The Outing

"**The Outing**"
"The Outing"
Seinfeld episode
Episode no.	Season 4; Episode 17
Directed by	Tom Cherones
Written by	Larry Charles
Production code	416
Original air date	February 11, 1993
Guest appearances
	Liz Sheridan as Helen Seinfeld; Barney Martin as Morty Seinfeld; Estelle Harris as Estelle Costanza; Paula Marshall as Sharon; Kari Coleman as Allison; Anthony Mangano as Marine; Ben Reed as Male Nurse; Lawrence Mandley as Manager;
Episode chronology
← Previous; "The Shoes"	Next →; "The Old Man"
	Seinfeld (season 4)
	List of episodes

"The Outing" is the 57th episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. It is the 17th episode of the fourth season, and first aired on February 11, 1993. The line "… not that there's anything wrong with that"—as a reference to homosexuality—has become a popular catchphrase among fans.

Plot

While at Monk's Café, Elaine notices a woman in a nearby booth eavesdropping, and as a prank speaks to Jerry and George as if they were a closeted gay couple. The eavesdropping woman turns out to be Sharon (Paula Marshall), a New York University reporter who is planning on interviewing Jerry. Later, Sharon visits Jerry's apartment to conduct the interview. His and George's conversation during the interview inadvertently solidifies her misconception that they are gay. Eventually, they recognize her from the coffee shop, and strenuously deny that they are gay, conditioning their denials with "Not that there's anything wrong with that."^[1]

Throughout the episode, Jerry and George fear being seen as homosexual, yet also feel afraid they will be perceived as homophobic. Sharon agrees not to “play up that angle”, but inadvertently ends up in a conference call with Jerry and George due to a new phone received from Kramer, during which Jerry sarcastically reports that they have "fooled her" into believing they are heterosexual. Sharon then writes an article outing Jerry and George.

The interview with Jerry is published in the school newspaper, and subsequently gets picked up by the Associated Press. Sharon asks to see Jerry, leading to them kissing in his apartment. George decides to use his (fake) orientation as an excuse to break up with his girlfriend, Allison (Kari Coleman). George tries to act outraged at finding Jerry making out with Sharon to prove that he is homosexual to Allison, but when Jerry doesn't follow along, George's ruse doesn't convince her and Sharon walks out. In a last-ditch attempt to get Allison to break up with him, George tells her he is a porn actor, but this only makes her even more attracted to him.

Kramer enters his apartment with an attractive young man, causing George and Jerry to briefly wonder if he is gay. Kramer explains, "He's the phone man!...Not that there's anything wrong with that."^[2]

Reception

Creators Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld were reportedly concerned about offending the gay community with this episode. Their concerns were unfounded, as "The Outing" won a GLAAD Media Award (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) for Outstanding Comedy Episode.^[3]

References

^ Tropiano, Stephen (2002). The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lesbians on TV. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 191.
^ Irwin, William (2010). Seinfeld and Philosophy: A Book about Everything and Nothing. ReadHowYouWant.com, Limited. p. 245.
^ Armstrong, Jennifer (7 July 2014). "About nothing?: 10 issue-tackling Seinfeld episodes". A.V. Club.

External links

[1] Tropiano, Stephen (2002). The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lesbians on TV. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 191.

[2] Irwin, William (2010). Seinfeld and Philosophy: A Book about Everything and Nothing. ReadHowYouWant.com, Limited. p. 245.

[3] Armstrong, Jennifer (7 July 2014). "About nothing?: 10 issue-tackling Seinfeld episodes". A.V. Club.

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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