So my last DVD review of ‘Seinfeld’ was back in January and it was season five. I got seasons four, five, and six and proceeded to continue my ‘Seinfeld’ DVD reviews. But somehow #6 got lost along the way. I had other recaps and reviews that I HAD to do first and this kept getting pushed back. Well..now I have a little free time and I remembered that this was not finished yet..so here you go! Who knows when Season Seven will come out, but I will get it as soon as I can. No release date is set, though, as of right now. Until then…
Credit: Amazon.com
Creators:
Larry David
Jerry Seinfeld
Cast:
Jerry Seinfeld …. Jerry Seinfeld
Julia Louis-Dreyfus …. Elaine Marie Benes
Michael Richards …. Cosmo Kramer
Jason Alexander …. George Louis Costanza
The Show
By this time, the actors had their characters nailed down. The formula of the show was set in stone. It was set for non-stop laughs. That is probably why this season was the first one to make ‘Seinfeld’ #1 in the ratings. Episode after episode is filled with just crazy stuff that made ‘Seinfeld’ funny.
In a way, this season followed the storyline that was set up in Season Five’s “The Opposite”. George became successful and got a job at the New York Yankees. Elaine took George’s place and became a lowly assistant to various bosses. Jerry is Jerry. And Kramer..my gosh..he was nuts! His physical comedic style was off the charts in this season. He didn’t even have to say anything. You could just watch him and laugh.
We also got a few new characters this season in the form of Elaine’s boyfriend, David Puddy, along with her new boss, J. Peterman. Both are extremely funny characters on their own and welcome additions to the already crazy supporting cast to the “core four”. Other new characters included Jerry’s dentist, Tim Whatley, and Jerry’s annoying comedian “friend”, Kenny Bania. Add that to the crazy parents of Jerry and George and Newman and you’re sides will continue to hurt from laughing so hard.
An interesting thing occurred during this season, though. We saw more of a “dark” side to the show. I mean that the show found comedy and humor in even the darkest, coldest, and meanest part of life. For example, Jerry and Elaine are at a funeral in “The Diplomat’s Club” and they are so self-absorbed and so insensitive..that’s it funny. The trend would continue over the remaining seasons. We began to see that Jerry, George, Kramer, and Elaine are not very likable people. Maybe because they HATE people! Ah..but that is what the show was about in the end. We really wouldn’t learn this until later seasons, but here is where it really started.
It doesn’t get a lot better than this season. I said season five was the best season of ‘Seinfeld’ EVER! Well..I could be wrong. Season six gives it a run for its money. It’s a close race and it probably ends in a tie. We are at the top of the mountain and it’s a beautiful sight from up here!
Episodes:
Disc One:
Episode 1 – The Chaperone
Jerry dates a Miss America contestant. Kramer volunteers to chaperone their date. Mr. Pitt hires Elaine to be his personal assistant. George encourages Yankee management to make the team jerseys from cotton.
Favorite Quote: “Cotton breathes. It’s much softer. Imagine playing games and your team is 5 degrees cooler than the other team. Don’t you think that would be an advantage. They’re cooler..they’re more comfortable. They’re happier..they are going to play better!”- George
Episode 2 – The Big Salad
George has issues with his girlfriend when she takes credit for buying Elaine a big salad. Jerry is disturbed to find out that his girlfriend was dumped by Newman. Kramer gets involved in a slow-speed chase with a suspected murder.
Favorite Quote: “She went out with Newman! The most distressing part of all of this..is not that she went out with him, but that HE stop seeing HER! HE, Newman, stopped seeing her. Newman never stops seeing anybody. Newman will see anyone who is willing to see him!” – Jerry
Episode 3 – The Pledge Drive
Elaine’s friend’s high-talking boyfriend confuses everyone over the phone. Elaine witness Mr. Pitt eating a Snickers bar with a knife and fork and the trend catches on. George thinks everyone’s giving him the finger. Meanwhile, Jerry hosts a PBS pledge drive.
Favorite Quote: “Your nana is missing because she has been passing those bum checks all over town, and she finally pissed off the wrong people!” – Kramer to Jerry
Episode 4 – The Chinese Woman
George’s phone line gets crossed with Donna Chang’s and Jerry winds up dating her. Estelle Costanza gets relationship from her. She is not really Chinese, though.
Favorite Quote: “I’m OUT there Jerry..and I’m LOVING every minute of it!” – Kramer
Episode 5 – The Couch
Elaine dates a hunky moving man. Kramer and Poppie go into the make-your-own pizza business together. George tries to rent Breakfast at Tiffany’s rather than reading it to impress his girlfriend. Poppie pees on Jerry’s new couch.
