “Listen. I know we’ve had our problems in the past, but we got a show to do tonight. Time to pull together as a team. Life’s too short. I say, let’s let bygones be bygones. If you took the raisins, if you didn’t take the raisins– They weren’t even my raisins. I was just curious because it seems like a strange to do to walk into a room, audition, and to walk out with a box of raisins. Anyway, whatever. If you ever want to tell me about it, the door to my office is always opened. In the event that I get an office. You’ll come in, we’ll talk about the raisins. We’ll have a nice laugh.” – George “How would you like it if I just pulled your heart out of your chest right now, and shoved it down your throat?” – Tom
– “It’s what John Wilkes Booth yelled out when he shot Lincoln.” – Jerry “Really? What does it mean?” – George “It means: “Death to tyrants”.” – George
– “You went for the big “E”.” “Wet and wild.” – Kramer
– “Ah, that Jerry’s a funny guy. Huh? Got to love the Sein!” – The Drake “Hate the Sein!” – Allison
– “You know Jerry I really like this guy who’s playing the butler.” – Elaine “Oh yeah. He’s good. You know he’s John Ritter’s cousin.” – Jerry
– “How could anyone not like him?” – Helen
– “I didn’t know that he’d fall for me and I’d drive him insane. I mean, you know, that’s not my fault.” – Elaine “Yes it is! You’re very charming!” – George
Oddities & Fun Facts
– Future TV and movie star Jeremy Piven portrays George in the pilot
– Elaine’s favorite movie is Shaft, according to Jerry
– Larry David portrays one of the Greenpeace members
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
JT: I really loved this season. It was loaded with tremendously memorable episodes, characters and moments and was the season that saw the show move from “really damn funny, you should watch this” to “everyone is talking about Seinfeld at work or school the next day” status. This episode was well written and paid off multiple stories from throughout the season, right down to Morty’s wallet from the early episodes. Seeing Sal Bass trying to find out about Sidra’s breasts still has me laughing. Tom Pepper was awesome too, and even if the rest of the episode had stunk, he easily could have carried it, as I thought he was that good. I am glad they tried the experiment of having the whole season center around an ongoing story because it worked well and was mixed in with just enough random one-off installments as well. Season four is in the books and now we look to see if they can ride the momentum to greater heights or crumble under the pressure of the heightened expectations of a breakout season. Final Grade: 8/10
Aaron: I was expecting to like this one way more. I liked almost everything to do with the pilot until we actually got to see it, and then it turned me right off. Couple that with what I feel are two weak sub-plots and this one just doesn’t cut it. It’s strange because I liked a lot of the performances, I guess I just feel they leaned a little too heavily on the novelty of them doing a show about themselves. It certainly wasn’t bed, but it was far from the classic I remembered. Final Grade:6/10
Andrew: Over the course of this rewatch, I’ve been amazed at how many great episodes there are in this season. I’d always heard that this was the breakout year for the show, but I don’t think I appreciated until now just how good it was, and seeing all those characters I’ve enjoyed writing about over the last weeks show up in the finale really drove that point home. This isn’t one of my favorite episodes, and I have some quibbles, but why bother? It resolves the season-long pilot story and provides an excellent wrap-up to Seinfeld’s best season thus far. Final Grade: 7/10
Jordan: Season 4 definitely ends on a positive note. It’s interesting that a show about nothing had a recurring plot line throughout the entire season in the pilot, and it all pays off here. I could nitpick about some things like Kramer not being able to poop, but just about everything else works. The casting of the pilot was spot on, and Jerry’s acting is bad in the show just like it is in….well, the show. Russell is written off in an interesting way, and I don’t really know if I liked it or hated it, but it was at least memorable. One last time, everyone who had guest spots on the season watching the episode was really well done. Final Grade: 9/10
|
|
|
Post by sbtbfanatic on Jul 13, 2015 15:27:25 GMT
Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch – “The Mango” (S5, E1)
Best Character
JT: Man, we start off the season strong. Jerry was good overall but his stupid nonsense at Joe’s store ruined it for me. George and Elaine were strong too, but I will give this one to Kramer. I loved him in every scene, from his cigar chomping tip giving to his exotic fruit list, he made use of every second of screen time he received.
Aaron: When a man swaggers and tells his neighbor that he could have helped him out with female orgasms by giving him pointers, you hand him the episode and call it a day. Not only does the K-Man know how to press all those buttons but he’s also has the Meryl Steep of penises. Hey, enough already, the man just wants to go to bed. After the awful peach and subsequent banning I don’t blame him.
Andrew: Elaine is still my favorite. You just can’t beat the glee with which she jumps into the orgasm faking conversation, or how comfortable she is discussing it, whether with close friends or random co-workers. She has some classic lines in this episode, and seeing her casually flip through a magazine at the end always kills me.
Jordan: Season 5 starts with strong performances from everyone, but I think I liked Kramer the most here. I’m tempted to go with Elaine since she played a bigger role, but Kramer reacting to the bad peach and casually mentioning he fakes orgasms is better than anything else. It’s a battle of quality vs. quantity, and this time, quality wins.
Jason: I gotta go with Jerry here. For a guy who usually has things go his way, finding out Elaine “faked” really got to him. The temper tantrum he throws in the restaurant when Elaine won’t give him another chance is wonderful. His reaction is like a child being told no.
Best Storyline
JT: The orgasm stuff dominated the episode, but I got more laughs from the fruit story. Kramer and Jerry reviewing the list and Joe sniffing out the jig right away was great. Plus it played into the great payoff at the end with the mango fueled sexual dominance of Costanza. What the hell is a plantain?
Aaron: All the faking/orgasm/impotence stuff was just great. The juxtaposition of Jerry/Elaine and George/Karen harkens back to some of their greater episodes in season four. Particularly the risotto reaction cut back to back with Elaine making love to her chocolate sundae. Again just a great example of Seinfeld taking a subject that could easily be crass and handling it with class. Class. That’s how I’d like to define my orgasms from here on out.
Andrew: In a bit of an upset, I’ll go with the fruit storyline. Jerry and George come across as childish in their stories, and while I realize that’s the point, it still makes things less fun. Joe’s feud with Kramer and Jerry, on the other hand, has just the right amount of absurdity to keep things light and entertaining. Plus, Joe is tremendous in his scenes.
Jordan: I like Jerry’s desperation after Elaine crushed his psyche. His episode long quest to prove he could bring a woman to orgasm brought him down to Costanza levels, calling ex girlfriends and begging Elaine for another shot. The fact that he failed miserably and was essentially George by the end of the episode was great.
Jason: The orgasms for sure. Wait, can we say orgasms at Place to Be Nation? George’s typical paranoia and obsession about anything is in full force here. Jerry’s obsession over the situation is just as good. His self esteem is really shot when Elaine tells him she faked. Patty Lawrence had’em!
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
JT: Are you entitled to return shitty fruit? I think if it is clearly poor quality immediately after purchase you can at least have a conversation about it. If you wait a few days and it goes bad, well that is on you. It seems Kramer is a loyal customer, so Joe could have bent a bit and tossed him a replacement plum to keep things copacetic.
Aaron: Should Elaine have told Jerry about her faking with him. Ordinarily I’d say no, but I think following Jerry’s indictment of Elaine’s lovers as drunks, I’d have no problem forgiving Elaine’s sudden need to lash out at the asshole she used to date. Elaine is a catch Jerry, stop being a dick to her. That being said if she really wanted to preserve a friendship so strong that he kept flippers and goggles at her house, she probably should have just shut up and continued living her life of lies.
Andrew: What are the ethics of faking an orgasm? I get the crisis of confidence Jerry and George go through, and I’ve often thought we could all stand to be more honest when it comes to sex. But the older I get, the more I understand “it’s enough already, and I just want to get some sleep.” Maybe we can just acknowledge that sex is far more fraught and complicated for women than men, and move on.
Jordan: Should you just take a friend’s entire mango because it gives you a boner? I say no, and gross.
Jason: We’ve all got “the tap”, right fellas? George comparing the tap to a manager coming out and asking for the ball is brilliant. Are people who “fake” bad people? Maybe Kramer and Elaine’s co-worker Rene are right, sometimes it’s enough already and you just wanna get some sleep.
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
JT: Karin is a real mysterious firecracker and is like ten leagues above George. George is an idiot for doubting her orgasms because just the fact that she was willing to lay naked in a bed next to him should be enough to keep his mouth shut. Who gives a shit if she faked it? Enjoy the ride, Georgie Boy. Relationship Grade: Risotto/10
Aaron: Did Kramer fuck the mango? Relationship Grade:10/10
Andrew: I always forget Cuddy from House was on Seinfeld. She’s not tough to look at, and certainly doesn’t deserve the treatment she gets from George. As for the other relationship, I admire Elaine’s willingness to propose sex to save a friendship. Relationship Grade: 3/10
Jordan: George and Karin provides some entertainment, but I’m really struggling to believe a loser like George who has no financial stability or good looks to speak of keeps landing girls that look like this. Meanwhile, Elaine uses this episode to prove that she is not just master of her own domain, but also Jerry’s as well. I always like episodes where they toy with each other over their past. Elaine casually reading a magazine while Jerry frets at the end is great. Relationship Grade: 7/10
Jason: We really get to see how much Jerry and Elaine care about each other in their own little way. George seems to really dig Karin, but it’s hard for him to read what she’s thinking. Kramer enjoys a good piece of fruit and it bothers him when Joe bans him from the store. No worries though, the king of manipulation can always turn to his neighbor in apartment 5A to help him out. Relationship Grade: OHH, JUST RIGHT/10
What Worked
JT: The “Tap” conversation opened the episode on a strong note, it was really funny; Poor Jerry, Elaine just wrecked his world with the admission of the faking; Jerry fretting about the whole faking thing was great too as you knew it would was torturing him and I enjoyed Kramer offering his tips; Kramer admitting to faking is awful and so perfectly Kramer; Joe v Kramer was lots of fun and honestly very relatable; Jerry’s request at another crack was so stupid yet so smart all at one; Jerry’s war against Meryl Streep was a fun thread throughout, as was him calling his ex conquests to check in on their orgasm validity; Kramer’s fruit list was a sight to behold; George can’t get out of his own way worrying about the orgasm stuff, poor bastard; Jerry’s impotence at this crucial time was a great payoff to everything
Aaron: The opening sequence where Jerry and George equate the level in which you clean your apartment to the level of feelings you have for a woman is a perfect example of a great Seinfeld discussion. They’re breaking down life, brick by absurd brick. The whole discussion about how no one knows what to do down there is also painfully honest. Also fuck the alphabet. Elaine is great throughout, especially when she’s overly pleased with her past performances. Joe is great, and I love the idea of Uatu the fruit vendor, all seeing, all knowing, and doesn’t take a lick of shit from anyone. (Is that an expression? Lick of shit? It is now.) The subplot of the bad fruit is a perfect contrast to the others struggling with sex. The mango being an aphrodisiac is a perfect tie in, and it’s always great to see Kramer snooping around a fruit store. This one felt tight again with the writing. Everything was economical and had the feel of some of their great episodes where every single bit of dialogue either made you laugh or tied the plots together. Karin’s answer to George asking if she would tell him if she wasn’t satisfied it brilliant. “I probably would…but then again I’m an enigma.” Great, great line.
Andrew: I love George’s response to Jerry asking whether he likes Karin: “I can’t tell anymore.” I know that feel, bro. (Oh god, am I turning into George? Maybe this rewatch was a bad idea). The discussion on oral sex is fantastic, especially the “close your eyes and hope for the best” line, and “the tap”. It still strikes me as impressively frank today, and I can’t imagine how they got away with it in 1993. Just groundbreaking stuff. As I mentioned earlier, Joe the fruit guy is fantastic in a limited role. George’s girlfriend Karin doesn’t get to do much, but her “Then again, I’m an enigma” line always makes me laugh. I enjoy Jerry calling up ex-girlfriends to do an informal “faking” poll, and his “But I’m so good” line is great. The “I think it moved” callback was fun, too.
Jordan: I feel like everyone nailed their character here: George is overly neurotic, and Karin isn’t helping matters. Her response of “But then again, I’m an enigma.” is so weird and perfect to ruin George’s brain. By the end of the episode, he actually does the job, but is so broken that he wrecks everything. Kramer starts an unwanted feud with a fruit vendor because he didn’t like a peach. Seriously, what other TV character could you type that sentence about and not think it’s ridiculous? Sending in Jerry and George to secretly buy his exotic fruits was fun. Elaine was awesome, because she drops the orgasm line early, but doesn’t lord it over Jerry. Instead, Jerry can’t shake it, and she is oblivious to it, chowing on ice cream and giving us her best Meryl Streep impression. I already mentioned that I love Jerry essentially turning into George by the end of the episode. The tap talk was funny, as was the comparison to it being like a visit from the manager.
Jason: Joe fits the perfect mold of a guy who would own a produce store. Him being on to Jerry when he’s getting fruit for Kramer is a fun moment to watch. I love that Kramer admits that he’s faked orgasms. As mentioned earlier I really enjoyed Jerry’s temper tantrum when Elaine won’t give him another chance. Kramer’s specific list of what kind of fruit is wants Jerry to get him is something I can relate to. There’s nothing worse than a bad piece of fruit. Also, the way Kramer drops the half eaten peach on the counter at Joe’s is awesome. The K-Man has his own set of rules in life. One of them, being entitlement to return used fruit.
What Didn’t Work
JT: Karin is really frustrating but I guess that was the point; Elaine’s enjoyment of the pudding felt forced and over the top; Karin’s comforter set is ugly as hell; Honestly though, why would Elaine admit to faking to Jerry, it is kind of a dick move and clearly was going to affect their friendship; Jerry’s navy blue Queens College t-shirt is really jarring to see on him; Jerry’s performance in the produce store is brutally bad;
Aaron: I really didn’t care for Jerry becoming a whiny child, especially when he was begging Elaine for sex in the restaurant. Have some dignity man. Who cares if she faked? If it was a race you would have won. The bit with him calling the exes was funny, but really stretched the believability of Elaine wanting to be friends with him moving forward.
Andrew: I mentioned this before, but I found George’s and Jerry’s behavior unpleasant after a while. It’s one thing to laugh at their wounded pride, but it’s another to try and find humor in them taking it out on the women in their lives.
Jordan: I said this earlier, but George’s women are becoming more and more unbelievable. Steve Wille may be the authority on what makes a “Wisconsin 8″, but I feel like at best, George is a “New York 4″. How he keeps dating and sleeping with attractive, seemingly normal women is confusing and bewildering.
Jason: What’s with the constant clutter on Elaine’s work desk? Wherever she works throughout the series, her desk is always a mess. This woman needs a better filing system.
