IMDB Rating of this episode: 7.9/10 stars http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098286/?ref_=ttep_ep1
This episode aired July 5, 1989 (almost 27 years ago!)
Jerry's storyline: Girl wants to visit him while she is in town. He is clueless as to her intentions, but has George by his side for all interpretations. After telling the girl she can stay at his place for two nights, as well as commit to a 5-hour boat ride the next day, he finds out that she is engaged.
Favorite Jerry part: When Jerry answers the phone at night, he says: "If you know what happened in the Met game don't tell me anything I taped it, Hello."
George's storyline: George didn't have his own independent storyline in this episode. He was a "come with guy," as Jerry puts it. He had a lot of good commentary interpreting the signals from statements made by the girl who wanted to stay with Jerry. At one point he tells Jerry to always do the opposite of his instincts even though he never does so himself (but will in a future classic episode).
Favorite George part: George asks the waitress's opinion on whether a girl intends to see Jerry when she comes in to town. While he is asking her he is writing something on a clipboard. When the waitress answers "No," George turns the clipboard around to show that he had been writing "NO" in huge letters.
Kramer's storyline: No individual story. He pops in to see Jerry late at night. He later comes by when George is visiting Jerry. He provides his zany comic relief.
Favorite Kramer part: In Kramer's first appearance he comes in and immediately spoils the Met game for Jerry, and then pulls two slices of bread out of each pocket of his bathrobe and asks, "You got any meat?" Classic introduction to the Kramer character. In fact, the whole first scene with Kramer is one good bit after another.
Elaine's storyline: Not applicable. Elaine does not appear in this episode. It seems like they were maybe going to use the female waitress from this episode as the girl character.
Favorite character in this episode: George. His interpretations of the signals were classic George. Other favorite George part was when he is with Jerry at the airport having a classic Jerry/George conversation about how Jerry will know the girl's intentions based on their greeting. After running through several scenarios in humorous fashion, the girl comes from behind and covers Jerry's eyes and says, "Guess who?" They then do this awkward thing where they grab each other's hands and shake them together. George looks on in confusion. Jerry asks George what he thought about the greeting, and George says, "Yes, the surprise blindfold greeting...that wasn't in the manual."
This is a decent episode. It gives a good intro into the characters. It shows the bantering Jerry/George relationship and the intrusive relationship Kramer has with Jerry. It also shows the very funny awkwardness George has when he is left alone with Kramer. This episode also had a number of scenes of Jerry's stand-up, and each was solid. As I re-watched this episode for this blog, I found myself liking it more than I remembered.
