The Masseuse (Seinfeld)

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"The Masseuse"

Seinfeld episode

Episode no.

Season 5
Episode 9

Directed by

Tom Cherones

Written by

Peter Mehlman

Production code

509

Original air date

November 18, 1993

Guest appearances

Episode chronology

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"The Barber"

Next →
"The Cigar Store Indian"

Seinfeld season 5

List of episodes

"The Masseuse" is the 73rd episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld.^[1] It is the ninth episode of the fifth season, and first aired on November 18, 1993.^[2] In this episode, Jerry struggles to get his masseuse girlfriend to give him a massage, while George is drawn to how much she dislikes him, and Elaine struggles with the embarrassment of dating a man with the same name as Joel Rifkin.

Plot

[edit]

Elaine is embarrassed when she dates a man who shares the same name as serial killer Joel Rifkin, and contemplates asking him to change his name. Meanwhile, Jerry is dating Jodi, a masseuse, but is frustrated by her reluctance to give him a massage. George becomes so obsessed over the fact that Jodi dislikes him, he dumps his own girlfriend Karen after she gives him an ultimatum to choose between them.^[3]

After Kramer praises Jodi for her massages, Jerry gets fed up and angrily tries to force Jodi to give him the massage, causing a fight. As she storms out she encounters an enamored George, who professes that "she dislikes me so much, it's irresistible".

Joel and Elaine offer a spare ticket to a New York Giants game to Kramer which he must pick up at the Will Call window. When Kramer is unable to produce his ID, the only way for Kramer to receive his ticket is to have the person who left it for him claim it. Joel is paged over the public address system causing everyone sitting around him and Elaine to murmur. Elaine awkwardly explains that "he's not the murderer". Elaine and Joel agree he needs to change his name, but they cannot agree on the names they each have chosen: Remy, Alex, or Todd.^[3]

Cultural references

[edit]

While visiting her boyfriend, Joel Rifkin, Elaine is seen reading an NFL Gameday program. She suggests that many people these days are named "Deion", referencing Deion Sanders.

While brainstorming new first names for Joel, Elaine suggests "O. J." (after O. J. Simpson) as a name that would be less associated with murder. Almost seven months after this episode aired, Simpson was arrested and charged with the double murder of his ex-wife and her friend.^[4]

The episode is the first on screen appearance of Golden Globe and two Primetime Emmy Awards actress Jennifer Coolidge^[5]

References

[edit]

^ Bauder, David (26 December 1997). "NBC's 'Seinfeld' Signing off After End Of Its Ninth Season". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
^ "Seinfeld Season 5 Episodes". TV Guide. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
^ ^a ^b "The Masseuse". Seinfeld. Castle Rock Entertainment. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
^ McCloud, Taylor (2022-10-27). "Resurfaced "Seinfeld" bit involving "O.J." name suggestion stuns internet". Newsweek. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
^ "Interview with Jennifer Coolidge". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. July 22, 2009. Archived from the original on May 16, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2012.

External links

[edit]

"The Masseuse" at IMDb

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

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Culture	Cleveland Bulldogs The Duke Crunch Bunch Gatorade shower Big Blue Wrecking Crew I'm going to Disney World! Little Giants "New York Groove" "We Fly High" "The Masseuse" (Seinfeld episode) Big Fan Bob Sheppard Jim Hall Yankee Stadium Legacy License Plate Guy The Best Man Holiday Finding Giants
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