Key Character Debuts
N/A
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
– “The tap is tough.” – Jerry “It’s like the manager coming out and asking you for the ball.” – George
– “You can go crazy trying to figure that place out.” – George “It’s a hazy mystery.” – Jerry
– “I guess after that many beers he’s probably a little groggy anyway.” – Jerry “You didn’t know.” – Elaine
– “The woman had an orgasm under false pretences. That’s sexual perjury.” – Jerry “You know I heard her screaming from my apartment? She woke me up a few times.” – Kramer ” How did she do it? She’s like Meryl Streep this woman. And I had to work the equipment. I’m not unskilled, I’m in the union.” – Jerry
– “Like if we went to a Broadway show, if we had really good seats.” – Renee “Yeah, well…” – Elaine “Well you know, if it’s enough all ready and I just wanna get some sleep.” – Renee
– “I stand behind my fruit.” – Joe “So…” – Kramer “Hey, you got a bad peach? That’s an act of God. He makes the peaches. I don’t make the peaches, I sell the peaches. You have a problem? You talk to him.” – Joe
– “You seem like you really enjoyed your Risotto. You have a very contented air over there. You look very contented, very satisfied. Are you satisfied?” – George
– “Meryl Streep?” – Jerry “You don’t like her?” – Elaine “Ah, she’s okay.” – Jerry “I love her Jerry, she’s so authentic. I really believe everything is actually happening to her. There’s no acting there.” – Elaine
– “So you feel okay?” – George “Well, it’s not like after the Risotto.” – Karin
– “They’re mysterious little fellows aren’t they?” – Jerry “I hate ’em!” – George “You know it happens to everybody. It happened to Houdini. And he could get out of a trunk under water with his hands in chains! But he had a problem with that. The miracle is that it ever happens.” – Jerry
– “The supermarket? That’s impossible! They don’t have a decent piece of fruit at the supermarket. The apples are mealy, the oranges are dry. I don’t know what’s going on with the Papayas! Jerry you gotta go to Joe’s, you gotta get me some fruit!” – Kramer
– “Oh! And get some plantains.” – Kramer “Plantains?” – Jerry “Yeah.” – Kramer “What the hell is a plantain.” – Jerry “It’s part of the banana family. It’s a delicacy.” – Kramer “You’re not getting any plantains.” – Jerry
– “That reminds me, I’m not getting you guys any more fruit. That guy was eyeballing me the whole time. He gave me the creeps. All right, you owe me twenty-eight sixty.” – George “Sorry, I don’t have any cash.” – Jerry “I only got hundreds.” – Kramer “All right I knew it.” – George “Come on, come on, we’re gonna pay you! Here have some mango.” – Kramer
– “I feel like I got a B12 shot. This is like a taste explosion!” – George “I told you.” – Kramer “What is it?” – Jerry “I think it moved. Oh my god, I think it moved.” – George
– “I’m back baby!” – George
– “Well well, if it isn’t the first lady of the American Theatre. What brings you here?” – Jerry
– “Sex… to save the friendship. Well, if we have to…” – Jerry
Oddities & Fun Facts
N/A
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
JT: We kick off season five with a fairly strong episode that delivered some classic lines and reminded us why this show is so damn good. There were some down spots and I still don’t get just why Elaine thought it was OK to tell Jerry she had faked with him. George’s paranoia is always fun and Kramer was on point here. The fruit stuff was fun too. In a vacuum, this could be graded higher but on the accelerated Seinfeld Scale, it checks in at just very, very good. Final Grade: 7/10
Aaron: Really strong start to the season. They took a topic they could have taken some heat for and wove a tight hilarious episode out of it. Kramer, George and Elaine were all excellent and though I didn’t love Jerry that was more on the writing than on his performance. Add to that and angry old Italian fruit vendor and I’m a happy camper. Final Grade: 8/10
Andrew: I thought this episode started out really strong, but lost steam as it went along. I wish we could have spent more time on the candid discussions of sex, and less on Jerry and George being dicks. And while I really enjoyed Joe, that storyline didn’t give Kramer a ton to do, and he ends up being underutilized in the episode. This one was pretty funny throughout, but we’ve seen them do much better. Final Grade: 5/10
Jordan: This is an excellent episode to show someone if you want them to understand Seinfeld’s main characters. Well, maybe not Jerry as much, as he’s usually the one mocking George’s misfortunes, but this is a solid start to a season. Funny dialogue about everyday things, weird subplots with Kramer, and a nice ending make for an easy watch. Final Grade: 7/10
Jason: A great way to start Season 5 with more topics that have been unheard of at this time on prime time TV. Karin is one of my favorite George girlfriends. We get a taste of how George incorporates food with sex when he gets aroused from the piece of mango. All four main characters are well established by this point in the series, so it’s a lot of fun to see all of their traits at work. Final Grade: 8/10
|
|
|
Post by sbtbfanatic on Jul 13, 2015 15:29:42 GMT
Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch – “The Glasses” (S5, E2)
Best Character
Justin: Shit, everyone was great here. I am going super cheap and picking a three way tie. Jerry had some tremendous lines throughout, especially his digs at George’s glasses and his exasperation over the onions and dimes. George was great too, causing all sorts of havoc for Jerry and being the butt of all the best digs. And, the K-Man came through as always, nailing some of my favorite lines in the show’s history and killing when he rustles up Dwayne over his sugar addiction. Great stuff all around.
Aaron: As much as I wanted it to be George for pointing out dimes, raccoons and eating onions, I have to once again bow to the power of the K-Man. He has the single funniest line in the whole episode with “May I have one of those Madam?” and his rant at Dwayne where he name drops Dinky Doughnuts and Joe’s fruit stand is amazing. Every time he enters he’s great, especially when he goes from gleefully singing about papayas to trying to save the air conditioner.
Andrew: I liked Jerry the most. He’s involved in every storyline, and adds to each one. He gets a lot of the best lines (“I think these women would be pretty good looking if they weren’t wearing glasses”, spotting dimes), but even the throwaway asides work really well (“He does look like a horse”). And while I’m not usually a fan of Suspicious Jerry, the patter makes it really entertaining in this one (“Let’s cut the bull sister!”). An excellent all-around performance.
Jordan: Kramer wins in a classic battle against George here. It’s like a 5 star classic match, where by the end you don’t care who wins, you just want it to keep going. But if I’m forced to choose and not go the route of picking ties like SOME COWARDS ABOVE ME, I go Kramer for two reasons: Best line and best scene. “May I have one of those, Madam?” is the best line and him going off on the eyeglass salesman is the best scene. A convincing win.
Jason: A hard decision here. All four main characters had their moments, but I’m going with George. His delivery when he mentions Kramer to Dwayne the Optometrist is great. We’ve all been in that situation when a friend tells you to mention someone’s name in order for you to get a deal on something. In addition, the plot involving what he can see and not see while squinting is funny stuff.
Best Storyline
Justin: The glasses, easily. Between George walking around in goggles and women’s eyewear and Kramer and Jerry zinging him left and right, there is no contest. Add in the sugar shakedown and we got a winner.
Aaron: I love panicked and wronged Elaine. So the slow descent into a rabies induced madness was an easy pick for me.
Andrew: I’m going with the Amy and Cousin Jeffery allegation. It’s got George spottin’ dimes and eatin’ onions, an excellent Uncle Leo appearance (“Like equals!”), and a great capper, when George finds out that what he thought was Cousin Jeffery was a horse. That last part really got me this time around. Maybe not a classic, but one of my favorite storylines.
Jordan: I feel like everything goes back to the glasses here. You could go with Elaine being worried about rabies, but she wouldn’t be if she wasn’t in the eyeglass store. Jerry and Amy was caused by George’s bad vision. It’s all because of the glasses.
Jason: I like the stuff between Jerry and Amy. George thinking he sees Amy making out with Jeffery,. Then Jerry trying to get it out of Amy that her and Jeffery were making out. Wanna get some pizza?
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
Justin: Dwayne should have just done a straight exchange of the Vanderbilt glasses for George and not forced him to take the blind man’s pinchers. He knowingly sold George the women’s frames, now scarf done that candy bar and make things right like a good small business owner should!
Aaron: If you murder a dog with an air conditioner are you responsible for any monetary damages? I say no. The guy should have just counted his losses and eaten his dog like everyone else.
Andrew: What’s up with the guy just taking off after his dog bites Elaine? Sure, there’s not much he can do at that point, but even if he wasn’t going to offer to pay her doctor bills, he could at least pretend to feel bad. You know, we’re living in a society! We’re supposed to act in a civilized way!
Jordan: Poor sweet, beautiful Elaine is SAVAGELY attacked by a wild monster, and the owner……walks away? No apologies? No scolding of the dog? Nothing? This guy is a piece of crap! And the dog now ranks below Farfle on my Seinfeld Dog Power Rankings.
Jason: What kind of jerk walks away after their dog bites someone? Not that I condone what happens with the air conditioner falling on the dog later on, but that’s some serious karma.
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
Justin: Jerry seemed to have a good thing going with Amy here. She even instantly forgives him for his weird ass prying early on and grants him another date. Plus, she is always warm…which means she is likely to strip down to cool off. As a former blind man that specialized in squinting, George should never have been trusted in this situation. Relationship Grade: Leopard/10
Aaron: I have no clue what Amy saw in Jerry. She’ s way out of his league. She should be with some big time drug dealer instead of slumming with a comedian. Relationship Grade: 35-56/10
Andrew: Skyler White! I had never realized before that Anna Gunn had been on Seinfeld. Amusing recognition aside, Amy and Jerry’s relationship doesn’t add much to the episode. Relationship Grade: 3/10
Jordan: Jerry is the one who knocks…..on Jeffrey’s door to get Paul Simon tickets, then blows it with Amy. Amy should dump Jerry and date a dentist or something. Maybe Tim Whatley. Relationship Grade: METH/10
Jason: Back to the Jerry and Amy stuff here. Jerry shows that he really like her by arranging to get an air conditioner because she gets warm in his apartment. Plus he gets her Paul Simon tickets. And again, Jerry trying to scratch it out of her about what George thinks he sees is great. Kramer giving Dwayne the guilt trip about getting him off of sugar is a fun moment too. Relationship Grade: Commando 8/10
What Worked
Justin: When George shows up in those damned goggles and Kramer says “Rock On” and Jerry makes the tunneling comment, it set the stage for greatness to come; Anytime we get to know a Kramer friend, it is a good thing; Jerry ignoring the pained Elaine and tossing the tissue at her dismissively was great; I adore the scene where George tries to name drop Kramer, so awkward and great; “No shot, dog bite!”; George eating the onion always makes me laugh out loud and Jerry’s line about eating onions and spotting dimes is one of my favorites; “Right this way, Mr. Doody” gets me every time too; Kramer harassing Dwayne is so tremendous and it is followed by Jerry’s killer “Elton” and canasta lines; Kramer just tossing the AC unit in the window is the best; Also, Kramer’s “Madame” line is so great, especially as it leads right into the Gloria Vanderbilt collection discovery; Elaine’s rabies explosion would have been over the top if executed by anyone except her and the doctor’s deadpan “yes, very much” about the impending pain of the shot was well done; The AC slamming into the dog was a great payoff; Dwayne munching on a candy bar at the end of the episode was a nice touch; Uncle Leo’s pride of Jeffrey never fails to please; The reveal of the cop and the horse was a nice wrap on that story too, especially with the “Jeffrey looks like a horse” comment from earlier
Aaron: I think the whole sequence in Jerry’s apartment where George is being shamed for having women’s glasses and Elaine is researching rabies is exactly why the show is awesome. All four main players are working towards separate goals but they all intersect hilariously. George is humiliated, Elaine has rabies and Kramer is needling them both. “Yeah she has rabies like my friend Bob Sacamano,” is said with the perfect amount of casual contempt we’ve come to expect from these assholes. I love that George continues to eat the onion even after he realizes what it is, and his look of defeat upon entering with the goggles is magic. I’ve always been a big fan of both Jerry and George recalling the spotting of the raccoons complete with complimentary snapping. And I’m always a huge fan of Uncle Leo who not only screamed about what friends are but also informed us that Jeffrey’s favorite animal is the leopard.
Andrew: The foreign doctor really cracked me up (“Woof woof, not bang bang”). Elaine flipping out when she thinks she has rabies was quite funny, although I’m on the fence with the foaming at the mouth scene. Kramer calling in his favor with Dwayne was solid. And George turned in a reliably excellent performance. I mentioned these earlier, but the two parts I enjoyed the most were Uncle Leo and the horse at the end.
Jordan: George spotting a dime, then eating an onion two minutes later is a moment I’d actually forgotten about, so it got a laugh from me. Jerry is always awesome when he just trashes George-calling him Elton and asking if he’s tunneling to the center of the earth. Elaine researching rabies and calling Kramer a hipster doofus is more evidence that Elaine is great. Uncle Leo appearances are always welcome. I like the whole womens glasses sidetrack, with Kramer’s great line and pointing out they are from the Gloria Vanderbilt collection. George swapping frames with a blind man, and then whining that they pinch his nose. I like Kramer going after Dwayne like he’s a drug addict.
Jason: Jerry’s revolving door of girlfriends continues. Amy is a bit high maintenance, Jerry has dated worse. You can’t help but laugh at George when he has to wear the prescription goggles. I really enjoyed Elaine thinking she has rabies and Kramer pointing out the symptoms. The name dropping of characters we never meet is always great. Bob Sacamano and Jefferey both get referenced and are never seen on camera through out the entire series.
What Didn’t Work
Justin: How was the dog owner not tracked and brought into some sort of custody, they all seemed pretty lax about it; Jerry is at his most annoying when he is trying to uncover some sort of scam or scheme before finally snapping, just come out and ask it in a normal way Jerome; If it is so hot why is Jerry dressed like it is winter; Jerry trying not to laugh while nailing the awesome onions and dimes line almost killed it;
Aaron: How did Jerry know the cable number so quickly? It was god damn instantaneous. Does he call them that often? I’m also not a huge fan of the “want to get some pizza?” Which bookends the episode.
Andrew: I can’t really think of anything, but what’s up with those gym lockers? Why do we need a narrower compartment at the top/bottom? Seems like a waste of space to me.
Jordan: I liked Elaine fretting over rabies, but the whole dog thing is stupid really. The guy just casually walks away when it bites Elaine, then an air conditioner falls on it? Dumb.
Jason: Jerry is known for laughing at his own jokes and he does it here with the George spotting dimes and eating the onion stuff.. I also think that George’s glasses he thinks he lost are spotted on top of the locker wasn’t the best way to end the show.
