The Little Jerry
Encyclopedia
"The Little Jerry" is the 145th episode of the sitcom Seinfeld
. This was the 11th episode for the 8th season.
The table reading for this episode took place on Sunday, November 24, 1996, and the majority of this episode was filmed in front of a live studio audience on Wednesday, November 27, 1996 (a day before Thanksgiving
). It premiered on Thursday, January 9, 1997, being the first Seinfeld episode to air in the new year.
, Kramer
tells Jerry
that the owner of a nearby bodega
, Marcelino (Miguel Sandoval
), posted one of Jerry’s bounced checks
on his cash-register, along with the other bad ones. The check has a picture of a clown holding balloons.
At this moment, George
walks into the restaurant, in a very happy mood. He explains that The Susan Ross Foundation
made a large donation to a women’s prison, and he gets to go there to "check it out." Elaine
then makes an entrance, introducing her new boyfriend Kurt (John Michael Higgins
), who shaves his head.
Jerry goes to the bodega where his check is, and pays Marcelino what he owes. Marcelino, however, refuses to take the check down under "store policy." George goes to the women’s prison, and meets the warden: Betsy (Kathryn Joosten
), but is disappointed as to how tame and peaceful the building is. George then proceeds to ask "out" the prison’s librarian, Celia (Andrea Bendewald
), finding many pros with dating a woman who’s in jail.
Kramer announces that he bought what he thinks is a chicken
(whom he named "Little Jerry Seinfeld") for its eggs, but later finds out that it’s a rooster
. Meanwhile, Elaine is thoroughly disappointed in Kurt’s bald head after seeing the hair he could have if he didn’t keep shaving it off. She persuades him to regrow his hair, but is even more shocked to discover that he’s going bald. He soon proposes to Elaine in order to have as much time with her as possible before he goes completely bald.
Marcelino convinces Kramer to put Little Jerry in a cock fight, which he winds up winning. Marcelino then makes a deal with Jerry: he’ll take his check down only if he can have Little Jerry. Kramer strongly opposes this transaction, though. When George finds out that Celia is up for parole
, he desperately tries to put a stop to it, judging that he interacts with her better when she’s in prison. He succeeds in preventing her from getting the parole, but doesn’t stop her from unexpectedly breaking out, which she does later on.
One of the last scenes in this episode takes place at the cock fight, where Little Jerry is faced with a huge and skilled opponent. Kramer dives after Little Jerry, trying to protect him, but winds up getting violently pecked by the opposing bird.
Celia is soon tracked down and arrested, and Kurt is also arrested after being mistaken for George because of his baldness. We then see Elaine visiting him in jail due to his fighting one of the arresting officers, and returns his engagement ring after finding out that by the time he gets out (10-14 months), he'll be bald.
and the television series American Gladiators
are mentioned in this episode. Jerry buys a pack of Wrigley's
Juicy Fruit
gum at the bodega at one point during this episode, finding its price of 85 cents to be "outrageous."
and a 33 audience share, meaning that 23% of American households watched the episode, and 33% of all television
s in use at the time were tuned into it.
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...
. This was the 11th episode for the 8th season.
The table reading for this episode took place on Sunday, November 24, 1996, and the majority of this episode was filmed in front of a live studio audience on Wednesday, November 27, 1996 (a day before Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
). It premiered on Thursday, January 9, 1997, being the first Seinfeld episode to air in the new year.
Plot
At Monk'sMonk's Cafe
Monk's Café is a fictional coffee shop from the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. The exterior of Tom's Restaurant on the corner of West 112th Street and Broadway, near Columbia University, is often shown on the show as the exterior of Monk's, though the interiors were shot on a sound stage. The coffee shop is...
, 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...
tells 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...
that the owner of a nearby bodega
Convenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
, Marcelino (Miguel Sandoval
Miguel Sandoval
Miguel Sandoval is an American film and television actor.Sandoval was born in Washington, D.C. He began working as a professional actor in 1975 when he joined a mime school in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He later joined the troupe full time and continued his study of mime. He began his film career in...
), posted one of Jerry’s bounced checks
Non-sufficient funds
Non-sufficient funds is a term used in the banking industry to indicate that a demand for payment cannot be honored because insufficient funds are available in the account on which the instrument was drawn. In simplified terms, a cheque has been presented for clearance, but the amount written on...
on his cash-register, along with the other bad ones. The check has a picture of a clown holding balloons.
At this moment, 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"...
walks into the restaurant, in a very happy mood. He explains that The Susan Ross 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:...
made a large donation to a women’s prison, and he gets to go there to "check it out." Elaine
Elaine 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...
then makes an entrance, introducing her new boyfriend Kurt (John Michael Higgins
John Michael Higgins
John Michael Higgins is an American actor whose film credits include Christopher Guest's mockumentaries, the role of David Letterman in HBO's The Late Shift, and a starring role in the American version of Kath & Kim....
