"
The Summer of George" is the 156th episode of the sitcom
SeinfeldSeinfeld 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. The eponymous series was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, with the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
. It was also the 22nd and final episode of the 8th season. It aired on May 15, 1997.
Plot
GeorgeGeorge Louis Costanza is a fictional character in the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Jason Alexander. He has variously been described as a "Short, stocky, slow-witted, bald man". He is friends with Jerry Seinfeld, Cosmo Kramer, and Elaine Benes. George appears in every episode...
discovers he has a
severance packageA severance package is pay and benefits an employee receives when they leave employment at a company. In addition to the employee's remaining regular pay, it may include some of the following:* An additional payment based on months of service...
from the
New York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division...
that should last him about 3 months. He decides that he is going to take the summer off, which he declares the "Summer of George."
JerryJerome "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...
and
KramerCosmo Kramer, referred to as simply "Kramer", is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Michael Richards...
are going to the Tony Awards. Jerry has a real seat; Kramer is a seat-filler.
ElaineElaine 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.Julia Louis-Dreyfus received extensive critical acclaim...
critiques a co-worker (
Molly ShannonMolly Helen Shannon is an American actress, comedian and writer. She is best known for her work as a cast member of Saturday Night Live from 1995-2001, and starred on the NBC sitcom Kath & Kim. She is also well known for appearing in movies with Will Ferrell.-Early life:Shannon was born in Shaker...
) who walks with no arm movements and is accused of being "
cattyCatfight is a term for an altercation between two women, typically involving scratching, slapping, hair-pulling, and shirt-shredding as opposed to punching or wrestling. However, the term is not exclusively used to indicate a fight between women, and many formal definitions do not invoke gender...
." Jerry picks up his date to the Tonys, a waitress named Lanette (
Amanda PeetAmanda Peet is an American actress.After studying with Uta Hagen, Peet began her career in television commercials, and progressed to small roles in television and indie movies. Featured roles in films such as The Whole Nine Yards brought her recognition and she was named one of People's "50 Most...
), only to find out that she has a man (or rather, a "dude") living with her. While filling a seat for a nominee who has stepped away, Kramer is accidentally whisked to the stage by excited Tony winners moving through his row. As a result, he receives a Tony Award for a musical in which
Raquel Welch-Early life:Welch was born Jo Raquel Tejada in Chicago, Illinois, the oldest of three children and the daughter of Josephine Sarah and Armando Carlos Tejada Urquizo...
is the star. Elaine tries to work things out with her co-worker, to no avail. Kramer uses his Tony as a ticket into a place he really shouldn't be,
Sardi'sSardi's is a restaurant in New York City's theater district at 234 West 44th Street in Manhattan. Known for the hundreds of caricatures of show-business celebrities that adorn its walls, Sardi's opened at its current location on March 5,1927....
, where the producers of
Scarsdale Surprise have a proposition for him. Jerry's date decides to commit to him. Elaine's complaints to men about her co-worker only seem to pique their interest in the possibility of a cat fight. Jerry's girlfriend begins to wear him out; she is always on the go. George suggests that perhaps they team up to handle Lanette. To keep his Tony award, Kramer must fire the non-arm swinging
Raquel Welch-Early life:Welch was born Jo Raquel Tejada in Chicago, Illinois, the oldest of three children and the daughter of Josephine Sarah and Armando Carlos Tejada Urquizo...
from the production. Jerry goes on a date and needs George to handle the invitations for Lanette's party. He is not to skimp this time. Kramer does his duty and pays a price. A mad Raquel walking down the street gets into a cat fight with Elaine, who she thinks is making fun of her by imitating her co-worker's lack of arm-swinging. George gets distracted and slips on an invitation. In the aftermath, the gang is back where they were a year ago, only this time George is the one in a hospital bed. The final scene of this episode pays homage to the ending of Season 7's "The Invitations." "The Summer of George" was originally going to be titled "The Dude."
Era highlights
Little is known as to what
George CostanzaGeorge Louis Costanza is a fictional character in the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Jason Alexander. He has variously been described as a "Short, stocky, slow-witted, bald man". He is friends with Jerry Seinfeld, Cosmo Kramer, and Elaine Benes. George appears in every episode...
actually did with his summer. Despite his good intentions, the era appears to consist primarily of a lazy guy with too much time on his hands. What is known is that the era consists of at least the following:
- Reading a book, from beginning to end and in that order.
- Playing frolf
Disc golf is a disc game in which individual players throw a flying disc into a basket or at a target. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, "The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc." Disc golf is inexpensive...
. He plays at least once.
- Watching television programming, like The White Shadow
The White Shadow is an American drama television series that ran on the CBS network from November 27, 1978, to March 16, 1981.-Overview:...
and the Tony Awards.
- At least in the first couple days, he intended to relax or as he termed it, de-compress. Jerry derogatorily refers to this period as decomposing.
- Purchasing a new recliner with a refrigerator in it, stocked with soda.
- Mid-morning naps.
- Insignificant telephone conversations.
- Banging his head on tables.
- Assisting Jerry in maintaining his relationship with Lanette (Amanda Peet
Amanda Peet is an American actress.After studying with Uta Hagen, Peet began her career in television commercials, and progressed to small roles in television and indie movies. Featured roles in films such as The Whole Nine Yards brought her recognition and she was named one of People's "50 Most...
), a younger woman Jerry is dating. He acts as Jerry's relationship intern, ex, making dinner reservations on Jerry's behalf, coordinating Jerry's outfits, suggesting compliments, purchasing invitations for a party that Lanette is throwing, etc.
- Growing a mustache.
Post-era
While performing one of his chores for
Jerry SeinfeldJerome "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...
,
George CostanzaGeorge Louis Costanza is a fictional character in the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Jason Alexander. He has variously been described as a "Short, stocky, slow-witted, bald man". He is friends with Jerry Seinfeld, Cosmo Kramer, and Elaine Benes. George appears in every episode...
slips on one of the party invitations and falls down his apartment steps, severely injuring his legs. He is taken to New York Hospital. In the presence of Jerry,
Elaine BenesElaine 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.Julia Louis-Dreyfus received extensive critical acclaim...
and
Cosmo KramerCosmo Kramer, referred to as simply "Kramer", is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Michael Richards...
, the doctor gives George the bad news:
Unmoved by this news, Jerry, Elaine and Kramer decide to go for coffee and leave him. As they walk away, he shouts at them : "This was supposed to be the Summer of George!" We next see George in physical therapy, trying to walk with the assistance of parallel bars. He falls. He notes, however, that there is still a little summer left. In this scene, we can also see a physical therapist coaching Molly Shannon's character on how to swing her arms while walking.