Key Character Debuts
– Dwayne, the glasses salesman
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
– “Is it a good one?” – Jerry “Good one? It’s the Commando 8.” – Kramer “Commando 8?” – Jerry “12.000 BTUs.” – Kramer
– “I gotta get out of this city.” – George “So you’re tunneling to the center of the Earth?” – Jerry
– “I broke ’em playing basketball.” – George “He was running from a bee.” – Jerry
– “We’re behind you, Aquaboy. Godspeed!” – Jerry
– “Retail is for suckers!” – Kramer
– “Kramer…” – George “What about him?” – Dwayne “You do know Kramer?” – George “Yes…” – Dwayne “Well, I’m mentioning his name.” – George
– “Are you kidding? I’ve seen ’em squint. He can squint his way down to like twenty, thirty vision. Once we were driving down from the Catskills and he lost his glasses. He squinted his way from Wortsborough down to the Tappan Zee Bridge! He was spotting raccoons, on the road!” – Jerry
– “There’s nothing to tell.” – Amy “There isn’t?” – Jerry “No.” – Amy “Oh… all right… wanna get some pizza?” – Jerry
– “I was squinting! Remember that drive from Wortsborough? I was spotting those raccoons.” – George “They were mailboxes, you idiot. I didn’t have the heart to tell you.” – Jerry
– “Snowball? You were afraid of Snowball?” – Jerry “I’m afraid of dogs now.” – George “He’s like a squirrel.” – Jerry “He frightened me!” – Elaine
– “Now I don’t believe this. That guy owes me big time. I got him off sugar!” – Kramer
– “Little Snowball? He runs on batteries!” – Kramer
– “He couldn’t tell an apple from an onion and he’s your eye witness?” – Elaine “I saw them making out, you can believe it.” – George “I don’t know what to believe! You’re eating onions, you’re spotting dimes, I don’t know what the hell is going on.” – Jerry
– “I’m gonna surprise Amy. All I gotta do is bring her with me. And then when Jeffrey opens the door, it’s Howdy Doody time.” – Jerry “Right this way, mister Doody!” – Kramer
– “Six months ago you were eating four of those for breakfast and chasing it with a ring ding. And two butter fingers on the train. Sounds familiar?” – Kramer “Put that away!” – Dwayne “Remember that night I found you at Dinky Donuts? You were all hopped up on cinnamon swirls! They wouldn’t serve you anymore! You wouldn’t even have any teeth if it wasn’t for me taking you over to Joe’s fruit stand and stuff a cantaloupe down your throat! So much for gratitude… yeah, yeah, yeah!” – Kramer “All right, all right, all right! I’ll give him the discount, just put that thing away! This squares us.” – Dwayne
– “I don’t know what to tell you, Elton.” – Jerry
– “They’re ladies’ glasses! All you need is that little chain around your neck so you can wear ’em while you’re playing Canasta.” – Jerry
– “12.000 BTU’s of raw cooling power!” – Kramer
– “I’ve got such a headache. Oh, that’s another symptom!” – Elaine “Of what?” – Kramer “Rabies.” – Jerry “Oh that’s fatal, you don’t want that!” – Kramer
– “May I have one of those, madam?” – Kramer “Madame? What are you calling me madam for?” – George “They’re ladies’ glasses…Now look here, see it’s right here: Gloria Vanderbilt Collection.” – Kramer
– “Well, I’m very mysterious by nature…A lot of women find that attractive.” – Jerry “I find it annoying.” – Amy
– “I’m supposed to tape this nature show for him, he loves nature. Botany, zoology. You know his botany teacher from college stays in close touch with him? They became friends!” – Uncle Leo “Oh really?” – Jerry “That’s pretty rare! I mean, actual friends! Like equals! They have dinner together, they have discussings…” – Uncle Leo
– “You know Jeffrey’s favorite animal: the leopard.” – Uncle Leo “Why is that?” – Amy “He likes the spots.” – Uncle Leo
Oddities & Fun Facts
– Kramer has a friend named Dwayne that sells glasses
– Actor Tim Stack portrays Dwayne
– Kramer references Joe’s Fruit Stand and Dinky Donuts
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
Justin: This has always been one of my favorite episodes. The one liners beating on George’s eyewear are fantastic and I never get enough of Kramer beating Dwayne into submission over the discount. I love the air conditioner stuff too, with Kramer just plopping it in the window and walking away. Everything moved seamlessly and I liked the way everything paid off at the end too. Even the rabies stuff could have come off hokey, but Elaine made it work, natch. The f’n Gloria Vanderbilt Collection! Final Grade: 8/10
Aaron: Man it was very good until we hit that apartment scene and then it just took off. Great stuff from everyone. Great writing and a wonderful grasp on who these characters are by all involved. Everyone was cast into situations where they could be at their best. George is conniving and ashamed, Elaine is panicked and incensed, Kramer nails all the lines which push everyone a little closer to that edge and Jerry’s his callous self. It’s a great episode. Final Grade: 8/10
Andrew: I don’t think I’ve ever heard this episode mentioned as one of the classics, but it’s just so entertaining. The dimes/onions line and Uncle Leo have always been the most memorable parts for me, but I enjoyed it from beginning to end, and it’s full of good dialogue. I’m not sure what more you can ask for. Final Grade: 7/10
Jordan: I was actually expecting something else with this episode. Going by the title, I thought it was the episode where Jerry has to wear the hideous glasses and buys gum from Lloyd Braun. This was a good substitute though, and a really fun episode that seems to be forgotten. I loved George mistaking Jerry’s girlfriend for an old cop kissing her horse. Kramer is on fire, Elaine has great delivery, and Jerry just watches it all happen as a snide commentator. Perfect formula for good Seinfeld. Final Grade: 8/10
Jason: A solid episode here. A lot going on. We get classic Kramer animation when he tries to catch the air conditioner from falling out of the window. Elaine is also great when she thinks she has rabies. It’s always a plus anytime we get an episode with Uncle Leo, especially when he references Jeffery. This is a forgotten episode sometimes and has a lot crammed into one episode, but it all works. Again, I’m not a fan of the end with George’s glasses being spotted on top of the locker. That takes away a little from an episode that has plenty of laughs. Final Grade: 7/10
|
|
|
Post by sbtbfanatic on Jul 13, 2015 15:30:11 GMT
Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch – “The Puffy Shirt” (S5, E3)
Best Character
JT: The Costanzas. All of them. They won and dominated every scene. They were so good that the amazingness of the Puffy Shirt was overmatched by them. The bickering, the nonsense, the guilt trips, all of it is gold. Put the damn bananas on the side!
Aaron: Jerry is humiliated standing there in a Puffy Shirt. Jerry goes so far as to call said shirt “the stupidest shirt he’s ever seen.” Jerry is my pick.
Andrew: I think it has to be George. He really sells the living with his parents storyline, showing real terror at being left alone with them, and frustration at their pestering. As always, he has great chemistry with Jerry, competing over who has crazier parents or better hands. But what seals it is the change that comes over him when he gets the hand modeling job. He immediately become full of himself, transitioning so easily from the badgered loser son to an entitled prick. The hand care scene is so good.
Jordan: George takes it here. Even without the hand modeling storyline, just getting a few scenes of the Costanzas together is probably enough for me to give it to someone in their family. The constant fighting is gold and Frank screaming about bananas is just hilarious stuff. But when you factor in the modeling and George needing emery boards and cuticle scissors, he has to get the nod here.
Jason: George by a mile. The roller coaster life of George Costanza is in full effect here. Having to move back in with his parents spells disaster for him, but can’t miss television for the rest of us.
Best Storyline
JT: George’s hand modeling career takes it for me. As great and as memorable as the Puffy Shirt was, everything to do with George’s move home and brief moment of glory was so perfectly executed that is has to win here. Seeing him so happy for once before it all instantly blows up is what Costanza is all about. Him being forced to move home and being tortured at dinner before turning the tables and making his mother into a doting servant was brilliance. And Frank…well, Frank is Frank.
Aaron: Everything to do with the Puffy Shirt takes this one for me. The low-talker, the humiliation and Kramer’s gleeful joy that it’s the right time for people to start dressing like pirates are all gold. (Jerry! Gold!)
Andrew: I’m also going with the hand model storyline, and not just for the great George performance I mentioned earlier. I really enjoy the absurdity of doing a Hollywood-rise-and-fall story about something as ridiculous as hand modeling. It’s also a perfect George story, as he gets some unearned good fortune, wastes no time letting it go to his head, and is brought down by his own overconfidence.
Jordan: The Puffy Shirt is one of those legendary Seinfeld stories and moments. The low talker, the actual shirt, Jerry whining, “But I don’t wanna be a pirate!” It’s iconic…and yet I’m giving it to George the hand model. Just so awesome from start to finish. The shot of him prancing down the street wearing oven mitts is better than Jerry in the shirt, and his tragic end before he even really started is awesome.
Jason: Tough call. Jerry agreeing to wearing the puffy shirt on the Today Show with out knowing he agreed to wear it is such an iconic series moment. Damn low talkers. On the other hand, the ups and downs of George Louis Costanza is always fun to watch. Seeing him interact with his parents is always uncomfortable, but so good.
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
JT: Should Jerry have been forced to wear the Puffy Shirt on the Today Show based on the misunderstanding? I think his relationship with Elaine supersedes Kramer’s brief dalliance with the Low Talker. Jerry should have said no to the pirate wear and did what he set out to do, get awareness for Elaine’s fundraiser. Learn how to speak up, Leslie!
Aaron: So should Jerry have felt obligated to wear the shirt? When you really look at it, it is really his fault. All he had to do was get the low talker to speak louder to begin with. Sure that’s a Herculean task that he’s fundamentally opposed to is you listen to his comedy routine, but where he dismissively smiled and nodded he should have been asking for some much needed clarity.
Andrew: Couldn’t Jerry have backed out of the Puffy Shirt deal? Just said something along the lines of, “Now that I see the shirt, there’s no way I can do this”? And if he felt like he had to because of the orders had already been placed, shouldn’t he have gone all-in and tried to own it? Maybe he could have asked for a stake in her company. Half-assing it was clearly not the way to go.
Jordan: Should someone have unplugged the iron? Not only did it destroy poor George’s modeling career, it shows carelessness towards our future generations. Your carbon footprint matters, people!
Jason: I love Frank Costanza, but people who snap their finger to get a waiter’s attention drives me nuts. Are these the same people who leave their shopping cart in the middle of a parking lot instead bringing it back to the cart corral? Probably so.
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
JT: Leslie was annoying. Kramer can do better. He is so brash and outgoing, how can he date someone that he can’t even hear? Or can he? Either way, she is a crappy designer and a crappy speaker. Relationship Grade: Jack Sparrow/10
Aaron: I don’t think any of us can fully understand the sacred love that Ray McKigney possessed for his hand. We should not stand in judgment but embrace it as the purest form of love there is. Relationship Grade: 10/10
Andrew: The low-talker would be incredibly frustrating. But more importantly, this episode gave us an important message about the dangers of self-love. Poor Ray McKigney. Be the Master of your Domain, kids. Relationship Grade: Claw/10
Jordan: The Costanzas clearly hate each other. Were they ever in love? Perhaps. Maybe they’ve always hated each other and confused it with love. Think about it – when you love someone, you think about them a lot, they get your attention and your focus, they draw emotional reactions from you. It’s essentially the same thing when you hate a person. This marriage is a lie. Relationship Grade: THIN LINE/10
Jason: It’s pretty cool that Jerry and Elaine go out on double dates with Kramer or George and their significant other. Gotta hand it to the K-Man, he doesn’t discriminate and will date anyone, even low-talkers. Bickering Costanzas is in full force here. George getting fed up at Estelle and Frank while out to eat that he has to step outside to get some air is phenomenal. Relationship Grade: Silver Dollar/10
What Worked
JT: George moving back home is a great storyline to execute; Kramer offering both his and Jerry’s apartments to George was a good laugh as was the scene where they move him into the house; The bologna sandwich argument is one of my all time favorites; The fucking Puffy Shirt, The fucking Low Talker; The Constanza Family dinner is amazing, from civil service tests to silver dollars to incompetent waiters, it had it all; George being discovered as a hand model is a randomly tremendous idea; Kramer’s hand buzzer gag was good; Jerry’s delayed reaction to Kramer mentioning him agreeing to wear the Puffy Shirt into the reveal is top notch; The manicure scene at the Constanza home is pure aces with George scolding his mother for holding the scissors the wrong way to the bananas and the Jell-O, so great; Elaine’s reaction to the Puffy Shirt on Jerry is so good; Ray McKigney and the callback to the Contest is amazing; Bryant Gumbel’s obsession with the Puffy Shirt driving Jerry to snap was well done; George’s gallop through the park always makes me chuckle; Poor George’s modeling career went right to shit so quickly; The bums with the Puffy Shirts is a great way to close the episode
Aaron: Obviously all the George hand modeling stuff is wonderful. He gets arrogant immediately which makes his fall from grace all the more satisfying. Frank and Estelle Costanza are always welcome additions and the argument over George’s love for bananas is them in a tight little nutshell. Jerry Stiller’s exaggerated “s” on silver dollar is the exact thing that will make me laugh every single time. I couldn’t in good conscience give him the best character but he was fantastic throughout. I’m also a huge fan of when Seinfeld takes something banal, for example hand modeling, and gives it a world in which it lives and breathes. We get hand modeling legends, agents and groupies all tied nicely together with a shorthand that most sitcoms would stay away from.
Andrew: The Costanzas remain the best. Frank’s silver dollar story is epic, and I love the way he shoots down Estelle’s stories about George’s hands. And Estelle is a perfect counterpoint to George, picking on him when he’s down and fawning over him when he’s up. I also enjoyed Kramer’s commitment to the shirt (“I think people wanna look like pirates”). Jerry was really good as well, selling the crap out of the shirt drama. And speaking of the shirt, we should acknowledge how perfectly ridiculous looking it was.
Jordan: I understand George and Kramer are more important to the show, so they are more widely remembered, but Frank is probably my favorite character in the show’s run. Anytime he’s on, I’m happy. Screaming about bananas in jello (by the way, gross) seems like such a write off moment and he steals the scene with it. George’s dreams inflating only to be popped almost immediately is a great story no matter how often it happens. The low talker is a good character, and I know a few people like that who always want to chat on the phone. Frustrating! The Puffy Shirt is ridiculous, and I like that Jerry is mocked by Bryant Gumbel. George’s manicure is terrific, and Kramer using the hand buzzer was fun. Frank’s silver dollar rant was weird but good. The legend of Ray McKigney is not only funny, but an awesome call back to previous episodes.
Jason: Listening to the background of former hand model Ray McKigney is incredible. A great throwback to “The Contest”. I enjoy Jerry and Elaine nodding their heads and agreeing with everything “low talker” Leslie is saying, although they can’t hear a word she’s saying. Jerry’s “I don’t wanna be a pirate” line will always make a series highlight reel . My God, is there anything better in the history of television than meal time with the Costanzas? Holy shit, so good, every time! Also, if everyone 65 and older dressed liked Frank, the world would be a better place. He’s the OG of OGs.
What Didn’t Work
JT: The crazy overreaction of the model scout when George knocks her purse over is absurd.
Aaron: Elaine was criminally underused here. Elisa Carlisle’s exclamation “Look what you’ve done, you’ve spilled my bag!” really couldn’t have been the best take could it?
Andrew: I don’t think I’ll need this section today.
Jordan: I felt like Elaine was just there and wasn’t too important this week. Not sure what she could have done, but after her awesome rabies scene in the last episode, it’s definitely something you take notice of.
Jason: Not much to complain about here. Maybe George not wanting to take a Civil Service test? If he takes the test, it’s one step closer to him moving out of his parents house.
