The Pilot
- Episode aired May 20, 1993
- PG
- 45m
"Jerry," the television pilot, gets cast and finally airs. Elaine tries to discourage Dalrymple's romantic pursuit."Jerry," the television pilot, gets cast and finally airs. Elaine tries to discourage Dalrymple's romantic pursuit."Jerry," the television pilot, gets cast and finally airs. Elaine tries to discourage Dalrymple's romantic pursuit.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe conversation when George (Jason Alexander) goes up to Larry Hankin (the guy playing Kramer) telling him to say his lines differently actually happened between Larry David and Michael Richards.
- GoofsRussel is obsessed with Elaine and doesn't know she is friends with Jerry. However, there is a character in the pilot named Elaine Benes. Russel doesn't seem to make a connection between the Elaine Benes he knows and the Elaine Benes in the pilot.
- Quotes
Russell Dalrymple: Oh, Elaine, we're doing some very, very interesting things right now. We've got some very exciting pilots for next season. We have one with a bright young comedian, Jerry Seinfeld.
Elaine Benes: Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, I've heard of him. He's that "Did you ever notice this, did you ever notice that" guy.
Russell Dalrymple: In fact, he was in the restaurant the day that we met.
Elaine Benes: Uhuh.
Russell Dalrymple: Um, well, anyway, it's a groundbreaking show.
Elaine Benes: Really? What is it about?
Russell Dalrymple: Well,
[chuckles]
Russell Dalrymple: it's... it's really very unusual. It's about nothing.
Elaine Benes: What do you mean, it's about nothing?
Russell Dalrymple: Mmm, for example, what did you do today?
Elaine Benes: Um, I got up, I went to work, then I came here.
Russell Dalrymple: There's a show. That's a show.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Seinfeld: The Checks (1996)
- SoundtracksSeinfeld Theme Song
Written by Jonathan Wolff
Along Season 4 the pilot arc came and went. Some episodes would go without even mention the arc but thankfully other developed it. Here we get the realization of the show and its airing. I love the scene when the show gets finally aired and the audience gets a round up of mostly every character that has had a part in this season. It helps end this season with a nice bow.
Getting specific, we have 3 stoylines this time. Jerry and George with the pilot, Elaine with the waitress problem and Kramer with his intestinal situation. The pilot story is of course the more developed and maybe the funniest. We get to meet the cast and the three of them are fantastic. We also get a lot of easter eggs of the real set and get to the Tom Cherones!
The Elaine story is actually two things: her situation with Dalrymple and the Monks thing. The Dalrymple stuff is really boring. Actually, everything involving him is what drags this episode down. Bob Balaban actually gave good performances is the other episodes he was involved, but here he gives a very out of place performance. It's overly serious and the contrast with the show's light tone just rings awkward. It's also ridiculous the amount of screen time they spent on this subplot. Back to the Elaine story, when the Monks incident starts, that's when this story gets better. A story so true to the Elaine character (or at least the one they wrote for the first half of the series) and also a really entertaining one. We get a look at the Equal Employment Office (again, David with the social issues) and Elaine as a strong female character.
And Kramer's story is just really funny. I mean, it's all Richards. He gets the perfect material to shine and, again, something that has happened to everybody. As I said in other reviews, the best Kramer stories are the ones everybody can relate and when we get to see his eccentric persona react to normal events.
On a side note, there are some odd directing choices, mainly Davola's freezeframe and the weird pilot-floating-in-the-sea final shot. Nevertheless, the pace is good and the rest is just fine.
Overall, it's a nice way to end an amazing season.
- juanmaffeo
- Jul 17, 2016