The Junior Mint
Encyclopedia
"The Junior Mint" is the 60th episode of the American
sitcom Seinfeld
. It was the 20th episode of the 4th season. It aired on March 18, 1993.
), Jerry
tries to solve the mystery. Given the clue that her name rhymes with a part of the female anatomy, Jerry and George
come up with possible candidates: Aretha (for urethra
), Celeste (for breast
), and Bovary (for ovary
). The payoff to the joke comes at the end of the episode when she presses him to say her name. Jerry guesses Mulva (for vulva
), causing her to storm out of Jerry's apartment. As she is leaving, Jerry incorrectly guesses another name, Gipple (for nipple) and Loleola (for areola). Then, in a flash of insight, Jerry runs to the window and yells "Dolores!" (for clitoris
). Her name is never explicitly revealed to the audience (being listed as "Mystery Woman" in the credits), but it is revealed to be "Dolores" when the character returns in season 8's "The Foundation
".
goes to visit her ex-boyfriend Roy (played by Sherman Howard
), an artist whom she dumped because he was fat, in the hospital and, noticing that he has slimmed down (due to depression from her breaking up with him), becomes interested in dating him again. Kramer
and Jerry observe the artist's splenectomy
and accidentally drop a Junior Mint from the viewing gallery into the patient's body (in actuality, a Peppermint Pattie was used for filming this scene as a Junior Mint was too small for the camera). When George hears that Roy is in bad condition (after he develops an infection), he decides to spend $1900 (which he collected in interest from a bank account from the sixth grade) to buy some of Roy's art, thinking it will appreciate in value when Roy dies. Roy's condition suddenly turns around and he recovers. Although Roy attributes the change to George buying his art, the doctor attributes the limited effect of the infection to "something from above." (This marks the second time that George regrets his decision to purchase a piece of art. The first came in "The Letter
", when he bought a piece of art from Jerry's girlfriend for $500.) The triangle art that George purchases in this episode can be seen on the shelves in his apartment in many subsequent episodes. As Kramer offers the doctor a Junior Mint, Elaine decides to cancel her date with Roy, whom she observes eating enthusiastically again in his hospital room after the surgery.
on the basis that, amongst other reasons, discussing the episode with his secretary constituted sexual harassment
. Later, however, the decision was overturned by the court of appeals, and the ruling of the appeals court was affirmed by the Supreme Court of Wisconsin.
. She appeared again (though with blonde hair) in the Season 8 episode "The Foundation
." Dr. Siegel is played by Victor Raider-Wexler
, who also appears as a doctor in several other Seinfeld episodes. He portrayed the doctor who proclaimed Susan Ross dead in the Season 7 finale "The Invitations" and was also George's
doctor in the Season 8 finale "The Summer of George
". He appeared once more to testify against the "New York Four" in the finale of the show, and in those last two appearances he was given the name "Dr. Wexler."
Sherman Howard
played the part of Roy, the artist. Howard is probably best known for his roles as Lex Luthor
in Seasons 2 - 4 of the Superboy
television series and as Bub in George A. Romero
's Day of the Dead.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sitcom Seinfeld
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
. It was the 20th episode of the 4th season. It aired on March 18, 1993.
"Mulva"
Having neglected to ask the name of the woman he is dating (played by Susan WaltersSusan Walters
Susan Walters is an American actress and former model, best known for her role as Diane Jenkins Newman in the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless from 2001 to 2004...
), Jerry
Jerry Seinfeld (character)
Jerome "Jerry" Seinfeld is the main protagonist of the American television sitcom Seinfeld . The straight man among his group of friends, this semi-fictionalized version of comedian Jerry Seinfeld was named after, co-created by, based on, and played by Seinfeld himself.The series revolves around...
tries to solve the mystery. Given the clue that her name rhymes with a part of the female anatomy, Jerry and George
George Costanza
George Louis Costanza is a character in the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Jason Alexander. He has variously been described as a "short, stocky, slow-witted, bald man" , "Lord of the Idiots" , and as "the greatest sitcom character of all time"...
come up with possible candidates: Aretha (for urethra
Urethra
In anatomy, the urethra is a tube that connects the urinary bladder to the genitals for the removal of fluids out of the body. In males, the urethra travels through the penis, and carries semen as well as urine...
), Celeste (for breast
Breast
The breast is the upper ventral region of the torso of a primate, in left and right sides, which in a female contains the mammary gland that secretes milk used to feed infants.Both men and women develop breasts from the same embryological tissues...
), and Bovary (for ovary
Ovary
The ovary is an ovum-producing reproductive organ, often found in pairs as part of the vertebrate female reproductive system. Ovaries in anatomically female individuals are analogous to testes in anatomically male individuals, in that they are both gonads and endocrine glands.-Human anatomy:Ovaries...
). The payoff to the joke comes at the end of the episode when she presses him to say her name. Jerry guesses Mulva (for vulva
Vulva
The vulva consists of the external genital organs of the female mammal. This article deals with the vulva of the human being, although the structures are similar for other mammals....
), causing her to storm out of Jerry's apartment. As she is leaving, Jerry incorrectly guesses another name, Gipple (for nipple) and Loleola (for areola). Then, in a flash of insight, Jerry runs to the window and yells "Dolores!" (for clitoris
Clitoris
The clitoris is a sexual organ that is present only in female mammals. In humans, the visible button-like portion is located near the anterior junction of the labia minora, above the opening of the urethra and vagina. Unlike the penis, which is homologous to the clitoris, the clitoris does not...
). Her name is never explicitly revealed to the audience (being listed as "Mystery Woman" in the credits), but it is revealed to be "Dolores" when the character returns in season 8's "The Foundation
The Foundation (Seinfeld)
"The Foundation" is the 135th episode of the American television sitcom Seinfeld. This was the 1st episode of the 8th season. It was originally broadcast on the NBC network on September 19, 1996.-Plot:...
