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Post by sbtbfanatic on Oct 19, 2015 2:17:57 GMT
seinfeld Season 5 Review
This is the season of Seinfeld that, more than any other, marks the transition between the conversational, minutia-oriented, writerly humor of the show's early period and the less probable, more physical comedy of the later episodes. It was a time when the series stopped being "about nothing"—though it still included plenty of "nothing" moments—and really embraced its zanier side. Thanks to the talent of the cast, Larry David, and the many other creative forces behind the scenes, the transition was smooth. More importantly, almost every moment of it was funny.
Facts of the Case
As I think we all know, this is the hit '90s sitcom which examines mishaps and minutia in the lives of four New Yorkers: Jerry Seinfeld (Jerry Seinfeld), George Costanza (Jason Alexander), Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), and Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards). Let's start with a breakdown of the season's 22 episodes:
Disc One
• "The Mango" Jerry finds out that Elaine faked her orgasms during their relationship and becomes obsessed with proving his sexual prowess to her while George gets suspicious of his girlfriend Karen's orgasms. Kramer gets banned from a local fruit stand. Highlights: As Jerry rattles off a list of indicators that Elaine had orgasms, Elaine shoots each down with a wonderfully delivered, "Fake. Fake. Fake. Fake." Grade: B+
• "The Glasses" George loses his glasses at the gym and accidentally selects "Ladies' Frames" for his new pair. Kramer tries to get George a discount. Elaine gets bit by a dog. Highlights: Kramer's buddy owes him a favor for when Kramer "got him off sugar," Elaine's rabies paranoia Grade: B+
• "The Puffy Shirt" Kramer's girlfriend, "the low talker," has designed a "puffy shirt" that Jerry mistakenly agrees to wear on The Today Show. George moves back in with his parents and becomes a hand model. Highlights: Of course, Jerry's plea, "But I don't wanna be a pirate!" Grade: A-
• "The Sniffing Accountant" Jerry becomes suspicious that his accountant is a drug addict which Kramer helps him investigate. George becomes a bra salesman. Elaine breaks up with someone over punctuation. Highlights: Kramer chugs a whole beer while simultaneously smoking a cigarette; one of the phrases most quoted by the cast and crew, "Barring some unforeseen incident…" Grade: B
• "The Bris" Elaine and Jerry are asked to be godparents to a friend's newborn and they also must take part in the bris. George's car is damaged when a suicidal jumper lands on it. Kramer thinks he sees a mutant "pig-man" in the hospital. Highlights: The shot-for-shot match of the last scene of The Godfather Grade: B-
Disc Two
• "The Lip Reader" Kramer becomes a ball man for professional tennis. Jerry dates a deaf woman whom he convinces to lip read at a party for George. Elaine pretends to be deaf to avoid talking to her chatty driver. Highlights: As the gang debates custody of social locations post-break-up, Elaine puts the issue to rest by reminding George that as the one dumped, "He's the loser." Grade: B
• "The Non-Fat Yogurt" The gang is getting fat from "non-fat yogurt" which they then get tested at a lab. Elaine makes a ridiculous suggestion to a mayoral advisor. George fakes an injury to cover a social faux pas with his rival Lloyd Braun. Jerry is accused of being a bad influence on a friend's son. Highlights: Kramer's repeated deadpan references to Jerry as "fatso" Grade: B
• "The Barber" Jerry cheats on his barber with another stylist, which Newman exposes. George doesn't know whether he has been hired after a job interview, so he just starts going in to work. Kramer participates in a charity bachelor auction Elaine is helping organize. Highlights: Elaine trying to "sell" Kramer on the runway Grade: C+
• "The Masseuse" Jerry dates a masseuse and is offended that she won't give him a massage, so he bans Kramer from getting them. George becomes obsessed with the fact that Jerry's girlfriend doesn't like him. Elaine's boyfriend has the same name as an infamous serial killer. Highlights: George wants to create a window to his "non-date personality," to which Elaine responds, "I've looked through that window and screamed at him to shut the blinds" Grade: B
• "The Cigar Store Indian" Jerry wants to date a Native American friend of Elaine's, but keeps accidentally making vaguely un-PC racial comments. George convinces a date that his parents' house is actually his. Elaine mistakenly takes Frank Costanza's collectible copy of TV Guide. Highlights: George trying to pass of his parents' house as a bachelor pad Grade: B
Disc Three
• "The Conversion" George converts to Lithuanian Orthodox for a woman while Kramer has a nun fall in love with him. Jerry worries that his girlfriend has foot fungus and gets help from Elaine, who is dating a podiatrist. Highlights: George's girlfriend breaks up with him and then orders lobster Grade: B-
• "The Stall" Elaine dates Tony "the mimbo," on whom George has a "non-sexual crush." Jerry's girlfriend "can't spare a square" for Elaine in the bathroom. Kramer gets addicted to phone sex. Highlights: George obsessively makes sandwiches for his pal Tony; Elaine says George shouldn't go rock climbing because he "needs a boost to climb into bed"; Kramer and Jerry's exchange about whether Jerry's girlfriend could be the phone sex lady: "That's impossible!" "Is it?!? Or is it so possible…" Grade: A
• "The Marine Biologist" George pretends to be a marine biologist to impress an old classmate. Elaine has misadventures with a new electronic organizer. Kramer golfs on the beach. Jerry laments the passing of his favorite T-shirt, "Golden Boy." Highlights: One of the all-time best reveals of the series at the end of George's epic narration of saving the whale; Kramer's spirited description of the joys of golfing on the beach Grade: A
• "The Dinner Party" On the way to a dinner party, Jerry and Elaine try to buy a chocolate babka while George and Kramer are blocked in by a double-parker when trying to get a bottle of wine. Highlights: The black-and-white cookie as a symbol of racial harmony; Jerry's pride about his no-vomiting streak Grade: A-
• "The Pie" Kramer discovers a mannequin that looks just like Elaine. George stakes out a fancy suit that another short, stocky, bald man is also trying to buy. Jerry is unsettled by his girlfriend's refusal to try a bite of his apple pie. Highlights: George watches a saleswoman undress the Elaine mannequin Grade: B+
• "The Stand-In" Kramer's little-person buddy, Mickey, takes a risk by wearing lifts as a TV show stand-in. George stays with a woman he doesn't like just because a mutual friend warns her about dating George. Jerry feels pressured to make a friend in the hospital laugh. Elaine gets a major shock when a date takes "it" out during conversation. Highlights: Kramer's suggestion that "it" just needed some air Grade: B
Disc Four
• "The Wife" Jerry pretends he is married to his girlfriend to get her a discount on dry cleaning. Elaine tries to determine whether a gym buddy is interested in her, but the man is thinking about reporting George to the staff for peeing in the locker room shower. Kramer frets about sleeping without his quilt, which is taking too long at the dry cleaner. Highlights: Jerry "wasn't ready for the responsibilities of a pretend marriage" Grade: B+
• "The Fire" George embarrasses himself when he flees in terror from a small kitchen fire at a girlfriend's kid's birthday party. Kramer's coffee-table book idea gets picked up by Pendant Publishing, but Elaine is very annoyed by the editor working with him. That editor also screws up an important show for Jerry by heckling him. Highlights: Elaine's The Price is Right dance Grade: B+
• "The Raincoats, Parts 1 and 2" Jerry's parents are visiting, thus preventing Jerry from having sex with his girlfriend. George tries to weasel out of being in the Big Brother program. Kramer and Morty Seinfeld scheme to sell Morty's stash of old raincoats together. Elaine dates a "close talker" who really likes hanging out with Jerry's parents. Morty and Helen avoid socializing with Frank and Estelle Costanza. Highlights: George's bizarre idea that baldness will catch on "when the aliens" come, because the bald guys will be the ones the aliens relate to; Helen Seinfeld greets Newman; all the well-written Schindler's List references. Grade: B+
• "The Hamptons" The gang heads for the Hamptons for a weekend getaway. Jerry's girlfriend sees George naked while he is suffering from "shrinkage." Meanwhile, Jerry, Elaine, and Kramer see George's girlfriend naked before he does. Kramer steals lobsters at the beach. Elaine is puzzled when a hunky doctor describes both her and an ugly baby as "breathtaking." Highlights: Kramer's endearing sense of his duty to keep Jerry's kosher girlfriend from trying lobster Grade: A-
• "The Opposite" George is down in the dumps while Elaine is riding high on a promotion and a great boyfriend. Jerry realizes that he is "even Steven." George decides to turn things around by doing "the opposite" of his every instinct, while Elaine's life crumbles due to her love for Jujyfruits. Highlights: Almost every scene; the moment when Elaine becomes George; Jerry's theory that "the big advantage of homosexuality is that if you're going out with someone your size, right there you double your wardrobe" (I can tell you, he's right about that one!) Grade: A+
The Evidence
Season Five of Seinfeld treated us to some classic episodes, moments, and terms. We saw "The Puffy Shirt," "The Stall," "The Marine Biologist," "The Hamptons," and "The Opposite." We found out that Elaine faked orgasms with Jerry, that Jerry maintains a long and proud streak of not vomiting, that Kramer has a fond relationship with the beach, and that every instinct George has ever had in his life has been wrong. We are also introduced to The Low Talker, The Close Talker, The Mimbo, and "shrinkage." The show featured some well-known guest stars, though some of them were not less known at the time: Courtney Cox, French Stewart, Bryant Gumbel, Regis Philbin, Kathie Lee Gifford, Rudolph Giuliani, Carol Kane, Judge Reinhold, and Jon Favreau. This was also the beginning of one of the more memorable season-spanning storylines: George working for the Yankees. That long occupational odyssey all began when he did "the opposite" at a job interview there, admitting to his horrendous employment record and revealing his debilitating social neuroses.
As with previous seasons, Season Five of Seinfeld gets top-notch DVD treatment. The episodes are all remastered and they look and sound great. The extras are extensive and have high production values. Between the commentaries (on ten episodes), the "inside looks" (for 15 episodes), the deleted scenes (for 11 episodes), the bloopers (one collection) and the "Notes About Nothing" (for all 22 episodes), most episodes get extensively examined on several different levels. The commentaries are the weakest of these episode-specific extras. The tracks feature some high-profile people (including Alexander, Louis-Dreyfus, and Richards on a couple and the Seinfeld/David team doing one for "The Opposite"), but those people often just sit back and watch, actively commenting for only about half the episode. The tracks done by the writers are slightly better. The "Inside Looks" are nice little mini-featurettes with background information on the production of individual episodes which range from about two to ten minutes. In the one on "The Puffy Shirt," you even get to see Seinfeld speaking at a ceremony to accept the "puffy shirt" costume into the Smithsonian! My favorite extras on the set are the "Notes About Nothing," which basically apply the old Pop-Up Video format to these episodes, flashing background information and tangential facts along the bottom of the screen almost constantly when activated. These tidbits cover a huge variety of topics—detailed scientific facts about concepts the gang refer to, exact phrasings and deleted lines from the original scripts, notes about where and how scenes were filmed, celebrities' favorite episodes, and a number of "counters" that keep track of each character's significant others, the number of times "Hello, Newman" is uttered, and the number of entrances Kramer makes into Jerry's apartment. By far the most useful function of the "Notes" is as an IMDb substitute. Whenever I found myself wondering, "now what other shows have I seen her on?," the "Notes" would immediately clue me in. Other non-episode-specific extras include a featurette on the creation of George's character, a collection of the fifth season's TV spots and promotions, and some of Seinfeld's stand-up routines that never made the show.
Closing Statement
I've always been a fan of the later, goofier episodes of Seinfeld and Season Five is where the first of this breed appeared. The episodes are great and their presentation on this set is as fantastic as the seasons that came before.
The Verdict
Judge Jennifer Malkowski rules that Seinfeld: Season Five is a must-buy for every TV buff with even a smidgen of disposable income. Pop one of these discs in and "Giddyup!"
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Oct 19, 2015 2:18:36 GMT
Seinfeld Season 6 Review
Yes, I know it's always on. That's not the way to watch Seinfeld. This is the way to watch Seinfeld.
Facts of the Case
The 24 episodes that make up Seinfeld: Season Six break down as follows:
Disc One "The Chaperone" Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld, Comedian) dates a Miss America contestant, who requires the chaperoning services of pageant-expert Kramer (Michael Richards, UHF); Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Deconstructing Harry) gets a job as a personal assistant; George (Jason Alexander, Pretty Woman) makes some changes in the Yankees' uniforms. The episode that introduces us to Mr. Pitt (Ian Abercrombie, Army of Darkness) and teaches us that cotton breathes better than polyester.
"The Big Salad" George grows frustrated when his girlfriend (Michelle Forbes, Kalifornia) takes credit for buying Elaine's lunch; Kramer is wrapped up in a car chase; Jerry's girlfriend becomes much less appealing when he learns she's already been dumped by Newman (Wayne Knight, To Die For).
"The Pledge Drive" Elaine breaks up her friend's relationship after some phone-identity confusion; Jerry hosts a telethon for PBS, and scores Kramer a job answering phones; George suspects everyone is flicking him off. The episode that gives us the "high talker" (which refers to pitch, and should not be confused with the "low talker," which refers to volume) and teaches us all to eat a Snickers bar with a knife and fork.
"The Chinese Woman" Jerry asks out a woman named Donna Chang (Angela Dohrmann, Nash Bridges) whose phone lines have gotten crossed with George's, only to discover that she's not Chinese; George's parents (Jerry Stiller and Estelle Harris) decide to divorce. The episode that teaches us that you can't cast aspersions on a man just for wearing a cape.
"The Couch" Jerry buys a new couch, only to have its integrity compromised by Poppy (Reni Santoni, Private Parts); George joins a book club, but decides to rent the movie instead; Kramer finally opens his make-your-own-pizza parlor; Elaine's opinions on reproductive rights threaten her relationship with a moving man.
"The Gymnast" Jerry dates a former Russian Olympian; George reveals his penchant for taking his shirt off when he goes to the bathroom; Elaine's boss, Mr. Pitt, becomes obsessed with a 3-D art poster.
Disc Two
"The Mom and Pop Store" Kramer's efforts to keep a Mom-and-Pop shoe repair shop in business backfire; George buys a LeBaron he believes once belonged to Jon Voight; Jerry tries to score an invite to a party being thrown by dentist Tim Whatley (Bryan Cranston, Malcolm in the Middle).
"The Soup" Jerry is given a brand new Armani suit by rival comic Kenny Bania (Steve Hytner, Eurotrip) in exchange for a meal; George believes that a waitress at the coffee shop is lying about having a boyfriend; Elaine finds herself living with a British freeloader. The episode that gives us our first taste of Bania ("I've been working out! I'm huge!") and teaches us that soup counts.
"The Secretary" Jerry suspects that his dry cleaners have been wearing his clothes; Elaine investigates the "skinny mirrors" at Barneys; George forces himself to hire an unattractive secretary (Vicki Lewis, Pushing Tin) and ends up sleeping with her anyway.
"The Switch" Jerry dates a woman who never laughs and discovers her roommate is much more appealing; Elaine loans out Mr. Pitts's tennis racquet before a big match; George suspects that the woman he's dating (Charlotte Lewis, Embrace of the Vampire) is bulimic. The episode that teaches us what it means to be an "orgy guy" and finally tells us Kramer's first name.
"The Race" Jerry finally scores himself a Lois, who turns out to be working for his arch nemesis, Duncan Meyer (Don McManus, Magnolia); George pretends to be a communist to get a date, while Elaine dates an actual communist; Kramer gets a job as a department store Santa.
"The Label Maker" Jerry gives up his Super Bowl tickets to Tim Whatley so he can go to the Drake's wedding; Elaine suspects the label maker Tim Whatley gives Jerry as a thank you is a re-gift; George is disturbed to discover that his girlfriend (Jessica Tuck, Secretary) lives with a man very similar to himself; Kramer and Newman engage in the game of Risk. The episode that puts the phrase "re-gift" into the public consciousness.
Disc Three
"The Scofflaw" George finds out that the gang's friend Gary Fogel (Jon Lovitz, Trapped in Paradise) doesn't really have cancer, but offers to keep it a secret in exchange for a parking space; Elaine tries to re-gain the upper hand with a pompous ex-boyfriend who's very protective of his glasses; Kramer helps a cop track down a scofflaw. The episode that gives us the first appearance of George's toupee.
"The Highlights of 100" The series' 100th show: a two-part clip show featuring bloopers, outtakes, and introductions by Jerry Seinfeld.
"The Beard" Elaine poses as her gay co-worker's (Rob Mailhouse, Speed) girlfriend; Kramer offers to appear in a police lineup; Jerry takes a polygraph test to prove he doesn't watch Melrose Place; George's newfound confidence allows him to ask out an old friend of Kramer's, who turns out to be bald. The episode that gives us the last appearance of George's toupee.
"The Kiss Hello" Kramer institutes a new program in the apartment building to bring the residents closer together; Elaine's new friend (Wendie Malick, Waiting…, Just Shoot Me!) insists on kissing everyone upon greeting them; Jerry gets involved in a family dispute involving Uncle Leo and fifty dollars.
"The Doorman" Jerry makes an enemy of a doorman (Larry Miller, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang); Elaine and Jerry scheme to replace a stolen couch; Frank Costanza moves in with George and invents a man's garment with Kramer. The episode that gives us the "Bro" (or is the "Manssiere?").
Disc Four
"The Jimmy" Jerry is disturbed by Tim Whatley's new "Adults Only" dental practice, complete with copies of Penthouse in the waiting room; George goes into the shoe business with a friend who only refers to himself in the third person; Kramer is made the guest of honor at a Mel Torme benefit after being mistaken for mentally challenged.
"The Doodle" Jerry contracts fleas and has to evacuate his apartment; George is put off by a sketch done of him by his new girlfriend (Christa Miller, Scrubs); Elaine puts a potential job in jeopardy when she misplaces a FedEx package.
"The Fusilli Jerry" Elaine is shocked to learn that her new mechanic boyfriend (Patrick Warburton, Big Trouble, in his first appearance on the show) is using one of Jerry's sex moves; Kramer receives the wrong license plates; George's mother undergoes cosmetic surgery. The episode that gives us both David Puddy and The Assman.
"The Diplomat's Club" After an innocent comment offends a co-worker, George goes out of his way to prove that he's not a racist; Mr. Pitt's attorney believes that Elaine is out to kill him off after it's announced that she's in his will; Jerry is saddled with a difficult manager (Debra Jo Rupp, That '70s Show) during an out of town comedy show.
"The Face Painter" George debates whether or not to tell his girlfriend that he loves her; Jerry scores hockey tickets from a pretentious acquaintance (former host of Studs Mark DeCarlo), but fails to properly thank him; Kramer begins a feud with a monkey; Elaine learns that Puddy is a "face painter."
"The Understudy" Jerry and George play in a softball game against Bette Midler's team and are blamed when she gets injured; Elaine enlists the aid of Frank Costanza to learn the truth about what her Korean manicurists are saying about her; Elaine gets a new job. The episode that introduces us to J. Peterman (John O'Hurley, Buying the Cow).
The Evidence
Elaine: I will never understand people. Jerry: They're the worst.
That short dialogue exchange, from episode 6.22, "The Diplomat's Club," is a perfect example of what makes Seinfeld so great: its total disdain for everyone and everything, especially its four hopeless central characters. These are people we love to be around and who couldn't want to be around us less.
It's difficult to find anything new to say about Seinfeld. Everyone knows it. Everyone quotes it (which reminds me—the next person that thinks it's hilarious to say "No soup for you!" is going to find him or herself on the business end of a window-throwing). It's a show that's grown far beyond the art form, exploding from the confines of the television set and becoming a cultural phenomenon. Well, I don't review cultural phenomena. I can't, other than to say "it deserves to be" or "it doesn't deserve to be." That leaves me to review the show on its merits, which, lucky for me, are considerable.
In that respect, allow me to say that Seinfeld is one of the five finest and funniest comedies ever produced by the medium (and one of the ten best shows of all time)—it rewrote the rules for the sitcom and changed the TV landscape for years to come. The self-described "show about nothing" isn't actually about nothing at all; that is, it's about Something. It's about the minutiae of the day to day—the little things we all dwell on and obsess over. It's what make the show so damned relatable; while we couldn't necessarily ever connect to the on-again, off-again romantic exploits of Friends's Ross and Rachel, we all know what it's like to be grossed out by the hygiene of someone we're dating (the toothbrush-share), or to be embarrassed about your own habits (watching Melrose Place), or to get caught in a lie (just about any plot involving George Costanza). It's Us we're watching—occasionally awful, cartoonish versions of Us—but Us nonetheless.
