JT's comments below originally ran as part of Place to Be Nation's "Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch" project.
Best Character
I may have to cheat and have a six way tie for this one. I think it was easily Elaine's best episode as she was featured heavily, took on the physical comedy and just shredded it across the board. Jerry was top notch too, acting as the compass through which everything ran through, running point and narrating the absurdity. He also had some great lines. Morty and Helen were brilliant, just ripping through their shtick with precision, oscillating between sniping at each other, fretting over the pen, bitching about the Klompuses, trying to be helpful but also being destructive at the same time, all while prepping for Morty's big day. It was a real tour de force. Uncle Leo came charging in at the end and would have sealed this category in a lesser episode. And finally...Jack. From his decimal detail in settling up for dinner to his wavering over the pen to his closing roast of Morty, he kept the strong guest star torch burning bright. We all win in this one!
Best Storyline
The pen. No doubter here. It was the straw that stirred the drink of absurdity and exposed just how screwed up everything in this community is. It busted apart friendships, ruined a tribute banquet and led to nonstop gossip and hate. Without, the charade would still be going on to this day. TAKE THE PEN!
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
Should Jerry have returned the pen? Fuck no. Let them gossip! An offer is an offer and Jerry tried to turn it down initially but Jack kept pushing it on him. And why would Jack even offer the pen anyway? Of course there is a chance Jerry may accept! Jerry should have taken that pen back to New York and written his bits about dogs proudly from the comfort of his back.
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
The friendship between the Seinfelds and Klompuses was clearly very, very shaky heading into this one. It seemed like it would take just one off color remark or gesture to split it apart at the seams, and Jerry was the one to pull the final thread. Morty clearly was ready to pop at any minute. It started with the scotch tape, carried on to the dinner reimbursement check and crested with the regifting of the pen. It is too bad these couples need to remain neighbors because this relationship is dead...or maybe not since they are all old and crazy. Relationship Grade: Elderly/10
What Worked
The running gag on the air conditioning was great; Helen's over eagerness to please is fantastic, including the ever increasing downplaying of what they need and require; Jack Klompus is amazing across the board and played to a tee; Jack gifting the pen will live on in infamy; The condo politics were spot on; Elaine's back problems with the sofa bed is super relatable and perfectly played; Jerry condensing the length of the vacation to comfort Elaine always makes me laugh; Evelyn asking where the "new pen" is, followed by Helen's double take was awesome, especially since it implies that Jack's wife started chirping as soon as they left the apartment; Jack and Morty arguing over pen, sponge cake and scotch tape; The scene at the dinner was beautifully played by everyone, with stoned Elaine, sunglass wearing Jerry, bitter Jack roasting Morty and the great Uncle Leo laying it in about Jerry's material and pushing Cousin Jeffrey as always; Elaine and Jerry being forced to stay in Florida for another five days because of Elaine's back was a nice way to wrap things up.
What Didn't Work
Jerry's blazer and shirt combo is a disaster; the fake outside background was really obvious and terrible looking; nothing else missed here, this was a gorgeous episode across the board.
Key Character Debuts
- Jack Klompus
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
- We establish Helen's overeagerness to please, to a fault
- "Look at the sun dried tomatoes...where were they five years ago?" - Jerry
- "Why do you need more friends? You have plenty of friends." - Morty
- "$17.10 and with tax and tip..." - Jack "Alright, make it $20..." - Morty "It's $19...45." - Jack
- "You want to switch? I'm sleeping on a love seat, I got my feet up in the air like I'm sleeping in a space capsule" - Jerry
- "It's one day...half a day really. You subtract showers and meals, it's like twenty minutes!" - Jerry
- "Jerry, ya got thin..." - Evelyn "Too thin?" - Jerry "Oh, stop worrying about how you look!" - Helen
- "What happened to you?" - Jack "I got in a fist fight with one of the ladies at the pool" - Jerry
- "Of course I wanted it! I love sponge cake!" - Jack
- "What is going on in this community? Are you people aware of what is happening? What is driving you to this behavior? It is the humidity? Is it the muzak? Is it the white shoes?" - Jerry
- "What is what the sunglasses? Who are you, Van Johnson?" - Uncle Leo
- "STELLA! STELLA!" - Elaine
- "You need new material...I've heard you do that dog routine three times already...You should get your Cousin Jeffrey to write some material for you..." "What are you talking about, he works for the parks department!" - Morty "You should read the letters he's written, he's funnier than the whole bunch of you!" - Uncle Leo
- "This better be good, I'm missing Golden Girls for this" - Aunt Stella "< Fake Laughter > I hate her like poison" - Helen
Oddities & Fun Facts
- This is the first episode outside of New York
- Kramer and George do not appear in this episode; it is the first to not feature George
- Jerry's rental car cost $25/day
- Uncle Leo apparently lives in Florida too
- Larry David can be heard as a voice in the crowd at the banquet
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
If you sat there before this episode and were told that there would be no Kramer or George, you would assumed it would be a stinker. But you would be wrong, because it was an epic. Jerry stepped his game up hard and led the way, with Elaine delivering her breakout episode, delivering in spades. The Florida group was fantastic as well, really filling in the gaps. The storyline was crisp and entertaining and was garnished with quick bits that everybody could relate to (the hot condo, the shitty sofa bed, having to attend a meaningless banquet). The material was endless for this one and they did a great job taking advantage of it. The fact that the Library and this episode were delivered back to back shows just how hot this show was about to get. Final Grade: 9/10
Best Character
I may have to cheat and have a six way tie for this one. I think it was easily Elaine's best episode as she was featured heavily, took on the physical comedy and just shredded it across the board. Jerry was top notch too, acting as the compass through which everything ran through, running point and narrating the absurdity. He also had some great lines. Morty and Helen were brilliant, just ripping through their shtick with precision, oscillating between sniping at each other, fretting over the pen, bitching about the Klompuses, trying to be helpful but also being destructive at the same time, all while prepping for Morty's big day. It was a real tour de force. Uncle Leo came charging in at the end and would have sealed this category in a lesser episode. And finally...Jack. From his decimal detail in settling up for dinner to his wavering over the pen to his closing roast of Morty, he kept the strong guest star torch burning bright. We all win in this one!
