As a child of the ’90s, I can vividly remember the days when finding a parking spot wasn’t as easy as pulling out your phone and using an app. The Parking Garage episode from Seinfeld perfectly encapsulates that struggle, a struggle that today’s kids will likely never experience. If they can’t find Kramer, they just give him a call!
Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David achieved immense success when they collaborated to produce the sitcom known as “Seinfeld”, a comedic series famously referred to as a “show about nothing”. This show ruled television ratings during the 1990s. Since then, “Seinfeld” has been praised not only as the best sitcom in history but also as one of the finest TV shows ever produced. However, being a ’90s sitcom, “Seinfeld” was deeply influenced by its era.
Even though the series remains popular and captivates fresh viewers, there are certain Seinfeld jokes that newer generations might not grasp. Some of these humor elements could be seen as outdated or potentially offensive by modern sensibilities. In other instances, the situational wit may seem antiquated to younger spectators. For example, when Seinfeld employs a laughter track, today’s children might question, “What’s so amusing about that?” Here are 10 jokes from Seinfeld that left ’90s viewers in stitches but would leave today’s youth baffled and puzzled.
10 Kramer’s Mary Hart Seizures
Season 3, Episode 20 – “The Good Samaritan”
In “The Good Samaritan” episode, Kramer (Michael Richards) experiences a seizure upon hearing the voice of TV personality Mary Hart, famously known for hosting Entertainment Tonight between 1982 and 2011. Even today, with his amusing and eccentric character on Seinfeld, Kramer continues to elicit laughter from newer audiences with this particular scene.
As a cinephile delving into the intricacies of Seinfeld, it’s fascinating to note that some fans might not be aware of the real-life inspiration behind Kramer’s seizures. In 1991, a remarkable case unfolded where a neurologist discovered that a woman with epilepsy was triggered by Jerry (Seinfeld’s equivalent) or rather, his voice. This extraordinary incident served as a basis for numerous comedic portrayals during that era, including Seinfeld.
9 The Bubble Boy
Season 4, Episode 7 – “The Bubble Boy”
In one episode titled “The Bubble Boy” from the sitcom Seinfeld, Jerry and his friends pay a visit to a child with an extremely weak immune system. This show uses humor to depict a character similar to the real-life ‘bubble boy’ David Vetter, who was well-known during the 1970s and 1980s. Some modern viewers might associate “Bubble Boy” with the 2001 film starring Jake Gyllenhaal; however, it’s likely that younger audiences may not recognize either reference.
Alongside the scene featuring Bubble Boy, there’s another part in this episode where Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) chases George (Jason Alexander) on the highway. Unable to keep up, Jerry eventually loses sight of him and finds himself lost. Nowadays, it’s hard to imagine such a joke being funny for today’s kids, who can easily navigate using their smartphones and GPS systems whenever they get lost while driving.
8 Faxing, Answering Machines, and Restaurant Menus
Season 9, Episode 19 – “The Maid”
In the episode titled “The Maid,” character Elaine, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, keeps getting faxes on her answering machine. Unbeknownst to her, Kramer had all restaurants in New York City send their menus to Elaine instead of him, so he could review them conveniently. This joke might be lost on younger audiences due to the outdated method and context.
What about fax machines and answering machines, though? Are they still relevant in today’s world? And it’s hard to imagine that there was once a time when you couldn’t simply pull out your phone and find a restaurant’s menu online at any given moment.
7 “Please Change Your Name to O.J.”
Season 5, Episode 9 – “The Masseuse”
Today’s children and many adults perceive O.J. Simpson in a negative light. However, prior to 1994, during the “The Masseuse” episode of Seinfeld, O.J. was regarded as a football great, a beloved media icon, and an American idol. In this particular episode, Elaine becomes involved with a man named Joel Rifkin, who coincidentally shares a name with a notorious New York City serial killer.
Elaine playfully hints at Joel modifying his name to something more appealing, such as O.J., a nod to O.J. Simpson. She exclaims enthusiastically, “Oh, please change your name to O.J., it would be amazing!” However, unbeknownst to them at the time, O.J. Simpson would later become embroiled in notoriety for his murder trial in the 1990s, following accusations of killing his ex-wife and her friend. Today’s youth are more likely to associate O.J. Simpson with this infamous incident rather than serial killer Joel Rifkin.
6 Moviefone
Season 7, Episode 8 – “The Pool Guy”
Back in the 1990s, kids today might find it hard to imagine, but people had to call a service to get movie times as there were no internet or apps for this information. This service was called Moviefone and the automated voice that gave movie times was known as Mr. Moviefone. In an episode of Seinfeld titled “The Pool Guy,” Kramer gets a phone number similar to Moviefone’s, causing some confusion.
Following numerous incorrect calls to Moviefone, Kramer, known for his unusual ideas, comes up with a clever trick. He pretends to be Mr. Moviefone, alters his tone, and offers movie schedules to callers who can’t see him. Predictably, the real Mr. Moviefone discovers this ruse and phones Kramer, issuing threats in his mechanical voice.
5 “Maybe the Dingo Ate Your Baby.”
