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| caption =
| caption =
| season = 7
| season = 7
| episode = 11
| episode = 11<ref name="tvguide">{{cite web |title=Seinfeld Season 7 Episodes |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/seinfeld/episodes-season-7/1000137994/ |website=[[TV Guide]] |access-date=December 10, 2021}}</ref>
| airdate = {{Start date|1996|01|04}}
| airdate = {{Start date|1996|01|04}}
| production = 711
| production = 711
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* [[Frances Bay]] as Mabel
* [[Frances Bay]] as Mabel
* [[Jeff Yagher]] as John
* [[Jeff Yagher]] as John
* [[Silver Spoons|Leonard Lightfoot]] as Clyde
* [[Leonard Lightfoot]] as Clyde
* [[Don Amendolia]] as Dennis
* [[Don Amendolia]] as Dennis
* [[Kathryn Kates]] as Counter Woman
* [[Kathryn Kates]] as Counter Woman
* [[Steve Ireland]] as Music Guy
* Steve Ireland as Music Guy
* [[Dean Fortunato]] as Manager
* Dean Fortunato as Manager
| season_article = Seinfeld season 7
* [[Eugene Lew]] as Man in Hansom Cab (uncredited)
| season_article = Seinfeld (season 7)
| episode_list = List of Seinfeld episodes
| episode_list = List of Seinfeld episodes
| prev = [[The Gum]]
| prev = [[The Gum]]
| next = [[The Caddy (Seinfeld)|The Caddy]]
| next = [[The Caddy (Seinfeld)|The Caddy]]
}}
}}
"'''The Rye'''" is the 121st episode of the [[NBC]] sitcom ''[[Seinfeld]]''. It was the 11th episode of the seventh season, originally airing on January 4, 1996. It was written by American comedian [[Carol Leifer]]. In this episode, [[Elaine Benes|Elaine]]'s relationship with her [[saxophonist]] boyfriend is complicated by the issue of [[oral sex]], [[George Costanza|George]] tries to avert a feud between his parents and his fiance [[Susan Ross|Susan]]'s parents over a marble rye bread, and [[Cosmo Kramer|Kramer]] takes on a temporary job as a [[hansom cab]] driver.
"'''The Rye'''" is the 121st episode of the [[NBC]] sitcom ''[[Seinfeld]]''. It was the 11th episode of the seventh season, originally airing on January 4, 1996.<ref name="tvguide">{{cite web |title=Seinfeld Season 7 Episodes |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/seinfeld/episodes-season-7/1000137994/ |website=[[TV Guide]] |access-date=December 10, 2021}}</ref> It was the final episode of the series to be written by American comedian [[Carol Leifer]]. In this episode, [[Elaine Benes|Elaine]]'s relationship with her [[Saxophone|saxophonist]] boyfriend is complicated by the issue of [[oral sex]], [[George Costanza|George]] tries to avert a feud between his parents and his fiancée [[Susan Ross|Susan]]'s parents over a loaf of marble rye bread, and [[Cosmo Kramer|Kramer]] takes on a temporary job as a [[hansom cab]] driver.


==Plot==
==Plot==
[[Elaine Benes|Elaine]] dates a [[jazz]] [[saxophonist]] named John Jermaine, but tells [[Jerry Seinfeld (character)|Jerry]] that John does not give her oral sex. Jerry meets Clyde, one of Jermaine's bandmates, and describes the relationship to him as "hot and heavy". When Elaine hears of this, she is upset with Jerry as this line makes her seem more into the relationship than John might be comfortable with.
[[Elaine Benes|Elaine]] is dating [[jazz]] saxophonist John Jermaine, but complains to [[Jerry Seinfeld (character)|Jerry]] that John does not give her oral sex. Jerry meets Clyde, one of John's bandmates, and describes the relationship to him as "hot and heavy". When Elaine learns of this, she becomes upset with Jerry, fearing that the phrase made her seem more invested in the relationship than John might be comfortable with. At a concert, John and his band perform a new song entitled "Hot and Heavy", embarrassing Elaine.


