Season Seven

111. The Engagement
gs: Mario Joyner (Himself) Janni Brenn (Woman #2) Mailon Rivera (Cop #1) Athena Massey (Melanie) Ron Byron (Man) Renee Phillips (Alice) Cindy Cheung (Woman #1) Wayne Knight (Newman) Jerry Stiller (Frank Costanza) Estelle Harris (Estelle Costanza) Heidi Swedberg (Susan)

Jerry and George reevaluate their relationships with women, so they make "a pact" to change their ways, though Jerry doesn't know it. Elaine has a problem sleeping in her new apartment because of a nearby constantly barking dog; Kramer recommends a solution. George gets back with Susan, his former girlfriend from NBC; he asks her to marry him, and after a couple hours of convincing she says yes. Kramer, his solution (Newman) and Elaine commit a dognapping and take the dog far out of the city. Jerry breaks up with his girlfriend again; however, George is now trapped in his relationship with Susan, almost to the point where he is married already. Elaine almost gets a good night of sleep.

b: 21-Sep-1995 pc: 701 w: Larry David d: Andy Ackerman

# NOTE: All of the episodes in the next three seasons will have a loose and connecting thread, very similar to Season Four. George's engagement with Susan is a recurring storyline, as well as Elaine's on and off relationship with Puddy. The man that Jerry is talking to as he's leaving the theatre after seeing Firestorm is Maroon Golf from the Puerto Rican Day Parade.
# Jerry asks George if Susan's skin has "a pinkish hue?" and George says yes. George first mentioned he likes a pinkish hue in "The fix-up"
# Viewer Dusan Vlahovic notes: I think it's a little odd that George wants to marry Susan. 1º She was a LESBIAN, 2º Her father had an affair with a MAN, 3º her mother is an alcoholic...it's a little strange family if you think so...

Elaine's dog problem is solved by a neighborly rabbi with a cable show. Kramer's involvement in the dognapping worries him when he finds out about its impact on his permanent record. Overwhelmed with it all, George decides he wants to postpone the engagement. Elaine isn't "concerned" with George's intentions, but is really jealous that he's the first of the group to get engaged. The neighborly rabbi offers advice on her problem, that he later relates to Jerry and anyone else who'll listen. Kramer and Jerry try to see "Plan 9 From Outer Space"; however, Kramer "tries" to sneak in a gourmet coffee, spills it and his lawyer says he has a case.

b: 28-Sep-1995 pc: 702 w: Larry David d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Bruce Mahler also played a rabbi character with Seinfeld writer/executive producer Larry David on ABC's Fridays from April 1980 to October 1982. That show was ABC's answer to Saturday Night Live and also featured Michael Richards, whose most notable character was a small boy who played with toy soldiers in his backyard sandbox. Other Fridays regular performers that have also appeared in this series include Maryedith Burrell and Melanie Chartoff.

George is feeling the pressures of his relationship with Susan and decides that he needs to help a security guard that works at her uncle's store. Kramer's friend "Maestro", makes a comment about getting a rental property in Tuscany that makes Jerry decide to do some research. Elaine begins dating the "Maestro." Kramer's out of court settlement in his lawsuit against the coffee house, free coffee at any location around the world, gets him "hopped up on the caffeine." Jerry asks Poppy about Tuscany and is referred to Poppy's cousin, who makes him an offer he can't refuse.

b: 05-Oct-1995 pc: 703 w: Larry David d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Mark Metcalf who played "The Maestro" in this episode is probably best remembered for his role of Douglas C. Niedermeyer in "National Lampoon's Animal House" and the Twisted Sister music video "We're Not Gonna Take It." Mark Metcalf also played "The Master" on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and coincidentally "Maestro" is Spanish for "Master."

