The Opposite
- Episode aired May 19, 1994
- TV-PG
- 23m
George decides to turn his life around by doing the exact opposite of what he would usually do. Elaine is having a lot of bad luck. Jerry keeps breaking even. Kramer gets the coffee table bo... Read allGeorge decides to turn his life around by doing the exact opposite of what he would usually do. Elaine is having a lot of bad luck. Jerry keeps breaking even. Kramer gets the coffee table book published.George decides to turn his life around by doing the exact opposite of what he would usually do. Elaine is having a lot of bad luck. Jerry keeps breaking even. Kramer gets the coffee table book published.
- Tina
- (as Siobhan Fallon)
Featured reviews
George and Jerry are in the diner, where George laments that every decision he's made in his life has been wrong. Jerry says that this means that doing the opposite of what he thinks is correct should be right. This makes sense to George, and so he begins to act on this. The results are fantastic. Meanwhile, Elaine's life goes downhill. At the end of the episode she realizes that she, through a series of unfortunate events, mainly inspired by her consumption of jujyfruit candy, has become George.
To top this off, Kramer makes the observation that Jerry is "even Stephen" - that everything evens out for him. So he has one friend - George - for which everything is going right, and another friend - Elaine - for which everything is going wrong.
The comic timing on this episode, for everyone concerned was perfect. It's really top level Seinfeld. Jason Alexander said that several friends came up to him after this episode aired and told him that it inspired them to live their lives differently. This really is an inspirational episode when you think about it!
Also note that this is the first appearance of George Steinbrenner on Seinfeld. It's not the actual Steinbrenner, but either a silhouette or the back of someone in a wig who is supposed to be Steinbrenner with Larry David doing a comic imitation of his voice.
March 8th 2023. Just letting you know when this review was created.
About: George does the opposite and a new Era of George begins.
Jerry he's just there facilitating the stories.
Kramer does a pointless book tour about a coffee table book about coffee tables.
Elaine becomes a Bword. This is the new birth of Bword Elaine. After this she became very mean.
Story and production: with a lot going on yet this episode only feels okay to me. It's more like a filler episode to set up new storylines.
Highlight: Jerry handling a dumping. It was legendary. We all can learn from this.
George's ball game qoute.
Then Jehovah witness qoute. Haha...
Laugh meter: 5
Girlfriend attractiveness level: 9. Rachel is top 5-3. I think this was Jerry's longest girlfriend which spanned for over 4 episodes.
George's girl was a 8.
Goof: I hate how the blonde girl disappears only there to setup a new era for George.
What can be learned?: if nothing goes right. Do the opposite. And if the opposite also does not go right then it sucks to be you...
Should you watch this?: Yea.
Did you know
- TriviaThis is the first episode in which Larry David voices the character George Steinbrenner; Lee Bear provided the body.
- GoofsAt the end of the poker game, all the players except Jerry lost money, while Jerry broke even. Someone should have won money.
- Quotes
George Costanza: Why did it all turn out like this for me? I had so much promise. I was personable, I was bright. Oh, maybe not academically speaking, but... I was perceptive. I always know when someone's uncomfortable at a party. It became very clear to me sitting out there today, that every decision I've ever made, in my entire life, has been wrong. My life is the opposite of everything I want it to be. Every instinct I have, in every of life, be it something to wear, something to eat... It's all been wrong.
Waitress: Tuna on toast, coleslaw, cup of coffee.
George Costanza: Yeah. No, no, no, wait a minute, I always have tuna on toast. Nothing's ever worked out for me with tuna on toast. I want the complete opposite of on toast. Chicken salad, on rye, untoasted... and a cup of tea.
Elaine Benes: Well, there's no telling what can happen from this.
Jerry Seinfeld: You know chicken salad is not the opposite of tuna, salmon is the opposite of tuna, because salmon swim against the current, and the tuna swim with it.
George Costanza: [Sarcastically] Good for the tuna.
Elaine Benes: [a blonde looks at George] Ah, George, you know, that woman just looked at you.
George Costanza: So what? What am I supposed to do?
Elaine Benes: Go talk to her.
George Costanza: Elaine, bald men, with no jobs, and no money, who live with their parents, don't approach strange women.
Jerry Seinfeld: Well, here's your chance to try the opposite. Instead of tuna salad and being intimidated by women, chicken salad and going right up to them.
George Costanza: Yeah, I should do the opposite, I should.
Jerry Seinfeld: If every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right.
George Costanza: Yes, I will do the opposite. I used to sit here and do nothing, and regret it for the rest of the day, so now I will do the opposite, and I will do something!
George Costanza: [He goes over to the woman] Excuse me, I couldn't help but notice that you were looking in my direction.
Victoria: Oh, yes I was. You just ordered the same exact lunch as me.
George Costanza: [Takes a deep breath] My name is George. I'm unemployed and I live with my parents.
Victoria: I'm Victoria. Hi.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 46th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1994)
- SoundtracksSeinfeld Theme Song
Written by Jonathan Wolff