The Fire (Seinfeld episode)
Encyclopedia
"The Fire" was the eighty-fourth episode of the NBC
sitcom Seinfeld
and the 20th episode for the 5th season. It aired on May 5, 1994.
is discussing his idea of a coffee table book about coffee tables with Elaine
and his new girlfriend, Elaine's co-worker, Toby (Veanne Cox
). Elaine finds Toby, as well as Kramer's book, very annoying.
George
is dating Robin, (played by Melanie Chartoff
whom Larry David knew from the time they worked on the short-lived sketch series Fridays), a woman with a young son. Jerry
is preparing his act to impress a magazine critic.
Kramer invites Toby to see Jerry's act, where she initially cheers him, but then she starts heckling, booing, and hissing him ceaselessly after a joke he tells offends her. As a result of the heckling, Jerry gets a bad review from the critic. George, attending Robin's son's birthday party, cannot understand how "Eric the Clown" (played by Jon Favreau
) does not know who Bozo
is and complains that "Eric" is not a good clown name. Later, George panics when a small fire breaks out and he rushes away, pushing down children, senior citizens, and the clown in the process. The attendees of the birthday party are extremely upset with him, so he tries to justify his behavior by saying how he acted bravely by pushing his way to the front, acting as their "leader", an explanation that nobody buys. Eric saves the day by putting the fire out with one of his clown shoes.
Jerry takes the ultimate revenge for a comedian by appearing at Toby's workplace to heckle
her; crying, she runs out of her office and onto the street where her foot is run over by a street sweeper, which severs her pinky toe. Later, Kramer retells the story of how he found the toe, boarded a bus, and fought a gunman just to go to the hospital.
Toby got her toe reattached and was promoted instead of Elaine because her boss felt sorry for her because of the accident. At the club, Jerry convinced the critic to return to judge his performance again. Also in the club, George, inspired by Kramer's story, asks Robin for a second chance. However, he panics and screams again at the sight of a comedian's (Dom Irrera
) prop gun and ruins Jerry's act by having the audience evacuate because of the fake gun.
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
sitcom 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...
and the 20th episode for the 5th season. It aired on May 5, 1994.
Plot
At Pendant Publishing KramerCosmo Kramer
Cosmo Kramer, usually referred to as simply "Kramer", is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Michael Richards...
is discussing his idea of a coffee table book about coffee tables with Elaine
Elaine Benes
Elaine Marie Benes is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Elaine's best friend is her ex-boyfriend Jerry Seinfeld; she is also good friends with George Costanza and Cosmo Kramer...
and his new girlfriend, Elaine's co-worker, Toby (Veanne Cox
Veanne Cox
Veanne Cox is an American stage and screen actress and former ballet dancer.Cox was born in Norfolk, Virginia. She studied ballet at the Washington School of Ballet, acting at the Studio Theatre's Conservatory in Washington, D.C., and voice at Catholic University.Her Broadway debut was in the...
). Elaine finds Toby, as well as Kramer's book, very annoying.
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"...
is dating Robin, (played by Melanie Chartoff
Melanie Chartoff
Melanie Chartoff is an American actress. Among her most prominent roles are her voice role in Rugrats, her comedic work on the ABC series Fridays from 1980–1982, and on the early 1990s Fox sitcom Parker Lewis Can't Lose....
whom Larry David knew from the time they worked on the short-lived sketch series Fridays), a woman with a young son. Jerry
Jerry Seinfeld (character)
Jerome "Jerry" Seinfeld is the main protagonist of the American television sitcom Seinfeld . The straight man among his group of friends, this semi-fictionalized version of comedian Jerry Seinfeld was named after, co-created by, based on, and played by Seinfeld himself.The series revolves around...
is preparing his act to impress a magazine critic.
Kramer invites Toby to see Jerry's act, where she initially cheers him, but then she starts heckling, booing, and hissing him ceaselessly after a joke he tells offends her. As a result of the heckling, Jerry gets a bad review from the critic. George, attending Robin's son's birthday party, cannot understand how "Eric the Clown" (played by Jon Favreau
Jon Favreau
Jonathan Kolia "Jon" Favreau is an American actor, screenwriter, film director and comedian. As an actor, he is best known for his roles in Rudy, Swingers , Very Bad Things, and The Break-Up. His notable directorial efforts include Elf, Iron Man and its sequel, and Cowboys & Aliens...
) does not know who Bozo
Bozo the Clown
Bozo the Clown is a clown character very popular in the United States, peaking in the 1960s as a result of widespread franchising in early television.Originally created by Alan W...
is and complains that "Eric" is not a good clown name. Later, George panics when a small fire breaks out and he rushes away, pushing down children, senior citizens, and the clown in the process. The attendees of the birthday party are extremely upset with him, so he tries to justify his behavior by saying how he acted bravely by pushing his way to the front, acting as their "leader", an explanation that nobody buys. Eric saves the day by putting the fire out with one of his clown shoes.
Jerry takes the ultimate revenge for a comedian by appearing at Toby's workplace to heckle
Heckler
A heckler is a person who harass and try to disconcert others with questions, challenges, or gibes.Hecklers are often known to shout disparaging comments at a performance or event, or interrupts set-piece speeches, for example at a political meeting, with intent to disturb its performers or...
her; crying, she runs out of her office and onto the street where her foot is run over by a street sweeper, which severs her pinky toe. Later, Kramer retells the story of how he found the toe, boarded a bus, and fought a gunman just to go to the hospital.
Toby got her toe reattached and was promoted instead of Elaine because her boss felt sorry for her because of the accident. At the club, Jerry convinced the critic to return to judge his performance again. Also in the club, George, inspired by Kramer's story, asks Robin for a second chance. However, he panics and screams again at the sight of a comedian's (Dom Irrera
Dom Irrera
Domenick Jack Irrera , originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a stand-up comedian. Much of his material is in the form of stories about his life, especially his childhood years and growing up in an Italian-American family, which contributes to the "natural" feel of his...
) prop gun and ruins Jerry's act by having the audience evacuate because of the fake gun.
Trivia
- The name on the back of Ronnie Kaye's Boston BruinsBoston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
sweater is "Irrera". Ronnie is played by comedian Dom IrreraDom IrreraDomenick Jack Irrera , originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a stand-up comedian. Much of his material is in the form of stories about his life, especially his childhood years and growing up in an Italian-American family, which contributes to the "natural" feel of his...
. - The voice that announces Jerry's name before he goes on stage is that of show co-creator Larry DavidLarry DavidLawrence 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...
.