The Puerto Rican Day

This article is about the Seinfeld episode. For the NYC parade, see Puerto Rican Day Parade.

"The Puerto Rican Day"

"The Puerto Rican Day" is the one-hundred and seventy-sixth episode of the hit NBC sitcom Seinfeld. It aired on May 7, 1998. It was the 20th episode of the 9th and final season. The episode was their second highest rated episode of all time with 38.8 million viewers, only behind their Series Finale. It was followed by a two-part clip show and the two part series finale. Because of controversy surrounding a scene in which the Puerto Rican flag is burned, NBC refused to show it again and is rarely seen in syndication.

Plot

The gang tries to get back into town after leaving the Mets game early, however on the highway they run into trouble with a maroon Volkswagen Golf. George comments on a new movie he saw about the Hindenburg disaster (the name of the movie being "Blimp") and the clever comment ("That's gotta hurt!!") he made during a quiet moment after the explosion.

As they approach 5th Avenue traffic comes to a stop, they realize they have forgotten about the Puerto Rican Day Parade. Elaine worries about getting home and seeing 60 Minutes as part of her weekend wind down. Kramer spots a way out if Jerry can worm his way over to the right side of the road. They almost make it over until they reencounter the maroon Golf, who refuses to let them into the lane. Elaine decides to leave and find alternate transportation. George sees that "Blimp" is playing in a nearby theater and decides he wants to repeat his funny comment, and leaves the car. Elaine decides the cab she hired isn't working, so she bails out, only to have it start moving again.

George's attempt to be funny at the movie is undermined by a guy with a laser pointer. George shouts his comment, but no one laughs, he is humiliated and yells at the man with the laser pointer. Kramer suggests that he and Jerry abandon his car, but Kramer finally cuts a deal with the maroon Golf, and Jerry is forced to make an apology wave. George returns to the car with the red dot of a laser pointer appearing all over parts of his body. As the maroon Golf lets Jerry in, Jerry calls the driver a "jackass" and begins to go down the shortcut, only to find it blocked by the cab that Elaine is in, leaving Jerry stuck in front of the maroon Golf. Kramer urges Jerry to "scratch off the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), take the plates, and walk away while leaving the car in the traffic jam- claiming the vehicle with the insurance company.

Jerry's apartment is seen, but no one is home. Elaine seeks an alternate way home, she works her way over to the parade route and attempts to find a way across. She leads a group of people on an escape route underneath a reviewing stand, mocking The Poseidon Adventure, but in the end only finds a dead end. Kramer seeks a bathroom, spotting an apartment for sale he poses as H.E. Pennypacker, a wealthy industrialist, to get access to the bathroom. When he gets back he tells Jerry about the Mets game. Soon after, Kal Varnsen (Jerry's alias), has worked his way into the apartment to watch the television. George spots the laser guy and plans a sneak attack. George grabs what he thinks is the laser pointer and gets ink all over his hands, it being a real pen. Kramer accidentally sets the Puerto Rican flag on fire with his cigar ("Dios mio!") and a mob of people, led by Bob and Cedric attacks him. Art Vandelay (George's alias) seeks the use of a bathroom to clean the ink off his hands and runs into Varnsen. Pennypacker joins them on the run from the mob. Varnsen wants to know who's watching the "Saab factory" in his words. He rushes to the window to find the mob trashing his car.

Trivia

• This episode of Seinfeld has more writer credits - ten - than any other episode. As co-creator Larry David was returning to write the finale, this was the final episode for the active "after Larry David" writing staff, and thus was a group effort.
• The scene of Kramer burning a Puerto Rican flag, sparked outrage from anti-defamation groups. After the episode was first broadcast, NBC had to issue an apology to the Puerto Rican community. This episode only aired once on NBC. Most networks choose not to air "The Puerto Rican Day" and usually skip the episode during syndication reruns. It's the only episode of Seinfeld that is rarely seen in the U.S.
• In this episode, Elaine reveals that she is an alumna of Tufts University.
• This episode features the third and final appearance of Bob and Cedric, the two gay street toughs. They can also be seen in Season 7's "The Soup Nazi" and "The Sponge."
• This episode also features the second and final appearance of Kramer's alias, H.E. Pennypacker. He can also be seen in Season 8's "The Millennium."
• On the Season Finale of 30 Rock a Dominican Day Parade, a reference to The Puerto Rican Day Parade, is one of many causes of a traffic jam that prevents Tracy Jordan from making the season finale of his show.
• Elaine was drunk in the first scene of this episode.