Manic Expression

An Analytical Episode Guide to :

 SEINFELD!!!!!!!

Season  7, Part 4

Episode 19, Season 7

The Wig Master

Plot Summary-Susan has a friend staying with her and George,much to his chagrin. George discovers the parking lot where he parks his carsis being used by hookers. Jerry is offended when someone asks Elaine out infront of him. Kramer locks himself out of his apartment.

Best Quote-“We have to deal with the doubt Susan, the doubtmust be dealt with”…George

Nitpick of the episode-I hate the jiffy park guy in thisepisode! Every time that scene comes on where he refuses to give George hiscar, I want to yell at the TV. What George should do is go get a policeman;they have no right to keep his car. And where could it be that they can’t getit out? As George himself says, it’s a parking lot!

Seinfeldism of the episode-Jerry buys a jacket with a crestand then tries to return it for spite

Deleted Scenes-Jerry showing his jacket off trying to getopinions which included a Bania cameo, George trying to explain to Susan why hecouldn’t get the car

Episode Fun Fact-The scene at the end of Kramer walking withTechnicolor dream coat on is a favorite of the crew

Final Thoughts- This is pretty solid episode. George isfrustrated in this episode, first by the house guest and then after he finds acondom in his car. This is a pretty typical George episode. Kramer’s story iskind of weak, sure there are a few good jokes but it really doesn’t add up tomuch. It’s ok though because he gets that amusing scene at the end when hewears the Technicolor dream coat. Jerry’s story doesn’t really go anywhere butto be fair a lot of it was cut out. Elaine is really good in this episode;especially the end after she discovers her boyfriends has been leading her on.She grabs a pair of scissors with a great look on her face; you don’t want tocross her! The only bad thing in the episode is the tag where Kramer isarrested for being a pimp.

Grade=B+, Decent episode

Episode 20, Season 7

The Calzone

Plot Summary-Steinbrenner becomes addicted to George’scalzone. Jerry dates a very beautiful woman. Elaine isn’t sure if her new guyis dating her or not. Kramer decided to always wear his clothes straight out ofthe dryer.

Best Quote-“Saturday night with your parents? I mean, unlessI’m your sister, this is a date!”…Elaine

Nitpick of the episode-I do think that George throwing aroundmoney the way he does in this episode is a bit out of character for him

Seinfeldism of the episode-Todd Gack has found a “datingloophole” by making a bet he knows he’s going to lose thereby not actuallyhaving to ask a woman out and risk rejection

Deleted Scenes-None for this episode

Episode Fun Fact-George tries his bathroom idea again at thestart of the episode

Final Thoughts-This is one of my favorite episodes, though Iam not sure why since it is nothing special. There is some clever stuff here,including the bit about the tip cup and the one about the dating loophole. Ilove that, although I do think Elaine should have seen through it sooner. Jerry’sstory about being able to get away with anything because he is dating abeautiful woman is effective. Kramer has one of his best stories, and who hasn’twanted to always put on clothes straight from the dryer? Of course George’sstory really steals the show, as Steinbrenner goes from being a punch line to afully fledged character. The site of him running out of the office is reallysimple but really funny. I love the end of the episode, where Kramer gets ridof his pennies and gets revenge on Todd at the same moment.

Grade=A, solid episode

Episode 21 & 22,Season 7

The Bottle Deposit

Plot Summary-Kramer and Newman run a bottle deposit scheme.Jerry has his car stolen by an insane mechanic. Elaine buys clubs belonging toJFK for Peterman. George tries to figure out what his new assignment is.

Best Quote-“Where do I find these guys?”…an exasperatedJerry after talking to the crazy mechanic on the phone.

Nitpick of the episode-Is it me or does that deposit bottlescam seem like more trouble than it’s worth? Is Newman really that stupid hethought the 5 cents were a charge rather than a refund? Why in the world didn’tElaine take the clubs inter her apartment with her? There was a deleted linesaying her elevator was broken but that still seems nuts considering howvaluable they were. And what pills are Wilhelm on (or not on) exactly that madethe report he handed in so rambled that Steinbrenner had to have Georgecommitted because of it? Finally, does Jerry ever get his car back or what?

Seinfeldism of the episode-The Kennedy’s get yet anotherSeinfeld reference

Deleted Scenes-None for this episode

Episode Fun Fact-Wayne Knight credits this episode withsaving his life. In the scene at the end when Kramer and Newman run from thefarm house, Knight felt his heart beating real fast and it compelled him to seea doctor and eventually lose a lot of weight. The ending where the daughtercalls Newman by the wrong name was a blooper they kept in.

