JT's comments below originally ran as part of Place to Be Nation's "Seinfeld: The PTBN Series Rewatch" project.
Best Character
I liked Elaine a lot in this episode. The scene where she meets with Peterman and Peggy was really good and I loved her pretending to be called away. Plus, the Cheryl Miller stuff was funny too. Jerry was really good too, nailing all his one liners and then bragging about al his misdeeds to Peggy at the funeral.
Best Storyline
I don't think any storyline really stood out here so I will go with George and Allison just because of the answering machine message and the backless entrance. Also, I really liked Kramer's story about getting thrown out of the basketball game, acting all nonchalant about it.
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
If someone was nice enough to give you their boss's courtside seat, should you repay them by getting into an on court brawl leading to an ejection? Poor, poor etiquette K-Man.
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
Peterman and Susie painting the town red would be quite the spinoff. As long as everything is OK in the House of Peterman, it is all good. Allison was quite the catch, no idea why she was slumming it with Constanza. She should have attended the ball and hooked up with Derek Jeter though. Relationship Grade: 15 Year Rental/10
What Worked:
Mike returns and I liked the "phony" callback; Kramer springing ahead his watch and telling Mike the wrong time; "water near a bridge"; I always enjoy Elaine describing "Sharon"; Kramer betting Jerry's money since he has a "gambling problem"; "Sooz"; "Cheryl Miller's brother"; Kramer's gambling addiction coming roaring back was good; Jerry singing George's answering machine message; Mike failing to pay the bet and Jerry calling him a phony and then breaking his thumbs; Kramer as the Allison surrogate was funny; Elaine put on a master class in hoodwinking Peterman and Peggy; Kramer having broken Jerry's trunk; Kramer and George being all awkward together after the break up; Mike getting locked in the trunk was a funny follow up to the thumbs; Kramer just callously slamming into Jerry's car while pulling out of his spot is great; Kramer mixing up the time later in the episode is a great subtle callback to the opening scene; Jerry telling Peggy he nailed Susie and Elaine was great; Peterman doing the same thing as Kramer, slamming into Jerry's car, was good; Kramer's backless tux entrance; Elaine having to run the Susie Foundation was sharp writing, especially since her name is basically Susan too
What Didn't Work
What went wrong in Allison's life that she had to date George?; George already has Allison's phone number memorized? How long have they been dating?; Why did poor Mike have to fix the trunk in the pouring rain
Key Character Debuts
- N/A
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
- "Look how dark it's gettin' already." - Kramer "Well, it's not Daylight Savings Time yet." - Jerry "When does it start?" - Kramer "I don't know, they just tell you the night before." - Jerry
- "You kidding? It's all water near a bridge." - Kramer
- "No. I like the ball! This is my One Chance to make a Great Entrance! My whole life! I have never made a great entrance!" - George "You've made some Fine Exits." - Jerry
- "No. I was kicked out for fightin' with one of the players." - Kramer "Wait. Way--way--way--way--way--way--wait! Who?!" - Jerry "Reggie Miller." - Kramer "Cheryl Miller's brother?" - Elaine "Yeah." - Kramer
- "I didn't know Cheryl Miller's brother played basketball." - Elaine
- "Nevertheless, Elaine. The House, of Peterman is in Disorder." - Peterman
- "Elaine! Where's Susie? I want her to head up our new Fingerless Glove Division." - Peterman
- "How d'ya like the tuxedo. It's a rental but I've had it for fifteen years." - Kramer
Oddities & Fun Facts
- George's answering machine jingle is set to the theme song of Greatest American Hero
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
This episode actually held up a bit better than I expected when I pressed play. I do think the storylines could have used more room to breathe as much of it felt like a series of neat ideas mashed into somewhat under developed stories, but there was enough laughs here to keep this afloat. George's answering machine message is iconic and rejuvenated the Greatest American Hero theme song in pop culture. I thought Jerry and Elaine were the best here and Peterman was aces as always. Mike as the buffoon bookie was solid too. Most of all, I liked the subtle callbacks mixed in, specially Kramer screwing up the time later in the episode due to springing ahead his watch and the Susie Foundation. Fine outing, but grading on a Seinfeld curve it was a fairly middling episode. Final Grade: 6/10
Best Character
I liked Elaine a lot in this episode. The scene where she meets with Peterman and Peggy was really good and I loved her pretending to be called away. Plus, the Cheryl Miller stuff was funny too. Jerry was really good too, nailing all his one liners and then bragging about al his misdeeds to Peggy at the funeral.