Favorite Quote: “Yeah..you right. It’s just a natural human function..it happens to be on my sofa instead of the toilet where it would normally be!” – Jerry to Kramer after Poppie pees on his couch
Episode 6 – The Gymnast
Jerry dates a Romanian gymnast. Elaine tries to tear Mr. Pitt away from the entrancing powers of a 3-D art poster. George’s girlfriend’s mother catches him eating from the trash. Kramer suffers from kidney stones at the circus.
Favorite Quote: “You know..I’m very good with the mothers. If I could talk to the mothers and have sex with the daughters, then I would really have something going!” – George
Disc Two:
Episode 7 – The Mom & Pop Store
George thinks he bought Jon Voight’s car. Kramer tries to save a “mom and pop” store. Jerry crashes Dr. Tim Whatley’s party to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!
Favorite Quote: “Mom and Pop’s plan was to move into the neighborhood..establish trust..for 48 years..and then run off with Jerry’s sneakers!” – Elaine to Jerry and Kramer
Episode 8 – The Soup
Kenny Bania offers Jerry am Armani suit in exchange for a meal, but insists that soup doesn’t count.
Favorite Quote: “Well as I see it..you have to apply the same principles that get you fired, but redirected outwardly!” – Jerry to George
Episode 9 – The Secretary
Jerry spots his dry cleaner wearing his jacket. George’s unattractive secretary out-earns him. Kramer gets Uma Thurman’s phone number. Elaine discovers that Barneys uses skinny mirrors to hook their customers.
Favorite Quote: “You’re luscious..you’re ravishing..I would give up red meat just to get a glimpse of you in a bra!” – George talking to woman who trying to be his secretary
Episode 10 – The Switch
Jerry tries the impossible: to pull the roommate switch. George dates a bulimic. Elaine agonizes over Mr. Pitt’s broken tennis racket. Kramer’s first name is revealed and we meet his mother!
Favorite Quote: “Do you ever just get down on your knees and thank god that you know me and have access to my dimensha!” – George
Episode 11 – The Race
Superman superfan Jerry finally dates a woman named Lois, whose boss turns out to be his high-school nemesis. Elaine dates a Communist and George hopes to as well. Kramer works as a department store Santa with Mickey as his elf. Jerry races Duncan Meyer once more to settle their teenage score.
Favorite Quote: “I choose not to run!” – Jerry
Episode 12 – The Label Maker
Elaine and Jerry discover that Tim Whatley “re-gifted” a label maker. Kramer and Newman engage in a ferocious game of Risk. George feels threatened by his girlfriend’s male roommate. Everyone’s got Super Bowl fever and Jerry’s sickened by who ultimately joins him at the game.
Favorite Quote: “Oh..it’s Risk, the game of world domination, being played by two guys that can barely run their own lives!” – Jerry to George talking about Kramer and Newman
Disc Three:
Episode 13 – The Scofflaw
George learns the truth about a friend’s illness. Kramer helps bring in a notorious scofflaw.
Favorite Quote: “Why don’t you get a pair of white shoes..move down to Miami Beach and get the whole thing over with!” – Kramer to George
Episodes 14 and 15 (One Hour) – The Highlights of 100 (Parts 1 & 2)
An hour-long look back at highlights from the first 100 episodes.
Favorite Quote: N/A
Episode 16 – The Beard
Elaine poses as a beard for a gay male friend, then attempts to convert him to heterosexuality. George wears a toupee and turns down a woman because she’s bald. Kramer makes money by posing in police lineups. Jerry must take a lie detector test to prove he’s not a fan of ‘Melrose Place’.
Favorite Quote: “And we discover yet another talent..posing as a girlfriend for homosexuals!” – Jerry to Elaine
Episode 17 – The Kiss Hello
Elaine’s physical therapist friend loves to “kiss hello”, but Jerry despises the practice. Kramer decides to adorn the apartment lobby with resident photos to encourage tenants to know their neighbors.
Favorite Quote: “And I tell you another thing..Cosmo Kramer..whatever you want to be called..the kissing thing is over! There’s no more kissing and I don’t care what the consequences are!” – Jerry
Episode 18 – The Doorman
Mr. Pitt’s doorman intimidates Jerry. Elaine and Jerry create a plan to cover themselves when a couch is stolen from the lobby. Frank Costanza moves into George’s apartment. Kramer and Frank develop a bra for men but argue over what to name it.
Favorite Quote: “I was throwing up all night..it was like my own personal ‘Crying Game’!” – George
Disc Four:
Episode 19 – The Jimmy
George goes into business with a basketball buddy who refers to himself in the third person. Jerry discovers that Tim Whatley keeps Penthouse in his dentist office waiting room. Kramer comes off as mentally challenged at a charity benefit featuring Mel Torme.