Elaine gets a blind date with the guy from her wake-up service; however, he likes dogs. A bit of grapefruit pulp, from Jerry's healthy breakfast, gets into George's eye and causes problems for him when his winks keep getting misinterpreted. Jerry's healthy diet conflicts with his dating of Elaine's cousin. Kramer promises a sick boy that Yankee Paul O'Neill will hit two home runs for him, so he can get back a birthday card that he sold based on George's wink.

b: 12-Oct-1995 pc: 704 w: Tom Gammill & Max Pross d: Andy Ackerman

# NOTE: Viewer Kyle Westphal notes that Jerry mentions he would like to date a deaf woman. Of course he already has in "The Lip Reader". Actually Jerry says he'd prefer to date the deaf than the blind, so it doesn't contradict the earlier episode.

George picks up a bad habit from some visiting baseball officials. During the time of the New York City Marathon, Elaine has an out of country runner as her house guest. The runner had overslept and missed the big race at the last Olympics and Jerry obsesses with ensuring that it doesn't happen again. Kramer gets a hot tub from his friend Lomez and Elaine has writer's block.

b: 19-Oct-1995 pc: 705 w: Gregg Kavet & Andy Robin d: Andy Ackerman

# NOTE: Viewer Ryan Huddleston notes this episode is where Kramer first mentions his friend Lomez. While Kyle Westphal seems to have missed this mention, he's noted that Kramer has also mentioned Lomez in the following episodes: "The Package", "The Fatigues", "The Slicer", "The Betrayal", "The Apology". Is there any more underrated one-time character than Jean-Paul? The Soup Nazi, The Bubble Boy, Sidra (Teri Hatcher), The Bizarro Gang (although Kevin was in another episode), the cleaning lady George sleeps with, Ramone the pool boy, the naked fat man on the subway--among others--they are all seen more than Jean-Paul in clip shows and most were brought back for the final episode. Jean-Paul is as funny as any of those characters except for the Soup Nazi.

While on their way to the "soup place" Elaine finds an antique armoire she wants. George makes a mistake while trying to get his soup from the "Soup Nazi." Elaine isn't allowed to move her armoire into her building, so Kramer offers to watch it for her, out on the street. George and Elaine discuss how annoyed they are by Jerry's sweet-talking with his current girlfriend, especially their calling each other "Schmoopie". Elaine makes an ordering error in front of the "Soup Nazi," gets on his bad side and is banned for a year. In broad daylight and in Kramer's presence, two "tough" guys come along and take Elaine's armoire. Kramer relates the story of the armoire to the "Soup Nazi," who says he has an armoire in the basement that Kramer can have. Jerry's girlfriend makes a faux pas in the "soup place" and Jerry disavows any knowledge of her. George confronts Jerry and reminds him about their pact. George and Susan see Jerry and his girlfriend at the diner and they begin to compete against each other. Susan appreciates that George is finally showing his feelings in public. Kramer gives Elaine the armoire and tells her where he got it. Elaine goes to thank the "Soup Nazi" but gets even further on his bad side. Jerry discovers the armoire contains the "Soup Nazi"'s recipes and Elaine takes them for her final confrontation with the "Soup Nazi."

b: 02-Nov-1995 pc: 706 w: Spike Feresten d: Andy Ackerman

# NOTE: The writer of this episode, Spike Feresten, was a former staff writer on Late Show With David Letterman. According to an article in the Reader Mail section of Aaron Barnhart's Late Show News, Issue #86, the character of the "Soup Nazi" was based on the owner of a soup stand in the neighborhood of the Ed Sullivan Theater. The Late Show ... staffers referred to him as the "Soup Nazi." The 21 Nov 95 issue of The Star contains an article with the following headline "WATCH OUT SEINFELD, I'M GOING TO SMACK YOUR FACE". The owner of Soup Kitchen International, Al Yeganeh, is the man the character is based on. Al, busy enough already with his business, doesn't like the extra publicity his shop was given by this episode or the use of the word "Nazi". For his performance as the "Soup Nazi" Larry Thomas was nominated for an Emmy Award, as were the writer and the director. Ana Gasteyer would later join the cast of "Saturday Night Live" at the start of the 96-97 season. She does a mean impression of Hillary Rodham Clinton.
# The armoire stealing "tough" guys will reappear in Kramer's life in "The Sponge" and "The Puerto Rican Day".
# Like many Nazis (literal or figurative), the Soup Nazi flees to Argentina at the end of the episode.
# The Soup Nazi's real name isn't officially announced until the series finale. His real name: Yev Asem.

