| | [4.11] the Contest | |
Premiered: 11/18/92
Writer(s): Larry David
Director: Tom Cherones | 5.000 | | When George's mother, Estelle, catches him doing you know what (and falls, requiring hospitalization), the four bet who can put off masturbation the longest. But temptations arise. John F. Kennedy Jr. joins Elaine's gym class. A nude gal parades around in the building across from Jerry's (prompting Kramer's money-slapping, "I'm out!"). George, visiting his mom in the hospital, watches a woman-to-woman sponge bath through a curtain. Marla the virgin wants to do it with Jerry - before being disgusted by news on the contest. | | - Seinfeld Forever |
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| | Motifs | First, Only, Lasts
First appearance of Estelle Costanza
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| Awkward Situation in a Car
Due to frustration with the contest, Jerry attempts to geth physical with Marla in his car. She refuses and he awkwardly pretends not to care. | Bets
The bet of all bets! Elaine, Jerry, George and Kramer put $100 each (Elaine $150) in to see who can go the longest without masturbating. | Medical Conditions/Diseases
Estelle Costanza is cared for in a hospital after hurting her back when finding her son "treating his body like an amusement park" | Musical References
Jerry sings "The Wheels on the Bus" in order to take his mind off the contest | Television References
Jerry watched Tiny Toons to get away from all sexual thoughts | the Kennedys
Elaine loses the contest after running into John F. Kennedy, Jr. |
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|  | Stever
5.000 / 5.000 (3) | The "smells like teen spirit," "stairway to heaven," "satisfaction," "light my fire," "smoke on the water," etc. This is quite possibly the best of all Seinfeld episodes, and of course, it's written by larry david. What tv show would ever even come close to pushing the envelope this far? It starts off with a bang: george tells about his mother, Estelle, 'catching' him with a Glamour magazine. This is Estelle's first appearance. Kramer's entrance and quitting of the contest is one of the biggest laughs of all sein-dom. Interestingly, Kramer is 'finished' in under a minute. The stories interweave expertly (it won an emmy award.) that definitely sets a precedent for following Seinfeld shows, not to mention other shows trying to copy it's success.
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 | Stanus
5.000 / 5.000 (3) | I was going to give this one a 4.75, but then couldn't figure out why it's not a 5. George getting caught by him mom, which brings on a masturbation contest! Kramer going out in the first five minutes. Jerry losing his virgin girlfriend to Elaine's celebrity crush! This episode has it all ... even the small details are great. Anyone else notice George's dinosaur bedsheets? I'm not sure if this episode would stand up to the scrutiny I've given some of the others, but it delivers so well, who cares!
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 | Seinfeld Forever
5.000 / 5.000 (3) | One of the Old Masters in the Seinfeld gallery.
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| | Quotes | George: (about never masturbating again) Wait, you don't think I can?
Jerry: No chance.
George: You think you could?
Jerry: Well, I know I could hold out longer than you.
George: Care to make it interesting?
Jerry: Sure, how much?
George: A hundred dollars.
Jerry: You're on!
Kramer: Wait a second, wait a second. Count me in on this.
Jerry: You? You'll be out before we get the check.
| added by Stever
| George: (to Elaine) You caved?
Jerry: It's over?
George: You're out?
Jerry: Oh my god, the queen is dead!
| added by Stanus
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| Honored | | The Contest brought the goods: Larry David won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series and the Writers Guild Award. Tom Cherones was nominated for an Emmy and won the Director Guild Award. | | added by Stanus |
| Based on a True Story | | Larry David was really in a masturbation contest (and, reportedly, won it). | | added by Stanus |
| Deleted Scene | | Joyce runs into the group during the opening scene. Elaine says hi, but doesn't invite her to sit with them. Kramer tells Elaine she caused an awkward pause to occur. | | added by Stanus |
| Deleted Scene | | George visits his mother in the hospital one final time, only to discover her sponge-bathing roommate has left. On top of this, his mother was the one who asked for her to move. | | added by Stanus |
| Pushing the Envelope | | The live audience gave more guarded laughter during the first take of the first scene, presumably from the "racy" humor. | | added by Stanus |
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