[[George Costanza|George]]'s parents Frank and Estelle meet his fiancé [[Susan Ross|Susan's]] parents for the first time. They have dinner at Mr. & Mrs. Ross's house. Frank brings a marble rye bread as a dinner gift. After an uncomfortable dinner, Frank takes the rye back because they forgot to serve it at the table; though Frank insisted it was deliberate. George wants to sneak an identical rye bread into the Ross's kitchen, creating the illusion that the bread was simply misplaced and thus averting a long-running family feud over the bread. [[Cosmo Kramer|Kramer]] is picking up a [[hansom cab]] driver's mail for the week, in exchange for which he is allowing him the use of his cab. George plots to send Mr. & Mrs. Ross on a hansom cab ride as a wedding anniversary present, while he and Jerry sneak in the rye. At the bakery, an elderly lady in line in front of Jerry gets the last marble rye. After trying unsuccessfully to get it from her with bribery and appeals to sympathy, Jerry robs it from her.
[[George Costanza|George]]'s parents Frank and Estelle meet his fiancé [[Susan Ross|Susan]]'s parents for the first time at the Ross apartment. Frank brings a loaf of [[marble rye]] bread. After an uncomfortable dinner, Frank takes the rye back home because the Rosses did not serve it. Fearing this incident may create a rift between the families, George plans to sneak an identical loaf of bread into the Rosses' kitchen to create the illusion that the bread was simply misplaced. He plots to send Mr. & Mrs. Ross on a [[hansom cab]] ride (driven by [[Cosmo Kramer|Kramer]], who is picking up the usual driver's mail) as a wedding anniversary present, while he and Jerry sneak in the bread. At the bakery, Mabel gets the last marble rye. After trying unsuccessfully to get it from her with bribery and appeals to sympathy, Jerry robs it from the elderly woman.


Kramer, having overbought at the [[warehouse club]], feeds the horse some "Beef-A-Reeno". This makes the horse flatulent to the point Mr. & Mrs. Ross, and Kramer himself, can no longer bear it. The trip is cut short, preventing Jerry from delivering the stolen rye bread. Kramer then confesses to having fed the horse the Beef-A-Reeno, flustered that he had overbought. An irate Mr. & Mrs. Ross bring George inside. After trying unsuccessfully to toss the bread up to George at the third floor window, Jerry hooks it to a fishing pole George found in the room. George reels the rye bread up but is caught by the Rosses.
Kramer, having overbought at the [[warehouse club]], feeds Rusty the horse "Beef-a-reeno" which makes him flatulent. Rusty farts so much the Rosses cut their cab trip short, preventing Jerry from entering the Ross apartment. After trying unsuccessfully to toss the bread up to George at the third floor window, Jerry hooks it to a fishing pole George found in the apartment. George reels the rye bread up, but the Rosses catch him.


Elaine explains to John about the "hot and heavy" line. John tells her he was happy Clyde told him that and offers to give her oral sex. After "trying so hard" to perform cunnilingus on Elaine, his lips became so numb that he can not make a note during a showcase for record producers, making a series of off-key whistles instead. Elaine leaves the show in embarrassment.
Elaine explains to John that she never called their relationship "hot and heavy". John, however, tells her that he was happy with the idea of being "hot and heavy" with her, and offers to give her oral sex. After overexerting in the bedroom, he cannot make a note during a showcase for record producers, producing a series of off-key whistles instead. Embarrassed, Elaine leaves the show.


==Production==
==Production==
Writer [[Carol Leifer]] got the story of visitors bringing a rye bread and then taking it back after the hosts forgot to serve it from a high school friend.<ref name=InsLook>{{cite video |title=Seinfeld Season 7: Inside Look - "The Rye"|medium=DVD |publisher=[[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]]|date=2006}}</ref> The plot point of Jerry having to steal a marble rye bread from the woman ahead of him in line at the bakery was contributed by ''Seinfeld'' co-creator [[Larry David]].<ref name=InsLook/>
Writer [[Carol Leifer]] got the story of visitors bringing a rye bread and then taking it back after the hosts forgot to serve it from a high school friend.<ref name=InsLook>{{cite video |title=Seinfeld Season 7: Inside Look - "The Rye"|medium=DVD |publisher=[[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]]|date=2006}}</ref> The plot point of Jerry having to steal a marble rye bread from the woman ahead of him in line at the bakery was contributed by ''Seinfeld'' co-creator [[Larry David]].<ref name=InsLook/>


