The sixth episode of Seinfeld’s ninth and final season, “The Merv Griffin Show,” is the show’s 162nd overall. This episode first aired on November 6, 1997. It was written by Bruce Eric Kaplan and was directed by Andy Ackerman.
Synopsis:
In the hilarious Seinfeld episode “The Merv Griffin Show,” the gang gets caught up in a series of wacky misadventures, from Kramer’s revival of a classic talk show to Jerry’s attempt to play with his girlfriend’s vintage toys.
Plot Highlights:
- Kramer’s Talk Show Obsession: Kramer discovers the discarded set of The Merv Griffin Show and decides to revive the show in his apartment, complete with a makeshift set and celebrity guests.
- George’s Pigeon Problem: George’s girlfriend, Miranda, is horrified when he runs over some pigeons with his car, leading to a series of mishaps involving a squirrel and a hefty vet bill.
- Jerry’s Toy Antics: Jerry’s new girlfriend, Celia, has a collection of vintage toys that she refuses to let him touch. He drugs her with a nighttime pain reliever so he can play with the toys while she sleeps.
- Elaine’s Stealthy Co-worker: Elaine’s new co-worker, Lou, has the uncanny ability to move silently, stealing credit for her work. She tries to outsmart him by wearing wrestling shoes but ends up with shoddy work.
- A Chaotic Talk Show Finale: Kramer’s Merv Griffin Show turns into a tabloid talk show with a hawk, an angry Celia, and a squirrel on the loose, resulting in the destruction of the set.
Characters:
- Jerry Seinfeld: The observational comedian, caught between his desire to play with Celia’s toys and the potential consequences of his actions.
- George Costanza: The neurotic and unlucky everyman, facing the wrath of his girlfriend and the financial burden of a squirrel’s surgery.
- Elaine Benes: The independent and assertive writer, battling her silent co-worker and the temptation of Celia’s gumball machine.
- Cosmo Kramer: The eccentric and unpredictable neighbor, obsessed with reviving The Merv Griffin Show in his apartment.
- Newman: Jerry’s nemesis and Kramer’s co-host on the makeshift talk show.
- Celia: Jerry’s new girlfriend, the owner of a coveted vintage toy collection.
- Miranda: George’s girlfriend, appalled by his pigeon-related actions and concerned for the well-being of animals.
Themes:
- Obsession and Compulsion: The episode explores the characters’ various obsessions, from Kramer’s fascination with The Merv Griffin Show to Jerry’s desire to play with Celia’s toys.
- Social Awkwardness and Miscommunication: The characters’ social interactions are filled with awkward moments and misunderstandings, leading to a series of comical situations.
- The Quirks of Everyday Life: Seinfeld excels at capturing the absurdity of everyday life, highlighting the strange and hilarious situations that can arise from seemingly ordinary circumstances.
Memorable Moments:
- Kramer’s Merv Griffin Show: The scenes of Kramer hosting his makeshift talk show are both hilarious and surreal, showcasing his unique brand of humor.
- George’s Squirrel Saga: George’s attempts to avoid hitting animals with his car lead to a series of unfortunate events, culminating in the expensive surgery for a squirrel.
- Jerry’s Toy Heist: Jerry’s elaborate plan to drug Celia and play with her toys is both audacious and comical, highlighting his childlike fascination with vintage toys.
- Elaine’s Silent Co-worker: Elaine’s struggle with her stealthy co-worker is a relatable office scenario, showcasing the challenges of dealing with difficult colleagues.
- The Chaotic Talk Show Finale: The episode’s climax, with the hawk, the squirrel, and an angry Celia, is a perfect example of Seinfeld’s ability to create humor from chaos.
Overall, “The Merv Griffin Show” is a classic Seinfeld episode that captures the show’s signature blend of wit, absurdity, and relatable characters. It’s a hilarious reminder that even the most ordinary situations can turn into extraordinary comedic fodder.
Plot[]
Kramer discovers the set of the old Merv Griffin Show in a dumpster. Georges girlfriend, Miranda, is disgusted when George runs over some pigeons with his car. George thinks that humans and pigeons “have a deal” in which humans will overlook the pigeons’ statue defecation if they move out of the way when they approach, and that the pigeons have broken this agreement. Jerry is fascinated with his girlfriend Celias old toy collection that she wont let him near. Elaines new co-worker is a real “sidler” (Brent Hinkley): he moves silently behind people. He causes Elaine to spill coffee that creates a stain that looks like Fidel Castro.
Kramer takes the discarded set pieces and recreates The Merv Griffin Show set in his apartment. Acting as though the show is still in broadcast, he poses as the new host, introducing guests onto the set with the show’s theme music and interviewing everyone who walks into his apartment. Kramer even ends interviews to cut to a “commercial break,” during which he eats a bag of chips and drinks a Diet Coke before declaring, “We’re back!” Elaine plots to outsidle the sidler who might be cheating on her to land a job. While George swerves to avoid a pigeon, he hits a squirrel. Jerry schemes for an opportunity to play with his girlfriends toys. Kramer adds Newman as a co-host for his show to help relieve the pressure of being a host. Jerry claims on his show that he has drugged his girlfriend in order to finally figure out how to play with the toys. Kramer is disgusted.
Miranda insists that George pay for the special surgery required to fix the squirrel. Elaine gives Tic Tacs to the sidler to make him noisy; the sound annoys J. Peterman. After serving turkey and wine for dinner, Jerry and George take Jerry’s girlfriend to a home movie in the hopes that the tryptophan in the wine and the turkey will put her to sleep. Once she is asleep, Jerry and George happily play with the toys. Later, Elaine joins in to play with an Easy-Bake Oven.
Kramer chooses to rename the program “Scandals and Animals” out of concern for his “ratings.” On the “show” (still without cameras) Kramer gets Jerry to admit that he has been drugging his girlfriend. The irate girlfriend, who was “backstage,” is then brought out by Kramer, and she ends their relationship while Kramer and Newman try their hardest to rile up the nonexistent crowd, a la The Jerry Springer Show.
When animal expert Jim Fowler shows up on Kramer’s set for the Animals segment of the show, he asks, “Where are the cameras?” George brings the squirrel over to get Fowler’s opinion, and the hawk chases it. In the process, the Merv Griffin set is destroyed, and Kramer remarks, “Hostining a talk show was just too much pressure.” “.
Notes About Nothing[]
- In 1981, a youthful Jerry Seinfeld made an appearance on The Merv Griffin Show.
- Kramer’s choice of “commercial break” music is actually the theme song from the Season 4 finale of the sitcom “Jerry.”
- Elaine responds, “Let it go,” to Jerry’s line, “Hakuna Matata,” which happens to be the title of a popular Disney song sixteen years later.
- There’s a widespread misperception that turkey is one of the best foods for tryptophan, an important amino acid. The true relationship between sleeping after eating turkey is the overindulgence in calories. By the way, bananas and whole milk have higher tryptophan content than turkey.
What’s that stuff in turkey that makes you sleepy…
FAQ
What is the Seinfeld Thanksgiving episode?
Who played Celia on Seinfeld?
What episode is Kramer a turkey?
Who wrote The Merv Griffin Show Seinfeld?
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“The Merv Griffin Show”
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Written by
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Bruce Eric Kaplan
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Production code
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906
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Original air date
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November 6, 1997
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Guest appearances
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