Seinfeld: The Pitch & The Ticket | Episodes 43 & 44 Recap Podcast

Listen to the Podcast: Rob Cesternino and Akiva Wienerkur continue their journey to watch every Seinfeld episode as they discuss Season 4, Episodes 3 & 4, “The Pitch” and “The Ticket.” Rob Cesternino and Akiva Wienerkur aren’t getting Ted Danson money, but they are ready for a second double recap in as many weeks as they continue on covering the Seinfeld series. This time, they’ll break down “The Pitch” and “The Ticket”, which both first aired September 16, 1992 as part of season four. Akiva shared some Seinfeld news before delving into the episode. There was an article in the New York Post about another lost episode that was pulled by NBC for some jokes about race that were deemed controversial. Jerry’s opening standup was a bit about Colonial Williamsburg that Rob noted had nothing to do with the episode premise. The episode opens at a comedy club with Jerry and George talking about toilet paper in historical times. As they are talking, two executives from NBC approach Jerry about their interest in having him develop a sitcom. The next day, George is suggesting several ideas to Jerry for what the show could be, like Jerry as a gymnastics coach or an antique store owner. Kramer suggests he do a show about circus freaks. Newman comes in to trade his helmet for Kramer’s radar detector. When Jerry points out that Kramer is getting the short end of the deal, Kramer tells Jerry the detector didn’t work anyway. Jerry and George go to Monks, still discussing ideas for the show. During a random conversation about salsa, it occurs to George that this type of mundane talking should be the premise of his show, a show about nothing. George thinks there could be characters based on them, Kramer and Elaine. At first Jerry’s not buying it, but starts to warm to the idea as the discussion unfolds. When Jerry talks with Kramer about the idea, Kramer balks, saying he’d only approve a Kramer character if he can play himself. Rob and Akiva mentioned how the real life Kramer must have felt apprehensive about a character based on him since they referred to Kramer as Kessler in the pilot episode. While talking about the show idea, Newman comes in and tells Kramer the radar detector didn’t work and he got a ticket, and now he’ll have bad karma for trading a worthless item. Jerry and George are waiting In the lobby at NBC, and George starts to get very nervous for the impending meeting. While they are waiting, Jerry notices “Crazy” Joe Devola in the hallway. During an awkward conversation, Jerry accidentally mentions Kramer’s party, learning that Devola wasn’t actually invited. At the pitch meeting, things are going well. George makes up that he wrote La Cosina as a way to prove that he belongs there. Jerry doesn’t miss the opportunity to further inquire about this, throwing him under the bus. As Jerry describes their idea to the executives, George takes over the conversation, turning belligerent about the “nothing” idea when they question it. Back at Monks, Jerry lays into George about how it would take a team of psychiatrists to fix whatever is wrong with him. As an aside, George mentions how he found the woman executive Susan attractive, further incensing Jerry. The next scene is Elaine in Europe with her psychiatrist/boyfriend, who is thinking about a patient (Joe Devola) who might be without his medication. Akiva mentioned how these scenes with Elaine were thrown in since Julia Louis-Dreyfus was on hiatus for maternity leave. Back at Jerry’s apartment, Jerry tells Kramer about his slip to Devola, instantly alarming Kramer. George comes in with Susan, who is almost immediately thrown up on by Kramer after he drank expired milk. At Monks, Jerry and George are discussing how the show must be dead now that Kramer has thrown up on...