The Old Man (Seinfeld episode)
Encyclopedia
"The Old Man" is the fifty-eighth episode of the American television sitcom Seinfeld
. It was the 18th episode of the 4th season. It aired on February 18, 1993.
, Elaine
and George
volunteer to help the elderly. Jerry gets assigned to Sid Fields (Bill Erwin
), a bad-tempered old man with a Senegal
ese housekeeper (Lanei Chapman
), that he claims is trying to steal his possessions. Elaine is repulsed by the goiter
problems of the woman she is visiting and George depresses his assigned senior citizen, Ben Cantwell, by questioning his outlook on dying, until he walks out, telling George that "Life's too short to waste on you". Later, George becomes attracted to Mr. Field's housekeeper when he learns that she can't speak English.
Kramer
and Newman
try the business of selling some of Jerry's old records to a used record store but are not satisfied with the results. The man Jerry is responsible for tells him that he wants to get rid of some of his "junk", including a large amount of old records which Kramer and Newman show up later to pick up. The man bites Kramer's arm, causing him to jerk back and launch his dentures in to the garbage disposal. Jerry loses track of his man when they try to take him to the dentist to repair his dentures
which were promptly destroyed after the garbage disposal was turned on, mistaken for a light switch.
Meanwhile, Elaine discovers that her old woman had an affair with Gandhi, and one of the stories she tells directly mirrors what George had said to the housekeeper about him "dipping my bald head in oil and rubbing it all over your body".
The search for Jerry's old man leads to everyone (including the old man's son) bursting in on George having oil rubbed on his head by the housekeeper.
The episode ends with the two old men, in the diner, in the same booth the main characters use, having much the same conversation Jerry and George had at the beginning of the episode, during which Fields tells Cantwell about the woman he was recently "fixed up" with - mentioning both her goiter and her youthful relationship with Gandhi.
is a mailman
. Lanei Chapman
plays the housekeeper. In an alternate ending to this episode that was never broadcast, her character reveals that she speaks fluent English (with an accent native to New York, not Senegal), causing George to lose interest in her.
This is the first Seinfeld episode in which a real person is impersonated by using the rear view - a technique which is so bad at suspending disbelief, its funny. The technique avoids creating problems by attempting to make an actor's face actually match the well known person. In this episode the rear of George Steinbrenner
's head (and voice) is impersonated . The part is played by Lee Bear , and the audience only sees the back his head and shoulders. The voice is done by Larry David
. Same would be used again in "The Muffin Tops
" in which the "fake" Steinbrenner is talking to the Tyler Chicken's chief.
, who was a writer and actor who was featured in The Abbott and Costello Show
. Veteran actor Bill Erwin
was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for his portrayal of Sid Fields, the old man Jerry is assigned to.
The scene where Kramer tells Newman what to say is similar to a scene in the 1957 film The Seventh Seal
. Tobin Bell
from Saw
fame plays the record store owner. Later on in the series other Saw actors appear, including Ned Bellamy
, Scott Patterson
and Cary Elwes
. The record on the top of Jerry's stack after Kramer and Newman return them to him is Journey
's Escape
.
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 18th episode of the 4th season. It aired on February 18, 1993.
Plot
JerryJerry 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...
, 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...
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"...
volunteer to help the elderly. Jerry gets assigned to Sid Fields (Bill Erwin
Bill Erwin
William Lindsey "Bill" Erwin was an American film, stage and television actor with over 250 television and film credits...
), a bad-tempered old man with a Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
ese housekeeper (Lanei Chapman
Lanei Chapman
Lanei Chapman is an American actress. Chapman has also worked as a schoolteacher and has done ADR work. She graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in Spanish.-Filmography:* Thief...
), that he claims is trying to steal his possessions. Elaine is repulsed by the goiter
Goitre
A goitre or goiter , is a swelling in the thyroid gland, which can lead to a swelling of the neck or larynx...
problems of the woman she is visiting and George depresses his assigned senior citizen, Ben Cantwell, by questioning his outlook on dying, until he walks out, telling George that "Life's too short to waste on you". Later, George becomes attracted to Mr. Field's housekeeper when he learns that she can't speak English.
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 Newman
Newman (Seinfeld)
Newman is a recurring character on the television show Seinfeld, played by Wayne Knight from 1991 until the show's finale in 1998.-Background:...
try the business of selling some of Jerry's old records to a used record store but are not satisfied with the results. The man Jerry is responsible for tells him that he wants to get rid of some of his "junk", including a large amount of old records which Kramer and Newman show up later to pick up. The man bites Kramer's arm, causing him to jerk back and launch his dentures in to the garbage disposal. Jerry loses track of his man when they try to take him to the dentist to repair his dentures
Dentures
Dentures are prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth, and which are supported by surrounding soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. Conventional dentures are removable, however there are many different denture designs, some which rely on bonding or clasping onto teeth or dental...
which were promptly destroyed after the garbage disposal was turned on, mistaken for a light switch.
Meanwhile, Elaine discovers that her old woman had an affair with Gandhi, and one of the stories she tells directly mirrors what George had said to the housekeeper about him "dipping my bald head in oil and rubbing it all over your body".
The search for Jerry's old man leads to everyone (including the old man's son) bursting in on George having oil rubbed on his head by the housekeeper.