Final Thoughts-I complained about “The Cadillac” for beingan episode stretched so thin the stories get boring. This one is worst! Like Isaid about that other episode, the shows starts pretty well but the stretchingto fit it into an hour really hurts it. Then the second half just gets bizarre.We have Jerry’s car stolen by a lunatic, George ends up committed, Kramerchasing Jerry’s car in Ohio while Newman gets inexplicably involved in a famersdaughter story. What is going on here? Like the other episode scenes had to beadded to lengthen it. That makes the episode drag, even though the whole thingwith the “Downtown” song was kind of cute. The scene where Jerry and Elaine IDthe “body” was a kind of cute too. But that’s about it.

Grade=C-, first part isn’t bad the second part just getsweird

Episode 23, Season 7

The Wait Out

Plot Summary-George inadvertently breaks up a married couple,and Jerry and Elaine conspire to sweep in and date the other. Kramer getstrapped in a pair of tight jeans.

Best Quote-“It’s gotta have something to do with Kramer”….Jerryafter hearing a screech out the door

Nitpick of the episode-Will be talking about this more in asecond, but wouldn’t it make more sense for Jerry and Elaine to really careabout the couple rather than pretending to just so they can worm their way in? Ifthey don’t really care about them then why date them? For once George does theright thing by wanting to apologize for his comment, but that kind ofillustrates  the flaw of the epiosode.

Seinfeldism of the episode-Elaine suggests being “there forthem”

Deleted Scenes-None for this episode.

Episode Fun Fact-Michael Richards hurt his back in the scenewhere Jerry tries to help Kramer out of his jeans

Final Thoughts-One of the great things about Seinfeld wasthe fact that while the characters were kind of selfish and mean, they werealso likable enough that we wanted to keep coming back. This episode is a bigexception. What is up with Jerry and Elaine in this one? The idea of waitingout a marriage is a good idea, but the way it is played is so dark! Jerry andespecially Elaine come off mean, even evil. There is one moment where they arebragging like villains, and in the next scene they almost get into a fight withGeorge! True the brawl is off screen mostly but the whole thing is justunsettling. It’s a strange episode that makes George the calm, sympatheticperson. At least Jerry seems back to normal by the end, where Elaine is just onevil bitch mode for the whole episode. On top of that we have Kramer’s storywhich is so silly, especially how it ends. They couldn’t resist that Frankensteingag could they? Ok, the scene where Kramer is unable to sit in the chair iskind of funny.

Grade=D+, to dark

Episode 24, Season 7

The Invitations

Plot Summary-Jerry meets a woman just like him and falls forher, George tries to find a way out of the wedding, Elaine tries to find a datefor the wedding, and Kramer tries to get the bank to admit they owe him moneyfor not giving a proper greeting.

Best Quote-“Wait a minute I just realized what’s going on. Now I know what I’ve been looking for all these years. Myself. I’ve beenwaiting for me to come along, and now I’veswept myself off my feet!”….Jerry  

Nitpick of the episode-Poor Susan. I heard an adage oncethat if you are exercising and feel pain or sick, then stop because there issomething wrong. I think that rule applies to everything. Unfortunately Susannever heard it, because as soon as she started feeling sick, which she clearlydid, while licking the envelopes she should have stopped, and wondered ifsomething was wrong. I tend to agree with Elaine in this episode she should bein the wedding, never understood why Susan shoots George down about it. By theway speaking of that, why does Susan suddenly become shrill and mean in thisepisode?

Seinfeldism of the episode-The invitations will come back tohaunt George

Deleted Scenes-The real George Steinbrenner was to appear inthis episode but his scenes were all cut. In watching them I am kind of glad,the scenes were kind of silly.

Episode Fun Fact-The last episode to begin with a stand-uproutine (except the finale)

Final Thoughts-I have to admit, when I first heard aboutwhat was going to happen in this episode I was appalled. But then I saw theepisode and it wasn’t so bad. There are two simple reasons we don’t hateGeorge. It was an accident for one; he didn’t intend the envelopes to be toxic.The other thing is that George doesn’t exactly get off scot free; he will payfor this the rest of the series. I never did understand the complaints, thefinal scene seems perfectly in character to me. In fact I would almost giveGeorge credit for being reserved rather than cheering or something. I thinkthat is one of most in character moments of the show. As for the rest of theepisode, Elaine disappears due to the cutting for time and Kramer’s story is justfiller. It’s good filler, but still filler. I liked Jerry falling for a womanjust like him, and any chance to see Janeane Garofolao is worth it. The episodeends with Jerry spouting the same refrain George had used all season, “We had apact!”

 Grade=B+, Elaine getsshort shrift but otherwise a solid way to end the season

Overall Season 7 was a solid season, and ended with Seinfeldat the height of its popularity. The big news at the end of the season was thatLarry David would not be returning the next year. The big question was, wouldSeinfeld be as good without him? Join me next week as we dig into Season 8. Buthere is a little hint: No.