The Pilot (Seinfeld): Difference between revisions
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{{For|the series' pilot episode|The Seinfeld Chronicles}} |
{{For|the series' pilot episode|The Seinfeld Chronicles}} |
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:The Pilot (''Seinfeld'')}} |
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{{More citations needed|date=September 2007}} |
{{More citations needed|date=September 2007}} |
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{{Infobox television episode |
{{Infobox television episode |
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| series = [[Seinfeld]] |
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| series = Seinfeld |
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| season = 4 |
| season = 4 |
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| episode = 23/24 |
| episode = 23/24 |
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| airdate = |
| airdate = {{Start date|1993|05|20}} |
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| length = 42 minutes |
| length = 42 minutes |
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| production = 423/424 |
| production = 423/424 |
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| writer = [[Larry David]] |
| writer = [[Larry David]] |
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| director = [[Tom Cherones]] |
| director = [[Tom Cherones]] |
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| guests = |
| guests = |
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* [[Bob Balaban]] as Russell |
* [[Bob Balaban]] as Russell |
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* [[Peter Crombie]] as Joe Davola |
* [[Peter Crombie]] as Joe Davola |
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* Elena Wohl as Sandi Robbins (Elaine) |
* Elena Wohl as Sandi Robbins (Elaine) |
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* [[Jeremy Piven]] as Michael Barth (George) |
* [[Jeremy Piven]] as Michael Barth (George) |
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* [[Mariska Hargitay]] as Melissa |
* [[Mariska Hargitay]] as Melissa Shannon |
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* [[Gina Hecht]] as Dana Foley |
* [[Gina Hecht]] as Dana Foley |
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* [[Bruce Jarchow]] as Doctor |
* [[Bruce Jarchow]] as Doctor |
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* [[Kevin Page (actor)|Kevin Page]] as Stu |
* [[Kevin Page (actor)|Kevin Page]] as Stu |
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* [[Al Ruscio]] as Manager |
* [[Al Ruscio]] as New Coffee Shop Manager |
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* [[Anne Twomey (actor)|Anne Twomey]] as Rita Kearson |
* [[Anne Twomey (actor)|Anne Twomey]] as Rita Kearson |
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* Laura Waterbury as Casting Director |
* Laura Waterbury as Casting Director |
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* [[ |
* [[Larry David]] as Man on Raft #1 |
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* Jennifer Campbell as Tia (uncredited) |
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* [[Larry David]] as Man on Raft #1, |
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* [[Larry Charles]] as Man on Raft #2 (uncredited) |
* [[Larry Charles]] as Man on Raft #2 (uncredited) |
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* [[Tom Cherones]] as the Pilot Director (uncredited) |
* [[Tom Cherones]] as the Pilot Director (uncredited) |
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⚫ | |||
* [[Brian Doyle-Murray]] as Mel Sanger (uncredited) |
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* [[Bill Erwin]] as Jay (uncredited) |
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* [[Teri Hatcher]] as Sidra Holland (uncredited) |
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* Jon Hayman as Donald Sanger (voice, uncredited) |
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* Nicholas Hormann as [[Calvin Klein]] (uncredited) |
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* [[Wayne Knight]] as [[Newman (Seinfeld)|Newman]] (uncredited) |
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* [[Jane Leeves]] as Marla Penny (uncredited) |
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* [[Barney Martin]] as [[Morty Seinfeld]] (uncredited) |
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* [[Liz Sheridan]] as [[Helen Seinfeld]] (uncredited) |
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* [[Rick Overton]] as The Drake (uncredited) |
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* [[Elizabeth Dennehy]] as The Drakette (uncredited) |
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* [[Heidi Swedberg]] as Susan Ross (uncredited) |
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* [[Ping Wu]] as Ping (uncredited) |
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⚫ | |||
| episode_list = List of Seinfeld episodes |
| episode_list = List of Seinfeld episodes |
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| prev = [[The Handicap Spot]] |
| prev = [[The Handicap Spot]] |
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| next = [[The Mango]] |
| next = [[The Mango]] |
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}} |
}} |
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"'''The Pilot'''" is the two-part season finale |
"'''The Pilot'''" is the two-part [[season finale]] of the [[Seinfeld season 4|fourth season]] of the American sitcom ''[[Seinfeld]]''. It is the 23rd and 24th episode of the fourth season and the 63rd and 64th episode overall. It was written by series co-creator [[Larry David]] and directed by [[Tom Cherones]], and originally aired on [[NBC]] on May 20, 1993.<ref name="tvguide">{{cite web |title=Seinfeld Season 4 Episodes |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/seinfeld/episodes-season-4/1000137994/ |website=[[TV Guide]] |access-date=2 December 2021}}</ref> |
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The two-part episode aired at an earlier time, 8:00 p.m., to leave room for the [[One for the Road (Cheers)|two-hour series finale]] of ''[[Cheers]]'', whose timeslot was subsequently claimed by ''Seinfeld'' at the start of the [[1993–94 United States network television schedule|1993-94 season]] in September 1993. |
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About 32 million people watched both parts of "The Pilot" when it initially aired. An additional 2 million watched the first part but not the second, and 3 million more watched the second part but not the first. |
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==Plot== |
==Plot== |
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===Part 1=== |
===Part 1=== |
