The Butter Shave
Encyclopedia
"The Butter Shave" is the 157th episode of the NBC
sitcom Seinfeld
. It is also the first episode of the ninth and final season. It aired on September 25, 1997.
and Jerry
grow mustaches as a way of "taking a vacation from themselves"; they both admit it was a bad idea and Jerry suggests they should have taken real vacations. George quickly thinks a different style of facial hair might be the answer but Jerry tells George that he has to get a job. Not fully recovered from "The Summer of George
", George is using a cane to get around. Jerry might have another shot at NBC
, through an appearance on an NBC Showcase that might lead to another pilot. He is also annoyed that lame comic Kenny Bania's act is working, only because he is following on Jerry's coattails. As a reference to the success of the many shows that aired between Seinfeld and ER
, Jerry refers to Bania as "a time-slot hit".
Back in Jerry's apartment, Kramer
arrives in his usual fashion. It appears that Kramer has grown a mustache as well and then quickly exits when he sees that Jerry and George no longer have their facial hair only to return very quickly without the mustache. Bania scores with big laughs and also gets one of Jerry's ex-girlfriends. George learns of a job interview in "Sports", and when Jerry tries to guess which New York professional team, George answers "playground equipment". Elaine
is on vacation for a month in Europe with David Puddy. Kramer comments that if Puddy is lucky, he will not "come home in a body bag
."
Kramer finds butter
is better than shaving cream
. George is hired for the job at Play Now because of his use of the cane. They think he is handicapped
and of course he takes full advantage of the situation after they offer him his own fully equipped handicap bathroom. Kramer's skin feels so good with butter; he takes to spreading it all over his body. Unfortunately, he falls asleep as he lies out in the sun where he begins to cook. It is a long flight back for Elaine and Puddy, who break up and get back together, only to break up again. Newman
, reading the cannibalism-themed story Alive
, finds the smell of a cooked turkey appealing. In his disturbed state he hallucinates, seeing Kramer's head on the turkey in Monk's
, panics and runs out.
Jerry is informed that Bania is going to follow him on the NBC showcase. George sprains his good leg and begins favoring the other leg, and Play Now buys him a motorized cart as a result. Jerry discovers that George is a closet Bania fan. Kramer tries to keep his skin moist but the baked-in smell of cooked meat (along with a jar of oregano
and some Parmesan cheese accidentally being dumped on him) is too much for Newman, who runs after him; Kramer is heard shouting "Ow! He bit me!"
George manages to keep up his bluff until he gets into some trouble with old-timers after hitting their motorized carts (four volts), a very slow chase ensues. George's cart begins to die on him so he jumps off and picks up the cart and runs away from the mob only to run into his boss from Play Now. George, now concerned about what will happen to his job, is caught by the mob and one older gentleman hits George with his cane ("Eat hickory
!"). Jerry plans to sabotage his own act, surmising that Kenny's act will also bomb, but Kenny gets the last laugh as he is offered a pilot on NBC.
A blooper occurs when Kramer enters Jerry's apartment and begins to apply butter to his face. You can see the actor's makeup smeared on the end of the stick of butter.
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
sitcom Seinfeld
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
. It is also the first episode of the ninth and final season. It aired on September 25, 1997.
Plot
Over the summer both GeorgeGeorge Costanza
George Louis Costanza is a character in the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Jason Alexander. He has variously been described as a "short, stocky, slow-witted, bald man" , "Lord of the Idiots" , and as "the greatest sitcom character of all time"...
and Jerry
Jerry Seinfeld (character)
Jerome "Jerry" Seinfeld is the main protagonist of the American television sitcom Seinfeld . The straight man among his group of friends, this semi-fictionalized version of comedian Jerry Seinfeld was named after, co-created by, based on, and played by Seinfeld himself.The series revolves around...
grow mustaches as a way of "taking a vacation from themselves"; they both admit it was a bad idea and Jerry suggests they should have taken real vacations. George quickly thinks a different style of facial hair might be the answer but Jerry tells George that he has to get a job. Not fully recovered from "The Summer of George
The Summer of George
"The Summer of George" is the 156th episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. It was also the 22nd and final episode of the 8th season. It originally aired on May 15, 1997.-Plot:...
", George is using a cane to get around. Jerry might have another shot at NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, through an appearance on an NBC Showcase that might lead to another pilot. He is also annoyed that lame comic Kenny Bania's act is working, only because he is following on Jerry's coattails. As a reference to the success of the many shows that aired between Seinfeld and ER
ER (TV series)
ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
, Jerry refers to Bania as "a time-slot hit".
Back in Jerry's apartment, Kramer
Cosmo Kramer
Cosmo Kramer, usually referred to as simply "Kramer", is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Michael Richards...
arrives in his usual fashion. It appears that Kramer has grown a mustache as well and then quickly exits when he sees that Jerry and George no longer have their facial hair only to return very quickly without the mustache. Bania scores with big laughs and also gets one of Jerry's ex-girlfriends. George learns of a job interview in "Sports", and when Jerry tries to guess which New York professional team, George answers "playground equipment". Elaine
Elaine Benes
Elaine Marie Benes is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Elaine's best friend is her ex-boyfriend Jerry Seinfeld; she is also good friends with George Costanza and Cosmo Kramer...
is on vacation for a month in Europe with David Puddy. Kramer comments that if Puddy is lucky, he will not "come home in a body bag
Body bag
A body bag is a non-porous bag designed to contain a human body, used for the storage and transportation of corpses. Body bags can also be used for the storage of corpses within morgues. Before purpose-made body bags were available, cotton mattress covers were sometimes used, particularly in...
