The Bookstore

Season 9, Episode 17, Aired
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Episode Summary

Jerry is disturbed when spots Uncle Leo shoplifting. George takes a book into a bookstore's bathroom, and is outraged when they force him to buy it. Kramer and Newman plan to bring rickshaws to New York. Meanwhile, Elaine embarrasses herself again at the annual Peterman party - this time by making out with a stranger.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (3)

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  • Funny stuff.

    8.0
    "Great"
    By cactusjack39, Mar 23, 2009 Report Abuse
    I liked this episode as I thought it was decent. I thought that it was funny in the point that it was just like many of the other episodes. I liked the storyline where George is caught taking a book into a bathroom. He is forced to buy the book and he doesn't like it at all. Elaine was funny with her plot of making a fool of herself at a party. Jerry was funny as was Kramer. Overall, this was a decent episode with good comedy, funny moments, decent storylines, and decent acting. I was entertained and I was also interested. Thank you.moreless

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  • What a funny episode...

    9.9
    "Superb"
    By titiembe, Dec 26, 2007 Report Abuse
    This was a hilarious episode. The ending was the best, I loved it when Jerry was trying to save uncle Leo because he snitched on him and got him in jail, and then when George is shoplifting because he took a book to the bathroom, and can't get rid of it, Jerry blames George and then Uncle Leo is free (I think). I loved when Jerry was like "swarm!" Hah hah. I also liked Elain's plot, she doesn't want to be the office skank hah hah and goes through a lot of turmoil with her "fake boyfriend". The whole "fake relationship" thing was really funny to watch. Kramer's part was funny as well, and in the end his and Newmans rickshaw hits Elaine's previous fake boyfriend. Hah hah.moreless

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  • More great side plots. This one really makes you laugh.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By geoellis2, Jun 13, 2006 Report Abuse
    The Seinfeld crew really take some chances and try to relate some far-reaching sub-plots in this one. Especially good is the Kramer-Newman rickshaw business. It should have been featured more. The George toilet/defiling of the art history book is the main thread, though it's possibly the weakest one going on here. Jerry makes it worthwhile, though, in the last scene, when he screams "That guy! Swarm! Swarm!". The Elaine story is pretty weak. But humor is humor, and it sometimes doesn't matter how dumb it is. At this point in the series, we have already come to know Kramer as being an outrageously funny guy, so we should get more of him in this episode. It seems to focus too much on Jerry, who, to be honest, doesn't have that much to do. He does deliver some classic one-liners, though, and altogether it's enough to rate the episode as a pretty good one.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • Two commercials featuring Seinfeld alumni ran during the original showing of this episode. First, an ad for the movie "My Giant" features a scene with Estelle Harris as Billy Crystal's character's Aunt Rose; and second, an ad for the Seville STS with Patrick Warburton as a motorcycle riding policeman pulling over someone's car so he can admire it. Edit
    • This episode marks the second appearance of Rebecca DeMornay, the worker at the homeless shelter. In this episode, she refuses to take George's book that was flagged for being in the bathroom. She also appeared in "The Muffin Tops" (season 8, episode 21) and was upset with Elaine for donating only the muffin stumps to the homeless. Edit
    • Goof: In one of the opening scenes that features Kramer doing a series of random things in Jerry's apartment, Kramer has attached a hose to the kitchen sink and is apparently putting out a fire in one of the back rooms. As he pulls on the hose, the sink is clearly moving and is not attached to the counter. Edit

  • Notes

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    • When the security guard is told by Jerry that Uncle Leo is stealing a book, the guard says into his walkie-talkie, "We have a 51-50 in paperback." 51-50 is an actual police code used to describe a suspect who is "mentally unstable." Edit

  • Quotes

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    • Elaine: (after helping a co-worker through withdrawals) I even got an idea out of it… The Detox Poncho. Edit
    • Jerry: (about the book George took into the bathroom) That book has been on a wild ride. Edit
    • Elaine: We made out at the table like our plane was going down. Edit

  • Allusions

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    • When Jerry had that dream of Leo in jail, the theme music of Side Show Bob from "The Simpsons" is heard.

      Edit
    • Elaine: (referring to Zach) Now I stand up for myself by telling everybody I'm dumping his sorry ass, and I'm the office-- Jerry: Tina Turner? Tina Turner is a singer who began her career with her husband, Ike Turner, forming the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Jerry is referring to the fact that Tina Turner famously left Ike in 1976. Edit
    • George: They made me buy it (the book). A hundred bucks this thing cost me. How dare they? I got news for you, if it wasn't for the toilet, there would be no books. Jerry: Yeah, I understand Gutenberg used to spend a lot of time in there. Johannes Gutenberg, a German printer, was the first European to use movable printing type and is credited with the invention of the mechanical printing press. Edit

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