S08E09 - The Abstinence
No: 143 | Season: 8 Episode: 9 | Air Date: 21-Nov-1996 | Production #809
Summary
George's girlfriend has mononucleosis and he can't have sex with her for six weeks. Elaine's met a doctor who's almost gotten his license to practice. Jerry agrees to appear at career day at his former junior high school, first he is bumped and then there is a fire drill. Kramer lights up a cigar in Monk's and is asked to leave. He meets others on the street who face his dilemma so he opens up his apartment as a smoking lounge. Jerry's agent gets him an assembly at the school. George's lack of sex makes his mind sharper. Elaine learns how much her doctor boyfriend doesn't know about medicine. She uses George's technique to help him study to get his license, but in the process she becomes an idiot. Jerry struggles to figure out how to fill two hours in front of a junior high crowd. George uses his new found intellect to give batting advice, speaks Portuguese and prepares a presentation for Jerry's assembly. Kramer sees his lawyer about a case against the tobacco company, smoking has destroyed his looks. He gets a settlement without Jackie's input. George calculates the odds of scoring with a Portuguese waitress. Elaine's boyfriend gets his license and leaves her sexless.
Director and Writers
Director: Andy Ackerman
Writers: Steve Koren
Quotes
Jerry: (to George) So you're enjoying the not enjoying.
Jackie Chiles: This is the most public yet of my many humiliations.
Jackie Chiles: Jackie's cashing in on your wretched disfigurement!
Elaine: What is with all these books?
George: I stopped having sex.
Jerry: (at his old junior high) I'm getting bumped? You're bumping me from career day?
Notes and Trivia
Edward R. Murrow Junior High School, the fictional school where Jerry goes to speak on career day, is actually based on the real Edward R. Murrow High School, who's most notable graduate is Marisa Tomei.
"Two coffees and a big salad", is what George says in Portuguese.
The working title for this episode was "The Portuguese Waitress."
Goofs
When Jerry puts the Rubik's Cube down on the counter, the red and yellow sides are facing the camera. In the next shot, the white side is facing the camera. Also, the cordless phone next to the cube has moved a little further from the edge of the counter.
During the business with the lettuce, it is 'stalk up' when seen over Gerry's shoulder but not when seen from the front.
When Kramer says, "look away, I'm hideous", you can tell that Jerry is having trouble controlling his laughter. This is confirmed in the outtakes from this episode.
Cast
Jerry Seinfeld | Jerry Seinfeld |
Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Elaine Benes |
Michael Richards | Cosmo Kramer |
Jason Alexander | George Costanza |
Phil Morris | Jackie Chiles |
Debra Jo Rupp | Katie |
Brenda Strong | Sue Ellen |
Bob Odenkirk | Ben |
Meagen Fay | Mrs. Burns |
Tamara Bick | Louise |
Alex Trebek | Himself |
Derek Jeter | Himself |
Bernie Williams | Himself |
Lawrence Mandley | Larry The Cook (as Lawrence A. Mandley) |
Fern Fitzgerald | Ms. Wilkie |
No | Waitress (as Noelle Balfour) |
Kyle Gass | Smoker |
Judy Kerr | Woman |
Randy Carter | Rick (uncredited) |
Ruth Cohen | Ruthie Cohen |
David Letterman | Himself (uncredited) |