Key Character Debuts
– Leslie, the Low Talker
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
– “Listen carefully. My mother has never laughed. Ever. Not a giggle, not a chuckle, not a tee-hee… never went ‘Ha!'” – George
– “No, no, no, no. Borrowing money from a friend is like having sex. It just completely changes the relationship.” – George
– “I made some bologna sandwiches.” – Estelle “Bologna?! No one eats bologna anymore!” – George “What are you talking about?! Have a sandwich.” – Estelle “No thanks.” – Jerry “Oh, stop it! You don’t want one, Kramer?” – Estelle “Uhh.. no thanks.” – Kramer “I think you’re all a little touched in the head. (Puts the plate down) You’re so worried about your health.. You’re young men.” – Estelle “I really don’t eat it.” – Jerry “What am I gonna do with all these sandwiches?! Will you take them home? Give them to someone in your building?” – Estelle “I don’t know if I’d feel comfortable handing out bologna sandwiches in the building.” – Jerry
– The terms “Puffy Shirt” and “Low Talker” immediately become pop culture catchphrases
– “Yeah, see, I think people want to look like pirates. You know, it’s the right time for it.. to be all puffy, and devil-may-care…” – Kramer
– “Maybe you should take a civil service test.” – Elaine “I’m not taking a civil service test.” – George “Look at this, George. You ever seen a silver dollar?” – Frank “Yes, I’ve seen a silver dollar.” – George “Why don’t you want to take a civil service test?” – Estelle “To do what?! Work in a post office? Is that what you want me to do?” – George “Would you believe when I was 18, I had a silver dollar collection?” – Frank “I don’t understand. You get job security – you get a pay check every week…” – Estelle “I’m a college graduate. You want me to be a mailman?” – George “You know, I couldn’t bring myself to spend one of these. I got some kind of a-a-a-a-a phobia.” – Frank “So what are you gonna do?!” – Estelle “I don’t know. I do know that I have some kind of a talent – something to offer. I just don’t know what it is yet!” – George “I bet that collection would be worth a lot of money today.” – Frank
– “What, are you kidding? The knuckles are all out of proportion. you got hair over there – where do you get off comparing your hands to my hands?! This is a one-in-a-million hand.” – George “Well, that’s what comes from avoiding manual labor your whole life.” – Jerry
– “Yes, yes. This pirate trend that she’s come up with, Jerry, – this is gonna be the new look for the 90’s. You’re gonna be the first pirate!” – Kramer “But, I don’t want to be a pirate!” – Jerry
– “I knew it. I knew it.. I always knew you always had beautiful hands. I used to tell people. Frank, didn’t I use to talk about his hands?” – Estelle “Who the hell did’ya ever mention his hands to?” – Frank “I mentioned his hands to plenty of people!” – Estelle “You never mentioned them to me!” – Frank
– “Georgie, would you like some Jell-O?” – Estelle “Why’d you put the bananas in there?!” – Frank “George likes the bananas!” – Estelle “So let him have bananas on the side!” – Frank “Alright! Please, please! I cannot have this constant bickering!.. Stress is very damaging to the epidermis! Now, I have an important photo session in the morning – my hands have got to be in tip-top shape, so please – keep the television down, and the conversation to a minimum.” – George “But Georgie.. what about the Jell-O?” – Elaine “I’ll take it in my room.” – George
– “”Why am I wearing is now?’? I’ll tell you why I’m wearing it now – because the lowtalker asked me to, that’s why! And I said ‘yes’. Do you know why? Because I couldn’t hear her!” – Jerry
– “You’re all puffed up!.. You look like the Count of Monte Cristo!” – Elaine
– “l feel ridiculous in it. l think it’s the stupidest shirt l’ve ever seen, to be perfectly honest with you.” – Jerry
– “‘Avast ye, matey”? What the hell does that mean? ”Twenty degrees off the starboard side. lt’s a Spanish galleon.’ There’s no comeback for that.” – Jerry
Oddities & Fun Facts
– The businessman at the photo shoot is portrayed by David Brisbin, who also portrayed Mr. Ernst in Nickelodeon’s Hey Dude
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
JT: This was pretty much the perfect Seinfeld episode. Zero wasted scenes, no down moments, everything tying together seamlessly. It had it all. Oh, and two iconic all time pop culture crossover bits in the Low Talker and the Puffy Shirt. Those terms immediately blew up in popularity. George was amazing here, as were Frank and Estelle, and their constant arguing was nonsensically great. Bologna sandwiches, silver dollars, sharp scissors, civil service tests, bananas, Jell-O and dickhead waiters. What more do you want? The Puffy Shirt jokes and reactions were perfect as was the payoff of Jerry melting down while wearing the shirt. Plus, the Contest callback was a nice touch and wasn’t forced at all. Easy perfect score for me on this one. Iconic. Final Grade: 10/10
Aaron: This is a pretty legendary episode and with good reason. While it lacks the gut-busting laugh out loud gags, it more than makes up for it with absurdity and humiliation. Just great stuff here. Final Grade: 8/10
Andrew: This was a great episode. It has the excellent Costanza performances, an iconic moment in the Puffy Shirt, and a classic George storyline. I can’t ask for much more than that. Final Grade: 10/10
Jordan: Just epic. What I love about this episode is that the parts of it that became pop culture legends aren’t even the best parts. The low talker and the Puffy Shirt are a very funny storyline with some good visual comedy and bits, but man is the George storyline fantastic. I thought about giving the last episode a higher score, and held off knowing this one was coming. This is iconic. Final Grade: 10/10
Jason: An instant classic. Anytime you get the Costanzas in the same room, you’re in for a treat. Jerry being confused about agreeing to wear the Puffy Shirt and then feeling so out of place while wearing the shirt is great. George burning his hands when Leslie pushes him into the hot iron hurts just watching it. It’s fun to imagine how funny it would be if Jerry actually came swinging in on a chandelier wearing the Puffy Shirt. From beginning to end this episode has it all. If you haven’t watched this one in a while, grab some Jell-O with bananas and watch it! Final Grade: 10/10
|
|
|
Post by sbtbfanatic on Jul 13, 2015 15:30:51 GMT
Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch – “The Sniffing Accountant” (S5, E4)
Best Character
JT: George takes this one for me. Jerry, Kramer and Newman were very enjoyable in their sting, but George’s scenes with his parents and the job interview sealed the deal. Plus, once again, he blows a good gig by getting too overconfident too quickly.
Aaron: Honestly there wasn’t any major standout performances for me in this one. Basically it boiled down to Kramer’s scene in the bar versus Frank Costanza telling his son he should get into selling brassieres. Frank came back and screamed “May I have this dance!” so he squeaks this one out. It’s amazing how quickly he can go from raging about how long it takes to find a bra to kindly old man who was wrong about said bra’s material.
Andrew: No one really ran away with this one, but I enjoyed Jerry the most. For all the complaining we’ve done about his acting, it’s only fair to point out that he can be a fantastic straight man. Watching him get progressively more fed up with Kramer’s and Newman’s nonsense adds so much to the stakeout scene, and makes it even more entertaining when he gets drawn into it during the letter-writing scene. When he sticks to his strengths, Jerry is pretty great.
Jordan: Going with Kramer on the strength of the bar scene. His physical comedy is so incredible. I loved him chugging the beer while a cigarette dangles from his mouth, then he puts it in his mouth backwards. Frank Costanza gets the silver medal again here, but Kramer’s bar scene is a legendary performance.
Jason: Got to go with George. the lying, the bullshitting, the interacting with his parents. All well represented here.
Best Storyline
JT: I will go with the sting. I liked the way it tied everything together at the end, with the sweater and the exclamation points. The scene in the car was great and I love Kramer in the bar too. It was also a great use of Newman, who has been too sporadic lately.
Aaron: While I didn’t love the idea of the sniffing accountant itself it’s hard to not be on board with Kramer, Jerry and Newman doing a stakeout together. The ensuing bar scene is tremendous and easily trumps the weirdness that is seeing Jerry and Newman working together.
Andrew: It’s a close call, but I like George’s bra salesman storyline. His speech about the first time he saw a brassiere would be enough on its own, but throw in more greatness from the Costanzas and this one is hard to beat. The Christa Miller cameo is just icing on the cake. (On a related note, why isn’t The Drew Carey Show ever on TV?)
Jordan: The stakeout. It gave us Kramer in the bar and some Jerry/Newman interaction. I liked Kramer bursting into the bathroom stall and taking a Polaroid, too. Newman with the floss is disgusting. And the subsequent letter filled with exclamation points was a nice capper.
Jason: Tough call here. George possibly becoming a bra salesman and the use of exclamation points is great, but I really enjoyed the sting. He’s sniffing, asks where the bathroom is and travels to South America. “What kind of snow blower did you get us mixed up with?”
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
JT: Whether there is a job on the line or not, do you really want to fondle your mother’s bra at the dinner table? I would refuse and tell your parents that you will head to the mall to do research instead. Frank really crossed the line on this one.
Aaron: What has happened to the old ways of courtship? Today grabbing someone’s clothing is reserved compared to the grinding and sexual intercourse seen in clubs throughout the country. What happened to us as a society that it’s now just instant sex? Why didn’t this happen several decades ago when I was wasn’t married to the beautiful mother of my children? It’s just not fair, and not right that those of us who had to politely ask, “May I have this dance?” are forced to sit on the sidelines in our sexual primes and see sex handed out like oranges at the end of a soccer game.
Andrew: Is it ever appropriate to complain about someone not using an exclamation point? Jake obviously bears some responsibility for the fight, as he shouldn’t have pushed things, but I think Elaine was way off base. If anything, we should applaud him for resisting the overuse of exclamation points.
Jordan: Who gets mushrooms on a pizza you are splitting with someone? Especially if that person doesn’t like mushrooms? Pepperoni is a topping that you don’t need to approve, but mushroom falls in the “ask first” column of toppings along with ham, pineapple and bacon. Jerry shouldn’t have shocked Kramer with fungus on the pizza.
Jason: If someone uses dental floss/tape in my car then places it on the dashboard, I’m gonna raise hell. That’s just gross. Also, do all seven days have a feel to them? I think so. It does throw things off when a major holiday falls in the middle of the week.
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
JT: Kramer and Tuesdays. To him, they have a feel. So much so that he mistakes Thursday for it. That is love, true love. And it is so Kramer to pick the most useless day of the week to be most fond of. Tuesdays are worthless. There are no positives about Tuesdays at all. You are past any potential long weekends and still quite far from Friday. Wednesdays at least have you looking at the end of the work week and Wednesday nights can be fun, especially if you have a long weekend ahead of you. But Tuesday? See you in hell pal! Relationship Grade: 1/10
Aaron: Jake seemed like a nice guy, too bad Elaine was a grammar Nazi before it was cool. Relationship Grade: SS/10
Andrew: Jake and Elaine’s tumultuous relationship doesn’t do much for me, but I did enjoy the “feeling the fabric” sub-plot. Elaine retelling the story was great, and I enjoyed the way it backfired on George. It’s almost as though dating success is more about spontaneous chemistry than rehearsed moves. Who knew? Relationship Grade: Life Lessons/10
Jordan: Elaine was awful here!!!!! Jake was a good guy, and she ends it because he doesn’t put an exclamation point on a note? Ridiculous!!!!!!!!!! She may have stabbed him if he used there instead of their or they’re!!!!!!!!!!! Way to go Elaine! Relationship Grade: !!!!!/10
Jason: Meal time with the Costanzas gives you a great feel how these people can’t stand each other. Frank questioning why George is using so much ketchup always makes me chuckle. How wonderfully uncomfortable is it when Frank starts talking about bra sizes at the dinner table? I love anytime we get Jerry and Newman alone. It’s so unpredictable. Elaine and Jake really seem to like one another. A nice gesture for Jake to clean her apartment while she’s out. But I agree with Jerry, I’ve never heard a relationship being affected by a punctuation. Relationship Grade: DENTAL FLOSS/10
What Worked:
JT: Elaine’s digs at George about living with his mom was cold as ice; The Costanzas, all of them; The bra testing and lesson scene is so good; I enjoyed Jerry and Kramer discussing the potential habits of Barry, followed by all of the hints adding up, like the South America trip; The exclamation point stuff was well done by Elaine and Jake; I find it funny that Newman’s money was included in this CD as well, what an odd thing for these three men to join up and take part in; I have always loved the scene in the car, especially the “feel of the days” discussion; Kramer’s sting in the bar is a classic scene; Newman putting the used floss on Jerry’s dashboard is great; George’s job interview was a thing of beauty, only unravelled by his inane overconfidence yet again; Lippman’s reading of the exclamation point capped sentences was well executed; Tying everything together with the sweater allergy was great; Ralph is fucking pimp, what a stud
Aaron: I love George and Elaine sniping at each other but both being right about the other’s failings. Obviously the Costanzas are always a treat and the banality of their attacks at George truly capture the pettiness of the elderly. Who cares how much ketchup he uses? There was also something great about how Frank lowered his voice to George to explain to him the ins and outs of cup sizes. Like he had information he’d been keeping from his wife for years. The sting was great and Elaine picking out the most absurd flaw in the history of mankind is precisely the behavior we love about the character. George’s description of his lifelong bra obsession to Farkus was great. Farkus is also a fantastic name for a man so emasculated.
Andrew: I didn’t pick it for best storyline, but there is a lot to like about the main plot. I enjoy Barry’s coked-out Wall Street routine, and Jerry and Newman have some really good scenes together. Kramer’s undercover character is hilarious, and I can’t say enough about his lit cigarette prop work. Frank’s description of bra sizes is a classic, and George’s discomfort during the whole scene is perfect.
Jordan: I think they could do an entire episode of just the Costanza family at the dinner table and I may rank it in the Top 5 of all time. I enjoy it whenever someone gets sucked into Kramer’s craziness, but even moreso when it’s Jerry. Discussing the “evidence” that Barry was a coke addict was fun. The bar scene that I’ve already covered was the best part of the episode, but the car scenes were good too. Newman laying the floss on the dashboard is so gross. All the bra talk is good stuff, and Frank insisting that George take a look at his mom’s bra at the table is incredible. George’s interview is a good scene too, even if I think the woman freaking out is a bit much.
Jason: The exclamation point stuff with Elaine and Jake has Larry David written all over it. So well done. Kramer sitting at he bar is so enjoyable..Him chugging the beer with a cigarette in his mouth is hilarious. When they find out Ralph the pizza guy is allergic to mohair is perfect timing. Also, Ralph has my vote for most 90s look. The flat top with the fanny pack is tremendous. Sid Farkus is a fun name to say. George explaining how he became so intrigued by bras is a top tier George moment.
What Didn’t Work
JT: The sweater that the episode pivots around is really grotesque; This episode feels a bit dated with a coke addict accountant that mismanages money; Is the bar in the sting supposed to be the comedy club or was it just a lazy set recycling; Barry’s hair is brutally awful
Aaron: I didn’t love the story of the drug addled accountant. Sure we got to see the ugliest sweater known to man, but it just didn’t click for me. I’m also not a fan of legitimately wronged Jerry, I prefer when he’s in the right but social norms dictate he should let it go. The whole pacing and feel of this one felt a bit disjointed for me, almost like the three separate stories weren’t quite intertwined enough. They’re usually so good and finding either a common thread or weaving them in and out of each other so I felt like the writing was missing its usual panache.
Andrew: I try to take the studio audience in context (it’s not like it sounded out of place at the time), but it got to me a bit in this episode. When they’re getting overzealous about some scene I’m not enjoying, it really sucks.
Jordan: OK, I hated Elaine this episode. I think she was ridiculous to Jake, wouldn’t let the issue drop and looked like a chump when Mr. Lippman called her out. I just feel this episode was very out of character for her, and getting furious over the exclamation points was a stretch. Also, the sweater is the worst wardrobe item we’ve ever seen on the show, and that’s saying a LOT.
Jason: George being pissed that he can’t go buy new sneakers because Frank got him the interview bothers me. He despises living with his parents, so why not just take the interview, get the job and move out of 1344 Queens Blvd? Not a fan of the feeling the material stuff, but I guess it kind of works here because it ends up costing George the job. It’s a real creepy thing to do.