George tries to keep his ATM code a secret from Susan. Elaine is puzzled by a man she once met at a party and talked to for ten minutes, doesn't remember her, but he does remember other party details. Leapin' Larry, a one-legged man, wants Jerry to do spots for his store, but he is angered when he thinks Jerry is doing an impression of him. Kramer gets an emergency band scanner and decides to help reorganize operations at the NYFD. Elaine doesn't want to go on a date with her boss, the storyteller, so she leaves Jerry and George at the restaurant. Jerry escapes, but George isn't as lucky. He is forced to accompany Peterman to his Momma's house, where he winds up staying all night and tells her his secret code before she dies. That is her last word. George's code is needed in a life or death situation.

b: 09-Nov-1995 pc: 707 w: Alec Berg & Jeff Schaffer d: Andy Ackerman

# NOTE: The firestation in this episode looks like the same building used in the movie Ghostbusters. Perhaps someone from New York would know if it is the same building? I'm not sure if all the firestations in New York look the same. I do not live in New York but I am almost 99% positive that it is the same one. It looks exactly the same and if you have ever seen the Ghostbusters DVD it is stated that the exterior of the firehouse was shot in New York. Not sure about interior.
# While trying to get the secret code out of George, Jerry says the line "sing it sister." He'll later use this line again in "The Dealership."

Elaine has tickets for a historical clothing exhibit and realizes that she has no female friends, Jerry suggests that she ask Susan. Kramer suggests that is the wrong move and that George's worlds will collide. Jerry meets his pool guy outside a movie, and then he can't get rid of him. George is worried by Elaine wanting to get to know Susan, then he finds out it was Jerry's idea. Kramer's new phone number is similar to a film information line. When Kramer keeps getting wrong numbers, he begins giving out the information for movie showtimes a la "Movie Phone."

b: 16-Nov-1995 pc: 708 w: David Mandel d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: This episode was dedicated as follows:

    In memory of our friend Rick Bolden.

# Rick was one of the musicians who worked on the Seinfeld theme. Thanks to Sam Bowen for this information. Danny Hoch refused the role of Ramon. He did not want to contribute to the stereotypical view of Latinos.
# When Kramer is acting as the MovieFone guy, you will notice a few little statuettes behing him. These are models made out of pasta; a reference to "the fussilli jerry" in which kramer makes a statue of Jerry out of fussilli.
# This is the 2nd episode this season where the movie "Firestorm" is mentioned in passing. Kramer mentions Jerry had seen it (which he did in "The Engagement"). Later "Firestorm" comes up again in "The Rye" when George is trying to make conversation with Susan's father.

Jerry finds the number of girl he wants to contact on Kramer's AIDS walk sponsor list. After finding out that her preferred method of birth control is only available in a limited supply, Elaine must decide whether her current boyfriend is "sponge worthy." George tells Susan the secret of the size of Jerry's jeans and that leads to a fight about all secrets, he tells her another of Jerry's secrets when they make up. Jerry finds out that George told Susan one of his secrets and now he's "out of the loop." Elaine adjusts her screening process to find worthy candidates. Kramer causes a disturbance at the AIDS walk when he won't "wear the ribbon."

b: 07-Dec-1995 pc: 709 w: Peter Mehlman d: Andy Ackerman

# NOTE: Two of the people annoyed at Kramer's disrespect for the ribbon are the armoire stealing "tough" guys from "The Soup Nazi" and later "The Puerto Rican Day." The FDA actually did recall contraceptive sponges due to their potential health effects. The FDA in 2003 has allowed the manufacture of redesigned contraceptive sponges.
# Jerry states that he cannot be with a "generally good woman who cares for the welfare of others." This may be a foreshadowing of Jerry's fate at the end of the series.
# The alley where Kramer gets taken down looks very similar (as does the scene) to his fight with the karate kids.

