Well, here we are in 2012 and I figured it was about time I
started to review something. My expertise is television, so it seemed natural
to review a TV series. My specialty is 80's and 90's, but I wanted to start
with a show that is very well known. That omits most of the 80's shows, except
maybe Cosby. I also wanted to review a show people knew well enough so that
they could understand the conversation without having to jump on YouTube and
watch the episodes. The most natural show was Seinfeld, whether you love it or
not it's safe to say most are familiar with it. Then the question was, which
episodes should I talk about? I already talked about the one's I hated, and
what I really want to do is discuss the series as a whole. I figured if Doug
Walker could review every Disney movie in December, why can't I review every
episode of Seinfeld? So, after much consideration I give you my analytical episode guide to NBC's mega-hit:
So, how am I going to organize this? The episodes are broken
down very nicely on the DVD's, so what I will do is basically take one DVD at a
time and review the episodes on them. There will be criteria, which I will
share shortly, and since this is an episode review not a DVD review I will not
discuss bonus features unless it is directly related to an episode (like
deleted scenes and other trivia). These DVD's have amazing documentaries,
blooper reels, and other stuff but I will not be getting into those. Also, no
counters. That has been done to death, and I don’t want to be guilty of just
copying others.
What I will have is a plot summary, final grade and
thoughts, a little nitpicking, seinfeldisms (a look at a special phrase or
expression that only Seinfeld could create), episode fun facts which can be
trivia or bloopers in the show, and my favorite quote of the episode. So, here
we go with the first installment of this Seinfeld guide. Please feel free at
the end to offer any comments or suggestions, and remember this is all opinion.
I will do my best to get the facts straight, but I'm only human.
First, a quick history lesson. Seinfeld premiered on NBC
July 5, 1989 as the Seinfeld Chronicles. However, NBC was a little nervous
about this show. The next summer another
four episodes aired (along with the pilot again) as a kind of test run and did
very well overall. That is why the first season is only five episodes long, and
it is those episodes we will be looking at today.
Season 1, Episode 1
Good News, Bad News
Plot Summary-Jerry gets a call from an old female friend
saying she will be coming to town and may see him if she can. The episode is
basically Jerry and George debating on whether or not he will actually see the
girl, until she calls and asks to stay over. Jerry thinks it’s a romantic situation
until she reveals she has a fiancée. If you’re wondering what George and
Kramer’s story are, they don’t have on in this veerry early episode.
Best Quote: "its signals Jerry!"...George to Jerry
Nitpick of the episode-What woman stays at an apartment of
someone she hardly knows, and then just mentions she is engaged? This was the
"nice" Jerry phase of the series when the idea was to just dump on Jerry
and make his life miserable and he just had to take it, which is clear in this
episode and the next. I also love how her fiancée is jealous, now why would
that be?
Seinfeldism of the episode: There really isn't one in this
episode, but the opening conversation about buttons is duplicated as the
closing conversation in the finale.
Deleted Scenes-None for this episode
Episode Fun Fact-The pilot was filmed at Stage 8 of Desilu
Cahuenga studios, the same studio where The Dick Van Dyke show was filmed. Also,
in the episode Kramer has a dog named Ralph, which was supposed to tie into a
stand-up bit. The bit was dropped, but the dog remained so for one episode
Kramer has a dog for no reason, which is never seen again.
Final Thoughts: To watch this show as it originally aired is
fascinating, the music and title’s are so different. Anyway, it’s a general
rule of TV not to pick on a pilot episode to hard. Of course, the show is not
going to look exactly like the later product and this one is no exception. No
Elaine, Jerry lives in a studio apartment, George is doing a Woody Allen
impression, Kramer is called Kessler, and there is almost more standup then
story. With this series I loved the standup in the opening but having it sprinkled
through the episode was annoying, the way it stopped the story cold. Glad that
didn’t last long, and in fact all of these problems will fade away, and you can
totally see the seed being planted which will grow into the show we love.
Grade= C, slow pace and way too much stand-up, but a smart
script (being fair because it is, after all, the pilot)
Season 1, Episode 2
Male Unbonding
Plot Summary-When Jerry tries to “break up” with his
annoying friend Joel, the man cries so Jerry takes it back. Jerry then comes up
with a list of excuses he can use to avoid seeing him. Once again George and
Kramer don’t get stories; they are here to comment on Jerry. George does do
some complaining about a girlfriend but that barely rates as a story.
Best Quote-“You want me to roll 6,000 of these? Should I
quit my job?” George complaining at the bank about his jar of coins which the
bank will not roll for him.
Nitpick of the episode- An easy one, why does Jerry put up
with this Joel guy? Is this the same Jerry that would blow off a guy on a
subway later in “The Pool Guy”? Also, I guess Joel doesn’t really know Jerry so
well. Jerry gets out of going with him to a game by saying he was tutoring his
nephew. Since Jerry has no siblings, how could he have a nephew? I know, this
is just the second episode but how could I resist?
Seinfeldism of the episode-Kramerica Industries, and
Kramer’s first brilliant idea. A pizza place where you can make your own pie.
This idea would be revisited later.
Deleted Scenes-A longer scene at the end with Elaine and
Jerry making up one excuse after another and Joel fishing for a date with
Elaine. Finally Jerry tells Joel to go away.
Episode Fun Fact-This episode first aired with the classic
Seinfeld theme we all know and love.
Final Thoughts: Nice to see Elaine. Also the first shot of
Monk’s, and Jerry’s apartment is no longer a studio. The slow pacing of the
series is still full in force, but that’s ok. Joel is really annoying, but
Kevin Dunn keeps him from being so irritating that you can’t even watch the
episode. For the second episode, this is
a pretty good show even if the supporting characters are here just to, well,
support. Not like later episodes when the supporting characters almost have
more story than Jerry.
