The Understudy (Seinfeld): Difference between revisions

"**The Understudy**"
"The Understudy"
Seinfeld episode
Episode no.	Season 6; Episode 24
Directed by	Andy Ackerman
Written by	Marjorie Gross & Carol Leifer
Production code	621
Original air date	May 18, 1995
Guest appearances
	Bette Midler as herself; Jerry Stiller as Frank Costanza; June Kyoto Lu as Ruby; John O'Hurley as Jacopo Peterman; Amy Hill as Kim; Adelaide Miller as Gennice Graham; Alexandra Bokyun Chun as Lotus; Vonnie C. Rhee as Sunny; Craig Thomas as Player #1; Michael McDonald as Player #2; Lou DiMaggio as Stagehand; Jason Beck as Umpire; Bob Shaw as Cabbie; Johnny Silver as Vendor #1; Billy Bastian as Vendor #2;
Episode chronology
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Revision as of 15:48, 22 February 2018

"The Understudy" is the 110th episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. This was the 24th and final episode for the sixth season. It aired on May 18, 1995. This is the first episode in the series not to open with a stand-up routine.

Plot

Jerry is dating Gennice, the understudy of Bette Midler, who is starring in the stage musical adaptation of "Rochelle Rochelle" (the film first mentioned in "The Movie"). Gennice bursts into tears at the slightest thing, such as sad movies and when she drops her hot dog (although she doesn't cry when her grandmother dies), compelling Jerry to have to console her repeatedly.

In a parody of the 1994 Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan scandal,^[1]^[2] George injures Midler during a charity softball game held in Central Park, sending her to hospital, enraging New Yorkers and in particular Kramer, who helps nurse her back to health.

With Bette Midler in hospital, Gennice the understudy takes over the lead role and believes they injured Midler for her (Jerry says people have started calling him "Giloolly", after Harding's husband Jeff Gillooly).

Meanwhile, Elaine thinks her Korean manicurists are making fun of her in Korean behind her back (as indeed they are). When she learns that Frank Costanza is fluent in Korean, she brings him to the manicurists to eavesdrop. When he arrives, he reunites with an old flame Kim, who he once knew in Korea (but they broke up because he would not take off his shoes upon entering her house). When the manicurists realize Elaine sent Frank to eavesdrop, they become angry and kick her out "for spying". Despondent, she wanders the streets of New York in the rain, where she meets J. Peterman. They hit it off and he hires her to work at his catalog.

Frank (who is separated from Estelle), takes Kim out and discuss their future in his car. When he uses his "special move" on her, "stopping short" (first depicted in "The Fusilli Jerry"), she gets angry and never wants to see him again.

At the premiere of the musical, Elaine brings along the Korean manicurists as an apology for spying. However, when they learn that the lead role will be played by Gennice not Bette Midler, they are outraged and storm out, leaving Elaine upset once again.

When Gennice takes the stage, she has a problem with the laces on her boot and, in an act reminiscent of Harding's bootlace incident at the 1994 Olympics, she tearfully asks that she be allowed to start over.

Critical response

Seinfeld Law^[3], a blog written by law students which discusses the legality of the issues that arise in each episode, discusses whether or not Bette Midler could bring a civil suit against George either for the intentional tort (injury) of battery or for the unintentional torts of either reckless misconduct or negligence.^[4]

References

^ Van Cassel, Elke (2006). "Getting the Joke, Even if It Is About Nothing: Seinfeld from a European Perspective". Seinfeld, Master of Its Domain: Revisiting Television's Greatest Sitcom. New York: Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 179. Retrieved 2009-04-09. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |editors= ignored (|editor= suggested) (help)
^ "What's the best pop culture reference to Tonya Harding?". ESPN.com. 12 November 2008.
^ "Seinfeld Law". Seinfeld Law. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
^ ""The Understudy" – Sports Injuries". Seinfeld Law. 2018-02-09. Retrieved 2018-02-22.

External links

[1] Van Cassel, Elke (2006). "Getting the Joke, Even if It Is About Nothing: Seinfeld from a European Perspective". Seinfeld, Master of Its Domain: Revisiting Television's Greatest Sitcom. New York: Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 179. Retrieved 2009-04-09. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |editors= ignored (|editor= suggested) (help)

[2] "What's the best pop culture reference to Tonya Harding?". ESPN.com. 12 November 2008.

[3] "Seinfeld Law". Seinfeld Law. Retrieved 2018-02-22.

