Top 10 Seinfeld Episodes

May 14, 2008 will mark the 10-year anniversary of Seinfeld going off the air with original episodes. Of course, syndication has been fantastic for Jerry and company – not to mention the studios and networks as well. Reruns have helped the die-hard fans still get their fix, while ushering in new fans that never caught the original episodes during prime time. The show still has an incredible following 10 years later.

I recently heard that Jason Alexander (George “Can’t Stand Ya”) gets more fan mail now than he did while the show was part of that great Thursday night “Must See TV” lineup on NBC (dew, dew, dew).

In 2002, TV Guide magazine named Seinfeld the greatest show of all-time. That’s pretty high praise for a magazine that had been around for 50 years and had seen it all. The list was not limited to sit-coms either. It included all genres. Not only do I completely agree with TV Guide, I don’t even know who would come in second place. Perhaps we can blog about that sometime…

The show was on the air for 9 seasons and created 180 episodes. The writing was brilliant, the comedic timing was impeccable and the cast was perfect. It created quite a sub-culture of it’s own and it’s legacy continues to yada, yada, yada…

A couple of months ago we were sitting in the break room at work, and another huge fan asked me what my favorite episode was. I drew a blank. No idea. I had never thought about it before – there are just so many great ones.

Since I needed new Blog material, I’ve thought about it quite a bit this week, and decided that a Top 10 Seinfeld Episodes was Blog-worthy. It was very difficult getting it down to just 10. Good luck with that.

On the bubble are…“The Hamptons”, “The Fusilli Jerry”, “The Puffy Shirt”, “The Virgin” and of course, what would a bubble be without “The Bubble Boy”.

The list is obviously just an opinion. Feel free to agree or disagree. Have fun with it. Just blog catch phrases if you want to. A 10 minute get-away, if you will. I’ve also included a memorable line from each episode. (Copy/Pasting takes hardly any time at all)

If you need some help remembering, here’s a link to remind you of some of the greatest, smartest and funniest episodes you may ever see…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Seinfeld_episodes

Here’s to you Jerry… I hope it’s GOLD!

 

10. The Seven    (Ep #123)

Elaine sees a girl’s bike she wants, but she strains her neck trying to get the bike down from the wall. In pain she promises the bike to whoever fixes her neck. Kramer saves the day and wants the bike. George is angry when Susan’s cousin chooses to name her baby with the name he planned to give his first offspring. He desperately tries to convince them to use another name. Kramer works out an arrangement with Jerry to keep track of what he takes from Jerry’s kitchen. Jerry is curious when his girlfriend is always wearing the same dress, every time they go out.

Jerry: Seven? Yeah, I guess I could see it. Seven. Seven periods of

school, seven beatings a day. Roughly seven stitches a beating, and eventually

seven years to life. Yeah, you’re doing that child quite a service.

9. The Junior Mint    (Ep #60)

Jerry has a date with a woman whose name he has forgotten, but it “rhymes with a female body part.” Could it be “Mulva”? Elaine visits an old boyfriend who’s in the hospital for an operation; he was once fat, but now that he’s thin – she’s interested again. Kramer gets an opportunity to witness the operation and he drags Jerry along, while watching they have an accident with a “Junior Mint.”

Kramer: Who’s gonna turn down a Junior Mint? It’s chocolate, it’s peppermint -it’s delicious!

Jerry: That’s true.

Kramer: It’s very refreshing!

8. The Outing    (Ep #57)

No thanks to Elaine, Jerry must work hard to prove he is straight when a college reporter mistakenly reports that he and George are gay. Things really get out of hand when the article is picked up by the New York Post. Jerry ends up dating the college reporter to clear his name, but all does not go well.

Jerry: We’re not gay. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

7. The Boyfriend (1 hour)    (Ep # 34/35)

Jerry meets Keith Hernandez and wants to make a good impression. Meanwhile, George is out of time on his unemployment and he works harder than ever on his scheme to get a 13 week extension. He tells the unemployment office he was really close on Vandelay Industries, a company that makes latex products and whose main office is Jerry’s apartment. Kramer and Newman hate Hernandez back to a time when they were allegedly spit on by him; however, Jerry supports the “second-spitter theory.” Keith asks Jerry about Elaine’s status. Keith makes a date with her and breaks a date with Jerry.

Jerry: That is one magic loogey!

6. The Soup Nazi    (Ep #116)

The gang all loves the soup from a new, temperamental cook unofficially called the “Soup Nazi”. Jerry and his girlfriend are beyond affectionate, and their nickname “Schmoopie” drives George crazy. Elaine buys an antique armoire on the street, but it is stolen while being guarded by Kramer.