Best Storyline
The pen. No doubter here. It was the straw that stirred the drink of absurdity and exposed just how screwed up everything in this community is. It busted apart friendships, ruined a tribute banquet and led to nonstop gossip and hate. Without, the charade would still be going on to this day. TAKE THE PEN!
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
Should Jerry have returned the pen? Fuck no. Let them gossip! An offer is an offer and Jerry tried to turn it down initially but Jack kept pushing it on him. And why would Jack even offer the pen anyway? Of course there is a chance Jerry may accept! Jerry should have taken that pen back to New York and written his bits about dogs proudly from the comfort of his back.
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
The friendship between the Seinfelds and Klompuses was clearly very, very shaky heading into this one. It seemed like it would take just one off color remark or gesture to split it apart at the seams, and Jerry was the one to pull the final thread. Morty clearly was ready to pop at any minute. It started with the scotch tape, carried on to the dinner reimbursement check and crested with the regifting of the pen. It is too bad these couples need to remain neighbors because this relationship is dead...or maybe not since they are all old and crazy. Relationship Grade: Elderly/10
What Worked
The running gag on the air conditioning was great; Helen's over eagerness to please is fantastic, including the ever increasing downplaying of what they need and require; Jack Klompus is amazing across the board and played to a tee; Jack gifting the pen will live on in infamy; The condo politics were spot on; Elaine's back problems with the sofa bed is super relatable and perfectly played; Jerry condensing the length of the vacation to comfort Elaine always makes me laugh; Evelyn asking where the "new pen" is, followed by Helen's double take was awesome, especially since it implies that Jack's wife started chirping as soon as they left the apartment; Jack and Morty arguing over pen, sponge cake and scotch tape; The scene at the dinner was beautifully played by everyone, with stoned Elaine, sunglass wearing Jerry, bitter Jack roasting Morty and the great Uncle Leo laying it in about Jerry's material and pushing Cousin Jeffrey as always; Elaine and Jerry being forced to stay in Florida for another five days because of Elaine's back was a nice way to wrap things up.
What Didn't Work
Jerry's blazer and shirt combo is a disaster; the fake outside background was really obvious and terrible looking; nothing else missed here, this was a gorgeous episode across the board.
Key Character Debuts
- Jack Klompus
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
- We establish Helen's overeagerness to please, to a fault
- "Look at the sun dried tomatoes...where were they five years ago?" - Jerry
- "Why do you need more friends? You have plenty of friends." - Morty
- "$17.10 and with tax and tip..." - Jack "Alright, make it $20..." - Morty "It's $19...45." - Jack
- "You want to switch? I'm sleeping on a love seat, I got my feet up in the air like I'm sleeping in a space capsule" - Jerry
- "It's one day...half a day really. You subtract showers and meals, it's like twenty minutes!" - Jerry
- "Jerry, ya got thin..." - Evelyn "Too thin?" - Jerry "Oh, stop worrying about how you look!" - Helen
- "What happened to you?" - Jack "I got in a fist fight with one of the ladies at the pool" - Jerry
- "Of course I wanted it! I love sponge cake!" - Jack
- "What is going on in this community? Are you people aware of what is happening? What is driving you to this behavior? It is the humidity? Is it the muzak? Is it the white shoes?" - Jerry
- "What is what the sunglasses? Who are you, Van Johnson?" - Uncle Leo
- "STELLA! STELLA!" - Elaine
- "You need new material...I've heard you do that dog routine three times already...You should get your Cousin Jeffrey to write some material for you..." "What are you talking about, he works for the parks department!" - Morty "You should read the letters he's written, he's funnier than the whole bunch of you!" - Uncle Leo
- "This better be good, I'm missing Golden Girls for this" - Aunt Stella "< Fake Laughter > I hate her like poison" - Helen
Oddities & Fun Facts
- This is the first episode outside of New York
- Kramer and George do not appear in this episode; it is the first to not feature George
- Jerry's rental car cost $25/day
- Uncle Leo apparently lives in Florida too
- Larry David can be heard as a voice in the crowd at the banquet
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
If you sat there before this episode and were told that there would be no Kramer or George, you would assumed it would be a stinker. But you would be wrong, because it was an epic. Jerry stepped his game up hard and led the way, with Elaine delivering her breakout episode, delivering in spades. The Florida group was fantastic as well, really filling in the gaps. The storyline was crisp and entertaining and was garnished with quick bits that everybody could relate to (the hot condo, the shitty sofa bed, having to attend a meaningless banquet). The material was endless for this one and they did a great job taking advantage of it. The fact that the Library and this episode were delivered back to back shows just how hot this show was about to get. Final Grade: 9/10
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