This episode guide is courtesy of Entertainment Weekly Magazine. I have included links to the Internet Movie Database for each of actors and actresses who make a guest appearance on the show. If you have any feedback, please e-mail me and let me know. Thanks! RobSeason 1
1 July 5, 1989 The Seinfeld Chronicles
Synopsis Bearing the sitcom's original title, "The Seinfeld Chronicles," TV's longest-running art-imitates-life eavesdrop begins minus Elaine, with a different theme, a hangout called Pete's Luncheonette, a flat-topped Kramer, and Jerry living in a studio (with a skylight!). What is firmly in place is the trademark show-about-nothing concept, by which plot points serve largely as launchpads for the loopy, nitpicky digressions that occupy these friends. As with many of the early episodes, it's heavily punctuated with clips from Jerry's "Did you ever notice this, did you ever notice that" stand-up routine - apparently meant to drive home the connection between his reality and his shtick. The comic MacGuffin here is Jerry's anxiety over the impending overnight visit of a woman he met while gigging in Michigan: Is it a love connection or just a friendly crash?
2 May 31, 1990 The Stakeout
Synopsis Jerry offers to attend a birthday party with ex-girlfriend, now buddy Elaine Marie Benes (he'll do it if she'll accompany him to a dreaded family wedding - establishing the there's-always-a-catch element to Jerry's friendships). At the part, our hero becomes infatuated with Vanessa (Lynn Clarke), a friend of a friend of Elaine's. Due to post- breakup politics, he feels he can't ask Elaine for Vanessa's number, and is reduced to lingering outside her office.
Introduces Jerry's parents, Helen (Liz Sheridan) and beltless-trench-coat inventor Morty (Phil Burns, soon to be replaced by Barney Martin).
Historic Moments Debut of mainstay director Cherones, apartment 5A, the show's distinctive, funky- percussive theme song (written by Jonathan Wolff), and Liar Boy George's all-purpose pseudonym and sometimes alter ego, Art Vandelay - usually an importer-exporter.
3 June 7, 1990 The Robbery
Synopsis Real estate agent George offers Jerry a shot at the dream pad - then decides he wants it too. Elaine - forever in search of the perfect apartment - stands to inherit Jerry's place if he moves. Typically, by episode's end, everybody loses.
Historic Moment First real entrance from Kramer.
4 June 14, 1990 Male Unbonding
Synopsis The initial exploration of the male-friendship-as-relationship motif, as Jerry decides to "break up" with tiresome, self-involved Joel (Kevin Dunn) but can't bring himself to do it.
5 June 21, 1990 The Stock Tip
Synopsis See George persuade Jerry to invest $2,500 in a stock he heard about from a Wall Street contact. See Jerry panic and pull out after losing a mint. See George hang tough and reap a windfall. See allergic Elaine lose out to new beau Robert's cats.
Sexual Dealing Jerry defines Phase 2, the second stage of a relationship, marked by "extra toothbrushes, increased phone call frequency, [and] walking around naked."
Historic Moment The Superman leitmotiv debuts with two references to Jerry's favorite comicbook hero.
Season 2
6 January 23, 1991 The Ex-Girlfriend
Synopsis Jerry develops a "psychosexual" need for George's ex, Marlene (Tracy Kolis). Elaine gets into the first of many paranoid confrontations, this time with a neighbor who has stopped saying hello.
Historic Moments Our first glimpse of Jerry in his car. (These people regularly drive in Manhattan? They truly are nuts.) Kramer inaugurates two trademark obsessions: fresh fruit and golf.
7 January 30, 1991 The Pony Remark
Synopsis At his elderly cousin Manya's 50th-anniversary party, Jerry makes a disparaging remark about people who had ponies as kids. When Manya, a former pony owner, takes offense, then proceeds to drop dead, Jerry is racked with guilt.
Introduces Barney Martin as Jerry's father, as well as the delightfully cantankerous Uncle Leo (Len Lesser), avid fan of cousin Jeffrey (sometimes whom, along with much-mentioned Kramer bud Tom Sacamano, we will never see. Says Seinfeld: "They've become too large in our imagination for anyone to fill those shoes:).
8 February 6, 1991 The Jacket
Synopsis Almost as inexplicable as Jerry's shelling out countless hundreds for a simple suede jacket is the enveloping sense of confidence it bestows upon him. Both are imperiled by the arrival of Elaine's irascible novelist father, Alton Benes (Lawrence Tierney).
Historic Moment Establishes Elaine's first job (manuscript reader at Pendant Publishing) but little else about her immediate family. A few things we will learn: She's from Towson, Md., had a sister in St. Louis, and an uncle who worked in the Dallas book depository with Lee Harvey Oswald.
9 February 13, 1991 The Phone Message
Synopsis A blown invitation for "coffee" and an unreturned phone call from a could-be-girlfriend prompt George's insecurities to run amok. Jerry dates then is dumped by, a woman because she's a fan of a Dockers commercial (ironically, he gripes, "They're talking about nothing!").
Historic Moment Marks the debut of a trend: Jerry's capricious dumping of girlfriends.
10 April 4, 1991 The Apartment
Synopsis Jerry offers to hook Elaine up with a dirt-cheap apartment in his building, then immediately reconsiders. George, believing women to be more attracted to married men, sports a wedding band.
Wise Crack George's dubious take on the matador profession: "What's the big deal? You wave the cape, the bull charges, you get out of the way."
Historic Moment The premiere of Elaine's patented "Get out!" shove, and the much-referred-to "pop-in" (unexpected visits - as in, Elaine will be popping in all the time if she moves upstairs).
11 April 11, 1991 The Statue
Synopsis Elaine's editing of arrogant Finnish novelist Rava (Nurit Koppel) leads Jerry to a housekeeper; Rava's flakily highbrow beau, Ray (Michael D. Conway). When a family memento (coveted by George) disappears, Kramer plays cop to get it back from Ray.
12 April 18, 1991 The Revenge
Synopsis George quits his job at Rick-Bar Properties when he is banned from the executive toilet, then reconsiders. When the boss won't rehire him, George enlists Elaine to "slip him a Mickey" at a company party. Jerry and Kramer pursue a vendetta of their own at the laundromat.
Introduces Newman, sort of: He's heard but not seen as he threatens a suicidal leap - from the second floor.
13 April 25, 1991 The Heart Attack
Synopsis After watching a TV show on heart attacks, suggestible George believes he's having one; when a hospital visit proves it's just tonsillitis, miserly George opts for Kramer's holistic healer, Tor Akman (Stephen Tobolowsky), and finds you get what you pay for.
14 May 2, 1991 The Deal
Synopsis Couch-bound and bored watching the "naked station," Jerry and Elaine decide to have sex - albeit with friendship-protecting ground rules. All is well until Elaine's birthday, when Jerry must now come up with a gift appropriate to their now-nebulous connection.
Historic Moment Jerry estimates he and Elaine had sex 25 times when they were dating; Elaine says it was 37.
15 May 16, 1991 The Baby Shower
Synopsis Two absurdly disparate events - a baby shower and an illegal cable-TV installation (engineered by Kramer) - converge in Jerry's apartment on a fateful Saturday. And George has a bone to pick with the prospective mommy, an egocentric performance artist who once humiliated him with chocolate syrup.
Historic Moment We learn the significance of the "Airport Pickup/Drop-Off"; the ultimate act of self- sacrificing loyalty between friends, though it sometimes masks ulterior motives: Here, Jerry is suspicious when George offers to pick him up during a blizzard.
16 May 23, 1991 The Chinese Restaurant
Synopsis En route to a Plan 9 From Outer Space screening, Jerry, George, and Elaine wait for a table in a Chinese restaurant.
Creative Casting James Hong as the passive-aggressive maitre d'.
17 June 26, 1991 The Busboy
Synopsis George inadvertently gets a busboy (David Labiosa) fired, then haplessly tries to make amends. Elaine reluctantly entertains a guest from Seattle ("He's a wonderful guy, but I hate his guts," she says with characteristic irony).
Historic Moments First reference to Kramer as the K-Man. We learn that George went to fat camp.
Season 3
18 September 18, 1991 The Note
Synopsis Visits to massage therapists by Jerry, Elaine, and George lead to (1) Jerry being suspected of child abuse, (2) his dentist being investigated for insurance fraud, and (3) George questioning his heterosexuality ("I think it moved").
Historic Moments The one and only time we hear annoying background singers accompanying the Seinfeld theme. Jerry's apartment gets its now legendary couch and chair. We learn that shy- bladdered George is a "stall man."
19 September 25, 1991 The Truth
Synopsis "I've driven women to lesbianism before, but never to a mental institution," says George, whose atypical, brutally honest breakup with flaky accountant Patrice (Valerie Mahaffey) provokes a meltdown that lands her in the "nervous" hospital. The real crisis, however, is that she's got Jerry's tax records and he's being audited.
20 October 2, 1991 The Pen
Synopsis Elaine accompanies Jerry to the Sunshine State, where his dad is being feted by the condo association. When Jerry accepts an "astronaut pen" (it writes upside down!) from neighbor Jack Klompus, it triggers a retirement community scandal. Elaine, meanwhile, is hobbled by the Seinfelds' pull-out couch.
Introduces Sandy Baron as crusty troublemaker Jack Klompus.
21 October 9, 1991 The Dog
Synopsis On a plane trip, Jerry's drunken seatmate takes ill, saddling Jerry with custody of his mutt, Farfel. The unwanted guest makes him a prisoner in his own house.
Historic Moment We learn that Jerry gargles (very quietly) six times a day.
22 October 16, 1991 The Library
Synopsis Jerry is slapped with a 20-year overdue notice for Tropic of Cancer. The ensuing investigation sparks a traumatic "memory burn" for George: His sadistic high school gym teacher, Mr. Heyman (Biff Yeager) - he of the "little baked bean" teeth and atomic wedgies - is now a vagrant who calls the library steps home.