Elaine's [[voice-over]] in the opening scene was recorded by actress [[Julia Louis-Dreyfus]] beforehand and played back during filming of the scene so that she could synchronize her facial expression and movements with the narration.<ref>{{cite video |title=Seinfeld Season 7: Notes about Nothing - "The Rye"|medium=DVD|publisher=[[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]] |date=2006}}</ref> Many of the outdoor scenes were filmed at [[Paramount Studio]], where [[Jerry Seinfeld]] started a massive snowball fight with the entire cast and crew using the [[fake snow]].<ref name=InsLook/>
Elaine's [[voice-over]] in the opening scene was recorded by actress [[Julia Louis-Dreyfus]] beforehand and played back during the filming of the scene so that she could synchronize her facial expressions and movements with the narration.<ref>{{cite video |title=Seinfeld Season 7: Notes about Nothing - "The Rye"|medium=DVD|publisher=[[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]] |date=2006}}</ref> Many of the outdoor scenes were filmed at [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount Studio]], where [[Jerry Seinfeld]] started a massive snowball fight with the entire cast and crew using the [[fake snow]].<ref name=InsLook/>


In initial drafts of the episode's script, Kramer fed the horse excessive amounts of [[Chef Boyardee]] Beefaroni, causing its flatulence. However, Boyardee refused to allow their product to be portrayed in such a fashion, leading to the creation of the fictional product "Beef-a-reeno".<ref>{{Cite web|title=''Seinfeld'' and brand-name products|last=Baldwin|first=Kristen|date=30 May 1997|url=https://ew.com/article/1997/05/30/seinfeld-and-brand-name-products/|access-date=3 September 2021|website=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|publisher=[[Meredith Corporation]]|language=EN}}</ref>
In initial drafts of the episode's script, Kramer fed the horse excessive amounts of [[Chef Boyardee]] Beefaroni, causing its flatulence. However, Boyardee refused to allow their product to be portrayed in such a fashion, leading to the creation of the fictional product "Beef-a-reeno".<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=''Seinfeld'' and brand-name products|last=Baldwin|first=Kristen|date=30 May 1997|url=https://ew.com/article/1997/05/30/seinfeld-and-brand-name-products/|access-date=3 September 2021|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|publisher=[[Meredith Corporation]]|language=EN}}</ref>

This episode features four guest-stars from the cast of [[Twin Peaks]].


== Critical reception ==
== Critical reception ==
Sara Lewis Dunne, in the book ''Seinfeld: Master of Its Domain'', comments on possible reasons why the Costanzas and the Rosses clash:
Sara Lewis Dunne, in the book ''Seinfeld: Master of Its Domain'', comments on possible reasons why the Costanzas and the Rosses clash:


{{quote|Dinner party "rules" seem to baffle all the regular characters on ''Seinfeld''... [I]n this episode we see a peculiarly New York culture clash between the schlubby Costanzas and the ritzy Rosses. Much has been written about whether the Costanzas, whose name "sounds" Italian, are really Jewish, with George, according to both Carla Johnson and Jon Stratton (in this volume), as the ultimate [[schlemiel]]. A food called Schnitzel's Marble Rye certainly would seem to fit into the ethnic tradition that would offer it as a dinner-party gift, and its rejection by the Rosses seems an affront, which could easily be read as an ethnic affront, to Frank Costanza. When I first saw this episode, I (and probably many other viewers as well) was reminded of [[Jackie Mason]]'s summation of the difference between Jews and Gentiles: Jews eat and Gentiles drink, and the Rosses are usually seen with a drink in their hands.<ref>{{cite book |last= Dunne |first= Sara Lewis |chapter= Seinfood: Purity, Danger, and Food Codes on ''Seinfeld'' |title= Seinfeld, Master of Its Domain: Revisiting Television's Greatest Sitcom |location= New York |publisher= Continuum |date= 2006 |isbn= 9780826418036 |page= 154}}</ref>}}
{{blockquote|Dinner party "rules" seem to baffle all the regular characters on ''Seinfeld''... [I]n this episode we see a peculiarly New York culture clash between the schlubby Costanzas and the ritzy Rosses. Much has been written about whether the Costanzas, whose name "sounds" Italian, are really Jewish, with George, according to both Carla Johnson and Jon Stratton (in this volume), as the ultimate [[schlemiel]]. A food called Schnitzel's Marble Rye certainly would seem to fit into the ethnic tradition that would offer it as a dinner-party gift, and its rejection by the Rosses seems an affront, which could easily be read as an ethnic affront, to Frank Costanza. When I first saw this episode, I (and probably many other viewers as well) was reminded of [[Jackie Mason]]'s summation of the difference between Jews and Gentiles: Jews eat and Gentiles drink, and the Rosses are usually seen with a drink in their hands.<ref>{{cite book |last= Dunne |first= Sara Lewis |chapter= Seinfood: Purity, Danger, and Food Codes on ''Seinfeld'' |title= Seinfeld, Master of Its Domain: Revisiting Television's Greatest Sitcom |location= New York |publisher= Continuum |date= 2006 |isbn= 9780826418036 |page= 154}}</ref>}}


