The Understudy

Season 6, Episode 24, Aired
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Episode Summary

George and Jerry are suspected, by the cast and Kramer, of deliberately injuring Bette Midler during a softball game, giving Jerry's girlfriend, Bette's understudy, a chance to perform. Kramer becomes Bette's personal assistant. Elaine gets George's father to translate for her when she suspects that her manicurist has made some obvious snide remarks in a foreign tongue. While crying about losing her manicurists, Elaine meets the owner of a catalog, J. Peterman, and gets herself a new job.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (3)

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  • I didn't really like it

    5.1
    "Mediocre"
    By Headbanger15, Dec 11, 2011 Report Abuse
    When you have Asperger Syndrome, you always want to see a bad episode have a really good ending. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen in the Seinfeld world.

    In this episode, Jerry and George's baseball team were supposed to be playing against a team featuring actress Bette Midler (that's right, the poodle from Oliver and Company) Running towards home, George runs right into her, knocking her on the ground. Bette is in pain and has to go to the hospital. George is blamed by everyone.

    Unfortunately, everyone also thinks Jerry put George up to it. Now everyone hates him! After running away from an angry mob, he and George hide out in Jerry's apartment. Unfortunately, Kramer is able to get in and scolds Jerry for what he did. HE DIDN'T DO DAMN ANYTHING!

    Kramer takes care of Bette at the hospital. He makes her a Macoroni Midler. Bette needs a replacement for the play and Jerry's crybaby girlfriend agrees to replace her. It's a huge failure. She cries over a hot dog falling on the ground...but not by her grandma dying. Wha? o__O That's pretty silly actually.

    But on the stage, her shoe gets untied. She gets completely out of character and cries. Cry, cry, cry. And in the end, no problems are solved. This season finale may be funny by some, but I've got my opinions and that blaming someone for something they didn't do and the problem not being solved isn't good.

    5.1/10moreless

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  • Season 6, Episode 22.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Wanted23, Aug 14, 2008 Report Abuse
    Wow! This episode was spectacular! I mean it, it rocked! The first 10 minutes alone were hilarious! Jerry's girlfriend crying was hilarious! I loved it! Then, Bette Midler! George hurt her playing baseball! Haha! I love Seinfeld! Jerry is hilarious! Kramer had keys like a janitor! Elaine at the nail salon was hilarious! I think the King Of Queens got their idea for "Black List" from this episode. I loved when Frank spoke Chinese and his Korean ex-girlfriend worked at the nail salon. It was hilarious! They were kicked out of the cab for injuring Bette Midler! Wow! This episode rocked! Seinfeld, unlike many shows, was extremely funny in its later seasons, instead of dying down.moreless

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  • A crying shame!

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By GeorgeJobson, Jan 08, 2007 Report Abuse
    "the Understudy" is a girl who can't stop crying. she is also Jerry's girlfriend, the latest of a long line of girlfriends. Because of that relationship, Jerry and George are blame for putting Bette Milder in the hospital over a colision at home plate during a solfball game. Bette Milser plays herself. She was wonderful. I like her chemistry with Cosmo Krammer. Jerry's girlfriend learns of her Grandmother's death and didn't break down, when she dropped her hot dog, she broke down and cried. You figure that out. I'm not even going to try. Rounding out the half hour, elaine vs. a group of Korean women.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • The actual J. Peterman Catalogue is based in Lexington, Kentucky and not New York City. Edit
    • Goof: During the softball game, George knocks over Bette Midler, trying to score a run. The umpire yells "Safe!" but if you look closely, George never touches home plate. Edit
    • Kramer doesn't ask for the cookie because the guy on the other line heard Bette ask for it. She's a singer...she projects her voice. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • Bette Midler was credited as a "Special Apperance". Edit
    • First appearence of the character J. Peterman. Edit
    • Elaine says "...they're the BEST, Jerry, the BEST" - just like Kenny Bania always says. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Kramer: You know, maybe in Korean 'dog' isn't an insult. Could be like the word 'fox' to us. Oh, she's a DOG! Edit
    • Kramer: It's macaroni Midler! Edit
    • Kramer: Oh, understudies are a very shifty bunch. The substitute teachers of the theater world. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Jerry: So, your Grandmother dies, and you don't cry, but a hotdog makes you lose control. The line 'A hot dog makes her lose control' is from the theme song of The Patty Duke Show. Edit
    • This episode was a parody of the 1994 ice skating incident, when Nancy Kerrigan did to Tanya Harding what George did to Bette Midler. Edit

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The Understudy
Ep 23
The Face Painter
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