Wise Crack Atomic wedgies are how boys torture each other. Asked for a female parallel, Elaine says girls "just tease someone until they develop an eating disorder."
Creative Casting Philip Baker Hall as hard-boiled library gumshoe Lieutenant Bookman (!).
23 October 30, 1991 The Parking Garage
Synopsis Scenes from a mall, as the foursome search for Kramer's car in a parking garage while schlepping the world's cheapest air conditioner.
Historic Moment Jerry and George are apprehended while relieving themselves against a wall. Says Alexander of this, his favorite episode: "We filmed for four days straight, 16-hour days. It was the first time we got giddy at three in the morning and really lost our minds."
24 November 6, 1991 The Cafe
Synopsis Jerry decides to help struggling restauranteur Babu Bhatt drum up business. Elaine assists George in an IQ-test caper.
Introduces Brian George as the too-trusting (at first) Babu, who will receive more "help" from Jerry down the line.
Historic Moments Debut of the never-used bicycle, which hangs next to Jerry's bathroom. We learn that Elaine is a genius (IQ 145).
25 November 13, 1991 The Tape
Synopsis While attending one of Jerry's stand-up gigs, Elaine anonymously talks dirty into his tape recorder; after learning that it's her, George (and eventually the others) see Ms. Benes in a whole new light. At the same time, George experiments with an exotic Chinese balding cure.
Introduces Ping Wu as delivery guy Ping, Elaine's future nemesis.
26 November 20, 1991 The Nose Job
Synopsis A guilt-ridden George considers breaking up with Audrey (Susan Diol) because she has a big nose. Jerry deals with superficiality issues of his own in his fling with a bimboid "actress" (Tawny Kitaen).
Wise Crack The Kitaen elevator encounter provides Jerry's looniest come-on: "You know, I'm the one responsible for those crop circles in England."
Historic Moments We learn Kramer's mom is named Babs, and she's "a drunken stumblebum."
27 November 27, 1991 The Stranded
Synopsis George drags Jerry and Elaine to a party in the suburbs (hosted by Michael Chiklis), then leaves them hanging when a smitten coworker offers sex.
Sexual Dealing Jerry and George discuss their all-purpose Male Code, a set of rules by which men interact: E.g., if two men go to a party and one gets lucky, he is under no obligation to drive his friend home.
Historic Moment Elaine's heated anti-fur rantings point out her character's scattershot sociopolitical consciousness, which seems to be more about getting in people's faces than explaining a heartfelt belief.
28 December 4, 1991 The Alternate Side
Synopsis Jerry's car is stolen. George takes over for vacationing Sid (Jay Brooks), the car parker on Jerry's block, and wreaks havoc on traffic. Elaine's "vibrant" 66-year-old boyfriend Owen (Edward Penn) strokes out minutes before she can break up with him. Kramer gets one line in a Woody Allen movie ("These pretzels are making me thirsty").
Sexual Dealing When Elaine wants to dump Owen over the phone, Jerry corrects her, opining "Seven dates is a face-to-face breakup."
29 December 11, 1991 The Red Dot
Synopsis Elaine's recovering alcoholic beau (David Naughton), a damaged cashmere sweater, a brief job at Pendant Publishing for George, and desktop sex with a cleaning woman keep this holiday crackling.
Introduces Richard Fancy as Mr. Lippman, Elaine's boss at Pendant (played by Harris Shore in episode 22).
30 January 8, 1992 The Subway
Synopsis The first plot to proceed on four different tracks, literally, as Jerry (retrieving his recovered car), Elaine (on her way to a lesbian wedding), George (en route to a job interview), and Kramer (bound for driving-violations court) have disparate subway experiences.
Historic Moment Jerry first refers to George as Death of a Salesman's Biff - "the biggest loser in the history of American literature."
31 January 15, 1992 The Pez Dispenser
Synopsis In order to obtain "hand" (as in the upper hand) in his relationship with a humorless concert pianist, George plans a "preemptive breakup." Jerry reluctantly participates in a friend's drug intervention. Kramer dreams up a cologne that smells like the beach.
Sexual Dealing George on dating and dining: "Lunch is fine at the beginning. Then you move on to dinner. You can't go back to lunch - it's like being demoted."
32 January 29, 1992 The Suicide
Synopsis Bizarrely, another episode guest-starring a product (Drake's Coffee Cake): Jerry's neighbor Martin (C.E. Grimes) attempts suicide, leaving him in a coma and opening the door for Jerry to date his exotic girlfriend, Gina (Gina Gallego). Butt-phobic Elaine offends a chain-smoking, pregnant psychic just as she is about to reveal George's destiny.
Introduces Wayne Knight as misanthropic Kramer cohort Newman. We're never told the origin of Jerry and Newman's mutual hatred; Seinfeld sees it as simply a dramatic given (and draws a familiar parallel): "Superman had his Lex Luthor. He's mine."
33 February 5, 1992 The Fix-Up
Synopsis Neurotic, bulimic Cynthia (Maggie Wheeler) tells Elaine she's looking to meet a guy who "has nothing. Somebody who just has to appreciate being with me because he's so desperate." Naturally, matchmakers Elaine and Jerry think of George, who promptly - and proudly - saddles Cynthia with a pregnancy scare ("My boys can swim!").
Historic Moments First mention of "the vault," the impenetrable mental chamber where secrets are kept. We learn of George's hidden talents; according to a hyperbolic Jerry he can "run like the wind and...lift 100 pounds over his head [and] bait a book."
34 February 12, 1992 The Boyfriend
Synopsis In the series' first hour-long edition, a chance lokcer-room meeting pulls Jerry into a friendship-cum-romance with New York Met Keith Hernandez (playing himself); when Elaine starts dating him, Jerry's not sure whom he's jealous of. Kramer and Newman have their own connection to the Game 6 legend - a fateful 1987 "assassination" incident outside Shea Stadium. Meanwhile, George "the chucker" is in full fraudulent swing as he tries to extend his unemployment benefits.
Sexual Dealings George muses on the phenomenon of the Brother-Sister Couple: people so perfect for each other they even look alike (George figures he'll never be half of one due to the paucity of bald women). Jerry, meanwhile, puts a romantic twist on the act of helping a friend move: While committing not quite as intimate a favor as driving one to the airport, he equates helping Hernandez move with "going all the way."
Introduces Former Jerry neighbors and new parents Michael (here played by Stephen Prutting, later by Mark L. Taylor) and Carol (Lisa Mende), they of the "You gotta see the bay-bee" whine.
Historic Moments First real "Hello, Newman." And we learn Jerry's original phone number: KL5-8383 (by episode 84, it's KL5-2390).
35 February 26, 1992 The Limo
Synopsis An airport scam goes horribly wrong, as George (with Jerry) impersonates Mr. O'Brien to appropriate his limo. Turns out he's the leader of a neo-Nazi group, and the car is en route to a rally.
36 March 4, 1992 The Good Samaritan
Synopsis An outraged Jerry chases down a hit-and-run driver, only to end up dating her. George has an affair with a married woman. Kramer experiences seizures triggered by the voice of Entertainment Tonight's Mary Hart. (Don't we all?)
37 March 25, 1992 The Letter
Synopsis Jerry dates jealous, Neil Simon-plagiarizing painter Nina (Catherine Wheeler), whose father is an accountant for the Yankees; Elaine causes a brouhaha when she wears an Orioles cap in the owner's box. The art world gets a load of Kramer.
Wise Crack Jerry on why he wears button-fly jeans: "That is one place on my wardrobe I do not need interlocking metal teeth. It's like a mink trap down there."
38 April 22, 1992 The Parking Space
Synopsis A plan to get together at Jerry's to watch a prize fight is stymied when George and another presumptive guest, Mike (Lee Arenberg), wind up in a parking space standoff in front of the building.
Historic Moment Highlights one of George's few bragging points: his prowess behind the wheel, specifically here as a primo parallel parker.
39 May 6, 1992 The Keys
Synopsis By abusing his visitation rights, Kramer breaks the "covenant of the keys," forcing Jerry to demand his set back. Kramer takes this reprimand as a cue to pursue his destiny (an acting career) and embarks on a madcap cross-country trek that results in a guest spot on Murphy Brown.
Season 4
40 August 12, 1992 The Trip, Part I
Synopsis Jerry (with George in tow) heads for L.A. and a Tonight Show appearance. Kramer, still pursuing his Hollywood dream, ends up the prime suspect in a series of "smog stranglings."
Creative Casting Fred Savage cameos as the terrified victim of Kramer's pitch for his screenplay, The Keys.
41 August 19, 1992 The Trip, Part II
Synopsis Jerry and George try to reach Kramer and clear his name after he's falsely arrested.
Creative Casting Professional psycho Clint Howard (brother of Ron) in an inspired cameo.
42 September 16, 1992 The Pitch
Synopsis Jerry and George pitch their sitcom about "nothing" to NBC. Elaine embarks on a whirlwind tour of Europe with her therapist, Dr. Reston, whose other patient, Crazy Joe Divola, is stalking Kramer and Jerry over a party-invitation slight.
Wise Crack Jerry saws of Neville Chamberlain, the pushover WWII British prime minister he and George revile: "You could hold his head in the toilet and he's still give you half of Europe."
Introduces Heidi Swedberg as NBC exec Susan Ross, George's future fiancee; Bob Balaban as NBC prez Russell Dalrymple; Stephen McHattie as creepy Reston; and Peter Crombie as Crazy Joe.
43 September 23, 1992 The Wallet
Synopsis The defective watch Jerry tossed in the garbage in "The Pitch" (later retrieved, in one of those aptly improbable turns of fate, by Uncle Leo) is an issue when his parents wonder about their gift. Mr. Seinfeld's wallet is swiped at the doctor's. Elaine breaks up with her "Sven-jolly," Dr. Reston.