David Sims of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' "was in general disappointed with the return of the Ross family here, especially with the juicy setup of them meeting the equally bonkers Costanzas." He thought that the episode [[The Cheever Letters]] was stronger: "the whole thing feels more like your classic in-law dinner from Hell rather than the special kind of crazy we might come to expect. But ''The Rye'' redeems itself somewhat with the much wackier sight of Jerry stealing a marble rye from an old lady and trying to toss it to George on a second-floor [sic; it was third-floor] window..."<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-ryethe-caddy,61400/ |author= Sims, David |date= September 8, 2011 |title= The Rye/The Caddy |newspaper= [[The A.V. Club]] |access-date= September 18, 2012}}</ref>
David Sims of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' was underwhelmed by the characterization of the Rosses in the episode, "especially with the juicy setup of them meeting the equally bonkers Costanzas." He felt that the season four episode "[[The Cheever Letters]]" was stronger in this regard, and that "the whole thing feels more like your classic in-law dinner from Hell rather than the special kind of crazy we might come to expect. But 'The Rye' redeems itself somewhat with the much wackier sight of Jerry stealing a marble rye from an old lady and trying to toss it to George on a second-floor{{Sic}} window..."<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.avclub.com/seinfeld-the-rye-the-caddy-1798169524 |author= Sims, David |date= September 8, 2011 |title= The Rye/The Caddy |newspaper= [[The A.V. Club]] |access-date= September 18, 2012}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rye}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rye}}
[[Category:Seinfeld (season 7) episodes]]
[[Category:Seinfeld season 7 episodes]]
[[Category:1996 American television episodes]]
[[Category:1996 American television episodes]]
[[Category:Rye breads]]
[[Category:Rye breads]]

Latest revision as of 22:05, 13 November 2024

"The Rye"
Seinfeld episode
Episode no.Season 7
Episode 11
Directed byAndy Ackerman
Written byCarol Leifer
Production code711
Original air dateJanuary 4, 1996 (1996-01-04)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"The Gum"
Next →
"The Caddy"
Seinfeld season 7
List of episodes

"The Rye" is the 121st episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. It was the 11th episode of the seventh season, originally airing on January 4, 1996.[1] It was the final episode of the series to be written by American comedian Carol Leifer. In this episode, Elaine's relationship with her saxophonist boyfriend is complicated by the issue of oral sex, George tries to avert a feud between his parents and his fiancée Susan's parents over a loaf of marble rye bread, and Kramer takes on a temporary job as a hansom cab driver.

Plot

[edit]

Elaine is dating jazz saxophonist John Jermaine, but complains to Jerry that John does not give her oral sex. Jerry meets Clyde, one of John's bandmates, and describes the relationship to him as "hot and heavy". When Elaine learns of this, she becomes upset with Jerry, fearing that the phrase made her seem more invested in the relationship than John might be comfortable with. At a concert, John and his band perform a new song entitled "Hot and Heavy", embarrassing Elaine.