Season Six is where we begin to see indicators of the dark, dark places that the series would go to over the course of its last three seasons (the very next year, George's fiancée, Susan, would be killed off by envelope glue in what might be the show's finest moment). Consider another moment in the otherwise lackluster "Diplomat's Club" (I say lackluster despite the fact that I've now made two significant references to it): Jerry and Elaine are sitting at the funeral of their friend Gary Fogel—otherwise known as the man who lied about his cancer to get a toupee (and was killed in a car wreck while straightening it). The atmosphere is somber. Women are sobbing around them. Elaine can't stop talking about how she's not happy with her clothes. Women continue to sob. Elaine and Jerry keep talking about her clothes. Their total self-absorption and lack of sensitivity is the masterstroke of the series (and its co-creator, television's greatest and grouchiest misanthrope, Larry David): finding comedy in the darkest, coldest, meanest parts of human nature.
Seinfeld is the rare show that got better the longer it lasted. Though it would eventually become a bit too focused on the puzzle-box plot structure, the series still avoided the mid-run peaks (and subsequent valleys) that plagued The Simpsons or Friends—this one continued to top itself. Season Six finds the show in full stride: this is the season that first introduces us to Seinfeld mainstays Tim Whatley, Kenny Bania, David Puddy (the show's most inspired comic creation since Jerry Stiller's Frank Costanza), and J. Peterman. Where we learn that Kramer's first name is "Cosmo." Where George gets a toupee. Where Elaine works for and is tortured by her stuffy and eccentric British boss, Mr. Pitt. And, while not every episode is a winner, consider that it contains classics like "The Couch" and "The Soup" and "The Label Maker" and "The Fusilli Jerry."
I believe there's a reason that the gifted character actors on the show (Richards, Alexander, and Louis-Dreyfus) haven't really found success outside of Seinfeld: their performances on the series are so good, and they inhabit their characters so completely, that any traces of "acting" vanish. They are these characters, and it becomes impossible to see them any other way. Now, you can call me crazy, but I think Jerry Seinfeld is the funniest of the four actors that make up the core of the series—he's the best bad actor on television. What's better is that his performance is actually about bad acting; watch any moment that demands heightened emotion from him, watch his eyes bug and his voice get all high-pitched and whiny (even more so than usual, that is), and you'll basically see him throw up his hands and give up. It's as though he recognizes that even trying would be a waste of time, and approaches the role accordingly. It's a move that pays off; Seinfeld is able to carve himself a spot among situation comedy's most gifted ensemble, where he might have otherwise been caught up playing the straight man.
Sony's release of Seinfeld: Season Six is every bit as good as their previous Seinfeld sets, which, along with Fox's Simpsons DVD sets, are (disc for disc, show for show, extra for extra) possibly the best TV boxes in current release; that these sets were delayed as long as they were is now well worth it. The shows are presented in their original, full frame television format and have been spiffed up and restored to a healthy shine—it's the best Seinfeld has looked. The Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo track, while not exactly speaker-shattering, is absolutely appropriate for this series; I even like the way that the laugh track fills in the rear and side channels, helping to recreate the "studio audience" experience.
So, the shows look and sound great. That's nothing new—this is the sixth set of Seinfeld DVDs, and, in that regard, they're not much different from the previous five. How about the extras, then? Well, those aren't much different from the earlier sets either, but, then, when they've been as consistently spectacular as these supplements have been, why change it? Something about "if it ain't broke"…
My favorite of the extra features are the short "Inside Look" featurettes that accompany most of the episodes. They're just retrospective pieces, with writers and cast members and directors and guest stars recounting the experience of shooting the episode and the stories that inspired them (most of the ideas for shows came from the real-life experiences of the people working on them), but they pack in more content and face time than the audio commentaries. Maybe that's because the segments don't have to wait for the participants to stop laughing (Julia Louis-Dreyfus is the biggest culprit) or contain as much dead space as the commentaries, which are often reduced to the speakers sitting back and watching the episode. When they do speak up, it can be a joy and, more often than not, worth the wait.
The only extra feature that's really new to Season Six is something called "Sein-Imation," which is nothing more than scenes from the show reenacted by crudely pencil-drawn stick figures. It's a cute conceit, I suppose, but nothing more. Otherwise, we get the usual text commentaries, deleted scenes, bonus standup material, and bloopers (watching truly funny people make each other laugh is a lot more enjoyable than watching regular people). If I'm being casual about listing all that off, it's only because I'm used to it now—that shouldn't take away from the volume and quality of bonus content. Put another way, there's lots of it and it's all great.
Closing Statement
Seinfeld is one of the funniest shows ever to air on television. Season Six is one of the best seasons of one of the funniest shows ever to air on television. The Seinfeld DVD releases are some of the best TV-on-DVD box sets available. The release of Seinfeld: Season Six is a great DVD collection of one of the best seasons of one of the funniest shows ever to air on television.
I'm done.
The Verdict
Not guilty. Get out!!
I don't know how to write out those goofy bass notes, but this is where they'd go.
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Oct 19, 2015 2:18:58 GMT
Seinfeld Season 7 Review
The show that has been permanently branded into American pop culture mythos returns with its seventh season, a noteworthy installment because of the ensuing departure of co-creator Larry David and the funniest damn episode of the series run: "The Gum…"
Facts of the Case
…well at least in my opinion. Season seven represents the swan song for Larry David, the primary creative driving force behind the show and the series' most prolific writer. He would later go on to direct a movie that nobody watched, return to pen the disappointing Seinfeld finale and ultimately deliver another television show that resides alongside Seinfeld as an inspired and hilarious take on "nothing" (that would be, of course, Curb Your Enthusiasm). But what a season to go out on.
This set includes a ton of gags that the show has become known for: the Soup Nazi, the lo-flow shower heads, "the pact," fast-moving pulp, the Maestro's diabolical scheme to keep Jerry out of Tuscany, the effeminate armoire bandits, Morty's impeachment, the rye-on-a-hook, Kramer's transformation into a pimp, the great bottle deposit run of 1996, and toxic envelopes.
Twenty-four episodes on four discs:
Disc One: • "The Engagement" • "The Postponement" • "The Maestro" • "The Wink" • "The Hot Tub" • "The Soup Nazi"
Disc Two: • "The Secret Code" • "The Pool Guy" • "The Sponge" • "The Gum" • "The Rye" • "The Caddy"
Disc Three: • "The Seven" • "The Cadillac (Parts 1 and 2)" • "The Shower Head" • "The Doll" • "The Friars Club"
Disc Four: • "The Wig Master" • "The Calzone" • "The Bottle Deposit (Parts 1 and 2)" • "The Wait Out" • "The Invitations"
The Evidence
As I ponder this review, I am reminded of something Chief Justice Mike Jackson mentioned on a Seinfeld-themed thread in the Jury Room, "Seinfeld is such a good show because no matter the season there are so many classic episodes and personal favorites" or something to that effect (apologies for a butchered paraphrasing). Anyway, that point is well taken. Save for the early, early episodes, when Larry and Jerry were testing the waters, it's hard to find a season devoid of at least a handful of iconic shows. For me, this season holds some of my most beloved. And while I'm sure you may have different preferences, I thought I'd lay out the ones I liked. Oh, and, the nutshell review: awesome set, just like the installments prior, packed with extras, and featuring the shows looking better than broadcast-quality. Anyway, on with my picks:
• "The Gum" The most and hardest laughs per capita than any other episode in my opinion. And for a show as consistently funny and inventive as Seinfeld that's saying a lot. The Seinfeld playbook, of course, traces four separate character arcs in the course of its 24 minute runtime, and, in my opinion, only a few shows manage to absolutely knock each story out of the park. "The Gum" is one of those. Kramer (Michael Richards) struggles to balance his new involvement in renovating the Alex Theater with caring for pal Lloyd Braun's delicate psyche; George (Jason Alexander) desperately tries to convince an acquaintance he is, in fact, not insane; Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) can't seem to keep her top on; and Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) is forced to wear glasses and buy disgusting Chinese gum by the kiloton. So many great moments in this episode: the fiery demise of the "Jon" Voigt car, Kramer choking down an antiquated hot dog, Elaine's plunging v-neck, George's royal get-up, and, the best of all, Jerry's fishbowl spectacles. Man, I know it's not subversive wit and all, but the sight of Jerry with those gigantic spectacles gets me laughing every frickin' time.
• "The Rye" Another classic that goes for the cheap laugh, but lands it. A gassy horse? That's gold, Jerry, gold. The unconscionable rye bread mugging is gravy. And that capsule review was one big mixed metaphor.
• "The Pulp" Kramer and George's storylines are the gems here, with George dealing with the results of high-speed pulp and Kramer picking a fight with a sick kid. This show represented that kind of carte blanche Seinfeld was able to get away with as far as taboos and envelope-pushing. I agree with Jerry Seinfeld, when he mentioned the scene in "The Junior Mint" where Jerry talked about watching the doctors "slice this fat bastard up," as a turning point in the show. The barriers were down, the show had earned it, and now everything was up for grabs, including Kramer's fleecing of a terminally ill child. The show, in my opinion, would reach its apex in this regard with the season finale, Susan's fateful encounter with poisonous envelope glue, which is essentially shrugged off by George.
Those are only a few of the shows that stood out for me, though there isn't a broken episode in the bunch. Like the ultimate comfort food, Seinfeld and this season in particular delivers a relentlessly rewatchable experience. Content-wise I don't know what else to say but this: I've probably seen every episode in this season at least 10 times, yet it's still a must-own set which I'll watch another 10 times.
As can be expected with these Sony releases, the presentation is top-tier, from the great sound and video (full frame) treatment to the bounty of extras. Selected episodes feature commentaries by the actors, writers and directors, which are always interesting. The "Inside Looks" offer meaty behind-the-scenes commentary by the cast and crew (again, it's stunning to hear how many of these out-there plotlines were grounded in someone's real-life experiences). Two featurettes: "Queen of the Castle: The Elaine Benes Story" gives Julia Louis-Dreyfus much-deserved attention for her pinpoint comedic talents, and "Larry David's Farewell," where David comes clean about why he decided to leave the most popular TV show on the planet. Rounding out the batch: the always-great blooper reel, deleted scenes, Jerry's standup material, "Notes About Nothing" pop-up trivia and "Sein-Imation" animated retellings of classic scenes.
Closing Statement
There's nothing more to say. The pristine DVD treatment of one of the funniest shows ever devised. This season is my personal favorite.
The Verdict
Not guilty. Just stay away from the glue.
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Oct 19, 2015 2:19:02 GMT
Seinfeld Season 8 Review
Seinfeld co-creator and head writer Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm) always had a love/loath relationship with the show. The supplements contained in the first six volumes of the series on DVD reveal David as a man terrified and bewildered by his own success. He was embittered when the show's pilot—a mid-season replacement in 1989—was just successful enough that NBC ordered four more episodes. It's not that he wanted a larger order; writing the pilot had so exhausted him he couldn't imagine going through the process four more times.
When the show's abbreviated first season garnered a small but loyal fanbase and much critical acclaim, encouraging NBC to order a 12-episode second season, David was distraught. How could he continue to shoulder the stress of writing and producing a weekly sitcom? It was killing him. Things soon got worse: NBC ordered a full 23-episode third season.
When, during its fourth season, the network moved Seinfeld to the prime slot on Thursday night after Cheers in order to test its viability as NBC's new Must-See TV anchor, David was outraged: How could they treat his show like Cheers' "little brother?" Beginning with the fifth or sixth season, David began proclaiming he was leaving the show. His threats to leave became such a mainstay of the Seinfeld season wraps, everyone involved with the show assumed he was all talk and no action. Then, at the end of Season Seven, he actually quit, leaving everyone wondering if the show could survive without him.
It did, of course, and Seinfeld: Season Eight brings us the first batch of post-David episodes of the series. So, how do they measure up?
Facts of the Case
In case you spent the '90s in a monastery or as a biodome guinea pig or something, Seinfeld chronicles the off-kilter life of a semi-fictional version of stand-up comic Jerry Seinfeld. Thirtysomething, single, and living in New York City, Jerry mostly hangs out with his three loser friends: George Costanza (Jason Alexander, Pretty Woman), a short, stocky, balding, New York Yankees front office executive whose fiancée was killed by poisonous glue on their wedding invitations; Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Drefus, Saturday Night Live), a copywriter for the J. Peterman catalog who dated Jerry once upon a time before the series' first season; and Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards, Fridays), Jerry's hipster-doofus neighbor across the hall. The quartet hangs out at Jerry's apartment or Monk's Diner, analyzing the minutiae of their lives and landing themselves in bizarre, socially awkward situations.
Volume Seven of Seinfeld on DVD contains all 22 episodes of the eighth season, spread across four discs:
Disc One: • "The Foundation" • "The Soul Mate" • "The Bizarro Jerry" • "The Little Kicks" • "The Package"
Disc Two: • "The Fatigues" • "The Checks" • "The Chicken Roaster" • "The Abstinence" • "The Andrea Doria" • "The Little Jerry"
Disc Three: • "The Money" • "The Comeback" • "The Van Buren Boys" • "The Susie" • "The Pothole"
Disc Four: • "The English Patient" • "The Nap" • "The Yada Yada" • "The Millennium" • "The Muffin Tops" • "The Summer of George"
The Evidence
In the larger context of Seinfeld's entire run, the eighth season finds the show in decline—but only in the larger context of the series' entire run. Compared to just about any other situation comedy in the history of television, the 22 episodes here are precociously inventive and hysterically funny. It's not quite the same show it was under the watchful comedic eye of Larry David, but it's still damned good television.
One can most feel David's absence in the first two episodes of the season. "The Foundation" and "The Soul Mate" resurrect Delores (AKA "Mulva") from Season Four's "The Junior Mint"; a librarian love interest for Kramer (a la "The Library" in Season Three); and the Long Island mother of the nauseatingly ugly baby in Season Five's "The Hamptons." It's as if the writers were desperate to create a connection to the show's past, either to reassure the audience or themselves of Seinfeld's continued viability. But even these weaker episodes are funnier than most TV, offering absurdity like Elaine's urban sombrero (which she puts on the cover of the J. Peterman catalog when Peterman disappears to Burma, leaving her in charge of the company); Kramer dominating a karate class full of nine-year-olds; and George screaming "Khan!" at the top of his lungs because the second Star Trek movie is indirectly responsible for destroying his idyllic bachelor life of lying around in his boxers, eating blocks of cheese the size of his own head.
Season Eight begins to swing into full gear with "Bizarro Jerry," an episode that finds Elaine invited into the company of a friendly, altruistic, book-loving, Bolshoi Ballet-going trio of friends who are the exact opposites of Jerry, George, and Kramer; Jerry dating a beautiful woman who, unfortunately, has man-hands; Kramer busting his white-collared hump at Brandt/Leland, even though he's not actually an employee; and George passing a photo of Man-Hands as his dead fiancée Susan in order to penetrate the Forbidden City of beautiful women. From "Bizarro Jerry" on, the episodes get better and better for the most part, though there are a few clunker episodes like "The Fatigues." Its dual plotlines—one in which Elaine unfairly promotes a fatigue-wearing J. Peterman mailroom worker because she's afraid to fire him, and the other in which Frank Costanza is haunted by Korean War memories of spoiled meat and vomiting soldiers when Kramer convinces him to take up cooking again so he can help with a Jewish singles event the very Gentile doofus has organized—come off as contrived. While Larry David was a master of throwing together disparate plotlines and making them resolve in clever ways by an episode's finale, the two strands of "The Fatigues" appear specifically designed to pay each other off. This has the odd effect of making each plotline less absurd and more predictable than it should be. And we're talking about an episode in which a 70-year-old Jerry Stiller plays Frank Costanza as a young man in the Korean War—it ought to be delightfully absurd.
While its comedy is definitely broader and sillier than during David's tenure, Season Eight is still packed with classic Seinfeld jokes and storylines. In "Little Kicks" we learn that watching Elaine dance arhythmically is, in the words of George, "like watching a full-body dry heave." "The Checks" finds Kramer housing a group of Japanese tourists in a massive chest of drawers given to him by Elaine's furniture salesman boyfriend (who's also obsessed with the Eagles' "Desperado"). In "The Chicken Roaster," the neon glare of a Kenny Rogers Roasters restaurant sign across the street so discombobulates Kramer's rods and cones that he mistakes tomato juice for milk; when he and Jerry switch apartments to alleviate his suffering, they take on each other's personality traits. Other episodes find Jerry and Kramer training a rooster named Little Jerry Seinfeld to cockfight, while George dates an inmate in a women's prison in the hopes of having fugitive sex when she escapes; Kramer getting on the bad side of a street gang enamored with the eighth president of the United States; Jerry accidentally breaking the thumbs of a bookie who owes him money; Elaine being castigated by society for having the gall to hate The English Patient; Jerry having a weight-lifting contest with 80-year-old Izzy Mandelbaum (Lloyd Bridges, Airplane!); and Kramer and rotund mail carrier Newman feuding over who will host a big millennial New Year's Eve party even though it's only 1997. Add to that classic Seinfeldian contributions to the popular culture like the "yada yada yada" as a conversation ellipsis meant to ease social discomfort or hide painful truths, the term "anti-dentite" to describe anyone who thinks dentistry a lesser form of medicine, the acknowledgement that the tops of muffins are the only part worth eating, and an entire episode centered around the etiquette of telephone speed-dial hierarchies, and what you've got is some outstanding television comedy. And I didn't even mention hack comic Kenny Bania's (Steve Hytner, Eurotrip) ridiculous obsession with Ovaltine, George becoming a genius when his girlfriend's mononucleosis forces him to use the majority of his brain for something other than thinking about sex, Bob Odenkirk's (Mr. Show) hilarious turn as Elaine's not-quite-a-doctor boyfriend, or the glorious return of Kramer's Johnny Cochran-like lawyer Jackie Chiles (Phil Morris, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock) in the K-man's disfigurement suit against a tobacco company after he manages to do a lifetime of smoking in just 72 hours.
As with the six previous volumes of Seinfeld on DVD, the episodes of Season Eight have been remastered in high-definition and look phenomenal. The full screen image is significantly sharper than on broadcast television. Colors are bold and fully saturated, and blacks are rock solid. The image is gloriously free of damage or decay.
Audio is presented in a fine Dolby Stereo mix that delivers clear dialogue. It's an improvement over the mixes for Seasons Five and Six, which sound slightly off to my ears. French and Spanish dubs are also offered in case you're a guy who's been abstaining from sex and have accidentally picked up a foreign language by listening to your maid (if you're a woman who's been abstaining from sex, you're better off picking up a Full House season boxed set or something; Seinfeld's humor will fly right over your head). The episodes are subtitled in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
As with the previous volumes of Seinfeld, Season Eight is loaded with supplements. Each episode comes with "Notes About Nothing," text-based commentaries that offer loads of trivia about the productions. Thirteen of the episodes also have audio commentaries. Most of them are by the episodes' writers, though Jerry Seinfeld, Julia-Louis Dreyfus, Jason Alexander, and director Andy Ackerman contribute to a handful of tracks (Michael Richards is notably absent, this being the first set assembled after his racist rant during a stand-up performance).
Video extras include deleted scenes as well as "Inside Looks" (brief featurettes) specific to some of the episodes. There's also a 23-minute documentary about Jerry Seinfeld. Its title—"Jerry Seinfeld, Submarine Captain"—refers to his absolute devotion to the show during its nine-season run. There are two "Sein-Imations" (stick-figure animations based on dialogue from the show) called "The Del Boca Vista Express" and "Pinky Toe's Wild Ride," and a lengthy blooper reel. Because Seinfeld dropped the stand-up segments at the beginning and end of each episode in order to lighten his own production load during the Davidless Season Eight, there are no "Master of His Domain" unused stand-up segments as on previous season sets.
Closing Statement
Nearly a decade after it left the airwaves, Seinfeld remains the funniest network television sitcom ever. Period. (Don't argue. Don't send hate mail.) Season Eight isn't the apex of the series (that would be Season Four), but it's a heck of a lot funnier than most of what passes for comedy on network television.
The Verdict
Try Seinfeld: Season Eight. It's gold! Gold!
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Oct 20, 2015 23:15:06 GMT
Seinfeld The Complete Series Review
Arguably the greatest television series ever crafted receives one of the finest box set presentations to ever be unleashed and yada yada yada Seinfeld: The Complete Series is a homerun.
Facts of the Case
Seriously, what can be said to summarize this show? Is there any bipedal, carbon-based life form that is unfamiliar with the exploits of Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld), George (Jason Alexander), Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and Kramer (Michael Richards)?
Four New Yorkers, living utterly selfish, bizarre lives that feature Soup Nazis, parking lot prostitution, dog kidnapping, giant balls of oil, the seductive wiles of John F. Kennedy Jr., Mr. Marbles, poorly constructed rat hats, tasteless Chinese chewing gum, retirement community impeachment hearings, fur coats and European handbags for men, a fat-free yogurt conspiracy against Rudy Giuliani, an interminable wait at a Chinese restaurant, Calvin Klein's industrial espionage, Festivus, wrongful nose-picking accusations and the scourge of shrinkage.