Sexual Dealing Jerry defines The Tell: "When you ask someone about their relationship and they touch your face, you know it's not going well...The higher up on the face you go, the worse the relationship is getting."
44 September 30, 1992 The Watch
Synopsis George plays hardball with NBC and succeeds in dropping the price for his and Jerry's script. Elaine deals with Reston via Kramer, then gives her number to a smitten Crazy Joe. Jerry regrets asking out Naomi (Jessica Lundy), a restaurant hostess with a braying laugh ("Elmer Fudd sittin' on a juicer").
45 October 7, 1992 The Bubble Boy
Synopsis Susan invites George, Jerry, and Elaine up to her parents' cabin in "pie country." A Yoo-hoo salesman (Brian Doyle-Murray) guilt-trips Jerry into visiting his hermetically cocooned son on the way. When all is said and done, an enraged George has burst the bubble and a careless, stogie-puffing Kramer has burned down the cabin.
46 October 28, 1992 The Cheever Letters
Synopsis George and Susan give her father the bad news about the cabin - and spill the beans about a recovered box containing love letters from his secret paramour, author John Cheever. While bedding Elaine's secretary, Jerry offend her with off-the-wall pillow talk ("The panties your mother laid out for you?").
Introduces Grace Zabriskie and Warren Frost as Susan Ross' blue-blood alcoholic mom and dour dad - Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? on the Upper East Side.
47 November 4, 1992 The Opera
Synopsis Picking up where "The Watch" left off, Elaine dumps Crazy Joe when she discovers he's transformed his apartment into a demented shrine to her. The unmedicated nut then stalks her and Jerry at a performance of I Pagliacci. (Says Jerry: "I kind of like this opera crowd. I feel tough.")
Sexual Dealing Jerry defines "Get Out of Relationship Free Cards": Monopoly-like passes people should be able to use to extricate themselves from romantic entanglements; can be overridden by an "Eight More Months of Guilt, Torture, and Pain Card."
48 November 11, 1992 The Virgin
Synopsis Jerry dates a closet-organizing virgin, Marla (Jane Leeves). Assuming a sitcom gig will make him more desirable, George looks for a way to dump Susan - and succeeds. Ping sues Elaine for a jaywalking mishap.
Sexual Dealing Jerry to George, on when you know you have a girlfriend: "What's your phone-call frequency? Are you on a daily? What about Saturday nights - do you have to ask her out or is a date implied? She got anything in your medicine cabinet? Let me ask you this, is there any Tampax in your house? Well, I tell you, what you got here...you got yourself a girlfriend."
49 November 18, 1992 The Contest
Synopsis George's mother catches him, you know, with a copy of Glamour magazine, prompting a contest to see who can remain "master of their domain."
Introduces Estelle Harris as Estelle Costanza, explaining a whole lot about the mess that is her son.
50 November 25, 1992 The Airport
Synopsis Jerry and Elaine are separated on a packed flight to La Guardia airport: Jerry ends up in first class, next to model Tia Van Camp (Jennifer Campbell); Elaine gets stuck in coach. George and Kramer attempt to pick them up at the airport.
51 December 16, 1992 The Pick
Synopsis Nose picking and nipple baring are Jerry and Elaine's scarlet letters in an episode that also finds Kramer confronting designer Calvin Klein (Nicholas Hormann) over aromatic plagiarism and George getting Susan back - to his dismay.
Wise Crack George on Moses, a biblical figure he thinks must have been a nose picker: "You walk through the desert for 40 years with dry air, you're telling me you're not gonna have occasion to clean a little house?"
52 January 6, 1993 The Movie
Synopsis Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer try to go to a movie together.
Historic Moment Seinfeld made up lots of movie titles, but Rochelle, Rochelle ("a young woman's strange erotic journey from Milan to Minsk") turns up again, ultimately as a musical (episode 104).
53 January 27, 1993 The Visa
Synopsis When George's relationship with a lawyer - Cheryl "The Terminator" Fong (Maggie Han) - goes kablooey, so do Babu's chances for remaining in the U.S. and Elaine's opportunity to avoid a costly judgment from Ping. Kramer goes to baseball fantasy camp.
54 February 4, 1993 The Shoes
Synopsis When George imperils the NBC pilot with an inappropriate stare, it's Elaine - and her cleavage - to the rescue.
Historic Moment Jerry's Superman magnet joins his fridge - coincidentally, or not, this also marks the beginning of the show's residence in the top 10.
55 February 11, 1993 The Outing
Synopsis A joke perpetrated by Elaine leads a New York University student reporter (Paula Marshall) to assume that (single, thin, neat) Jerry and George are gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Historic Moment We learn that George met Jerry at JFK High School, where George fell off a rope in gym class and landed on Jerry's head.
56 February 18, 1993 The Old Man
Synopsis Following Elaine's selfless example, Jerry and George sign with the Senior Citizen Volunteer Agency to fill the "deep yawning chasm" of their lives. Elaine's charge is a goiter-sporting former lover of Gandhi (voiced by Edie McClurg); George and Jerry end up with geriatric versions of each other (Robert Donley and Emmy-nominated Bill Erwin).
Creative Casting Robert Donley and Bill Erwin as easygoing Ben and crotchety Sid; Irwin scored an Emmy nod.
57 February 25, 1993 The Implant
Synopsis Much mammarian speculation surrounds Jerry's current object of desire, Sidra (Teri Hatcher). George tries to use a funeral to make headway with new girlfriend Betsy (Megan Mullally). Kramer insists he's seen Salman Rushdie at the gym.
Sexual Dealing Jerry on why funerals are a good dating gambit: "It's a golden opportunity to advance the relationship. She's crying, you put your arms around her, you console her." Adds Kramer, "It's like 10 dates in one shot."
58 March 18, 1993 The Junior Mint
Synopsis Jerry dates a woman (Susan Walters) whose name rhymes with a female body part - if he only knew which one. Elaine rekindles her affections for an ex, Roy/Triangle Boy (Sherman Howard), as he's about to undergo a splenoctomy, which Jerry and Kramer get to observe.
Sexual Dealing According to Jerry, "Once you make out with a woman, you can't ask her name."
Historic Moment Seinfeld has remarked that his ad-lib - "Let's go watch 'em slice this fat bastard up" - opened the door for all manner of verbal envelope pushing.
59 April 15, 1993 The Smelly Car
Synopsis Jerry wages an epic struggle against "The Beast," after a parking valet invests his car with otherworldly BO. George worries he's put Susan off men after seeing her holding hands with Mona (Viveka Davis), a golf instructor who, in turn, falls for Kramer.
60 May 13, 1993 The Handicap Spot
Synopsis The ethically challenged meet the physically challenged as the foursome appropriate a handicap spot at a suburban mall en route to an engagement party for The Drake (Rick Overton).
Introduces John Randolph as Frank Costanza (his scenes were later reshot for syndication by his successor, Jerry Stiller - a television rarity).
61 May 20, 1993 The Pilot
Synopsis Revolving around the casting, taping and airing of the NBC pilot are Dalrymple's obsession with an uninterested Elaine, Kramer's constipation, and George's cancer scare.
Creative Casting Jeremy Piven as "George."
Season 5
62 September 16, 1993 The Mango
Synopsis George gets "the tap" from his latest squeeze, Karen, a.k.a. Risotto Girl (Lisa Edelstein), undermining his sexual confidence. Jerry learns that Elaine "faked 'em all" and begs for another shot.
Sexual Dealings Jerry on when you know you're in love: "When she comes over, are you cleaning up a lot? ...Do you do the tub?...On your knees - Ajax, hands scrubbing, the whole deal? I think you're in love....Tub is love." Jerry on pleasuring a woman below the belt: "Nobody knows what to do. You close your eyes, you hope for the best. I think they're happy if you just make an effort."
Historic Moment Jerry and Elaine in bed.
63 September 23, 1993 The Puffy Shirt
Synopsis George, reduced to living with his parents, embarks on a hand-modeling career. Kramer's barely audible designer girlfriend, Leslie, has Jerry unwittingly agree to wear a pirate shirt on the Today show.
Introduces Jerry Stiller as bombastic retired religious-icon importer Frank Costanza.
Historic Moment We learn that Estelle Costanza has never laughed.
64 September 30, 1993 The Glasses
Synopsis The loss of George's glasses results in Elaine being bitten by a dog and Jerry believing his girlfriend Amy (Anna Gunn) is cheating on him.
65 October 7, 1993 The Sniffing Accountant
Synopsis Jerry suspects his accountant, Barry Profit (John Kapelos), has a drug habit. Elaine breaks up with a writer over exclamation-point stinginess. George nails a bra-salesman job and immediately loses it after "feeling up" the boss ( Christa Miller).
Historic Moment A second Richards Emmy thanks to this and "The Opposite" (episode 82).
66 October 14, 1993 The Bris
Synopsis Jerry and Elaine are chosen as godparents and must participate at the bris. Kramer discovers a "pig man" at the hospital. A suicide jumper uses George's perfectly parked car as a landing pad.
Historic Moment The first of a very few explicitly Jewish scenarios in a show considered quintessentially Jewish.
67 October 28, 1993 The Lip Reader
Synopsis Elaine pretends she's hard of hearing to avoid talking to an annoying limo driver (Christopher Darga). Meanwhile, Jerry falls for a truly deaf U.S. Open lineswoman (Marlee Matlin), whom George is soon "borrowing" to eavesdrop (lip-read) on an ex.
Sexual Dealing Jerry on the etiquette of ex-couples running into each other in a neutral place: "I think she should withdraw; she's the breaker, he's the breakee. He needs to get on with his life." Elaine begs to differ: "He's the loser, she's the victor. To the victor go the spoils."
