S05E08 - The Barber

No: 72  |   Season: 5   Episode: 8  |   Air Date: 11-Nov-1993  |   Production #507

HeHe's uh, self-employed. He's... I don't know, six foot three, 190 pounds, he likes, uh... fruit, and he just got uh, a haircut.

Summary

George is uncertain about whether his job interview was successful or not, so he decides to go into the office and act like an employee while the boss is on vacation. Jerry is reluctant to dump his old barber even when he is given a real bad haircut. Kramer arranges to get him a clandestine haircut at the apartment of his barber. Newman is charged by Jerry's barber to get a sample of Jerry's hair when he suspects foul play.

Director and Writers

Director: Tom Cherones
Writers: Andy Robin

Quotes

Newman: I almost went to barber school. I always felt I had a talent for it.

George: Well, a lot of people consider me small and prestigious.

Enzo: (to Jerry) You tell-a the joke, I cut-a the hair.

Secretary: (through intercom): Mr. Costanza, Mr. Pensky is here to see you.
George: (nervously) Mr. Pensky? Of the Pensky file?

Jerry: So what do you do there all day?
George: They gave me the Pensky file.

Jerry: In the one minute he worked on me, I could tell he was really good.

George: I enjoy understanding.

Kramer: (talking to Newman on Jerry's phone) So, when are you gonna be able to go out?
Newman: (with a shaved head) Not for a while.

Elaine: (auctioning off Kramer) He likes fruit, and uh, he just got a haircut.

George: In college they used to call me 'The Little Bulldog'.

Newman: Can I use your bathroom?
Jerry: What's wrong with yours?
Newman: My toilet's clogged.
Jerry: You can't unclog it?
Newman: No.
Jerry: Did you ask Kramer?
Newman: He's out.
Jerry: Number one?
Newman: Yes, yes. Can I go? Cause I gotta go very badly.
Jerry: All right. Flush twice.

George: Ta ta, Tut-tel.

Kramer: I could raise enough money to cure polio.

George: I have an idea.
Jerry: Yeah?
George: I show up.
Jerry: Whadya mean, you show up?
George: I show up! I pretend I have the job. The guy's on vacation. If I have the job, it's fine. If I don't have the job, by the time he comes back I'm ensconced.
Jerry: Hmmmmm... Not bad.

Jerry: I want you to have this job. Of course, sodomy is a pre-requisite.

George: Yes, I like to feel cozy. You know, I have a very small apartment. I like to feel tucked in, nestled in. Love to be nestled.

George: What's the worst thing that could happen?
Jerry: Well, you'd be embarrassed and humiliated in front of a large group of people and have to walk out in shame with your tail between your legs.
George: Yeah, so?

Kramer: I'd like to have shoehorn hands.

Notes and Trivia

You can hear someone in the audience yelling "Oh no!" when George is told Mr. Pensky is there to see him.

The music in the background for many of the scenes in this episode is from Rossini's opera "The Barber of Seville".

Goofs

Enzo's barber shop as seen from the outside bears little resemblance to the studio set. In particular the lettering on the window is missing.

Cast

Jerry SeinfeldJerry Seinfeld
Julia Louis-DreyfusElaine Benes
Michael RichardsKramer
Jason AlexanderGeorge Costanza
Wayne KnightNewman
Antony PonziniEnzo
David CiminelloGino
Michael FairmanMr. Pensky
Jack ShearerMr. Tuttle
Ken MylesMike
Peggy EtraClarisse (as Peggy Maltby)
Dave RichardsonCustomer (as David Richardson)
Ruth CohenRuthie Cohen
Tom GammillOffice Worker (uncredited)
Ellsworth HannaMarried Couple in Diner (uncredited)
Jeanne HannaMarried Couple in Diner (uncredited)
Peter MehlmanMan in Barber Shop (uncredited)
Max ProssOffice Worker (uncredited)