Seinfeld (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
Encyclopedia
"Seinfeld" is the tenth and final
episode of the seventh season of American
situation comedy
Curb Your Enthusiasm
. The episode's story was written by Larry David
and was directed by Jeff Schaffer
. It originally aired on November 22, 2009 on HBO. The episode revolves around a fictional Seinfeld
reunion show featuring the original cast.
). He previously cast her in the Seinfeld reunion show as Amanda, ex-wife of George
, played by Jason Alexander
. Meanwhile, Julia Louis-Dreyfus holds a party in honor of Jason's book release, Acting Without Acting, which Jerry and Larry criticize for being too short. At the party, Julia accuses Larry of leaving a "ring stain" on an antique table in her house. Larry claims his innocence and refuses to pay for the damages, and thus decides to find the person responsible; the person who does not "respect wood."
While on the set of the show, Cheryl invites Larry to her house to review the script. Larry misses the date when he attempts to repair his friendly relationship with Mocha Joe (the studio lot's coffee guy whom Larry failed to tip), causing Cheryl to turn to Jason Alexander for coaching. The two begin to develop a very friendly relationship, leaving Larry jealous. In retaliation, he rewrites the ending of the show, in which George and Amanda do not end up together. This causes Jason to leave the set; when the rest of the cast wants Jason to return, Larry unsuccessfully tries to play George himself, and quits the show shortly thereafter. In the parking lot, Larry talks to Jeff on the phone and mentions that the only reason he had put the show together to begin with was to have a chance to get back together with Cheryl, which she overhears from her car.
Upon watching the show's premiere, Larry is surprised to see that Virginia is in fact playing Amanda. Cheryl then knocks on his door, stating she quit the show after arguing over the small size of Jason's book, and also because "it wasn't the same" since Larry's resignation. Larry states that he prefers the original ending to the one he had written, which causes Cheryl to say "because [George and Amanda] belong together", much like Larry and Cheryl. The two kiss until Larry notices a ring stain caused by Cheryl's drink, subsequently accusing Cheryl of causing the ring stain on the antique table.
", an actual Seinfeld episode, George brags about being able to find "the best public toilet [...] anywhere in the city"). His wife left him before he lost his fortune in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme
, and George then moved in with Jerry. In the years since the original finale, Jerry donated sperm to have a daughter with Elaine; the child, unknowingly, calls him "Uncle Jerry", but learns the truth by the end of the episode and eventually calls him "daddy". Most of the reunion show revolves around George attempting to get back with Amanda, who received half of George's money and would want a prenuptial agreement
to ensure he did not get together just for the money.
.
gave the episode a 7.4 saying that "there were quite a few funny moments and scenes" but it "lacked a certain spark and energy and felt fairly low key for a season finale in general". Amelie Gilette of The A.V. Club
praised the episode, writing that David "made the Curb universe and the Seinfeld universe merge and then fold in on itself—and it was nothing short of incredible to watch". She graded the episode A+. Jonathan Toomey of TV Squad also gave "Seinfeld" a positive review, saying that "fans finally got the Seinfeld ending they've always been hoping for", though he criticized the subplot with Mocha Joe.
The episode had about 2 million viewers, making it the highest-rated finale of the show in more than five years.
Season finale
A season finale is the final episode of a season of a television program...
episode of the seventh season of American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
situation comedy
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm is an American comedy television series produced and broadcast by HBO, which premiered on October 15, 2000. As of 2011, it has completed 80 episodes over eight seasons. The series was created by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself...
. The episode's story was written by Larry David
Larry David
Lawrence Gene "Larry" David is an American actor, writer, comedian and producer. He is best known as the co-creator , head writer, and executive producer of the television series Seinfeld from 1989 to 1996, and for creating the 1999 HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm, a partially improvised sitcom in...
and was directed by Jeff Schaffer
Jeff Schaffer
Jeff Schaffer is an American film and television director, writer, and producer.-Television:Schaffer wrote several episodes of Seinfeld. He also served as executive producer during season 9...
. It originally aired on November 22, 2009 on HBO. The episode revolves around a fictional Seinfeld
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
reunion show featuring the original cast.
Plot
Larry David is hopeful that his plan is working to win back his ex-wife Cheryl (Cheryl HinesCheryl Hines
Cheryl Ruth Hines is an American actress and director, known for her role as Larry David's wife Cheryl on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm. She currently appears on the ABC sitcom Suburgatory...
). He previously cast her in the Seinfeld reunion show as Amanda, ex-wife of George
George Costanza
George Louis Costanza is a character in the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Jason Alexander. He has variously been described as a "short, stocky, slow-witted, bald man" , "Lord of the Idiots" , and as "the greatest sitcom character of all time"...