68 November 4, 1993 The Non-Fat Yogurt
Synopsis A New York mayoral race between David Dinkins and Rudy Giuliani (in a cameo) is swayed by Jerry's belief in a nonfat-yogurt conspiracy and Elaine's contention that New Yorkers should wear name tags.
Introduces Peter Keleghan as Dinkins aide and George nemesis Lloyd Braun (played by Matt McCoy in episodes 113 and 151).
Historic Moment The F-word and the S-word are thrown around, albeit with bleeps, in what may be a TV first.
69 November 11, 1993 The Barber
Synopsis Jerry's attempt to change haircutters is portrayed as an adulterous betrayal. An ambiguous job interview leads George to assume a position he's totally unqualified for (how unusual).
70 November 18, 1993 The Masseuse
Synopsis Frustration for Jerry, because his masseuse girlfriend (Jennifer Coolidge) isn't giving him any (rubdowns, that is); for George, because the "massage teaser" can't stand him; and for Elaine, because her boyfriend Joel Rifkin (Anthony Cistaro) shares his name with a serial killer.
Historic Moment In considering a new name for Joel, Elaine suggests O.J. as a cool option. Who knew?
71 December 9, 1993 The Cigar-Store Indian
Synopsis Jerry walks a politically incorrect minefield as he pursues Native American Winona (Kimberly Norris). Elaine is stalked by a geek (Sam Lloyd). George is grounded for having sex in his parents' bed. Kramer brainstorms a coffee-table book - about coffee tables.
Historic Moment We learn Frank Costanza has saved every TV Guide fall preview since "the beginning."
72 December 16, 1993 The Conversion
Synopsis George converts to the Latvian Orthodox faith to keep Sasha (Jana Marie Hupp). Kavorka-cursed Kramer becomes a Latvian novice nun's object of desire. Germ-phobic Jerry reconsiders a girlfriend with fungicide in her bathroom.
73 January 6, 1994 The Stall
Synopsis Elaine gets into a restroom tiff with a toilet-paper hoarder, who turns out to be Jerry's girlfriend Jane (Jami Gertz) - and Kramer's phone-sex consort. George has a crush on Elaine's "mimbo" boyfriend Tony (Dan Cortese).
Historic Moment Jerry actually using his computer. George rock climbing!
74 February 3, 1994 The Dinner Party
Synopsis In a search for edible party favors, Jerry and Elaine get bogged down in a bakery, while George and Kramer are hung up at a liquor store.
Historic Moment Jerry throws up for the first time since June 29, 1980.
75 February 10, 1994 The Marine Biologist
Synopsis Jerry's lying saddles George with another ersatz profession - marine biology - and inadvertently jeopardizes Elaine's professional relationship with testy Russian novelist Yuri Testikov (George Murdock).
76 February 17, 1994 The Pie
Synopsis Jerry is plagued by issues of sharing (girlfriend refuses a taste of pie) and hygiene (restauranteur-chef Poppie doesn't wash his hands after a stall visit). Elaine is incensed by a look-alike store mannequin.
Introduces Reni Santoni as Poppie, whose potty habits (or lack of them) will continue to wreak havoc for Jerry.
77 February 24, 1994 The Stand-In
Synopsis Jerry nearly exhausts his bag of shtick making hospitalized pal Fulton (Michael Rivkin) laugh. Kramer gets a job as an All My Children stand-in. Elaine is traumatized when a date "[takes] it out." George persists in seeing a woman out of spite.
Introduces Danny Woodburn as Mickey, Kramer's "little" friend.
78 March 17, 1994 The Wife
Synopsis Jerry and new girlfriend Meryl (Courteney Cox) pretend to be married - for a dry- cleaning discount - and are soon bickering like an old couple. Elaine's "open lip" kiss from a male gym acquaintance leads to assumptions. George is caught "going" in the health club's shower.
Sexual Dealing "Bottle wipe is big. Bottle wipe supersedes kiss as an indication of interest," explains Jerry of "gym boy'"s mixed oral messages.
Introduces Joseph R. Sicari as Willie the dry cleaner, who will show his true colors in episode 91.
79 April 28, 1994 The Raincoats
Synopsis Jerry's parents offend the Costanzas by blowing them off for dinner and take a shine to Elaine's "close-talking" beau, Aaron (Judge Reinhold). Kramer cooks up a big deal selling Morty Seinfeld's old Executive trench coats. George is guilt-tripped into Big Brotherhood. Jerry's Schindler's List make-out session with Rachel (Melanie Smith) puts him in the parental doghouse. George is guilt-tripped into Big Brotherhood.
Creative Casting Judge Reinhold, as the saccharine Aaron, was nominated for an Emmy.
80 May 5, 1994 The Fire
Synopsis Toby (Veanne Cox) - Kramer's manic coffee-table-book editor - costs Jerry a gig when her heckling is cited in an Entertainment Weekly pan. George impresses single-mother girlfriend Robin (Melanie Chartoff) with his cowardice at her son's birthday party.
Creative Casting Then unknown Jon Favreau plays party clown Eric.
81 May 12, 1994 The Hamptons
Synopsis The gang visits Carol and Michael's ("You gotta see the bay-bee" - and boy, is it ugly) beach house. In a roundelay of misplaced nudity, everyone except George sees his as-yet-unbedded date, Jane (Melora Walters), topless. He, meanwhile, gets caught with his pants down by Rachel (episode 79) while sporting significant apres-pool shrinkage.
Sexual Dealing "It's like she signed a letter of intent," says Jerry of the sexual promise implied in a woman's agreeing to go away for the weekend.
82 May 19, 1994 The Opposite
Synopsis George's epiphany - that his whole life is the opposite of what he'd intended - inspires him to act entirely against his instincts. The result: Victoria, a babelicious girlfriend (Dedee Pfeiffer), a front-office job for the Yankees, and an apartment. Meanwhile, Elaine loses everything - in effect becoming George. Kramer promotes his coffee-table book on Regis & Kathie Lee.
Introduces George Steinbrenner, voice by Larry David, and Marty Rackham as Jake Jarmel, the ailing boyfriend Elaine forsakes for Jujyfruits.
Creative Casting French Stewart cameos as a movie manager.
Historic Moment The end of Pendant Publishing.
Season 6
83 September 22, 1994 The Chaperone
Synopsis Kramer Svengalies Miss Rhode Island (Marguerite MacIntyre) for the Miss America Pageant. Elaine gets a job as an assistant to Justin Pitt, a personal friend of Jackie Onassis. George persuades the Yankees to switch to cotton uniforms.
Introduces Ian Abercrombie as the lordly Pitt, and Andy Ackerman as the show's new signature director.
84 September 29, 1994 The Big Salad
Synopsis George's pettiness reaches new heights when girlfriend Julie (Michelle Forbes) takes credit for buying Elaine's salad. Jerry becomes unhinged after learning that current flame Margaret (Marita Geraghty) was once dumped by Newman. Kramer fears he may have incited a former baseball player to murder.
Sexual Dealing Jerry on couples in public: "People on dates shouldn't even be allowed out...It's embarrassing for them, it's painful for us to watch."
85 October 6, 1994 The Pledge Drive
Synopsis Mr. Pitt's eating Snickers with a knife and fork sparks a craze. George thinks everyone's giving him the finger. Jerry's suggestion that Elaine's friend Noreen (Kelly Coffield) is hitting on him gets Noreen's "high-talking" boyfriend Dan (Brian Reddy) all worked up.
Sexual Dealing George on how long to keep a thank-you card from a girlfriend: "The rule is a minimum of two days."
Introduces Tom Wright as Yankee exec Morgan, and Billye Ree Wallace as Jerry's nana.
86 October 13, 1994 The Chinese Woman
Synopsis Intrigued by a phone conversation with Donna Chang (Angela Dohrmann), Jerry asks her out thinking she's Chinese. Elaine convinces Norren to dump the high-talker, only to see her take up with a "long talker." George laments his parents' breakup. Kramer's sperm test reveals he's low.
Historic Moment Mr. and Mrs. Costanza separate, much to George's dismay (this means double the parental visits each week).
87 October 27, 1994 The Couch
Synopsis Bibliophobe George goes to extremes to avoid reading Breakfast at Tiffany's for his book club. Elaine's hardline pro-choice stance hospitalizes Poppie and clashes with that of Carl (David James Elliott), her otherwise-perfect moving-man beau. ("The best part is, he doesn't play games," says Elaine. "No games?" asks Jerry. "What is the point of dating without games? How do you know if you're winning...?")
Sexual Dealing When Elaine says the best part about Carl is that he doesn't play games, Jerry says: "No games? What is the point of dating without games? How do you know if you're winning or losing?"
Historic Moment Poppie pees on Jerry's new sofa.
88 November 3, 1994 The Gymnast
Synopsis George's girlfriend's mother (Lois Nettleton) suspects him of being a panhandling bum. Jerry dates Katya (Elina Lowensohn), a Romanian gymnast, expecting, well, gymnastics in bed. Elaine nearly blows Mr. Pitt's Moland Springs merger. Kramer passes a kidney stone (and has a clown-related panic attack) at the circus.
89 November 10, 1994 The Soup
Synopsis Oppressive comic Kenny Bania gives Jerry a brand new Armani suit in exchange for a free meal. George is blown off mid-date by a Monk's waitress (Tracy Kolis) and is determined to find out if she really does have a boyfriend. Elaine dates a penniless British bounder (Daniel Gerroll).
Introduces Steve Hytner as Bania, whose exuberant mediocrity and goofy naivete ("It's gold, Jerry! Gold") is one of the series' casting triumphs.
90 November 17, 1994 The Mom and Pop Store
Synopsis George buys a used Chrysler LeBaron convertible because he believes it belonged to Jon Voight (in a cameo). Kramer tries to help a local shoe-repair shop and proceeds to put it out of business.
Introduces Bryan Cranston as dentist-to-the-gang Tim Whatley, at whose Thanksgiving eve party things come to a calamitous head.
