Seinfeld is arguably one of the best TV sitcoms of the 1990s. Now that the show is available for streaming, a new generation of viewers is discovering the "show about nothing." They are watching as Jerry goes through a steady roster of girlfriends, cringing over Elaine's dance skills, learning the nuances of Kramer's door bursts, and discovering George's neuroses.
While there have undeniably been many incredible moments at 129 West 81st Street, apartment 5A, there are some episodes of Seinfeld that stand out as being pitch-perfect from beginning to end. All nine seasons have flawless gems that anyone starting the show should watch right away.
10 George Takes "The Nap" at Work
Season 8, Episode 18
Air Date | April 10, 1997 |
Funny Quote | "I'd love a good nap. That's the only thing getting me out of bed in the morning." |
IMDb | 8.7/10 |
George Constanza is self-interested, lazy, and cheap; yet somehow, he's still likable. "The Nap" is one of his best episodes, showing how hard he will work to do no work at all. In season eight, he's working for the New York Yankees as an assistant to the traveling secretary, which is a job as pointless as it sounds. He has ample time to nap under his desk at work.
There's no denying that season eight was a strong season. It has many of the funniest Seinfeld episodes, including the iconic one that featured "yada, yada" as a catchphrase. Fans of the series shouldn't overlook the episode that came before it, "The Nap." It's a perfect episode that shows off George Contanza's brilliance as a character. He's always looking for shortcuts in life, but feels as if a great injustice is served when he doesn't get his way. The episode is also good because each character is on their own dealing with their unique situations.
9 "The Bizarro Jerry" Shows How Mean the Gang Can Be
Season 8, Episode 3

Air Date | October 3, 1996 |
Funny Quote | "If you need an extra set of hands, I know who you can call." |
IMDb Score | 9.0/10 |
In the episode "The Bizarro Jerry," the characters are on their worst behavior. George is using Susan's death with a different picture to meet women. Jerry is judging a woman he's dating for her "man hands." Finally, Elaine is entering an alternate reality where the man she's dating, Kevin, is living a life that's eerily similar to Jerry's.
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Every Seinfeld Episode Based on a True Story
Seinfeld is often regarded as one of America's greatest sitcoms, mostly because it draws its humor and charm from the writers and cast's real lives.
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Jerry Seinfeld is a huge fan of Superman, and it's his love of the Man of Steel that has him coining the term, "The Bizarro Jerry." By season eight, the intricacies of the show were all ironed out. "The Bizarro Jerry" is a meta-commentary on the interactions and mannerisms of each character, all told through Elaine's perspective. She realizes in the end that the grass isn't greener on the other side, or in this case, in the other New York apartment.
8 "The Contest" Seems Impossible to Win
Season 4, Episode 10

Air Date | November 18, 1992 |
Funny Quote | "Too bad you can't do *that* for a living. You'd be very successful." |
IMDb Score | 9.5/10 |
Some of the most enjoyable episodes of Seinfeld are the ones where Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer all share a common purpose. In "The Contest," they make a bet at Monk's Diner to see who could refrain from self-pleasure the longest. It all started because George's mother caught him in the act.
There are many controversial episodes of Seinfeld, and "The Contest" is among them. It was a pretty radical episode for the early '90s, even though the sexual innuendos are always hinted at rather than explicitly stated. Every time someone announces that they've lost, it's hard not to laugh. However, the funniest moment is George's painfully awkward conversation with his mother.
7 Love Goes Horribly Wrong in "The Stall"
Season 5, Episode 12

Air Date | January 6, 1994 |
Funny Quote | "I don't have a square to spare." |
IMDb | 8.6/10 |
Each character's dating life is an integral part of Seinfeld. Jerry and Elaine are each with someone new in "The Stall," and their dating lives end up affecting George and Kramer as well. George has a "guy crush" on Elaine's boyfriend, and Kramer thinks Jerry's girlfriend is a phone sex worker.
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This Strange Seinfeld Episode Was Nearly Much More Problematic
One of Seinfeld's most unique episodes almost pushed the boundaries significantly further.
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Seinfeld is clever because often each character's storyline comes together in a satisfying way by the end of the episode. This element is on full display in "The Stall." At the beginning of the episode, Elaine has a confrontation with Jerry's girlfriend in the next bathroom stall who can't "spare a square." By the end, no one is still together.
6 Kramer Has a Mix-Up With a License Plate in "The Fusilli Jerry"
Season 6, Episode 20
Air Date | April 27, 1995 |
Funny Quote | "It could be just some guy with a big ass." |
IMDb Score | 8.7/10 |
It's difficult to wrap up Seinfeld episodes into a simple synopsis, but "The Fusilli Jerry" pretty much does the trick. George is dealing with his parents' separation, and Kramer becomes involved, even taking Estelle to her eye surgery. Meanwhile, Elaine is dating a mechanic to whom Jerry once gave a sex tip.
Cosmo Kramer always has some kind of new hobby or area of interest. In "The Fusilli Jerry," he has taken to creating works of art from pieces of pasta. This episode is perfect because it introduces a joke that's set up at the beginning (the license plate) and delivers the payoff at the end (it belonged to the proctologist who had to do surgery to get "Fusilli Jerry" out of Frank). If that's not enough, the audience also gets their first glimpse of one of Elaine's recurring boyfriends, David Puddy (played by Patrick Warburton).
5 There's No Way Out of "The Parking Garage"
Season 3, Episode 6