, played by Jason Alexander
Jason Alexander
Jay Scott Greenspan , better known by his professional name of Jason Alexander, is an American actor, writer, comedian, television director, producer, and singer. He is best known for his role as George Costanza on the television series Seinfeld, appearing in the sitcom from 1989 to 1998...
. Meanwhile, Julia Louis-Dreyfus holds a party in honor of Jason's book release, Acting Without Acting, which Jerry and Larry criticize for being too short. At the party, Julia accuses Larry of leaving a "ring stain" on an antique table in her house. Larry claims his innocence and refuses to pay for the damages, and thus decides to find the person responsible; the person who does not "respect wood."
While on the set of the show, Cheryl invites Larry to her house to review the script. Larry misses the date when he attempts to repair his friendly relationship with Mocha Joe (the studio lot's coffee guy whom Larry failed to tip), causing Cheryl to turn to Jason Alexander for coaching. The two begin to develop a very friendly relationship, leaving Larry jealous. In retaliation, he rewrites the ending of the show, in which George and Amanda do not end up together. This causes Jason to leave the set; when the rest of the cast wants Jason to return, Larry unsuccessfully tries to play George himself, and quits the show shortly thereafter. In the parking lot, Larry talks to Jeff on the phone and mentions that the only reason he had put the show together to begin with was to have a chance to get back together with Cheryl, which she overhears from her car.
Upon watching the show's premiere, Larry is surprised to see that Virginia is in fact playing Amanda. Cheryl then knocks on his door, stating she quit the show after arguing over the small size of Jason's book, and also because "it wasn't the same" since Larry's resignation. Larry states that he prefers the original ending to the one he had written, which causes Cheryl to say "because [George and Amanda] belong together", much like Larry and Cheryl. The two kiss until Larry notices a ring stain caused by Cheryl's drink, subsequently accusing Cheryl of causing the ring stain on the antique table.
Reunion show
The Seinfeld reunion show centered on the character of George, who married a woman named Amanda and made significant money by devising an iPhone application called the iToilet, which directed the user to the nearest decent public toilet anywhere in the world (in "The BusboyThe Busboy
"The Busboy" was the seventeenth episode of Seinfeld to air, despite being the eighth produced. The episode was the 12th and final episode of the show's second season. It aired on June 26, 1991.-Plot:...
", an actual Seinfeld episode, George brags about being able to find "the best public toilet [...] anywhere in the city"). His wife left him before he lost his fortune in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme
Madoff investment scandal
The Madoff investment scandal broke in December 2008 when former NASDAQ chairman Bernard Madoff admitted that the wealth management arm of his business was an elaborate Ponzi scheme....
, and George then moved in with Jerry. In the years since the original finale, Jerry donated sperm to have a daughter with Elaine; the child, unknowingly, calls him "Uncle Jerry", but learns the truth by the end of the episode and eventually calls him "daddy". Most of the reunion show revolves around George attempting to get back with Amanda, who received half of George's money and would want a prenuptial agreement
Prenuptial agreement
A prenuptial agreement, antenuptial agreement, or premarital agreement, commonly abbreviated to prenup or prenupt, is a contract entered into prior to marriage, civil union or any other agreement prior to the main agreement by the people intending to marry or contract with each other...
to ensure he did not get together just for the money.
Cultural references
In the episode, Jerry says "we already screwed up one finale", a reference to the fact that "The Finale" was not well received by critics or fans.Production
David previously refused to make a Seinfeld reunion, but he thought it would be funny to do it on Curb Your Enthusiasm. He stated that it "was a perfect way to do something like that but not to do it. Under the guise of doing the Curb show, it was very relaxed and loose and easy." The original sets were used to reconstruct Jerry's apartment and Monk's CafeMonk's Cafe
Monk's Café is a fictional coffee shop from the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. The exterior of Tom's Restaurant on the corner of West 112th Street and Broadway, near Columbia University, is often shown on the show as the exterior of Monk's, though the interiors were shot on a sound stage. The coffee shop is...
.
Reception
Eric Goldman of IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave the episode a 7.4 saying that "there were quite a few funny moments and scenes" but it "lacked a certain spark and energy and felt fairly low key for a season finale in general". Amelie Gilette of The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
praised the episode, writing that David "made the Curb universe and the Seinfeld universe merge and then fold in on itself—and it was nothing short of incredible to watch". She graded the episode A+. Jonathan Toomey of TV Squad also gave "Seinfeld" a positive review, saying that "fans finally got the Seinfeld ending they've always been hoping for", though he criticized the subplot with Mocha Joe.
The episode had about 2 million viewers, making it the highest-rated finale of the show in more than five years.
External links
- "Seinfeld" at HBO