."
Kramer finds butter
Butter
Butter is a dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented cream or milk. It is generally used as a spread and a condiment, as well as in cooking applications, such as baking, sauce making, and pan frying...
is better than shaving cream
Shaving cream
Shaving cream is a substance that is applied to the face or wherever else hair grows, to provide lubrication and avoid razor burn during shaving. Shaving cream is often bought in a spray can, but can also be purchased in tubs or tubes. Shaving cream in a can is commonly dispensed as a foam or a gel...
. George is hired for the job at Play Now because of his use of the cane. They think he is handicapped
Handicapped
Handicapped or handicap may refer to:*Handicapping, various methods of leveling a sport or game**Golf handicap, a sport-specific handicapping method**Go handicaps**Handicaps in shogi**Asian handicap, bookmakers technique to level odds...
and of course he takes full advantage of the situation after they offer him his own fully equipped handicap bathroom. Kramer's skin feels so good with butter; he takes to spreading it all over his body. Unfortunately, he falls asleep as he lies out in the sun where he begins to cook. It is a long flight back for Elaine and Puddy, who break up and get back together, only to break up again. Newman
Newman (Seinfeld)
Newman is a recurring character on the television show Seinfeld, played by Wayne Knight from 1991 until the show's finale in 1998.-Background:...
, reading the cannibalism-themed story Alive
Alive
Alive most commonly refers to Life. It may also refer to:-Publications:* Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors, a 1974 book by Piers Paul Read which documented the 1972 crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 in the Andes mountains...
, finds the smell of a cooked turkey appealing. In his disturbed state he hallucinates, seeing Kramer's head on the turkey in Monk's
Monk's Cafe
Monk's Café is a fictional coffee shop from the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. The exterior of Tom's Restaurant on the corner of West 112th Street and Broadway, near Columbia University, is often shown on the show as the exterior of Monk's, though the interiors were shot on a sound stage. The coffee shop is...
, panics and runs out.
Jerry is informed that Bania is going to follow him on the NBC showcase. George sprains his good leg and begins favoring the other leg, and Play Now buys him a motorized cart as a result. Jerry discovers that George is a closet Bania fan. Kramer tries to keep his skin moist but the baked-in smell of cooked meat (along with a jar of oregano
Oregano
Oregano – scientifically named Origanum vulgare by Carolus Linnaeus – is a common species of Origanum, a genus of the mint family . It is native to warm-temperate western and southwestern Eurasia and the Mediterranean region.Oregano is a perennial herb, growing from 20–80 cm tall,...
and some Parmesan cheese accidentally being dumped on him) is too much for Newman, who runs after him; Kramer is heard shouting "Ow! He bit me!"
George manages to keep up his bluff until he gets into some trouble with old-timers after hitting their motorized carts (four volts), a very slow chase ensues. George's cart begins to die on him so he jumps off and picks up the cart and runs away from the mob only to run into his boss from Play Now. George, now concerned about what will happen to his job, is caught by the mob and one older gentleman hits George with his cane ("Eat hickory
Hickory
Trees in the genus Carya are commonly known as hickory, derived from the Powhatan language of Virginia. The genus includes 17–19 species of deciduous trees with pinnately compound leaves and big nuts...
!"). Jerry plans to sabotage his own act, surmising that Kenny's act will also bomb, but Kenny gets the last laugh as he is offered a pilot on NBC.
Episode notes
- Kristin DavisKristin DavisKristin Landen Davis is an American actress.She first rose to prominence and achieved fame for playing the role of Charlotte York Goldenblatt on HBO's Sex and the City. She has achieved success appearing in roles in film and television.-Early life and education:Davis was born in Boulder, Colorado...
, better known for playing Charlotte York in the HBO sitcom Sex and the CitySex and the CitySex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
, briefly reprises an earlier role as Jerry's ex-girlfriend Jenna from "The PotholeThe Pothole"The Pothole" is the 150th episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. This was the 16th episode for the 8th season. It aired on February 20, 1997. This episode earned Andy Ackerman an Emmy Award for Outstanding Direction...
", making her one of just a few of Jerry's girlfriends to appear in more than one episode. She is seen with Bania, and remarks that dating him is "a pleasure" after having dated Jerry. - The two NBC executives who approach Bania following his set are named Jay Chermack and Stu Crespi. The names are transposed versions of the NBC executives that developed Jerry's sitcom "Jerry", Stu Chermack and Jay Crespi.
- An infamous Buddy RichBuddy RichBernard "Buddy" Rich was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuosic technique, power, groove, and speed.-Early life:...
quote, "Then let's see how he does, up there, without all the assistance!", is used in this episode from the underground bootleg tapes of Rich throwing temper tantrums.
A blooper occurs when Kramer enters Jerry's apartment and begins to apply butter to his face. You can see the actor's makeup smeared on the end of the stick of butter.