91 December 8, 1994 The Secretary
Synopsis George purposely hires a prim, assuming secretary - Ada (Vicki Lewis) - and finds himself unraveled and undermined. Jerry discovers that Willie the dry cleaner and his wife are wearing their customers' clothes. Elaine blames Barneys' skinny mirrors for dress misrepresentation. A triple-action-moisturizer mishap blows Kramer's chances with Uma Thurman.
92 December 15, 1994 The Race
Synopsis In dating Lois (Renee Props), Jerry is reunited with Duncan (Don R. McManus), a former classmate whom he fraudulently beat in a high school race, and who is demanding a rematch. Thanks to Elaine's communist beau (Todd Kimsey), George answers a personal ad in The Daily Worker, and a department-store-Santa Kramer spouts propaganda to tykes.
93 January 5, 1995 The Switch
Synopsis George suspects his model girlfriend Nina (Charlotte Lewis) is bulimic. Jerry schemes to get dumped by his non-laughing girlfriend Sandi (Jann Karam) so as to move in on her giddy roommate, Laura (Heather Medway). Kramer reunites with estranged mom, Babs (Sheree North).
Sexual Dealing George on Jerry's roommate conundrom: "The switch? It can't be done. Do you realize that in the entire history of human civilization no one has successfully accomplished [it]?"
Historic Moments Three whoppers: Kramer's first name is revealed (Cosmo); we meet his mom and learn of a past association with Newman.
94 January 19, 1995 The Label Maker
Synopsis Re-gifting, de-gifting, connections, and disconnections abound as Jerry haggles over the fate of a pair of Super Bowl tix with Tim the dentist, and George tries to worm his way into his girlfriend Bonnie's (Jessica Tuck) life - well, her velvet-draped pad anyway - while ridding it of her male roomie.
Wise Crack Jerry on unwanted presents: "When you repeat the name of a gift, you can't possibly like it. Like when someone opens a gift and says, 'Oh, tube socks.'"
95 January 26, 1995 The Scofflaw
Synopsis Champion prevaricator George meets his match in "cancer victim" Gary (Jon Lovitz). Kramer ruins Elaine's post-breakup "hand" with Jujyfruits casualty Jake Jarmel (episode 82), and discovers that Newman and his car are a local cop's Moby-Dick.
Historic Moment George gets a toupee.
** February 2, 1995 Highlights of a Hundred (1-hour special)
Clips of old episodes are shown in celebration of Seinfeld reaching 100 half-hour episodes.
96 February 9, 1995 The Beard
Synopsis Elaine tries to convert a gay man. Emboldened by his toupee, George goes out on the prowl, only to fall for a bald woman. Jerry's hopes for dating a police officer are dashed after he fails a Melrose Place lie detector test.
Sexual Dealing Jerry on why you can't convert a gay man - the latest in a long line of sex-as-sports metaphors: "You think you can just get him to change teams? When you join that team it's not a whim. He likes his team. They're only comfortable with their equipment."
97 February 16, 1995 The Kiss Hello
Synopsis Kramer's camaraderie-stimulationg wall of tenant photos makes standoffish Jerry a building outcast. The gang finds its self-centered equal in Elaine's physical therapist friend Wendy, she of the "high school yearbook" hair.
Wise Crack Jerry on the kiss hello: "Frankly, outside of the sexual relationship, I don't see the point. I'm not thrilled with all the handshaking either, but one step at a time."
Creative Casting Wendie Malick makes the most of her snooty doc. And that's Seinfeld writer-turned-sitcom star Carol Leifer playing her receptionist.
98 February 23, 1995 The Doorman
Synopsis Jerry's thinking he's appeasing Mr. Pitt's abrasive doorman (Larry Miller) by covering for him, instead falls prey to his "sting." Kramer designs the Bro (a.k.a the Manssiere) for the bosomy Mr. Costanza.
99 March 16, 1995 The Jimmy
Synopsis Visits to Tim the dentist leave Jerry believing the doc's a pervert and strangers believing an over-anesthetized Kramer is mentally challenged. George's excessive sweating implicates him in Yankees pilfering. Gym habitue and third-person-speakin' Jimmy (Anthony Starke) hits on an unsuspecting Elaine.
Introduces Richard Herd as George's boss, the Yankees' absent-minded traveling secretary Wilhelm.
Historic Moment We learn that Kramer thinks George Will is attractive - although not all that bright.
100 April 6, 1995 The Doodle
Synopsis A Newman-instigated flea infestation in apartment 5A leads to Elaine losing a plum Viking Press gig, Kramer losing his sense of taste, and Jerry losing a girlfriend (Dana Wheeler-Nicholson) after he refuses to share her toothbrush. George dates a woman (Christa Miller again) who doesn't care what he looks like.
101 April 27, 1995 The Fusilli Jerry
Synopsis Elaine dates Jerry's grease-monkey pal David Puddy and discovers that he's stolen Jerry's "move" (it requires a headboard). Kramer tries to live up to his "Assman" vanity plates.
Sexual Dealing Jerry: "You always care who an ex-girlfriend dates. You don't want it to be someone you know, and you don't want it to be someone better than you."
Introduces Patrick Warburton as Puddy, "the only honest mechanic in New York."
Historic Moment Establishes the K-man's hobby of sculpting with pasta.
102 May 4, 1995 The Diplomat's Club
Synopsis George desperately seeks African-American friends after Morgan implies he's a racist. Pitt suspects that after adding Elaine to his will, she is trying to kill him. Jerry freaks out during a frustrating trip home from a gig.
Introduces Debra Jo Rupp as Jerry's pesky, micromanaging agent, Katie.
Historic Moments We learn of Kramer's gambling problem, and that Newman inherited Son of Sam's mail route - and once double-dated with him!
103 May 11, 1995 The Face Painter
Synopsis Puddy's hockey-game face-painting has Elaine reconsidering their relationship. George finally speaks the L-word, only to find that the object of his desire - fellow toilet- paper enthusiast Siena (Katy Selverstone)
Historic Moment We learn that George has said I love you only once - to a dog.
104 May 18, 1995 The Understudy
Synopsis When George injures Bette Midler during a celebrity softball game, Kramer gets a shot at nursing his idol, and Jerry's understudy girlfriend Gennice (Adelaide Miller) gets the lead in Rochelle, Rochelle: The Musical. Mr. Costanza aids Elaine in a nail- salon caper and rediscovers his lost Korean War love.
Introduces John O'Hurley as eccentric-in-the-extreme clothier J. Peterman.
Season 7
105 September 21, 1995 The Engagement
Synopsis The end of two painfully superficial Jerry and George relationships prompts the friends to strike a pact and "become men." George assumes this means marriage and proposes to Susan; Jerry quickly comes to his senses. Elaine hires Kramer and Newman to kidnap a noisy dog.
Historic Moment Oddly, given the show's signatures brazeness, Seinfeld says the dognapping incident generated the most flak from viewers.
106 September 28, 1995 The Postponement
Synopsis Elaine - overcome with feelings of bitterness over "loser" George's engagement - confides her jealousy in a blabbermouth rabbi (Bruce Mahler). George, panicked and resentful over his hasty betrothal, attempts to delay the wedding. Kramer's cafe latte jones (he's been sucking 'em down since fifth grade) creates a litigious situation.
Sexual Dealing Jerry to George on the best feature of a heavy relationship: "How could you not have make-up sex?...In your situation, the only sex you're going to have better than make-up sex is if you're sent to prison and you have a conjugal visit."
Introduces Bruce Mahler as the blabbermouth rabbi.
Historic Moment Jerry finally sees Plan 9 From Outer Space.
107 October 5, 1995 The Maestro
Synopsis George's compassion for a clothing-store security guard turns into a disastrous crusade. The settlement of Kramer's lawsuit with Java World leaves him all hopped-up. Elaine dates the Maestro, a pretentious conductor Jerry suspects of lying about Tuscany rentals.
Introduces Phil Morris as Johhnie Cochran-style lawyer Jackie Chiles, who'll represent Kramer in future mishaps; and Mark Metcalf as the Maestro. Historic Moment Jerry and Kramer in Europe.
108 October 12, 1995 The Wink
Synopsis Opposites attract, then combust; Dog-hating Elaine dates multiple-dog owner and wake-up caller James (Brian McNamara); newly vegetarian Jerry takes up with Elaine's mutton- lovin' cousin, Holly (Stacey Travis). Somehow, grapefruit pulp in George's eye leads to Morgan's dismissal and George's promotion.
Sexual Dealing Jerry on male vegetarians: "Women don't respect salad eaters." We also learn that Jerry believes 4 to 6 percent of the population is good-looking; Elaine thinks it's 25.
Historic Moment Jerry calls Kramer "Jughead," prompting Kramer to dub Jerry "Archie," Elaine "Veronica," and George "Mr. Weatherbee."
109 October 19, 1995 The Hot Tub
Synopsis George's theory - that when you look annoyed all the time, people think you're busy - backfires. Elaine's inability to set an alarm clock, Kramer's faulty hot tub, and Jerry's good intentions are a losing strategy for New York Marathon runner Jean-Paul Jean-Paul (Jeremiah Birkett).
110 November 2, 1995 The Soup Nazi
Synopsis The excellence of a local soup merchant's product is exceeded only by his rigid guidelines for customer behavior. Jerry's incessant baby talk with a new chick drives a wedge between him and George. Antique-collecting thugs (John Paragon and Yul Vazquez) terrorize Kramer.
Creative Casting Larry Thomas' acid performance helped turn "No soup for you!" into a catch-phrase.
111 November 9, 1995 The Secret Code
Synopsis George's ATM code instigates the passing of J. Peterman's mother. Jerry's chronic foot- sleeping offends limpin' electronics-discount king Leapin' Larry (Lewis Arquette). Elaine goes for hapless Fred (Fred Stoller) simply because he can't remember her.
