An Analytical Episode Guide to :
Season 6, Part 2
Episode 7, Season 6
The Mom & Pop
Store
Plot Summary-Kramer gets involved with an elderly couple who
own a store. Jerry allows Kramer to give them his shoes only to lose them when
the couple split. George buys a car because it was previously owned by Jon
Voight, or was it? Elaine wins Mr.Pitt a spot holding the Woody Woodpecker
balloon at the Thanksgiving Day parade. Kramer suffers from nose bleeds while
Jerry tries to figure out if he has in fact been invited to Tim Whatley’s
party.
Best Quote-“That’s the genius of it”…Jerry responding to
George questioning why the car dealer would say the former owner was Jon Voight
of all people.
Nitpick of the episode-Once again, Elaine causes her own
troubles. She arrives at the party unable to hear a thing, why does she not
tell Tim this fact? It makes no sense; instead she tries to figure out what he
is saying and ends up offending him. I mean, it’s not as if it’s embarrassing or
some big secret, just explain what happened! I think it was supposed to be
funny but it doesn’t work.
Seinfeldism of the episode-George buys a car believing Jon
Voight was the previous owner
Deleted Scenes-Jerry calls Elaine at Mr.Pitt’s house, the
scene was actually kind of important it’s too bad they took it out the episode
would have worked better with it in
Episode Fun Fact-First episode with Tim Whatley
Final Thoughts-When I first saw this episode I hated it, but
there is a simple reason. I totally missed the Midnight Cowboy references
especially the end. I know, but Jon Voigt is not a favorite of mine and I only
saw that movie once which is a long story. After I realized what they were
going for I realized I was too hard on this episode, which is actually pretty
good. Jon Voight has an amusing cameo, wonder how he felt about biting Kramer.
Elaine’s story is dumb, we barely know that she is interested in Whatley and
then she acts so dumb in the scene I already noted. They also tried to tie
Kramer’s nose bleeds in with the kidney stone story but this also goes nowhere
and his story in this episode is bland. He has to become part of George’s story
in order to make it through the episode.
Grade=B-, not bad but not great
Episode 8, Season 6
The Soup
Plot Summary-Jerry pays dearly for a “free” suit from a
fellow comedian. After his experience with the kidney stone Kramer has decided
to only eat fresh food. George asks a waitress for a date, but his odd
conversation spoils the mood. Elaine has a friend from England visit, but it turns
out he’s no gentleman.
Best Quote-“I don’t even mind the word Manure. Its’ nure which is good, and a ma in front of it.
Manure. When you consider the other choices, manure is pretty refreshing”….George
with a line that absolutely amazes me, who says things like this?
Nitpick of the episode-Ok, let’s go over the events in this
episode. Bania calls Jerry to see if he can get his dinner. Jerry agrees so
they go to a nice restaurant. Then Bania orders soup, saying that he had a hot
dog and wants to save the meal. Ok, hold on a second! He called Jerry!! No one
forced this guy to go to dinner then, he chose to! So, Jerry is more than
justified to refuse to take Bania out again. It seems like Jerry wins one here,
but of course it comes back and bites him in the next episode. Also, Elaine
totally misses the point when Jerry complains about this to her, what kind of
soup Bania had is irrelevant. Also, what in the world makes George think that
talking about Manure would be endearing? It doesn’t even make sense to me, how
does dissecting the word make the concept more pleasant? I’m actually with the
waitress on that one, and then George tries to get her fired? Just wrong and I
am almost happy he wound up punished at the end (being forced to eat at Reggie’s
all by himself).
Seinfeldism of the episode-Jerry notes that George’s waitress
may have called an audible when he started talking about manure, “she got to
the line of scrimmage, didn’t like the look of the defense and changed the play”.
One of my favorite lines!
Deleted Scenes-George brags about making the date with the
waitress. The scene at Reggie’s was longer as was the last scene of the
episode.