All of this and much, much more is represented here, with all nine seasons—dispatched over 33 discs—of the groundbreaking comedy that rewrote the rules of network half-hours and single-handedly revised the pop culture lexicon, presented in a gorgeous case and accompanied by the "Seinfeld Coffee Table Book."
Yo-Yo Ma!
The Evidence
Is there any other show that is so omnipresent and easily and compulsively watchable as this one? Well, besides Saved by the Bell of course. The answer is no. Flick through the channels sometime after dinner and you'll likely find a Seinfeld rerun, somewhere. And dollars to donuts there's a good chance you'll root yourself to the sofa and take it all in, no matter how many times you've seen that particular episode before. I am of course referring to myself when I use the second person, but I doubt I'm much different from the zillions of others out there who are enamored with this series.
Seinfeld moved the sitcom into startlingly original directions and very few subsequent comedies have been able to flirt with its brilliance (only Arrested Development and Curb Your Enthusiasm spring to my mind). Co-creator Larry David exerted his comedic firepower in hugely effective ways during his seven-season tenure at the helm of the show and was responsible for some of the most memorable moments in the series. When he left, Jerry took over as the creative driving force and while the tone of the show felt less rooted in the reality of David's comedy—which often found its hilarity in the mundane—there were plenty of crowd-pleasing moments. When Jerry decided to end the series at Season 9, it went out at the absolute top, garnering 75 million viewers for the series finale.
This show earned its incredible popularity with consistently excellent stuff, sharp, gut-laugh-inducing writing, parallel storylines ranging from the sublime to the surreal and top-shelf, Emmy-soaked acting. The truth is, there was rarely a clunker in the lifetime of Seinfeld. During the time of the approaching series finale, I recalled reading a quote from someone who lauded the series because "you could always count on laughing." Simple and precise: you will watch this show and you will laugh like everyone else, and if you don't laugh, it's probably because of a problem you have.
Fine, maybe that's a bit too harsh. The show in fact started out a little slow, the writers and actors still feeling out the characters and the premises, and those early episodes are a far cry from the awesomeness that would follow. Then you've got the series finale, one of the most hyped television programs in history, which reeled in nearly one-third of the population of the United States. Unfortunately, it was a massive disappointment, clunky, filled with empty cameos, overly self-referential and lacking all signs of the wit and humor that had characterized the episodes before it. More or a surprise considering Larry David himself wrote it. But aside from these missteps—and the occasional off storyline—Seinfeld stands tall as a near-flawless excursion into TV comic greatness.
The Complete Series features all eight volumes that have been released separately (Volume One included shortened Seasons One and Two), packaged together in a handsome all-black with gold lettering. Along with the DVDs is The Coffee Table Book, exclusive to the set, which contains photos, quotes, synopses and trivia from each episode. It's a nifty bonus. But where is the built-in coaster?
seinfeld: the complete series
Back to the discs, shows are transferred nice and clean in their native full-frame aspect ratio, supplemented by a 2.0 stereo mix that does its job. A perfectly suitable technical presentation.
But it's the bonus material that really shines. Each season contains the following:
Documentaries A different, robust featurette, focusing on some aspect of the show accompanies each season. They're universally well-done and interesting, offering deep and entertaining insight into the production of the series.
Inside Looks These behind-the-scenes segments look at the birth pangs and execution of selected episodes, featuring interviews with cast and crew.
In the Vault: Deleted Scenes The excised moments, clipped before broadcast. There's lots of good stuff here.
Not That There's Anything Wrong With That: Bloopers Some of the best gag reels I've seen. Lengthy and hilarious, these moments show a) how it easy it is to lose it when you're working on one of the funniest shows ever conceived and b) Julia Louis-Dreyfus is a giggler.
Yada-Yada-Yada: Commentaries Selected episodes receive commentary from the stars and writers and offer even more background to the creation of the series. Plus, they're often very entertaining.
Sein-Imation These animated shorts set against classic scenes from the series, are fun, but disposable add-ons.
Notes About Nothing A trivia track that pops up during the episodes.
Master of His Domain Stand-up comedy from Jerry, which is, of course, funny.
Sponsored by Vandelay Industries Original promotional NBC material.
The Rebuttal Witnesses
The ballyhooed roundtable reunion with Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards and Larry David was surprisingly short and shallow. A potentially great retrospective (considering the rumors of the tenuous relationships of the cast following the show's dissolution) that falls short…kind of like the finale.
Closing Statement
So who should buy this set, besides everybody? Well, if you've been waiting to make the Seinfeld DVD leap, then it's a no-brainer. If you already own the single-season sets, this release offers you a savings in storage space and a killer of a presentation, but, aside from the coffee table book, not much else in bonus content. It is a completist's wet dream, though.
The Verdict
Not guilty. High five!
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Oct 25, 2015 0:53:13 GMT
Seinfeld Season 1 & 2 DVD Review
It’s a show about nothing?! Yeah..right! It’s about everything and then some! But what really can I say about this show, that you don’t already know. TV Guide ranked Seinfeld as the best TV series of all-time! Some love it…some hate it! But you can’t deny that it has changed TV today. Basically it’s just about Jerry Seinfeld playing himself. He is a comedian. The show is just about him and his friends going through everyday life. So it really IS about nothing, but we all know that real life is better than fiction! I can confirm this. Almost anyone can relate to the situations that the characters get into. Not all of them..mind you. But it should be noted that co-creator, Larry David, did go through some of these same situations. It may sound absurd, but it’s true. The characters are so offbeat and eccentric that it makes the show that more fun. But you should already know all that.
This first DVD set has both Seasons 1 & 2. Sounds good, but it’s only 18 episodes total. Season 1 had only 5 episodes as it was tested out for NBC. NBC signed on for a second season and 13 episodes were made. Let me tell you, though, that these two seasons are a little rough. Actually, the first five episodes are a little raw. Nothing special here. But it laid the foundation for the future. The show looks so different in the early days. The sets were completely different for a bit and it took awhile for it to become the standard ones we know and love.
Season 1 is rough as a I said, but it has its funny moments. Season 2 is where things pick up. The actors seem to be settling into their roles nicely as they start to play off of each other more. Still not as funny as future seasons, but Season 2 was the reason future seasons were made. So it had to have done something right. And you see that towards the end of Season 2 that everything was clicking and there was some very funny stuff here. There is also the beginning of something that I always liked about Seinfeld. That is the fact that each character’s story in an episode..almost always ended up crossing paths and interacting with each other. They all formed pieces of this big puzzle. It was crazy, but it all made sense somehow. You get to see that towards the end of Season 2 as well.
One minor thing about these early episodes. They would have Jerry actually perform standup. In the beginning, they would cut back to his standup in the middle of the episode. I don’t like that. I like it better when it is at the start and end of the episode. In the middle of the episode, it just messes up the flow. But that’s just a minor complaint about these early episodes.
So what else can you really say about a show about nothing? Oh yeah..it has so many famous quotes in every episode. It has changed the way we even speak. And the fact that it is STILL in reruns after 7 years..proves that this show is good stuff. One of the best shows EVER..if not THE best! No doubt about it!
Episodes:
Disc One (Season One):
Episode 1 – The Seinfeld Chronicles (Pilot) The first one. Jerry met a woman on the road and she is coming into New York to stay with him. George and Kramer have to give their opinion on the matter..of course.
Favorite Quote: “You can’t over-die..you can’t over-dry.” – Jerry
Episode 2 – Male-Unbonding Jerry tries to tell a male friend from his childhood that he doesn’t want to be friends anymore. The guy cries and Jerry gives him another shot. Elaine helps out Jerry in this one with a list of excuses to avoid him. Always good to have by your side. Write these down!
Favorite Quote: “I know a guy who took a vacation on his change.” – George
Episode 3 – The Stake Out Jerry and Elaine go to a party and Jerry meets an attractive woman. She doesn’t know her name..he only knows where she works. So he stakes out the office with George. Pure genius! They try to bump into her.
Favorite Quote: “I’m a architect.” – George
Episode 4 – The Robbery Jerry gets robbed, because Kramer forgot to close his door. Elaine wants Jerry’s apartment, so she tries to get him to move into a better one. George then decides he wants a new place as well. And well..I don’t know how they will figure this all out!
Favorite Quote: “The door MUST be closed!” – Jerry
Episode 5 – The Stock Tip George gets a stock tip. But it turns out bad as him and Jerry lose a lot of money. Elaine has a boyfriend with some cats. Her allergies don’t like that. Jerry goes on a weekend getaway with his new girlfriend. Will this be good or bad for the relationship? Probably bad, but you never know.
Favorite Quote: “Yeah..and you say HE’s nuts..you want to bump off a couple of cats.” – Jerry talking to Elaine
Disc Two (Season Two):
Episode 1 – The Ex-Girlfriend Jerry dates George’s ex-girlfriend..Marlene. George is more annoyed that Jerry went behind him and paid a bill that George didn’t pay. Go figure that one out. Marlene ends it with Jerry after seeing his act. Now THAT’s funny!
Favorite Quote: “You should do it like a Band-Aid..one motion..RIGHT OFF!” – Jerry
Episode 2 – The Pony Remark Jerry offends an old lady by saying he hated people who had ponies growing up. Then, the lady dies before Jerry can clear things up. Then, Jerry has to decide whether to play softball or attend the funeral. Choice..choices.
Favorite Quote: “You know I’ve been thinking. I can not envision any circumstance in which I ever have the opportunity to have sex again. How’s it going to happen? I just don’t see how it can occur.” – George
Episode 3 – The Busboy The gang is eating and a busboy gets fired and George thinks he is too blame for it. Kramer tries to help George makes things right. Elaine has a boyfriend visit her house for a week.
Favorite Quote: “If it hadn’t been for that 5-car pileup on Rockaway Boulevard..that numbskull would be on a plane for Seattle right now instead of looking for a parking space downstairs.” – Elaine talking about her boyfriend who she wanted to leave
Episode 4 – The Baby Shower Elaine throws a baby shower in Jerry’s apartment. George plots revenge on the guest of honor. Kramer wants Jerry to get illegal cable, but the installers crash the party.
Favorite Quote: “Cable boy..cable boy..what have you done to my little cable boy?!?!” – Kramer talking about Jerry
Episode 5 – The Jacket Jerry and George meet Elaine’s father. He is an intimidating type. Jerry wears a suede jacket, but it starts to snow. Therefore, Jerry must turn his coat inside out and the lining is pink! Oh boy!
Favorite Quote: “We say we are frightened and we have to go home!” – George talking to Jerry about being afraid of Elaine’s father
Disc Three (Season Two):
Episode 6 – The Chinese Restaurant Jerry, George, and Elaine are go out to see a movie. But they stop to eat at a Chinese restaurant without reservations. They spend the next thirty minutes trying to get a seat. This is where the funny really begins!
Favorite Quote: “I say we leave now..go to Sky Burger..and scarf them down!” – Elaine talking to Jerry and George
Episode 7 – The Phone Message George’s girlfriend hasn’t returned his phone calls. So George leaves some nasty phone messages on her answering machine. She was out of town. So George and Jerry try to go and steal the tape before she can hear the messages.
Favorite Quote: “She invited me up..coffee is not coffee..coffee is sex!” – George
Episode 8 – The Apartment Jerry gets Elaine an apartment right above his. He regrets it when he realizes what that means. Meanwhile, George wears a wedding band to attract women. Genius!
Favorite Quote: “I just threw away a lifetime of guilt-free sex and floor seats to every event in the Garden. So please a little respect..for I am Costanza..Lord of the Idiots!” – George talking to Jerry
Episode 9 – The Stranded George leaves Jerry and Elaine at a party in Long Island, because his co-worker needs a ride home. Leave your friends for a girl? Sure. The party host later visits Jerry and somehow that involves Kramer and a hooker.
Favorite Quote: “The dingo ate your baby!” – Elaine to some unknown woman
Episode 10 – The Statue Jerry’s apartment gets cleaned by the boyfriend of a novelist whose book Elaine is editing. Jerry finds a statue missing and later sees it at the author’s apartment. Kramer poses as a cop to get it back.
Favorite Quote: “Just keep making love to that wall..pervert!” – Kramer, pretending to be a cop and pushing a “criminal” against a wall
Disc Four (Season Two):
Episode 11 – The Heart Attack George has a false alarm heart attack. It turns out to be his tonsils and he has a tonsillectomy. He goes with Kramer to visit a holistic healer for some alternative medicine. How does that turn out?
Favorite Quote: “”Hi..my name is Bob!” – Kramer imitating his friend Bob, who had a botched hernia operation, to George in the hospital
Episode 12 – The Revenge George quits his job in a big way. George regrets the decision, but the boss won’t let him come back. Therefore, Elaine and George plot revenge on the boss. Kramer and Jerry have revenge on their mind as well. They suspect a laundromat employee has stolen money from Jerry and their revenge begins!
Favorite Quote: “I told you not to mix in our guys!” – Jerry to Kramer about mixing their laundry together
Episode 13 – The Deal Jerry and Elaine are watching TV and stumble across a soft-core porn film. This leads them to renew their physical relationship. This leads to a set of rules for having sex without compromising their friendship.
Favorite Quote: “I don’t see how sleep got all tied up and connected with THAT!” – Jerry talking to Elaine about if they can still be friends and have sex at the same time
Score: 7/10
The DVD:
Video – The video is given in fullscreen color with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. Transfer is decent with minimal distortion. Colors look bright. Looks like the early 90’s.
Audio – The audio included is in English Dolby Digital stereo sound. There is also an option for Spanish and French audio as well.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
These DVDs are LOADED with extras! There is so much stuff on here. 13 hours worth! So I will break down the various features.
How It Began This is an hour-long look at how it got started. How the idea was created by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David. They also talk about how it almost never got made and how the show eventually changed TV today. Very good piece. Must see for any fan.
Notes About Nothing These are like subtitles that can be turned on. They give you behind-the-scenes stuff and production notes. Not always needed, but fun to watch to look at once you watch the show for the first time.
Inside Look The cast and crew talk about what was happening behind-the-scenes in various episodes. I liked these a lot. I always liked making-of’s and this is sort of like that.
In the Vault These are the deleted scenes from Seasons 1 & 2. You know what these are. Not a must-see, but they are there.
Not That There’s Anything Wrong With That These are the outtakes and bloopers from these seasons. Great stuff!
Yada, Yada, Yada Creator and cast audio commentaries are right here. I LOVE the cast ones. Actually..they are usually given in three groups of people. You have Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld on “The Stake Out” and “The Deal”. You have Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Michael Richards on “The Revenge” and “The Busboy. Finally, you have writer, Larry Charles, on “The Heart Attack” and “The Baby Shower”. Honestly..I LOVED the ones with Jason, Michael, and Julia. In one of them, they were laughing so hard..they barely talked about the episode, but the episode was SO funny..it didn’t matter. It was just fun hearing what they had to say about the episode. Larry and Jerry were good too. The writer was okay, but not as good as the others. I would watch them all though after you have seen the episodes once. They give another perpective on the episodes.
Master of His Domain Exclusive stand-up comedy footage of Jerry that was shot for the show, but was never used. Interesting.
Sponsored by Vandelay Industries Original NBC promo ads and trailers for Seinfeld in the early days.
“The Tonight Show” TV Appearances Jerry’s actual appearances on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson. Nice to see how he started out, although you probably know all the jokes anyways.
Another Version of the Pilot Episode
You can’t go wrong with these special features. It is probably enough reason to buy the DVDs! The shows are just icing on the cake. Strange to say that, but it’s true. I couldn’t think of anything else they could add to this..to be honest.
Score: 10/10
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Oct 25, 2015 0:53:49 GMT
Seinfeld Season 3 DVD Review
It’s still a show about nothing?! But it just got better. Many people consider Season 3 as the start of the “golden age” of Seinfeld. And I would probably agree with that. This is where things started to really jell between the foursome. They settled into their characters and started to really make the show funny!
The story lines also began to branch out more and the different stories started to overlap and create a great overall story. A perfect example of this is in the episode called “The Subway”. This was pure madness! But it may be the highlight of Season 3. But that’s not fair to the other episodes in this season. Any of them could be the best episode.
Another point of interest. In Seasons 1 and 2, the episodes were not that funny. They were funny in spots, but they were not laugh out-loud funny all the way through the episode! That is what you get in almost each and every episode of Season 3. In the first set, it was easy to pick out a favorite quote for each episode as they were maybe 1 or 2 good ones an episode. But this season is different. I would pick a quote, and then the next line would be better. It was so tough. Any quote from each episode could be a favorite for anyone. The laughs just kept rolling in every episode.
If you wanted to..I guess you could start with this season if you are looking for non-stop laughs. You would miss out on some gems in Seasons 1 and 2, but Season 3 is LOADED with them!
Season 3 was like Seasons 1 and 2 in that it wasn’t a ratings hit. Seinfeld really took off in the ratings after Season 3. But Season 3 was the start of something amazing! Nothing much more to say, but to watch it!
Episodes:
Disc One:
Episode 1 – The Note George gets a massage from a man. He is afraid that it may have turned him on. Jerry small-talks and ends up being a child abductor. Wow..and Kramer sees Joe DiMaggio at a donut shop.
Favorite Quote: “I think it moved!” – George Costanza
Episode 2 – The Truth George tells the truth to break up with a girlfriend. She had Jerry’s important tax papers and throws them out. Later, she checks into a mental institution. Kramer sees Elaine naked while he dates her roommate. So that makes two now..all they need is George to see her too. It shall come.
Favorite Quote: “I’ve driven women to lesbianism before, but never to a mental institution!” – George Costanza
Episode 3 – The Dog Jerry gets stuck watching a bad dog for a week. Elaine and George go to see a movie without Jerry and they realize they have nothing to talk about..but Jerry! Jerry and Elaine don’t like Kramer’s new girlfriend.
Favorite Quote: “PLEASE! I take it all back! Every word! I love you! I LOVE YOU! I can’t live without you! I will do anything!” – Kramer apologizing to a girlfriend he broke up with a few minutes before.
Episode 4 – The Library The public library calls Jerry to tell him that he has an overdue book out. No problem..right? Well it’s from 1971! What a late fee! A library cop comes after him and my god..you don’t want that! George relives his junior high school gym class.
Favorite Quote: “She needs a little Kramer!” – Kramer talking to Jerry about a librarian
Episode 5 – The Pen Jerry visits his parents in Florida. Elaine tags along and both end up with various injuries. Scuba diving and a hard bed will do that to you! Jerry accepts a “special” pen from a retiree, which offends Jerry’s father. Go figure. A magic pen!
Favorite Quote: “It’s one day..half a day really. You subtract showers and meals..it’s like 20 minutes!” – Jerry explaining to Elaine that they are just staying at his parent’s house for one day
Disc Two:
Episode 6 – The Parking Garage The gang goes to shop for an air conditioner. Then..they lose Kramer’s car in the mall parking lot. Oh..man..this episode is FANTASTIC!
Favorite Quote: “I can’t carry a pen, I’m afraid I will puncture my scrotum!” – George Costanza
Episode 7 – The Cafe A failing restaurant makes Jerry feel sorry for it. Jerry gives the owner, Babu Bhatt, some advice, which causes the restaurant to get even worse. Elaine helps George cheat on an IQ test, but it backfires thanks to Kramer and a jacket. What?!
Favorite Quote: “Oh..hello..professor!” – George Costanza talking to Elaine after she failed the test for him
Episode 8 – The Tape George orders a baldness cure from China. Elaine leaves an erotic message on Jerry’s tape recorder. Her dirty-mouth leads to sexual interest from the guys. With George being the first one to jump on board. Another funny one!
Favorite Quote: “They’ve got a billion people over there..he found a relative!” – George talking about a Chinese food delivery boy who is talking on Jerry’s phone for George’s baldness cure cream
Episode 9 – The Nose Job Jerry dates a sexy actress. The problem is that she is shallow as well, which leads to a battle between his brain and his penis. Warfare! Kramer tells George’s girlfriend to get a nose job, which goes wrong.
Favorite Quote: “It’s like my brain is facing my penis in a chess game!” – Jerry Seinfeld talking to George about the battle he has within over a girlfriend that is beautiful but shallow
Episode 10 – The Alternate Side George has a job moving cars from one side of the street to the other. That is harder than he thinks. Kramer gets a line in a Woody Allen film. That line would be…“These pretzels are making me thirsty!”
Favorite Quote: “You know how to take the reservation, you just don’t know how to HOLD the reservation. And that’s really the most important part of the reservation..the HOLDING! Anyone can just take it!” – Jerry
Disc Three:
Episode 11 – The Red Dot Elaine’s boyfriend is a recovering alcoholic who falls off the wagon when Jerry switches his drink on accident. George buys Elaine a cashmere sweater with a flaw in it to thank her for getting him a job at her office. George has sex on his desk with the cleaning lady and he must pay a price for it!
