I am with you in every sentence. every word. I worshipped Elaine. Loved this line: "She always entered into relationships with one foot out the door, constantly tasked with dismantling some myth about what it meant to be a woman" - YESSSSS
I rewatched Seinfeld during lockdown and appreciated Elaine far more than I did first time around. The sponge-worthy episode really made me laugh. This is a wonderful write up of her.
The best was Elaine's ongoing relationship with David Puddy - the gorgeous Patrick Warburton. Big. Handsome. Strong. Stupid as the day is long. But sweet. It's rare we get to see a woman with a trophy guy on her arm, especially back then.
Great piece. The ‘Sponge-worthy’ episode represents the apex of Elaine’s sense of self-worth in her dating relationships. The scarcity constructed in the supply of sponges becomes a metaphor and magnifier for her relative power and discernment—which she administers in such a hysterical, matter-of-fact characteristic way.
Jul 29·edited Jul 29Liked by Sari Botton, MUTHR, FCKD
I've always loved Seinfeld, especially Elaine. Without her, the show wouldn't have worked. Jerry was always the weakest link, but he seemed to know that. I do love every Del Boca Vista episode, though, and earned points in my family for connecting with Doris Klompus a few years ago in a writing group
Everything with Jerry's parents is gold, Jerry, gold. His annoyed dad explaining to Klompus how to ship the beltless raincoats is like listening to my dad. Also "my idiot son" is so spot-on. Probably my favorite part of the show is the flawless parental dialogue. We still yell "My wallet's gone!" whenever one of us misplaces something.
I don't know why I still enjoy Seinfeld despite the idiocy and misogyny of the male characters. But I do. And I have fallen head over heels with JLD in recent years, so that's probably the answer. On her (amazing) podcast, Wiser Than Me, she has talked about the freedom Elaine was given, both sexually as well as in daily action. She noted that she was worried that in the Contest episode she would be centered as the outcast but instead was given full agency - and she credited the writing team (headed by Larry David) for figuring out how to make it work.
I remember when I came back (from a long stay in France) to NYC in the 90s/early 00’s it was a paradise for men— all men, idiots, “schlubs,” the undeserving, the mean, the feckless, all of them, because there weren’t enough women and the demand and supply balance meant women were giving our all (and doing it all, waxing it all, learning it all) just hoping to land a relationship. I literally gave up in disgust and went back to France, where men were at least more polite. Seinfeld was an accurate depiction of that NYC for me.
(The demand/supply thing was what I was told, I believe, in the media— what do I know? Whatever the reason? Men really seemed to be enjoying their upper hand.)
That whole scene, where Louis-Dreyfuss delivers those lines, is one of my favorite in the series. I wonder whether she came up with the glasses-polishing, or if it was in the script. And she pretty much drops the mic with, "You got any other friends you want to set me up with?"
I loved Elaine so much, was so besotted with her, I did not hold it against her when she somehow inadvertently ruined her sax player date’s mouth with her ladyparts. Was, in fact, more besotted after that.
One of the many who hated Seinfeld (& was so grateful to Stroopwaffled for articulating why: I just always thought it was mean) and Elaine was the only reason I ever watched the show, always with the sense that she, like me, was hanging out with a bunch of dudes who absolutely did not deserve her marvelousness. Of course, she was waaaaaay more marvelous than I was (or would ever be) but even so, there was a strange comfort there.
The strength of that show, and the reason that parts of it still hold up, is in the "average" scenarios and the naturalness of the dialogue. The vibe of friends kidding around, discussing the weird little details of daily life (our attachment to favorite T-shirts; the confusing layout of parking garages; the difficulty of parking in the city; the frustration of a neighbor's dog that never stops barking) resonated with a lot of us. (The later seasons, where the plots got ever more absurd and unrealistic--raiding a pet cemetery, recreating the Merv Griffin show in an apartment, and so on--were not as good because they strayed from this relatability, I think.) And YES to Elaine getting to have agency, to have her own life, and getting to deliver just as many funny lines as the rest of the cast.
Ha! I was reading, nodding along, laughing at the memory of Elaine throwing George’s wig out the window and then I saw my name! Love when this happens! 😂 And love this piece!! Xoxo
I am with you in every sentence. every word. I worshipped Elaine. Loved this line: "She always entered into relationships with one foot out the door, constantly tasked with dismantling some myth about what it meant to be a woman" - YESSSSS
Thankyouthankyouthankyou!
I rewatched Seinfeld during lockdown and appreciated Elaine far more than I did first time around. The sponge-worthy episode really made me laugh. This is a wonderful write up of her.
Thank you!
The best was Elaine's ongoing relationship with David Puddy - the gorgeous Patrick Warburton. Big. Handsome. Strong. Stupid as the day is long. But sweet. It's rare we get to see a woman with a trophy guy on her arm, especially back then.
Good point!
Great piece. The ‘Sponge-worthy’ episode represents the apex of Elaine’s sense of self-worth in her dating relationships. The scarcity constructed in the supply of sponges becomes a metaphor and magnifier for her relative power and discernment—which she administers in such a hysterical, matter-of-fact characteristic way.
