The Tape

"The Tape" is completely dominated by Julia Loius Dreyfus and Jason Alexander, who share some of the best chemistry on the show to date....perhaps the best! Elaine is really evolving into a character, all her own now. Her sexy voice and her pranks on Jerry are extremely funny, but it is mostly the way Julia and Jason play out their scenes together. They share such natural chemistry in some of the most delightful scenes to date.

The plot involving the Chinese hair growth product for bald men was also entertaining, especially Kramer's documentation of George's baldness.

All this makes "The Tape" an excellent episode; my second favourite of the season thus far.

Jerry finds out that someone has recorded some really raunchy, sexual stuff on his tape recorder. He had left in on a table while doing his act. It turns out Elaine does it as a joke, but the males, especially George, drool all over it. She confides in him and he gets all turned on, even though she was only acting. There are so many hilarious interactions with the whole lack of knowledge thing going on. By the way, Kramer has a state of the art Camcorder with VHS tape. Seems like a hundred years ago.

Rarely has there been a comedic ensemble as good as Seinfeld's, mainly because the show allowed the four protagonists to team up differently every time. The most hilarious proof of this is The Tape, which features the best pairing of George and Elaine ever conceived in the series' nine years.

Remarkably, the episode focuses on pretty much one single storyline: with the exception of the bits where George orders hair-growing cream from China, the narrative is constantly occupied by the guys' reactions to a dirty message a female fan left on Jerry's tape recorder and George's adorably ridiculous infatuation with Elaine when he discovers she's the one who did it. This leads to some incredibly embarrassing moments when he has to explain the situation to jerry without revealing the whole truth.

Aside from her acerbic wit (always sharp as a state-of-the-art razor), Elaine's best quality is her sex appeal, and the show's writers always knew how to exploit it to great comic effect. For a good example of this, look no further than the scene where she reenacts the dirty talk in front of an unsuspecting George (if only all moronic sitcom sidekicks were like him...), or the perfectly timed epilogue, with all four main performers on top form. Although it's Jason Alexander who, as usual, gets most of the funniest scenes, the episode is in fact dominated by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, body and voice (sorry, I just had to say that). The only scene that comes close to her standout effort without her being in it (for the most part, at least) is when Jerry and George engage in a weirdly funny conversation about the habit of saying "hello". Priceless, as always.

Terrific comedy throughout the episode. Julia as Elaine and Jason as George just nailed it. Each and every scene is funny. Best episode of the series thus far.

Not bloody likely.

March the 15th on year 2023rd

What was this episode about?: George seeks a hair cure and falls in love with Elaine.

Kramer films stuff.

Elaine talks dirty on Jerry's tape.

Jerry is Jerry.

Story and production: A decent coyote, road runner episode.

George storyline carries this episode.

I felt the ending was weird with George and Elaine showing up at Jerries right after Jerry arrives late at night.

Goof: this is season 3 and Kramer spoke to his mom. But in the episode where Kramers first name is revealed he states he has not spoken to his mom way longer than 4 years.

Highlight: The Chinese guy scene... George running back and forth.

Villian: N/A

What can be learned?: just shave off your scraps

Verdict: Elaine needs my Snake.