Favorite Quote: “Mmm… boy, that Hennigan’s goes down smooth. And afterwards you don’t even smell. That’s right folks. I’ve just had three shots of Hennigan’s and I don’t even smell. Imagine: you can walk around drunk all day. That’s Hennigan’s: no smell, no tell, Scotch.” – Kramer doing a “fake” commercial for Hennigan’s
Episode 12 – The Suicide Jerry starts a relationship with a woman whose boyfriend falls into a coma after attempting suicide. Newman makes his first appearance on the show and he threatens to reveal the affair to the coma victim as soon as he recovers. George gives dream vacation to Kramer after a psychic predicts a catastrophe.
Favorite Quote: “Psychics..vacations..how about getting a job?!” – Jerry talking to George
Episode 13 – The Subway The foursome go on a subway ride that leads to four different bizarre experiences for each of them. Elaine misses a lesbian wedding. Jerry befriends an overweight exhibitionist. George meets a woman on a train and skips a job interview. Kramer overhears a hot tip on a horse. So much fun packed into this episode!
Favorite Quote: “I hate men, but I am not a lesbian!” – Elaine
Episode 14 – The Pez Dispenser Jerry’s pez dispenser makes Elaine laugh during George’s new girlfriend’s piano recital. George performs a pre-emptive break-up on the same girlfriend.
Favorite Quote: “How I am very good at going reverse in my car…” – George reading off an item on a list of things to talk about with a girlfriend on the phone to Jerry
Episode 15 – The Boyfriend (Part 1) Jerry’s friendship with his baseball idol, Keith Hernandez, makes him act like the two of them are dating. Kramer and Newsman despise Hernandez for having spit on them after a game, though Jerry thinks there was a second spitter.
Favorite Quote: “There had to have been a second spitter..behind the bushes and on the gravely road!” – Jerry
Episode 16 – The Boyfriend (Part 2) Continues where we left off. Jerry gets jealous of Elaine when Keith begins to date her. George schemes for an employment extension by lying about his job interview with the made-up Vandelay Industries and dating the counselor’s daughter.
Favorite Quote: “See..this is all I think about..sleeping with a giant!” – George
Disc Four:
Episode 17 – The Fix-Up Jerry and Elaine set up George with Elaine’s friend. They hit off but George is horrified to discover that Kramer has given him a defective condom. Oh brother!
Favorite Quote: “She used me! I feel cheap and violated!” – George
Episode 18 – The Limo Jerry and George hop into a limo that was unaccounted for at the airport. They are headed to Madison Square Garden and they invite Kramer and Elaine along with them for the ride. That’s when some Neo-Nazis jump into the limo and they learn their real destination. They fear for their lives.
Favorite Quote: “I know Jerry..he’s not a Nazi. He’s just neat.” – Elaine
Episode 19 – The Good Samaritan Jerry starts dating a beautiful hit and run driver, then is torn when he meets the victim and wants to date her instead. The voice of Mary Hart causes Kramer to have convulsions. George has an affair with Elaine’s married friend.
Favorite Quote: “Oh my god..an affair. That’s so adult!” – George
Episode 20 – The Letter Jerry finds out his new artist girlfriend plagiarized a touching letter she wrote to keep him from breaking up with her. She paints a portrait of Kramer and it becomes a hot seller. Elaine refuses to remove her Orioles cap while sitting in the Yankees’ owners’s box during a game.
Favorite Quote: “Yes..you damn right you should! Fight for her Jerry! She sure the hell fighting for you!” – Kramer telling to Jerry to call a girl
Episode 21 – The Parking Space George and another parker fight over a space in front of Jerry’s building. The stand-off continues into the night and entire neighborhood debates whether parking priority should go to the person “backing in” or the one “pulling in”. Another great debate!
Favorite Quote: “I’m like ice..buddy. When I don’t like you, you’ve got problems!” – Kramer
Episode 22 – The Keys Jerry takes away Kramer’s spare keys to his apartment. This leads to further key swapping among the foursome. Kramer sets out to Hollywood to pursue his acting dreams. Jerry and George discover that Elaine is writing a script for ‘Murphy Brown’ in secret.
Favorite Quote: “I like to read the daily news!” – George’s only reason to “get up in the morning” when asked by Kramer
Score: 8/10
The DVD:
Video – The video is given in fullscreen color with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. Transfer is decent with minimal distortion. Colors look bright. Looks like the early 90’s. Yeah..it’s the same as the first set.
Audio – The audio included is in English Dolby Digital stereo sound. There is also an option for Spanish and French audio as well. Again..the same.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Again..these special features are LOADED! You get pretty much the same thing as the first set with the exception of the first feature. The comments are all new as well. Again..worth the price of admission alone!
Kramer vs. Kramer: Kenny vs. Cosmo Meet the real Kramer..Kenny Kramer! This is the real-life neighbor of Larry David who Kramer was based on. Go figure. And yep..they are pretty much alike. So this is a fantastic feature!
Notes About Nothing These are like subtitles that can be turned on. They give you behind-the-scenes stuff and production notes. Not always needed, but fun to watch to look at once you watch the show for the first time.
Inside Look The cast and crew talk about what was happening behind-the-scenes in various episodes. I liked these a lot. I always liked making-of’s and this is sort of like that.
In the Vault These are the deleted scenes from Season 3. You know what these are. Not a must-see, but they are there.
Not That There’s Anything Wrong With That These are the outtakes and bloopers from these seasons. Great stuff!
Yada, Yada, Yada Creator and cast audio commentaries are right here. There are four groups of people this time around. You have Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld on “The Pen” and “The Pez Dispenser”. You have Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Michael Richards on “The Subway” and “The Boyfriend (Parts 1 and 2)”. You have writer, Larry Charles, on “The Library” and “The Limo”. Finally, you have director/producer, Tom Cherones, and production designer, Tom Azzari, on “The Parking Garage” and “The Parking Space”. Again..I LOVED the ones with Jason, Michael, and Julia. I would watch them all though after you have seen the episodes once. They give another perspective on the episodes as they did in Season 1.
Master of His Domain Exclusive stand-up comedy footage of Jerry that was shot for the show, but was never used. Interesting.
Sponsored by Vandelay Industries Original NBC promo ads and trailers for Seinfeld in the early days.
Again, you can’t go wrong with these special features. It is probably enough reason to buy the DVDs!
Score: 10/10
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Oct 25, 2015 0:54:34 GMT
Seinfeld Season 4 DVD Review
It’s the forth season for “The Show About Nothing”. This season is really where the show took off. It became a ratings hit during this season. You can see why when you look at the episodes in this season. Many believe that the all-time greatest episodes of ‘Seinfeld’ lie inside season four. NBC moved the show to Thursday nights in the middle of this season. That was THE night for television. The best shows on each network aired on Thursday nights! ‘Seinfeld’ was in the on-deck circle..waiting to take over the ‘Cheers’ timeslot the following year.
This season was different from other seasons. There was a story arch to it. Every episode was still “A Show About Nothing”, but throughout this season you have the story that “fake” NBC executives wanted to work with Jerry on a TV show for their network. It was really how ‘Seinfeld’ came about in reality. Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld just put that whole process into the show and the entire season revolved around that. You have to think that this was how they actually did pitch ‘Seinfeld’ to the “real” NBC executives. You had a show within the show talking about how they got THE show to begin with. Sounds complicated, but that is why it was SO funny!
Every single episode in season four can be considered the best episode EVER! Standouts include “The Bubble Boy”, “The Pick”, The Junior Mint”, “The Outing”, and “The Contest”! “The Contest” is a favorite of mine as it’s about being..well the “master of your domain”! This episode even won an Emmy award. Now that’s something!
Tons of quotes and other references that entered “pop culture” came from this season. In fact..I don’t think there is a single episode that wasn’t quoted from someone at least once. Can’t remember anything? Well..just take a look at some of my favorite quotes from each episode and you will see what I mean.
The show was rolling along during this season and it took off from here. This season could be considered the best season of them all, but it’s too hard to pick just one. You could skip seasons one and two, if you had to. You could even skip season three, although you wouldn’t want to. But season four..this is a Must-Own!
Episodes:
Disc One:
Episode 1 – The Trip (Part 1) Jerry is booked to appear on “The Tonight Show” in Los Angeles. He takes George along with him and they go on a search for Kramer as well. They don’t know that Kramer is in trouble as a victim of mistaken identity.
Favorite Quote: “We’re going on a two day trip..who are you? Diana Ross!” – Jerry talking to George
Episode 2 – The Trip (Part 2) Jerry and George find out that Kramer is suspected to be a serial killer called the “Smog Strangler”.
Favorite Quote: “Hello..911..how are you?! I’m sorry, it’s just a reflex. Yes..it’s an emergency!” – Jerry calling 911 to try to prove that Kramer is innocent
Episodes 3 and 4 (One Hour) – The Pitch/The Ticket NBC executives want Jerry to write a sitcom pilot for them. George joins him and pitches the idea about the show being about “nothing”. The introduction of Crazy Joe Davola as he stalks Jerry and Kramer, and Newman using Kramer as a witness to try and get out of a speeding ticket also occur in this one hour episode.
Favorite Quote: “They’re men with jobs..Jerry! They wear suits and ties! They’re married and have secretaries!” – George talking about NBC Executives
Episode 5 – The Wallet Jerry threw away the watch that his parents gave him, and he has to explain to them why he is not wearing it. Jerry’s dad, Morty, thinks his wallet was stolen at the doctor’s office. George screws up the NBC pilot deal.
Favorite Quote: “We’ve got a show about nothing! With no story! What do you think..they’re up there going..’hey..maybe we should give those two guys who have no experience and no idea..more money!'” – Jerry
Episode 6 – The Watch Jerry tries to buy his watch back from his Uncle Leo, who found the watch in the trash. George tries to get the NBC executives to reconsider their pilot deal. Elaine tries to get Kramer to help her break up with her boyfriend, Dr. Restan.
Favorite Quote: “You know this is how they negotiate in the bizzaro world!” – Jerry
Disc Two:
Episode 7 – The Bubble Boy Jerry goes to visit a bubble boy on the way up to a cabin in the woods. Jerry and Elaine get lost, though. That leaves George to fight with the bubble boy. Meanwhile, Kramer shows up at the cabin and causes some damage.
Favorite Quote: “I’m not a prude..sweetheart. I can swing with the best of them!” – George talking to Susan
Episode 8 – The Cheever Letters Jerry offends Elaine’s assistant with the “panty remark.” Kramer finds a new way to get his Cuban cigars. A box of letters is all that is left of the cabin that Kramer wrecked havoc on.
Favorite Quote: “So she’s talking about her panties..and so I say..you mean the panties your mother laid out for you!” – Jerry and the “panty remark”
Episode 9 – The Opera Elaine finds out that her boyfriend, Joey, is really Crazy Joe Davola. The gang have to go to the opera with a bunch of clowns.
Favorite Quote: “You’re the nucleus..the straw that stirs the drink!” – Kramer talking to Jerry
Episode 10 – The Virgin Jerry finds out that the girl he is dating is a virgin. Jerry and George can’t write their pilot as Kramer continues to interrupt them. George kisses Susan when he and Jerry go to pitch the show to the network. That results in Susan losing her job.
Favorite Quote: “Do you believe my luck? The first time in my life I have a good answer to the question..’what do you do?’, and I have a girlfriend! You don’t need a girlfriend when you can answer that question. That’s what you say in order to get girlfriends! Once you can get girlfriends..you don’t want a girlfriend..you want more girlfriends!” – George
Episode 11 – The Contest Jerry, George, Kramer, and Elaine enter a contest to who is “master of your domain.” Yep..this is the one episode you HAVE to see!
Favorite Quote: “I can’t take it anymore! She’s driving me crazy! I can’t sleep..I can’t leave the house..when I’m here I’m climbing the walls..meanwhile, I’m dating a virgin..I’m in this contest..something’s got to give!” – Jerry talking to Kramer about the naked women across the street
Disc Three:
Episode 12 – The Airport Jerry and Elaine find out what the differences are between being in first class and coach on an airplane. Meanwhile, have to find the right airport that they are landing at and meet the flight in time.
Favorite Quote: “They’ve got the fudge on the bottom. That enables you to control your fudge distribution while you are eating your ice cream!” – Jerry
Episode 13 – The Pick Jerry tries to convince his girlfriend that he “did not pick” while Elaine sends a Christmas card to everyone with a nipple exposed. Kramer becomes a model for Calvin Klein.
Favorite Quote: “You want a Christmas card? Here! Here’s your Christmas card!” – Elaine to George before she smothers him with her breasts
Episode 14 – The Visa Babu Bhatt returns and Jerry tries to help him. That just leaves to another deportation for him. Elaine tries to George’s girlfriend to help her with her lawsuit.
Favorite Quote: “Kramer goes to a fantasy camp! His whole life is a fantasy camp! People should plunk down $2,000 to live like him for a week. Do nothing..fall ass-backwards into money..mooch food off your neighbors..and have sex without dating..that’s a fantasy camp!” – George
Episode 15 – The Movie Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer keep missing each other when they try to meet at the movies. Jerry’s delay is caused by an annoying comedian named Pat Buckles.
Favorite Quote: “Have you seen a tall, lanky dufus with a bird face and hair like the ‘Bride of Frankenstein’?!” – Elaine describing Kramer to a movie attendant
Episode 16 – The Outing Jerry and George are mistaken to be homosexuals by a reporter. They try to squash the rumor that they are gay.
Favorite Quote: “Not that there’s anything wrong with that!” – Jerry and George after saying they are not gay
Episode 17 – The Shoes Jerry and George lose their TV pilot after sneaking a peek at one of the NBC executive’s daughter’s cleavage. Elaine thinks everyone is obsessed her Botticelli shoes.
Favorite Quote: “Looking at a 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
Disc Four:
Episode 18 – The Old Man Jerry, George, and Elaine volunteer to help with senior citizens. Jerry loses his senior, George’s senior citizen fires him, and Elaine’s is so ugly..she can’t even look at it.
Favorite Quote: “I would like to dip my bald head in oil and rub it all over your body!” – George talking to a woman who doesn’t speak English
Episode 19 – The Implant Jerry gets Elaine’s help in trying to find if his girlfriends’s breasts are real. George “double-dips” and loses his girlfriend as a result.
Favorite Quote: “I don’t want your boys down there…Your boys should stay in their neighborhood!” – Jerry talking to Kramer after he asks to borrow Jerry’s bathing suit
Episode 20 – The Handicap Spot The gang head out to buy a big screen TV for “The Drake”. George parks his father’s car in a handicap spot. An angry mob trashes the car and George must face his father. This is the first time we meet Frank Costanza! Awesome!
Favorite Quote: “Once there is no theirs..there is no hers..it should be ours!” – George
Episode 21 – The Junior Mint Jerry finds out his girlfriend’s name rhymes with a female body part. That might help as he doesn’t actually remember her name! Kramer drops a Junior Mint into the surgical cavity of Elaine’s boyfriend during an operation.
Favorite Quote: “Who’s going to turn down a Junior Mint? It’s chocolate and peppermint…it’s delicious!” – Kramer
Episode 22 – The Smelly Car A smelly valet stinks up Jerry’s car and anyone who comes in contact with it. George discovers he drove Susan to lesbianism. HA!
Favorite Quote: “Amazing..I drive them to lesbianism..he brings them back!” – George talking about Kramer
Episodes 23 and 24 (One Hour) – The Pilot (Parts 1 & 2) Jerry and George’s pilot is finally finished and ready to air. NBC President Russell Dalrymple becomes obsessed with Elaine. Kramer suffers intestinal maladies.
Favorite Quote: “Actually..she has a thing where she spirals her tongue around!” – Jerry talking about how Elaine kisses
Score: 9/10
The DVD:
Video – The video is given in fullscreen color with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. Transfer is decent with minimal distortion. Colors look bright. Looks like the early 90’s. Still..the same. Still as good as the original episodes.
Audio – The audio included is in English Dolby Digital stereo sound. There is also an option for Spanish and French audio as well. Again..the same.
THE EXTRAS:
Again..these special features are LOADED! You get pretty much the same thing as the first two sets with the exception of the first two features. The comments are all new as well. Again..worth the price of admission alone!
The Breakthrough Season An in-depth look at how season four became THE season that made ‘Seinfeld’ a hit! It won an Emmy and officially became a “show about nothing” here. This tells you what the season was about. How it changed “pop culture” and how it moved timeslots in the middle of the season. Must-watch!
Regis and Kathie Lee Parody This was an actual episode of the ‘Regis and Kathie Lee Morning Show’. In this episode, Regis and Kathie Lee did a bit about various stuff. And then Jerry and Elaine came up and acted just like Regis and Kathie Lee and did the same thing as them. Made it seem like they had their own talk show. It’s more interesting to watch than read about. Funny!
Notes About Nothing These are like subtitles that can be turned on. They give you behind-the-scenes stuff and production notes. Not always needed, but fun to watch to look at once you watch the show for the first time.
Inside Look The cast and crew talk about what was happening behind-the-scenes in various episodes. I liked these a lot. I always liked making-of’s and this is sort of like that.
In the Vault These are the deleted scenes from Season 4. You know what these are. Not a must-see, but they are there.
Not That There’s Anything Wrong With That These are the outtakes and bloopers from this season. Great stuff!
Yada, Yada, Yada Creator and cast audio commentaries are right here. There are five groups of people this time around. You have Jerry Seinfeld on “The Contest” and “The Junior Mint”. You have Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Michael Richards on “The Cheever Letters” and “The Outing”. You have writer, Larry Charles, on “The Trip (Parts 1 and 2)” and “The Airport”. You have another writer, Peter Mehlman, on “The Implant”. And finally you have, director/producer, Tom Cherones, and production designer, Tom Azzari, on “The Pilot (Parts 1 and 2)”. Again..these are great to watch. However..I feel that this time around there was less commentary from the people. You got hear too much of the episode for my liking. If I have the commentary on..I want to hear commentary. But that is just a minor complaint..as they all are fun to hear.
Master of His Domain Exclusive stand-up comedy footage of Jerry that was shot for the show, but was never used. Interesting.
Sponsored by Vandelay Industries Original NBC promo ads and trailers for Seinfeld in the early days.
Again..you can’t go wrong with these special features. It is probably enough reason to buy the DVDs!
Score: 10/10
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Oct 25, 2015 0:55:34 GMT
Seinfeld Season 5 DVD Review
Season Five of ‘Seinfeld’ marked an increased jump in viewers for the show. It took over the ‘Cheers timeslot on NBC Thursdays. They knew a whole lot of people would be watching the show after it won an Emmy for “Best Comedy as well. They had to deliver something different. Something so beyond reality..that it actually worked and was funny. And..that is what they did with Season Five.
Like Season Four..this was the best of the best for ‘Seinfeld’. Many of the memorable lines and “fan-favorite” episodes came from this season. Episodes like “The Puffy Shirt”, “The Marine Biologist”, “The Hamptons”, and “The Opposite”.
This season also had more recurring characters being a bigger part of the show. Frank Costanza (Jerry Stiller) and Estelle Harris (Estelle Costanza) as George’s parents are so insane and wacky..you see where George gets it from. They almost stole certain episodes. As did Wayne Knight as Newman. There was more of him throughout this season and more of the love/hate relationship between him and Jerry.
The thing about this season as well is that some of the stuff on the script or just looking at it is not funny at all. In fact..if you just look at some of my favorite quotes below..they are not funny by themselves. But in the context of the show and the way the lines are delivered by “The Four”..just makes them that much funnier.
This season didn’t win an Emmy or anything, but this season was consistent. There are non-stop laughs in every episode. Any episode can be chosen as a favorite. This season solidify ‘Seinfeld’ as a ratings hit. There was no stopping the show now!
Episodes:
Disc One:
Episode 1 – The Mango Jerry finds out that Elaine faked orgasms with him. Now he wants another shot in bed. Kramer gets banned from his local fruit stand, and George finds out that the mango has special sexual power.
Favorite Quote: “You know I ‘faked’ it. You know..if it’s enough already and I just wanted to get some sleep!” – Kramer
Episode 2 – The Glasses George loses his glasses and thinks he sees Jerry’s girlfriend with his cousin, Jeffrey. A dog bites Elaine and Kramer buys Jerry a powerful air conditioner.
Favorite Quote: “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 talking about George
Episode 3 – The Puffy Shirt During dinner with Kramer’s low-talking girlfriend, Jerry agrees to wear a puffy pirate shirt on his “The Today Show” appearance.
Favorite Quote: “But I don’t want to be a pirate!” – Jerry
Episode 4 – The Sniffing Accountant Jerry thinks his accountant is a drug addict. Jerry, Kramer, and Newman plot a stakeout. George plans another career change..that being a bra salesman.
Favorite Quote: “I base my whole life on knowing that the ‘D’ is the biggest!” – George to his dad talking about bra sizes
Episode 5 – The Bris Jerry and Elaine agree to be godparents to their friends’ newborn boy, They find a shaky mohel to perform the bris. Kramer is convinced he say a “pigman” at the hospital.
