The Opera (Seinfeld)

"**The Opera**"
"The Opera"
Seinfeld episode
Episode no.	Season 4; Episode 9
Directed by	Tom Cherones
Written by	Larry Charles
Production code	409
Original air date	November 4, 1992
Guest appearances
	Peter Crombie as 'Crazy' Joe Davola; Heidi Swedberg as Susan Ross; Bill Saluga as Opera Usher; Ross Evans as Mr. Reichman; Harriett S. Miller as Mrs. Reichman;
Episode chronology
← Previous; "The Cheever Letters"	Next →; "The Virgin"
	Seinfeld season 4
	List of episodes

Last updated August 25, 2025

"The Opera" is the 49th episode of the sitcom Seinfeld . It is the ninth episode of the fourth season.^[1] It aired on November 4, 1992 on NBC.^[1] This episode deals with the characters attending a production of Pagliacci . The characters' lives begin to imitate the opera when Elaine's increasingly unstable boyfriend "Crazy" Joe Davola thinks she is cheating on him and stalks her and Jerry while dressed in a clown costume.

Plot

"Crazy" Joe Davola, having become paranoid that Jerry cost him a deal with NBC, ominously threatens over voicemail to "put the kibosh" on Jerry. Kramer has procured opening night opera tickets for the group to see Luciano Pavarotti in Pagliacci , but stipulates that Jerry must attend, as "the straw that stirs the drink". Elaine plans to bring Davola, still unaware of his mental illness. Jerry looks forward to meeting her mystery boyfriend "Joey".

Jerry and Kramer panic hysterically upon hearing Davola's message, but Jerry calls the police to no avail.

Elaine visits Davola's apartment for the first time, unannounced, where she finds Davola's obsessive shrine of voyeuristic photos of herself. Davola is imperturbably oblivious to Elaine's apprehension, until she calls off the opera. Confusing Elaine with Nedda from Pagliacci, he recalls how Nedda was killed for hiding her infidelity. Elaine escapes Davola by using Binaca as makeshift mace spray.

George's opera attire is a too-small tuxedo that he has not worn since getting thrown out of a wedding six years ago for cursing during his toast. Jerry envies Kramer dressing down, not up, but George demands that Jerry suffer with him. With Elaine attending alone and Susan dropping out, Kramer decides to scalp the two leftover tickets, and George is enticed by the lucrative prospect. However, they find no takers for their exorbitant asking prices. George is recognized by the father of the bride from the wedding, and they come to blows over George's illegal scalping.

Davola heads to the opera in full Pagliaccio costume and makeup, easily dispatching some hecklers on the way. He unsettles Kramer, who is still not over a childhood fear of clowns.

Jerry and Elaine are left waiting without tickets, and they finally realize in horror that their respective stalkers are one and the same. They meet a street performer dressed and singing as Pagliaccio, then meet the similarly-costumed Davola, not noticing there are two different clowns until Elaine smells her Binaca on Davola. Kramer finally brings their tickets, allowing Jerry and Elaine to flee into the theater.

George finally underbids enough to close a deal when Susan arrives, free to attend after all. He covertly accepts the money, not realizing the buyer shortchanged him.

Kramer, Elaine, Jerry, George's buyer, and Susan all take their seats, George having bowed out to hide his scalping. Jerry and Elaine realize they are not out of the woods when they learn Kramer sold his ticket to a clown.

Production

The scene when Jerry and another audience member start arguing and tearing dollar bills is a reference to a similar scene in the film Broadway Danny Rose .

References

1 2 "Seinfeld Season 4 Episodes". TV Guide . Retrieved December 2, 2021.

External links

"The Opera" at IMDb

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[tvguide-1] 1 2 "Seinfeld Season 4 Episodes". TV Guide . Retrieved December 2, 2021.

[1]

v t e Seinfeld episodes
Season 1	"The Seinfeld Chronicles" "The Stake Out" "The Robbery" "Male Unbonding" "The Stock Tip"
Season 2	"The Ex-Girlfriend" "The Pony Remark" "The Jacket" "The Phone Message" "The Apartment" "The Statue" "The Revenge" "The Heart Attack" "The Deal" "The Baby Shower" "The Chinese Restaurant" "The Busboy"
Season 3	"The Note" "The Truth" "The Pen" "The Dog" "The Library" "The Parking Garage" "The Cafe" "The Tape" "The Nose Job" "The Stranded" "The Alternate Side" "The Red Dot" "The Subway" "The Pez Dispenser" "The Suicide" "The Fix-Up" "The Boyfriend"† "The Limo" "The Good Samaritan" "The Letter" "The Parking Space" "The Keys"
Season 4	"The Trip"† "The Pitch" "The Ticket" "The Wallet" "The Watch" "The Bubble Boy" "The Cheever Letters" "The Opera" "The Virgin" "The Contest" "The Airport" "The Pick" "The Movie" "The Visa" "The Shoes" "The Outing" "The Old Man" "The Implant" "The Junior Mint" "The Smelly Car" "The Handicap Spot" "The Pilot"†
Season 5	"The Mango" "The Puffy Shirt" "The Glasses" "The Sniffing Accountant" "The Bris" "The Lip Reader" "The Non-Fat Yogurt" "The Barber" "The Masseuse" "The Cigar Store Indian" "The Conversion" "The Stall" "The Dinner Party" "The Marine Biologist" "The Pie" "The Stand In" "The Wife" "The Raincoats"† "The Fire" "The Hamptons" "The Opposite"
Season 6	"The Chaperone" "The Big Salad" "The Pledge Drive" "The Chinese Woman" "The Couch" "The Gymnast" "The Soup" "The Mom & Pop Store" "The Secretary" "The Race" "The Switch" "The Label Maker" "The Scofflaw" "The Highlights of 100"† "The Beard" "The Kiss Hello" "The Doorman" "The Jimmy" "The Doodle" "The Fusilli Jerry" "The Diplomat's Club" "The Face Painter" "The Understudy"
Season 7	"The Engagement" "The Postponement" "The Maestro" "The Wink" "The Hot Tub" "The Soup Nazi" "The Secret Code" "The Pool Guy" "The Sponge" "The Gum" "The Rye" "The Caddy" "The Seven" "The Cadillac"† "The Shower Head" "The Doll" "The Friar's Club" "The Wig Master" "The Calzone" "The Bottle Deposit"† "The Wait Out" "The Invitations"
Season 8	"The Foundation" "The Soul Mate" "The Bizarro Jerry" "The Little Kicks" "The Package" "The Fatigues" "The Checks" "The Chicken Roaster" "The Abstinence" "The Andrea Doria" "The Little Jerry" "The Money" "The Comeback" "The Van Buren Boys" "The Susie" "The Pothole" "The English Patient" "The Nap" "The Yada Yada" "The Millennium" "The Muffin Tops" "The Summer of George"
Season 9	"The Butter Shave" "The Voice" "The Serenity Now" "The Blood" "The Junk Mail" "The Merv Griffin Show" "The Slicer" "The Betrayal" "The Apology" "The Strike" "The Dealership" "The Reverse Peephole" "The Cartoon" "The Strongbox" "The Wizard" "The Burning" "The Bookstore" "The Frogger" "The Maid" "The Puerto Rican Day" "The Chronicle"† "The Finale"†
† Indicates two-part episode

The Opera (Seinfeld)

Contents

Plot

Production

References

External links