Key Character Debuts
Jake Jarmel
Sid Farkus
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
– “I was wearing my sling back pumps.” – Elaine “What are those?” – George “Ask your mother, you live with her now, don’t you? Anyway, so then this guy comes up to me and starts feeling my jacket through his thumb and his forefinger.” – Elaine
– “Next Friday, what time?” – George “2 o’clock.” – Frank “That’s my whole afternoon! I was going to look for sneakers.” – George “You can look for sneakers the next day!” – Frank
– “How long it takes to find a bra? What’s going on in there? You ask me to get a pair of underwear, I’m back in two seconds…you know about the cup sizes and all? They have different cups.” – Frank ” I-I know about the cups.” – George “You got the A, B, C the D. That’s the biggest.” – Frank “I know the D is the biggest. I’ve based my whole life on knowing that the D is the biggest.” – George
– “Do you think that’s a bad sign?” – Jerry “Yes!! Yes, that’s what they do! They live in the bathroom! All right, what are we going to do? We are going to get our money back, right?” – Kramer
– “Hey, I just chalked down the message. I didn’t know I was required to capture the mood of each caller.” – Jake
– “It’s an exclamation point! It’s a line with a dot under it.” – Jerry “Well, I felt a call for one.” – Elaine “A call for one, you know I thought I’ve heard everything. I’ve never heard a relationship being affected by a punctuation.” – Jerry “I found it very troubling that he didn’t use one.” – Elaine “George was right. Didn’t take you long.” – Jerry
– “Who goes to South America?” – Jerry “People go to South America.” – Elaine “Yeah, and they come back with things taped to their large intestine.” – Jerry
– “South America?! What kind of snow blower did you get us mixed up with?” – Newman
– “What’s today? ” – Kramer “It’s Thursday.” – Newman “Really? Feels like Tuesday.” – Kramer “Tuesday has no feel. Monday has a feel, Friday has a feel, Sunday has a feel…” – Newman “I feel Tuesday and Wednesday…” – Kramer “All right, shut up the both of you! You’re making me nervous.” – Jerry
– “No, you stay here in the car. I may need you.” – Jerry “What you need me in the car for?” – Newman “I might need you to get me a soda.” – Jerry
– “You’re an idiot.” – Jerry “Why, because I use dental tape?” – Newman “Right, anyone who uses dental tape is an idiot.” – Jerry
– “Well, I was 14 years old. I was in my friends bathroom. His mother’s brassieres were hanging on the shower rod. I picked it up, studied it. I thought, I like this. I didn’t know what way or what level, but I knew: I wanted to be around brassieres.” – George “That’s incredible story. You have a remarkable passion for brassieres.” – Farkus “They are more than an underwear to me Mr.Farkus. Two cups in the front, two loops in the back. How do they do it? – George
– “What ever happened to “Why, that’s a lovely dress you have on. May I have this dance?”!!” – Frank
– “Half silk, half cotton, half linen. How can you go wrong?” – Jerry
Oddities & Fun Facts
– The woman mailing a letter that flips out on Newman also played George’s co-worker Glenda in The Revenge (S2, E12)
– Ellen, Sid Farkus’s boss is portrayed by Christa Miller
– George is reading a Glamour magazine at his parents’ house, a callback to The Contest
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
JT: This is one of those episodes that is hurt more by the extremely high quality of Seinfeld than anything else. There was a lot here to like and the writing was pretty tight throughout. The bra stuff was really funny and the Costanzas killed it as always. The sting was fun and Kramer’s performance in the bar is a classic scene. But, something was still missing that stopped it from really clicking and hitting that next gear. Plus, it follows the three super strong episodes to open the season, and on that curve it is clearly a step back. That said, there was some high level stuff blended in and any time we get a healthy dose of the Costanzas and Newman, it has to count for something. Final Grade: 6/10
Aaron: This was just there for me. There’s the classic bar scene with Kramer and great stuff from George and his family but the rest falls flat compared to the great episodes it’s surrounded by. Final Grade: 6/10
Andrew: I may be overusing this description, but this was a “less than the sum of its parts” episode for me. There were a lot of individual parts I really enjoy, but the overall product was underwhelming. Maybe it’s that the stories were too disconnected, or that a few weak scenes dragged the rest down; or maybe it’s just that the previous episode was tough to live up to. Regardless, I was hoping for more. Here’s to feeling good all the time. Final Grade: 6/10
Jordan: This was an episode that had a couple really good moments, but not a lot else. I really enjoyed the dinner scene with George and Frank, but we’ll see that again and again. Kramer at the bar definitely lifts it up a point or two, but Elaine being unlikable and just a general miss overall makes this one kind of “meh” for me. It’s still funny because it’s Season 5 of Seinfeld, but it’s a big step down from everything else this season so far. Final Grade: 5/10
Jason: I have mixed feeling about this episode. You can’t go wrong with bickering Costanzas, the exclamation point stuff and wondering if Barry is a junkie. A lot going on, but a few creepy moments. Between Kramer taking a picture of Barry while he’s in the john and the material feeling stuff, that’s some points lost from me. A step down from the monster start to this season. Final Grade: 7/10
|
|
|
Post by sbtbfanatic on Jul 13, 2015 15:31:16 GMT
Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch – “The Bris” (S5, E5)
Best Character
JT: The Mohel was really damn good in his limited work but this was Kramer from the start. He was fantastic in his quest to locate the Pig Man and always, his schemes end up costing his friends in the end. His descriptions and defenses of the Pig Man mixed with his wild conspiracy theories were top notch. The K-Man takes it.
Aaron: This one was sealed up the moment Kramer laid eyes on the Pig Man. Deeper fear has never been experienced. Sure no one else even cares or is interested in said swine but Kramer’s conviction that they’ve been experiencing on the Pig Man since the fifties is only rivaled by his justifiable hysteria over the inevitable pig warrior army. The anguished oink of Pig Man calls out for help indeed sir.
Andrew: I don’t feel like anyone separated themselves in this one, but I enjoyed Elaine the most. Her general discomfort with the bris works well, as does her exasperation during the conversation about pig men and the women who love them. (Also, when she sarcastically suggested recording the conversation so she could listen to it later, she may have invented podcasting). But what really sealed it was her describing an encounter with an uncircumcised penis; her visceral physical reaction is amazing, and “No face, no personality” is a perfect line.
Jordan: I love Kramer when he’s got a nice weird storyline to sink his teeth into. The obsession with Pig Man is awesome stuff and a perfect subplot for an episode. It probably couldn’t carry one on it’s own, but that doesn’t matter here. Kramer’s look of abject horror upon seeing him, then grilling the doctor (“He’s LYING!” is such a perfectly delivered line) and taking him out via, wait for it…PIGGYBACK, is just so funny. And I didn’t even have to mention where he tries to steal the baby to save it from being mutilated!
Jason: George and the Mohel were both incredible, but the K-Man gets the duke here. The Pig Man obsession, the anti-circumcision, piggy backing a pig man through the hospital, the Michael Corleone stuff at the end.
Best Storyline
JT: The Pig Man and there is not much debate. The Mohel’s foibles and George’s poor luck run were pretty damn good and in most episodes, they would have challenged, but the Pig Man stuff was next level.
Aaron: Pig Man. All day every day.
Andrew: I think it has to be The Bris. How could I pick a storyline that doesn’t include the mohel from hell, who almost runs away with the episode by the end? I also love Kramer’s militant anti-circumcision stance, and the storyline features two of my favorite scenes from the episode: the ride to the hospital in the caved-in car, and the Godfather ending. Good stuff.
Jordan: Early on, you think George is going to take it in a cakewalk with the car splattering. But Pig Man wins. Pig Man always wins. Pig Man is love. Pig Man is life. ALL HAIL PIG MAN.
Jason: The Pig Man wins by a snout over George thinking the hospital is responsible for his car damages.
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
JT: What level of friendship must you be at to be asked to be a godparent? I mean if Stan is really just a dude from Jerry’s softball team, then I think it is a little much to put that sort of responsibility on poor Jerome. They all swap over to Kramer because of mistaking his anti-circumcision stance for true love of their son, but if they knew the K-Man at all, they would know he is an awful choice. Stan & Myra suck.
Aaron: If you believe someone to be a prisoner of the military industrial complex, should you help said prisoner/freak escape? I guess it really depends where you land on the whole war/peace debate. Sure the Pig Man could be a powerful weapon a la Dr. Manhattan from Watchmen, but by the same token we have no idea of the scope of creation he could accomplish had he been left to his own devices, free to live his life the way he saw fit. It’s a complex issue with great points on both sides. The reality is that a Pig Man could have written Othello as easily as he could have orchestrated the Gulf of Tonkin incident. I’d tell you one thing he’d be much more qualified to put Humpty Dumpty back together again instead of all those King’s horses. Seriously what were they going to do. They have hooves.
Andrew: What is the proper response to friendship level jumping? Jerry doesn’t seem to take a hard line on the question; one minute he’s breaking up with Keith Hernandez for asking for help moving, the next he’s holding his softball pitcher’s baby during a religious ceremony. I guess Godfather is a tough role to turn down.
Jordan: I know that breastfeeding in public is something that we should accept, as it is a natural thing. I get it, and I am fine with it. But asking others to CHECK OUT YOUR WIFE as she breastfeeds? Not cool, dude. Stan and Myra are way too much.
Jason: Ok, if a hospital patient jumps out of a window and onto your car, should the hospital be responsible for the damages? I gotta side with George on this one. Sure he’s cheap and avoids opening his wallet for very few things, but he’s in the right here. I also agree with the Mohel in questioning why Elaine puts her glass on the edge of the table.
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
JT: Stan and Myra are made for each other. Insufferable pricks, the both of them. They can enjoy their shitty marriage and the child they will clearly raise to be a pussy that will forever be scared of the world. Get the fuck out of here! Relationship Grade: 10/10
Aaron: I feel there’s a script somewhere in Larry David’s cave of wonders where he chronicles the further adventures of Kramer and Pig Man. It would be the buddy comedy for the ages. Relationship Grade: I’m getting too old for this shit.
Andrew: Kramer and the Pig Man should have run away and raised horrible mutant babies together. Relationship Grade: N/A/10
Jordan: Tale as old as time, true as it can be. Barely even friends, then somebody bends, unexpectedly. Just a little change, small to say the least. Both a little scared, neither one prepared…George and his parking spot. Relationship Grade: 10/10
Jason: Do Jerry and Elaine actually like Stan and Myra? Stan and Myra seem to be more invested in the friendship. Relationship Grade: 4/10
What Worked:
JT: I never get tired of George bragging and/or fretting over parking; Kramer telling the suicidal patient where the elevator is, eating random food and discovering the Pig Man is about as strong a start as you can get; Some guy committing suicide by jumping off a building and landing on your car can only happen to George; Elaine’s description of an uncircumcised penis was tremendous; All of Kramer’s descriptive adjectives of the Pig Man are amazing, every single one of them, especially the discussion over the Pig Man and his two seater car; George’s scene with the hospital administrator was awkwardly fantastic; Kramer trying to bully the doctor into revealing the Pig Man’s location was great; The Mohel is an immediate force of nature, from storming in and announcing himself proudly to his inane ranting about babies crying, scary neighborhoods and glass placement on tables; The scene in George’s wrecked car is tremendous, including his bragging about the parking spot yet again; Jerry and the Mohel fighting outside the hospital room was great and it is capped by Kramer running down the hallway with the Pig Man; Tremendous payoff with the Pig Man stealing George’s car and Kramer becoming the new Godfather
Aaron: Everything to do with the pig man falls here. Obviously. I also loved George’s saga. He’s at his best when he starts in a position of power (all-star parker) and plummets to his untimely demise. (greedy, callous hospital victim.) He can go off on as many tangents as he wants but Mrs. Seedler sniffs out his deceptive ass immediately. There’s a picture of Jerry visible in Kramer’s apartment at the end. I’m not sure why I love it so much but it just makes sense.
Andrew: George’s pride in his ability to find a parking spot still works for me. Kramer’s steadfast belief in the Pig Man is so good, and I thought having him inadvertently help the suicidal patient was a nice touch. His anti-circumcision opinions are pretty entertaining, and pay off nicely when he’s bringing Myra to tears and trying to run off with the baby. The awful mohel is quite good, and I enjoyed George trying to use his bris experience to pick up women. Jerry’s first few Godfather impressions didn’t do much for me, but by the time he was doing “Look what they did to my boy!” I was on board, and the homage to the last scene was great.
Jordan: George loves parking. I love that George loves parking. It’s simple. Kramer’s quest for the Pig Man is so great, and I like that we never got a glimpse of him. But since I already sang the praises of that, let me talk about Kramer and his anti-circumcision stance. I loved him taking the baby and trying to run off with it, only to be taken down by a mob of people, desperate to see part of a penis chopped off. These people are savages. Elaine and Jerry discussing Stan and Myra skipping levels was good, and something many can relate to. Stan and Myra suck pretty bad, but I feel like they are supposed to, so it works.
Jason: The Mohel was fantastic! High strung, nervous, paranoid. He’s a Costanza turned up to eleven. Anyone who’s ever gotten a great parking spot in a major city should be proud of themselves. Brag on, George! Kramer’s pig voices, calling the doctor a quack and running through the hospital with a pig on his back all works. Everyone driving to the hopsital in George’s damaged car is great. Jerry and the Mohel bickering at the hospital is another winner.
What Didn’t Work
JT: I hate Stan and his hair and attitude; The hospital administrator is a real piece of work for trying to pin this all on George; Jerry’s Godfather impression is indeed awful; Stan and Myra are the worst
Aaron: I’m sure this is a sign of the times but I HATE that the anti-circumcision rhetoric is being brandied about by the guy they’re setting up to be crazy. The whole argument of it being a “tradition” is easily exposed by his “sacrificing virgin” argument but unfortunately it’s hard to take it seriously when the guy saying it is rambling about Jerry not being connected to the Pig Man reality. I kind of didn’t want to touch this topic, (I tried to steer clear of it in the ethical part) but it really affected what I thought of the episode. We’re horrified when we mutilate girls but fine when it’s boys in the name of “Tradition.”
Andrew: Kramer brings the mother to tears while railing against circumcision, but then a minute later she’s cool with it? That was weird. I didn’t get much out of George trying to recoup his car repair costs from the hospital administrator.
Jordan: I am clearly in the minority here, but…I don’t care for the Mohel. I chuckled a bit at him, but I thought the character was way over the top. I enjoyed his scene in the hospital more than at the actual bris. Kramer is wacky and it seems natural. This guy seemed wacky for the sake of wacky. Also, I don’t like when George is actually right – the hospital should pay for the damages to his car. George should always be wrong.
Jason: I’m not a fan of Stan wanting Jerry to watch Myra breastfeed the baby. Having a friend watch my wife breast feed my kid, no thanks.
