The Seinfeld Chronicles (Pilot)

Episode 1: Good News, Bad News

Episode #1; 1:1


Our Summary

Jerry gets tips from Kramer and George about a girl he met that's coming to New York.

To fully understand the numbering system, one must realize that although this is the pilot episode and therefore does not really start season 1, but the second episode created starts season 1, nevertheless we call this episode 1:1 (season 1, episode 1.)


Our Commentary

The opening comedy bit by Jerry is great stuff. The camera movements within the comedy club are a little disorienting. As for the episode itself:
First of all, I realize that this is the first episode ever created, so the following commentary can't be blamed on LD and JS. That said, Jerry is so whiney (even for those people who say that he always whines, this is REALLY whining) and so unsure of himself: both totally un-Jerry like. George is also extremely whiney and is the more knowledgable of the two friends: both totally un-George like. This can all be found during the opening scene at PETE's!, not Monk's, with Claire becoming the world's most involved with the customer waitress. Additionally, the opening lines of George's button being in no man's land (obviously and perfectly referenced in the last episode (9:24 The Finale Part 2) while they're in jail, linking up the beginning and end of Seinfeld, as JS, the writers, and especially LD - check out CYE!, love to do) are classic JS/LD comedy. Take a listen:

However, instead of George continuing with Jerry in this comical banter, he needs to act like it's a weird thing that Jerry is analyzing something so insignificant. THAT IS THE SHOW! George then tries to end the back and forth about his button when he should let the conversation end on its own volition, I said momentum, same thing. There are also 2 lines in that opening scene which are despicably voiced: Jerry answering about the girl "ya know, but it was great" and George answering "Devil you". I want to jump over this counter and punch George in the brain. Then in the next scene at the laundry place, Jerry again has some good funny comedy, but George needs to act the big shot and ask everyone in the place if they had any questions about Jerry's comedic explanation to George about overdrying. Seinfeld is all about them doing their nutty observations while other people are in the background, totally oblivious to the lines that we hear.
Then, we have Jerry in his apartment (wrong outside apartment shot) and totally weird apartment. The windows, the fence, the couch, the painting in the hallway, the apartment number, not to mention what the hell is Jerry wearing!?!?! Kramer doesn't popin, he knocks. But then maybe only Kramer pops in, while KESSLER knocks. (What's the deal with Hoffman?!?!?) Kramer is really goofy, not smooth, his hair is way too low, and his voice is too dumb sounding, not to mention his attire. Then, don't get me started on George and Kramer interacting. George is afraid of Kramer, either that he's gonna hurt him or that he's gonna give him some sort of disease. What's going on with George's hat? Is he a golfer or a cabbie? And his shirts have been purple and bright orange?!?! Where the heck is this dog coming from? One cool thing that happens is that George executes a self fulfilling prophecy by giving Jerry advice, but that he doesn't ever follow his own advice of always doing (5:22) the opposite. Then, overall, the episode feels like 10 seconds have gone by. Too much time is spent in each scene, and there is only one event occuring. We have no idea what the other characters are doing except for Jerry. To call George and Kramer peripheral characters would be an insult to future peripheral characters Bania and Whatley!

In the end though, we must look at the positives that are begun in the pilot, and make the series what it is. Jerry does funny standup. He's watching the Mets game and eating cereal. Kramer does a semi-opening big mouth about the Mets game. Kramer gets food from Jerry's fridge. He also gives a great eyebrow look that reminds one of the future Kramer he will evolve into. There are some great observations and comedic moments. That said, I still want to beat up George: "DEVIL YOU!!!"


EPISODE GUIDE from Jerry Seinfeld: The Entire Domain by Kathleen Tracy

PILOT The Seinfeld Chronicles (July 5, 1989)

SUMMARY Jerry doesn't know what to expect when a woman he met on the road says that she is coming into town.

OF SPECIAL NOTE The pilot was later aired as the episode "Good News, Bad News." Jerry calls Michael Richards's character Kessler, although in the TV Guide he is listed as Hoffman.

TRIVIA Jerry lives in apartment 311.