Yes!
I've always loved Seinfeld, especially Elaine. Without her, the show wouldn't have worked. Jerry was always the weakest link, but he seemed to know that. I do love every Del Boca Vista episode, though, and earned points in my family for connecting with Doris Klompus a few years ago in a writing group
My in-laws actually LIVE in a Del Boca Vista and my FIL was pres of the association for a few years! Thanks so much for reading, Abby!
Del Boca Vista is REAL????
No, but it's the perfect representation of so many retirement communities like it in Florida.
I have relatives who live in a community that we all refer to as "Del Boca Vista" because of the HOA drama :-D
Everything with Jerry's parents is gold, Jerry, gold. His annoyed dad explaining to Klompus how to ship the beltless raincoats is like listening to my dad. Also "my idiot son" is so spot-on. Probably my favorite part of the show is the flawless parental dialogue. We still yell "My wallet's gone!" whenever one of us misplaces something.
Haha! Gold, Abby! Gold!
I don't know why I still enjoy Seinfeld despite the idiocy and misogyny of the male characters. But I do. And I have fallen head over heels with JLD in recent years, so that's probably the answer. On her (amazing) podcast, Wiser Than Me, she has talked about the freedom Elaine was given, both sexually as well as in daily action. She noted that she was worried that in the Contest episode she would be centered as the outcast but instead was given full agency - and she credited the writing team (headed by Larry David) for figuring out how to make it work.
I remember when I came back (from a long stay in France) to NYC in the 90s/early 00’s it was a paradise for men— all men, idiots, “schlubs,” the undeserving, the mean, the feckless, all of them, because there weren’t enough women and the demand and supply balance meant women were giving our all (and doing it all, waxing it all, learning it all) just hoping to land a relationship. I literally gave up in disgust and went back to France, where men were at least more polite. Seinfeld was an accurate depiction of that NYC for me.
What a great escape route!
(The demand/supply thing was what I was told, I believe, in the media— what do I know? Whatever the reason? Men really seemed to be enjoying their upper hand.)
Tracks. And now Seinfeld says he misses that "upper hand."
Remember the episode about having the upper hand? When Elaine was dating the sax player?
Pitch-perfect! But OMG, what does it say about me, that I always wanted “this, that and the other”too?😳
"Not that there's anything wrong with that..."
What a relief. It’s why I wrote “Men as Friends”. 🤷🏼
😂
😂
It. Out.
Did you mean "Get. Out."?
Sari: She said after a date with a loser who took “It. Out.” Jerry replied “That can’t be”, and she responded “Oh, it be”. Hilarious exchange.
Ah! Thanks for clarifying.
Oh my God I can hear her saying that line, and I'm still laughing 30 years later...
"He took...(breathes on glasses)..it out."
That whole scene, where Louis-Dreyfuss delivers those lines, is one of my favorite in the series. I wonder whether she came up with the glasses-polishing, or if it was in the script. And she pretty much drops the mic with, "You got any other friends you want to set me up with?"
I loved Elaine so much, was so besotted with her, I did not hold it against her when she somehow inadvertently ruined her sax player date’s mouth with her ladyparts. Was, in fact, more besotted after that.
😂
He tried so hard and still no mas! Hilarious.
One of the many who hated Seinfeld (& was so grateful to Stroopwaffled for articulating why: I just always thought it was mean) and Elaine was the only reason I ever watched the show, always with the sense that she, like me, was hanging out with a bunch of dudes who absolutely did not deserve her marvelousness. Of course, she was waaaaaay more marvelous than I was (or would ever be) but even so, there was a strange comfort there.
yes, absolutely
💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
xoxoxoxoxo
Strong piece. Thank you. Such a smart, spot-on take. Always thought Elaine (and at times Kramer) owned that show.
Thank you so much!
Sponge-worthy!
The strength of that show, and the reason that parts of it still hold up, is in the "average" scenarios and the naturalness of the dialogue. The vibe of friends kidding around, discussing the weird little details of daily life (our attachment to favorite T-shirts; the confusing layout of parking garages; the difficulty of parking in the city; the frustration of a neighbor's dog that never stops barking) resonated with a lot of us. (The later seasons, where the plots got ever more absurd and unrealistic--raiding a pet cemetery, recreating the Merv Griffin show in an apartment, and so on--were not as good because they strayed from this relatability, I think.) And YES to Elaine getting to have agency, to have her own life, and getting to deliver just as many funny lines as the rest of the cast.
We need more shows about nothing!
Ha! I was reading, nodding along, laughing at the memory of Elaine throwing George’s wig out the window and then I saw my name! Love when this happens! 😂 And love this piece!! Xoxo
I was happy to see you in there!
Me too! 😂😀🥰. And this is such a great piece. Loved it.
So thrilled you liked it! You inspired me! xoxox
I adored JLD forever after seeing this unimpeachable youtube: Last Fuckable Day.
It is EVERYTHING about this discussion
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0Vgdnx4zPg
I have that thing memorized, rest assured! It's SO GOOD.