Elaine: You know, has anyone ever told you you look exactly like Al Pacino. You know, Scent of a Woman? HOO-AHH! HOO-AHH!

Soup Nazi: Good, very good, you know something?

Elaine: What?

Soup Nazi: NO SOUP FOR YOU!

Elaine: What?

Soup Nazi: Come back, one year! Next!

5. The Calzone    (Ep #130)

George becomes Steinbrenner’s pet, when he shares an eggplant calzone with him. Kramer is raving about wearing clothes “straight out of the dryer.” Jerry thinks that Elaine’s boyfriend is dating her without really ever asking her out. He offers to bring Jerry some Cuban cigars from Canada. Jerry takes advantage of his girlfriend’s ability to get anything she wants. Kramer searches for quarters for the dryer; when he can’t find anymore, he starts using an oven. George gets into tip trouble with the counter guy at the calzone shop and he works out an arrangement with Newman. That is unless of course it’s raining (Newman doesn’t deliver mail in the rain); Kramer helps out.

Steinbrenner: George let me tell you something. When I find something I like I stick with it. From 1973 to 1982 I ate the exact same lunch everyday, turkey chili in a bowl made out of bread. Bread bowl George! You’d eat the chili then you’d eat the bowl. Nothing more satisfying than looking down after lunch and seeing just a table.

 

4. The Opposite    (Ep #86)

George comes to the realization that he should try to do the opposite of everything, so he does, his luck changes and everything begins to go his way including getting a girlfriend, a job with the Yankees and moving out of his parents’ house. Things begin to be unlucky for Elaine after she buys a box of “Jujyfruits.” Kramer appears on Regis & Kathie Lee to promote his coffee table book. Rachel wants to break up with Jerry and he readily agrees, because his luck has been “even Steven.” Elaine’s eating of “Jujyfruits” causes Pendant Publishing to go under, and later she realizes that she and George have traded places.

Yankees exec: This is Mr. Costanza. He’s one of the applicants.

Steinbrenner: Nice to meet you.

George: Well, I wish I could say the same. But I must say, with all due respect, I find it very hard to see the logic behind some of the moves you have made with this fine organization. In the past twenty years you have caused myself, and the city of New York, a good deal of distress, as we have watched you take our beloved Yankees and reduce them to a laughing stock, all for the glorification of your massive ego!

Steinbrenner: Hire this man!

3. The Rye    (Ep #121)

Elaine is dating a jazz saxophonist who’s sponge-worthy but “he doesn’t really like to do everything.” Jerry tells one of the members of his band that the saxophonist and Elaine are “hot and heavy.” Kramer stocks up on supplies, including 50 cans of “Beef-A-Reeno.”. Susan’s parents meet and have dinner with the Costanzas for the first time. Both families obsess over a loaf of rye bread that wasn’t served with the meal, which Frank takes back home. Elaine’s boyfriend writes a song about “their relationship,” which later has a big impact on his career. Kramer takes over a friend’s horse-drawn carriage for a week and helps George out with his scheme to replace the rye bread. Unfortunately, he feeds the horse a can of “Beef-A-Reeno” right before giving the Ross’s their ride. Jerry manages to get his hands on a loaf of marble rye.

Jerry: Shut up you old bag!

2. The Marine Biologist    (Ep #78)

Jerry meets an old college classmate who asked about George, whom Jerry says is now a “marine biologist.” An infuriated Russian writer tosses an electronic organizer belonging to Elaine out of a limousine that hits a passerby on the head. Kramer struggles with his golf swing and sand. While walking along the beach, George is called on to use his marine biology skills to save a whale.

George: The sea was angry that day, my friends – like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli. I got about fifty feet out and suddenly the great beast appeared before me. I tell you he was ten stories high if he was a foot. As if sensing my presence, he let out a great bellow. I said, “Easy, big fella!” And then, as I watched him struggling, I realized that something was obstructing its breathing. From where I was standing, I could see directly into the eye of the great fish.

Jerry: Mammal.

George: Whatever.

Kramer: Well, what did you do next?

George: Well then, from out of nowhere, a huge tidal wave lifted me, tossed me like a cork, and I found myself right on top of him – face to face with the blowhole. I could barely see from the waves crashing down upon me but I knew something was there. So I reached my hand in, felt around, and pulled out the obstruction.

(George reveals the obstruction to be a golf ball)

Kramer: What is that, a Titleist? 

(George nods)

Kramer: Hole in one, huh?

 

1. The Contest    (Ep #51)

George’s mother is forced to the hospital after she throws her back out when she falls down after catching him doing “you know”. When George says he’ll never do it again, Jerry challenges him to a contest of being “master of your domains”. When he accepts, Elaine and Kramer want in on the action, or rather the lack of it. 

Kramer: I’m out!!