112 November 16, 1995 The Pool Guy
Synopsis George loses it when Elaine - upon realizing she has no gal pals - befriends Susan. Jerry gets an unwanted buddy in the form of Ramon (Carlos Jacott), the pool guy at his club. Kramer's new phone number - one digit off from Movie Phone - provides him with a new (pre)occupation.
113 December 7, 1995 The Sponge
Synopsis After getting a woman's number off an AIDS Walk list, Jerry fears she's too good ("You can't have sex with someone you admire!"). Elaine's loyalty to her discontinued birth control method (the Today Sponge) prompts hoarding and a new boyfriend-screening process.
Sexual Dealing According to Jerry, "You can't have sex with someone you admire."
Historic Moment We learn that narcissistic Jerry relabels his jeans (from a 32" to a 31" waist).
114 December 14, 1995 The Gum
Synopsis Kramer takes both a rehabilitated movie theater and post-nervous breakdown Lloyd Braun (episode 68) under his wing. George meets Deena, a high school chum who's convinced he's having a breakdown.
Introduces Mary Jo Keenen as Deena, who will make two more cameos, always catching George at his most unhinged; and Ruth Cohen as Monk's cashier Ruthie Cohen.
Creative Casting That's cocreator Larry David refusing to change George's $20 bill.
115 January 4, 1996 The Rye
Synopsis Elaine's desire to do "everything proves disastrous for sponge-worthy sax player John (Jeff Yagher). The Costanzas meet Susan's stuffy parents and clash over any number of topics - most significantly a "de-gifted" loaf of marble rye. Moonlighting hansom- cab driver Kramer takes the Rosses for an aromatic, Beef-A-Reeno-fueled ride.
Historic Moment Another frustrating trip to Schnitzer's Bakery results in Jerry mugging an elderly woman (Frances Bay, who will get her revenge in episode 118).
116 January 25, 1996 The Caddy
Synopsis Kramer makes his caddy, Stan (Armin Shimerman), his consigliere. Elaine's high school nemesis - "Braless Wonder" Sue Ellen Mischke - resurfaces, and Elaine's attempts to mend her "free-wheelin'" ways lead to a car accident, an O.J.-esque trial, and a few Peterman catalog item.
Introduces Brenda Strong as smug Oh Henry! candy-bar heiress Mischke, who will continue to push Elaine's buttons.
117 February 1, 1996 The Seven
Synopsis Jerry is perplexed by Christie (Lisa Deanne), a woman who always appears to wear the same dress. Newman arbitrates a Kramer-Elaine dispute over a bike. George is incensed when a couple steals his preferred baby name (Seven - Mickey Mantle's number).
118 February 8, 1996 The Cadillac
Synopsis A particularly fat stand-up check prompts Jerry to buy his father a Cadillac, which provokes a Jack Klompus-led impeachment of condo-board prez Mr. Seinfeld. George becomes aware of - the obsessed with - an opportunity to date Marisa Tomei (in a cameo). Kramer plays cat and mouse with a cable guy.
Creative Casting Bill Macy and erst-while Maytag repairmen Jesse White appear as board members.
119 February 15, 1996 The Shower Head
Synopsis The building's new low-flow shower-heads wreak havoc on Kramer's and Jerry's hair. The Costanzas and the exiled Seinfelds play chicken over who will move to Florida and who will stay in New York. Elaine's Peterman trip to Africa ("There's a Masai sandal...") is jeopardized by her predilection for poppy-seed muffins.
Historic Moment A second Tonight Show appearance for Jerry (Jay Leno cameos).
120 February 22, 1996 The Doll
Synopsis Jerry must go on Charles Grodin with nothin' when Memphis FedEx exec Sally (Kathy Griffin) screws up a barbecue-sauce delivery (hello?). George's apartment becomes home to Susan's dolls - one of which is a dead ringer for Mrs. Costanza (hello?). Elaine must get an autograph from "the third" of the Three Tenors to reconnect with the Maestro (episode 107), who has a photo from their Tuscany trip of a guy who Frank Costanza believes is his long-lost cousin Carlo (hellooooo?).
121 March 7, 1996 The Friars Club
Synopsis Elaine is convinced new Peterman employee Bob Grossberg is faking deafness. Prospective Friar Jerry forgets to return a borrowed Club jacket, only to have it "misplaced" by The Flying Sandos Brothers (The Flying Karamazov Brothers). Kramer's latest Big Idea - Da Vinci sleep - nearly kills him.
Creative Casting Rob Schneider is the perfect choice for sneaky Bob.
122 April 4, 1996 The Wig Master
Synopsis Another smarmy Brit - this one a clothing salesman (Harry Van Gorkum) - is the catalyst for Jerry's feeling emasculated and Elaine's suspecting she is being strung along for sex. A parking-lot prostitution ring and Susan's guest, Ethan the wig master, are the catalysts for George's appearing to be a john and Kramer a pimp.
Creative Casting Patrick Bristow as the flamboyant hairpiece expert.
123 April 25, 1996 The Calzone
Synopsis Elaine keeps company with Todd Gack (John D'Aquino), a guy who won't admit they're dating despite the telltale signs. Jerry makes use of the persuasive talents of Nicki (Danette Tays), a "bold and beautiful...Godzilla" men can't say no to. George hooks Steinbrenner on a particular calzone, only to be banished from the pizzeria.
124 May 2, 1996 The Bottle Deposit
Synopsis A deranged mechanic abducts Jerry's car (along with JFK's golf clubs, bought at an auction by Elaine for Mr. Peterman); George is mistakenly committed to a mental institution; and Kramer and Newman hit upon a lucrative recycling scam that has them Michigan-bound.
Creative Casting Brad Garrett as Tony, the grease monkey who forms an emotional attachment to Jerry's Saab.
125 May 9, 1996 The Wait Out
Synopsis Elaine and Jerry pounce on newly separated couple David (Cary Elwes) and Beth (Debra Messing) after a "folksy" comment from George splits them up. Kramer starts wearing jeans again.
Historic Moment Elaine drives (badly).
126 May 16, 1996 The Invitations
Synopsis In the series' most controversial episode, Susan Biddle Ross dies from licking cheap wedding-invitation envelopes - to George's extreme relief. Jerry meets his cereal lovin', wisecrackin', Superman-obsessed counterpart, Jeannie Steinman (Janeane Garofalo), and proposes marriage - to his immediate distress ("I can't be with someone like me - I hate myself!").
Creative Casting Janeane Garafolo, as Jeannie, contributes a pitch-perfect take on what a distaff Jerry might be like: scary.
Historic Moment A much-hyped scene with the real-life Steinbrenner - he and Elaine meet in a restaurant - was ultimately cut.
Season 8
127 September 19, 1996 The Foundation
Synopsis The Rosses establish a foundation in Susan's honor. To his disgust and surprise, George finds that (1) he's on the board of directors, and (2) his dead fiancee was worth millions. Elaine - now running the show, with burnt-out Peterman in Burma - fashions the Urban Sombrero. Kramer takes up karate.
Introduces Bruce Davison as Mr. Wyck, chairman of Susan's foundation.
Historic Moment No more opening stand-up; Seinfeld is now too busy picking up the creative slack in David's absence.
128 September 26, 1996 The Soul Mate
Synopsis Kramer's attraction to Jerry's new girlfriend, Pam (Kim Myers), makes a formerly blase Jerry gaga over her. Elaine, in turn, is gonzo for her flighty equal, Kevin. George - thinking Wyck suspects him of guilt in Susan's death - pulls a "Jerry Lewis" and secretly tapes a foundation meeting.
Wise Crack Elaine tells Jerry she's hot for Kevin because they have a common goal. What, asks Jerry, "A barre, sterile existence that ends when you die?"
Introduces Tim DeKay as Kevin, Bizarro Jerry in the next episode.
Historic Moment A boyishly cropped Elaine. We also learn that she (probably) doesn't want kids: "It's been done to death." Kramer has a vasectomy.
129 October 3, 1996 The Bizarro Jerry
Synopsis Jerry's whole systems breaks down as George becomes a model magnet, Kramer becomes a nine-to-five suit, and Elaine takes up with a trio of new buds (Kevin, Gene, and Feldman), the sensitive, cerebral opposites of her current klatch. If that isn't enough, Jerry's dating Gillian (Kristin Bauer), a man-handed woman.
130 October 10, 1996 The Little Kicks
Synopsis Elaine's dancing ("a full-body dry heave set to music") makes her an object of ridicule among her staff. When Peterman employee Anna (Rebecca McFarland) gets a crush on George, believing him to be a "bad boy," he eagerly makes like a latter-day Fonzie. Kramer's pistol-packin' pal Brody (Neil Giuntoli) forces Jerry to become a video- bootlegging auteur.
131 October 17, 1996 The Package
Synopsis "Difficult" Elaine is shunned by the medical community. George pursues a misguided "dance" of seduction with photo-shop employee Sheila (Heather Campbell). Thanks to Kramer, Jerry is investigated for mail fraud.
132 October 31, 1996 The Fatigues
Synopsis It's mentor madness, as Jerry, Elaine, and George find themselves guiding the careers of hack Ovaltine comic Bania, soldier-of-fortune mail-room guy Eddie Sherman (Ned Bellamy), and risk-management student Abby (A.J. Langer). Kramer's hosting of a Jewish singles night provokes Frank Costanza's Platoon-like memories of a Korean War cooking debacle.
133 November 7, 1996 The Checks
Synopsis Jerry (very) modestly cashes in on Japanese stardom thanks to a spot on The Super Terrific Happy Hour. Kramer puts up a trio of Japanese tourists. Elaine dates Uberyuppie Brett (James Patrick Stuart), a "Desperado" devotee who won't share his song.