Kramer is active in the re-opening of an old movie theater. He also is keeping an eye on a friend, Lloyd, who's recovering from a nervous breakdown. Lloyd has a pack of Chinese gum that Kramer insists everyone tries. George thinks the cashier short-changed him and meets a former neighbor (who's had a breakdown) and his daughter, Deena. George lets his former neighbor look at his car. Elaine tries to avoid interacting with Lloyd, loses a button from her blouse and reveals herself to Lloyd and Kramer. Because of Elaine's lie, Jerry must wear glasses while around Lloyd. Deena tells George that she thinks he is showing signs of being on the verge of a breakdown. George's car, once owned by "Jon Voight" in "The Mom & Pop Store", catches fire. Elaine shows more to Lloyd. Jerry gets more gum. George keeps trying to convince Deena he's not crazy.

b: 14-Dec-1995 pc: 710 w: Tom Gammill & Max Pross d: Andy Ackerman

# NOTE: Writer / executive producer Larry David makes an uncredited cameo as a guy who sells George a pack of gum. Actor Peter Keleghan (from "The Non-Fat Yogurt") is replaced by actor Matt McCoy as "Lloyd Braun".

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.

b: 04-Jan-1996 pc: 711 w: Carol Leifer d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: As stated in "The Cheever Letters" both Warren Frost and Grace Zabriskie appeared on David Lynch and Mark Frost's series Twin Peaks. Two other members of that cast, Frances Bay and Don Amendolia also appear in this episode. Coincidence? Viewer Randy Erickson didn't think so!

Kramer befriends a caddy, who helps him to improve his golf game and offer his other advice. George's bosses consider him for a promotion when they think he is so dedicated to his work that he is there in the morning before everyone else and still there after they all leave. They don't know that he's just been leaving his car in the parking lot waiting for his free visit from a locksmith. Taking advantage of the situation, he and Susan go up north to her parent's rebuilt cabin. Elaine meets an old rival who's heir to the Oh Henry! candy bar fortune and has never worn a bra. She wears the bra as a top and cause Kramer and Jerry to have an accident with George's car. With George's damaged car in the parking lot, the Yankees think he's dead. Steinbrenner breaks the news to the Costanza's. Kramer and Elaine take her rival to court and only Jerry may stand in the way.

b: 25-Jan-1996 pc: 712 w: Gregg Kavet & Andy Robin d: Andy Ackerman

# NOTE: Stan the Caddy, played by Armin Shimerman, played Principal Snyder on Buffy the Vampire Slayer for the first three seasons. His character was very different on Buffy. In this episode Jerry mentions having to throw a rye up to a two-story window, in reference to the previous episode, "The Rye".
# When George calls Jerry, we see Jerry just sitting on the couch doing nothing until the phone rings. A similar gag appears in "The Apology" involving Kramer's phone call to Puddy.

Elaine sees a girl's bike she wants, but she strains her neck trying to getting 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.

b: 01-Feb-1996 pc: 713 w: Alec Berg & Jeff Schaffer d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Viewer Bryan Wagg noticed a blooper in this episode. When Newman is sitting on the couch acting as an arbitrator he is wearing his wedding ring. In the next cut back to him, it has disappeared.

Jerry surprises his parents by buying them a new Cadillac, when his last job really pays well. Kramer who now knows about what Jerry makes says it will change their relationship. It certainly changes his relationship with Elaine, she's interested again. George reconsiders his engagement when one of Elaine's friends tells him that she could have set him up with Oscar winning actress, Marisa Tomei. The cable company wants to see Kramer and he takes the opportunity to get revenge on them. George wants to meet Marisa for a cup of coffee, even when Elaine's friend is in the hospital with a heart condition. Jack Klompus accuses Morty of embezzling funds to pay for his new Cadillac.

b: 08-Feb-1996 pc: 714 w: Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Originally broadcast as part of a 60 min episode. Elaine likes large amounts of money.