Favorite Quote: “He’s about five-feet tall..hairless..pink complexion..looks like a pig!” – George describing the “pigman” who stole his car
Disc Two:
Episode 6 – The Lip Reader George tries to get Jerry’s deaf girlfriend to read lips at a party. Kramer becomes a ball boy at the U.S. Open.
Favorite Quote: “When I see freaks on the street..I NEVER..EVER..stare at them. But yet I’m careful not to look away..see..because I want to make the freaks feel comfortable!” – Elaine talking about she is a nice person
Episode 7 – The Non-Fat Yogurt Jerry and Elaine investigate to see if their favorite frozen yogurt is non-fat. Their research causes a stir during the New York mayoral election. Elaine dates George’s boyhood nemesis, Lloyd Braun.
Favorite Quote: “This yogurt is so *BLEEPIN* good!” – Jerry eating the “non-fat” yogurt
Episode 8 – The Barber Jerry leaves his incompetent barber and worries over it. Elaine enlists Kramer to participate in a bachelor auction.
Favorite Quote: “He’s a high school graduate..um..equivalency..high school equivalency program graduate. He’s self-employed..he’s 6’3″ and 190lbs..he likes fruit and he just got a haircut!” – Elaine describing Kramer at the auction
Episode 9 – The Masseuse Jerry’s masseuse girlfriend won’t give him a massage. Elaine dates Joel Rifkin, which happens to be the same name of a mass murderer.
Favorite Quote: “A woman that hates me this much..comes along only once in a lifetime!..I’ve got to go after her!” – George
Episode 10 – The Cigar Store Indian Jerry offends Elaine’s friend with a cigar store Indian. Kramer sells his coffee table book idea to Elaine’s boss, Mr. Lippman.
Favorite Quote: “You know what would make a great coffee table book..a coffee table book about coffee tables!” – Kramer
Disc Three:
Episode 11 – Conversion George coverts to the Latvian Orthodox religion for a girl. Jerry find a strange ointment in his girlfriend’s medicine cabinet.
Favorite Quote: “You’re cheating on your conversion test?!?!” – Jerry to George
Episode 12 – Stall Elaine agonizes over a woman’s refusal to pass her some toilet paper under the stall of a public restroom. Kramer convinces Jerry that his girlfriend makes a living as a phone sex operator. George becomes friends with Elaine’s “mimbo” boyfriend.
Favorite Quote: “You can’t spare a square?!?!” – Elaine
Episode 13 – The Marine Biologist George starts dating an old classmate when Jerry tells her that George is a marine biologist. Elaine’s electronic organizer injures a passerby when her Russian novelist client launches it from her limo. Kramer golfs on the beach.
Favorite Quote: “The sea was angry that day..my friends. Like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli!” – George
Episode 14 – The Dinner Party The gang head for a dinner party. Jerry and Elaine go to buy a babka cake. George and Kramer look for a bottle of win, but George’s jacket gets in the way.
Favorite Quote: “I once had a bad experience with a hair when I was younger!” – Jerry
Episode 15 – The Pie Jerry meets his girlfriend’s father, Poppie, and loses his appetite. Elaine discovers that a mannequin in a store window looks just like her. George creates a scheme to buy a suit on sale. Meanwhile, Kramer dates a cashier that works at Monk’s.
Favorite Quote: “I don’t know about you, but I’m getting a hankering for some Double Mint gum!” – Jerry when he is driving in the car with Elaine and the “Elaine” mannequin next to him
Episode 16 – The Stand-In Kramer is hired as a stand-in on a soap opera. He encourages Mickey to put lifts in his shoes, but his advice doesn’t sit well with the other little people stand-ins. George is ready to break up with his girlfriend until he finds out that she is ready to break up with him first.
Favorite Quote: “He took IT out!” – Elaine
Disc Four:
Episode 17 – The Wife Jerry lets his girlfriend pretend to be his wife so she can get his dry-cleaning discount, but the scam backfires when his family finds out. Elaine’s health club boyfriend wants to George in for peeing in the shower.
Favorite Quote: “It’s all pipes..what’s the difference?!?!” – George
Episode 18 – The Fire George panics during a fire at his girlfriend’s son’s birthday party and runs for the exit! Kramer saves Elaine’s co-worker’s pinky toe.
Favorite Quote: “You kept making all the stops?!?!” – Jerry to Kramer
Episodes 19 and 20 (One Hour) – The Raincoats (Parts 1 & 2) Elaine dates a “close talker” who loves spending time with Jerry’s parents. Jerry is caught making out during Schindler’s List. Morty and Kramer go into business together.
Favorite Quote: “You were making out during Schindler’s List?!?!” – Elaine
Episode 21 – The Hamptons The gang go on a weekend getaway to the Hamptons. It quickly spins out of control when Jerry’s girlfriend sees George naked, and he is the victim of “shrinkage”.
Favorite Quote: “Like a frightened turtle!” – Jerry after Elaine asks ‘It shrinks?’
Episode 22 – The Opposite George decides to do the opposite of his instincts and everything falls into place, even a job with the New York Yankees. Meanwhile, Elaine loses her job and her boyfriend, but Jerry remains “even Steven”. Role reversal at its best!
Favorite Quote: “My name is George..I’m unemployed and I live with my parents!” – George talking to a woman to try to pick her up
Score: 10/10
The DVD:
Video – The video is given in fullscreen color with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. Transfer is decent with minimal distortion. Colors look bright. Looks like the early 90’s. Still..the same. Still as good as the original episodes.
Audio – The audio included is in English Dolby Digital stereo sound. There is also an option for Spanish and French audio as well. Again..the same.
THE EXTRAS:
You know the drill. The special Features are AWESOME! Again..worth the price of admission alone!
Jason + Larry = George It explains on how the character of George was created. It started out as Larry David’s alter ego, but Jason Alexander added his personality and that equaled George Costanza. Seeing as George is probably the best character from the show and I wrote about him earlier this year in a “IPTV Feature”..this was entertaining to me and to anyone who LOVES George!
Notes About Nothing These are like subtitles that can be turned on. They give you behind-the-scenes stuff and production notes. Not always needed, but fun to watch to look at once you watch the show for the first time.
Inside Look The cast and crew talk about what was happening behind-the-scenes in various episodes. I liked these a lot. More making-of’s type of thing.
In the Vault These are the deleted scenes from Season 5. You know what these are. Not a must-see, but they are there.
Not That There’s Anything Wrong With That These are the outtakes and bloopers from this season. Great stuff!
Yada, Yada, Yada Creator and cast audio commentaries are right here. There are five groups of people again. You have Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David on “The Opposite”. You have Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Michael Richards on “The Mango” and “The Non-Fat Yogurt”. You have writers, Tom Gammill and Max Pross, on “The Glasses”, “The Cigar Store Indian”, and “The Pie”. You have some writers, Peter Mehlman and Carol Leifer, on “The Lip Reader”, “The Masseuse”, and “The Hamptons”. And finally you have, director/producer, Tom Cherones, and production designer, Tom Azzari, on “The Marine Biologist”. Again..these are great to watch. But less commentary like season four. I suppose this has to do with the shows being funnier than earlier seasons. But
Master of His Domain Exclusive stand-up comedy footage of Jerry that was shot for the show, but was never used. Interesting.
Sponsored by Vandelay Industries Original NBC promo ads and trailers for Seinfeld in the early days.
Again..you can’t go wrong with these special features. It is probably enough reason to buy the DVDs!
Score: 10/10
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Oct 25, 2015 0:56:00 GMT
Seinfeld Season 6 DVD Review
By this time, the actors had their characters nailed down. The formula of the show was set in stone. It was set for non-stop laughs. That is probably why this season was the first one to make ‘Seinfeld’ #1 in the ratings. Episode after episode is filled with just crazy stuff that made ‘Seinfeld’ funny.
In a way, this season followed the storyline that was set up in Season Five’s “The Opposite”. George became successful and got a job at the New York Yankees. Elaine took George’s place and became a lowly assistant to various bosses. Jerry is Jerry. And Kramer..my gosh..he was nuts! His physical comedic style was off the charts in this season. He didn’t even have to say anything. You could just watch him and laugh.
We also got a few new characters this season in the form of Elaine’s boyfriend, David Puddy, along with her new boss, J. Peterman. Both are extremely funny characters on their own and welcome additions to the already crazy supporting cast to the “core four”. Other new characters included Jerry’s dentist, Tim Whatley, and Jerry’s annoying comedian “friend”, Kenny Bania. Add that to the crazy parents of Jerry and George and Newman and you’re sides will continue to hurt from laughing so hard.
An interesting thing occurred during this season, though. We saw more of a “dark” side to the show. I mean that the show found comedy and humor in even the darkest, coldest, and meanest part of life. For example, Jerry and Elaine are at a funeral in “The Diplomat’s Club” and they are so self-absorbed and so insensitive..that’s it funny. The trend would continue over the remaining seasons. We began to see that Jerry, George, Kramer, and Elaine are not very likable people. Maybe because they HATE people! Ah..but that is what the show was about in the end. We really wouldn’t learn this until later seasons, but here is where it really started.
It doesn’t get a lot better than this season. I said season five was the best season of ‘Seinfeld’ EVER! Well..I could be wrong. Season six gives it a run for its money. It’s a close race and it probably ends in a tie. We are at the top of the mountain and it’s a beautiful sight from up here!
Episodes:
Disc One:
Episode 1 – The Chaperone Jerry dates a Miss America contestant. Kramer volunteers to chaperone their date. Mr. Pitt hires Elaine to be his personal assistant. George encourages Yankee management to make the team jerseys from cotton.
Favorite Quote: “Cotton breathes. It’s much softer. Imagine playing games and your team is 5 degrees cooler than the other team. Don’t you think that would be an advantage. They’re cooler..they’re more comfortable. They’re happier..they are going to play better!”- George
Episode 2 – The Big Salad George has issues with his girlfriend when she takes credit for buying Elaine a big salad. Jerry is disturbed to find out that his girlfriend was dumped by Newman. Kramer gets involved in a slow-speed chase with a suspected murder.
Favorite Quote: “She went out with Newman! The most distressing part of all of this..is not that she went out with him, but that HE stop seeing HER! HE, Newman, stopped seeing her. Newman never stops seeing anybody. Newman will see anyone who is willing to see him!” – Jerry
Episode 3 – The Pledge Drive Elaine’s friend’s high-talking boyfriend confuses everyone over the phone. Elaine witness Mr. Pitt eating a Snickers bar with a knife and fork and the trend catches on. George thinks everyone’s giving him the finger. Meanwhile, Jerry hosts a PBS pledge drive.
Favorite Quote: “Your nana is missing because she has been passing those bum checks all over town, and she finally pissed off the wrong people!” – Kramer to Jerry
Episode 4 – The Chinese Woman George’s phone line gets crossed with Donna Chang’s and Jerry winds up dating her. Estelle Costanza gets relationship from her. She is not really Chinese, though.
Favorite Quote: “I’m OUT there Jerry..and I’m LOVING every minute of it!” – Kramer
Episode 5 – The Couch Elaine dates a hunky moving man. Kramer and Poppie go into the make-your-own pizza business together. George tries to rent Breakfast at Tiffany’s rather than reading it to impress his girlfriend. Poppie pees on Jerry’s new couch.
Favorite Quote: “Yeah..you right. It’s just a natural human function..it happens to be on my sofa instead of the toilet where it would normally be!” – Jerry to Kramer after Poppie pees on his couch
Episode 6 – The Gymnast Jerry dates a Romanian gymnast. Elaine tries to tear Mr. Pitt away from the entrancing powers of a 3-D art poster. George’s girlfriend’s mother catches him eating from the trash. Kramer suffers from kidney stones at the circus.
Favorite Quote: “You know..I’m very good with the mothers. If I could talk to the mothers and have sex with the daughters, then I would really have something going!” – George
Disc Two:
Episode 7 – The Mom & Pop Store George thinks he bought Jon Voight’s car. Kramer tries to save a “mom and pop” store. Jerry crashes Dr. Tim Whatley’s party to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!
Favorite Quote: “Mom and Pop’s plan was to move into the neighborhood..establish trust..for 48 years..and then run off with Jerry’s sneakers!” – Elaine to Jerry and Kramer
Episode 8 – The Soup Kenny Bania offers Jerry am Armani suit in exchange for a meal, but insists that soup doesn’t count.
Favorite Quote: “Well as I see it..you have to apply the same principles that get you fired, but redirected outwardly!” – Jerry to George
Episode 9 – The Secretary Jerry spots his dry cleaner wearing his jacket. George’s unattractive secretary out-earns him. Kramer gets Uma Thurman’s phone number. Elaine discovers that Barneys uses skinny mirrors to hook their customers.
Favorite Quote: “You’re luscious..you’re ravishing..I would give up red meat just to get a glimpse of you in a bra!” – George talking to woman who trying to be his secretary
Episode 10 – The Switch Jerry tries the impossible: to pull the roommate switch. George dates a bulimic. Elaine agonizes over Mr. Pitt’s broken tennis racket. Kramer’s first name is revealed and we meet his mother!
Favorite Quote: “Do you ever just get down on your knees and thank god that you know me and have access to my dimensha!” – George
Episode 11 – The Race Superman superfan Jerry finally dates a woman named Lois, whose boss turns out to be his high-school nemesis. Elaine dates a Communist and George hopes to as well. Kramer works as a department store Santa with Mickey as his elf. Jerry races Duncan Meyer once more to settle their teenage score.
Favorite Quote: “I choose not to run!” – Jerry
Episode 12 – The Label Maker Elaine and Jerry discover that Tim Whatley “re-gifted” a label maker. Kramer and Newman engage in a ferocious game of Risk. George feels threatened by his girlfriend’s male roommate. Everyone’s got Super Bowl fever and Jerry’s sickened by who ultimately joins him at the game.
Favorite Quote: “Oh..it’s Risk, the game of world domination, being played by two guys that can barely run their own lives!” – Jerry to George talking about Kramer and Newman
Disc Three:
Episode 13 – The Scofflaw George learns the truth about a friend’s illness. Kramer helps bring in a notorious scofflaw.
Favorite Quote: “Why don’t you get a pair of white shoes..move down to Miami Beach and get the whole thing over with!” – Kramer to George
Episodes 14 and 15 (One Hour) – The Highlights of 100 (Parts 1 & 2) An hour-long look back at highlights from the first 100 episodes.
Favorite Quote: N/A
Episode 16 – The Beard Elaine poses as a beard for a gay male friend, then attempts to convert him to heterosexuality. George wears a toupee and turns down a woman because she’s bald. Kramer makes money by posing in police lineups. Jerry must take a lie detector test to prove he’s not a fan of ‘Melrose Place’.
Favorite Quote: “And we discover yet another talent..posing as a girlfriend for homosexuals!” – Jerry to Elaine
Episode 17 – The Kiss Hello Elaine’s physical therapist friend loves to “kiss hello”, but Jerry despises the practice. Kramer decides to adorn the apartment lobby with resident photos to encourage tenants to know their neighbors.
Favorite Quote: “And I tell you another thing..Cosmo Kramer..whatever you want to be called..the kissing thing is over! There’s no more kissing and I don’t care what the consequences are!” – Jerry
Episode 18 – The Doorman Mr. Pitt’s doorman intimidates Jerry. Elaine and Jerry create a plan to cover themselves when a couch is stolen from the lobby. Frank Costanza moves into George’s apartment. Kramer and Frank develop a bra for men but argue over what to name it.
Favorite Quote: “I was throwing up all night..it was like my own personal ‘Crying Game’!” – George
Disc Four:
Episode 19 – The Jimmy George goes into business with a basketball buddy who refers to himself in the third person. Jerry discovers that Tim Whatley keeps Penthouse in his dentist office waiting room. Kramer comes off as mentally challenged at a charity benefit featuring Mel Torme.
Favorite Quote: “When they pull that needle out..I let the expletives fly!” – Kramer talking about the dentist
Episode 20 – The Doodle George is upset by his girlfriend’s drawing of him. Jerry’s flea-infested apartment forces his parents into Elaine’s luxury hotel suite.
Favorite Quote: “Makes your taste buds come alive..it’s like having a circus in your mouth!” – Kramer talking about a “special” peach
Episode 21 – The Fusilli Jerry Elaine’s new boyfriend, Puddy, uses one of Jerry’s sexual moves. Kramer mistakenly receives vanity license plates that read “Assman.”
Favorite Quote: “You’re not out there. You can’t be, because I’m out there. And if I see you out there, there’s not enough voltage in this world to electroshock me back into coherence!” – George talking to his mom
Episode 22 – The Diplomat’s Club Jerry’s plans to meet a gorgeous model for an airport rendezvous are derailed. Kramer bets on flight arrivals with a rich Texan. George attempts to prove to his boss that he’s not a racist. Elaine plans on quitting her job with Mr. Pitt..until she realizes she’s in his will.
Favorite Quote: “Seeing that pilot in the audience..REALLY freaked me out!” – Jerry
Episode 23 – The Face Painter Puddy prepares for a hockey game by painting his face like a devil. George tells his girlfriend that he loves her. Kramer gets into a fight with a monkey at a zoo.
Favorite Quote: “You STUBBORN, STUPID, SILLY man!” – Kramer to Jerry
Episode 24 – The Understudy Jerry and George are accused of injuring Bette Midler during a softball game so that Jerry’s girlfriend, her understudy, can take the stage in their Broadway show. Elaine convinces Frank Costanza to translate her manicurist’s suspicious conversations. Depressed, Elaine meets J. Peterman on the street and lands herself a new job.
Favorite Quote: “When you’re talking about a movie like Beaches..moving from the chair to the couch..that’s quite a voyage!” – George
Score: 9/10
The Video:
The video is given in fullscreen color with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. Transfer is decent with minimal distortion. Colors look bright. Looks like the early 90’s. Still..the same. Still as good as the original episodes.
The Audio:
The audio included is in either English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo sound or French Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono sound. There are also English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese subtitles. Again..the same.
The Extras:
You know the drill. The special Features are AWESOME! Again..worth the price of admission alone!
Running With the Egg: Making a ‘Seinfeld’ The cast and crew of the show run you through how an episode gets made. From the idea of the episode to when the episode airs. Very interesting feature. But I like behind-the-scenes stuff and this is the ULTIMATE one! The formula of how every episode was made! Jerry compares it to an off-road egg race, where you carry the egg on a spoon, while running. Total nuts and craziness, but excellent!
Sein-Imation A NEW feature! They take classic ‘Seinfeld’ scenes and re-imagine them! Basically..they animate scenes over the original lines of dialogue from the actual episode. There are three of these. One being “The Big Race”, another being “Seinfeld Noir”, and the last one being of “Kramer vs. The Monkey”!
Notes About Nothing These are like subtitles that can be turned on. They give you behind-the-scenes stuff and production notes. Not always needed, but fun to watch to look at once you watch the show for the first time.
Inside Look The cast and crew talk about what was happening behind-the-scenes in various episodes. I liked these a lot. More making-of’s type of thing.
In the Vault These are the deleted scenes from Season 6. You know what these are. Not a must-see, but they are there.
Not That There’s Anything Wrong With That These are the outtakes and bloopers from this season. Great stuff!
Yada, Yada, Yada Creator and cast audio commentaries are right here. Jerry Seinfeld, director, Andy Ackerman, and Writers, Alec Berg and Jeff Schaffer, are all on “The Gymnast”. Then, they get split up into two groups for two other episodes. Jerry Seinfeld and director, Andy Ackerman, are back on “The Race”. Writers, Alec Berg and Jeff Schaffer, are back on “The Label Maker”. Writers, Tom Gammill and Max Pross, are on “The Mom & Pop Store”, “The Doorman”, and “The Diplomat’s Club”. Jason Alexander and Julia Louis-Dreyfus are on “The Beard” and “The Fusilli Jerry”. No Kramer or Larry David this time, which is a little odd. But still good nonetheless. A little more commentary than the last two, which is good.
Master of His Domain Exclusive stand-up comedy footage of Jerry that was shot for the show, but was never used. Interesting.
Again..you can’t go wrong with these special features. It is probably enough reason to buy the DVDs!
Score: 10/10
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Oct 25, 2015 0:56:38 GMT
Seinfeld Season 7 DVD Review
Seinfeld was nearing the end of its run by season seven, yet no one knew just how close to it they actually were. You also couldn’t tell by the acting or quality of shows if they were coming to their final show about nothing because everything was simply superb. Another Emmy award-winning season which brought about some of the most classic and remembered episodes in all its years.
The entire cast of Jerry, Elaine, Kramer, George, Estelle, Frank, Newman and so many more return here and give fantastic performances that still have me laughing no matter how many times I see them. Wayne Knight (Newman) is not seen in many of this season’s episodes, nor on screen for any large lengths of time, but he makes the most of his time and delivers fantastic lines and interaction. And the introduction of Jackie Chiles this season, who would be around for some more classic moments to come in the next two season leading up to the finale.
