The Susie
Encyclopedia
"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.
as "a phony" ("The Parking Space
"), has become a bookie. Kramer
, who has a gambling problem, wants Jerry to place bets with Mike on his behalf. Elaine's
co-worker Peggy (Megan Cole) thinks that Elaine is a different woman named "Susie". George
is excited about Steinbrenner's
ball because he wants to be able to show off his tall, beautiful girlfriend Allison (Shannon Kenny) by making a "grand entrance" in a backless dress.
George's plans to take Allison to the ball are put in jeopardy when he finds out that she is planning to break up with him beforehand. He therefore goes to great lengths to avoid her, saying, "If she can't find me, she can't break up with me."
Kramer begins to live out his gambling addiction through Jerry, by placing bets in Jerry's name. But when Jerry wins, Mike the bookie can't pay up. When Jerry accidentally closes his car trunk door on Mike's thumbs, Mike becomes afraid of him. Later, Mike tries to make it up to Jerry by fixing his trunk but gets trapped inside.
Meanwhile, Peggy starts talking to "Susie" (actually Elaine) about Elaine, making derogatory comments about her. Elaine becomes angry, partly because of the comments, but also, bizarrely, because Peggy addresses her as "Suz" rather than Susie. When Peterman
overhears he wants to resolve the conflict and demands a meeting between Peggy, Elaine and "Susie". Elaine becomes so tired of pretending to be the fake Susie, that while driving in the car one night, Jerry tells her that she should "eliminate her". Mike (trapped in the trunk) overhears this, and believing Susie to be a real person, becomes even more terrified of Jerry, thinking that he is a killer, especially when Jerry and Elaine both start to laugh sinisterly (though they are really just laughing at a funny bumper sticker).
Elaine tells Peterman that Susie committed suicide and a bereaved Peterman organizes a memorial service for her. Elaine delivers the eulogy
at the wake
, but becomes confused when Peterman announces that he had slept with "Susie". Peggy is even more confused to see Elaine, thinking she was Susie. When she tells Jerry, "I guess I never met Susie," he claims to have slept with both Elaine and Susie. The service comes to an abrupt end when Mike bursts in and accuses Jerry of murdering Susie, but Jerry seems unconcerned, merely commenting to Peggy, "Not only that, I broke his thumbs."
Finally, when Allison cannot find George to break up with him, she uses Kramer
as a go-between and Kramer breaks up with George on her behalf. Kramer shows up at the Ball in Allison's place and after a scuffle in the lobby, George tears off the back of Kramer's tuxedo and he is thrown into the main hall, making a "grand entrance" of his own.
Elaine is glad to be rid of Susie, but Peterman tells her he is establishing a foundation in Susie's honor and expects Elaine to devote all of her non-working hours to running it. In a Wrath of Khan-inspired pan-out sequence that is also used several times by George, Elaine looks up and screams out "SUZ!"
. Elaine constantly referring to Reggie Miller
as "Cheryl Miller's younger brother" alludes to the siblings' early career. They were both standout college and professional basketball players, but during his early career Reggie had to deal with being in the shadows of his older sister. The "Wrath of Khan" sequence at the end is a parody of the first episode of the season, The Foundation
.
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 15th episode for the 8th season. It aired on February 13, 1997.
Plot
Mike, the guy who once referred to JerryJerry 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...
as "a phony" ("The Parking Space
The Parking Space
"The Parking Space" is the thirty-ninth episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. The episode was the 22nd episode of the third season. It aired on April 22, 1992....
"), has become a bookie. 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...
, who has a gambling problem, wants Jerry to place bets with Mike on his behalf. Elaine's
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...
co-worker Peggy (Megan Cole) thinks that Elaine is a different woman named "Susie". 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 excited about Steinbrenner's
George Steinbrenner
George Michael Steinbrenner III was an American businessman who was the principal owner and managing partner of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees. During Steinbrenner's 37-year ownership from 1973 to his death in July 2010, the longest in club history, the Yankees earned seven World Series...
ball because he wants to be able to show off his tall, beautiful girlfriend Allison (Shannon Kenny) by making a "grand entrance" in a backless dress.