Key Character Debuts
The Pig Man
The Mohel
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
– “So after the sucking, comes the weaning.” – Jerry “First the sucking then the weaning.” – Elaine “Well, you gotta wean.” – Jerry “Gotta wean.” – Stan
– “The pig man! I saw a pig man! He was just lying there and then he woke up. He looked up at me and made this horrible sound!” – Kramer
– “A bris? you mean snip snip?” – Kramer “Yeah.” – Stan “I would advise against that.” – Kramer “Kramer. It’s a tradition.” – Elaine “Well, so was sacrificing virgins to appease the gods, but we don’t do that anymore.” – Kramer “Well, maybe we should.” – Jerry
– “Oh, finding a Mohel is a piece of cake. Any idiot can find a Mohel. I have the tough job. I have to hold the baby while they do it. How would you like that job?” – Jerry
– “Look at our little Elaine. Look at her. Attended the finest finishing schools on the Eastern seaboard. Equestrian competitions. Debutante balls. Well, look at her now. Interviewing Mohels.” – Jerry
– “Don’t even question my instincts, because my instincts are honed.” – Kramer
– “I’m tellin ya the pigman is alive. The governments been experimenting with pigmen since the fifties.” – Kramer
– “Oh. Jerry wake up to reality. It’s military thing. They’re probably creating a whole army of pig warriors.” – Kramer
– “Believe me, there’d be plenty of women going for the pig-men. No matter what the deformity you’ll find some group of perverts attracted to it. ‘Oo that little tail turns me on.'” – Jerry
– “Believe me, Jerry, somewhere in this hospital the anguished oink of pigman cries for help.” – Kramer
– “You got room for the pig man?” – Kramer “The pig man can take the bus.” – George “You know, if pig man had a car, he’d give you a ride.” – Kramer “How do you know? What if pig man had a two-seater?” – George “Come on George, be realistic.” – Kramer “All right, if pig-man comes along, we’ll squeeze him in. I’ll see you later.” – George
– “Look, you little quack, I know you had a half man half pig holed up in that room, there. Now where is he?! Where is he?!” – Kramer “Half-what?” – Doctor “You know what – bacon, sausage, A-dee-a-dee-a-dee th-th-th-that’s all folks.” – Kramer
– “Did I find it alright? I mean could you send me to a more dangerous neighborhood? I’m dreading walking back to the subway, someone shouldn’t crack me over the head and steal my bag, soon I’ll be lying there on the street in this neighborhood and people will spit on me and empty my pockets. I’ll lie in the gutter like a bum, like a dog, like a mutt, like an animal! God forbid someone should help me or call an ambulance. No, that’s too much trouble to pick up a phone and press a few buttons. Ahh! What’s the point.” – Mohel
– “This is a bris. We are performing a bris here, not a burlesque show. This is not a school play! This is not a baggy pants farce! This is a bris. An ancient, sacred ceremony, symbolizing the covenant between God and Abraham… or something.” – Mohel
– “Well if it isn’t Shakey the Mohel! You did a hell of a circumcision there pal. But it’s not supposed to be a finger.” – Mohel
Oddities & Fun Facts
N/A
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
JT: What a fantastic episode from top to bottom. The writing was super tight and the Pig Man is an all time storyline with a great payoff. The Mohel stuff was really done too, with both Jerry and Elaine delivering strong performances alongside Shaky the Butcher. George’s issue is very Curb Your Enthusiasm, where is pretty right but really damn stuck and then ultimately dicked over by the world. Very little to complain about here, other than the awful Stan and Myra of course. Final Grade: 9/10
Aaron: I feel like I should take my ethical concerns out of the rating. As much as the circumcision stuff rubbed me the wrong way, it’s unfair to overlook the brilliance of everything else that was here. I’ll still go high for all the fantastic Pig Man stuff and George’s parking adventures. That’s where the brilliance lies. Final Grade: 9/10
Andrew: This was a really fun, fast moving episode. It never drags, is plenty quotable, and really nails the circumcision humor (which sounds easy, since it’s inherently ridiculous, but I’ve seen other shows try and fail). But I still feel like this episode is a notch below the classics. Maybe a better storyline for George could have put it over the top. Final Grade: 8/10
Jordan: I am very conflicted here. I enjoy the storylines, and Pig Man is so incredible. But…the mohel takes it down for me. Detective Bookman, this guy is not. Still, the premise is good, and the subplots are excellent. If I liked that character more, I would go higher, but I can’t. 4 out of 10 for him, 10 out of 10 for everything else. Final Grade: 7/10
Jason: So much going on here. Jerry and Elaine being named godparents. Kramer and the Pig Man. George wanting the hospital to pay for the damages to his car. The Mohel is one of the best one time characters in the series. A great episode with a lot of laughs. Find a good parking spot and enjoy this one. Final Grade: 9/10
|
|
|
Post by sbtbfanatic on Jul 13, 2015 15:31:36 GMT
Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch – “The Lip Reader” (S5, E6)
Best Character
JT: Man, lots to love here. The Driver and Laura were both great in their roles and I really loved Kramer the Ball Boy and Sign Language Translator. But, George is the choice as he had the best episode top to bottom. From devouring the ice cream like an animal to flipping out and calling Laura and Kramer idiots in front of everyone, he dominated the action.
Aaron: I had trouble with this one as I felt that no one really stood out for me. Until that is Kramer went on his quest to become a ball man. He also finished strong with his condemnation of Laura’s singing skills so let’s call him the best of the worst.
Andrew: I’ll go with George for best character. I like that he feels so insulted by Gwen using his own break-up strategy against him. Even better, I love that he assumes she is exactly as superficial as he is. The scene with he and Jerry hiding their mouths from the lip reader is great, and I thought he had the best line of the episode: “Oh, I was just going to wander the streets”.
Jordan: Gonna go with George because I feel like he’s been getting a lot of runner ups, but not taking home the award. Leave it to this jabroni to get dumped for eating ice cream like a toddler. I also like that he’s furious about “It’s not you, it’s me.” and coming up with the lip reading plan. Good stuff from Georgie boy.
Jason: As impressed as I was with Kramer knowing sign language and becoming a ball boy, George wins it here. There is no limit to why he can’t keep a girlfriend.
Best Storyline
JT: The lip reader all the way as it produced the two best scenes of the episode with the restaurant plotting and the party execution. Also, the six/sex mixup is a classic.
Aaron: Kramer breaks the ball barrier. I liked all the others (The lip reader and Elaine not wanting to talk to the driver) but I just didn’t feel they were mined to their comic potential. It was quick but I loved the ball training scene with the younger guys bullying “Pops” Kramer. I love when Seinfeld takes something and builds a ridiculous world around it. Of course there are bullies in the baling world.
Andrew: I think I liked George’s break-up and investigation the most. Seeing George’s chocolate covered face on national TV was great, and I still enjoy his inability to let things go. I also love the randomly absurd Newman scene that gets thrown in. I have some complaints about this storyline, but it’s very entertaining.
Jordan: The lip reader did a good job of carrying the episode. I really liked Kramer the ball boy, but it was definitely a secondary story and couldn’t have been fleshed out too much more. It also gives us the moment where Jerry and George start discussing the idea of using Laura to their advantage and covering their mouths, which is a classic.
Jason: The lip reader stuff was fantastic. From Jerry being attracted to her to not knowing she was deaf and convincing her to spy on Gwen at Todd’s party.
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
JT: If someone you are dating is humiliated publicly, is it OK to immediately cut the cord like a coward? If you are so revolted that you have to end things, at least have the guts to say why. Plus, they have mutual friends! That is a shit position to put poor Todd in. As it is he has to deal with being grotesquely short. Come on, Gwen. Play like a champion.
Aaron: When is George going to eat like a human being? At this stage of his life you’d think he’d be able to sit down for a meal/snack and not shovel it in as though it were coal running a train. Were the announcers right to mock him? Absolutely. His brazen attitude towards his vacuum-like food fetish is now bordering on the absurd. He needs to be shamed, humiliated then shamed again until he learns that his mouth is not a shop-vac. And here I was disappointed that we were done with the pig man.
Andrew: Is it OK to lie to a stranger to get out of talking to them? I do this all the time, so maybe I’m not the person to ask. In the grand scheme of life, honesty is always preferable, but if you’re just trying to minimize social interaction, sometimes lying is the way to go. I guess the real question is whether minimizing social interaction is an acceptable life goal. I am definitely not the person to ask about that.
Jordan: Kind of surprised I am the only one here to go with this. If you can read lips, should you “listen” in on any conversation you feel like? No, you shouldn’t, Laura. Keep your eyes to yourself, you little gossip.
Jason: Should you have to talk to livery drivers? I don’t blame Elaine for pretending not to hear him. Shut up and drive! Also, if you’re going on your first date with someone, you don’t need a third wheel with you. Jerry should have let George roam the streets.
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
JT: I really liked Jerry and Laura together and was sad that things end between them thanks to George flipping out at the party. They had a nice rapport and we could have used more scheming with Jerry using her powers for his benefit. Relationship Grade: Sex/Six
Aaron: George knows he would have broken up with Gwen for the exact same reason she dumped him. This revelation hints that maybe they were more right for each other than originally thought. They both show clear judgment. You don’t want a moth covered in chocolate around your genitals. Relationship Grade: 7/10
Andrew: I can’t take my eyes off this lineswoman either. I’ve always liked Marlee Matlin, and her character seems pretty easy-going and cool with hijinks. She’s kind of perfect. Relationship Grade: How about six? Six is good. You got a problem with six?/10
Jordan: Jerry seemed pretty smitten by Laura, and you’d think her smacking George while fighting with Kramer would only deepen his affection for her, given his joy in mocking him. Alas, it was not meant to be, as George is so bad at relationships, he can end ones he isn’t even involved in. Jerry sticking with his boy is noble, but also stupid. Relationship Grade: BROS BEFORE DEAF GIRLS/10
Jason: Once again George blows it with a woman. Whether or not Gwen saw him on TV with ice cream all over his face or she’s just tired of his shit, it’s more than likely his fault. “It’s not you, it’s me” is the oldest line in the book to end a relationship and if anyone should take credit for inventing it, it’s George. Todd says he’s friends with both George and Gwen, but how much do we really know about him? If he finds out George and Gwen are on the outs, did he really want to sweep with Gwen instead of sleeping with her? Relationship Grade: PEA SOUP/10
What Worked:
JT: George’s issue with the suntan lotion made me laugh; “BL” makes me giggle too; George eating the sundae is magnificent, he destroys it with such zest and vigor and then him getting caught on the screen was tremendous; Elaine’s deaf routine was really well done, until she botched it of course, but that was funny too; The driver was funny and I liked the scene where Elaine is busted followed up by the BL actually being deaf; Kramer knowing sign language is perfect Kramer booking; The K-Man’s ball man dream is also a really good angle; I love George trying to count out eight seconds as he panics over the ice cream incident; The discussion on who should attend the party was classic Seinfeld; The restaurant scene is an immediate classic and the scene in the car that follows is one I still quote to this day; Kramer showing up the young punk with his tremendous moves was so good; Great Newman cameo; I love Kramer trying to sign with Laura and Laura’s lip reading with Kramer’s translation, ending with George getting smacked in the face; Kramer wiping out Monica Seles and Laura and the Driver was a perfect way to tie it all up
Aaron: I love that Kramer is drinking out of a juice box while watching the tennis. Elaine’s deaf act is quite amusing especially since I totally empathize with her. Kramer’s stuff was all great. He was absolutely giddy he was going to live his dream, a dream that hilariously ended when he plastered Monica Seles to the court. That fall was perfect. I also think Elaine was absolutely an avatar for Larry David in this one. From the obsession with freaks to the outright refusal to act like she’s part of a society I felt a little like I was watching an episode of Curb. That’s a good thing.
Andrew: I’m with Elaine: why does everything have to have a social component? And I support her stance on making the freaks feel comfortable. I also enjoyed Kramer randomly sipping on a juice box, and George’s fear of being left behind when Jerry becomes one of “those guys”. Kramer’s ball-man escapades were pretty great, especially the preppy 80s villain who gives him a hard time during the try out. And I mentioned these earlier, but I thought the Newman and mouth covering scenes were excellent.
Jordan: George eating ice cream like a toddler is great, and I love that the announcers mock him. However, it’s also something that didn’t work, which I will mention there. Laura is a really good character. Kramer’s ball-boy dream is a nice little subplot with a great ending as he takes out Monica Seles. Elaine does a great job trying to ignore the driver, and he comes off like an annoying jerk by insisting on keeping up the chatter. The ending with Laura in his car was a nice touch. I already covered the awesome restaurant scene with Jerry and George using different methods to cover their mouths. Kramer knowing sign language is something that fits him.
Jason: So much goodness here. Elaine blowing her own spot when she hears the driver is picking up Tom Hanks after he drops her off. Kramer laying on Jerry’s couch drinking a juice box and watching the US Open. Kramer’s imitation of George eating the hot-fudge sundae. Laura thinking Jerry says sex instead of six. Elaine feeling bad for being a superficial bitch and getting the livery driver tickets to a Metallica show, causing him not to hear well after the show. Jerry and George’s conversation about getting Laura to spy on Gwen. Drinking water, shoving food in their mouths, pretending to blow their nose, and she still knows what they’re saying.
What Didn’t Work
JT: Since when is Jerry not the type of guy to randomly approach women? Ever since he stopped being such a pussy early on, he seems to be confident enough to pull off a move like this; Gwen is kind of a bitch to break with George over the ice cream incident; I never cared for George shoehorning into Jerry’s date, as it isn’t like he and Laura are a long term couple;
Aaron: Jerry’s objectification of Laura from the sidelines would be absolutely lambasted on social media today. I’m not the biggest fan of leering Jerry. Nor am I a fan of aggressive Jerry who sounds like he’s still in season one as he tells off Laura for not talking to him. I guess I’m just not a fan of Jerry in this one. I also hate the obvious exposition line about this being Monica Seles’ first match back. For God’s sake if you are going to write such an obvious line don’t give it to Jerry to say. Perhaps most egregious though is how they sold us on the fact that they were watching a Monica Seles match without any of the trademark grunting and or screaming. This woman was a monster that once led my father to exclaim, “That’s disgusting!” Shame on you Seinfeld for being disingenuous. Shame.
Andrew: The main story doesn’t hang together all that well; it’s more like a series of unconnected events than a plot. To put it another way, while I enjoy the sundae and “sweep together” scenes, they don’t have anything to do with each other, beyond the fact that they start and end that story. It doesn’t ruin the episode, but we’ve seen them do better. Also, I thought Elaine was a little too quick to go back to the car service after her first experience; maybe she assumed the guy would be won over by her gift? Also, fuck that guy for being mad about free Metallica tickets.
Jordan: So, I get George eating the ice cream leads to him getting dumped. But then, Jerry gets a call from someone ELSE who has seen it and that is where I draw the line. There’s no way everyone is watching tennis. Sorry, don’t buy it. George is dressed ridiculously, and the fact that a short, fat loser who dresses like this continues getting dates is becoming more and more unbelievable.
Jason: George’s stupid hat and flip shades are awful. If Gwen broke up with him for anything it should be this atrocious look.
Key Character Debuts
– Laura The Deaf, Beautiful Lineswoman
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
– ’25? You don’t have anything higher?” – George “What, are you on Mercury?” – Jerry
– “That woman is absolutely stunning.” – Jerry “The Croat?” – George “Not the Croat, the lineswoman. That is the most beautiful lineswoman I’ve ever seen.” – Jerry “Yeah, she’s a B.L.” – George “B.L.?” – Jerry “Beautiful lineswoman.” – George
– “I said you know what I do when I want to relax? The Jumble. Hey do you make a book of Jumbles?” – Driver
– “Yeah yeah, I know your type. You’re too good to make conversation with someone like me. Oh god forbid you could discuss the Jumbles. But to go so far as to pretend you’re almost deaf, I mean that is truly disgusting. And Mr. Tom Hanks, may I say he too would be disgusted by your behavior.” – Driver
– “And you’re saying she’s deaf.” – Kramer “I’m not saying she’s deaf, she’s deaf.” – Jerry
– “No. When I shoo squirrels away, I always say “get out of here”. I never ever throw things at them and try to injure them like other people.” – Elaine “That’s nice.” – Jerry “Yeah, and when I see freaks in the street I never, ever stare at them. Yet, I’m careful not to look away, you know, because I want to make the freaks feel comfortable.” – Elaine “That’s nice for the freaks.” – Jerry
– “You’re giving me the “it’s not you, it’s me” routine? I invented “it’s not you, it’s me”. Nobody tells me it’s them not me, if it’s anybody it’s me.” – George
– “He’s the *loser*. She’s the victor. To the victor belong the spoils.” – Elaine
– “She’s not a novelty act, George. Where you hire her out for weddings and bar mitzvas.” – Jerry “Look. It’s a skill, just like juggling. She probably enjoys showing it off.” – George
– “They said they haven’t seen anybody go after balls with such gusto.” – Kramer
– “If this lip reading thing works tonight do you know how incredible this is going to be? It’s like having Superman for your friend.” – George “I know. It’s like X-ray vision.” – Jerry “If we could just harness this power and use it for our own personal gain, there’d be no stopping us.” – George “I hear you’ve got some lip reader working for you. You gotta let me use her for one day. Just one day.” – Newman “Can’t do it Newman.” – Jerry “But Jerry, we’ve got this new supervisor down at the post office. He’s working behind this glass. I know they’re talking about me. They’re going to transfer me, I know it. Two hours, give me two hours.” – Newman “Not going to happen.” – Jerry “All right, all right. All right you go ahead. You go ahead and keep it secret. But you remember this. When you control the mail, you control… information.” – Newman
– “No that’s what he said. “That’s interesting. I love carrots, but I hate carrot soup. And I hate peas, but I love pea soup.” So do I.” – Kramer
Oddities & Fun Facts
– Kramer is drinking a Minute Maid juice box
– Laura the Lineswoman is played by Marlee Matlin
– Marlee Matlin was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for this role
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
JT: This was a really strong offering with a tight story that pays off beautifully at the end. It featured two strong guest performances in Laura and the Driver and the main four were all really great as well. The scheming in the restaurant checks in as an instant Seinfeld Pantheon scene and the Six/Sex mixup and party scenes are right behind it. With performances and the writing, season five continues to roll on. Final Grade: 8/10
Aaron: I felt like all the pieces were here for a great episode but nothing seemed to really click for me. All the stories had great potential but just didn’t go in directions that worked for me. Sure they were all tied together nicely, which I love, but I only really got a chuckle out of Kramer juking and jiving catching balls. A well written episode that was amusing, but not really funny for me. Final Grade: 6/10
Andrew: This isn’t one of my favorites on the rewatch. I think it was better in my memory, partly because of a few really good scenes, and partly the Marlee Matlin bump. Maybe my standards are getting too high, but I think we’ve seen better. Final Grade: 6/10
Jordan: I didn’t love this one, but I liked it. The problem with that is the show has gotten so good, that I can’t really give an episode that I only like anything higher than an 8. Still, nothing is wrong with the episode, and it’s a very memorable one for the lip reading. If this is a down episode for the season, we’re in for a great one. Final Grade: 7/10
Jason: I love this episode from top to bottom. All four main characters were well represented and Laura is one bad ass chick. This season continues to shine. Grab a hot fudge sundae, a pair of flip-shades and enjoy this one. Final Grade: 9/10
|
|
|
Post by sbtbfanatic on Jul 13, 2015 15:32:23 GMT
Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch – “The Non-Fat Yogurt” (S5, E7)
Best Character
JT: This was an interesting episode in that I really enjoyed the whole thing but nobody jumped off the screen and stole the show. They really spread the wealth here with all the main and ancillary characters getting some shine and great lines throughout. If I have to pick someone, I will go with George just for his annoyance with Lloyd Braun and dedication to the spasm scheme. Frank was a close second just for his inane ramblings that buttressed various scenes.