Season 3, Episode 10 – “The Stranded”
In the episode titled “The Stranded”, Elaine encounters a recently-engaged woman who repeatedly uses the term “fiancé”, often with a posh British flair. Her repeated usage of this term becomes quite grating to Elaine. The woman, while speaking, says something along the lines of “I’ve lost my fiancé, poor dear,” with a smirk. Exasperated by the woman’s mannerisms, Elaine delivers one of her most famous lines in an Australian accent: “Perhaps a dingo took your baby.” This joke is likely to be unfamiliar to younger audiences.
During the 1980s, an intriguing incident occurred involving a nine-week-old Australian baby girl who disappeared. Her mother, Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, famously exclaimed, “A dingo took my baby!” This statement and the ensuing investigation created a media frenzy. Initially, Lindy was found guilty of murdering her child and was sentenced to life in prison. Her husband received a suspended sentence for being an accessory after the fact. However, there was a twist: years later, the baby’s jacket was discovered in an area known for dingo lairs, which led to Lindy’s release from prison, as she had wrongly served three years. It was eventually proven that a dingo indeed took and ate her baby.
4 George Steinbrenner
Multiple Episodes
For most kids today who aren’t avid New York Yankees fans or sports enthusiasts, it’s unlikely they would recognize George Steinbrenner or understand his significance in the 1990s cultural landscape. George Steinbrenner was a well-known figure as he owned the New York Yankees, one of the most esteemed baseball teams still partially controlled by his family. During his tenure, Steinbrenner had a significant impact on the world of baseball and is often acknowledged for contributing to the Yankees’ remarkable success spanning the 1990s and early 2000s.
In the popular sitcom Seinfeld, a character portraying George Steinbrenner’s persona frequently appeared as George’s boss. However, it was not Steinbrenner himself in those episodes. Instead, an actor stood-in for him, only visible from behind, while Larry David, one of Seinfeld’s creators and currently known for HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, provided the voice. Originally planned to appear in the season 7 finale “The Invitations”, Steinbrenner was filmed for three scenes, but unfortunately, these scenes were removed due to the episode running overtime.
3 The Parody of Oliver Stone’s JFK
Season 3, Episodes 17 & 18 – “The Boyfriend”
One of the most well-known episodes of Seinfeld is titled “The Boyfriend.” In this episode, there’s a famous scene known as the “spitting incident,” where Kramer and Jerry’s longtime rival Newman (played by Wayne Knight) recall an altercation from 1987 with New York Mets player Keith Hernandez. This scene is modeled after the Zapruder footage of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, featuring a flashback in which Hernandez spits on both Kramer and Newman due to Newman mocking the Mets for losing a baseball game. Jerry later contests their “double-spit theory,” suggesting that it’s implausible for one spit to hit them both, and proposes instead that there might have been a second spitter involved.
In this amusing sequence, it takes aim at Oliver Stone’s movie “JFK”, where district attorney Jim Garrison, played by Kevin Costner, challenges the idea of the “single-bullet theory” and instead promotes the notion that multiple shooters were involved in JFK’s assassination. Did you know that Wayne Knight, known for his role as Newman on “Seinfeld”, was also part of “JFK”? Though younger viewers may not recognize it now, “JFK” was quite popular in the early ’90s.
2 The Parking Garage Dilemma
Season 3, Episode 6 – “The Parking Garage”
In another famous Seinfeld episode titled “The Parking Garage,” the gang finds themselves in a pickle when they exit the mall and can’t remember where they left their car. The entire episode revolves around their futile attempts to locate it. Eventually, they find the vehicle but discover that Kramer isn’t with them. They must then wait for Kramer to track them down before they can finally escape from the parking garage.
In the ’90s, an issue arose that modern children might struggle to comprehend. For instance, if you were unable to locate Kramer back then, you would have had no easy way to contact him other than physically searching for him. Conversely, with today’s technology, all you need is your smartphone to call or even find his location, and many devices can also help you remember where you parked your car!
1 The Chinese Restaurant Dilemma
Season 2, Episode 11 – “The Chinese Restaurant”
In the timeless Seinfeld episode titled “The Chinese Restaurant,” the group encounters a familiar predicament: waiting for a table at a crowded eatery without a reservation – something that would undoubtedly irk Patrick Bateman from American Psycho. The twist is, they’re awaiting a table to catch a one-night screening of Plan 9 from Outer Space. It’s their prolonged wait and mounting tension over potentially missing the movie that provides the humor in this episode. However, modern viewers might not fully grasp the humor, as they could easily find another restaurant nearby with apps like OpenTable and secure a reservation swiftly.
Elaine shares similar feelings with Jerry’s suggestion of getting takeout at the movies and eating there, as they wouldn’t have a place to consume the food. Today’s youth might find this strange since modern movie theaters offer proper meals that can be eaten from seat trays – a convenience unavailable in the ’90s. Moreover, in this specific episode, George experiences repeated difficulties reaching his girlfriend using a payphone. Such an issue would swiftly vanish with today’s technology.
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2024-09-22 01:03