George's plans to take Allison to the ball are put in jeopardy when he finds out that she is planning to break up with him beforehand. He therefore goes to great lengths to avoid her, saying, "If she can't find me, she can't break up with me."
Kramer begins to live out his gambling addiction through Jerry, by placing bets in Jerry's name. But when Jerry wins, Mike the bookie can't pay up. When Jerry accidentally closes his car trunk door on Mike's thumbs, Mike becomes afraid of him. Later, Mike tries to make it up to Jerry by fixing his trunk but gets trapped inside.
Meanwhile, Peggy starts talking to "Susie" (actually Elaine) about Elaine, making derogatory comments about her. Elaine becomes angry, partly because of the comments, but also, bizarrely, because Peggy addresses her as "Suz" rather than Susie. When Peterman
J. Peterman
J. Peterman may refer to:*John Peterman, operator of the J. Peterman Company*The J. Peterman Company, an apparel company*Jacobo Peterman, a fictional version of John Peterman, portrayed by John O'Hurley on the television sitcom Seinfeld...
overhears he wants to resolve the conflict and demands a meeting between Peggy, Elaine and "Susie". Elaine becomes so tired of pretending to be the fake Susie, that while driving in the car one night, Jerry tells her that she should "eliminate her". Mike (trapped in the trunk) overhears this, and believing Susie to be a real person, becomes even more terrified of Jerry, thinking that he is a killer, especially when Jerry and Elaine both start to laugh sinisterly (though they are really just laughing at a funny bumper sticker).
Elaine tells Peterman that Susie committed suicide and a bereaved Peterman organizes a memorial service for her. Elaine delivers the eulogy
Eulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
at the wake
Wake (ceremony)
A wake is a ceremony associated with death. Traditionally, a wake takes place in the house of the deceased, with the body present; however, modern wakes are often performed at a funeral home. In the United States and Canada it is synonymous with a viewing...
, but becomes confused when Peterman announces that he had slept with "Susie". Peggy is even more confused to see Elaine, thinking she was Susie. When she tells Jerry, "I guess I never met Susie," he claims to have slept with both Elaine and Susie. The service comes to an abrupt end when Mike bursts in and accuses Jerry of murdering Susie, but Jerry seems unconcerned, merely commenting to Peggy, "Not only that, I broke his thumbs."
Finally, when Allison cannot find George to break up with him, she uses 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...
as a go-between and Kramer breaks up with George on her behalf. Kramer shows up at the Ball in Allison's place and after a scuffle in the lobby, George tears off the back of Kramer's tuxedo and he is thrown into the main hall, making a "grand entrance" of his own.
Elaine is glad to be rid of Susie, but Peterman tells her he is establishing a foundation in Susie's honor and expects Elaine to devote all of her non-working hours to running it. In a Wrath of Khan-inspired pan-out sequence that is also used several times by George, Elaine looks up and screams out "SUZ!"
Cultural references
The song on George's answering machine is a parody of "Believe It or Not", the theme song from the 1980s TV show The Greatest American HeroThe Greatest American Hero
The Greatest American Hero is an American comedy-drama television series that aired for three seasons from 1981 to 1983 on ABC. Created by producer Stephen J. Cannell, it premiered as a two-hour movie pilot on March 18, 1981...
. Elaine constantly referring to Reggie Miller
Reggie Miller
Reginald Wayne "Reggie" Miller is a retired American professional basketball player who played his entire 18-year National Basketball Association career with the Indiana Pacers...
as "Cheryl Miller's younger brother" alludes to the siblings' early career. They were both standout college and professional basketball players, but during his early career Reggie had to deal with being in the shadows of his older sister. The "Wrath of Khan" sequence at the end is a parody of the first episode of the season, The Foundation
The Foundation (Seinfeld)
"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.-Plot:...
.