50 Fun Facts About Seinfeld

What is the name of the coffee shop where Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer frequently hang out?

Monk's Café (based on the real Tom's Restaurant on Broadway in Manhattan) is the gang's regular hangout spot throughout all nine seasons of Seinfeld.

What is George Costanza's famous catchphrase when he gets upset about a situation?

George's father Frank Costanza introduced 'Serenity now!' as a stress management technique, but George famously adopted and screamed it in moments of frustration.

In 'The Contest,' what are the four main characters competing to see who can go the longest without doing?

In the iconic Season 4 episode 'The Contest,' the gang bets on who can go the longest without masturbating — though the word is never actually used in the episode, famously referred to as 'master of my domain.'

What is Kramer's first name?

Kramer's first name is Cosmo, which wasn't revealed until Season 6, Episode 19 ('The Switch'). For years, the character was known only as 'Kramer.'

Who is the actor that plays Jerry Seinfeld's neighbor Kramer?

Michael Richards played the iconic role of Cosmo Kramer throughout all nine seasons of Seinfeld, known for his physical comedy and sliding entrances through Jerry's door.

What phrase does the Soup Nazi use to deny customers their soup?

'No soup for you!' became one of the most iconic catchphrases from the show, uttered by the strict soup vendor Yev Kassem (the Soup Nazi) in the Season 7 episode 'The Soup Nazi.'

What holiday did Frank Costanza create as an alternative to Christmas?

Festivus, celebrated on December 23rd, was created by Frank Costanza and features an aluminum pole, the Airing of Grievances, and Feats of Strength. The holiday has since been adopted by real people worldwide.

What is George Costanza's occupation for most of the series when he works for the New York Yankees?

George works as the Assistant to the Traveling Secretary for the New York Yankees, a job he got through a chance encounter with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.

What was the original title of the Seinfeld pilot?

The pilot episode was called 'The Seinfeld Chronicles' and aired on July 5, 1989. NBC initially passed on ordering more episodes before eventually picking up the series.

Who co-created Seinfeld with Jerry Seinfeld?

Larry David co-created Seinfeld and served as head writer and executive producer for the first seven seasons. Many of George Costanza's storylines were based on Larry David's real-life experiences.

What is Elaine Benes's signature bad habit that becomes a running joke throughout the series?

Elaine's infamously bad dancing — featuring jerky thumbs and kicks — is one of the show's most memorable running gags, first showcased in 'The Little Kicks' (Season 8).

What does Jerry do for a living on the show?

Jerry Seinfeld plays a fictionalized version of himself as a stand-up comedian living in New York City. Many episodes feature clips of his stand-up routines.

What is Newman's occupation?

Newman, played by Wayne Knight, is a postal worker (mailman) for the United States Postal Service. He is Jerry's nemesis and Kramer's best friend.

How does Jerry typically greet Newman?

Jerry's deadpan, contemptuous delivery of 'Newman...' (and Newman's equally disdainful 'Jerry...') became one of the show's most iconic recurring bits.

In 'The Marine Biologist,' what does George pull out of the whale's blowhole?

In one of the show's greatest punchlines, George reveals he pulled a Titleist golf ball from the whale's blowhole — which Kramer had been hitting into the ocean earlier in the episode.

What phrase does Elaine use to dismissively summarize boring details in a story?

'Yada yada yada' became a cultural phenomenon after the Season 8 episode 'The Yada Yada,' where characters use the phrase to skip over important (sometimes crucial) details in their stories.

What is the name of Jerry's apartment building neighbor who is an elderly retired woman?

Mrs. Hudwalker is a recurring background character and neighbor in Jerry's apartment building at 129 West 81st Street.

What real-life person is George Costanza primarily based on?

George Costanza is famously based on co-creator Larry David. Many of George's most outrageous storylines — including quitting a job and showing up Monday as if nothing happened — actually happened to Larry David.

What is the address of Jerry's apartment?

Jerry's apartment is at 129 West 81st Street, Apartment 5A, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. This address is referenced multiple times throughout the series.

In 'The Opposite,' what strategy does George adopt that suddenly makes his life successful?

In 'The Opposite' (Season 5), George realizes every decision he's ever made has been wrong, so he starts doing the exact opposite of his instincts — and his life immediately improves dramatically.

What is the name of the actor who plays George Costanza?

Jason Alexander played George Costanza for all nine seasons of Seinfeld. Alexander is also known for his Broadway career and voice acting work.

What network originally aired Seinfeld?

Seinfeld aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998. It became one of NBC's flagship shows and part of their legendary Thursday night 'Must See TV' lineup.

How many seasons did Seinfeld run?

Seinfeld ran for 9 seasons (1989-1998) with a total of 180 episodes. NBC reportedly offered Jerry Seinfeld over $100 million to do a 10th season, but he declined.

What is the name of Elaine's on-again, off-again boss at Pendant Publishing and later J. Peterman?

J. Peterman (played by John O'Hurley) is Elaine's eccentric boss at the J. Peterman catalog company. He's known for his dramatic storytelling and world travels. Mr. Lippman was her earlier boss at Pendant Publishing.

What is the Festivus tradition where you tell everyone how they've disappointed you?

The Airing of Grievances is a Festivus tradition where, during dinner, each person tells everyone else all the ways they have been disappointed by them over the past year. Frank Costanza famously begins with 'I got a lot of problems with you people!'

What type of car does Jerry obsess over getting cleaned in 'The Dealership'?

Jerry drives a Saab 900 Convertible throughout much of the series. In various episodes, he's very particular about the car's cleanliness and condition.

What is the name of the woman Jerry breaks up with because he can't remember her name, only that it rhymes with a female body part?

