The Rye

Last updated
"The Rye"
Seinfeld episode
Episode no.Season 7
Episode 11
Directed by Andy Ackerman
Written by Carol Leifer
Production code711
Original air dateJanuary 4, 1996 (1996-01-04)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"The Gum"		Next →
"The Caddy"
Seinfeld season 7
List of episodes

"The Rye" is the 121st episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld . It was the 11th episode of the seventh season, originally airing on January 4, 1996. [1] It was the final episode of the series to be written by American comedian Carol Leifer. In this episode, Elaine's relationship with her saxophonist boyfriend is complicated by the issue of oral sex, George tries to avert a feud between his parents and his fiancée Susan's parents over a loaf of marble rye bread, and Kramer takes on a temporary job as a hansom cab driver.

Contents

Plot

Elaine is dating jazz saxophonist John Jermaine, but complains to Jerry that John does not "do everything" (perform cunnilingus on her). Jerry meets Clyde, one of John's bandmates, and describes the relationship to him as "hot and heavy". When Elaine learns of this, she becomes upset with Jerry, fearing that the phrase made her seem more invested in the relationship than John might be. At a concert, John and his band perform a new song entitled "Hot and Heavy", further embarrassing Elaine.

George's parents Frank and Estelle meet his fiancé Susan Ross' parents for the first time for dinner at the Ross apartment, for which Frank brings a loaf of marble rye bread. After an uncomfortable dinner, Frank takes the rye back home because the Rosses did not serve it. Fearing that this incident may create a rift between the families, George plans to sneak an identical loaf of bread into the Rosses' kitchen to create the illusion that the bread was simply misplaced. He plots to send Mr. & Mrs. Ross on a hansom cab ride (driven by Kramer, in return for picking up the usual driver's mail) as a wedding anniversary present, while he and Jerry sneak into their kitchen to place the bread. At the bakery, an elderly lady in line in front of Jerry gets the last marble rye loaf of the day. Jerry follows her out of the bakery, and unsuccessfully attempts to get it from her with bribery and appeals to sympathy; he then wrestles it from her and runs away.

Kramer, having overbought at the warehouse club, feeds the horse a can of "Beef-a-reeno". This makes the horse flatulent, and the Rosses cut their cab trip short due to the stench, preventing Jerry from entering the Ross apartment in time. After trying unsuccessfully to toss the bread up to George at the third floor window, Jerry hooks it to a fishing pole that George found in the apartment. George reels the rye bread up through the window, but the Rosses catch him as he prepares to unhook it.

Before John is set to perform a concert for a group of record producers, Elaine explains to him that she never called their relationship "hot and heavy". John, however, tells her that he was happy with the idea of being "hot and heavy" with her, and offers to "[add] a new number to [his] repertoire" with her before the concert. After overexerting in the bedroom, he performs poorly at the concert, disappointing the bemused producers. Embarrassed, Elaine discreetly leaves the show.

Production

Writer Carol Leifer got the story of visitors bringing a rye bread and then taking it back after the hosts forgot to serve it from a high school friend. [2] The plot point of Jerry having to steal a marble rye bread from the woman ahead of him in line at the bakery was contributed by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David. [2]

Elaine's voice-over in the opening scene was recorded by actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus beforehand and played back during the filming of the scene so that she could synchronize her facial expressions and movements with the narration. [3] Many of the outdoor scenes were filmed at Paramount Studio, where Jerry Seinfeld started a massive snowball fight with the entire cast and crew using the fake snow. [2]

In initial drafts of the episode's script, Kramer fed the horse excessive amounts of Chef Boyardee Beefaroni, causing its flatulence. However, the company refused to allow their product to be portrayed in such a fashion, leading to the creation of the fictional product "Beef-a-reeno". [4]

Critical reception

Sara Lewis Dunne, in the book Seinfeld: Master of Its Domain, comments on possible reasons why the Costanzas and the Rosses clash:

Dinner party "rules" seem to baffle all the regular characters on Seinfeld... [I]n this episode we see a peculiarly New York culture clash between the schlubby Costanzas and the ritzy Rosses. Much has been written about whether the Costanzas, whose name "sounds" Italian, are really Jewish, with George, according to both Carla Johnson and Jon Stratton (in this volume), as the ultimate schlemiel. A food called Schnitzel's Marble Rye certainly would seem to fit into the ethnic tradition that would offer it as a dinner-party gift, and its rejection by the Rosses seems an affront, which could easily be read as an ethnic affront, to Frank Costanza. When I first saw this episode, I (and probably many other viewers as well) was reminded of Jackie Mason's summation of the difference between Jews and Gentiles: Jews eat and Gentiles drink, and the Rosses are usually seen with a drink in their hands. [5]

David Sims of The A.V. Club was underwhelmed by the characterization of the Rosses in the episode, "especially with the juicy setup of them meeting the equally bonkers Costanzas." He felt that the season four episode "The Cheever Letters" was stronger in this regard, and that "the whole thing feels more like your classic in-law dinner from Hell rather than the special kind of crazy we might come to expect. But 'The Rye' redeems itself somewhat with the much wackier sight of Jerry stealing a marble rye from an old lady and trying to toss it to George on a second-floor[ sic ] window..." [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elaine Benes</span> Major character on the TV show Seinfeld

Elaine Marie Benes is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Elaine's best friend in the sitcom is her ex-boyfriend Jerry Seinfeld, and she is also good friends with George Costanza and Cosmo Kramer. Louis-Dreyfus received critical acclaim for her performance as Elaine, winning an Emmy, a Golden Globe and five SAG Awards. She reprised the role during season 41 of Saturday Night Live in 2016.

"The Contest" is the eleventh episode of the fourth season of the American television sitcom Seinfeld, and the 51st episode overall. Written by Larry David and directed by Tom Cherones, the episode originally aired on NBC on November 18, 1992. In the episode, Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer hold a contest to determine who can go for the longest time without masturbating.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Seinfeld (character)</span> Main character on the TV show Seinfeld

Jerome "Jerry" Seinfeld is the title character and the main protagonist of the American television sitcom Seinfeld (1989–1998). The straight man among his group of friends, this semi-fictionalized version of comedian Jerry Seinfeld was named after, co-created by, and played by Seinfeld himself. The series revolves around Jerry's misadventures with his best friend George Costanza, neighbor Cosmo Kramer, and ex-girlfriend Elaine Benes. He is usually the voice of reason amid his friends' antics and the focal point of the relationship.

"The Raincoats" is a two-part episode of the American sitcom Seinfeld. It is the 82nd and 83rd episode of the show, and the 18th and 19th episodes of the fifth season. The episode was first shown on NBC on April 28, 1994, and garnered an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for Judge Reinhold.

"The Engagement" is the first episode of the seventh-season and the 111th overall episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. The episode broke with the standalone story format of earlier seasons, making a major change in the series status quo by having regular cast member George Costanza become engaged to Susan Ross. Susan was a recurring character during season 4 of the series but had not been seen since. The episode aired on September 21, 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Puffy Shirt</span> 2nd episode of the 5th season of Seinfeld

"The Puffy Shirt" is the second episode of the fifth season of the American NBC sitcom Seinfeld. It was the 66th episode and originally aired on September 23, 1993. The episode centers on Jerry having to wear an ostentatious "puffy" shirt on The Today Show after he unwittingly agreed to promote it for Kramer's girlfriend because she spoke too quietly for him to understand what she was asking.

"The Jacket" is the third episode of the second season of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld and the show's eighth episode overall. In the episode, Jerry Seinfeld buys an expensive suede jacket and has dinner with the father of his ex-girlfriend Elaine Benes. Elaine's father Alton, a war veteran and writer, makes Jerry and his friend George Costanza very uncomfortable. Elaine is delayed and Jerry and George are stuck with Alton waiting for her at the hotel.

"The Apartment" is the fifth episode of the second season of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld and the show's tenth episode overall. In the episode, protagonist Jerry Seinfeld gets his ex-girlfriend Elaine Benes an apartment above his, but regrets this after realizing it might be uncomfortable living so close together. Meanwhile, Jerry's friend George Costanza wears a wedding ring to a party to see what effect it will have on women.

"The Lip Reader" is the 70th episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. It is the sixth episode of the fifth season, and first aired on October 28, 1993. In this episode, George gets Jerry's deaf girlfriend to use her lip reading talent to eavesdrop on his own ex-girlfriend and find out the reason why she dumped him. The title character was played by Marlee Matlin.