Episode Fun Fact- Of course, this episode gave birth to the famous
“The soup is the best Jerry, the best!”
Final Thoughts-This episode has one of my favorite endings,
when Elaine’s jerk friend is hinting about staying thanks to the suit Jerry
gave him, Elaine tells Kenny that the suit is walking out the door. Bania and
the jerk get into a fight, while Elaine and Jerry exchange smiles. I don’t know;
guess it’s nice to see them win one for a change (even if there is a fight
going on outside where someone is probably getting hurt). Good episode, even if
Kramer once again is saddled with the weak story. He is dating a bossy girl
whom who have to wonder how he could stand for a second. Obviously the writers
had no idea where to take the whole Kramer only wants to eat fresh food thing. I
also didn’t buy the whole thing with Kramer calling his girlfriend so much that
he gets her fired. As for George, he gets zero sympathy from me in this one.
Elaine’s jerk guy is too much of a jerk; he is so unlikable it actually hurts
the episode!
Grade=B, Good effort!
Episode 9, Season 6
The Secretary
Plot Summary-George hires a secretary; he ends up having sex
with her during which he promises to give her a raise. Jerry spots his dry
cleaner wearing his jacket. Kramer sells his clothes to Bania, while Elaine
tries to return an ugly dress she purchased.
Best Quote-“Your arms look like something hanging in a
kosher deli”…George
Nitpick of the episode-I find it hard to believe the dress
Elaine wears in this episode ever looked good in any kind of lighting.
Seinfeldism of the episode-Elaine blames her purchase of the
dress on false reflecting from skinny mirrors
Deleted Scenes-None for this episode.
Episode Fun Fact-The first real appearance of the George
Steinbrenner character, voiced of course by Larry David
Final Thoughts-What a weak ending! This episode is really a
follow-up to the previous, and it is so bland. George’s story is been there,
done that. He already slept with a secretary; the only difference here is he
didn’t lose his job. Bania pops up to continue the story from the previous
episode, and Jerry ends up getting the raw end of the deal and is forced to
have not one, but two dinners with him! Kramer is just here to be dumb, why
would he give his clothes to Bania? Even the thing about Uma Thurman is boring,
why pick her it could have been any actress for all the difference it made?
Jerry is good in this episode but the story is not enough to make this one
interesting.
Grade=C-, Bland bland bland (even the dvd had nothing to
offer on this one)
Episode 10, Season 6
The Switch
Plot Summary-George dates a woman whom he believes is bulimic.
He enlists Kramer’s mothers help to prove it, in the process learning a secret.
Jerry dates a woman who doesn’t laugh at anything he say, which has roommate
who does. He and George try to determine how to successfully perform the
roommate switch. Elaine tries to get her racquet back.
Best Quote-“Do you ever just get down on your knees and
thank god you know me and have access to my dementia?”….George.
Nitpick of the episode-Maybe it’s me, but I just don’t
understand why Elaine can’t just take the racquet back. Yeah, I can see how it
is awkward with the woman crying and all, but still it is her racquet! I also
agree with George, since Kramer was fully aware of the plan with his mother
then he could have informed George after that plan evaporated when his mother
quit at Kramer’s urging.
Seinfeldism of the episode-We finally learn Kramer’s first
name is Cosmo
Deleted Scenes-We get a longer description of the injury
Ms.Landis suffered
Episode Fun Fact-It was here the creators finally decided it
was time to at long last reveal what Kramer’s first name was.
Final Thoughts-I really liked this episode. The whole thing
was done well, including the reveal of Kramer’s name. Rather than hype it up through
the whole episode they do it very quickly and simply. It’s a great moment and
then the show moves on. Nice. Cosmo is very clever, and sticks for the rest of
the series. On top of that the way the whole thing with the roommate switch
handled is just so great. Sometimes doing things different can be a good thing,
and it is here. I also loved Kramer’s mother and wish we’d seen her a few more
times. They even handle George’s story just right, so that George is neurotic
without being totally insensitive. The whole ménage a toi thing is silly, but
also quite funny. And the turn the master plan takes is hilarious! Elaine has
the only weak story, it just doesn’t work the way I think it was intended to. The
scene with Julia and Terry Sweeney is a classic however.