[4] ""The Understudy" – Sports Injuries". Seinfeld Law. 2018-02-09. Retrieved 2018-02-22.

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@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 When Gennice takes the stage, she has a problem with the laces on her boot and, in an act reminiscent of Harding's bootlace incident at the [[1994 Olympics]], she tearfully asks that she be allowed to start over.
+== Critical response ==
+Seinfeld Law<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.seinfeldlaw.com|title=Seinfeld Law|website=Seinfeld Law|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-22}}</ref>, a blog written by law students which discusses the legality of the issues that arise in each episode, discusses whether or not Bette Midler could bring a civil suit against George either for the intentional tort (injury) of battery or for the unintentional torts of either reckless misconduct or negligence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://seinfeldlaw.com/2018/02/09/the-understudy-sports-injuries/|title=“The Understudy” – Sports Injuries|date=2018-02-09|work=Seinfeld Law|access-date=2018-02-22|language=en-US}}</ref>
 ==References==

v t e Seinfeld episodes
Season 1	"The Seinfeld Chronicles" "The Stake Out" "The Robbery" "Male Unbonding" "The Stock Tip"
Season 2	"The Ex-Girlfriend" "The Pony Remark" "The Jacket" "The Phone Message" "The Apartment" "The Statue" "The Revenge" "The Heart Attack" "The Deal" "The Baby Shower" "The Chinese Restaurant" "The Busboy"
Season 3	"The Note" "The Truth" "The Pen" "The Dog" "The Library" "The Parking Garage" "The Cafe" "The Tape" "The Nose Job" "The Stranded" "The Alternate Side" "The Red Dot" "The Subway" "The Pez Dispenser" "The Suicide" "The Fix-Up" "The Boyfriend"† "The Limo" "The Good Samaritan" "The Letter" "The Parking Space" "The Keys"
Season 4	"The Trip"† "The Pitch" "The Ticket" "The Wallet" "The Watch" "The Bubble Boy" "The Cheever Letters" "The Opera" "The Virgin" "The Contest" "The Airport" "The Pick" "The Movie" "The Visa" "The Shoes" "The Outing" "The Old Man" "The Implant" "The Junior Mint" "The Smelly Car" "The Handicap Spot" "The Pilot"†
Season 5	"The Mango" "The Puffy Shirt" "The Glasses" "The Sniffing Accountant" "The Bris" "The Lip Reader" "The Non-Fat Yogurt" "The Barber" "The Masseuse" "The Cigar Store Indian" "The Conversion" "The Stall" "The Dinner Party" "The Marine Biologist" "The Pie" "The Stand In" "The Wife" "The Raincoats"† "The Fire" "The Hamptons" "The Opposite"
Season 6	"The Chaperone" "The Big Salad" "The Pledge Drive" "The Chinese Woman" "The Couch" "The Gymnast" "The Soup" "The Mom & Pop Store" "The Secretary" "The Race" "The Switch" "The Label Maker" "The Scofflaw" "The Highlights of 100"† "The Beard" "The Kiss Hello" "The Doorman" "The Jimmy" "The Doodle" "The Fusilli Jerry" "The Diplomat's Club" "The Face Painter" "The Understudy"
Season 7	"The Engagement" "The Postponement" "The Maestro" "The Wink" "The Hot Tub" "The Soup Nazi" "The Secret Code" "The Pool Guy" "The Sponge" "The Gum" "The Rye" "The Caddy" "The Seven" "The Cadillac"† "The Shower Head" "The Doll" "The Friar's Club" "The Wig Master" "The Calzone" "The Bottle Deposit"† "The Wait Out" "The Invitations"
Season 8	"The Foundation" "The Soul Mate" "The Bizarro Jerry" "The Little Kicks" "The Package" "The Fatigues" "The Checks" "The Chicken Roaster" "The Abstinence" "The Andrea Doria" "The Little Jerry" "The Money" "The Comeback" "The Van Buren Boys" "The Susie" "The Pothole" "The English Patient" "The Nap" "The Yada Yada" "The Millennium" "The Muffin Tops" "The Summer of George"
Season 9	"The Butter Shave" "The Voice" "The Serenity Now" "The Blood" "The Junk Mail" "The Merv Griffin Show" "The Slicer" "The Betrayal" "The Apology" "The Strike" "The Dealership" "The Reverse Peephole" "The Cartoon" "The Strongbox" "The Wizard" "The Burning" "The Bookstore" "The Frogger" "The Maid" "The Puerto Rican Day" "The Chronicle"† "The Finale"†
† Indicates two-part episode