Aaron: Pretty even stuff across the board, so I’ll go with George for his commitment to live a lie for the rest of his life. The poor guy just can’t get out from under Mount Braun. His parents love him, Elaine clearly has lust in her eyes for him and George has perhaps finally found his match in a man having none of his bullshit.
Andrew: Everyone is so good in this episode that naming just one character “best” feels arbitrary and reductive. But that’s never stopped me before, so I’m picking Kramer. His ease with the ladies has always been enjoyable to watch, and was great here (“Ooh! Test tubes” is a perfect opener). And I just can’t get over how few fucks he gives in this episode: telling Elaine she’s put on weight, openly belittling Jerry by calling him “chubs” and “fatso”, and wooing a woman just to win a bet. He is a loathsome, offensive brute, and yet I can’t look away.
Jordan: I’m going with the K man. Calling out Elaine and Jerry for getting fat was great, and him keeping it up throughout the episode was fun stuff. Best of all, he was right, as they had both gained nearly 10 pounds. I’m also a fan of Kramer playing the ladies with total ease. George nearly takes it with his willingness to fake an elbow spasm for the rest of his life.
Jason: The K-Man seducing a chemist and calling Jerry every name in the book because he’s put on a few pounds is terrific, but George is on fire this season and it continues here. His lying has no limit.
Best Storyline
JT: I will go with the yogurt storyline just because it ate up much of the episode and crossed multiple characters in different ways. I also love that it affected New York’s mayoral election and totally ruined a business along the way. Maybe you shouldn’t have lied about the content of the yogurt, you fat fuck!
Aaron: Lloyd Braun: Destroyer of Worlds. He kills a campaign, gives Elaine body issues for the rest of her life and forces George into a standoff of epic proportions with Dinkins’ doctor. Everyone would have a decent motive for killing/skinning this man. Everyone should.
Andrew: George’s arm twitch deserves some honorable mention, but it can’t top the Non-Fat Yogurt storyline. Aside from the aforementioned Kramer awesomeness, we get a self-conscious Jerry, Lloyd Braun “evaluating” Elaine, and some quality appearances by Newman. And the Giuliani cameo has always been one of my favorites.
Jordan: Tough call. I do enjoy the quest for truth on the non-fat or fat-laden yogurt. But…we’ve got George in an elaborate lie and Lloyd Braun, how can I vote against it? George’s seething hatred of Lloyd is better in future episodes, but the framework is here. I love that George is so quick to come up with lies, but they’re always SO bad. He couldn’t have just said he was nudging Jerry to point out a woman in the store or something?
Jason: The yogurt stuff is great all around. Using profanity because it’s so fucking good! Jerry and Elaine gaining weight from it and the mishap at the lab add to the enjoyment.
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
JT: When will Mary take some damn responsibility for the failings of her family? She clearly has the mouth of a trucker but blames Jerry for her son’s profanity. Then, her husband clearly was pedaling a product filled with lies and misinformation but wants to blame Jerry and urges her son to cuss out his hero to prove her point. And this was after she sat there like a dope while Matthew destroyed Jerry’s cassette. No dilemma here. Mary sucks.
Aaron: How much should we hold people responsible for cursing in front of our kids? I think if you create a yogurt that is so fudging good, you should know better than to let children walk free in your establishment. You want the cursing. You want people to be a free with their reactions as though they were in their bathtubs at home smearing said yogurt all over their ample bodies. We need to be allowed expression, free from social norms or little sugars.
Andrew: If you thought you were eating non-fat yogurt, but it actually had fat in it, wouldn’t you want someone to tell you? I get Newman’s “ignorance is bliss” stance, but I can’t see swearing a vendetta over finding out the truth. Take some responsibility for your choices, man.
Jordan: Is it OK to cuss out a kid? The first time Jerry drops the F bomb at the yogurt shop, it’s excusable. He’s talking to friends, not the kid. But in the apology, he blows it in my mind. Yes, the kid is clearly a demon straight out of the gates of hell for ripping apart Jerry’s cassette tape for no reason whatsoever. But you don’t cuss out a kid, Jerome. Instead, throw him out the window before he goes on to become a serial murderer.
Jason: So, Jerry asks the lab worker what he’s working on and flat out tells him that it’s Rudy Giuliani’s blood work. HIPPA laws being broken big time here.
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
JT: Lloyd Braun is a tricky fig. He clearly likes Elaine quite a bit, but because of eight pounds, he is turned off? And if he thought she was too chubby to bang, then why does he offer up her stupid idea to Dinkins? That is the kind of power move you only make to seal the deal. Unless he was planning on a second date until Dinkins was humiliated from the nametag debacle? Either way, Lloyd needs to get his shit together. Relationship Grade: 3/ghyahu…sorry, my arm spasmed… 3/10
Aaron: If there’s a nerdy girl, Kramer is going to be all over her. If she works in a cool place like a lab or a library, there’s a very good chance he’s going to bang her in it. Relationship Grade: Bunsen Burner
Andrew: I don’t much care for Lloyd’s callous treatment of Elaine. Kramer and the lab tech had a pretty torrid affair, though. I hope he let her down easy. Relationship Grade: In case there’s a tie /10
Jordan: Elaine and Lloyd were doomed from the start. First off, he’s apparently not into BIG OL’ FATTIES, and Elaine was really looking like a porker here. She was probably tipping the scales at 240. But more than that, there is no way on earth that George would allow this relationship to continue. I almost wish they would stay together, just to see George desperately try to end it. This one fizzled. Relationship Grade: 3/10
Jason: Lloyd MOTHERFUCKING Braun! He’s George’s Lex Luther and quite a sleez bag when he’s hitting on Elaine. I’m like Ryback when you get the Costanzas in the same room, “Feed me more!” Relationship Grade: Tommy Tune/10
What Worked:
JT: The swearing barrage in this one was great, random, but great; Lloyd Braun is a tremendous passive aggressive douche; The fake arm spasm is so pure Costanza, nothing could ever be more Costanza; Kramer bluntly telling Jerry and Elaine they got fat was fantastic and then him continuing to call them derisive nicknames to pile on was even better; The Costanzas forever, Tommy Tune forever; George’s spasm arm smashing Estelle always makes me laugh; Newman holding court at the yogurt shop is great; I enjoyed the issues Jerry had with Kramer dating the chemist due to the testing; Jerry screaming at Matthew as he tears up the tape was great; Lloyd’s quest to disprove George’s spasm is a bit creepy but also impressive in some ways; Elaine’s name tag idea is so awfully bad and I love that it sinks Dinkins; It was interesting seeing someone actually call George out on his lying for once and him actually banging his elbow and having problems was a nice touch; I have always enjoyed how the crew influenced the mayoral race to such a high degree and it wasn’t done in an absurd way; Newman’s anger and Matthew swearing at Jerry was the perfect way to wrap the episode up
Aaron: This is the first episode in a while where I found the writing to be seamless between the stories. Everything was tied in tightly without feeling forced. Kramer’s brutal honesty always kills me as he cares nothing for feelings, calling everyone fatso. He also compares eating Oreos to sex and flat out calls Jerry old. George escalating the lie with the doctor after being called on his bullshoot is Costanza on a plate. In fact the whole bit with the doctor was great. Newman’s borderline psychotic obsession with the yogurt was extremely well punctuated with his crazed laughs. LOVE the irony of Jerry being the “cursing comedian.” I saw Seinfeld live about ten years ago and he said “asshole” and the crowd went wild with shock and adulation.
Andrew: I love the dialogue in this one; I jotted down so many “favorite” lines that it’s not even worth putting them all here. I know an episode is clicking when even the throwaway asides are making me laugh (“That’s enough…with the smells”). And I’ve barely mentioned the Costanzas so far; not only is it a perfect George storyline (can’t let something go, ends up screwing himself in the end), but Frank and Estelle as good as ever. The Matthew storyline was good too; there’s just something inherently funny about children swearing, and Jerry cursing the kid out was fantastic (and justified).
Jordan: I enjoy the non-fat yogurt craze. Everyone thinks they are eating healthy by wolfing down cup fulls of what is basically ice cream, and are shocked to find out they have gained weight! Newman loving it the most is a nice touch. Jerry and Elaine fretting over gaining weight is funny, and Kramer just mocking them as fatties is hilarious. I like that Kramer can tell they’ve put on weight when they are both wearing baggy clothes. George and his elbow lie is a great Costanza plan that fails spectacularly. I like that Elaine comes up with a “brilliant” idea, only to see it fail miserably and Jerry and Kramer insult it without knowing it was hers.
Jason: The F-bombs and other profanity from everyone. Kramer calling Jerry names because of his weight gain. Kramer getting busy in the lab with the chemist. Frank hitting George in the head with a book to get his attention. George faking the arm spasm to get away from Lloyd at the yogurt shop back firing on him. Jerry lashing out at Matthew for ripping his cassette tape right after he gave him a pep talk about not cursing. George getting pleasure out of Lloyd getting fired because of Elaine’s name tag idea that Lloyd would pitch to Mayor Dinkins. The doctor calling George a liar about his arm spasms and then George actually hurting his elbow on the doctor’s desk.
What Didn’t Work
JT: How many scales does Jerry have in his apartment?; Jerry’s ugly button down sure doesn’t help him look slim; The way Kramer says “in-floo-ince” drives me nuts; Mary not seemingly give a shit about Matthew destroyed Jerry’s tape is annoying; So we never found out if the yogurt maker was purposely lying or just didn’t know there was fat in it; Mary basically parading Matthew up to Jerry to swear at him for his father’s deceitful business is the low of the low, Mary is pretty terrible
Aaron: Short of Kramer using chemistry terms to pick up women, I thought the whole analysis bit felt like it could have been played for more laughs. As much as I loved the writing, the lack of straight up hilarious moments hurts this one a bit. Even the Costanzas felt a bit restrained.
Andrew: I know we point out a lot of dated stuff in this section, but the “non-fat equals healthy” thing seems like so damn long ago.
Jordan: I didn’t care for the cussing storyline, which is funny because I thought the bleeps were fun. I just thought the kid was stupid, and him ripping apart the tape was a little ridiculous. Unless this kid is a pure monster, no child just shows up at a house and rips things to shreds. The kid was a lousy actor and I think the whole subplot wasn’t necessary.
Jason: Not a fan of the lab being at the end of a block with graffiti on the side of the building. Along with the chemist giving up a patients personal info to Jerry, I’d fined another place to get something tested. Mary is a shitty parent, her husband is a shitty business owner and Matthew is a little piece of shit. Fuck that whole family!
Key Character Debuts
Lloyd Braun
Mary & Matthew
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
– “Well, I tasted it at the one downtown. It’s got a remarkable texture. You’d never know it was non-fat.” – Kramer
– “I did this thing on the Ottoman Empire. Like, what was this? A whole empire based on putting your feet up?” – Jerry
– “Oh, I was having lunch, and I bit down on the fork.” – Elaine “Boy, it’s hard to believe – with all that biting experience – a person could still make a mistake like that.” – Jerry
– “You don’t eat Oreos? The way you break them open? You’re practically having sex with them.” – Kramer
– “Maybe your yogurt isn’t so non-fat.” – Jerry “Oh, guess again, Tubby!” – Kramer
– “Hey, I’ll tell you what, Chubs, if that yogurt has fat in it, I will put myself on an all-yogurt diet for a week.” – Kramer “Well, let’s start the insanity.” – Jerry “Giddy up!” – Kramer
– “Tommy Tune is a very good dancer. You ever see Tommy Tune dancing?” – Frank “No.” – George “I like tap dancing.” – Estelle “Tap dancing. Anyone can tap dance. It’s all in those shoes.” – Frank
– “Tommy Tune is very tall. That helps. It makes him lankier.” – Frank
– “Hey, Mayor Dinkins set this up for you. You know what kind of a doctor this must be if Dinkins knows him?” – Frank
– “Every word out of my son’s mouth now is *beep*, *beep*, *beep*. You know what he said to me five minutes ago? Where’s my *beep*ing cupcake?” – Mary
– “Well, I wouldn’t hear of it. I said, “Nice try, granny!” And I sent her to the back of the line!” – Newman
– “Cause I’m on a special diet, and the doctor said I can’t have any fat.” – Elaine
– “It changes the molecules.” – Kramer “Oh, you don’t know what you’re talking about.” – Jerry “Hey, fatso! I got a 90 in biology.” – Kramer “You call me fatso one more time; you’re going to be walking back.” – Jerry
– “All right, well, then what if we become a couple, George? Every time we see you you’re going to be walking around going like this? Even you can’t keep that up.” – Elaine “No, I believe he can.” – Elaine
– “No, but I saw the look on his face when he put his arm around me. And then we went to his apartment, and I sat on one of his chairs and it broke. And he says, “Boy, you’re a lot of woman!”” – Elaine
– “May I suggest the possibility that you’re faking?” – Doctor “Faking? What makes you think that I have time to see doctors, take X-rays, make appointments, when there’s absolutely nothing wrong with me? What kind of a person would do a thing like that?” – George “I don’t know what kind of a person would do something like that. Obviously a very sick person. A very immature person. A person who has no regard for wasting other people’s valuable time. Good-bye.” – Doctor
Oddities & Fun Facts
– Two versions of this episode were filmed, one based around Giuliani and one based around Dinkins; When Giuliani won the election, that version was used
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
JT: There is a lot to like here as season five continues to deliver the goods. It wasn’t a standout, Hall of Fame effort by any means, but it was damn good. The swearing was unique and good for some real laughs and the non-fat yogurt craze was timely to the early 90s. I also loved how they affected the race but did it in a way that wasn’t too crazy or out there, like some sitcoms may have done. That is what keeps Seinfeld a notch above the field. Kramer’s fat shaming and George’s spasms were great show long bits and Lloyd Braun always brings the best out of the Costanzas. It was a great use of the community they have built up too by having Newman at the yogurt shop too. Plus, Tommy Tune! Until next time, chubs, thanks for stopping by! Final Grade: 7/10
Aaron: Great writing, solid character work but the lack of any laugh out loud hurts this one a bit. These people just don’t understand the concept of calories versus fat… Final Grade: 7/10
Andrew: I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this episode. The storylines all play off each other well, and each has a satisfying payoff. And I enjoyed the cameos and recurring characters a lot. But I think what I like most is how off the rails this episode feels. George and Elaine are sniping at each other from the jump, Kramer is straight out calling people fat, Newman is swearing revenge on Jerry; it’s a bickering-heavy episode, and all the back-and-forth leads to a high frequency of funny lines. It would appear that’s all it takes to get me to overrate an episode. Final Grade: 8/10
Jordan: This was another solid installment. I didn’t even mention the lab work or Giuliani appearing! Kramer was great and George was lying. That’s always going to be a really good 1-2 punch. But it just missed something from making it an all timer. It didn’t have an iconic line, or a notable guest star. Lloyd Braun is great, so there’s that I guess. Final Grade: 7/10
Jason: I hadn’t watched this episode in quite some time and after revisiting, it holds up better than I remembered. Appearances from the Costanzas, Newman and the debut of Lloyd Braun. Plus,you can’t go wrong with cursing kids in a sitcom. Aside from the shady lab with a hot chemist, it’s an underrated gem and another winner here in season five. Final Grade: 7/10
|
|
|
Post by sbtbfanatic on Jul 13, 2015 15:32:37 GMT
Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch – “The Barber” (S5, E8)
Best Character
JT: Man, lots to love here but I will go with Uncle Enzo. His passion and fire was unmatched and his detective skills are amazing. I still use “IT’S ENZO MANGANARO” to this day when I knock on a door. It is a relatable story too, poor bastard. Jerry and Gino were top notch here as well.
