On July 5th of 1989, a quirky unassuming sitcom made its inauspicious debut on NBC. Yada Yada Yada, now exactly 30 years later, that show is recognized as one of the most celebrated and influential television programs of all time. Yes, it is hard to believe but Seinfeld, the show about nothing, turns 30 this year. To characterize Seinfeld as a show about nothing however is like saying Newton’s laws of gravity somewhat apply on earth. The show, which ran from 1989 to 1998, is now firmly cemented as a permanent piece of American pop culture. All of these years later, it is interesting to consider that for a show that became such a huge part of the mainstream lexicon how Seinfeld wittingly incorporated pop culture into its plots. Seinfeld has become ensconced as commonplace vernacular but some of the most genius comedy occurs when the show itself emulates pop culture, most notably the movie parodies. Here are a few examples of hilarious movie parodies that were featured on Seinfeld over the years.
“JFK” — Ep. 34 (The Boyfriend)
From season 3: Jerry reconstructs the alleged incident of Keith Hernandez spitting on Kramer and Newman. With Jerry mimicking the Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner) role from 1991’s JFK, “back and to the left” was never as funny as Jerry describes “one magic loogie”. Fun fact, Wayne Knight (Newman) was actually in JFK.
“The Godfather” — Ep. 69 (The Bris)
From season 5: As Jerry is initially chosen to be the godfather to friends Stan and Myra’s newborn boy, he unimpressively gives his Marlon Brando impersonation. The real parody occurs at the end of the episode when Stan and Myra visit Kramer and offer their devotion to him as the true godfather. The closing of a door then signifies the ending of the episode as it did the ending of the film.
“Schindler’s List” — Ep. 83 (The Raincoats pt. 2)
From season 5: When Jerry’s parents must unexpectedly fly back to Florida at the end of the episode, Elaine’s boyfriend Aaron (Judge Reinhold) evokes Liam Neeson’s Oskar Schindler from a scene at the end of the film. Imitating Schindler, Aaron is left in his lament for the Seinfelds as he relates, “this ring is one more dinner I could’ve taken them out to”.
“Midnight Cowboy” — Ep. 94 (The Mom and Pop store)
From season 6: In the episode where George believes he has bought Jon Voight’s car and is singing the 1969 movie’s theme song “Everybody’s Talkin”, a parody of the film was inevitable. As the ending sequence sees Jerry and Kramer on a bus to Jersey, the end of Midnight Cowboy is mimicked with the two characters portraying the Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman roles. Jerry as Voight’s Joe Buck and Kramer as Hoffman’s Ratso Rizzo, complete with nose bleed. Fun fact, Jon Voight makes a cameo in the episode as himself/vampire.
“Apocalypse Now” — Ep. 142 (The Chicken Roaster)
From season 8: As Elaine is on the brink of being fired as the head of the J. Peterman Catalog, her only resort is to have Peterman himself sign off on her unapproved expenditures. Elaine must track Peterman to his jungle exile in Burma (you most likely know it as Myanmar but it will always be Burma to me). When Elaine finally finds Peterman, the scene parodies the 1979 Coppola film with Elaine as Martin Sheen and Peterman in the Marlon Brando role. The scene over the final credits is the real comedic treasure however as Elaine shows Peterman her “urban sombrero”, the only response he can muster is Brando’s iconic, “The horror. The horror”.
“The Hustler” — Ep. 127 (The Doll)
From season 7: After Frank Costanza moves a pool table into George’s old bedroom and makes it the place to be, Kramer drops by for a friendly game of billiards. Frank and Kramer then recreate the establishing scene in the 1961 classic between Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason. Frank takes the part of Gleason’s “Minnesota Fats” and asks Kramer, who portrays Newman’s “Fast Eddie Felson”, “Do you like to gamble”? As in the film, the younger character goes on a roll, both declaring, “I got a hunch fat man I can’t miss”. The difference is Kramer is shooting with the Maestro’s baton.
“Thelma and Louise” — Ep. 167 (The Dealership)
From season 9: At the dealership where Jerry is buying his new car, Kramer takes a test drive with a car salesman named Rick (Daniel Hagen) in order to give his endorsement. As the car runs dangerously low on fuel, Kramer explains that the same situation often occurs when he borrows Jerry’s car but for “a variety of reasons, he doesn’t want to be the one responsible for purchasing costly gasoline”. As the two make their way back to the dealership, they decide to try to make it without filling up. As Rick says, “Let’s just go for it like Thelma and Louise”! When the pair reaches the exit for the dealership, they wonder how much longer they could have lasted. Kramer then extends his hand and Rick grasps it as the two merge back onto the interstate and “go for it”, just as Thelma and Louise at the end of the film. One thing is for sure, things are different for Rick now!
“Cape Fear” (1991) — Ep. 173 (The Bookstore)
From season 9: When Jerry witnesses his Uncle Leo stealing, he blows the whistle on him just to teach him a lesson. Little did Jerry know, his Uncle had a prior arrest stemming from his “crime of passion”. Jerry tries to apologize to his Uncle but to no avail as Leo makes it clear that when someone betrays him, he never forgets it. Due to the volatile situation with his Uncle, Jerry has a nightmare in which the Scorsese film is mimicked with Leo portraying the role of Robert De Niro. In the parody, a tattooed and revenge obsessed Uncle Leo works out in his prison cell channeling De Niro’s Max Cady from the beginning of the film. In the movie however, someone apparently had already answered the phone.
“The Last of the Mohicans” — Ep. 175 (The Maid)
From Season 9: When Kramer gets lost downtown, he calls Jerry in a panic. After Jerry gets a rough coordinate of where Kramer is, he tells him “stay alive, no matter what occurs, I will find you”! This scene is a parody of the 1992 Michael Mann film with Jerry assuming the part of Daniel Day-Lewis and Kramer fulfilling the Madeleine Stowe role. The circumstances in the film do differ a bit though as they are not at the nexus of the universe.
“Inherit the Wind” — Ep. 179 & 180 (The Finale)
From season 9: In the two part finale, Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer are all put on trial in a small Massachusetts municipality. The parody is derived from the 1960 film “Inherit the Wind” due to the courtroom ramifications. In Particular, the manner in which a trial of such grand scope and high profile descends upon the little town. This is highlighted by the fact that over 50 guest stars from the show’s history make an appearance. Jason Alexander’s real life wife, Daena Title, even plays one of the jurors during the courtroom scenes. Fun facts, a 30 second commercial spot during the finale cost a then record $1 million and the original American broadcast garnered over 76 million viewers!
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