Air Date | October 30, 1991 |
Funny Quote | "How does my bladder know that I'm in a department store?" |
IMDb | 8.7/10 |
Everyone knows the frustrating feeling of not remembering where the car is parked. It's even worse for the Seinfeld gang in the episode "The Parking Garage." No one will help them locate their vehicle on multiple floors, and Jerry even gets in trouble with mall security.
Seinfeld takes mundane situations, like getting lost in a parking garage, and turns them into comedy gold by adding simple details. In this case, it's why being lost is inconvenient that makes it so funny. Elaine bought goldfish at the mall and needs to get them in a tank of water before they die. Kramer is lugging around a heavy air conditioner unit (showing off his skills as a physical comedian). Jerry has to go to the bathroom, and George can't be late to meet his parents.
4 George Is Concerned About a Loaf of Bread in "The Rye"
Season 7, Episode 11

Air Date | January 4, 1996 |
Funny Quote | "I want that rye, lady!" |
IMDb Score | 8.8/10 |
It can be nerve-wracking for anyone to have their parents meet their future in-laws. George has that exact experience when his parents meet his fiancée, Susan's, snobby, judgmental parents. George has to do damage control when his parents renege on their hostess gift of marble rye bread from Schnitzer's Bakery.
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Why Did Seinfeld Kill Susan Ross Character? There's A Truly Bleak Reason
Susan Ross was killed off on Seinfeld even though she was a regular. The reason behind it speaks poorly of the show's cast.
George goes to hilarious lengths to save face in front of Susan's parents. He recruits Kramer to drive the Ross family in a handsome cab, only for the plan to be ruined by a smelly horse eating Beef-o-Reno. Jerry is also involved, even going as far as to steal a loaf of marble rye from an old woman. It's a perfect example of a situation in Seinfeld that is blown out of proportion when the simple truth would have been easier.
3 A New Holiday Was Invented Because of "The Strike"
Season 9, Episode 10

Air Date | December 18, 1997 |
Funny Quote | "A Festivus for the rest of us." |
IMDb Score | 8.7/10 |
"The Strike" is one of the most famous episodes of Seinfeld. Each character, even the side characters, has their own unique storyline. Jerry is dating a woman who is only beautiful in a certain booth at Monk's Diner. As a notorious cheapskate, George is gifting everyone a donation to a fake charity called "the human fund." Kramer has taken his job back at H&H Bagels, and Elaine gave a fake number to an interested suitor.
The main storyline in "The Strike" involves George Constanza's parents, Frank and Estelle. Both of these side characters are an underrated part of the series, and it's always funnier when they're on the screen. Frank is tired of the corporate quality of the holidays, so he makes up his own holiday called Festivus. Not every TV sitcom is influential enough to create a new holiday. Seinfeld changed the game, and now, December 23rd is known as Festivus.
2 Reservations Mean Nothing to the Staff at "The Chinese Restaurant"
Season 2, Episode 11

Air Date | May 23, 1991 |
Funny Quote | "It's not fair that people are selected first come, first served. It should be based on who's hungriest!" |
IMDb Score | 8.6/10 |
The friends in Seinfeld are often trying new foods, and they have no patience when they're hungry. In this episode, they try to get a table at a Chinese restaurant, only for it to constantly be thwarted. It seems like all the customers that come in after are seated first. To make matters worse, George isn't sure if his date is going to show up.
New York is famous for their delicious food, so it's no surprise that it's at the center of many Seinfeld episodes. One of the most famous is "The Chinese Restaurant." Like other flawless episodes of Seinfeld, this one has a relatable situation that's amplified so it seems more dire for the sake of humor. It works wonders in this episode as the group painfully waits for their name to finally be called.
1 "The Soup Nazi" Gave Everyone a Craving for Hot Soup
Season 7, Episode 6
Air Date | November 2, 1995 |
Funny Quote | "No soup for you!" |
IMDb Score | 9.5/10 |
"The Soup Nazi" is the most iconic Seinfeld episode of all time. Jerry rants and raves about a local eatery that has the best soup. The catch is that the customers have to be ready to order quickly and cannot ask extra questions. George hears the dreaded "No soup for you" when he dares mention the complementary bread with his order of turkey chili.
Season seven was a tremendously strong year for Seinfeld, but "The Soup Nazi" is the most perfect episode of the bunch. It cleverly weaves together the storyline of Elaine's adoration of an armoire she sees on the street with the main story of everyone ordering soup from a malicious vendor. It's a simple setup, but it delivers the laughs every time he declares "No soup for you!"