Seinfeld: The Old Man | Episode 58 Recap Podcast

Listen to the Podcast: Rob Cesternino and Akiva Wienerkur continue their journey to watch every Seinfeld episode as they discuss Season 4, Episode 18, “The Old Man.” Rob Cesternino and Akiva Wienerkur aren’t going to be dipping their heads in oil, but the did get together once again to recap the latest episode for Seinfeld: A Post Show Recap. This week, they break down “The Old Man”, which first aired February 18, 1993 as part of season four. As always, there was a bit of current Seinfeld news this week. Rob took Hulu for a spin to watch this week’s episode, and enjoyed having the option, and even thought that the commercial interruptions weren’t terribly frequent. His one complaint was about the less than great video quality. Akiva shared that it was Larry David’s 68th birthday the day they taped the podcast. Also, he went further in depth about some of the media rankings of Seinfeld shows. The list done for New York Magazine that Akiva had noticed was missing an episode turned out to be completely different than Akiva’s, ranking many of Akiva’s least favorites fairly high. He did point out that Vanity Fair’s list was much more in tune with his opinions. Before answering the Seinfeld Scene It trivia question, Akiva thought to point out that the questions should really be about episodes they already watched, but Rob vetoed that quickly. Akiva was correct in guessing this week despite it being from a later season, bringing his record to 1-1. Jerry’s opening stand-up is a bit about life expectancies being so much higher than a thousand years ago. The episode opens with George lamenting his lot in life to Jerry at the diner, deciding that he wants to date a woman who doesn’t speak English, while Jerry suggests dating a mute. Elaine comes in, suggesting George could find some fulfillment from helping the elderly like she’s doing. He seems keen on the idea, while Jerry scoffs at it. Rob pointed out that this episode had a lot of great lines in it despite lacking a great plot. Elaine ends up convincing both Jerry and George to volunteer for the organization she’s joined. At Jerry’s apartment, Kramer comes in and quickly admonishes Jerry and George for volunteering, calling it all a scam. Rob thought this line didn’t end up paying off, with Akiva thinking it’d been funnier to have Kramer afraid of old people. Newman then comes in, and he and Kramer share their plan to sell used records, asking Jerry for his old records to help the cause. George is prompted to ask Newman what he does for a living, and Newman goes on a rant about how postal workers go crazy because the mail never stops. Rob explained to Akiva that this theory is where the saying “going postal” comes from. In the next scene at the record store, Kramer and Newman are floored when they are only offered $5 for all of Jerry’s records. Rob shared that he’s sold some DVDs and video games during some tighter times in his youth, while Akiva had never, since he hates money. Meanwhile, Jerry shows up at old man Sid’s apartment that the agency assigned him, but the old man doesn’t want him there, yelling at him throughout the whole visit. Before leaving, Jerry learns that Sid is getting rid of all his records, prompting him to offer Kramer and Newman to come take them off his hands. George is at the diner with the old man he was assigned, peppering him with questions about how he deals with oncoming death. The old man explains that he just doesn’t care about that, and when George keeps with the questions, he finally walks out on George, leaving him with the bill. As Elaine walks in to visit with her old lady, she immediately gasps, since the lady has a giant goiter on her neck. Elaine does her best to not look horrified, but not very well. Jerry,