Best Storyline
I don't think any storyline really stood out here so I will go with George and Allison just because of the answering machine message and the backless entrance. Also, I really liked Kramer's story about getting thrown out of the basketball game, acting all nonchalant about it.
Ethical Dilemma of the Week
If someone was nice enough to give you their boss's courtside seat, should you repay them by getting into an on court brawl leading to an ejection? Poor, poor etiquette K-Man.
Relationship Scale (Scale 1-10)
Peterman and Susie painting the town red would be quite the spinoff. As long as everything is OK in the House of Peterman, it is all good. Allison was quite the catch, no idea why she was slumming it with Constanza. She should have attended the ball and hooked up with Derek Jeter though. Relationship Grade: 15 Year Rental/10
What Worked:
Mike returns and I liked the "phony" callback; Kramer springing ahead his watch and telling Mike the wrong time; "water near a bridge"; I always enjoy Elaine describing "Sharon"; Kramer betting Jerry's money since he has a "gambling problem"; "Sooz"; "Cheryl Miller's brother"; Kramer's gambling addiction coming roaring back was good; Jerry singing George's answering machine message; Mike failing to pay the bet and Jerry calling him a phony and then breaking his thumbs; Kramer as the Allison surrogate was funny; Elaine put on a master class in hoodwinking Peterman and Peggy; Kramer having broken Jerry's trunk; Kramer and George being all awkward together after the break up; Mike getting locked in the trunk was a funny follow up to the thumbs; Kramer just callously slamming into Jerry's car while pulling out of his spot is great; Kramer mixing up the time later in the episode is a great subtle callback to the opening scene; Jerry telling Peggy he nailed Susie and Elaine was great; Peterman doing the same thing as Kramer, slamming into Jerry's car, was good; Kramer's backless tux entrance; Elaine having to run the Susie Foundation was sharp writing, especially since her name is basically Susan too
What Didn't Work
What went wrong in Allison's life that she had to date George?; George already has Allison's phone number memorized? How long have they been dating?; Why did poor Mike have to fix the trunk in the pouring rain
Key Character Debuts
- N/A
Iconic Moments, Running Themes & Memorable Quotes
- "Look how dark it's gettin' already." - Kramer "Well, it's not Daylight Savings Time yet." - Jerry "When does it start?" - Kramer "I don't know, they just tell you the night before." - Jerry
- "You kidding? It's all water near a bridge." - Kramer
- "No. I like the ball! This is my One Chance to make a Great Entrance! My whole life! I have never made a great entrance!" - George "You've made some Fine Exits." - Jerry
- "No. I was kicked out for fightin' with one of the players." - Kramer "Wait. Way--way--way--way--way--way--wait! Who?!" - Jerry "Reggie Miller." - Kramer "Cheryl Miller's brother?" - Elaine "Yeah." - Kramer
- "I didn't know Cheryl Miller's brother played basketball." - Elaine
- "Nevertheless, Elaine. The House, of Peterman is in Disorder." - Peterman
- "Elaine! Where's Susie? I want her to head up our new Fingerless Glove Division." - Peterman
- "How d'ya like the tuxedo. It's a rental but I've had it for fifteen years." - Kramer
Oddities & Fun Facts
- George's answering machine jingle is set to the theme song of Greatest American Hero
Overall Grade (Scale 1-10)
This episode actually held up a bit better than I expected when I pressed play. I do think the storylines could have used more room to breathe as much of it felt like a series of neat ideas mashed into somewhat under developed stories, but there was enough laughs here to keep this afloat. George's answering machine message is iconic and rejuvenated the Greatest American Hero theme song in pop culture. I thought Jerry and Elaine were the best here and Peterman was aces as always. Mike as the buffoon bookie was solid too. Most of all, I liked the subtle callbacks mixed in, specially Kramer screwing up the time later in the episode due to springing ahead his watch and the Susie Foundation. Fine outing, but grading on a Seinfeld curve it was a fairly middling episode. Final Grade: 6/10
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