Kramer continues to play with the cable guy. George's obsession with Marisa makes Susan suspicious. Elaine calls Jerry in Florida and tells him she wants to come and join him. Elaine gets George Marisa's phone number and now he needs her for an alibi (which involves her "boyfriend" Art Vandelay, an importer/ exporter). Morty's ace in the hole, to keep him from impeachment, is the woman Jerry stole the marble rye from, but she doesn't remember him, at least at first. The cable guy zeros in on Kramer, but he gets away. George's meeting with Marisa doesn't go as well as planned and Susan thinks he he's having an affair with Elaine. The cable guy concedes defeat.

b: 08-Feb-1996 pc: 717 w: Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld d: Andy Ackerman

# NOTE: Originally broadcast as part of a 60 min episode. Someone once asked why this production number is 717 and not 715, directly following part 1. I can only assume (I can't prove) that production was initially begun on the orginal script and part way into its production they realized that they had enough material for a second part. Since the 715 & 716 scripts were probably already beginning pre-production, the next number available was 717. Of course, this is only a theory.
# When Kramer is chased by the Cable Guy, it can be noticed that there is an obvious product placement of Rold Gold Pretzels that Kramer is eating out of his grocery bag. A product that was being endorsed by Jason Alexander.
# Another possible reason for the production codes may have been scheduling problems with a guest star or recurring star such as the Seinfelds. X-Files episodes "A Christmas Carol" and "Emily" were filmed seperately even though they were a two part episode because one of the main stars had scheduling problems.
# One of the few episodes in which a scene doesn't take place in Jerry's apartment.

Elaine gets a physical for a pending trip with Peterman to Africa. Her physical test results show positive for opium, so Peterman fires her. Jerry parent's are in seclusion in New York while biding time until they can move back to Florida. George tries to convince his parents to move to Florida. The shower heads in Jerry's building are being replaced with a new low-flow model; Newman finds a source for black market shower heads. The Seinfelds tell the Costanzas that there is no room for them in Florida that gives Frank all the incentive he needs to move. George is delighted. Elaine finds the cause of her opium addiction and finds a donor for her next physical. Jerry makes a joke on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at the expense of Uncle Leo and he pays the price for making fun of the family.

b: 15-Feb-1996 pc: 715 w: Peter Mehlman & Marjorie Gross d: Andy Ackerman

# NOTE: On 19 Feb 96 as part of the Late Show With David Letterman: Video Special II, Jerry and Jason appear doing a scene about sandwiches. David Letterman interrupts their dialog and put his two cents in, then Paul Shaffer arrives and takes Dave back to their show. After they leave Jerry quips to Jason, "What the opposite of Must See TV?" He then points to where Dave and Paul were standing. The discussion between Estelle and Frank and Morty and Helen about the availability of condos at Del Boco Vista is purposely reminiscent of Jerry's conversation with the Maestro about the available homes in Tuscany.

Susan's old roommate from college, Sally Weaver, gives Jerry a package that she wants him to be careful with; which he is, but he loses his own package in the process. Frank tells George he is turning his room into a billiard room. Elaine tells Frank about a man she saw in Tuscany who looks just like him, Frank thinks it may be the cousin who stayed behind. Kramer challenges him to a game where the space is a bit tight. Jerry is enthusiastic about a new toothbrush, which he is convinced Elaine must have. Susan has a doll that looks uncannily like George's mother; she doesn't believe it, but he does and it affects his performance. Jerry is going to be on Charles Grodin's show with one of the Three Tenors, not Pavarotti or Domingo, but "the other guy." Elaine goes with him the studio, to replace an autographed picture of "the other guy," for "the Maestro" that was damaged while they were in Tuscany. "The Maestro" provides a new fashion for Kramer and Frank while playing pool, and his baton is an answer to the space problem in the billiard room. Susan's roommate comes to town. She tries to help Jerry out by bringing him back a better barbecue sauce and bringing a doll to the studio for Jerry, which in her opinion, is much funnier than the one Jerry wanted. Jerry has no material for his appearance.