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[[Jerry Seinfeld (character)|Jerry]] and [[George Costanza|George]] get the green light to produce ''Jerry'', the [[television pilot|pilot]] for the series based on their "nothing" lives. Russell Dalrymple, the president at [[NBC]] behind the pilot |
[[Jerry Seinfeld (character)|Jerry]] and [[George Costanza|George]] get the green light to produce ''Jerry'', the [[television pilot|pilot]] for the series based on their "nothing" lives. Russell Dalrymple, the president at [[NBC]] behind the pilot, is obsessed with [[Elaine Benes|Elaine]]. George is obsessed with a potentially cancerous white spot on his lip and a box of raisins taken by Tom Pepper, the actor playing [[Cosmo Kramer|Kramer]]. |
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The real Kramer appears to audition for the role of Kramer |
The real Kramer appears to audition for the role of Kramer but has an urgent need to use the men’s room. Unable to use various public facilities, he makes his way to his apartment through Central Park but is further delayed by being mugged and "misses his chance," resulting in constipation. Jerry has an audition with Sandi Robbins, a method actress interested in being Elaine in every way, including insisting being called Elaine and even dating Jerry (and breaking up with him in Part 2). Jerry points out to the real Elaine that Monk's coffee shop appears to be only hiring buxom waitresses, so she tries to get hired, and when the owner turns her down, she files a report with the [[Equal Employment Opportunity]] office. |
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===Part 2=== |
===Part 2=== |
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Rehearsals for the pilot begin. NBC executive Russell Dalrymple's obsession with |
Rehearsals for the pilot begin. NBC executive Russell Dalrymple's obsession with Elaine begins to affect his work. She tries to let him down gently by saying she can't be in a relationship with a high-powered man and would prefer to be with someone selfless, such as a member of [[Greenpeace]]. Kramer resolves his constipation by administering himself an enema. |
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George thinks that his white spot has been diagnosed as cancer and |
George thinks that his white spot has been diagnosed as cancer and freaks out at NBC, only to discover that he misunderstood the diagnosis. At the taping of the pilot, [["Crazy" Joe Davola]] leaps out of the audience and onto the set while yelling "[[Sic semper tyrannis]]!" The director and actors also become increasingly annoyed by George's kibitzing, and Jerry discovers that he is not as good at acting as he is at standup. |
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The pilot airs and numerous characters from past episodes of the season comment on it. Although Jerry and friends are pleased by the quality of the pilot, mere moments after it airs Rita Kearson phones to inform them Russell has absconded and she has taken over as NBC's President, immediately canceling ''Jerry''. George and Jerry blame Elaine for causing Russell to leave. |
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Jerry, George, Kramer, and Elaine |
Jerry, George, Kramer, and Elaine convene at Monk's, where Elaine spots the men from the Equal Employment Opportunity office eating. When she scolds the owner of the cafe for only hiring large breasted women, he explains that they are all his daughters. |
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In order to prove himself worthy of Elaine, Russell joins Greenpeace and is lost at sea during a botched assault on a whaling ship. As the cover for the Jerry pilot script floats away along with the former NBC president, one of Russell's shipmates vows to find Elaine and tell her about Russell's actions in fighting the whalers. |
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==Production== |
==Production== |
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The character of Russell Dalrymple, played by [[Bob Balaban]], is based on NBC executive [[Warren Littlefield]].<ref name="EntireDomain">{{cite book |last1=Tracy |first1=Kathleen |title=Jerry Seinfeld: The Entire Domain |date=1998 |publisher=[[Carol Publishing Group]] |isbn=1-55972-474-9 |page=131}}</ref> In 1996, Balaban was cast as Littlefield in the HBO movie, ''[[The Late Shift (film)|The Late Shift]]''.<ref name="EntireDomain"/> |
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The "Kramer" actor was played by [[Larry Hankin]], who had actually auditioned for the role of Kramer when ''Seinfeld'' began production. |
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Numerous guest stars from previous episodes of ''Seinfeld'' made cameos in the episode, watching and commentating on Jerry's pilot as it airs, specifically [[Brian Doyle-Murray]] as Mel Sanger, [[Tony Amendola]] as Salman Rushdie, [[Teri Hatcher]] as Sidra Holland, Jon Hayman as Donald Sanger, Nicholas Hormann as [[Calvin Klein]], Jennifer Campbell as Tia Van Camp, [[Bill Erwin]] as Sid Fields, [[Wayne Knight]] as [[Newman (Seinfeld)|Newman]], [[Jane Leeves]] as Marla Penny, [[Barney Martin]] as [[Morty Seinfeld]], [[Liz Sheridan]] as [[Helen Seinfeld]], [[Rick Overton]] as The Drake, [[Elizabeth Dennehy]] as The Drakette, [[Heidi Swedberg]] as [[Susan Ross]], and [[Ping Wu]] as Ping. |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pilot, The}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pilot, The}} |
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[[Category:Seinfeld |
[[Category:Seinfeld season 4 episodes]] |
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[[Category:1993 American television episodes]] |
[[Category:1993 American television episodes]] |
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[[Category:Seinfeld episodes in multiple parts]] |
[[Category:Seinfeld episodes in multiple parts]] |
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[[Category:Television episodes written by Larry David]] |
Latest revision as of 07:34, 30 May 2024
This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2007) |
"The Pilot" | |
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Seinfeld episodes | |
Episode nos. | Season 4 Episodes 23/24 |
Directed by | Tom Cherones |
Written by | Larry David |
Production code | 423/424 |
Original air date | May 20, 1993 |
Running time | 42 minutes |
Guest appearances | |
| |
"The Pilot" is the two-part season finale of the fourth season of the American sitcom Seinfeld. It is the 23rd and 24th episode of the fourth season and the 63rd and 64th episode overall. It was written by series co-creator Larry David and directed by Tom Cherones, and originally aired on NBC on May 20, 1993.[1]
The two-part episode aired at an earlier time, 8:00 p.m., to leave room for the two-hour series finale of Cheers, whose timeslot was subsequently claimed by Seinfeld at the start of the 1993-94 season in September 1993.