Favorite Quote: “When they pull that needle out..I let the expletives fly!” – Kramer talking about the dentist
Episode 20 – The Doodle
George is upset by his girlfriend’s drawing of him. Jerry’s flea-infested apartment forces his parents into Elaine’s luxury hotel suite.
Favorite Quote: “Makes your taste buds come alive..it’s like having a circus in your mouth!” – Kramer talking about a “special” peach
Episode 21 – The Fusilli Jerry
Elaine’s new boyfriend, Puddy, uses one of Jerry’s sexual moves. Kramer mistakenly receives vanity license plates that read “Assman.”
Favorite Quote: “You’re not out there. You can’t be, because I’m out there. And if I see you out there, there’s not enough voltage in this world to electroshock me back into coherence!” – George talking to his mom
Episode 22 – The Diplomat’s Club
Jerry’s plans to meet a gorgeous model for an airport rendezvous are derailed. Kramer bets on flight arrivals with a rich Texan. George attempts to prove to his boss that he’s not a racist. Elaine plans on quitting her job with Mr. Pitt..until she realizes she’s in his will.
Favorite Quote: “Seeing that pilot in the audience..REALLY freaked me out!” – Jerry
Episode 23 – The Face Painter
Puddy prepares for a hockey game by painting his face like a devil. George tells his girlfriend that he loves her. Kramer gets into a fight with a monkey at a zoo.
Favorite Quote: “You STUBBORN, STUPID, SILLY man!” – Kramer to Jerry
Episode 24 – The Understudy
Jerry and George are accused of injuring Bette Midler during a softball game so that Jerry’s girlfriend, her understudy, can take the stage in their Broadway show. Elaine convinces Frank Costanza to translate her manicurist’s suspicious conversations. Depressed, Elaine meets J. Peterman on the street and lands herself a new job.
Favorite Quote: “When you’re talking about a movie like Beaches..moving from the chair to the couch..that’s quite a voyage!” – George
Score: 9/10
The Video:
The video is given in fullscreen color with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. Transfer is decent with minimal distortion. Colors look bright. Looks like the early 90’s. Still..the same. Still as good as the original episodes.
The Audio:
The audio included is in either English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo sound or French Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono sound. There are also English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese subtitles. Again..the same.
The Extras:
You know the drill. The special Features are AWESOME! Again..worth the price of admission alone!
Running With the Egg: Making a ‘Seinfeld’
The cast and crew of the show run you through how an episode gets made. From the idea of the episode to when the episode airs. Very interesting feature. But I like behind-the-scenes stuff and this is the ULTIMATE one! The formula of how every episode was made! Jerry compares it to an off-road egg race, where you carry the egg on a spoon, while running. Total nuts and craziness, but excellent!
Sein-Imation
A NEW feature! They take classic ‘Seinfeld’ scenes and re-imagine them! Basically..they animate scenes over the original lines of dialogue from the actual episode. There are three of these. One being “The Big Race”, another being “Seinfeld Noir”, and the last one being of “Kramer vs. The Monkey”!
Notes About Nothing
These are like subtitles that can be turned on. They give you behind-the-scenes stuff and production notes. Not always needed, but fun to watch to look at once you watch the show for the first time.
Inside Look
The cast and crew talk about what was happening behind-the-scenes in various episodes. I liked these a lot. More making-of’s type of thing.
In the Vault
These are the deleted scenes from Season 6. You know what these are. Not a must-see, but they are there.
Not That There’s Anything Wrong With That
These are the outtakes and bloopers from this season. Great stuff!
Yada, Yada, Yada
Creator and cast audio commentaries are right here. Jerry Seinfeld, director, Andy Ackerman, and Writers, Alec Berg and Jeff Schaffer, are all on “The Gymnast”. Then, they get split up into two groups for two other episodes. Jerry Seinfeld and director, Andy Ackerman, are back on “The Race”. Writers, Alec Berg and Jeff Schaffer, are back on “The Label Maker”. Writers, Tom Gammill and Max Pross, are on “The Mom & Pop Store”, “The Doorman”, and “The Diplomat’s Club”. Jason Alexander and Julia Louis-Dreyfus are on “The Beard” and “The Fusilli Jerry”. No Kramer or Larry David this time, which is a little odd. But still good nonetheless. A little more commentary than the last two, which is good.
Master of His Domain
Exclusive stand-up comedy footage of Jerry that was shot for the show, but was never used. Interesting.
Again..you can’t go wrong with these special features. It is probably enough reason to buy the DVDs!
Score: 10/10
