S03E03 - The Pen
No: 20 | Season: 3 Episode: 3 | Air Date: 2-Oct-1991 | Production #305
Stellaaaaa!!!Summary
Jerry and Elaine travel to Florida to see Jerry's parents which they soon regret when Elaine injures her back on a fold - out couch and Jerry gets caught up in a scandal by just saying that he liked someone's pen.
Director and Writers
Director: Tom Cherones
Writers: Larry David
Quotes
Jerry: I'm sleeping on a loveseat. I got my feet up in the air like I'm in a space capsule!
Helen: Why'd you take his pen for?
Elaine: Hey! It writes upside-down!
Stella: This better be good; I'm missing Golden Girls for this!
Helen: I hate her like poison.
Notes and Trivia
Larry David learned of the pen that writes upside down from executive producer George Shapiro who owned one. He gave it to David during a meeting.
Jerry sleeping on sofa cushions on the floor was inspired by Seinfeld's real-life experience. When visiting his mother, Jerry Seinfeld would sleep this way to avoid the uncomfortable sofa bed.
This is the only episode in the entire series where Jason Alexander does not appear. On the DVD interview, Jason Alexander confesses he was furious with Larry David for not writing him into this episode, and insisted that he must be in every future show, even just for a bit part.
This is one of two episodes in the series where Michael Richards doesn't appear. The other episode he was absent was "The Chinese Restaurant".
This is the first appearance by Sandy Baron (Jack Klompus). He was in 5 episodes.
At the ceremony, Larry David's voice can be heard yelling: "Hey Jack let's get started!" and "I'd rather have a bottle of scotch!"
When Elaine is on muscle relaxers and yells out "Stella!" it is a reference to the Tennessee William's play (and movie) "A Streetcar Named Desire".
Goofs
This episode shows Uncle Leo as married to Stella, but no explanation is ever given as to why he is single in later episodes.
You can clearly see part of the set two times in this episode that you're not supposed to see at all. The mistakes occur during the night time. Looking out of the door of the Seinfeld's condo you can see the light reflecting off of the background meaning it's only a painting, and fake. Also note the shadows behind Jack and Jerry during the dinner are one dimensional when there was a railing back there.
Cast
| Jerry Seinfeld | Jerry Seinfeld |
| Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Elaine Benes |
| Michael Richards | Kramer |
| Jason Alexander | George Costanza |
| Barney Martin | Morty |
| Liz Sheridan | Helen |
| Sandy Baron | Jack Klompus |
| Ann Morgan Guilbert | Evelyn (as Ann Guilbert) |
| Len Lesser | Leo |
| Annie Korzen | Doris |
| Magda Harout | Stella |
| Roger Nolan | The Chiropractor |
| Tucker Smallwood | The Photographer |
| Larry David | Heckler (voice) (uncredited) |