The Plot: A two part episode featuring the first
appearance of Keith Hernandez. After a
basketball game at the gym, Jerry meets one of his idols, former New York Mets baseball
player Keith Hernandez and
wants to make a good impression. Meanwhile, George is out of time on his unemployment and
he works harder than ever on his scheme to get a 13-week extension. He tells
the unemployment office he was close to a job with Vandelay Industries, a company that makes latex products
and whose main office is Jerry's apartment. Kramer and Newman accuse Hernandez of spitting on them
during a Mets game at Shea Stadium; however, Jerry supports the
"second-spitter theory" that Hernandez was not involved citing the “incontrovertible
laws of physics” or the “magic loogie”. Keith asks Jerry about Elaine's relationship status. Keith makes a
date with her and breaks a date with Jerry.
Having
been busted by his unemployment officer after Kramer unknowingly answers
Jerry's phone, George tries to curb losing his benefits by taking the officer's
daughter out for a date, which goes terribly wrong for him and causes him to
express to Jerry his desire to date a tall woman. Meanwhile, Jerry becomes
jealous that Keith is spending more of his time with Elaine on dates until
Elaine breaks up with Keith because he smokes. When Keith asks Jerry to help
him move his furniture, Jerry finally has enough and breaks up their
friendship. Right then, Kramer and Newman confront Keith on the alleged
"spitting incident." Keith provides them with the truth that, in
fact, he saw the real spitter, Mets relief pitcher Roger McDowell on the “grassy knoll” next to
the player’s entrance. Kramer and Newman then remember that they had taunted
McDowell throughout the game going so far as to pour a beer on him while he was
in the bullpen and they apologize to Keith and offer to help move his
furniture. George rushes in, with one last desperate attempt to win over his
unemployment officer by acquiring a baseball autographed by Hernandez, but he is
too late. As he mopes, a tall woman suddenly appears with George's wallet,
which he had dropped on the sidewalk outside, causing George to give a happy
smile.
Fun Facts:
- The first episode in which the live audience applauds when Kramer enters.
- The first episode in which “Vandelay Industries” is a latex firm.
- The “Magic Loogie Theory” is based on the “Magic Bullet Theory” outlined in “JFK” the Oliver Stone film about the assassination of JFK.
Favorite Quote: Some
of the best one line quotes in show history:
Jerry: I have to dribble, if I give it
to you, you just shoot. You’re a
chucker.
Kramer: Hey, you know this is the first
time we’ve seen each other naked?
George: I’d love to be a Civil War
buff. What do you have to do to be a
buff?
George: You know Keith, what I’ve been wondering, with all these ball clubs flying around all season, don’t you think there would be a plane crash?
Jerry: Newman, Kramer, if you'll indulge me. According to your story Keith passes you and starts walking up the ramp then you say you were struck on the right temple. The spit then proceeds to ricochet off the temple striking Newman between the third and forth rib. The spit then came off the rib turned and hit Newman in the right wrist causing him to drop his baseball cap. The spit then splashed off the wrist, Pauses In mid air mind you- makes a left turn and lands on Newman's left thigh. That is one magic loogie.
Elaine: Well I’d watch that third base coach because I don’t think he’s waving you in.
Favorite Scene: George has told the Unemployment Office that
he is close to landing a job with Vandelay Industries and gives them Jerry’s
phone number. He runs from the office to
Jerry’s apartment to tell him to answer his phone as Vandelay. Thinking he’s beaten the bureaucrat to the punch,
he heads to the bathroom. At that
moment, the phone rings and Kramer answers, not knowing about the Vandelay
scam. As Kramer is telling the
Unemployment Office that they have the wrong number, George comes running out
of the bathroom with his pants around his ankles screaming at Kramer to tell
them they have the right number. He
falls face down onto the floor, crying at the loss of his benefits as Jerry
enters to stare at the half naked Costanza lying on his floor. Pondering the situation, Jerry deadpans:
Jerry: So you want to be my latex salesman.
The Lesson: There are so many storylines in this episode
that I struggled to pull out just one lesson, but then again, I’ve got so many
episodes to go, I can’t afford to waste any good ones. After careful consideration, the primary
lesson provided by this episode is “keep everyone you do business with in
perspective.” Jerry becomes infatuated
with a guy, simply because he is one of the greatest baseball players of all
time. It screws with his head and makes
him doubt himself and how he should interact with Hernandez.
Startups
can fall into the same trap. I can’t
tell you how often we see entrepreneurs come to us and boast that Google,
Microsoft, Twitter or some other corporate giant is reaching out to them as a
potential partner. These companies are
ready to change their business model, their core product or even their marketing
themes, simply to please the corporate all-star. The plain truth is that one of
these giant companies has reached out to them in the first place, because they
saw value in the company just the way it was.
There is no need to change or doubt yourself, just because a recognized
name has taken an interest.
In
the episode, Hernandez tells Jerry he would love to do comedy. Instead of taking it as a compliment, it
furthers Jerry’s insecurity. Startups
are faced with the same insecurities.
Don’t let a bigger brand’s admiration make you question your value.
