The Opposite

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“The Opposite”
Seinfeld episode

George tries doing the opposite of his natural instinct.
Episode no. Season 5
Episode 86
Written by Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld & Andy Cowan
Directed by Tom Cherones
Guest stars Siobhan Fallon, Paul Gleason, Melanie Smith, French Stewart, Regis Philbin & Kathie Lee Gifford
Original airdate May 19, 1994
Season 5 episodes
Seinfeld - Season 5
September 1993 - May 1994
  1. "The Mango"
  2. "The Puffy Shirt"
  3. "The Glasses"
  4. "The Sniffing Accountant"
  5. "The Bris"
  6. "The Lip Reader"
  7. "The Non-Fat Yogurt"
  8. "The Barber"
  9. "The Masseuse"
  10. "The Cigar Store Indian"
  11. "The Conversion"
  12. "The Stall"
  13. "The Dinner Party"
  14. "The Marine Biologist"
  15. "The Pie"
  16. "The Stand In"
  17. "The Wife"
  18. "The Raincoats, Part 1"
  19. "The Raincoats, Part 2"
  20. "The Fire"
  21. "The Hamptons"
  22. "The Opposite"
List of Seinfeld episodes

"The Opposite" is the eighty-sixth episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld, which was also the 22nd and final episode of Season 5. It aired on May 19, 1994.

[edit] Plot

George upon visiting the beach, (where many of the characters are seen having a major revelation), decides that every decision that he has ever made has been wrong and resolves to do the complete opposite of what he would normally. He suddenly begins to experience good luck, getting a girlfriend, moving out of his parents' house, and even landing a job with the New York Yankees.

Elaine upon hearing that her boyfriend has been in an accident, buys some Jujyfruits before heading to the hospital, burdening her relationship with Jake Jarmel. Later, because she has so many Jujyfruits in her mouth, she is unable to tell her boss to take his handkerchief with him to a merger meeting, as he has a cold. When her boss, Mr. Lippman, sneezes without his handkerchief, he will not shake hands with his Japanese merger (and spread germs), and the Japanese executive becomes angry and refuses to close the deal, thus putting Pendant Publishing out of business. On top of all this, Elaine finds out that she is being kicked out of her apartment.

Jerry regularly "breaks even", striking the medium between his two friends, earning him the nickname, "Even Steven." Kramer is planning to have his coffee table book about coffee tables published through Pendant Publishing. As a start of his book tour, he appears on Live! with Regis & Kathie Lee, however, upon taking a sip of coffee he spits it out all over Kathie Lee, which quickly ends his book tour.

[edit] Quotes

  • George: It became very clear to me sitting out there today, that every decision I've ever made, in my entire life, has been wrong. My life is the opposite of everything I want it to be. Every instinct I have, in every aspect of life, be it something to wear, something to eat ... It's all been wrong.
  • George: Excuse me, I couldn't help but notice that you were looking in my direction.
    Victoria: Oh, that's because you just ordered the exact same lunch as me.
    George: My name is George. I'm unemployed and I live with my parents.
    Victoria (with a huge smile): My name is Victoria, hi!

[edit] Trivia

 Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.
  • This is the first appearance of George Steinbrenner. Most of his appearances come from the 6th-8th season. As always, Steinbrenner's face is not seen, and Larry David provides his voice.
  • Jon Stewart, on The Daily Show on The State of the Union Address, 2007, showed a clip from this episode on January, 25, 2007.
  • On the DVD of season 5 the commentary of Larry David suggests that this episode was shot earlier as he comments it as the 21st episode, but Jerry Seinfeld correctly tells him that it was broadcast as the last episode, preparing for the new season. It is anything but likely however that "The Hamptons" was the last episode of the season to be filmed, since Jerry breaks up with Rachel in this episode, but they are still dating in "The Hamptons".
  • This idea of doing the opposite is what George recommended to Jerry in the first episode when Jerry anticipated a woman to stay with him for the weekend.
  • This is the last episode Tom Cherones directed. Andy Ackerman would take over as the primary director for the remaining seasons.
  • George tells Steinbrenner that he has put the entire city of New York through misery with some of the decisions he has made. Shortly after the 5th season, the Yankees began a run, winning 4 out of 5 World Series Championships (1996-2000). This ended an 18 year drought of no championships, ending the misery that George talked about.
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