S04E03 - The Pitch
No: 43 | Season: 4 Episode: 3 | Air Date: 16-Sep-1992 | Production #403
Summary
NBC executives ask Jerry to come up with an idea for a TV series. George decides he can be a sitcom writer and comes up with "nothing." Kramer trades a radar detector for a helmet, later Newman gets a speeding ticket. While waiting to meet the NBC executives, George and Jerry meet Joe Davola, a writer and "a total nut" who goes to the same shrink as Elaine. Jerry searching for conversation, mentions Kramer's party, whereto Joe wasn't invited. While discussing the disaster of the meeting with NBC, George focuses on starting a relationship with the female NBC executive. Kramer shows his approval by throwing up on her. The helmet saves Kramer from an attack by "Crazy" Joe Davola. While all this is going on Elaine is in Europe with her shrink.
Director and Writers
Director: Tom Cherones
Writers: Larry David
Quotes
Joe Davola: You're under no obligation to shake my hand.
George: I think I can sum up the show for you with one word: Nothing.
George: I can't do this Jerry. I can't do it. I tried, I'm here, it's impossible!
Russell: Well, why am I watching it?
George: Because it's on TV.
Russell: (pausing) Not yet.
Newman: (to Kramer) You gave me a defective detector! Jerry?
Jerry: Buyer beware.
Notes and Trivia
This episode begins the season-long story arc about Jerry and George developing "a show about nothing" for NBC. This story is based on Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David's experiences in developing the "Seinfeld" series. Russell Dalrymple, played by Bob Balaban is based on Warren Littlefield. Jason Alexander once negatively referred to the NBC storyline as "self-aggrandized."
In this episode, one of the NBC execs says he really liked a bit by Jerry about a parakeet flying into a mirror. The episode "The Dog" closes with Jerry actually doing the parakeet bit over the credits.
The posters on the wall of the studio's reception area are all promotional posters for NBC series for the 1992/1993 season.
Just as Kramer at first objected to being a character in the show about "nothing", Larry David's neighbor, Kenny Kramer, originally objected to having a character named after him in the Seinfeld series.
This episode was originally broadcast as a one-hour special along with the following episode, "The Ticket."
This is Wayne Knight's favorite episode because he got the chance to see how Newman's mind worked.
When George and Jerry are in the coffee shop discussing the show about "nothing", their back and forth banter is reminiscent of Abbot and Costello's classic "Who's on First" routine.
When Jerry says "Give my best to Hinckley", this is a reference to John F. Hinckley, Jr. who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in an attempt to win the love and approval of actress Jodie Foster.
Goofs
If you look closely after Kramer calls Newman "Mojambo", you can see Jerry laughing, then trying to get to keep a straight face.
When Jerry and George are in the waiting room before their first NBC meeting, we see in the large shot that Jerry has one leg propped up on his thigh but in the next medium shot his legs are both uncrossed.
Cast
Jerry Seinfeld | Jerry Seinfeld |
Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Elaine Benes |
Michael Richards | Cosmo Kramer |
Jason Alexander | George Costanza |
Wayne Knight | Newman |
Bob Balaban | Russell Dalrymple |
Heidi Swedberg | Susan Ross |
Kevin Page | Stu Chermack |
Peter Crombie | 'Crazy' Joe Davola |
Len Lesser | Uncle Leo |
Steve Eastin | Cop #1 |
David Graf | Cop #2 |
Al Fann | Judge (credit only) |
Stephen McHattie | Dr. Reston - the Psychiatrist |
Peter Blood | Jay Crespi |
Julie Claire | Receptionist |
Steve Skrovan | Tommy |
Ron Ross | Homeless Man |
Ruth Cohen | Ruthie Cohen |
Larry David | Offstage Voice (voice) (uncredited) |
Deck McKenzie | TMI Long Distance Operator (voice) (uncredited) |