S08E01 - The Foundation

No: 135  |   Season: 8   Episode: 1  |   Air Date: 19-Sep-1996  |   Production #801

II'd just like to point out how disturbing it is that you equate eating a block of cheese with some sort of bachelor paradise.

Summary

After a summer of grieving, George is ready to move on with his life, but a comment Jerry makes to the Rosses inspires them to start a foundation in Susan's memory. Jerry, who has broken off his engagement to Jeanie, does research into what sort of break-up story makes a man most appealing to women. Elaine becomes president of J Peterman when a burnt out Peterman flees to Burma. Meanwhile, the new-found perspective and confidence Kramer has gotten from Karate inspires Elaine - until it's revealed that he's been fighting against children.

Director and Writers

Director: Andy Ackerman
Writers: Alec Berg

Quotes

Peterman: You there, on the motorbike! Sell me one of your melons!

George: I was living the dream. I was stripped to the waist eating a block of cheese the size of a car battery.
Jerry: Before we go any further, I'd just like to point out how disturbing it is that you equate eating a block of cheese with some sort of bachelor paradise.

Kramer: What's wrong?
Elaine: Peterman ran off to Burma, and now he wants me to run the catalog.
Kramer: Where?
Jerry: Myanmar.
Kramer: The discount pharmacy?

Peterman: No apples. No pears. No bananas. Where's my pineapple?!

Jerry: (about the catalogue) How's it look?
Elaine: It's a peach.
Jerry: What's that?
Elaine: I say, it's a peach.

Mr. Ross: It's a terrible tragedy when parents outlive their children.
George: Yes, I agree. I hope my parents go long before I do.

Elaine: You've never felt remorse.
Jerry: I know. I feel bad about that.

Kramer: Karate. It's a lifetime pursuit of balance and harmony.
Jerry: But with punching and kicking.

Writer: So I pressed through the rushes, and there below me -- the shimmering waters of Lake Victoria.
Peterman: Oh, for the love of God, man, just tell me what the product is!
Writer: It's a... a... washcloth.
Peterman: No washcloths!!

Jerry: You're fighting children!
Kramer: We're all on the same skill level, Jerry.

Elaine: (to Jerry) Between you and me, I always thought Kramer was a bit of a doofus. But, he believed in me. You did not. So, as I see it, he's not the doofus. You are the doofus.

Notes and Trivia

This episode was dedicated "In Memory of Our Friend Marjorie Gross." Marjorie, one of show's producers and writers, died from ovarian cancer at the age of 40.

When George looks skyward and yells, "KHAAAAAAAANN!!!" he is making a reference to "Star Trek II - Wrath of Khan", where James Kirk lashes out at Khan with similar angst and fury.

This is the second time Kramer has been attacked by a group in an alley, causing him to try and go up a ladder. The first time was in the previous season "The Sponge" episode when he was attacked by a group of AIDS walkers because he refused to wear an AIDS ribbon.

Goofs

Note at Kramer's Karate Dojo there's a picture of martial artist Jackie Chan hanging on the wall. Unfortunately, Jackie's techniques are related to the Chinese art of Kung Fu, and not to Karate, a Japanese doctrine.

Jerry slightly misquotes the movie "Star Trek II". The actual quote from "Wrath of Khan" was "He's not dead, not as long as we remember him." Jerry's quote was, " He's not dead, as long as we find a way to remember".

Cast

Jerry SeinfeldJerry Seinfeld
Julia Louis-DreyfusElaine Benes
Michael RichardsCosmo Kramer
Jason AlexanderGeorge Costanza
Janeane GarofaloJeannie
Bruce DavisonWyck
Grace ZabriskieMrs. Ross
Warren FrostMr. Ross
John O'HurleyJ. Peterman
Joe UrlaDugan
Susan WaltersDolores
Todd BosleyJoey
Diana CastleMrs. Zanfino
Stuart QuanSensei
Herb MitchellBusinessman #1
Robert Louis KempfBusinessman #2
Lawrence MandleyLarry (as Lawrence A. Mandley)
Lauren BowlesWaitress #1
Peggy LaneWaitress #2
Paige TamadaClara
Robert PadnickWillie
Ruth CohenRuthie
Renee FishmanMonk's Cafe Patron (uncredited)