The gang’s plan to go to the movies goes awry.
Written by: Steve Skrovan & Bill Masters & Jon Hayman
Directed by: Tom Cherones
Now, I’m given to understand that the creators definitely did not intend George’s ‘it’s a show about nothing!’ pitch to actually describe the show Seinfeld. For one thing, the very episode that introduced has a very clear plot that, while lifted largely from reality, is more absurd than most people deal with. In fact, most episodes are actually quite densely plotted, and that was a large part of the show’s appeal; what makes it strange is that it takes fairly banal plot beats and details and then builds farcical, fast-paced plots out of it that make it feel like it’s about nothing, and this episode is a grand example of that.
The part with most substance is Jerry having to deal with an annoying, unfunny comic that feels – strangely for a show four seasons in – like a dry run for the later character Kenny Bania. Pat Buckles isn’t quite on his level of funny-unfunny, but I do love how his unfunniness is carefully observed; he’s simultaneously trying a little too hard to make his jokes work and not actually sweating out the little details, like ‘punchlines’. This extends out into his neediness with Jerry, trying to nudge him into reacting the way he wants (I’m particularly tickled by him just outright asking “Can you get me on The Tonight Show?”).
Meanwhile, I continue to be blown away by how whiny Elaine is. It’s not something I’m trying to stress too much because of a wariness of criticising female characters, but I’m so amused by how consistently the writers and JLD play Elaine as having zero emotional resilience and at how funny that is – even the slightest inconvenience will leave her whining like a teenager. She really is of a piece with the other characters; George will react with either aggressiveness or meekness, Jerry will react with exasperation or a joke, and Elaine will whine and beg.
She does reflect an element of the human condition, and I don’t just mean of women. A lot of normal behaviour made a lot more sense to me when I found out neurotypical people get a sense of dopamine from tasks being completed, as opposed to many neurodivergent people who don’t, and in retrospect it clarified a lot of temper tantrums people have thrown over nearly nothing – as if I were standing between an addict and their fix. I think that’s what makes Elaine so funny – she’s an exaggeration of a complete inability to handle gratification being delayed for even a second.
TOPICS O’ THE WEEK
- The Ponce de Leone movie and Rochelle, Rochelle are classic examples of fictional media. I love how easy it is to picture what they’re about, and that they sound like fairly straightforward movies as opposed to parodies or exaggerations.
- Speaking of neurodivergence, I love that guy who gives George an entirely literal and completely useless answer to his question, and I love George’s one-liner in response (“It’s good to be accurate!”).
- “George… you’re sapping my strength.”
- “I’m not riffing! I’m ignoring! Can’t you tell the difference?”
- As someone who flies into Elaine-esque rages at people talking in the theatre, I think “Coming Attractions” lady was in the right. Talk through the opening trailers all you want.
- We get an example of one of my all-time favourite comedy tropes: protagonists describing each other.
- Little good moment of Seinfeld’s acting when he reacts to the Rochelle, Rochelle trailer and nearly trips up.
- This is also a really good example of the show using its music, as the stings keep things fast-paced and yet make you curious what happens next.
- The coat is such a weird detail.
Biggest Laugh:
Next Week: “The Visa”