About 32 million people watched both parts of "The Pilot" when it initially aired. An additional 2 million watched the first part but not the second, and 3 million more watched the second part but not the first.
Plot
[edit]Part 1
[edit]Jerry and George get the green light to produce Jerry, the pilot for the series based on their "nothing" lives. Russell Dalrymple, the president at NBC behind the pilot, is obsessed with Elaine. George is obsessed with a potentially cancerous white spot on his lip and a box of raisins taken by Tom Pepper, the actor playing Kramer.
The real Kramer appears to audition for the role of Kramer but has an urgent need to use the men’s room. Unable to use various public facilities, he makes his way to his apartment through Central Park but is further delayed by being mugged and "misses his chance," resulting in constipation. Jerry has an audition with Sandi Robbins, a method actress interested in being Elaine in every way, including insisting being called Elaine and even dating Jerry (and breaking up with him in Part 2). Jerry points out to the real Elaine that Monk's coffee shop appears to be only hiring buxom waitresses, so she tries to get hired, and when the owner turns her down, she files a report with the Equal Employment Opportunity office.
Part 2
[edit]Rehearsals for the pilot begin. NBC executive Russell Dalrymple's obsession with Elaine begins to affect his work. She tries to let him down gently by saying she can't be in a relationship with a high-powered man and would prefer to be with someone selfless, such as a member of Greenpeace. Kramer resolves his constipation by administering himself an enema.
George thinks that his white spot has been diagnosed as cancer and freaks out at NBC, only to discover that he misunderstood the diagnosis. At the taping of the pilot, "Crazy" Joe Davola leaps out of the audience and onto the set while yelling "Sic semper tyrannis!" The director and actors also become increasingly annoyed by George's kibitzing, and Jerry discovers that he is not as good at acting as he is at standup.
The pilot airs and numerous characters from past episodes of the season comment on it. Although Jerry and friends are pleased by the quality of the pilot, mere moments after it airs Rita Kearson phones to inform them Russell has absconded and she has taken over as NBC's President, immediately canceling Jerry. George and Jerry blame Elaine for causing Russell to leave.
Jerry, George, Kramer, and Elaine convene at Monk's, where Elaine spots the men from the Equal Employment Opportunity office eating. When she scolds the owner of the cafe for only hiring large breasted women, he explains that they are all his daughters.
In order to prove himself worthy of Elaine, Russell joins Greenpeace and is lost at sea during a botched assault on a whaling ship. As the cover for the Jerry pilot script floats away along with the former NBC president, one of Russell's shipmates vows to find Elaine and tell her about Russell's actions in fighting the whalers.
Production
[edit]The character of Russell Dalrymple, played by Bob Balaban, is based on NBC executive Warren Littlefield.[2] In 1996, Balaban was cast as Littlefield in the HBO movie, The Late Shift.[2]
Numerous guest stars from previous episodes of Seinfeld made cameos in the episode, watching and commentating on Jerry's pilot as it airs, specifically Brian Doyle-Murray as Mel Sanger, Tony Amendola as Salman Rushdie, Teri Hatcher as Sidra Holland, Jon Hayman as Donald Sanger, Nicholas Hormann as Calvin Klein, Jennifer Campbell as Tia Van Camp, Bill Erwin as Sid Fields, Wayne Knight as Newman, Jane Leeves as Marla Penny, Barney Martin as Morty Seinfeld, Liz Sheridan as Helen Seinfeld, Rick Overton as The Drake, Elizabeth Dennehy as The Drakette, Heidi Swedberg as Susan Ross, and Ping Wu as Ping.
References
[edit]- ^ "Seinfeld Season 4 Episodes". TV Guide. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ a b Tracy, Kathleen (1998). Jerry Seinfeld: The Entire Domain. Carol Publishing Group. p. 131. ISBN 1-55972-474-9.
External links
[edit]- "The Pilot" at IMDb