), who shaves his head.
Jerry goes to the bodega where his check is, and pays Marcelino what he owes. Marcelino, however, refuses to take the check down under "store policy." George goes to the women’s prison, and meets the warden: Betsy (Kathryn Joosten
Kathryn Joosten
Kathryn Joosten is an American television actress best known for her regular role as Karen McCluskey in Desperate Housewives and for her recurring role in The West Wing as Dolores Landingham.-Early life:...
), but is disappointed as to how tame and peaceful the building is. George then proceeds to ask "out" the prison’s librarian, Celia (Andrea Bendewald
Andrea Bendewald
Andrea R. Bendewald is an American actress best known for her role as Maddy Piper on Suddenly Susan.-Personal life:Andrea is the daughter of Judith Bendewald and Mervin Bendewald, both of New York, and the sister of Mason Bendewald....
), finding many pros with dating a woman who’s in jail.
Kramer announces that he bought what he thinks is a chicken
Chicken
The chicken is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Junglefowl. As one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, and with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird...
(whom he named "Little Jerry Seinfeld") for its eggs, but later finds out that it’s a rooster
Rooster
A rooster, also known as a cockerel, cock or chanticleer, is a male chicken with the female being called a hen. Immature male chickens of less than a year's age are called cockerels...
. Meanwhile, Elaine is thoroughly disappointed in Kurt’s bald head after seeing the hair he could have if he didn’t keep shaving it off. She persuades him to regrow his hair, but is even more shocked to discover that he’s going bald. He soon proposes to Elaine in order to have as much time with her as possible before he goes completely bald.
Marcelino convinces Kramer to put Little Jerry in a cock fight, which he winds up winning. Marcelino then makes a deal with Jerry: he’ll take his check down only if he can have Little Jerry. Kramer strongly opposes this transaction, though. When George finds out that Celia is up for parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
, he desperately tries to put a stop to it, judging that he interacts with her better when she’s in prison. He succeeds in preventing her from getting the parole, but doesn’t stop her from unexpectedly breaking out, which she does later on.
One of the last scenes in this episode takes place at the cock fight, where Little Jerry is faced with a huge and skilled opponent. Kramer dives after Little Jerry, trying to protect him, but winds up getting violently pecked by the opposing bird.
Celia is soon tracked down and arrested, and Kurt is also arrested after being mistaken for George because of his baldness. We then see Elaine visiting him in jail due to his fighting one of the arresting officers, and returns his engagement ring after finding out that by the time he gets out (10-14 months), he'll be bald.
Cultural references
The 1974 film Caged HeatCaged Heat
Caged Heat is an exploitation film from 1974 of the "women-in-prison" film genre. Caged Heat was written and directed by Jonathan Demme for the New World Pictures company, headed by Roger Corman...
and the television series American Gladiators
American Gladiators
American Gladiators is an American competition television program that aired in syndication from September 1989 to May 1996. The series matched a cast of amateur athletes against each other, as well as against the show's own gladiators, in contests of strength and agility.The concept was created by...
are mentioned in this episode. Jerry buys a pack of Wrigley's
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
The William Wrigley Jr. Company is a company headquartered in the Wrigley Building in Near North Side, Chicago, Illinois. The company was founded on April 1, 1891, originally selling products such as soap and baking powder. In 1892, William Wrigley, Jr., the company's founder, began packaging...
Juicy Fruit
Juicy Fruit
Juicy Fruit is a brand of chewing gum made by the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, a U.S. company that since 2008 has been a subsidiary of the privately-held Mars, Incorporated. It was introduced in 1893, and in the 21st century the brand name is recognized by 99 percent of Americans, with total sales in...
gum at the bodega at one point during this episode, finding its price of 85 cents to be "outrageous."
Continuity errors
On the check Jerry bounces at the bodega, the amount is incorrectly spelled as "fourty dollars". A continuity error is made at the end of the scene when George discovers Celia is available for parole. George had given her two cartons of cigarettes; in one shot she's holding the cartons, but in the next shot she's holding a bag with the cartons in it, presumably from an earlier take. Pecking is not an important move in cock fights, as depicted in this episode. Roosters mainly attack each other with their legs. In some regional variations, a sharp artificial spur or a blade is attached to the area of the bird's natural spur, which is partially removed.Deleted scene
A deleted scene from this episode shows Jerry and Elaine walking down the streets of New York, talking about the difference between a man who’s bald and acts bald, and a man with no hair.Reception
This episode was very well-received. It gained a 23.0 Nielsen RatingNielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
and a 33 audience share, meaning that 23% of American households watched the episode, and 33% of all television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
s in use at the time were tuned into it.
External links
- "The Little Jerry" on Sony Pictures
- "The Little Jerry" at TV.comTV.comTV.com is a website owned by CBS Interactive. The site covers television and focuses on English-language shows made or broadcast in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Japan...