Historic Moment Wilhelm is abducted by the Sunshine Carpet Cleaners cult.
134 November 14, 1996 The Chicken Roaster
Synopsis Kramer's Newman-abetted Kenny Rogers Roasters addiction overcomes his initial boycotting of the chain. Elaine's expense-account abuse takes her to Burma in search of Peterman and sends George on a misguided pursuit of a hat saleswoman.
135 November 21, 1996 The Abstinence
Synopsis George's forced celibacy turns him into a Phenomenon-style brainiac. Elaine dates a doofus almost-doctor, Ben, and tries the no-sex route, with brain-draining results. Kramer's at-home smoking lounge ends in a tobacco-company lawsuit.
Creative Casting Bob Odenkirk as the clueless med student.
Historic Moment We learn of a second alma mater that Jerry and George share, Edward R. Murrow Junior High School, where Jerry is bumped from their Career Day.
136 December 19, 1996 The Andrea Doria
Synopsis To score a two-bedroom apartment, George must convince a tenant board he's more pathetic than a shipwreck survivor. Big-headed Elaine dates bad breaker-upper Alan (Tom Gallop). Newman's dreams of a Hawaii transfer get surprising support from Jerry. M.D.-hating Kramer seeks a doggy-style cure for his cough.
137 January 9, 1997 The Little Jerry
Synopsis Kramer buys a rooster and is soon running afoul of cockfighting impresario/deli owner Marcelino (Miguel Sandoval). George finds out that fugitive sex is even better than conjugal-visit sex when convict-squeeze Celia (Andrea Bendewald) breaks out and pops in. Elaine encourages bald-by-choice Kurt (John Michael Higgins) to grow his hair back, only to find he's losing it.
138 January 16, 1997 The Money
Synopsis Financial insecurity abounds: George worries that his parents are blowing their nest egg; Elaine finds herself demoted when Peterman returns; and the Seinfelds, fearing Jerry's broke (after he bounces a check at Marcelino's in episode 137), sell the Cadillac he gave them to Jack Klompus.
139 January 30, 1997 The Comeback
Synopsis George is insulted during a Yankees lunch meeting and becomes obsessed with his (he (thinks) brilliant "jerk store" retort. Abysmal tennis player and pro-shop manager Milos (Mark Harelik) recruits Jerry to help him save face. Elaine begins a phone affair with mysterious video-store cineaste Vincent. Kramer drafts a living will.
Creative Casting Ben Stein as the unflappable drafter of Kramer's will.
140 February 6, 1997 The Van Buren Boys
Synopsis Jerry dates Ellen (Christine Taylor), a "fantastic" woman who nevertheless appears to have no friends. (George to Jerry: "Every group has [its loser] - like us, with Elaine.") George selects a kindred spirit as the first Susan Ross Foundation scholar - underachieving liar Steven Koren (Jed Rhein). Peterman co-opts Kramer's life stories for his autobiography.
141 February 13, 1997 The Susie
Synopsis More identity games, as Elaine is mistaken for a nonexistent coworker named Susie; Kramer becomes George's girlfriend by proxy; bookie Mike Moffet (episode 38) believes Jerry is a Mafia-style hitman.
142 February 20, 1997 The Pothole
Synopsis Obsessions run amok: Fastidious Jerry can't kiss his girlfriend (Kristin Davis) after her toothbrush falls in the toilet; Elaine's hankering for a Chinese flounder dish has her assuming an address within the restaurant's delivery zone; and Kramer takes the adopt-a-highway concept a bit too literally.
Historic Moment The highway scenes, pothole explosion, and the toilet's-eye camera shot, add up to, according to Seinfeld, the most technically ambitious sitcom episode in TV history. And here's food for thought: In an episode of her pre-Seinfeld sitcom Day by Day, Louis-Dreyfus is seen faking an address in order to receive a delivery from a fave Chinese restaurant. Hmmm...
143 March 13, 1997 The English Patient
Synopsis Elaine's English Patient antipathy turns the world against her. A trip to Florida finds Jerry mired in one-upmanship with the Mandelbaum clan, headed by Izzy (Lloyd Bridges), and transporting Cubams (literally) back to Kramer. George meets a foxy blond and becomes obsessed with her boyfriend - his supposed twin.
144 April 10, 1997 The Nap
Synopsis A sleep-deprived George engages Jerry's conscientious carpenter, Conrad (Stephen Lee), to construct a mini-bedroom beneath his office desk. Kramer unwittingly initiates a lap-swimming craze - in the East River.
Sexual Dealing Jerry on a "walking" first date: It's a good date because "you don't have to look right at the person." Adds Elaine, "It's the next best thing to being alone."
145 April 24, 1997 The Yada Yada
Synopsis Conversation fudger "Yada, yada" infects the group thanks to George's succinct, shoplifting girlfriend Marcy (Suzanne Cryer). Jerry suspects that dentist Tim has converted to Judaism purely for the jokes. After Elaine screws up an adoption opportunity for Beth (episode 125) - now married to Arnie (Stephen Caffrey) - she sinks to a new low redeeming herself. Kramer and Mickey squabble over double dates.
146 May 1, 1997 The Millennium
Synopsis The Mets will hire George, but only if he gets himself fired; alas, each of his purposeful fiascos (including streaking across Yankee Stadium - in a bodysuit) only makes him more of a hero to Steinbrenner. Competing plans for a 1999 New Year's Eve party force Kramer to choose between Jerry and Newman. Elaine tries to drive Putumayo out of business.
Historic Moment Steinbrenner ultimately dumps George by trading him to...an Arkansas fast-food chain (Tyler Chicken).
147 May 8, 1997 The Muffin Tops
Synopsis Mistaken for an out-of-towner by Mary Anne (Rena Sofer), an attractive New York Visitor's Center employee, George avidly assumes the role. Lippman returns, co-opting Elaine's brainstorm: A store selling muffins, sans stumps. Kramer creates the Peterman Reality Bus Tour in response to the autobiography filled with the K-man's life stories (episode 140). Jerry shaves his chest.
Historic Moments George is traded by Steinbrenner to Tyler Chicken in Arkansas. Kramer's reality tour is based on actual NYC jaunt hosted by the real-life Kramer.
148 May 15, 1997 The Summer of George
Synopsis Kramer inadvertently receives a Tony for the musical Scarsdale Surprise, then is asked to fire their "train wreck" of a star, Raquel Welch (playing herself). Now- unemployed George offers to be Jerry's summer intern, helping him attend to the needs of Lanette (Amanda Peet), a particularly high-maintenance girlfriend. Elaine is pegged a catty shrew, then stalked, by coworker Sam (Molly Shannon), she of the simian walk. The season concludes with a (rather lazy) harkening back to last year's finale: George gets his come-uppance when an invitation-realted accident lands him in the hospital.
Creative Casting Kudos to Welch for caricaturing herself, and to Molly Shannon for pulling off simian-walking Sam.
Season 8
149 September 25, 1997 The Butter Shave
Synopsis Kramer's latest fixation - butter as beauty aid - has Newman salivating. A limping George is hired by Play Now (a playground equipment manufacturer) because they think he's disabled. Jerry' fed up with Bania capitalizing on his stand-up lead-ins, "throws" a comedy set. Elaine and Puddy endure a nasty oin-again, off-again thing on a trip home from Europe.
Wise Crack George on faking a disability: "I've always been handicapped, I'm just now getting the recognition for it."
Creative Casting Gordon Jump as George's duped Play Now boss, Mr. Thommassoulo.
Historic Moments Winding down their "vacations from themselves," we get a brief glimpse of Jerry, George, and Kramer sporting summer mustaches.
150 October 2, 1997 The Voice
Synopsis Jerry's forced to choose between girlfriend Claire (Sarah Peterson) and "the voice" inspired by her belly button. George's Play Now coworkers get wise to his handicap scam and shun him. Kramer revives Kramerica Industries, requiring him to hire an intern. Jerry bets Elaine she'll "backslide" with Puddy after a "bump into." ("You make each other miserable," he tells her. "It's Kismet.")
Historic Moment Jerry smokes a cigar and wins money for a change (after repeated Puddy-Elaine reunions).
151 October 9, 1997 The Serenity Now
Synopsis George, pressed into service in his father's new computer business, is pitted against Lloyd Braun (episode 114). Jerry's girlfriend Patty (Lori Loughlin) turns him into a touchy-feely monster after encouraging emotional openness ("I'm open," he retorts, "there's just nothing in there"). Elaine's "shiks-appeal" tempts Lippman, his bar mitzvahed boy, Adam, and the local rabbi (episode 106). With the help of Mr. Costanza's cast-off screen door, Kramer creates Anytown, USA, outside apartment 5B.
Historic Moment Jerry has a feelings field day, crying ("What is this salty discharge?...This is horrible - I care!"), even loving (he asks Elaine to marry him, unsuccessfully).
152 October 16, 1997 The Blood
Synopsis After withdrawing his blood from a bank, Kramer donates three pints to "blood brother" Jerry, victim of a freak knife accident. Jerry's confronted again with bullying trainer Izzy Mandelbaum (episode 143) when his parents worry he's let himself go. "Fornicating gourmet" George attempts to simultaneously indulge his thee passions - food, sex, and TV - with girlfriend Tara (Audrey Kissel). Elaine desperately wants to prove herself a responsible babysitter to pal Vivian (Kellie Waymire), only to find herself in danger of a full-time gig.
153 October 30, 1997 The Junk Mail
Synopsis Kramer's crusade against the U.S. mail gets him in hot water with the Feds. Elaine dumps Puddy to date tack TV pitchman Jack (Toby Huss). After his parents "cut him loose," George goes to incestuous ends to regain their attention. Jerry walks on eggshells around summer-camp pal Frahile Frankie Merman (Dana Gould), yet still manages to leave him in a neurotic hole.
