| | [3.17] the Boyfriend (1) | |
Premiered: 02/12/92
Writer(s): Larry David, Larry Levin
Director: Tom Cherones | 4.523 | | Jerry meets ex-Mets player, Keith Hernandez at his gym, and not a moment too soon as Kramer reveals it was the first time the gang has seen each other naked ("I ... peaked," admits George). George leaves to go lie to his unemployment counselor, while the two celebrities hit it off during dinner later that week. Though Jerry has proven he knows how to end same-sex friendships in [2.04] Male Unbonding, he has trouble starting them and soon is describing the relationship as if they were dating. The bond takes a turn for the worse when Hernandez schedules a date with Elaine over movie night with Jerry. Not all of Jerry's friends are ecstatic with the ballplayer, as Newman and Kramer are still upset about a certain spitting incident from 1987. | | - Stanus |
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| | Motifs | First, Only, Lasts
First hour-long (or 2 episode) story
First episode co-written by Larry Levin
Only episode to have it's title shown on the opening credits
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| Art Vandelay
George tells his unemployment counselor he has applied to be a latex salesman with Vandelay Industries | Awkward Situation in a Car
Jerry worries about whether or not to shake Keith Hernandez' hand after their first date | Homosexual Tendencies
His relationship with Keith Hernandez makes Jerry act as if it were homosexual | Movie References
The second spitter scene is a parody of the second gunman scene from JFK. Keith Hernandez and Jerry were scheduled to see the very same movie in this episode | Run-Ins with the Law
George is accosted by a cop after violently taking over a payphone | Seinfeld Self-Reference
Jerry refers to George again as Biff, the loser character from Death of a Salesman. This nickname was first used in [3.12] the Subway | Seinfeld Self-Reference
George wishes he could be a civil war buff, much like he did in [2.07] the Revenge | Seinfeld Self-Reference
Hennigans, the fictional Scotch, is mentioned. It was first introduced in [3.12] the Red Dot | Superman/Comics References
Keith Hernandez: I love your bit on Jimmy Olsen. |
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|  | Stanus
5.000 / 4.523 (3) | Sweet serendipity! The first episode of Seinfeld I watched on its premiere broadcast (looks like I was 11) and it happens to be a great episode. Maybe even the best of all time (I'll come back and let you know when I'm done with all the other seasons).
The episode starts out with belly laughs ("I've always been a chucker!", "This is the first time we've seen each other naked.") and doesn't let up the entire time through the end ("And you want to be my latex salesman!"). There are other perfect 5's throughout the series but this seems to be at the gang's creative peak. The actors are sure that what they're doing is funny and know what they want to do with their characters, but the show hasn't become too recognized where they've become overconfident. The only possible flaw I could find is that Elaine's story hasn't fully evolved in the first half here (but it's set up beautifully!).
It's interesting to note that Jerry was famously against the JFK parody scene - thinking that it ran on for too long, and was too "cartoonish" and unlike what they had done in previous episodes. Instead, the audience laughed so much the recorded laugh tracks had to be shortened and faded out in order for all of the dialogue from the scene to be heard for broadcast. I believe the scene worked out so well that it surprised Seinfeld (the scene in the broadcast was the first take) and you can actually see him get a huge grin during his demonstration. I also think this may have been the seduction that led Seinfeld ultimately astray. My biggest problem in the later seasons was that it eventually just got too cartoony, and now I realize it was a result of trying to emulate the feeling of this brilliant scene.
Cretz likes to end his reviews of his favorite episodes with "one for the books." This one's for the time capsule.
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 | Stever
5.000 / 4.523 (3) | Amazing Seinfeld. This is definitely one of the best. Surprisingly, this is also the first episode I ever watched while it was "new." I'm not positive, but if I didn’t see it on it's first run, I definitely saw it on it's first repeat during this third season in '92. Everything in this one is a winner. Jerry and Elaine are fighting for the same guy, George invents the Vandelay Industries, Kramer and Newman have the whole spitter-incident. Just in case you thought it couldn't get any better, the JFK assassination connection is brilliant. This is also one of Jerry's personal favorites. (Only 1 review for both [3.17] and [3.18])
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 | Seinfeld Forever
3.570 / 4.523 (3) | The "JFK" parody, with even a "magic loogie," is so brilliant, we sniff a conspiracy. (Only 1 review for both [3.17] and [3.18])
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| | Quotes | Jerry: What did he come over to me if he didn't want to see me? I mean here I meet this guy - this great guy - a baseball player. Best guy I ever met in my life! Well that's it. I'm never giving my number out to another guy again.
Elaine: Sometimes I've given my number out to guys and it takes them a month to call.
Jerry: Ha! Good, good. Well if he's calling in a month he's got a prayer!
| added by Stanus
| Jerry: Allow me to reconstruct this if I may for Miss Benes as I've heard this story a number of times. Newman, Kramer, if you'll indulge me. According to your story, Keith passes you and starts walking up the ramp, then you say you were struck on the right temple. The spit then proceeds to ricochet off the temple, striking Newman between the third and forth rib. The spit then came off the rib, turned, and hit Newman in the right wrist, causing him to drop his baseball cap. The spit then splashed off the wrist - pauses in mid air mind you - makes a left turn and lands on Newman's left thigh. That is one magic luggie!
| added by Stever
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| Out of Order | | The Boyfriend (1) was filmed to be [3.16], but was bumped down 1 slot to premeire as episode [3.17] | | added by Stanus |
| Beautiful Mistake | | At the end of the episode, George is on the ground in his underwear. Jerry decided to return and, unscripted, utter "And you want to be my latex salesman!" | | added by Stanus |
| Cut From Syndication | | Jerry's stand up about how people aren't "hiring" for new friends in their 30's. | | added by Stanus |
| Original Title | | The Boyfriend was originally called the New Friend. | | added by Stanus |
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