The Foundation (Seinfeld)
Encyclopedia
"The Foundation" is the 135th episode
of the American
television
sitcom Seinfeld
. This was the 1st episode of the 8th season. It was originally broadcast on the NBC
network on September 19, 1996.
's late fiancée Susan in full view. While George wishes to move on from Susan's tragic demise, her parents want to keep her memory alive by creating a foundation, inspired by a Star Trek reference Jerry told them about Susan, which ruins George's newfound happiness. George is seen gazing at a portrait of a smiling Susan. Jerry
reunites with Dolores (aka Mulva) from "The Junior Mint
." J. Peterman has a nervous breakdown, runs off to Burma
and leaves Elaine
in charge. Kramer
becomes a martial arts expert at a karate academy for kids.
Kramer convinces Elaine that she can run the company, which she does by putting her idea for an "urban sombrero
" on the cover. She then finds out Kramer was fighting kids, and realizes her disastrous mistake. Kramer gets beaten up by the kids from his karate class in an alley. Elaine finds out her urban sombrero has destroyed some people's lives. George finds out he would have inherited much of Susan's riches had they been married, but now he is stuck at the foundation as they are auctioned off. The same portrait of Susan which hangs in the room where the foundation meet now seems to be sneering at George.
took over the role as executive producer
following the departure of Larry David
, beginning with this episode. The episode was dedicated to Marjorie Gross
, a writer for the show who died of ovarian cancer
in June 1996.
. Jerry's line to Susan's parents ("She's not really dead if we find a way to remember her.") is very similar to a line said at the end of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
("He's really not dead. As long as we remember him."). Kramer mentions his Katra, the Vulcan
spirit introduced in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
. Finally, when George learns of the foundation, he yells, "Khaaaaaaannnnnnn!!!" while the camera pans above him, much like Captain Kirk in Star Trek II. This upward-panning camera technique is repeated by George in "The Dealership
" and also by Elaine in "The Susie
". One of the things being auctioned off at the foundation is Susan's doll collection, seen in "The Doll." The scene in which Kramer is beaten up by the children in an alley, pays homage to a similar scene in Season 7's "The Sponge
."
Episode
An episode is a part of a dramatic work such as a serial television or radio program. An episode is a part of a sequence of a body of work, akin to a chapter of a book. The term sometimes applies to works based on other forms of mass media as well, as in Star Wars...
of the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
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...
. This was the 1st episode of the 8th season. It was originally broadcast on the NBC
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...
network on September 19, 1996.
Plot
The season opens at a local cemetery, where we see the gravestone of GeorgeGeorge 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"...
's late fiancée Susan in full view. While George wishes to move on from Susan's tragic demise, her parents want to keep her memory alive by creating a foundation, inspired by a Star Trek reference Jerry told them about Susan, which ruins George's newfound happiness. George is seen gazing at a portrait of a smiling Susan. 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...
reunites with Dolores (aka Mulva) from "The Junior Mint
The Junior Mint
"The Junior Mint" is the 60th episode of the American sitcom Seinfeld. It was the 20th episode of the 4th season. It aired on March 18, 1993.-"Mulva":...
." J. Peterman has a nervous breakdown, runs off to Burma
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
and leaves 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...
in charge. Kramer
Cosmo Kramer
Cosmo Kramer, usually referred to as simply "Kramer", is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Michael Richards...
becomes a martial arts expert at a karate academy for kids.
Kramer convinces Elaine that she can run the company, which she does by putting her idea for an "urban sombrero
Sombrero
Sombrero in English refers to a type of wide-brimmed hat originating in Mexico. In Spanish, however, it is the generic word for "hat", which originates from "sombra", meaning "shade"....
" on the cover. She then finds out Kramer was fighting kids, and realizes her disastrous mistake. Kramer gets beaten up by the kids from his karate class in an alley. Elaine finds out her urban sombrero has destroyed some people's lives. George finds out he would have inherited much of Susan's riches had they been married, but now he is stuck at the foundation as they are auctioned off. The same portrait of Susan which hangs in the room where the foundation meet now seems to be sneering at George.
Production
Jerry SeinfeldJerry Seinfeld
Jerome Allen "Jerry" Seinfeld is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and television and film producer, known for playing a semi-fictional version of himself in the situation comedy Seinfeld , which he co-created and co-wrote with Larry David, and, in the show's final two seasons,...
took over the role as executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
following the departure of 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...
, beginning with this episode. The episode was dedicated to Marjorie Gross
Marjorie Gross
Marjorie Gross was a television writer and producer. She wrote for such shows as Newhart, The Larry Sanders Show, Square Pegs and Seinfeld.-Biography:...
, a writer for the show who died of ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is a cancerous growth arising from the ovary. Symptoms are frequently very subtle early on and may include: bloating, pelvic pain, difficulty eating and frequent urination, and are easily confused with other illnesses....
in June 1996.
Cultural references
This episode makes several references to Star TrekStar Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
. Jerry's line to Susan's parents ("She's not really dead if we find a way to remember her.") is very similar to a line said at the end of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is a 1982 American science fiction film released by Paramount Pictures. The film is the second feature based on the Star Trek science fiction franchise. The plot features James T...
("He's really not dead. As long as we remember him."). Kramer mentions his Katra, the Vulcan
Vulcan (Star Trek)
Vulcans, or sometimes Vulcanians, are an extraterrestrial humanoid species in the Star Trek universe who evolved on the planet Vulcan, and are noted for their attempt to live by reason and logic with no interference from emotion. They were the first extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek...
spirit introduced in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is a 1984 motion picture released by Paramount Pictures. The film is the third feature based on the Star Trek science fiction franchise and is the center of a three-film story arc that begins with Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and concludes with Star Trek IV:...
. Finally, when George learns of the foundation, he yells, "Khaaaaaaannnnnnn!!!" while the camera pans above him, much like Captain Kirk in Star Trek II. This upward-panning camera technique is repeated by George in "The Dealership
The Dealership
"The Dealership" is the 167th episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. This was the 11th episode of the 9th and final season. It aired on January 8, 1998....
" and also by Elaine in "The Susie
The Susie
"The Susie" is the 149th episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. This was the 15th episode for the 8th season. It aired on February 13, 1997.-Plot:...
". One of the things being auctioned off at the foundation is Susan's doll collection, seen in "The Doll." The scene in which Kramer is beaten up by the children in an alley, pays homage to a similar scene in Season 7's "The Sponge
The Sponge
"The Sponge" is the 119th episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. This was the ninth episode for the seventh season. It aired on December 7, 1995.-Plot:...
."