George's parents Frank and Estelle meet his fiancé Susan's parents for the first time at the Ross apartment. Frank brings a loaf of marble rye bread. After an uncomfortable dinner, Frank takes the rye back home because the Rosses did not serve it. Fearing this incident may create a rift between the families, George plans to sneak an identical loaf of bread into the Rosses' kitchen to create the illusion that the bread was simply misplaced. He plots to send Mr. & Mrs. Ross on a hansom cab ride (driven by Kramer, who is picking up the usual driver's mail) as a wedding anniversary present, while he and Jerry sneak in the bread. At the bakery, Mabel gets the last marble rye. After trying unsuccessfully to get it from her with bribery and appeals to sympathy, Jerry robs it from the elderly woman.

Kramer, having overbought at the warehouse club, feeds Rusty the horse "Beef-a-reeno" which makes him flatulent. Rusty farts so much the Rosses cut their cab trip short, preventing Jerry from entering the Ross apartment. After trying unsuccessfully to toss the bread up to George at the third floor window, Jerry hooks it to a fishing pole George found in the apartment. George reels the rye bread up, but the Rosses catch him.

Elaine explains to John that she never called their relationship "hot and heavy". John, however, tells her that he was happy with the idea of being "hot and heavy" with her, and offers to give her oral sex. After overexerting in the bedroom, he cannot make a note during a showcase for record producers, producing a series of off-key whistles instead. Embarrassed, Elaine leaves the show.

Production

[edit]

Writer Carol Leifer got the story of visitors bringing a rye bread and then taking it back after the hosts forgot to serve it from a high school friend.[2] The plot point of Jerry having to steal a marble rye bread from the woman ahead of him in line at the bakery was contributed by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David.[2]

Elaine's voice-over in the opening scene was recorded by actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus beforehand and played back during the filming of the scene so that she could synchronize her facial expressions and movements with the narration.[3] Many of the outdoor scenes were filmed at Paramount Studio, where Jerry Seinfeld started a massive snowball fight with the entire cast and crew using the fake snow.[2]

In initial drafts of the episode's script, Kramer fed the horse excessive amounts of Chef Boyardee Beefaroni, causing its flatulence. However, Boyardee refused to allow their product to be portrayed in such a fashion, leading to the creation of the fictional product "Beef-a-reeno".[4]

Critical reception

[edit]

Sara Lewis Dunne, in the book Seinfeld: Master of Its Domain, comments on possible reasons why the Costanzas and the Rosses clash:

Dinner party "rules" seem to baffle all the regular characters on Seinfeld... [I]n this episode we see a peculiarly New York culture clash between the schlubby Costanzas and the ritzy Rosses. Much has been written about whether the Costanzas, whose name "sounds" Italian, are really Jewish, with George, according to both Carla Johnson and Jon Stratton (in this volume), as the ultimate schlemiel. A food called Schnitzel's Marble Rye certainly would seem to fit into the ethnic tradition that would offer it as a dinner-party gift, and its rejection by the Rosses seems an affront, which could easily be read as an ethnic affront, to Frank Costanza. When I first saw this episode, I (and probably many other viewers as well) was reminded of Jackie Mason's summation of the difference between Jews and Gentiles: Jews eat and Gentiles drink, and the Rosses are usually seen with a drink in their hands.[5]

David Sims of The A.V. Club was underwhelmed by the characterization of the Rosses in the episode, "especially with the juicy setup of them meeting the equally bonkers Costanzas." He felt that the season four episode "The Cheever Letters" was stronger in this regard, and that "the whole thing feels more like your classic in-law dinner from Hell rather than the special kind of crazy we might come to expect. But 'The Rye' redeems itself somewhat with the much wackier sight of Jerry stealing a marble rye from an old lady and trying to toss it to George on a second-floor [sic] window..."[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Seinfeld Season 7 Episodes". TV Guide. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Seinfeld Season 7: Inside Look - "The Rye" (DVD). Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. 2006.
  3. ^ Seinfeld Season 7: Notes about Nothing - "The Rye" (DVD). Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. 2006.
  4. ^ Baldwin, Kristen (30 May 1997). "Seinfeld and brand-name products". Entertainment Weekly. Meredith Corporation. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  5. ^ Dunne, Sara Lewis (2006). "Seinfood: Purity, Danger, and Food Codes on Seinfeld". Seinfeld, Master of Its Domain: Revisiting Television's Greatest Sitcom. New York: Continuum. p. 154. ISBN 9780826418036.
  6. ^ Sims, David (September 8, 2011). "The Rye/The Caddy". The A.V. Club. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
[edit]