DIRECTOR Art Wolff

TELEPLAY Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld

GUEST CAST Pamela Brull (Laura); Lee Garlington (Claire)


Stats


2nd Siyum

Errors
Jerry calls Kramer Kessler and in TV guide he's Hoffman

First Times
Jerry
George
Kramer

The only ep not to have the word "The" in it is 1:4 Male Unbonding. The other episodes don't really count as they are either 2 part episodes or clip episodes. ["Of Mastadons and Men", which is really 3:18 The Boyfriend Part 2, or as originally broadcast, like all 2 parters, as just The Boyfriend; 6:14 Highlights of 100 Part 1 and 6:15 Highlights of 100 Part 2, once again, originally broadcast as Highlights of 100; and the Pilot episode (this episode!) of Seinfeld, which was later renamed for syndication as Good News, Bad News, or as we affectionately call it, 1:1 Good News, Bad News (The Seinfeld Chronicles Pilot).]

3rd Siyum

Clothing - George
Button down purple shirt, beige pants, watch on left wrist. Green jacket and brown belt.
Gray cabbie hat, orange shirt with jeans
Clothing - Jerry
(Standup)Gray jacket with beige shirt, another one with blue pants
Gray and blue shirt with jeans, gray undershirt, watch on left wrist
Blue shirt, orange pants pajamas, gray sneakers, white socks, gray undershirt
Red shirt, blue jeans
(Standup)Gray sports jacket, red shirt button down with collar, blue jeans
Clothing - Kramer
Brown and beige checkered robe with 2 pockets and brown slippers
Blue shirt, beige pants under robe
Lines - Jerry
Sarcastic - "Me too" = 1
Lines - George
Wait a second = 2
Chh = 2
Lines - Kramer
Mumble = 2
Choo = 1
Lines - Miscellaneous
Repeating yourself = 20
Repeating someone else = 11
Actions - Kramer
Tap a tap = 1
Yeah that's right look with a smug smile with the eyebrows = 2
Hit = 1
Actions - Miscellaneous
Snapping = 1
Food - Jerry
Regular coffee - Pete's
Unknown drink - Jerry's
White wine - Jerry's
Food - George
Decaf coffee - Pete's
Unknown drink - Jerry's
Food - Kramer
2 slices of bread, looks like Rye - Jerry's Apartment
Shots - Jerry's Building
Pan right apartment shot at night = 2 (wrong apartment)
Inside Jerry's Apartment = 2
Shots - Miscellaneous
Outside Airplane = 2
Inside Airport = 1
Outside Airport = 1
TV - Baseball
Mets = 1
Cereal in Apartment
Night on couch = 1
Food from Fridge - Jerry
Milk = 1
Food from Fridge - Kramer
Meat = 1
Telephone - Jerry
2 rings, gets phone, wrong number
1 ring
Jerry walking around with black corded phone
2 rings, first fancy phone answering, with a punch
someone else talking on the phone
Jerry's Apartment
Gray leather couch, room for two, dartboard to left of bathroom, lamp to the right of the couch, black table in between the lamp and the couch. Mets poster to right of bathroom. Single fridge with freezer on top, swings open from left to right, gray with brown handles. 3 windows, a fence, view of the city
Jobs - Kramer
Almost a lawyer by about half an inch
First Times
Jerry words (Standup) = "You know, why we're here?"
Jerry words (episode) = "Seems to me, that button is in the worst possible spot."
George words = "Are you through?"
Kramer knocks
Kramer Words = "You up?"
Kramer in Jerry's apartment
Kramer semi-opening big mouth = "Boy the Mets really blew it tonight!"
Kramer reading a magazine
George in Jerry's apartment
Kramer and George converse
Animal
Dog
Errors
Morty is a smoker, yet he never smokes
Painting in hallway, instead of Kramer's apartment

3rd Siyum Updates of 2nd Siyum (3rd Siyum Revised)

First Times
Eating Cereal

Tells
The Greeting, Puts bags down before greeting, The lip area, A hug, A shake, Hand sandwich


Tours

129 West 81st Street

Full Script