Grade=C+, victim of slow pacing once again but the situation
is relatable.
Season 1, Episode 3
The Stake Out
Plot Summary- Jerry goes with Elaine to a party, where he
meets a girl. He wants to ask her about but is not sure how to discuss this
with Elaine, his ex-girlfriend. Jerry and George stake out the building in
order to meet her, which does, but Elaine finds out that this happened which
leads to an awkward conversation. Jerry and Elaine then agree that if they are
to be friends they need to be able to discuss other relationships. Once again,
George and Kramer have no story per se.
Best Quote-“Do you date immature men?”….Jerry to the woman
at the party
Nitpick of the episode-There’s a line in this episode where
a relative, realizing no one was traveling with him, wonders why he brought the
wagon. Of course, referring to a station wagon. You have to love a show using a
reference that was dated even then.
Seinfeldism of the episode-We get introduced to George’s
alias Art Vandelay, the job of being an importer-exporter, and his interest in pretending
to be an Architect all of which would be brought up again many times over the
years.
Deleted Scenes-None in this episode
Episode Fun Fact-In the opening scene, a woman walks off the
stage and can clearly be seen taking a step to get off of it.
Final Thoughts-This episode is so slow, again, but it is pretty
clever. It was nice of Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David to realize they needed to
do a little back story on the Jerry and Elaine relationship, which is what this
episode is really all about. We also meet Jerry’s parents, and while Morty is
played by another actor Helen is played by Liz Sheridan. She is the recurring character who has been
with the show the longest. In fact the only flaw in the script is the family
wedding Jerry’s parents are there for, which really serves no purpose to the
story.
Grade-B, all the episodes in this season suffer from the
same slow pace. However, the writing is good and the jokes are funny. Plus we
get our first real glimpse of the George character we will come to know and
love through the series.
Season 1, Episode 4
The Robbery
Plot Summary- When Jerry goes on a trip, Kramer leaves the
apartment door open. Jerry comes home to find the apartment had been robbed.
George convinces Jerry to move into another place he is currently aware of
(remember he’s in real estate at this point), which excites Elaine because she
wants Jerry’s apartment. However, when George shows the place to Jerry, George
suddenly wants it for himself. After debating on who should get it, neither
take it and instead a waitress moves in leaving Jerry, George, and Elaine with
nothing.
Best Quote-“It’s the most impenetrable lock on the market
today. There is one design flaw. The door…must be closed!”….Jerry to Kramer,
regarding the lock on his door.
Nitpick of the episode-The idea of George not knowing about
the place until after he has shown it to Jerry, and then falling in love with
the place and being jealous is hard to swallow, he’s in real estate couldn’t he
find a great place pretty easily? To be fair though, it is classic George.
Seinfeldism of the episode-Jerry and George settle on a coin
toss to decide who gets the apartment. When it bounces off the counter George
calls interference and says the toss shouldn’t count. (this was early in the
run and so there were no real catchphrases per se)
Deleted Scenes-None in this episode
Episode Fun Fact-This episode is based on Jerry Seinfeld’s
real life experience of being robbed. In his case, the robbers literally broke
through the wall
.
.
Final Thoughts-This is the first episode that doesn’t feel
like it’s stuck in the first season rut of slow pacing. Most notably in the
scene where Jerry and George argue about who is going to get the apartment. Even
Kramer acts more like his later self in this episode, unlike the odd goofball
he is the rest of this season. The ending is a little weak, but that’s ok.
Grade-B, All the signs of what would make Seinfeld great are
here.
Season 1, Episode 5
The Stock Tip
Plot Summary- George convinces Jerry to go in on a stock.
When the stock starts to dive, Jerry wants out. After he sells, the stock
shoots through the roof. Jerry has a nightmare date/trip to Vermont, while
Elaine deals with a boyfriend who has cats she is allergic to. In the end,
Jerry loses the girl and the stock, Elaine loses the guy, and George is rolling
in cash.
Best Quote-“I would like for once to hear a dry cleaner
admit that something was their fault”…Jerry, complaining about a shrunken
shirt.
Nitpick of the episode-Guess Jerry should have checked the
weather forecast before going on a long weekend with a girl he has only been
dating a short while.
Seinfeldism of the episode-The episode begins with Jerry and
George discussing whether or not Superman has a great sense of humor. This is
the first Seinfeld reference to Superman. Also, Kramer has an idea for a roll
out tie dispenser. (I promise, these will get better)
Deleted Scenes-None from this episode.
Episode Fun Fact-As you could tell from the episode description,
this episode tries to give each character an individual story (except Kramer).
This is the first time the show did this, and of course before long this would
be the standard for the show.
Final Thoughts- I never cared for this episode. Even though
there are some good jokes, the whole stock tip premise is so predictable. I
know it’s early in the run, but the idea George would invest money in anything,
and then remain calm when the stock does badly, is contradictory to his
character. We also know how Elaine’s story and Jerry’s trip would end before
they began. Plus, Kramer’s joy at how much money Jerry is losing is plain
annoying. For a show that was the anti-sitcom, we get a very traditional sitcom
episode. The one exception is the scene with the dry cleaner, which is the
closest this episode comes to classic Seinfeld.
Grade-D, the story is
just cliché and predictable. It’s more annoying than funny.
Only five shows were produced, but fortunately they did well
enough for NBC to order 13 more to be featured as a mid-season replacement in
1991. That would make up the second season, which we will begin to discuss next
time.
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