The Soup Nazi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Seinfeld episode | |
| "The Soup Nazi" | |
 The Soup Nazi |
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| Episode no. | 116 |
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| Airdate | November 2, 1995 |
| Writer(s) | Spike Feresten |
| Director | Andy Ackerman |
| Guest star(s) | Larry Thomas, Alexandra Wentworth & Ana Gasteyer |
| IMDb profile | |
| Seinfeld - Season 7 September 1995 - May 1996 |
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| List of all Seinfeld episodes | |
"The Soup Nazi" is the title of the 116th episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld, which was the 6th episode of the 7th season. It first aired in the United States on November 2, 1995.
The Soup Nazi is also the name of the character played by Larry Thomas. The term "Nazi" is used as an exaggeration of the over-regimentation he constantly demands of his patrons.
Contents |
[edit] The episode
The episode opens with Jerry extolling the virtue of the soup made by the Soup Nazi. He takes care to "prep" George on the strict code of behavior required by the Soup Nazi in his store. However, George makes a mistake while ordering soup by questioning the absence of bread, and is subsequently refused service.
George and Elaine discuss their annoyance with Jerry's and his girlfriend's sweet-talk, particularly when the couple calls each other "Schmoopie." George behaves in a similar way with Susan to illustrate the point that such behavior is embarrassing to others, but Susan misinterprets George's intentions and thinks that George is finally showing his feelings in public.
Meanwhile, Elaine purchases an antique armoire, but cannot move it into the building on a Sunday. Leaving Kramer to guard the armoire—which she must leave on the sidewalk—Elaine goes to purchase some soup. Elaine's behavior at the Soup Nazi's restaurant prompts him to shout, "No soup for you!" and ban her for one year. Elaine's armoire is then stolen by a pair of homosexual "street toughs" who intimidate Kramer.
Kramer, through continual praise and flattery, gains favor with the Soup Nazi, who gives Kramer his own antique armoire. Kramer gives the armoire to Elaine as a replacement for her stolen one. Elaine thanks the Soup Nazi for the armoire, but the Soup Nazi declares that he never would have given it to Kramer if he knew it was for Elaine. Elaine seeks revenge against the Soup Nazi when she discovers his secret recipes in the old armoire. She taunts him, possibly also informing him for the first time of his popular nickname: "You're through, Soup Nazi!" This victory comes with a price, as the Soup Nazi decides to sell his remaining stock and close the business, to the dismay of everyone who loves his soups. (An oft-explored theme of Seinfeld characters behaving in a self-centered way that results in a net loss).
"The Soup Nazi" is one of three episodes which feature Cedric and Bob, the "street toughs." Though their homosexuality is merely implied in the series, it is explicitly stated in the supplemental materials of the 7th season DVD set. It was decided that only gay men would want to steal an armoire.
[edit] The 'Soup Nazi' Character
The Soup Nazi was portrayed by Larry Thomas, who was nominated for a 1996 Emmy for the role.[1] Thomas, who did not realize that the character was based on a real person, received the inspiration for his portrayal from Omar Sharif’s performance in Lawrence of Arabia[2].
A stone-faced immigrant chef with a thick Stalin-esque moustache, he is renowned throughout Manhattan for his delicious soups. He demands that all customers in his restaurant meticulously follow his strict queuing, ordering, and payment policies. Failure to adhere to his demands brings the admonishment, "No soup for you!", whereupon the customer is refunded and denied his order. Some of the soups he serves are cold cucumber, corn and clam chowders, jambalaya, turkey chili, tomato noodle, mulligatawny, and crab and lobster bisques.
The Soup Nazi character makes a brief cameo in the Seinfeld series finale, in which his name is revealed to be Yev Kasem.
[edit] The Real "Soup Nazi," Al Yeganeh
The character Yev Kasem was inspired by Al Yeganeh, a New York City soup vendor who runs Soup Kitchen International in midtown Manhattan at 259A West 55th Street, near 8th Avenue. The store is closed in summer; a sign posted outside informs customers that the chef is in "Argentina for the summer"[3]. Coincidentally, at the end of the episode, the TV character announces a plan to move to Argentina.
According to an Associated Press article published 2005 April 29, Yeganeh planned to open a chain of soup stores called The Original Soup Man. The first franchise opened in Princeton, New Jersey, on October 24, 2005. His company, Soup Kitchen International, plans to open 1000 outlets nationwide.[4] Soup Kitchen International's original location is now closed.