The Seinfeld cast didn’t film their episodes as if preparing for it to be over. They produced them as if they knew they’d do the same running jokes next season or beyond. They always wanted to get the most laughs out of their audiences, and the most fun out of it for themselves. This season is no different as you can see that each episode fits well into its place, one after another. They also can be viewed as stand alone episodes, a comedic anthology if you will.
Episodes
Disc One:
The Engagement: George begins to think about his life and how lonely he’s become, so he asks ex-girlfriend and “former lesbian” Susan Ross to marry him, whom after much convincing, she accepts. Meanwhile, Elaine is having problems with a dog barking all night so Kramer comes up with an excellent idea.
The Postponement: When George realizes what he’s done, he’ll do anything he can to buy himself some time and postpone the wedding.
The Maestro: Elaine starts dating Krame’s friend who insists that everyone call him “Maestro,” instead of by his given name of Bob. Kramer also meets lawyer Jackie Chiles for the first time as they plan to sue for coffee being too hot.
The Wink: Jerry decides to start eating healthy which leads to a grapefruit squirting into George’s eye giving him a troublemaking wink. The result is everyone believing George is telling secrets, thus he ends up with is more work.
The Hot Tub: Kramer buys a hot tub for his living room that leads to some odd choices for Newman’s dinner. Elaine has a marathon runner, with a troubled past of missing the Olympics because of oversleeping, staying at her apartment.
The Soup Nazi: The episode even non-fans have heard of. The owner of a soup shop is very specific about his customers order and act in his business. They are willing to put up with his pickiness because of how wonderful his soup is.
Disc Two:
The Secret Code: Kramer gets a police scanner and thinks he has the best ideas for NYFD. George must protect his ATM code at any cost, even from his bride-to-be Susan. But when he gets caught at Mr. Peterman’s mothe’s house, he’s just got to tell someone.
The Pool Guy: Jerry runs into his pool guy one time outside a theatre, and now he won’t leave Jerry alone. Kramer has become the new voice of Moviefone. And George is worried his two worlds of friends and relationships will collide when Susan and Elaine go to a clothing exhibit together.
The Sponge: Elaine finds that her favorite method of birth control, the “Today’s Sponge,” is being discontinued so she buys up all she can anywhere she can. She then puts all her potential sex dates through a rigorous test in order to prove themselves worthy of the “sponge.”
The Gum: While trying to save an old theatre, Kramer runs into Lloyd, an old friend of his recovering from a nervous breakdown. Lloyd gives Kramer some Chinese gum that everyone must have a piece of. And due to Lloyd being back around, the whole group is thrown into turmoil and lies.
The Rye: The Costanzas and Ross’ meet for the first time to have dinner, but when a loaf of rye bread isn’t served, George is determined to find some to make it up to Susan’s parents. Kramer gets into the works to help George’s plan until Jerry gets hold of a loaf of the rye bread gangster-style.
The Caddy: Kramer befriends a caddy who can help his golf game tremendously. George is looking really good to his bosses in the Yankees organization, but it’s only because of locking his keys in his car. Elaine tries to give her bouncy friend a hint by buying her a bra.
Disc Three:
The Seven: Elaine and Kramer seek the help of Newman to settle a dispute over a girl’s bike that both of them say is theirs. George is angry when Susan’s cousin likes the name he has chosen to have for his future child – Seven, which happens to be Mickey Mantle’s number.
The Cadillac Parts 1 & 2: Jerry wants to do something nice for his parents, so he buys them a Cadillac. They can’t accept the gift and end up secretly selling it to the ornery Jack Klompus in their condo complex. When Jerry hears about this, he makes a trip down to Florida, behind their backs, to buy the car back. A big dispute heats up, and Jerry’s method of getting the loaf of rye bread comes back to haunt him. George has found out that he can get a date with Marisa Tomei, and he doesn’t care that he is engaged.
The Shower Head: George tries to convince his parents to move to Florida so he can finally be rid of them, but the Seinfeld’s don’t like the idea. All the showerheads in Jerry’s building are replaced with low-flow models that cause havoc for Jerry, Kramer, and Newman’s hair. Elaine tests positive for opium, so her trip to Africa with Mr. Peterman is out unless she finds the cause.
The Doll: Kramer plays, or at least attempts to play, billiards with Frank in the Costanza’s new game room. George is haunted by frightening images when Susan wants to bring some of her stuff to his apartment, which includes a doll collection sporting a doll looking just like George’s mother.
The Friars Club: Jerry is in line for a membership to the exclusive Fria’s Club until he makes off with one of their jackets after having to wear it for dinner. Elaine doesn’t believe one of her co-workers is deaf. And Kramer tries to imitate Leonardo Da Vinci’s sleeping patterns to take advantage of more of his life, but it doesn’t work out quite as he planned.
Disc Four:
The Wig Master: George finds a cheap parking lot in New York and possibly a way out of his marriage with Susan. Jerry is suspicious of a sales clerk that has picked up on Elaine. Kramer becomes, well, a pimp.
The Calzone: Mr. Steinbrenner takes a real liking to George after they share a calzone. Problem is George can no longer get the calzones after getting banned from the place that sells them for digging in the tip jar. Kramer has found a new obsession with wearing clothes right out of the dryer until he finds an even better option – the oven.
The Bottle Deposit Parts 1 & 2: Elaine gets into a bidding war with the braless woman over a set of gold clubs at the Kennedy auction. After spending more then she was requested to, she goes to get the clubs out of Jerry’s trunk, but Jerry’s disgruntled mechanic has stolen the car. George has an important project to take care of for the Yankees, but didn’t quite pay attention to what he is supposed to do. Kramer and Newman go on a trip to make some money depositing recyclable bottles, but then partake in the chase of the mechanic who stole Jerry’s car.
The Wait Out: George says a comment to a married couple that ends up splitting them up. This makes Jerry and Elaine happy as they move in on the separated couple now hoping to score. When George though wants to make things right, Jerry and Elaine are not happy. All the marital problems causes Susan to “think about some things,” which makes George extremely happy.
The Invitations: Kramer is trying to find a loophole so a bank has to pay him $100. In an effort to save money on wedding invitations, George buys the cheapest ones he can get away with. Unfortunately, for Susan, the sealing glue is toxic and she ends up dying. George doesn’t seem too distraught, however. While George’s marriage has crumbled, Jerry has possibly found his perfect woman – the female version of himself.
The Video
The episodes are presented in 1.33:1 full screen format and looks just like it did during their television run. The colors have been enhanced a bit, so they look good.
The Audio
Each episode is heard in Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo. Sounds just fine, no problems at all.
Special Features
Queen Of The Castle: The Elaine Benes Story – Cast and crew discuss how Louis-Dreyfus became Elaine and how she became an essential part of the show and its success.
Larry David’s Farewell – Creator and writer Larry David had wanted to quit after every season, but finally followed through with it after season seven. The cast, as they are today, reflect back on how life was with and without Larry David.
Where’s Larry? Seinfeld’s Secret Guest Star – Larry David was seen or heard in 40 different episodes bringing many characters to life.
Inside Looks – Some behind the scenes stories from the creators and cast members of the show, fun watch.
Not That There’s Anything Wrong With That – Bloopers from season seven. Funny stuff as each season’s has been.
Yada, Yada, Yada – Each disc contains a few episodes that will have different combinations of members of the cast, writers, and directors giving commentary.
In The Vault – Deleted scenes for certain episodes are on each disc.
Master Of His Domain – Jerry Seinfeld himself in never before seen stand-up. I, for one, never found his stand-up routine good, but I love the show. So it’s a simple matter of taste whether you’ll enjoy this or not.
Sein-Imation – Quite possibly the best special feature in the whole set. Scenes from The Engagement and The Marine Biologist depicted in black and white animation on pieces of loose-leaf paper. Shame they are the only episodes, but very fun to watch.
Notes About Nothing – Small production notes and fun trivia about the show that will run throughout the episodes if you turn them on.
The Inside Pulse
The seventh season of Seinfeld continued the show’s dynamic run to super-stardom. They were already at the top and couldn’t go any higher, but with some of the fantastic episodes in this season, they tried. The Soup Nazi episode alone is well worth the purchase, but then the extras give you almost thirteen hours of more fun stuff to watch. For the fan, this set is a must, of course. For the non-fan? I would even recommend picking this up because in no time you’ll be telling someone, “No Soup For You!”
Score: 10/10
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Oct 25, 2015 0:57:37 GMT
Seinfeld Season 8 DVD Review
When there’s a show about “nothing,” then how many seasons can you possibly get out of it? Well, the cast of Seinfeld proved to the world that not only could you get nine seasons out of it, but that the only reason there weren’t more is because the cast was just done making it. Season eight of Seinfeld brought possibly one of the best crop of episodes with some very memorable ones to boot.
George was in his prime and just doing everything that constituted being George. He was still working for the Yankees but found himself actually being wanted by the Mets. And even though it always seemed like an easy task in his life before; try as he might, he just couldn’t get himself fired in order to take the better position with the Mets. George also realizes he has a lot more potential then he even gives himself credit for. Not only can he pull off the role of the “bad boy,” but when he’s not having sex, he is one of the most intelligent and articulate people ever.
Elaine has her ups and downs this season as she experiences just what it is like to run her own company when she’s put in charge of the J. Peterman Company while Mr. Peterman has a nervous breakdown over in Burma. But if it wasn’t for his collapse from sanity, then we would have never been introduced to such great things as the urban sombrero, the war vet executive, or her famous “little kicks” dancing technique. She has her good moments though as she comes up with the fantastic idea of a store selling only the tops of muffins. But her excitement also does not last long as someone beats her to it.
Kramer is just as strange as ever. Tormented by both the neon and edible chicken from Kenny Rogers Roasters, he is forced to choose between comfort and tasty goodness. Another visit to Jackie Chiles with a possible lucrative lawsuit, this time against the tobacco company, proves to be anything but. Kramer just can’t seem to listen to legal advice when he’s given an opportunity to be large and in charge. And Kramer’s real place in life also seems to be in the world of business, if he doesn’t have to actually do any work that is.
Last but not least is Jerry himself who is nothing more than, well, Jerry. Jerry is of course the center of this little “nothing” universe and usually everything begins at his apartment. Again he finds himself in tons of little relationships here and there with women that can never quite be the one. There is always something wrong with them such as falling in love with Kramer or having man hands. Even when Jerry tries to do a good deed like buying a Cadillac for his parents, it ends up backfiring on him and he winds up sleeping in the back of the car that was recently in a swamp.
When it’s all over, the show about nothing is quite honestly the show about so much that it is sometimes hard to keep up. There are so many things happening and with all four characters going through different experiences, it’s almost as if getting four short stories in each episode. Throw in references to past happenings or recurring characters from earlier seasons and you’ll constantly find yourself saying, “Oh I remember that ugly baby from a few years back!”
Seinfeld shows no signs of slowing down or even that their final season was approaching. There are a few episodes that drag and don’t have the gut-wrenching laughs, but they are far outnumbered by the hilarious episodes. Some of the great moments like Frank Costanza’s flashback story to his time when he was a military cook just had me crying from laughing so hard. There is no watering down and if anything, they push the envelope even further so you simply can’t be bored while watching this show. Those people who say they hate Seinfeld are usually those who think that the things happening in the show could never really occur. I believe that they can relate to the show so much that they don’t want anyone knowing how screwed up their lives really are.
Episodes
Disc One:
The Foundation: George’s fiancé Susan has recently passed due to an unfortunate accident with some cheap wedding invitations; so her parents establish a foundation in her memory and ask George to sit on the board. Elaine takes over as head of the company when Mr. Peterman freaks out and moves to Burma.
The Soul Mate: Kramer falls for Jerry’s new girlfriend Pam. Jerry doesn’t really think there’s much between him and her until Kramer points out how great she is. Elaine’s new boyfriend Kevin goes to the extreme and gets a vasectomy to win her heart.
The Bizarro Jerry: Elaine must choose between Jerry, George, and Kramer or their exact opposites in Kevin, Jean, and Feldman. Jerry also dates a beautiful young woman who happens to have “man hands,” but that doesn’t stop George from using her picture to get the affection of some models. This is quite possibly the best episode in the entire set since the regular gang and the bizarre gang makes for some great interactions.
The Little Kicks: One of the most famously known episodes as Elaine throws a party for her employees and breaks out the dance that has them all talking behind her back at the office. Jerry gets bullied into bootlegging a film for Kramer’s friend Brody and ends up enjoying his new career.
The Package: Elaine learns that all of her doctors think she is a trouble patient and can’t get checked out anywhere. Jerry won’t accept a mysterious package but it’s no problem for Uncle Leo. George wants to impress a girl at the camera center with some sexy pictures, but his plan backfires as always.
Disc Two:
The Fatigues: An old nemesis returns again since Jerry’s new girlfriend has a mentor who is dating Bania. Elaine gets into some deep water at work promoting an old war vet that scares everyone else in the company. Kramer hires Frank Castanza to cook for some Jewish singles.
The Checks: The gang all are connected as Jerry appears on Japanese television and signs a bunch of royalty checks. George then attempts to sell the Jerry pilot to Japanese TV since Jerry is such a star there. Kramer helps some Japanese tourists by letting them stay in a huge dresser from a furniture maker that Elaine’s boyfriend is obsessed with.
The Chicken Roaster: Another fantastic episode as Kramer boycotts the Kenny Rogers Roasters chicken franchise when one opens across the street from his apartment. Their red neon sign glows all night and day, driving him nuts. Jerry agrees to switch apartments with him for a while and ends up acting just like Kramer.
The Abstinence: In another episode of switching identities, George’s girlfriend gets mono and can’t have sex. Without sex, George ends up becoming very well-read and extremely intelligent. Elaine stops having sex and ends up having no common sense and becoming very dumb. Kramer files a lawsuit against a tobacco company.
The Andrea Doria: Jerry tries to help Newman with the mail so his nemesis can get a transfer to a route in Hawaii. Kramer has a horrible cough that sounds like that of a dog, so he does what anyone would do and sees a veterinarian. George tries to come up with a good enough sob story to win a great apartment over a ship wreck survivor.
The Little Jerry: Kramer buys a chicken for some fresh eggs but it ends up being a rooster. Little Jerry Seinfeld is born and a natural cockfighter. Jerry bounces a check at the local market, and the shopkeeper displays it for all to see.
Disc Three:
The Comeback: George goes out of his way for a snappy comeback at a co-worker after being insulted. Jerry spends a lot of money on a new tennis racquet from a professional trainer who really sucks. And Elaine falls for a mysterious video store clerk because she likes his favorites.
The Money: Kramer has a new girlfriend (guest star Sarah Silverman) who has the “jimmy legs” so he can’t sleep in the same bed as her. Jerry tries to buy back his parent’s Cadillac from Jack Klompus and ends up flying back and forth to Florida. George finds out his parents have saved for a long time and are rich so he knows he’ll receive a lot when they die. That is if Kramer doesn’t convince them to spend it all first and enjoy life.
The Van Buren Boys: George finds the first recipient of the scholarship from the Susan Ross Foundation and it’s not the smartest kid in the world. Mr. Peterman has returned and buys the writes to Kramer’s memoirs and wants Elaine to be the author of his autobiography.
The Susie: Elaine’s co-worker mistakenly calls her Susie, but Elaine doesn’t correct her in order not to damage her reputation. George goes out of his way to avoid his girlfriend so she won’t break up with him. That way he can use her to help him make a god impression at the Yankee Ball.
The Pothole: Jerry knocks his girlfriend’s toothbrush in the toilet and casually forgets to tell her. George loses his Phil Rizzuto keychain down in a pothole and does whatever is necessary to get it back. Elaine has been banished from receiving take-out from her favorite Chinese place so she moves her address into a janitor’s closet to get back on their list.
The English Patient: George finds the perfect woman because she is beautiful and mistook him for her boyfriend. Kramer wants to get into the cigar business so ask Jerry to bring him some Cubans from Florida. Elaine is at the brink of everyone’s disgust when they find out she hates The English Patient.
Disc Four:
The Nap: Jerry’s handyman Conrad just can’t seem to make any decisions on his own until Jerry tells him to “just finish the job.” George then hires Conrad to make him a comfy bed under his desk so he can sleep at work. Kramer can’t get comfy swimming at the recreation center pool, so he finds the next best place the East River.
The Yada Yada: Dr. Tim Whatley is an avid joke-teller and wants it to be OK to tell Jewish jokes so he converts, angering Jerry. George’s new girlfriend overuses the phrase “yada, yada, yada,” and ends up omitting the most important parts of her stories.
The Millenium: The turn of the century is drawing near and Kramer and Newman are lobbying everyone to come to their respective parties. George is trying to get fired by the Yankees so he can take a position with the Mets but just can’t seem to do anything bad enough. Jerry’s girlfriend isn’t too happy that he keeps moving further up her stepmother’s speed dial.
The Muffin Tops: Jerry accidentally shaves his chest and becomes so obsessed with the look that he can’t stop. Elaine has a fantastic idea for a business that sells only the tops of muffins the good parts. But when she bumps into Mr. Lippman, she finds out he has stolen her idea.
The Summer Of George: George has garnered a severance package from the Yankees that will give him enough money to take the summer off and do only what he wants to do. Elaine is disturbed by a co-worker (guest star Molly Shannon) who doesn’t swing her arms when she works. Kramer ends up winning a Tony award.
The Video
The episodes are presented in 1.33:1 full screen format and the episodes look really good. Doesn’t look as if much was done to remaster them or change them much from when they were on the air, but they still look fine.
The Audio
Each episode is heard in Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo sound and also sounds good. As much as I hate live studio audiences and laugh tracks, those for Seinfeld were never overly annoying or kept going and going. They know when to laugh and when to shut up. The music is the same as always for this show and the dialogue is all crisp and easily heard.
Special Features
Inside Looks – These are on all four discs and give little “making of” segments for most of the episodes. The writers and even Larry David give their thoughts and reasoning behind how the storylines came to be. As surprising as it may be (please detect the sarcasm), the different segments for each episode are taken from real-life experiences they have all had. Each one is only about five minutes, but it’s kind of interesting seeing where they pulled each idea from.
Not That There’s Anything Wrong With That – These are your bloopers and you’re bound to find some of them funny considering you get 25 minutes of them. There are the occasional screw-ups, but most of the bloopers are the cast just cracking up hysterically and they can’t stop. Elaine is the potty mouth and oddly enough, Kramer is the most stable one of all who usually keeps his composure.
Yada, Yada, Yada – Each disc also has a few of these and they would be your audio commentaries. Different members of the cast and crew sit down and watch the episodes with you and they are quite humorous. Some of them are worth checking out and since you’ll end up watching the episodes multiple times anyway, then you might as well listen to the commentary at least once.
In The Vault – Again these appear on every disc and are the deleted scenes from the episodes. Some of them are quite funny, but most of those which were cut deserved it because they just were short and pointless.
Jerry Seinfeld: Submarine Captain – A short documentary about Jerry Seinfeld and how he runs his ship which is the show Seinfeld. Old cast members, crew, writers, and others tell their thoughts on Jerry and how he was an extreme workaholic. He went from simply acting on his show to writing, producing, acting, directing, and virtually making an eighth day of the week just so he could get more work in. A rather interesting look at how he became such an integral part of the show named after him over time instead of right away.
Sein-Imation – Two very short animations entitled “The Del Boca Vista Express” and “Pinky Toe’s Wild Ride” set to Jerry’s stand-up and a scene from the show respectively. The one set to a segment from the show, “Pinky Toe,” is a lot funnier then the one set to Jerry’s comedy routine. But they are both somewhat amusing and worth the three minutes combined it takes to watch them.
Notes About Nothing – Here is a version of VH1’s Pop-Up Video as little notes continuously pop up to give insight for different things in each episode. The little tidbits are interesting but can honestly become quite annoying since they appear randomly at the top of the screen and then at the bottom and back again.
The Inside Pulse
You might as well just save yourself the time and pick it up. There are many people who proclaim TV DVD sets stupid because the reruns are always running. Sure they are, but when you known you plan on watching the episodes more then once, then why not be able to just watch them whenever you please instead of hoping today’s rerun is the one you want? And as good as Seinfeld is as a show, it set gives you something that most TV DVD sets don’t and that is special features. Most only give a blooper reel or cast interviews, but with Seinfeld you get close to two hours of extra footage and entertainment. Do yourself a favor and pick this up to officially start your summer of whatever your name is.
Score: 10/10
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Oct 25, 2015 0:59:03 GMT
Seinfeld Season 9 DVD Review
If you were alive in the 90’s and paid any attention to television you heard of Seinfeld, the show about nothing, and more than likely saw an episode or two. After nine seasons this number one show abruptly ended saddening millions of fans. Now the ninth and final season out on DVD and fans can relive the whole series over and over again.
Knowing they were going into their last season and having a nearly limitless budget the writers of Seinfeld really pushed the envelope of what situations Jerry, George, Kramer and Elaine got themselves into. Highlights include: Kramer setting up The Merv Griffin Show stage in his house, the return of Elaine’s old boyfriend Puddy (Warburton) the backwards episode, George buying a Frogger machine with his all time high score on it from when he was a kid, Festivus, the gang getting caught in a Puerto Rican Day Parade and of coarse the infamous last episode.