The episode ends with the two old men, in the diner, in the same booth the main characters use, having much the same conversation Jerry and George had at the beginning of the episode, during which Fields tells Cantwell about the woman he was recently "fixed up" with - mentioning both her goiter and her youthful relationship with Gandhi.
Production
In this episode it is revealed that NewmanNewman (Seinfeld)
Newman is a recurring character on the television show Seinfeld, played by Wayne Knight from 1991 until the show's finale in 1998.-Background:...
is a mailman
Mailman
Mailman may refer to:*Mail carrier, a person who delivers mail*Mailman , a 2003 novel by American author J. Robert Lennon.*The Mail Man, a 1993 album by American rapper E-40*GNU Mailman, mailing list software...
. Lanei Chapman
Lanei Chapman
Lanei Chapman is an American actress. Chapman has also worked as a schoolteacher and has done ADR work. She graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in Spanish.-Filmography:* Thief...
plays the housekeeper. In an alternate ending to this episode that was never broadcast, her character reveals that she speaks fluent English (with an accent native to New York, not Senegal), causing George to lose interest in her.
This is the first Seinfeld episode in which a real person is impersonated by using the rear view - a technique which is so bad at suspending disbelief, its funny. The technique avoids creating problems by attempting to make an actor's face actually match the well known person. In this episode the rear of George Steinbrenner
George Steinbrenner
George Michael Steinbrenner III was an American businessman who was the principal owner and managing partner of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees. During Steinbrenner's 37-year ownership from 1973 to his death in July 2010, the longest in club history, the Yankees earned seven World Series...
's head (and voice) is impersonated . The part is played by Lee Bear , and the audience only sees the back his head and shoulders. The voice is done by Larry David
Larry David
Lawrence Gene "Larry" David is an American actor, writer, comedian and producer. He is best known as the co-creator , head writer, and executive producer of the television series Seinfeld from 1989 to 1996, and for creating the 1999 HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm, a partially improvised sitcom in...
. Same would be used again in "The Muffin Tops
The Muffin Tops
"The Muffin Tops" is the 155th episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. This was the 21st episode of the eighth season. It aired on May 8, 1997.-Plot:...
" in which the "fake" Steinbrenner is talking to the Tyler Chicken's chief.
Cultural references
The old man's name, Sidney Fields, is a reference to Sidney FieldsSidney Fields
Sidney Fields was a comedy actor and writer best known for his featured role on The Abbott and Costello Show in the early 1950s. He was sometimes credited as "Sid Fields" and "Sidney Field."...
, who was a writer and actor who was featured in The Abbott and Costello Show
The Abbott and Costello Show
The Abbott and Costello Show is an American television sitcom starring the popular comedy team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello that premiered in syndication in the fall of 1952 and ran until May 1954....
. Veteran actor Bill Erwin
Bill Erwin
William Lindsey "Bill" Erwin was an American film, stage and television actor with over 250 television and film credits...
was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for his portrayal of Sid Fields, the old man Jerry is assigned to.
The scene where Kramer tells Newman what to say is similar to a scene in the 1957 film The Seventh Seal
The Seventh Seal
The Seventh Seal is a 1957 Swedish film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. Set during the Black Death, it tells of the journey of a medieval knight and a game of chess he plays with the personification of Death , who has come to take his life. Bergman developed the film from his own play...
. Tobin Bell
Tobin Bell
Tobin Bell is an American film and television character actor. After years of work doing stand-ins and background work on films, he got his first major acting job in Mississippi Burning and went on to star in made-for-television films and guest star in television shows throughout the 1990s.Bell...
from Saw
Saw (film)
Saw is a 2004 American independent horror film directed by James Wan. The screenplay, written by Leigh Whannell, is based on a story by Wan and Whannell. The film stars Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Monica Potter, Michael Emerson, Ken Leung, Whannell and Tobin Bell...
fame plays the record store owner. Later on in the series other Saw actors appear, including Ned Bellamy
Ned Bellamy
Ned Bellamy is an American actor.Bellamy was born in Dayton, Ohio. After graduating UCLA, he founded the Los Angeles based theater company The Actors' Gang with fellow actor Tim Robbins....
, Scott Patterson
Scott Patterson (actor)
Scott Gordon Patterson is an American actor. He is known for his role as Luke Danes in Gilmore Girls and Agent Strahm in Saw IV, Saw V and Saw VI...
and Cary Elwes
Cary Elwes
Ivan Simon Cary Elwes , known professionally as Cary Elwes, is an English actor. The son of Dominick Elwes and Tessa Georgina Kennedy, Elwes acted in off-Broadway plays during college and moved to the United States in the early 1980s. He is known for his role as Westley in the cult classic The...
. The record on the top of Jerry's stack after Kramer and Newman return them to him is Journey
Journey (band)
Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between the 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded...
's Escape
Escape (Journey album)
-Personnel:*Steve Perry - Lead Vocals*Neal Schon - Guitar, Vocals*Ross Valory - Bass, Vocals*Steve Smith - Drums, Percussion*Jonathan Cain - Keyboards, Piano, Guitar, Vocals-Additional personnel:*Wally Buck - Engineer, Assistant Engineer...
.