Analytical Episode Guide-Seinfeld (Season 7, Part 4)

An Analytical Episode Guide to :

 

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 cars is being used by hookers. Jerry is offended when someone asks Elaine out in front of him. Kramer locks himself out of his apartment.

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

Nitpick of the episode-I hate the jiffy park guy in this episode! Every time that scene comes on where he refuses to give George his car, 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 get it out? As George himself says, it’s a parking lot!

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

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

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

Final Thoughts- This is pretty solid episode. George is frustrated in this episode, first by the house guest and then after he finds a condom in his car. This is a pretty typical George episode. Kramer’s story is kind of weak, sure there are a few good jokes but it really doesn’t add up to much. It’s ok though because he gets that amusing scene at the end when he wears the Technicolor dream coat. Jerry’s story doesn’t really go anywhere but to 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 to cross her! The only bad thing in the episode is the tag where Kramer is arrested for being a pimp.

Grade=B+, Decent episode

Episode 20, Season 7

The Calzone

 

Plot Summary-Steinbrenner becomes addicted to George’s calzone. Jerry dates a very beautiful woman. Elaine isn’t sure if her new guy is dating her or not. Kramer decided to always wear his clothes straight out of the dryer.

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

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

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

Deleted Scenes-None for this episode

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

Final Thoughts-This is one of my favorite episodes, though I am 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. I love that, although I do think Elaine should have seen through it sooner. Jerry’s story about being able to get away with anything because he is dating a beautiful woman is effective. Kramer has one of his best stories, and who hasn’t wanted to always put on clothes straight from the dryer? Of course George’s story really steals the show, as Steinbrenner goes from being a punch line to a fully fledged character. The site of him running out of the office is really simple but really funny. I love the end of the episode, where Kramer gets rid of 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 to JFK for Peterman. George tries to figure out what his new assignment is.

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

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

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

Deleted Scenes-None for this episode

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

Final Thoughts-I complained about “The Cadillac” for being an episode stretched so thin the stories get boring. This one is worst! Like I said about that other episode, the shows starts pretty well but the stretching to 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, Kramer chasing Jerry’s car in Ohio while Newman gets inexplicably involved in a famers daughter story. What is going on here? Like the other episode scenes had to be added to lengthen it. That makes the episode drag, even though the whole thing with the “Downtown” song was kind of cute. The scene where Jerry and Elaine ID the “body” was a kind of cute too. But that’s about it.

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

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 gets trapped in a pair of tight jeans.

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

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

Seinfeldism of the episode-Elaine suggests being “there for them”

Deleted Scenes-None for this episode.

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

Final Thoughts-One of the great things about Seinfeld was the fact that while the characters were kind of selfish and mean, they were also likable enough that we wanted to keep coming back. This episode is a big exception. What is up with Jerry and Elaine in this one? The idea of waiting out a marriage is a good idea, but the way it is played is so dark! Jerry and especially Elaine come off mean, even evil. There is one moment where they are bragging like villains, and in the next scene they almost get into a fight with George! True the brawl is off screen mostly but the whole thing is just unsettling. It’s a strange episode that makes George the calm, sympathetic person. At least Jerry seems back to normal by the end, where Elaine is just on evil bitch mode for the whole episode. On top of that we have Kramer’s story which is so silly, especially how it ends. They couldn’t resist that Frankenstein gag could they? Ok, the scene where Kramer is unable to sit in the chair is kind of funny.

Grade=D+, to dark

Episode 24, Season 7

The Invitations

 

Plot Summary-Jerry meets a woman just like him and falls for her, George tries to find a way out of the wedding, Elaine tries to find a date for the wedding, and Kramer tries to get the bank to admit they owe him money for 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 been waiting for me to come along, and now I’ve swept myself off my feet!”….Jerry  

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

Seinfeldism of the episode-The invitations will come back to haunt George

Deleted Scenes-The real George Steinbrenner was to appear in this 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-up routine (except the finale)

Final Thoughts-I have to admit, when I first heard about what was going to happen in this episode I was appalled. But then I saw the episode and it wasn’t so bad. There are two simple reasons we don’t hate George. 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 pay for this the rest of the series. I never did understand the complaints, the final scene seems perfectly in character to me. In fact I would almost give George credit for being reserved rather than cheering or something. I think that is one of most in character moments of the show. As for the rest of the episode, Elaine disappears due to the cutting for time and Kramer’s story is just filler. It’s good filler, but still filler. I liked Jerry falling for a woman just like him, and any chance to see Janeane Garofolao is worth it. The episode ends with Jerry spouting the same refrain George had used all season, “We had a pact!”

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

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