In 'The Junior Mint' (Season 4), Jerry can't remember his girlfriend's name. He guesses names that rhyme with body parts (Mulva?) before she storms out. He then shouts 'Dolores!' as she leaves — rhyming with 'clitoris.'

Which actor plays Frank Costanza, George's father?

Jerry Stiller (father of Ben Stiller) played the bombastic Frank Costanza starting in Season 5. John Randolph originally played the role in one episode before being replaced by Stiller.

What candy does Kramer accidentally drop into a patient during surgery in 'The Junior Mint'?

In 'The Junior Mint,' Kramer drops a Junior Mint from the observation gallery into an open surgical patient. Remarkably, the patient recovers — the mint apparently had a healing effect.

What is the name of the J. Peterman reality tour that Kramer sells stories to Peterman for?

Kramer sells his wild life stories to J. Peterman for use in Peterman's autobiography. Later, Kramer conducts 'The Peterman Reality Tour,' a bus tour of real NYC locations from Peterman's (actually Kramer's) life stories.

What game show does Jerry appear on, losing to a mail carrier?

In 'The Bubble Boy,' Jerry is supposed to appear on Jeopardy! However, it's actually implied rather than shown. More memorably, in other episodes the Merv Griffin Show set is recreated by Kramer.

What is Seinfeld commonly described as being a show about?

Seinfeld is famously described as 'a show about nothing.' This description originated from a meta-storyline in Season 4 where Jerry and George pitch a show about nothing to NBC executives.

What does George pretend to be when he meets a woman at the beach in 'The Marine Biologist'?

Jerry tells a woman that George is a marine biologist, forcing George to maintain the lie. This leads to the climactic scene where George must save a beached whale.

What profession does George often falsely claim to be when trying to impress women?

George frequently claims to be an architect when trying to impress people, particularly women. It's his go-to fake profession throughout the series, as he considers it impressive and unverifiable.

What is the name of the woman that both Jerry and George date who is the inspiration for Elaine?

Comedian Carol Leifer, who dated Jerry Seinfeld in real life and was a writer on the show, is widely considered one of the inspirations for the character of Elaine Benes.

How does George's fiancée Susan Ross die?

Susan Ross dies from licking the toxic glue on cheap wedding invitation envelopes that George bought to save money. George's reaction — or lack thereof — is one of the show's darkest comedic moments.

What is the name of the episode where Jerry and the gang are waiting for a table at a Chinese restaurant?

'The Chinese Restaurant' (Season 2) is a groundbreaking bottle episode where the entire plot takes place in real time as Jerry, George, and Elaine wait for a table. NBC executives initially hated the concept.

What recurring character is Jerry's nemesis who works as a postal worker?

Newman (played by Wayne Knight) is Jerry's arch-nemesis. He's a lazy, scheming postal worker who lives in the same building as Jerry and is Kramer's closest friend.

What Larry David show premiered after Seinfeld ended, essentially continuing many Seinfeld-like themes?

Curb Your Enthusiasm premiered on HBO in 2000, two years after Seinfeld ended. Larry David stars as a fictionalized version of himself, and the show shares Seinfeld's observational comedy DNA.

What event causes the gang to be arrested in the series finale?

In the controversial series finale, Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer are arrested in the fictional town of Latham, Massachusetts for violating a Good Samaritan law after they film (and mock) a carjacking instead of helping.

What is the phrase used to describe someone who is both good-looking and has a good personality — making them undateable by Jerry's logic?

In 'The Strike' and other episodes, the term 'two-face' is used for someone who looks attractive in some lighting but not others. Jerry has many quirky dating dealbreakers throughout the series.

What apartment number does Jerry live in?

Jerry lives in apartment 5A at 129 West 81st Street on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Kramer lives across the hall in 5B (though the show is inconsistent about this in early seasons).

In what year did the Seinfeld series finale air?

The Seinfeld series finale aired on May 14, 1998. It was watched by an estimated 76.3 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched TV finales in American history.

What comedian character constantly pesters Jerry to go out to eat and says 'That's gold, Jerry! Gold!'?

Kenny Bania (played by Steve Hytner) is a hack comedian who constantly pesters Jerry. His catchphrase 'That's gold, Jerry! Gold!' has become widely quoted.

What does Kramer set up in his apartment that turns it into a talk show studio?

In 'The Merv Griffin Show' (Season 9), Kramer finds the old Merv Griffin Show set in a dumpster and installs it in his apartment, conducting interviews with everyone who visits as if they're guests on his show.

What was the name of the fictional sitcom that Jerry and George pitched to NBC within the show?

In the Season 4 story arc, Jerry and George pitch a sitcom called 'Jerry' to NBC — a show about nothing based on Jerry's life. This meta-storyline mirrors the creation of Seinfeld itself.

Which actress plays Elaine Benes?

Julia Louis-Dreyfus played Elaine Benes and won an Emmy for the role. She later starred in The New Adventures of Old Christine and Veep, becoming the most decorated performer in Emmy history for acting.

What is the name of the dentist who converts to Judaism seemingly for the jokes?

Dr. Tim Whatley (played by Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad fame) is Jerry's dentist who converts to Judaism and immediately starts telling Jewish jokes, which offends Jerry — not as a Jew, but as a comedian.

What is the name of George's mother?

Estelle Costanza, played by Estelle Harris, is George's overbearing mother. She and Frank (Jerry Stiller) are one of television's most memorable dysfunctional couples.

In 'The Puffy Shirt,' what does Jerry accidentally agree to wear on the Today Show?

Jerry accidentally agrees to wear Kramer's girlfriend's puffy shirt design on the Today Show because she's a 'low-talker' and he couldn't hear what he was agreeing to. The actual puffy shirt is now in the Smithsonian.