b: 22-Feb-1996 pc: 716 w: Tom Gammill & Max Pross d: Andy Ackerman

George is happy because he has a three-month reprieve. The wedding is delayed until June (just in time for the end of the May sweeps and a cliffhanger!). Meanwhile he is also excited because Jerry is going to go out with Susan's best friend. He envisions their friendship in the future as being "Gatsby"-like. Jerry is trying to get into the Friars Club, but loses a jacket he "borrowed" for dinner there, at a performance of comedic jugglers that was "worked on" by Susan's friend. Kramer tries to duplicate the sleeping patterns of Da Vinci and falls asleep at some inopportune moments; one of which puts him put in the Hudson River. Peterman hires a deaf employee and Elaine suffers the consequences, when she gets loaded with some of his work. Trying to see how deaf he really is, Elaine comes on to him, which Peterman overhears and tries to help out their budding relationship.

b: 07-Mar-1996 pc: 718 w: David Mandel d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: The shoelaces Susan says she'll get for George come up again in "The Wait Out" when George tells her they're working out fine.

Jerry uses Elaine to prove that a sales clerk is wrong about his looking at an expensive jacket. Elaine is picked up by the clerk. George has an unwanted house guest, a wig master for the touring company of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." He also has found a parking lot that charges $75 dollars a month; Kramer decides to put his car there. Unfortunately, he leaves his apartment key there. When he can't get his key, he is allowed to borrow a pink Cadillac. Jerry is convinced the clerk is working Elaine. George discovers why the lot is so cheap, he finds a used condom in his car and is asking a prostitute for information, just as Susan approaches. George discovers that he may have an out with Susan; she says she must be able to trust him and have no doubts. Kramer stays at Jerry's apartment. Elaine has a walking stick she lets Kramer have. Jerry tries to return his jacket, but discovers that "spite" isn't a viable reason. Kramer is allowed to borrow the back up "Electric Color Dreamcoat." Jerry is put out, when both sexes assume he isn't in a relationship with the person he is with (Elaine in one instance, the Wig Master in the other). Kramer finds a fuzzy white hat. With all the parts put together, his new ensemble is a sight to behold, just ask the NYPD after he is caught pulling a prostitute out of his borrowed car.

b: 04-Apr-1996 pc: 719 w: Spike Feresten d: Andy Ackerman

# NOTE: Kramer's mug shot number is NYPD 331781-0404. In episode 155 "The Muffin Tops" the name from the parking lot "Jiffy park" returns, but this time it´s a dump called "Jiffy dump" where Kramer wants to dump Elaines garbage from the Muffin top store. Also note that it´s the same man who´s working at the dump as on the parking lot.
# At the "Jiffy park," the man working tells Kramer that if he has a problem to take it up with Consumer Affairs, and after talking with the man at the "Jiffy dump" Kramer is seen yelling "maybe I will take it up with Consumer Affairs!"
# The police officer at the last scene is the voice of Larry David, "I said turn pimp!".
# Susan catches George paying a prostitute. In the episode The Postponement (112) the rabbi Elaine confided to said on his show that George had been wondering whether it was cheating if he'd pay a prostitute to have sex with him.

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.

b: 25-Apr-1996 pc: 720 w: Alec Berg & Jeff Schaffer d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: At the beginning of the episode George presents his idea for having the doors to bathroom stalls go down all the way to the floor, which he first suggested to Susan in "The Postponement".

George doesn't hear the details on an important project that Wilhelm wants him to champion. Peterman wants Elaine to bid on a set of golf clubs at the Kennedy auction, her ceiling is $10,000; however, she gets into a bidding war with Sue Ellen, the Oh Henry! candy heiress. Consequently, she spends a bit more than she was authorized. Newman finds the missing ingredient to make it cost effective in Kramer's scheme to collect used pop bottles and cans and take them to Michigan where the refund is doubled. Jerry takes his car to a mechanic, who's fanatical about car care. Elaine meets Jerry to get the golf clubs out of his car, but the mechanic, distraught over Jerry's negligence, steals it. Kramer and Newman collect their bottles and cans and hit the road in a mail truck.

b: 02-May-1996 pc: 721 w: Gregg Kavet & Andy Robin d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: Originally broadcast as part of a 60 min episode.