The last episode angered many viewers. But frankly I think it was perfect. What better way to end a show about nothing, then by having the gang go to jail for doing nothing. And if you don’t know about the last episode by know I really don’t feel bad for ruining it for you.
Seinfeld is absolutely one of the funniest TV show in the last 20 years, maybe even ever. It’s a classic sitcom that will truly stand the test of time and generations from now people will still be discovering it and realizing what a gem it is. If you haven’t check out this show by now it’s high time you did.
Episodes:
Disc One:
The Butter Shave
Kramer begins shaving with butter, and the scent overwhelms Newman. George fakes a handicap to land a job at Play Now. Jerry resents Bania for riding his coattails. Elaine and Puddy break up and get back together numerous times on flight back from Europe. Gordon Jump guest stars.
The Voice
Jerry imagines that his girlfriend’s belly button talks to him and he enjoys imitating it. Kramer hires and intern to assist him at Kramerica Industries. Play Now tries to push George out, but he refuses to quit. Jetty Gets Elaine that she can’t stop sleeping with Puddy. Gordon Jump guest stars.
The Serenity Now
George competes with Lloyd Braun at selling computers in the Costanzas’ garage. Frank shouts “serenity now” to keep calm. Jerry gets in touch with his emotions. Mr. Lippman’s son kisses Elaine at his bar mitzvah. Kramer sets up Frank’s old screen door and spends time relaxing outside his apartment.
The Blood
Kramer stores his blood in Jerry’s freezer. George discovers the power of combining food and sex. Jerry’s parents hire Izzy Mandelbaum to get their son in shape. Elaine gets stuck babysitting for a friend’s kid. Lloyd Bridges guest stars.
The Junk Mail
Kramer cancels his mail. Jerry’s old friend “Fragile” Frankie gives hi a can. Kramer offers Anthony Quinn’s T-shirt in exchange for the van. George’s parents rekindle their romance. Elaine meets the man of her dreams but want to keep Puddy on hold. Wilford Brimley guest stars.
The Merv Griffin Show
Kramer find the set of The Merv Griffin Show in a dumpster and recreates the show in his apartment. Jerry’s girlfriend owns an unbelievable toy collection. George’s girlfriend forces him to care for a squirrel that he ran over with his car. Elaine must contend with a sidler at the office.
Disc Two:
The Slicer
Elaine’s neighbor leaves the country without turning off his alarm clock. Kramer discovers unusual uses for his new meat slicer. George goes to work for Kruger Industrial Smoothing and promptly sneaks a photo of Kurgess office to avoid an awkward confrontation. Jetty dates a dermatologist.
The Betrayal
The backwards episode. Elaine spites Sue Ellen Mischke by going to her Indian wedding with Jerry and George. Jerry and George learn secrets by unlocking Elaine’s vault with schnapps. Kramer and his friend FDR exchange wishes that the other would drop dead.
The Apology
George demands an apology from Jason Hanke over and old dispute. Jerry leans the difference between good naked and bad naked. Kramer installs a disposal in his shower. Elaine’s co-worker fears her germs and Puddy admits he’s a germ-a-phobe as well. James Spader guest stars.
The Strike
Everyone celebrates Festivus with the Costanzas. George invents the “Human Fund.” Kramer goes back to work at H&H Bagels, ending a 12-year strike. Elaine gives a fake phone number to a suitor in a denim vest. Jerry dates a “two-face.”
The Dealership
Jerry decides to buy a new car from Puddy. A starving George accuses a mechanic of stealing his Twix bar. Kramer test-drives a car, emptying its gas tank. Puddy’s obsession with high-fives leads Elaine to break up with him… again.
The Reverse Peephole
Puddy sports a “man fur,” much to Elaine’s chagrin. George’s giant wallet leaves him with a sore back. Jerry abandons his wallet in favor of a European carry-all. Kramer installs a reverse peephole in his door. The landlord threatens to evict Newman.
Disc Three:
The Cartoon
Elaine draws a cartoon for The New Yorker. George dates a woman who resembles Jerry. Kramer takes a vow of silence. Jerry contends with Sally Weaver over her one-woman show. Kathy Griffin guest stars.
The Strongbox
Kramer acquires a strongbox to keep his valuables. George’s girlfriend refuses to break up with him, even when he dates another woman. Jerry grows suspicious of a neighbor who may or may not live in his building. Elaine dates a homeless man.
The Wizard
Jerry buys his father an electronic organizer. Elaine thinks her boyfriend is black. Kramer retires to Florida, and Marty convinces him to run for condo board president. George lies to Susan’s parents about purchasing a house in the Hamptons.
The Burning
Elaine discovers that Puddy is religious, and he tries to convince her that she’s going to hell. Jerry’s girlfriend use “it’s me” on the phone and refers to a mysterious “tractor story.” George finds himself picking up the slack for his boss, Kruger. Kramer and Mickey perform disease symptoms for medical students.
The Bookstore
Jerry spots Uncle Leo shoplifting at a bookstore, while George gets in trouble for taking a book into the bathroom. Elaine gets drunk at the office party and makes out with a co-worker. Kramer and Newman start a rickshaw business.
The Frogger
George concocts a grand scheme to maintain his high score on an old Frogger video game machine. Elaine eats antique cake at Peterman’s. Kramer nabs some caution tape from the police station, where he hears of a neighborhood serial killer. Jerry dates a sentence finisher.
Disc Four:
The Maid
Jerry dates his maid, blurring the lines between courtship and prostitution. George gets an unwanted nickname at the office. Kramer’s girlfriend moves downtown. Elaine resents her new phone number’s area code.
The Puerto Rican Day
Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer get stuck in traffic during New York’s Puerto Rican Day parade. Mario Joyner guest stars.
The Chronicle (Parts 1 & 2)
A double length episode look back at favorite moments from all nine seasons.
The Finale (Parts 1 & 2)
NBC decides to bring Jerry and George back to make their sitcom and rewards them with a free trip on the corporate jet. On their way to Paris, the plane must make an emergency landing in a small New England town. The gang witnesses a mugging and is arrested for doing nothing to help the victim. Jackie Chiles defends them at trial, where a slew of memorable characters witnesses testify against Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer.
The Extras:
Audio Commentary: Three episodes are given insight by the gang: “The Voice”, “The Serenity Now”, “The Merv Griffin Show”, “The Slicer”, “The Betrayal”, “The Strike”, “The Dealership”, “The Reverse Peephole”, “The Burning,” “The Maid”, and “The Puerto Rican Day.” Jason Alexander and Julia Lewis-Dreyfus participate in four commentaries and Jerry Seinfeld participates in one. The ones with Jason and Julia have very little commentary and mostly just laughing at the show. Jerry has some good insight, but the most insight comes from the writers who do all the other commentaries. All-in-all these are okay commentaries.
The Last Lap: (23 min.) Interviews with the gang about why they chose for season 9 to be the last season. Some interesting stuff, I guess, but nothing Seinfeld fans don’t really know by now.
Sein-imation: Scenes from “The Voice, “The Waiting Game”, “Circus Or Zoo?” are presented in the simple style that Sein-imation. Cute, nothing more.
Inside Looks: “The Butter Shave”, “The Voice”, “The Junk Mail”, “The Merv Griffin Show,” “The Betrayal”, “The Strike”, “The Bookstore”, “The Frogger”, Most of these focus on how they came up with the ideas for the episodes. There are good interviews with the cast and crew of how everything came together.
Deleted Scenes: (6 min.) Deleted scenes from the following episodes: “The Butter Shave”, “The Voice”, “The Blood”, “The Junk Mail”, “The Betrayal”, “The Strike”, “The Dealership”, “The Reverse Peephole”, “The Cartoon”, “The Wizard”, “The Burning”, “The Frogger”, These are all really funny scenes and worth watching.
Notes About Nothing: While watching an episode random facts that may or may not relate to the show will pop up on the screen. This more annoying than anything and distracts from the humor. Each episode has this.
Not That There’s Anything Wrong With That: There are some fantastic bloopers. Watching these guys crack each other up makes up wonder how they ever finished an episode.
Score: 10/10
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Dec 28, 2015 2:58:31 GMT
Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch – “The Opposite” (S5, E22)
Best Character
JT: Shit, everyone. George probably edges everyone else out for the way he dove into the opposite plan with such conviction, but Kramer spitting coffee on Regis and Kathie Lee, Elaine falling apart and Jerry fulfilling his role as Even Steven all nailed it as well. The Core Four closes out their greatest season on a strong note.
Aaron: I don’t see any possible scenario where it’s not George. From the moment he makes the beach sound depressing he OWNS this episode. The montage of his opposition to all instincts is sensational, old George wouldn’t admit to being unemployed, turn down sex or politely suffer as a man cuts him off on the road. Baseball is dead to me but I would wager his impassioned tear down of George Steinbrenner spoke directly to many long suffering Yankee fans.
Andrew: I thought it would be George for sure, but I have to go with Elaine. It was the way she turned on George when he jokingly suggested she move in with his parents that sealed it for me. That forehead tap was right up there with one of Frank’s. And the rest of her performance was just as good: sheepishly admitting she went back for the Jujyfruits (and popcorn), gleefully throwing the money out the window, the horror when she realizes she is becoming George. Everyone is great here, but Elaine remains my favorite.
Jordan: George is so incredible here, but everyone put in a great effort. Jerry becoming Even Steven and not worrying about anything that happens to him is really fun, as is Elaine’s spiral into Costanza territory. Kramer is great with Regis and Kathie Lee, but George is on another level here.
Jason: Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle … Costanza? George all the way here, baby! Ignoring every urge towards common sense and good judgement he’s ever had gave us one of the best performances from him in the series so far.
Best Storyline
JT: The opposite stuff as it pretty much eats up the whole episode. It was a great redemption story for George, the man who has been tortured for five season, and watching him finally reach these levels of success was so entertaining. Plus, Big Stein arrives as a part of it.
Aaron: The opposite and all of its terrible, terrible repercussions.
Andrew: The Opposite is a brilliant idea, and one my personal favorites, which makes it hard to believe I had forgotten Jerry came up it. Even if he’s just messing with George, he’s the first to put it into words. It’s really fun to see how well it all turns out for George, especially when he’s telling off the punks in the movie theater. And yet, I think I like Jerry’s “Even Steven” status even more. The complete confidence he gets from knowing things will work out for him is really funny, and seems like a pretty alright way to live.
Jordan: I was going to say Jerry’s Even Steven here to be contrarian, but I did the opposite and went with the crowd. The opposite story is great from start to finish, from talking to a woman to telling his parents he loves them. Everything’s coming up George!
Jason: The opposite stuff for sure. Watching the tides turn between George and Elaine and Jerry breaking even was magical.
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
JT: Even though he was sick, I think it would have been just fine for Lippman to shake the Japanese fellow’s hand. Sometimes you gotta break a few eggs to make an omelette and this was one case where you risk getting someone sick to close a mega business deal. Wipe your hand on your coat, press the flesh and seal the deal.
Aaron: Is Salmon really the opposite of Tuna? Jerry makes a strong argument regarding the direction one travels in relation of the stream but can a fish really be the opposite of another fish? Tuna is tiny, lives underwater and is eaten by everyone . We need something huge that lives above water and is eaten by no one. That settles it: the rhinoceros is the official opposite of tuna.
Andrew: Is it OK to gloat when you’re doing well, and your friend isn’t? Considering how much crap George gets from Elaine, he’s probably entitled to relish the moment a bit. But it’s still not a good look. Act like you’ve been there before, George.
Jordan: Which is worse, buzzing up a jewel thief or letting Jehovah’s Witnesses into your building? I know the jewel thief probably took more monetary value from the people in Elaine’s building, but the JW’s stole something that you can never get back: Their time. Shame on you, Elaine.
Jason: If someone you’re dating gets in a car accident, is grabbing a snack before heading to the hospital OK?
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
JT: Oh, Rachel. The one that got away? Possibly. She has had a hell of a run and is the most consistent significant other to date. Even though Jake had every right to be upset, he is such a pussy about it, it is hard to really get behind him on the issue. Suck it up, bro. Relationship Grade: End of the Road/10
Aaron: I’m all for the series bringing people back but I would pay to see Jake Jarmell mauled and eaten by a rhinoceros. The initial horn shot would pierce his chest and allow him to live just long enough to see the giant’s mighty foot implode his face. In a fitting end, the cleaning lady, who recently lost her job at Pendant Publishing would be called in to mop up the mess before being mounted by George next to Jarmell’s carcass. Everything’s working out for this guy. Relationship Grade: 0/10
Andrew: I understand Jake being offended about the Jujyfruit incident, but I don’t think he had to be so dramatic about it. He sucks. Victoria and George are off to a really good start, though. Relationship Grade: Broke Even/10
Jordan: Jerry and Rachel come to such an abrupt end, it’s a shame. She was only around for a while, but she really gave us some big moments. Jerry may be Even Steven and someone else will come along, but will they make out with him during Schindler’s List? Will they mock George’s shrunken wang? Rachel was a keeper, and Jerry missed the boat here. Relationship Grade: SHE RETWEETED US/10
Jason: Poor Jake. He gets banged up and Elaine stops from Jujyfruits before going to see him in the hospital. Sad to see Rachel go as she was one of my favorite Jerry girlfriends. Veronica is way out of George’s league. At least the old George. Relationship Grade: Tuna on Toast/ 10
What Worked:
JT: Nice payoff with Elaine finally getting her long await promotion and callback to Jake Jarmell and the coffee table book; I also love how George is finally throwing in the towel after two seasons of pure frustration; The Tuna/Salmon bit is one of my all time favorite lines; The initial discovery of the opposite idea was brilliant and well executed; Kramer going on a book tour was a tremendous idea and Jerry’s mention of the puffy shirt made me laugh; Watching George evolve into the Opposite Man was glorious, and him resisting the apartment visit is something very few men could have pulled off; Pretty funny that Jake had to leave a message with the movie theater attendant in the pre-cell phone days; Jake slowly piecing together that Elaine bought candy after learning of his injury was also well developed; The Regis & Kathy Lee scene was top notch, including the random kiss from the K-Man; Kathie Lee yelling about Kramer spitting on her “Kathie Lee Casual” always makes me laugh; Elaines $20 test was great and George finding it was perfect; Kramer reuniting with the Cigar Store Indian is another great callback; George’s job interview was amazing; I have enjoyed Rachel’s run but Jerry’s non plussed reaction to getting dumped kept the story chugging along beautifully; The Even Steven stuff is just such great writing; The scene where George moves out is so tremendous and a great counter to the scene where he moved in; The closing scene is a perfect wrap on the season
Aaron: I already praised George to the high heavens but this is a pretty great outing for everyone. Kramer is wonderful wearing his slick suit with a lovely ascot; no wonder Kathy Lee Gifford accepted his kiss straight on the mouth. His nonsensical spit take on America’s favorite morning show was stellar, his nonsensical reactions to Lippman’s sneezing were sublime. Jerry is his at his sarcastic best and Elaine’s slow descent into madness is still a pleasure to watch. Season five gets a lot of love here as we’re treated to callbacks of the Puffy Shirt, sweet, sweet Rachel, The Cigar Store Indian, Jake Fucking Jarmell and even the return of Tina. Throughout the entire rewatch we’ve been extremely hard of the costuming but whoever dressed Elaine as a female George in the final scene deserves some sliced meat delivered to their house. The writing is wonderful, tight and brings out the best in all the performers.
Andrew: I never get tired of watching George do the opposite of his instincts. It just gets better and better, culminating with him telling off George Steinbrenner, which is one of the best ideas in an episode full of great ones. Elaine’s parallel fall from grace is great too, and Jerry’s growing conviction that everything will even out for him is top notch. The Regis and Kathie Lee scene is a classic, and still holds up really well, especially when Kramer goes a little overboard on the kiss. Frank and Estelle are always a joy to see, and pack a lot of greatness into a brief appearance. Elaine’s old roommate Tina still sucks, but I enjoyed the callback.
Jordan: The contrast of George seeing great success while Elaine failed miserably was a fun dynamic, and Jerry being totally unaffected by both was the cherry on top. George stumbling upon the opposite is a real goldmine, and I’m kind of bummed it was the season finale, as I feel this could have been a nice three episode arc. George is just incredible throughout with telling the cleaning lady story during a job interview and in the best part, letting George Steinbrenner have it. Meanwhile, Elaine just can’t do anything right, and it’s all because of Jujyfruits. I don’t know why, but I think even the choice of candy is funny, does anyone REALLY like Jujyfruits that much? Kramer is awesome as a background story with his coffee table book finally taking off, and he’s terrific on Regis and Kathie Lee, wearing the ascot. I love him talking to the crowd, “You kids don’t go out and try that! You stay in school!” Elaine is adorable throughout, and Jake doesn’t deserve her. Jerry is at his best when he just doesn’t have any care whatsoever about other people, and he almost seemed to take joy in Elaine failing.
Jason: Elaine looked amazing the entire episode, even in her denim and hoodie number at the end. Pendant merging with Matsushimi was a great subplot that helped Kramer get his book published and the payoff at the end with Lippman forgetting his handkerchief. George ordering the opposite of his usual lunch. Jerry’s tuna and salmon bit. GOOD FOR THE TUNA! George introducing himself to Veronica. “My name is George, I’m unemployed and live with my parents.” George not losing his shit in traffic, bitching at the goons at the movie and declining to go upstairs with Veronica were excellent George opposite tactics. Jerry being Even Steven. Jerry’s Puffy Shirt reference. Kramer’s swank blue suit when he goes on Regis and Kathie Lee. Kramer spitting water all over Kathie Lee. The return of Tina was excellent in helping push Elaine’s downward spiral. Veronica having an Uncle who works for the Yankees. George referencing, “The Red Dot” and “The Revenge” while being interviewed by the Yankees. His rant to Steinbrenner that gets him hired. Jerry showing no emotion when Rachel gives him the boot. SHE’LL BE COMING AROUND THE MOUNTAIN… The list off everything Elaine has done wrong, causing her eviction. George swinging his hat around. THE NEW YORK YANKEES! Elaine squeezing George’s cheeks after his line about her moving in with his parents. Franks, ‘You be nice!” followed by smacking George in the forehead. George’s “opposite” line he feeds to his parents about loving them. Elaine eating Jujyfruits before Lippman meets with the Matsushimi guys. The Matsushi guys being offended when Lippman refusing to shake their hands. GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS! George working with Don Mattingly on his batting stance.
What Didn’t Work
JT: Who are Jerry’s random friends?; The $20 test result was faulty because Jerry already possessed the found $20, he was just unaware of it; Ugh, Tina GTFO; Farewell Rachel, you will be missed; Just shake his hand Lippman, who cares!
Aaron: Jerry’s strange collection of friends at the poker game was weird. I wasn’t aware he had other friends. I’m also not a huge fan of cocky George’s speech about fixing Don Mattingly’s batting stance. When he gets to that sing-songy level it crosses the line of believability for me. Being big and overacting can work really well so long as it’s honest, it just lost the honesty for me there.
Andrew: I get that he was just in an accident, but Jake Jarmel needs to settle down a bit.
Jordan: I feel like Rachel deserved a better write off, and I thought the Lippman sneezing stuff was ridiculous. He was so over the top with it early on, I thought his character was going to die and that’s how Elaine would lose out.
Jason: Kathie Lee’s dress was brutal. Tina and the damn water bottle.