Prior to his fictional counterpart's appearance on Seinfeld, the real Al Yeganeh was unflatteringly referred to by local patrons as the "Terrorist." His soups were renowned for their excellent quality, but his interactions with customers seemed somewhat capricious. Some were granted extra side items like candy or bread, but no clear rules for this attention were ever established. This arbitrariness was referred to in the show: when George asks why he doesn’t receive any bread though previous customers have, the Soup Nazi replies, "You want bread? Three dollars!!"
Before the episode was written, much of the cast of Seinfeld, including Wayne Knight, had been to Soup Kitchen International. One day, during production of the eighth season of "Seinfeld", Jerry and several writers went to Yeganeh's soup stand for lunch. Upon recognizing Jerry, Yeganeh launched into a profanity-laced rant about how "The Soup Nazi" episode had "ruined his life", and he demanded an apology. Jerry, being his dry-witted self, gave what writer Spike Feresten described as "the most sarcastic, insincere apology ever". Naturally, Yeganeh bellowed "No soup for you!" and ejected Jerry and his friends from the restaurant.
Cosmo Kramer's inspiration, Kenny Kramer, mentions on his own website that he agrees that Yeganeh's nickname is unfair. He jokingly suggests his nickname be changed to "Al, The Soup Rat Bastard."
[edit] Quotes
- George: Medium turkey chili.
- Jerry: Medium crab bisque.
- (George notices he didn't get any bread with his soup.)
- George: I didn't get any bread.
- Jerry: Just forget it. Let it go.
- George: Um, excuse me; I think you forgot my bread.
- Soup Nazi: Bread - $2.00 extra.
- George: $2.00? But everyone in front of me got free bread.
- Soup Nazi: You want bread?
- George: Yes please.
- Soup Nazi: $3.00!
- George: What?
- Soup Nazi: No soup for you! (Snaps fingers.) (The cashier takes away George's soup and gives him back his money.)
- George: I don't see how you can sit there eating that and not even offer me any.
- Jerry: I gave you a taste. What do you want?
- George: Why can't we share?
- Jerry: I told you not to say anything! You can't go in there, brazenly flout the rules, and then think I'm going to share with you!
- George: Do you hear yourself?
- Jerry: I'm sorry. This is what comes from living under a Nazi regime!
- Newman: Jambalaya!
[edit] Aftermath
Right: Al Yeganeh
Like Jackie Chiles, the Soup Nazi has appeared in commercials after the end of the series. In an advertisement by the Center for Consumer Freedom, he denies food to people he considers to be too fat. Larry Thomas also appeared as himself in the Scrubs episode "My Self-Examination." He denies he is the Soup Nazi when asked by J.D. (Zach Braff), who then tricks him into saying the catch phrase, "No soup for you!"
The Soup Nazi has been referred to in other television shows as well. In one episode of the third season of Arrested Development, George Bluth, Sr. reveals he mistook Saddam Hussein for 'The guy who plays the Soup Nazi' and for that reason was blamed for "light treason." "No Soup for You!!" was a category on Jeopardy!'s November 30, 2004 Seinfeld-themed episode. This Jeopardy! episode is notable as the one in which 74-time champion Ken Jennings lost for the first time.
[edit] References
- ^ See "Awards for Seinfeld." Internet Movie Database.
- ^ http://216.130.162.192/soupnazi/confessions.htm
- ^ See a profile of Yeganeh in "The Soup Man of 55th Street." New York Cookbook. ed. Molly O'Neill. Workman Publishing, 1992. pp. 70-71. ISBN 1-56305-337-3; See one of his recipes on p. 78. of the same work.
- ^ See the official website at The Original Soup Man.
[edit] External links
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characters | ||||
| Main Characters: | Jerry Seinfeld • George Costanza • Elaine Benes • Cosmo Kramer | |||
| Associated with Jerry: | Helen Seinfeld • Morty Seinfeld • Uncle Leo • Kenny Bania • Sally Weaver • Dr. Tim Whatley | |||
| Associated with George: | Estelle Costanza • Frank Costanza • Susan Ross • Mr. Wilhelm • Mr. Kruger • Lloyd Braun • George Steinbrenner | |||
| Associated with Elaine: | J. Peterman • David Puddy • Mr. Lippman • Justin Pitt • Sue Ellen Mischke | |||
| Associated with Kramer: | Newman • Mickey Abbott • Jackie Chiles • Bob Sacamano • Babs Kramer • Lomez | |||
| Other: | The Soup Nazi • "Crazy" Joe Davola • Minor characters in Seinfeld | |||
| Culture of the Seinfeld Universe | ||||
| Festivus • Master of your domain • Regifting • Shrinkage • Close talker • Fictional films in Seinfeld • Coffee Table Book | ||||
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| Episodes • Running gags • DVD releases | ||||