"The Fusilli Jerry" is the 107th episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. Featuring the introduction of David Puddy, the episode also features Kramer receiving vanity plates that say "ASSMAN" as well as marital problems between George's parents. This is the 21st episode of the sixth season. It aired on April 27, 1995.

"The Serenity Now" is the 159th episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. This was the third episode of the ninth and final season. It aired in the U.S. on October 9, 1997. In this episode, George competes with his childhood rival Lloyd Braun at selling computers for his father Frank, and Elaine finds herself being hit on by every Jewish male she knows, including Jerry, who is experiencing emotions for the first time.

"The Strike" is the 166th episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. This was the tenth episode of the ninth and final season. It aired on December 18, 1997. This episode features and popularized the holiday of Festivus.

"The Wizard" is the 171st episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. This was the 15th episode for the ninth and final season. It aired on February 26, 1998. In this episode, Kramer retires and moves into the same condo as Morty and Helen Seinfeld, Elaine tries to find out if her pale-skinned boyfriend is actually black, and George gets upset that the Rosses will not call him a liar after they catch him lying about buying a house in the Hamptons.

"The Highlights of 100" is the 14th and 15th episode of the sixth season of the American sitcom Seinfeld, and the 100th and 101st episode overall. Written by Peter Mehlman and directed by Andy Ackerman, the episode originally aired on NBC on February 2, 1995. The episode is a clip show to celebrate the series' 100th episode with no new content apart from a 50 second long intro by Jerry Seinfeld. In syndication, it airs as two separate episodes of 30 minutes each, with a second intro at the beginning of the second episode. This is the first episode in the series not to open with a stand-up routine.

"The Kiss Hello" is the 103rd episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. This is the 17th episode for the sixth season. It aired on February 16, 1995. Although this was the 102nd episode to air, the cast and crew of the series credit this as the 100th episode because it is the 100th episode created. In this episode, Kramer posts the names and photos of all the tenants in his apartment building on a board in the lobby so that everyone will know each other. Jerry is uncomfortable with such pervasive socialization, bringing him to conflict with his neighbors at the same time as he investigates his Nana's story that his Uncle Leo owes his mother Helen $50.

"The Doorman" is the 104th episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. This is the 18th episode for the sixth season. It aired on February 23, 1995. In this episode, Jerry and Elaine contend with a creepy doorman, George fears he is developing male breasts, and Kramer and Frank Costanza try to go into business with a bra for men.

"The Cadillac" is an hour-long, two-part episode of NBC sitcom Seinfeld. It was the 124th and 125th episode and 14th and 15th episode for the seventh season. It aired on February 8, 1996. This was the last episode to be co-written by Jerry Seinfeld.

"The Shower Head" is the 126th episode of NBC sitcom Seinfeld. This is the sixteenth episode for the seventh season. It aired on February 15, 1996. It had 32.3 million US viewers. This episode focuses on Jerry and George's struggles to get their respective parents to move out of New York. Meanwhile, the tenants of Jerry's apartment building are made miserable by the new low-flow showerheads, and Elaine takes a drug test for work which comes back positive for opium.

"The Doll" is the 127th episode of NBC sitcom Seinfeld. This is the 17th episode for the seventh season, originally airing on February 22, 1996.

References

  1. ↑ "Seinfeld Season 7 Episodes". TV Guide . Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Seinfeld Season 7: Inside Look - "The Rye" (DVD). Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. 2006.
  3. ↑ Seinfeld Season 7: Notes about Nothing - "The Rye" (DVD). Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. 2006.
  4. ↑ Baldwin, Kristen (30 May 1997). "Seinfeld and brand-name products". Entertainment Weekly . Meredith Corporation . Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  5. ↑ Dunne, Sara Lewis (2006). "Seinfood: Purity, Danger, and Food Codes on Seinfeld". Seinfeld, Master of Its Domain: Revisiting Television's Greatest Sitcom. New York: Continuum. p. 154. ISBN   9780826418036.
  6. ↑ Sims, David (September 8, 2011). "The Rye/The Caddy". The A.V. Club . Retrieved September 18, 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.