Creative Casting The wonderfully gruff Wilford Brimley as Postmaster General Henry Atkins.
Historic Moment We learn that George scripts his weekly phone call to his parents: "I need a couple anecdotes, a few 'You were right abouts.' It's a whole procedure."
154 Novemeber 6, 1997 The Merv Griffin Show
Synopsis Kramer turns his life into a talk show after discovering the old Merv Griffin Show set in a dumpster. Jerry drugs girlfriend Celia (Julia Pennington) to take advantage of her priceless toy collection. Creepy new coworker Lou Filerman (Brent Hinkley) nearly "sidles" Elaine out of her Peterman job. George isn't getting any from his latest chick, thanks to run-ins with pigeons and a squirrel.
Creative Casting Talk-show vet and animal expert Jim Fowler makes an appearance on Kramer's "show."
155 November 13, 1997 The Slicer
Synopsis Disappointed with the quality of New York City deli sandwiches, Kramer takes a DIY approach and buys a meat slicer. Jerry dates - and offends - life-saving, "pimple- popper M.D." Sara Sitardites (Marcia Cross). George gets hired by Kruger Industrial Smoothing, a shiftlessly run company after his own heart.
Introduces Daniel Von Bargen as the awesomely daft Kruger.
156 Novemeber 20, 1997 The Betrayal
Synopsis Jerry and George accompany Elaine to the wedding of Sue Ellen Mischke (episode 135). En route ot the altar, we learn Elaine slept with the groom, Pinter, and Jerry with George's new flame, Nina (Justine Miceli). Stay-at-home Kramer is battling the "drop dead" birthday wish of FDR.
Historic Moment Jerry's fateful words upon meeting a flat-haired Kramer: "We're neighbors - what's mine is yours."
Introduces Michael McShane as Kramer-hating hot dog salesman Franklin Delano Romanowski.
157 December 11, 1997 The Apology
Synopsis George badgers recovering alcoholic acquaintance Jason "Stanky" Hanke for a ninth-step apology over a "neck hole" incident. Jerry discovers the difference between good naked (while brushing hair) and bad naked (while full-body flexing on a pickle jar), by way of his always-in-the-buff gal pal Melissa (Kathleen McClellan). Elaine's serial dating gives "germaphobe" coworker Peggy (Megan Cole) the creeps. Kramer turns his shower into a home inside a home.
Wise Crack Elaine on nudity: "The female body is a work of art. The male body is utilitarian. It's for gettin' around. It's like a jeep."
Creative Casting James Spader as dry drunk Hanke; Michael Fishman as a Baskin Robbins customer.
Historic Moment Jerry admits he never rides his bike. "It's just for show," he says. And here's a bit of trivia: This is the second episode featuring both recovering alcoholics and cashmere (see episode 29).
158 December 18, 1997 The Strike
Synopsis Kramer returns to H&H Bagels after a long-defunct 12-year strike. Cheapskate George has to decide whether to face society's holiday-season demands, or his father's made-up substitute, Festivus. Jerry dates Gwen (Karen Fineman), pretty one moment, ugly the next. Elaine - one sandwich short of a freebie at a local eatery - is hell-bent on achieving that goal.
159 January 8, 1998 The Dealership
Synopsis Jerry drags the gang to the 'burbs hoping to get an inside on a Saab from car salesman Puddy. Meanwhile, a vein-popping-mad George see his paranoid "screw-gee" fantasies realized, and Kramer goes on a Thelma & Louise-esque test-drive.
Wise Crack Jerry, justifying his averson to Puddy's high-fiving: "What do you think the Nazis were doing? That was the heil five!"
160 January 15, 1998 The Reverse Peephole
Synopsis Kramer and Newman reverse the peepholes on their doors, to the agitation of super Silvio (Jon Polito). Elaine's disgusted to learn that Puddy wears a "man fur." Jerry goes on a "pocket diet," while George opts to keep his wallet "morbidly obese."
Creative Casting At a shindig, Jerry seeks an opinion on his de-walleted trousers from Keri - played by Jennette Robbins, the "Nice pants" chick in the "Subway" Dockers ad (yep, the same pants ads he disparages in episode 9).
Historic Moment Newman shows up in his beloved Elaine's apartment.
161 January 29, 1998 The Cartoon
Synopsis Elaine becomes a cartoonist after discovering even The New Yorker's cartoon editor doesn't get the mag's jokes. Kramer's big mouth gets Jerry into more hot water with actress Sally Weaver (episode 120), who then creates a smash, one-woman show entitled Jerry Seinfeld Is the Devil. Another homosexuality scare for George: In dating "lady Jerry" Janet (Tracy Nelson), he grudgingly comes to believe he has a subconscious thing for his best friend.
Wise Crack Newman on Sally's show: "It's so great to see a show that's about something."
Creative Casting Paul Benedict (Harry Bentley, the highbrow neighbor from The Jeffersons) as Mr. Elinoff, The New Yorker's highbrow editor.
Historic Moment Oddly, the first time Jerry's buzzer rings this season.
162 February 5, 1998 The Strongbox
Synopsis A robbery in the building has Kramer hiding - and re-hiding - his strongbox key in Jerry's apartment. In his efforts to end his relationship with one overly committed girlfriend (Alex Kapp), George gets saddled with another (Illeana Douglas). Elaine discovers the mysterious "superhero" she's been dating is destitute. Jerry enters a spiral of alienation with parrot-loving neighbor Phil (Louis Mustillo).
Sexual Dealing Jerry on breakup etiquette: "Both parties don't have to consent to a breakup. It's not like you're launching missiles from a submarine and you both have to turn your keys."
163 February 26, 1998 The Wizard
Synopsis After a "big Hollywood so-and-so" options his coffee-table book for a movie, Kramer "retires" to Florida and proceeds to run for president of Jerry's parents' condo board. Elaine, on Puddy hiatus, shemes to find out whether new, beige beau Darryl (Samuel Bliss Cooper) is actually black. Susan's parents call George's bluff when he lies about having a spread in the Hamptons.
164 March 19, 1998 The Burning
Synopsis Elaine gets back together with Puddy (she needed to move to a bureau), only to discover he's a devout Christian who doesn't seem to care that his spiritually vacant girlfriend is going straight to hell. After George works the crowd at a Kruger meeting to mixed results, Jerry teaches him to leave 'em wanting more. Kramer and Mickey take a gig at Mount Sinai, interpreting diseases for med students. Jerry dates Sophie (Cindy Ambuehl), she of the mysterious Tractor Story, and (maybe) "toe thumbs."
Sexual Dealing Sophie's irksome "It's me" phone salutation prompts a discussion regarding over- familiarity, with Elaine inferring that only the closest of friends or long-term lovers are entitled to use the phrase.
165 April 9, 1998 The Bookstore
Synopsis At a bookstore, Jerry catches Uncle Leo shoplifting, George uses a pricey art tome as bathroom reading and gets stuck with it, and Hong Kong-loving Kramer has another brainstorm: a rickshaw fleet, with the city's homeless as drivers. After making out with coworker (and, as she finds out, junkie) Zach at the annual Peterman party, Elaine pretends to be his girlfriend to avoid the label of "office skank."
Wise Crack George on the righteousness of bookstore-bathroom reading: "They're selling coffee, bran muffins, you're surrounded by reading material. It's entrapment!"
Historic Moments We learn that Jerry doesn't read on the can, his parents regularly steal batteries, and that Elaine and George share the same meaningless title at their jobs: associate. Plus, notice a third cashmere-addiction connection (episodes 29 and 157) when Elaine aska a clerk if Zach's withdrawal puke can be removed from her sweater.
166 April 23, 1998 The Frogger
Synopsis George tries to preserve his legacy - high score (860,630) in the titular videogame - by purchasing the machine from his and Jerry's high school hangout, Mario's Pizza. After denouncing the daily cake parties at the office, Elaine satisfies her resulting 4 o'clock sugar dependency by unwittingly eating Peterman's $29,000 piece of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor's wedding cake. Jerry takes up with Lisi (Julia Campbell), a sentence-finisher ("It's like dating Mad Libs"), only to have her making assumptions about his seriousness.
Wise Crack "I had to take a sick day, I'm so sick of these people," says Elaine of her coworkers' forced socializing.
Historic Moment Elaine attempts to replace Peterman's slice of history with an Entenmann's facsimile; given all the products plugged, how come it took so long getting around to New York's most pervasive store-bought cake brand?
167 April 30, 1998 The Maid
Synopsis Elaine and Kramer (and eventually the NYPD) accuse Jerry of being a john when he continues to pay his maid, Cindy (Angela Featherstone), even after they're only sleeping together. George's pursuit of a nickname, T-Bone, is doomed when a Kruger worker co-opts it, leaving him with Koko the Monkey, then Gammy. Kramer struggles with the demands of a long-distance relationship when his girlfriend Madeline (Christina Haag), moves downtown. Elaine unwittingly impersonates a dead woman to avoid getting saddled with Manhattan's dreaded new 646 area code.
Historic Moment All four sit at Monk's coutner, revealing why it never happened before: Simple conversation turns into a game of telephone.
168 May 7, 1998 The Puerto Rican Day
Synopsis En route home from a Mets game, the foursome are stuck in the Madre of all New York traffic jams, thanks to the eponymous annual procession.
Historic Moments We learn Elaine attended Tufts University. Also, the only time George's, Kramer's, and Jerry's respective alter egos - Messrs. Vandelay, A.G. Pennypacker, and Kel Varnsen - appear together.
Creative Casting Marc Hirschfeld as Elaine's (very) momentary bleachers paramour. And John Paragon and Yul Vazquez (episode 110) return to bully Kramer.
169 May 14, 1998 The Finale
Synopsis The four "heroes" witness a car-jacking and stand trial due to their lackadaisical response. Everyone from their (bad) times in the past voices their opinions of their heartless manner in general.