Key Character Debuts
– Yankee Stadium
– George Steinbrenner
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
– “Why did it all turn out like this for me? I had so much promise. I was personable, I was bright. Oh, maybe not academically speaking, but … I was perceptive. I always know when someone’s uncomfortable at a party. It became very clear to me sitting out there today, that every decision I’ve ever made, in my entire life, has been wrong. My life is the opposite of everything I want it to be. Every instinct I have, in every of life, be it something to wear, something to eat … It’s all been wrong.” – George
– “You know chicken salad is not the opposite of tuna, salmon is the opposite of tuna, ‘cos salmon swim against the current, and the tuna swim with it.” – Jerry “Good for the tuna.” – George
– “Elaine, bald men, with no jobs, and no money, who live with their parents, don’t approach strange women.” – George “Well here’s your chance to try the opposite. Instead of tuna salad and being intimidated by women, chicken salad and going right up to them.” – Jerry “Yeah, I should do the opposite, I should.” – George “If every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right.” – Jerry “Yes, I will do the opposite. I used to sit here and do nothing, and regret it for the rest of the day, so now I will do the opposite, and I will do something!” – George
– “My name is George. I’m unemployed and I live with my parents.” – George “I’m Victoria. Hi.” – Victoria
– “You know who you are? Even Steven.” – Kramer
– “Who are you, George Costanza?” – Victoria “I’m the opposite of every guy you’ve ever met.” – George
– “If you got into a car accident, I can guarantee you I wouldn’t stop for Jujyfruit!” – Jake
– “You know, when I’m skiing, Kramer, I’m trying not to kill myself, and you’re writing books!” – Regis “Yeah, well, now you kids don’t go out and try that. You stay in school!” – Kramer
– “You know you could’ve thrown a pencil out the window and seen if that came back.” – Jerry
– “Yes. And listen to this, listen to this; her uncle works for the Yankees and he’s gonna get me a job interview. A front office kind of thing. Assistant to the travelling secretary. A job with the New York Yankees! This has been the dream of my life ever since I was a child, and it’s all happening because I’m completely ignoring every urge towards common sense and good judgment I’ve ever had. This is no longer just some crazy notion. Jerry, this is my religion.” – George “So I guess your Messiah would be the Anti-Christ.” – Jerry
– “Wow, that’s quite a honk! Get yourself some vitamin C with rose hips and bioflavenoids.” – Kramer
– “Well, I wish I could say the same, but I must say, with all due respect, I find it very hard to see the logic behind some of the moves you have made with this fine organization. In the past twenty years you have caused myself, and the city of New York, a good deal of distress, as we have watched you take our beloved Yankees and reduced them to a laughing stock, all for the glorification of your massive ego!” – George “Hire this man!” – Steinbrenner
– “I’ll tell you what the big advantage of homosexuality is. If you’re going out with someone your size, right there you double your wardrobe.” – Jerry “I suppose…” – Rachel “Oh, come on, that’s a huge feature. When they approach a new recruit, I’m sure that’s one of the big selling points.” – Jerry
– “Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle … Costanza?” – Jerry
– “I gotta be out by the end of the month.” – Elaine “Well, you could move in with my parents.” – George “Was that the … opposite … of what you were going to say, or was that just instinct?” – Elaine “Instinct.” – George “Stick … with the opposite.” – Elaine
– “Don’t get in trouble with the Yankees. You be nice.” – Frank
– “Because they’re Jujyfruit. I like them. I didn’t know it would start a chain reaction that would lead to the end of Pendant Publishing.” – Elaine
– “Do you know what’s going on here? Can’t you see what’s happened? I’ve become George.” – Elaine “Don’t say that.” – Jerry “It’s true. I’m George! I’m George!” – Elaine
– “Greetings, people. Greetings. Greetings and salutations. What a beautiful day for a ball game. Let’s play two!” – George
Oddities & Fun Facts
– Actor French Stewart plays the movie theater attendant
– George finally moves out of his parents’ house
– Elaine is unemployed with the closing of Pendant Publishing, where she has worked for all five seasons
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
JT: Man, what a season and what a finale. This is easily the best season to date with classic after classic being delivered week after week. And we finish on a super high note. This episode had it all, paying off years worth of build within its tightly woven walls. George finally catching breaks and Elaine completely going to shit was a perfect way to mix things up and there is just enough tease at the end, with George’s opposite order becoming his new usual, that makes you think it could all quickly unravel again for Costanza. The Even Steven stuff was well done and Kramer’s side gig with the coffee table book tour gave use extra laughs along the way. It has been a magnificent season, arguably one of the greatest seasons of sitcom television in history, and while I am sad to see it go, I am excited to see what season six has in store. Perfection. Final Grade: 0/10 (Opposite Scale)
Aaron: This was one of the best episodes I’ve rewatched to date. Everyone was awesome and we get a convergence of a couple of season long storylines. George doing the opposite is classic stuff as is Kramer’s rapid rise and fall in the world of publishing. I didn’t even get to selfish Elaine’s need for popcorn and JUJY Fruits that superseded her boyfriend’s potential death. So much good stuff here. I loved this one. Final Grade: 10/10
Andrew: It’s amazing when an episode comes together like this. Some unique and fun plot ideas, excellent dialogue, and excellent performances made this episode a lot of fun to watch. What more can you ask for? Final Grade: 10/10
Jordan: I mean, it’s just awesome. I hate to call a Seinfeld episode perfect, because there are so many great ones in the shows run and you generally want to reserve that for a small handful, but this entire season has episodes that I was really looking for reasons to just NOT give it a 10. Incredible season, incredible finale. I’m not looking for reasons to lower the rating this time. A well deserved perfect 10. Final Grade: 10/10
Jason: We have wrapped up Season Five and what a ride this was. This episode holds up so good. Everything ties in perfectly with very little to complain about. Great payoffs with some stuff and character development with other things, leaving us with lots to look forward to heading into the next season. This has been the best season so far. Spoiler alert: it only gets better! See everyone in Season Six! Final Grade: 10/10
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Post by sbtbfanatic on Dec 28, 2015 2:58:50 GMT
Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch – “The Chaperone” (S6, E1)
Best Character
JT: I had this one all teed up for Elaine…and then Kramer met Karen and we were off and running. The K-Man was a tour de force, completely overtaking Karen’s career and wrecking her potential relationship with Jerry in the process. His screaming bouts with Jerome were perfectly executed, as was his over the top training session and detective work. Tremendous performance. As was Elaine’s. She was great as the exasperated personal assistant, a role that suits her well as she does all she can to make this job work.
Aaron: “If you think I’m just going to step aside while you defile this woman, you’re crazy.” With that one line Kramer snatched victory from a crazed sock-waving Mr. Pitt. His absolute dedication to Miss Rhode Island was fantastic as was his declaration that the birds were murdered. There’s something about an animal being declared “murdered” that always makes me laugh. Perhaps I’m a sociopath.
Andrew: It’s close, but I think Elaine was the best. The “grace” conversation is great, and the goofy faces she makes in the diner conversation with Mr. Pitt always crack me up. And the growing frustration as she realizes she’s now working for a crazy person is really well played.
Jordan: Think I’m giving to Elaine this time. She was adorable on the phone call with Jerry, sadly having to pass up an Atlantic City romp with friends so she could pick out the perfect socks. She was hilarious as the exhausted, flustered employee.
Jason: Kramer was a force of nature as the chaperone and Karen’s personal consultant, but this episode belongs to Elaine. Her countering of Ms. Landis and frustration of Mr. Pitt was fantastic. Plus, she was incredibly attractive throughout the episode.
Best Storyline
JT: Miss America for sure, completely on the back of Kramer. He was a beast.
Aaron: Kramer: beauty pageant assistant. He suggested taping Texas’ breasts together, he insisted on a waist censure, all the while teaching us all a little something about poise.
Andrew: As much as I enjoy the Yankees and Mr. Pitt, I think the Miss America stuff makes for the best storyline. Mocking the whole “chaperone” thing is a great idea, and I enjoy the pivot into Kramer as pageant coach. And like most Rhode Islanders, I get a disproportionate amount of enjoyment out of seeing the state referenced on national TV. It’s funny because it’s small!
Jordan: Mr. Pitt and the Yankees are around for a while, so I feel comfortable passing them both up this time in favor of Kramer, Miss America Coach.
Jason: The uniform stuff with George was great, but Miss America takes it here. Kramer lead the way perfectly.
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
JT: We don’t find out if George gets blamed for the cotton uniforms, but it certainly isn’t his fault. Buck Showalter signed off on it and the equipment managers should have been more careful to not dry them. Plus, how did the players not notice before they took the field? Amateur work all around.
Aaron: If you have too much grace will you, in fact, not be able to stand. This is less a philosophical question as it is a scientific one. What does science tell us about the amount of grace in a person’s body in relation to the body’s ability to hold itself upright? Sadly we’ve wasted countless dollars on Global Warming and bringing people back from the dead rather than testing Justin Pitt’s hypothesis. This is the problem with the two-party system in America; the true issues are pushed behind a mountain of gay marriages and God damn Great Walls of Mexico. Not to say that the Canadian infinite party system is any better. The recent leadership debate descended into whether or not people should where hoods while becoming citizens instead of the real questions of grace vs. body weight or can a bird be fucked to death. It’s a sad system with no easy answers.
Andrew: Is the Miss America Pageant OK? Does publicly judging a bunch of women on their looks contribute to unhealthy cultural gender roles? I’m not sure that scholarships and a purported emphasis on community service are enough to argue for the competition’s continued existence. On the other hand, if not for the pageant, we wouldn’t have that “I personally believe that U.S. Americans …” video, and that would be a real shame.
Jordan: In response to his ridiculous standards, should Elaine have forced Mr. Pitt to eat the socks until he choked to death on them? I say yes.
Jason: When you’re at a baseball game and you get up during an inning you deserve to get booed by the people sitting behind you. Bad move here by Laney.
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
JT: Jerry and Karen had no shot. She was good looking but Jerry needs someone a bit more feisty and much less formulaic. She was a bot, sent from the Ocean State to help win some respect and admiration. Respect and admiration that would eventually be stomped dead by Curt Schilling. Relationship Grade: 38/10
Aaron: I hate this category. Instead I’d like to share with you that on the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia episode that’s playing in the background Dennis Reynolds just smothered a woman with a pillow because her large breasts were “obliterated.” Classic Dennis. Relationship Grade: I’M WALKING ON SUNSHINE BY KATRINA AND THE WAVES SHOULD NEVER BE PLAYED IN THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.
Andrew: I can totally understand George and Jerry’s excitement at the prospect of dating Miss America; you could get a lot of mileage out of that story. But the relationship itself doesn’t have much going for it. Relationship Grade: Six … No, five, but you were close/10
Jordan: Karen is the jewel of Rhode Island. She has trained doves, is gorgeous, and even though she can’t sing, she gives it the ol’ college try. Jerry is a man-whore whose only goal is to defile and probably SULLY, that’s right I said SULLY, her good name. Relationship Grade: SLEEP WITH PUTIN TO SAVE AMERICA/10
Jason: Karen was a hot mess from the get go. How did she make it that far as a contestant? What kind of a pageant operation are your fellow Rhode Island natives running up there, JT? Relationship Grade: Poise/10
What Worked:
JT: George’s first scene with Danny Tartabull makes this whole story idea worth it; Elaine wearing the Orioles hat in the box seats was an awesome callback; Jerry macking Miss Rhode Island was impressive; As was his singing the Miss America theme on the phone; Elaine dressed up as Jackie O landing her a gig with Mr. Pitt was a great bit; Elaine looking like a slob while Pitt compared her to Jackie O was funny too, as were the grace callbacks; Buck’s comment about Tartabull’s swing after George had given him tips was awesome; I love that they went all in and had so many Yankee cameos and bits, it was a nice touch; Kramer shutting down Jerry’s lecherous plans is a favorite of mine as is Jerry’s sarcastic “That’s a hell of a plan” response to Karen’s thoughts on world hunger; Kramer’s advice and expertise on the topic was a nice touch; George gloating over the player comments on cotton was funny; An early glimpse into Mr. Pitt’s eccentricities with the socks set us up nicely; Elaine’s dejected “I can’t go” was awesome; Kramer’s training class is perfect; Karen’s terrible singing put a bow on the whole present of goodness
Aaron: Mr. Pitt was a whirlwind of madness and unreason. His dedication to finding the perfect sock, while admirable, is clearly a dead end which can only end in depression and suicide. He was devastated to learn he might not get his new socks today. DEVASTATED. George’s adventures with the Yankees were great as was his dedication to get those poor players into that sweet, sweet cotton. Elaine’s job interview with the dickish lady going on about grace was about as Seinfeldian as you can get. Kramer’s stringent commitment to the rules of the beauty pageant leads to Jerry getting cockblocked (which is great) and two wonderful impassioned monologues. Mr. Pitt throwing socks wildly into the air will never get old.
Andrew: The beginning of George’s Yankee career, along with the resulting cameos, is delightful to see. I especially enjoyed him forcing Danny Tartabull to let him look at the uniform’s tag. The Kramer pageant stuff is excellent too, such as his refusing to allow Jerry to “defile this woman”, or suggesting a waist cincher (“Suck you right up!”). Mr. Pitt is off to a good start as Elaine’s latest employment frustration. And Jerry has some great dialogue, particularly the “Hi, Mr. Pitt! Is Elaine there?” phone call, and an excellent “That’s a shame” exchange with George.
Jordan: George Costanza, Yankee employee starts off with a bang, ruining Danny Tartabull’s swing and changing the uniforms. Elaine and Mr. Pitt also starts off strong – I particularly like him gazing adoringly at her while she sucks down a pop in the diner. Kramer taking over as pageant consultant is awesome. I love Karen telling him she does magic, and him asking her what number he’s thinking of. “No, 5…but you were close.” His POISE outburst is fun stuff too. I already mentioned it, but the sheer heartbreak from Elaine when she explains she has to return socks is good stuff. I wish we got Jerry’s end of the conversation, as there is virtually no way he would care about his friends sadness. Small stuff, but I like George wolfing down a chicken wing while they watch the pageant in the hotel room. Jerry’s excuse to Kramer was pathetic, but he seemed to think he was clever – “We had to put the water out there because it was making the room too cold!” said with a smug grin.
Jason: George working on Danny Tartabull’s swing with him, followed by George reaching for Danny’s uniform tag to check out the material. Elaine rocking her Orioles was a great throwback to, “The Letter”. Jerry’s one-liners when he meets Karen at the game were excellent. Jerry singing the Miss America them when he calls Karen at the hotel. Jerry’s, “Oh, shut the fuck up” to Kramer after he starts singing the theme. MRS. ONASSIS’S. I love Elaine’s resemblance to Jackie O when Mr. Pitt first meets her. Kramer knocking Ms. Rhode Island because they never win. Jerry’s, “Hi Mr. Pitt…” when he calls to speak with Elaine. Kramer taking control of Karen as her consultant was very well done. I big laugh when he shows Karen how to stage-walk. Great cameos from both Danny Tartabull and Buck Showalter. Elaine’s over the top frustration with Mr. Pitt and his socks was terrific. Jerry nailing his signature, “That’s a shame” after seeing the uniform pants split.
What Didn’t Work
JT: Ms. Landis sucks and I hate her opinions on grace and obsession with Jackie O; The shrinking of the cotton uniforms should be blamed on the equipment managers, not poor George
Aaron: I‘m never a fan when Jerry tries to pick up women. I’ve got to believe I live in a world where women don’t fall for stand up bits being thrown at them in the most artificial of manners. I also never got what the point of Jerry and George going to Atlantic City was since they didn’t even get to go to the Miss America event. Were they there just to murder the birds? That’s Dennis Reynolds level commitment to murder.
Andrew: The ending falls flat for me. The pageant performance isn’t good, but it isn’t bad enough to get a laugh, either. And the payoff to the uniform story is just OK. Maybe a more explicit “shrinkage” callback would have helped?
Jordan: I don’t think anything was too egregious here. If I’m forced to choose, I would have changed the ending. Rather than go out with a bad talent, Karen should have been asked the question about sleeping with a world leader to save America, given the answer Kramer wanted, then gotten booed off stage. Either that, or some sort of talent duo WITH Kramer. Her bad singing just wasn’t enough.
Jason: Ms. Landis is quite the snooty bitch. Mr. Pitt and his awful white socks with dress pants. C’mon J. Pitt! Black, navy blue or brown.
Key Character Debuts
Karen, Miss Rhode Island
Mr. Pitt
Danny Tartabull
Buck Showalter
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
– “Hot dog?” – Jerry “No, thanks. I’m watching my weight.” – Miss RI “Ah. I’m watching my height. My doctor doesn’t want me to get any taller. So you’re Miss, uh…” – Jerry “Rhode Island. ” – Miss RI “I was almost Mr. Coffee. They felt I was a little too relaxed.” – Jerry
– “You can’t have “a little grace.” You either have grace, or you…don’t.” – Landis “OK, fine, I have…no grace.”- Elaine “And you can’t acquire grace.” – Landis “Well, I have no intention of “getting” grace.” – Elaine “Grace isn’t something you can pick up at the market.” – Landis “Alright, alright, look – I don’t have grace, I don’t want grace…I don’t even say grace, O.K.?” – Elaine
– “I’m going out with one of the Miss America contestants, you wanna go?” – Jerry “What state?” – Kramer “Rhode Island.” – Jerry “They’re never in contention.” – Kramer “How do you know?” – George “Because I’ve seen every Miss America pageant since I was six.” – Kramer
– “Yeah. Cotton breathes, you see, it’s much softer. Imagine playing games and your team is five degrees cooler than the other team. Don’t you think that would be an advantage? They’re cooler, they’re more comfortable …they’re happier – they’re gonna play better.” – George
– “Look, if you think I’m just going to step aside and do nothing while you defile this woman, you’re crazy.” – Kramer “I’m not going to “defile” her!” – Jerry “That’s right, because I’m going to see it doesn’t happen. Look, Jerry, these girls are Miss America contestants. It’s every little girl’s dream. And I’m not going to let you trample that dream and make a mockery of everything the pageant stands for.”- Kramer “But – ” – Jerry “AAAH! No buts! Those are my rules.” – Kramer “But wait a minute…” – Jerry “Now, if you want to go out and have some good, wholesome fun with a nice girl, I’d be glad to help you out…if you’re looking for something more than that, you’ve got the wrong guy, buddy!” – Kramer
– “Kramer, would you consider being my personal consultant for the pageant?” – Karen “Okay. But if I’m going to do this, we play by my rules or we don’t play at all.” – Kramer
– “Well, let me tell you something. I’m taking this kid to the top. To the top, Jerry! We’re going for the crown, and you can’t stop her!” – Kramer
– “Let’s try a few more questions, alright? <Karen stands up.> If you were Miss America, and the U.S. was on the brink of a nuclear war, and the only way the conflict could be averted was if you agreed to sleep with the enemy’s leader, what would you do?” – Kramer “Kramer, are these questions really that important…?” – Karen “Yes, they’re important! If you stumble, if you hesitate, you can kiss the crown goodbye. Now if I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times – poise counts! It’s just as important as the others. Swimsuit! Evening wear! Talent! POISE!”- Kramer
– “Yeah, birds. She’s got these trained doves, she does this magic act, that was her talent for the pageant. You know what I think, Jerry? I think somebody murdered those doves. Somebody wanted her out of that contest bad. Somebody who was just eaten up with jealousy. Somebody who just couldn’t stand to have the spotlight taken off of them!” – Kramer “What are you looking at? Oh, that! We had to leave that outside, last night, because the water was making the room too cold.” – Jerry “You killed them, didn’t you?” – Kramer “No, you don’t understand – it’s not what you think! It was an accident!” – Jerry “Well, don’t think you’ve won, because you haven’t! This kid is a fighter! And if you think I’m gonna let a couple of dead birds get in our way, you’re crazy!” – Kramer
Oddities & Fun Facts
– Elaine is wearing an Orioles hat in the box seats at Yankee Stadium, a callback to “The Letter” (S3, E21)
– Miss Alabama Heather Whitestone would win the Miss America 1995 pageant on September 17, 1994. She was the first deaf Miss America.
– Major League Baseball went on strike on August 11, 1994 and no other games were played that year. This episode aired on September 22, 1994. Also, because the Miss America pageant occurred on September 17, that means no Yankee game could have happened on that date.
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
JT: Season six is underway with a strong opening offering. I love how they really dove into George’s job and had all the Yankee cameos threaded throughout as it adds some realism to the show. It was a nice coup that shows with less gravitas may not be able to pull off. Elaine was tremendous throughout and her being so dejected and self loathing has been a good twist, from her pissing on grace to weeping openly in a pile of socks, she brought the goods. Kramer was a man on fire, carrying this one on his back and single-handedly raising the grade for me. The Miss America storyline felt a little aimless but once he got involved, it ratcheted up into an all time great series of scenes. Things have changed in the lives of the Core Four, but one thing remains: the show is still fantastic. Final Grade: 7/10
Aaron: This was a really good start to season six. I had at least three big laughs where I almost woke my sleeping family and incurred the wrath of a furious wife. The writing was strong with the exception of the pickup and the hole of why Jerry and George were at the Taj Mahal. Slight flaws aside this one’s got POISE! Final Grade: 8/10
Andrew: This is a solid episode, with some memorable moments, but we’ve seen better. I don’t love the ending, but there are some solid laughs here, and the debut of Mr. Pitt, along with the start of the Yankees cameos, have me looking forward to what’s ahead. Not a big winner, but certainly a promising start to the new season. Final Grade: 7/10
Jordan: This is a good start. We establish some new careers for half the gang, while the other half is up to their usual stuff. A nice combo. I actually like that they didn’t go overboard with the Yankees stuff and are just gradually progressing. Really good job of setting the stage for things to come. As a standalone episode though, it is not the absolute best. Final Grade: 6/10
Jason: Oh, hey Season Six. A solid start to the season premiere. George wastes no time getting his feet wet with the Yankees. The Miss America stuff was excellent with decent supporting plots from the uniforms and Elaine becoming Mr. Pitt’s assistant. Kramer continues to shine with everything he does. I’m really looking forward to this season as a whole. Will it live up to the powerhouse that was Season Five? We’ll find out in the upcoming weeks. Final Grade: 7/10
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