Grade=A-, good stuff here
Episode 11, Season 6
The Race
Plot Summary-Jerry dates a woman named Lois, whose boss
happens to be an old friend from high school who refuses to believe Jerry beat
him in a race. George is mistaken for a communist while Elaine dates a man who
actually is. Kramer plays Santa Claus at the mall.
Best Quote-“I choose not to run”….Jerry
Nitpick of the episode-Elaine orders the Chinese food using
Ned’s name, and then we see her “accidentally” come out of the kitchen so the
delivery guy can catch her. Ok, how hard would it have been to make sure she
hid until the guy had left? Also, Ned shouldn’t be mad at her because she tried
to explain that she’d had a fight with the guy earlier. Another Elaine moment
that doesn’t work.
Seinfeldism of the episode-George gets to finally pretend to
be an architect!
Deleted Scenes- Lots, including an entire scene with Kramer
infiltrating the Cuban embassy in a Santa suit, coming down a chimney no less. It’s too bad they had to cut it.
Episode Fun Fact-For obvious reasons this is a favorite of
Jerry’s
Final Thoughts-What can you say about this one? The Jerry
story is classic, which is good because the other stories in this episode are week
as heck. When you see how much was cut out of Kramer’s story you can see why it
goes nowhere. Though it is nice to see Mickey again. George’s story is filler,
and Elaine’s isn’t much better. I always hated the Cuban thing, just didn’t
work for me. However, thank goodness we get Jerry and the great scene at the
end with the race accompanied by the Superman music. Then the way Jerry pushes
Elaine out of the way at the end to hug Lois, that is just a great moment and Jerry
is just fantastic in this episode.
Grade=B+, giving this
episode a bit of a break because of that last scene
Episode 12, Season 6
The Label Maker
Plot Summary-Jerry can’t get rid of Super Bowl tickets, and
when he does give them to Tim Whatley
Time responds with a thank you gift which Elaine had previously given
him. Kramer and Newman play a board game while George dates a woman with a male
roommate who looks like him.
Best Quote-“I’m going to the Super Bowl with Tim Whatley”….Elaine
and this line is better when heard
Nitpick of the episode- This episode is a great example of
how Jerry just manipulates George’s neuroses for his own enjoyment. When George
is complaining that his girlfriend has a male roommate, Jerry supports George’s
drive to do something to change the situation. When he does, and the roommate
is gone, Jerry suddenly does a 180 and points out that George had unwittingly
made a commitment to her, and ruined a good thing. Um, then why didn’t Jerry
advise George not to do anything in the first conversation? Because he couldn’t
get to watch George squirm, of course. Oh, and who’s dumb enough to use a label
maker to label boxes? Always use a marker!
Seinfeldism of the episode-Tim is a re-gifter after he
re-gifted the label maker
Deleted Scenes- More with Newman trying to cheat
Episode Fun Fact-Julia Louis Dreyfuss was quite ill during
the filming on this episode
Final Thoughts- Good episode is ruined by the lame Kramer
and Newman story. I mean, it’s just a board game guys! It is fun to watch the
Super Bowl tickets get handed around. George is classic in this episode, first
worrying about a problem and then when he solves the problem it just leads to
more worrying. The ending has him trying the ménage a toi bit he had previously
sold Jerry on, only to have it similarly backfire on him. The bit about the
re-gifter is so great that regifting became part of popular culture after this
episode. I also like the line about how if you repeat the name of a gift when
you open it; it means you can’t possibly like it. To true. Jerry is the one who
ends up suffering at the end, being stuck next to Newman at the big game.
Grade=B+, Kramer’s story is just boring
No comments:
Post a Comment