S05E22 - The Opposite
No: 86 | Season: 5 Episode: 22 | Air Date: 19-May-1994 | Production #521
Summary
George comes to the realization that he should try to do the opposite of everything, so he does, his luck changes and everything begins to go his way including getting a girlfriend, a job with the Yankees and moving out of his parents' house. Things begin to be unlucky for Elaine after she buys a box of "Jujyfruits." Kramer appears on Regis & Kathie Lee to promote his coffee table book. Rachel wants to break up with Jerry and he readily agrees, because his luck has been "even Steven." Elaine's eating of "Jujyfruits" causes Pendant Publishing to go under, and later she realizes that she and George have traded places.
Director and Writers
Director: Tom Cherones
Writers: Andy Cowan
Quotes
Kramer: (to Jerry) You know who you are? Even Steven.
George: My name is George. I'm unemployed and I live with my parents.
Woman: I'm Victoria. Hi.
George: Bald men with no jobs and no money who live with their parents don't approach strange women.
Victoria: Who are you George Costanza?
George: I'm the opposite of every guy you've ever met.
Jerry: You're going on Regis and Kathy Lee? I'll loan you my puffy shirt.
Jerry: (to George) If every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right.
Elaine: (after realizing she and George have switched fates) I'm George. I'M GEORGE!
Regis Philbin: (introducing Kramer) This guy could be a little bonkos.
Notes and Trivia
The working title for this episode was "The Even Steven".
This episode won the 1994 Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Editing for a Series - Multi-Camera Production.
It is starting with this episode that Larry David supplied the voice of George Steinbrenner.
According to Jerry Seinfeld, the line from George's angry rant at the movie theater, "We're gonna take it outside and I'm gonna show you what it's like," is based on a line from a notorious Buddy Rich bootleg tape, where he would berate his band members for playing too loud.
In his memoir, "How I Got This Way", Regis Philbin recounted how he was embarrassed and disappointed with Jerry Seinfeld and the show's writing crew after his line, "This guy's bonkos!" did not resonate with the studio audience. Philbin had objected to the line prior to the taping of the episode, a request which Seinfeld and the writing staff did not honor.
George had already hinted about "the opposite" in the series pilot, "The Seinfeld Chronicles". It happened when George advised Jerry not to clean his bathroom before a woman visits: "In these matters you never do what your instincts tell you. Always, ALWAYS do the opposite."
Goofs
Kramer tells Regis Philbin that he came up with the idea for his coffee table book while skiing. However, in "The Cigar Store Indian", he appears to get the idea in George's parents' home after Jerry stains their coffee table.
Elaine gets a bottle of water from Jerry's fridge and then drinks from it. Afterward, she is shown taking the cap off the unopened bottle.
Cast
Jerry Seinfeld | Jerry Seinfeld |
Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Elaine Benes |
Michael Richards | Kramer |
Jason Alexander | George Costanza |
Estelle Harris | Estelle Constanza |
Jerry Stiller | Frank Costanza |
Richard Fancy | Lippman |
Marty Rackham | Jake |
Siobhan Fallon Hogan | Tina |
Paul Gleason | Cushman |
Dedee Pfeiffer | Victoria |
Melanie Smith | Rachel |
Regis Philbin | Regis Philbin |
Kathie Lee Gifford | Kathie Lee Gifford |
Hiram Kasten | Michael |
French Stewart | Manager |
Ken Takemoto | Chairman |
Fritz Mashimo | Interpreter |
Susan Segal | Waitress (as Susan Seagal) |
Oscar Jordan | Counterperson |
Rolando Molina | Punk #1 |
Michael Friedman | Punk #2 |
Marvin Braverman | Poker Player #1 |
Wesley Thompson | Poker Player #2 |
Jeff Barton | Poker Player #3 |
Jeffrey von Meyer | Poker Player #4 (as Jeffrey Von Meyer) |
Colette O'Connell | Julie (scenes deleted) |
Jeff Bye | Man in Theatre |
Ruth Cohen | Ruthie Cohen |
Larry David | George Steinbrenner |
Darin Henry | Man in Cafe |
Brady Thomas | Man in Theatre |