The Bubble Boy (Seinfeld episode)
Encyclopedia
"The Bubble Boy" is the 47th episode of the American sitcom Seinfeld
, as well as the nickname of Donald Sanger, one of the characters in the episode. It is the seventh episode of the fourth season. The episode was written by Larry David
and Larry Charles
, directed by Tom Cherones
, and aired on October 7, 1992. It relies heavily on dark comedy in the portrayal of the bubble boy
. American journalists had in the past covered "bubble boys" who lived in quarantine due to an immune deficiency
. The coverage often played for sympathy, ignoring anything about the subject other than his medical condition. The bubble boy in this episode (played by Jon Hayman), however, is a rude, selfish leech who is impossible to sympathize with. He is never seen fully on-screen, except for a pair of gloves that he uses to reach through the barrier; when he is shown exiting the house on a stretcher, he is partially covered by paramedics.
. In the coffee shop, Elaine and Jerry meet a kindly father (played by Brian Doyle-Murray
) who describes the sad life of his young son Donald who lives in a "plastic bubble" (a germ-free quarantine, which is in reality a mere plastic divider). As Donald is a fan of Jerry's, Jerry is forced by Elaine to visit Donald on the way to the cabin to cheer him up. However, Jerry gets lost and George and Susan arrive before him. While waiting for Jerry to arrive, they play Trivial Pursuit
with the "bubble boy".
The Trivial Pursuit game ends prematurely when George disputes the answer to the question "Who invaded Spain in the 8th century?" Donald answers "the Moors
", but the question card says "the Moops" due to a misprint. George refuses to give Donald credit, causing Donald to attack George. As Susan tries to defend George from Donald's attack, she punctures and depressurizes the "bubble", inadvertently making George look guilty since he was actually struggling with Donald.
Meanwhile, Kramer and Jerry's girlfriend Naomi (played by Jessica Lundy
) attempt to rendezvous with Jerry, Elaine, George, and Susan at Susan's family's country home. Kramer carelessly leaves his lit cigar near some newspapers, which causes a fire that destroys Susan's family's cabin. The other four travelers arrive shortly after the firefighters.
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...
, as well as the nickname of Donald Sanger, one of the characters in the episode. It is the seventh episode of the fourth season. The episode 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 Larry Charles
Larry Charles
Larry Charles is an American writer, director, and producer. He is best known as a staff writer for the American sitcom Seinfeld for its first 5 seasons, contributing some of the show's darkest and most absurd storylines...
, directed by Tom Cherones
Tom Cherones
Tom Cherones is an American director and producer of several TV series.-Early life:He grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where his father operated a radio and TV repair shop. His grandfather was a Greek immigrant. From 1961 to 1965, he was a lieutenant in the United States Navy...
, and aired on October 7, 1992. It relies heavily on dark comedy in the portrayal of the bubble boy
Boy in the bubble
Bubble boy, boy in the bubble and boy in the plastic bubble are colloquialisms used to describe a person who must live in a microbiologically sterile environment for medical reasons...
. American journalists had in the past covered "bubble boys" who lived in quarantine due to an immune deficiency
Severe combined immunodeficiency
Severe combined immunodeficiency , is a genetic disorder in which both "arms" of the adaptive immune system are impaired due to a defect in one of several possible genes. SCID is a severe form of heritable immunodeficiency...
. The coverage often played for sympathy, ignoring anything about the subject other than his medical condition. The bubble boy in this episode (played by Jon Hayman), however, is a rude, selfish leech who is impossible to sympathize with. He is never seen fully on-screen, except for a pair of gloves that he uses to reach through the barrier; when he is shown exiting the house on a stretcher, he is partially covered by paramedics.
Plot
Jerry, George, George's girlfriend Susan, and Elaine plan to travel to Susan's family's lakeside cabinLog cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
. In the coffee shop, Elaine and Jerry meet a kindly father (played by Brian Doyle-Murray
Brian Doyle-Murray
Brian Doyle-Murray is an American comedian, screenwriter, actor and voice artist. He is the older brother of actor/comedian Bill Murray and has acted together with him in several films, including Caddyshack, Scrooged, Ghostbusters II, The Razor's Edge and Groundhog Day...
) who describes the sad life of his young son Donald who lives in a "plastic bubble" (a germ-free quarantine, which is in reality a mere plastic divider). As Donald is a fan of Jerry's, Jerry is forced by Elaine to visit Donald on the way to the cabin to cheer him up. However, Jerry gets lost and George and Susan arrive before him. While waiting for Jerry to arrive, they play Trivial Pursuit
Trivial Pursuit
Trivial Pursuit is a board game in which progress is determined by a player's ability to answer general knowledge and popular culture questions. The game was created in 1979 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, by Canadian Chris Haney, a photo editor for Montreal's The Gazette and Scott Abbott, a sports...
with the "bubble boy".
The Trivial Pursuit game ends prematurely when George disputes the answer to the question "Who invaded Spain in the 8th century?" Donald answers "the Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
", but the question card says "the Moops" due to a misprint. George refuses to give Donald credit, causing Donald to attack George. As Susan tries to defend George from Donald's attack, she punctures and depressurizes the "bubble", inadvertently making George look guilty since he was actually struggling with Donald.
Meanwhile, Kramer and Jerry's girlfriend Naomi (played by Jessica Lundy
Jessica Lundy
Jessica R. Lundy is an American actress. Although she has appeared in several movies, she is noted more for her television roles, especially as Joel Fleishman's fiancee/ex-fiancee Elaine Shulman on the series Northern Exposure...
) attempt to rendezvous with Jerry, Elaine, George, and Susan at Susan's family's country home. Kramer carelessly leaves his lit cigar near some newspapers, which causes a fire that destroys Susan's family's cabin. The other four travelers arrive shortly after the firefighters.