".
The Fat Artist and the Mint Incident
Meanwhile, ElaineElaine Benes
Elaine Marie Benes is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Elaine's best friend is her ex-boyfriend Jerry Seinfeld; she is also good friends with George Costanza and Cosmo Kramer...
goes to visit her ex-boyfriend Roy (played by Sherman Howard
Sherman Howard
Howard Lee Sherman is an American actor.-Theatre:In 1989 he appeared at the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival in Louisville, Kentucky. He played the title role in Hamlet and Malvolio in Twelfth Night...
), an artist whom she dumped because he was fat, in the hospital and, noticing that he has slimmed down (due to depression from her breaking up with him), becomes interested in dating him again. Kramer
Cosmo Kramer
Cosmo Kramer, usually referred to as simply "Kramer", is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Michael Richards...
and Jerry observe the artist's splenectomy
Splenectomy
A splenectomy is a surgical procedure that partially or completely removes the spleen.-Indications:The spleen, similar in structure to a large lymph node, acts as a blood filter. Current knowledge of its purpose includes the removal of old red blood cells and platelets, and the detection and fight...
and accidentally drop a Junior Mint from the viewing gallery into the patient's body (in actuality, a Peppermint Pattie was used for filming this scene as a Junior Mint was too small for the camera). When George hears that Roy is in bad condition (after he develops an infection), he decides to spend $1900 (which he collected in interest from a bank account from the sixth grade) to buy some of Roy's art, thinking it will appreciate in value when Roy dies. Roy's condition suddenly turns around and he recovers. Although Roy attributes the change to George buying his art, the doctor attributes the limited effect of the infection to "something from above." (This marks the second time that George regrets his decision to purchase a piece of art. The first came in "The Letter
The Letter (Seinfeld episode)
"The Letter" is the thirty-ninth episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. The episode was the 20th of the third season. It aired on March 25, 1992.-Plot:...
", when he bought a piece of art from Jerry's girlfriend for $500.) The triangle art that George purchases in this episode can be seen on the shelves in his apartment in many subsequent episodes. As Kramer offers the doctor a Junior Mint, Elaine decides to cancel her date with Roy, whom she observes eating enthusiastically again in his hospital room after the surgery.
Lawsuit
A conversation in Milwaukee the day after the episode aired led to a lawsuit in which jurors awarded Jerold J. Mackenzie $26.6 million on July 15, 1997. Mackenzie was terminated by Miller Brewing Co.Miller Brewing Company
The Miller Brewing Company is an American beer brewing company owned by the United Kingdom-based SABMiller. Its regional headquarters are located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the company has brewing facilities in Albany, Georgia; Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin; Eden, North Carolina; Fort Worth, Texas;...
on the basis that, amongst other reasons, discussing the episode with his secretary constituted sexual harassment
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
. Later, however, the decision was overturned by the court of appeals, and the ruling of the appeals court was affirmed by the Supreme Court of Wisconsin.
Actors
A number of actors who played parts in "The Junior Mint" acted again in different episodes of Seinfeld. The woman whose name Jerry is attempting to guess was played by Susan WaltersSusan Walters
Susan Walters is an American actress and former model, best known for her role as Diane Jenkins Newman in the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless from 2001 to 2004...
. She appeared again (though with blonde hair) in the Season 8 episode "The Foundation
The Foundation (Seinfeld)
"The Foundation" is the 135th episode of the American television sitcom Seinfeld. This was the 1st episode of the 8th season. It was originally broadcast on the NBC network on September 19, 1996.-Plot:...
." Dr. Siegel is played by Victor Raider-Wexler
Victor Raider-Wexler
Victor Raider-Wexler is an American television and film actor.-Career:Raider-Wexler started his career in the 1970s. He was the stage manager for the 1976 Broadway play Best Friend...
, who also appears as a doctor in several other Seinfeld episodes. He portrayed the doctor who proclaimed Susan Ross dead in the Season 7 finale "The Invitations" and was also George's
George Costanza
George Louis Costanza is a character in the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Jason Alexander. He has variously been described as a "short, stocky, slow-witted, bald man" , "Lord of the Idiots" , and as "the greatest sitcom character of all time"...
doctor in the Season 8 finale "The Summer of George
The Summer of George
"The Summer of George" is the 156th episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. It was also the 22nd and final episode of the 8th season. It originally aired on May 15, 1997.-Plot:...
". He appeared once more to testify against the "New York Four" in the finale of the show, and in those last two appearances he was given the name "Dr. Wexler."
Sherman Howard
Sherman Howard
Howard Lee Sherman is an American actor.-Theatre:In 1989 he appeared at the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival in Louisville, Kentucky. He played the title role in Hamlet and Malvolio in Twelfth Night...
played the part of Roy, the artist. Howard is probably best known for his roles as Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
in Seasons 2 - 4 of the Superboy
Superboy (TV series)
Superboy is a half-hour live-action television series based on the fictional DC Comics comic book character Kal-El's early years as Superboy. The show ran from 1988–1992 in syndication...
television series and as Bub in George A. Romero
George A. Romero
George Andrew Romero is a Canadian-American film director, screenwriter and editor, best known for his gruesome and satirical horror films about a hypothetical zombie apocalypse. He is nicknamed "Godfather of all Zombies." -Life and career:...
's Day of the Dead.
Episode Notes
- In the scene in which Jerry and Elaine visit Roy in the hospital (both first and second time), you can see the triangle statues they were talking about.
- Though the ending of the episode would seem to imply that the woman Jerry is dating is named "Dolores", the character is called "Mystery Woman" in the credits.