The Masseuse (Seinfeld episode)
Encyclopedia
"The Masseuse" is the seventy-third episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld
. It is the ninth episode of the fifth season, and first aired on November 18, 1993.
dates a man who shares the name of real-life serial killer
Joel Rifkin
(Anthony Cistaro
) and tries to convince him to change his name. Jerry
's girlfriend, a masseuse (Jennifer Coolidge
), seems unwilling to give Jerry a massage
, even as she takes Kramer
as a client. Meanwhile, she is not fond of George
, leading him incessantly to wonder why, even to his neglect of his own girlfriend Karen (Lisa Edelstein
).
Eventually, Jerry goes insane and angrily tries to force his girlfriend to give him the massage. She leaves, encountering George on the way out the apartment door, who professes his growing fondness for her. Elaine and Joel fight over selecting a new name. Kramer's back is sore after attending a football game and leaping over rows of seats to catch a thrown ball. George and Karen split.
suggests that her boyfriend change his name from Joel Rifkin to "O.J." Rifkin (after O.J. Simpson) to avoid being confused with Joel Rifkin
, the famous serial killer. Seven months later, O.J. Simpson was accused of murder.
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 is the ninth episode of the fifth season, and first aired on November 18, 1993.
Plot
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...
dates a man who shares the name of real-life serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
Joel Rifkin
Joel Rifkin
Joel David Rifkin is an American serial killer convicted of the murder of nine women , mostly drug addicted prostitutes, between 1989 and 1993 in New York City...
(Anthony Cistaro
Anthony Cistaro
Anthony Cistaro , is an American actor. At an early age he moved to San Francisco, California, where his father worked as a teacher and counselor, while his mother worked in the home, caring for the family. In later years she worked as a program assistant in academic departments. Anthony attended St...
) and tries to convince him to change his name. 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...
's girlfriend, a masseuse (Jennifer Coolidge
Jennifer Coolidge
Jennifer Coolidge is an American actress best known for playing "Stifler's mom," the older woman in the film American Pie ; Hilary Duff's stepmother in A Cinderella Story ; Paulette, the manicurist in Legally Blonde and its sequel; the voice of Aunt Fanny in the animated feature Robots ; for her...
), seems unwilling to give Jerry a massage
Massage
Massage is the manipulation of superficial and deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue to enhance function, aid in the healing process, and promote relaxation and well-being. The word comes from the French massage "friction of kneading", or from Arabic massa meaning "to touch, feel or handle"...
, even as she takes 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...
as a client. Meanwhile, she is not fond of 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"...
, leading him incessantly to wonder why, even to his neglect of his own girlfriend Karen (Lisa Edelstein
Lisa Edelstein
Lisa Edelstein is an American actress and playwright. She is best known for her role as Dr. Lisa Cuddy on the television drama House.-Early life and education:...
).
Eventually, Jerry goes insane and angrily tries to force his girlfriend to give him the massage. She leaves, encountering George on the way out the apartment door, who professes his growing fondness for her. Elaine and Joel fight over selecting a new name. Kramer's back is sore after attending a football game and leaping over rows of seats to catch a thrown ball. George and Karen split.
Trivia
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...
suggests that her boyfriend change his name from Joel Rifkin to "O.J." Rifkin (after O.J. Simpson) to avoid being confused with Joel Rifkin
Joel Rifkin
Joel David Rifkin is an American serial killer convicted of the murder of nine women , mostly drug addicted prostitutes, between 1989 and 1993 in New York City...
, the famous serial killer. Seven months later, O.J. Simpson was accused of murder.