Aaron: Enzo is everything you could want in a Seinfeld character: passionate, outlandish and angry beyond measure. The man seeps emotion out of every pore. What a roller coaster it must be to be attached to this man. One minute he’s apologizing for not fully appreciating Johnny Depp ability to “A making a him cry,” in Edward Scissorhands, the next he’s pursuing a vendetta that will only be quenched when he bathes in Jerry’s blood. I really hope this isn’t Larry David’s view of Italians.
Andrew: Call me crazy, but I think Uncle Enzo was the best character. He really adds a lot to the storyline, with all the flattery, jealousy, and anger. And he just makes me laugh, especially when he’s crying watching Edward Scissorhands. Who is it? “It’s Enzo Manganaro!”
Jordan: I could follow suit and go with Enzo since everyone else did….but I feel like I liked Newman more here. From haggling free haircuts and a comb with Enzo, to being ultra stealth in Jerry’s apartment, and the sheer terror at the end, I felt like this was the best Newman episode yet.
Jason: I’m stepping outside of the box here and not going with one of the core four characters. Uncle Enzo for the win! He edges Jerry by a hair (pun intended). A shitty barber, but a stand up guy.
Best Storyline
JT: Easily the haircut stuff. Between Jerry’s absurd hack job, the torrid affair between Gino and Jerome, Enzo’s sleuthing and discovery of the betrayal and Newman getting shaved clean, what is not to love? One of my favorite storylines of the season by far.
Aaron: George and the confounding Penske file has been a favourite of mine for almost twenty years. He has no clue if he’s even hired for the job, yet he shows up, ensconces himself, attends company functions and drums up a storm that would make Neil Peart vomit into his newly worn shoes. George’s bravado to attempt to bullshit the system is admirable. The fact that it always ends with him unemployed/unemployable is why we keep coming back.
Andrew: As much as I enjoy George’s adventures with the Penske file, I have to pick the barber storyline. I really enjoy the parallels between changing barbers and having an affair, and the “Barber of Seville” music adds a lot to it. Adding in Newman is a nice bonus, especially the after credits payoff.
Jordan: This is a real tossup between all the barber stuff and George’s new job. I wouldn’t fault anyone for going with George, but I feel like the barber stuff was really well done and unique for the show, which I’ll get to later. Plus, Enzo was a good character and it gave us all the Newman stuff.
Jason: Everything with George is excellent, but the love triangle with Jerry, Enzo and Gino is a ton of laughs every time.
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
JT: Who is Mr. Tuttle to determine if someone is Penske material? Only Arthur Penske should make that sort of determination, and he clearly did. Unless your last name is Penske, mind your business when it comes to hiring talent for Penske Enterprises.
Aaron: If sodomy is a pre requisite for a job should you take said job? I’m a firm believer in “Everybody’s got a price.” If I’m paid enough to do a job I’ll gladly take the sodomy. We’d have to set down some guidelines such as frequency, force and the ability to swap slash take turns, but make no mistake about it, there is a cash figure that would happily get me to drop my pants and head into work everyday with a smile on my face and a tear in my heart. And don’t for a second get sanctimonious on me and say you wouldn’t do it. Bullshit. You would. Everybody would. Prices may differ but the result is the same: we’d all be gainfully employed.
Andrew: How much loyalty do you owe to a barber? It’s basically just a business relationship, and isn’t the consumer’s freedom to move from one service provider to another a key principle of capitalism? That said, I think I’d rather fake my own death than tell my barber I’m going to see someone else.
Jordan: How WOULD Edward Scissorhands go to the bathroom? I know he is supposedly created by a loving father, but that seems unnecessarily cruel and hateful.
Jason: Should George have called Mr. Tuttle to see if he got the job, even though George told him he understood everything? Of course…
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
JT: Gino and Jerry…relationship name…Gerry. Kramer made the match and it was instant sparks and love at first sight. From the first time Gino’s scissor brushed a wisp of Jerry’s hair to their first official date watching Edward Scissorhands, it was forever meant to be. Relationship Grade: 10/10
Aaron: Jerry and Gino were made for each other. Jerry knew the minute Gino laid hands on his gorgeous head of hair. Enzo shouldn’t have taken Jerry for granted. Cinderella was right “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.” Relationship Grade: 10/10
Andrew: It can be exciting to see someone new, someone slow, gentle, attentive; but is it worth the fallout when you’re found out? Relationship Grade: Figaro/10
Jordan: Gino is the stuff dreams are made of. Attentive, considerate, young and ambitious. He is so out of Jerry’s league. His scissors were real, and they were spectacular! Relationship Grade: 10/10
Jason: Newman doing whatever it takes to fuck Jerry over is a bit that gets better as the series rolls along. Jerry is in a tough spot with trying to switch over from Uncle Enzo to Gino. Enzo is a good guy, so I don’t blame Jerry for not wanting to let him down. Kramer is always there for his buddy Jerry, including an arrangement for Gino to fix his hair. Relationship Grade: How you doin?/10
What Worked:
JT: The sodomy line is a little edgy by Jerome; George’s interview situation is perfect Costanza, that could only happen to him; Jerry’s haircut is pretty amazing; George’s pan is really enjoyable, including taking the smaller office; The Penske File is the only file; Elaine’s burst of laughter at Jerry’s hair was perfectly executed and felt very real, which it probably was; I love the ongoing, never-ending Edward Scissorhands debate; I enjoyed the Barber of Seville music used between and during scenes in this episode, it fit and was a nice break; The haircut at Gino’s apartment paralleling an affair was tremendous; I love that Enzo recognizes Jerry’s hair; Newman’s “A little crooked” line always makes me chuckle; Newman feigning having to piss and then trying to snag Jerry’s hair was great too; Kramer on the runway with Elaine desperately selling him is phenomenal; IT’S AH ENZO MANGANARO!; Great payoff with Jerry scalping Newman
Aaron: I love Elaine’s bachelor auction and everything that went along with it; including Kramer’s claim that he’d “Raise enough money to cure polio.” His strut was magnificent and his fall off the runway sublime. Not bad for someone with a high school equivalency. His reaction to Jerry’s haircut and the enraged concern in his voice as he screamed, “You’re destroying yourself,” paint the picture of the best friend you could ever dream of. I already sort of touched on Enzo but the fury in his eyes as he examines Jerry’s hair always kills me. His enlisting of Newman is genius, who, in turn, holds out doing the job until he’s offered a comb of all things. These are all great micro details but on the macro level the writing is once again seamlessly intertwined between the three story lines, and using duelling barbers as an allegory for infidelity is pure brilliance.
Andrew: As I said earlier, the “cheating on your barber” storyline is a good one, especially with the opera music thrown in. George’s story is good too; the interrupted conversations are funny, and the “I’ll just show up” idea is brilliant. The bachelor auction may just be an excuse to give Kramer and Elaine something to do, but it works really well, especially when the K-Man is doing his little turn on the catwalk. And Elaine laughing at Jerry’s haircut is fantastic. I think it was a good move to drop the closing stand up for the final scene with George and Mr. Penske. I don’t have a sense of how often that happens, but it worked well here, and I enjoyed the post-credits shot of bald Newman even more.
Jordan: I mean this in a good way, but this one felt very sitcom-y, with the wacky hiding of barbers and hair. I wouldn’t want it to happen every episode, but I feel like it was a nice switch up here. Everything about the barber storyline works – the way it’s presented as a love triangle, the repeated Edward Scissorhands references, Jerry’s awful haircut, Newman’s evil plan paying off. I especially liked that Newman couldn’t find a hair in Jerry’s bathroom, great character touch. This alone makes for a good episode, but you’ve also got all the stuff with George at his new job. Trying to figure out what his boss was going to say with everyone was fun, and when it happens again with Penske and we get a payoff, it’s satisfying. I like that he simply puts the Penske file in another folder, and it impresses Penske a lot.
Jason: Oh my God, Elaine’s reaction to Jerry’s haircut is unbelievable. Her laughing so hard that George breaks was so good. A great call back to “The Mango” by Elaine at the auction saying that Kramer enjoys fruit. Opera music being played in every scene with Uncle Enzo and Gino was a nice touch. Good call by Enzo for calling out how Edward Scissorhands goes to the bathroom and even wipes his ass. George’s line after being handed the Penske file is a laugh every time. “… we’ll straighten him out.”
What Didn’t Work
JT: George having to kill a full work day with no distractions makes me nauseous
Aaron: That haircut was brutal, the hat more brutal. Mr. Penske’s judgement: most brutal.
Andrew: I can’t put my finger on the reason, but the dialogue felt a bit lacking. Maybe it’s just that I enjoyed last week’s so much.
Jordan: I thought the Kramer in an auction story went nowhere. Show him on a date, or better yet, have the kavorka overwhelm the women into a massive bidding war, stunning Elaine.
Jason: Major wardrobe fails by Jerry. The purple sweater followed by the flannel shirt with the Queens College hat was awful. Also, what was up with the hideous rug in Gino’s appartment. He might be a great barber, but needs to interior decorating tips.
Key Character Debuts
Mr. Tuttle
Arthur Penske
Uncle Enzo Manganaro
Gino Manginero
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
– “Well George we here at Sanalac like to think of ourselves as a fairly progressive company. We have a small but prestigious group of clients.” – Mr. Tuttle “Well a lot of people consider me small and prestigious.” – George
– “I want you to have this job, of course sodomy is a prerequisite.” – Jerry
– “And you didn’t ask me to do it? I could raise enough money to cure polio.” – Kramer “I believe they’ve had a cure for polio for quite some time.” – Jerry “Polio?” – Kramer
– “You tell the joke, I cut the hair.” – Uncle Enzo
– “No way my Gino did that. It’s an Enzo.” – Kramer
– “”Oh, ah, let’s see, we’ve got two. There’s a big one down the hall there and a small one over here. You know I should ask Jack.” – Mike “Oh leave Jack alone. Jack’s got enough problems. I’ll just take the small office.” – George
– “So I love the Edward Scissorhands. That’s the best movie I’ve ever seen.” – Gino “Oh ah, again with the Edward Scissorhands. How can you have hand like scissors, huh? Show me one person who’s got hand like scissors.” – Enzo “Hey, it’s a beautiful dream. I’d love to be this man.” – Gino “Did you ever think about what you’re going to do on the toilet? What are you going to do on the toilet?” – Enzo “I’d like to have shoehorn hands.” – Kramer
– “Boy, you’ve got a beautiful head of hair.” – Gino “Thank you.” – Jerry “I bet uncle Enzo, he tell you that all the time.” – Gino “Well actually Enzo hasn’t said that to me in a while.” – Jerry
– “You do haircut in the apartment?” – Enzo “No. Pizza man was here. Maybe some fall off. He’s going bald.” – Gino
– “Jerry, the auction is in a few hours.” – Elaine “Take the K-Man.” – Jerry “You can still go.” – Elaine “What are you kidding? Look at him. He’s grotesque.” – Kramer “You think?” – Elaine “Do I think? He’s repugnant.” – Kramer
– “You happy with the haircut?” – Enzo “It’s okay. A little crooked.” – Newman
– “Okay next bachelor is number, um 124 on your program. He’s uh, he’s a high school graduate.” – Elaine “Equivalent.” – Kramer “Oh, uh equivalency. A high school equivalency program graduate. He’s uh, self-employed. He’s…I don’t know, six foot three, 190 pounds, he likes, uh… fruit, and he just got uh, a haircut…Okay uh, why don’t we start the bidding. Do I hear, uh, five bucks?” – Elaine
– “You’re not Penske material.” – Tuttle “Well, we’ll just see about that. Ta-ta, Tut-tle.” – George
Oddities & Fun Facts
– The soundtrack from this episode is from the “Barber of Seville”
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
JT: Hot damn, I love this episode. It has some great quotes, memorable moments and a hilarious main storyline buttressed by two really funny subplots. George’s employment snafu was really well developed and executed and Kramer’s strut down the catwalk is great too. Enzo and Gino were fantastic and Jerry played the confused, stuck in the middle lover to perfection. Newman as the henchman was a great choice too. “IT’S ENZO MANGANARO! This episode is easily Penske material. Final Grade: 8/10
Aaron: Fantastic episode top to bottom, where everyone was clicking on all cylinders. The main cast and guest stars all come together to bring a wonderful script to life. It’s episodes like this that make this project fun to do. Final Grade: 9/10
Andrew: This is a really solid episode, with creative stories and good performances from everyone. But where it really shines is in memorability. I’ll never forget the shout of “Enzo Manganaro!” coming from the other side of Jerry’s door, or the Penske file, or even Kramer falling off the catwalk. And that should count for something. Final Grade: 8/10
Jordan: Really fun episode with great supporting characters in Enzo, Gino, and of course Newman. Every episode should have George at work, finding ways to not actually do any work. I feel like Elaine was kind of wasted here as a background character, but there was so much going on, I’m not sure where you’d fit her in anyway. Final Grade: 8/10
Jason: I wish Unlce Enzo and Gino appeared in more episodes. Enzo on the witness stand in “The Finale” would have been fun. Nevertheless, another solid episode with tons of laughs. Bullshitting George and evil Newman killed it. Jerry’s little kid haircut was tremendous. I feel like this episode gets lost in the shuffle of this season and is worth a watch. Final Grade: 8/10
|
|