Wilhelm is delighted with the job George did on the project; however, he has no idea what he did or how he did it. The detective on the case thinks he's found Jerry's car, damaged beyond recognition. It's not, and later Jerry's mechanic calls him from the car. Kramer spots Jerry's car in Ohio. Steinbrenner calls George into his office about the project report and has him committed. Kramer ditches the cans, bottles, mailbags and Newman in pursuit of Jerry's car. Newman finds a farmer's house, complete with the proverbial daughter. The mechanic throws the clubs and bag at Kramer's truck, allowing him to get away. Deena is happy to see that George is getting the help he needs. Peterman is stunned when he finally gets the clubs, "Elaine, I never knew Kennedy had such a temper."

b: 02-May-1996 pc: 722 w: Gregg Kavet & Andy Robin d: Andy Ackerman

# NOTE: Originally broadcast as part of a 60 min episode. Farmer's daughter calling Newman Norman was actually the actress's mistake. They kept it anyway because it's funny.

After George makes an off-hand remark to a married couple with a rocky relationship, Jerry and Elaine wait in anticipation of their inevitable separation. Elaine sports a new hairstyle, starts driving again and almost makes Jerry car sick. Kramer starts wearing jeans again. The jeans are much too tight, so tight in fact, that he can't get them off when he really needs to. Elaine and Jerry make plans to move in on the separated couple, which they do. George feels guilty about breaking up the marriage and wishes to undo the damage. Jerry and Elaine physically oppose this action. David returns the off-hand remark to George in the presence of Susan. She tells George she has to think about some things- he thinks it is his ticket out.

b: 09-May-1996 pc: 723 w: Peter Mehlman s: Peter Mehlman & Matt Selman d: Andy Ackerman

NOTE: This isn't the only episode in which George broke up someone else's relationship with a casual, teasing comment. This also happened in The Good Samaritan.

As the big day grows nearer, George and Susan order their invitations. Susan lets him choose the cheap ones. George tries to think of a way out. Elaine suggests smoking and Kramer suggests a pre-nuptial agreement. Jerry, thinking of a single future with Kramer, nearly gets hit by a car but is saved by his female equivalent, Jeannie. Jerry thinks he is in love with Jeannie. Kramer tries to cash in on a bank's offer of a $100 if one of their tellers doesn't say hello. Is "Hey," hello? George tries the suggestions and strikes out. Susan begins preparing the invitations. Jerry makes a decision. Susan passes out while licking envelopes. Jerry proposes marriage; later he has second thoughts. George finds Susan and the gang meets him over at the hospital, where George gets the news, he's out. Free at last, George makes another attempt at Marisa Tomei.

b: 16-May-1996 pc: 724 w: Larry David d: Andy Ackerman

# NOTE: In an uncredited appearance writer / producer Carol Leifer appears as one of the bank employees. The scenes shot with the real George Steinbrenner for this episode, were cut from the final edit. It is reported that these scenes might be included in an episode, next season. Steinbrenner reportedly missed opening day of the Yankees' baseball season to make this appearance. "Is Seinfeld the Best Comedy Ever? A Case is Made" was the title of a TV Guide cover story for the week of June 1st through the 7th. In the article Jay McInerney, the author, makes his case for why he thinks it should be. I for one, agree. He also lists out ten of the most significant episodes.

    * "The Pen"
    * "The Bubble Boy"
    * "The Pick"
    * "The Parking Garage"
    * "The Junior Mint"
    * "The Subway"
    * "The Outing"
    * "The Soup Nazi"
    * "The Rye"
    * "The Contest"

# In another article, Jerry talks about next season, future seasons and the impact of Larry David's departure.
# In light of recent anthrax scares in the US (fall/winter 2001), the planned syndicated rerun of this episode on 22 Oct 2001 was cancelled. Since that time, it has been reported (summer 2002) that the episode has reappeared in some markets.
# This episode is supposed to take place on the day it aired, as was said in the final episode.
# This episode has several pararells, and is almost like a mirror version of this season's premiere episode, "The engagement."
# This episode aired before any terrorist attack of the United States; but I want to note that this episode not only has poisonous letter that may offend the people worrying about Anthrax (as was mentioned above), it also mentioned plane crashing as well.
# George still has a job at the Yankees in this episode, but Susan still claims she makes more money than he does.