The Marine Biologist
Encyclopedia
"The Marine Biologist" is the seventy-eighth episode of the American
sitcom Seinfeld
. It is the 14th episode of the fifth season. It was originally broadcast on NBC
on February 10, 1994. Jerry Seinfeld
considers the episode to be one of his favorites. About thirteen minutes into the episode, when Elaine confronts Kramer about the electronic organizer, Kramer opens his door wide enough so that one can see inside his apartment, which most noticeably (in this scene) features a framed black-and-white photograph of Jerry Seinfeld on the wall, in a close-up sort of pose with his hand on forehead, looking somewhat exhausted, like most authorial back-flap photographs. It was the first episode with an alternate ending. Instead of the usual stand-up comedy, it showed some final developments of the plot.
about his favorite yellow t-shirt, "Golden Boy" (which, due to its age, is "dying"), Jerry
tells her the novel War and Peace
was originally called War, What is it Good For? (a reference to Edwin Starr
's hit song "War").
Kramer
gives Elaine an electronic organizer. Also he has acquired a stash of 2,000 Titleist
golf balls from a driving range and decides to practice his driving skills by hitting them into the ocean rather than a driving range.
Jerry meets a female friend from college (Rosalind Allen
), and claims that George
is a marine biologist
. George, who now is expecting a call from her, is upset because he prefers to lie about being an architect.
Elaine shares what Jerry told her with an eccentric Russian author, Yuri Testikov, who is being courted by Pendant Publishing, her company. Upon hearing Elaine's electronic organizer beep repeatedly, he angrily grabs it from her and tosses it out of the window of the limousine they were sharing.
Kramer returns home in humiliation, having missed every ball except one, and becomes obsessed with getting sand out of his clothing. At the beach, George keeps lying about his job when he is called upon to use his nonexistent marine biology skills to save a beached whale. Later, Jerry receives a phone call from a woman named Corinne (Carol Kane
) who sees his phone number in the organizer after it hit her in the head while she was walking down the street. The two meet at Monk's Cafe
and the woman won't return Elaine's organizer to Jerry until she is compensated for her hospital bill.
Elaine wants Testikov to pay for the woman's bills, so she and Jerry go to confront him in his hotel room. Elaine carries a tape recorder in her bag, Testikov hears a noise and thinks they are secretly recording him; he reacts by throwing the tape recorder out the window, hitting the very same woman in the head while she waits outside to return the electronic organizer.
Meanwhile, while trying to get sand out of his shoe, Kramer accidentally drops it out of his apartment window, hitting Newman
who happens to be walking beneath.
The episode ends with George's dramatic retelling of his struggle with the whale in Monk's Café, ultimately revealing that the whale's blowhole
had been lodged with Kramer's golf ball. Kramer responds meekly that it was a "hole in one
." George also told his girlfriend about not really being a marine biologist; she dumped him as a result. Elaine then asks Jerry what happened to "Golden Boy"; he tells her it did in fact "die", but it's now been replaced by its son, "Baby Blue."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
. It is the 14th episode of the fifth season. It was originally broadcast on 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...
on February 10, 1994. Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry 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,...
considers the episode to be one of his favorites. About thirteen minutes into the episode, when Elaine confronts Kramer about the electronic organizer, Kramer opens his door wide enough so that one can see inside his apartment, which most noticeably (in this scene) features a framed black-and-white photograph of Jerry Seinfeld on the wall, in a close-up sort of pose with his hand on forehead, looking somewhat exhausted, like most authorial back-flap photographs. It was the first episode with an alternate ending. Instead of the usual stand-up comedy, it showed some final developments of the plot.
Plot
While having a conversation with ElaineElaine 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...
about his favorite yellow t-shirt, "Golden Boy" (which, due to its age, is "dying"), 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...
tells her the novel War and Peace
War and Peace
War and Peace is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published in 1869. The work is epic in scale and is regarded as one of the most important works of world literature...
was originally called War, What is it Good For? (a reference to Edwin Starr
Edwin Starr
Edwin Starr was an American soul music singer. Starr is most famous for his Norman Whitfield produced singles of the 1970s, most notably the number one hit "War".-Biography:...
's hit song "War").
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...
gives Elaine an electronic organizer. Also he has acquired a stash of 2,000 Titleist
Titleist
Titleist is a brand name owned by Fila for golf equipment and apparel products produced by its subsidiary called the Acushnet Company, which is headquartered in Fairhaven, Massachusetts....
golf balls from a driving range and decides to practice his driving skills by hitting them into the ocean rather than a driving range.
Jerry meets a female friend from college (Rosalind Allen
Rosalind Allen
Rosalind Allen is a New Zealand-born actress best known for her portrayal Doctor Wendy Smith on seaQuest DSV's second season.-Early life:...
), and claims that 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 a marine biologist
Marine biology
Marine biology is the scientific study of organisms in the ocean or other marine or brackish bodies of water. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies species based on the environment rather...
. George, who now is expecting a call from her, is upset because he prefers to lie about being an architect.
Elaine shares what Jerry told her with an eccentric Russian author, Yuri Testikov, who is being courted by Pendant Publishing, her company. Upon hearing Elaine's electronic organizer beep repeatedly, he angrily grabs it from her and tosses it out of the window of the limousine they were sharing.
Kramer returns home in humiliation, having missed every ball except one, and becomes obsessed with getting sand out of his clothing. At the beach, George keeps lying about his job when he is called upon to use his nonexistent marine biology skills to save a beached whale. Later, Jerry receives a phone call from a woman named Corinne (Carol Kane
Carol Kane
Carolyn Laurie "Carol" Kane is an American actress. Kane has worked on the stage, on the screen and in television. She appeared on the television series Taxi in the early 1980s, as the wife of the character played by Andy Kaufman. She received two Emmy Awards for her work...
) who sees his phone number in the organizer after it hit her in the head while she was walking down the street. The two meet at Monk's Cafe
Monk'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...
and the woman won't return Elaine's organizer to Jerry until she is compensated for her hospital bill.
Elaine wants Testikov to pay for the woman's bills, so she and Jerry go to confront him in his hotel room. Elaine carries a tape recorder in her bag, Testikov hears a noise and thinks they are secretly recording him; he reacts by throwing the tape recorder out the window, hitting the very same woman in the head while she waits outside to return the electronic organizer.
Meanwhile, while trying to get sand out of his shoe, Kramer accidentally drops it out of his apartment window, hitting Newman
Newman (Seinfeld)
Newman is a recurring character on the television show Seinfeld, played by Wayne Knight from 1991 until the show's finale in 1998.-Background:...
who happens to be walking beneath.
The episode ends with George's dramatic retelling of his struggle with the whale in Monk's Café, ultimately revealing that the whale's blowhole
Blowhole (biology)
In biology, a blowhole is the hole at the top of a cetacean's head through which the animal breathes air. It is homologous with the nostril of other mammals. As whales reach the water surface to breathe, they will forcefully expel air through the blowhole. Not only is air expelled, but mucus and...
had been lodged with Kramer's golf ball. Kramer responds meekly that it was a "hole in one
Hole in one
In golf, a hole in one or hole-in-one is when a player hits the ball directly from the tee into the cup with one shot. This is most possible on a par 3 hole. Longer hitters have accomplished this feat on shorter par 4 holes...
." George also told his girlfriend about not really being a marine biologist; she dumped him as a result. Elaine then asks Jerry what happened to "Golden Boy"; he tells her it did in fact "die", but it's now been replaced by its son, "Baby Blue."