Episode no. Season 8
Episode 1 Production code 801 | Directed by Andy Ackerman Original air date September 19, 1996 | |
Written by Alec Berg & Jeff Schaffer | ||
"The Foundation" is the 135th episode of the American television sitcom Seinfeld. This was the first episode of the eighth season. It was originally broadcast on the NBC network on September 19, 1996.
Contents
Plot
The season opens at a cemetery, where we see the gravestone of George's late fiancée Susan in full view. While George wishes to move on from Susan's tragic demise, her parents want to keep her memory alive by creating a foundation in her honor, inspired by a Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan reference Jerry told them about Susan, which ruins George's newfound happiness as the Rosses want George to sit on the board of directors. George also sees a large portrait of a smiling Susan at the well-appointed foundation headquarters.
Jerry breaks his engagement with Jeannie Steinman and reunites with Dolores (aka Mulva) from "The Junior Mint." However, Dolores had figured Jerry would mature because of his advanced relationship with Jeannie and thus breaks up with him when it turns out he hasn't. Jerry, in need to prove that he has matured, makes up a relationship questionnaire in order to see where he stands with other women.
After a nervous breakdown, J. Peterman runs off to Burma and leaves Elaine in charge of his catalog. Kramer becomes a dominating martial arts expert at a karate academy for kids and convinces Elaine that she can run the company, which she does by putting her idea for an "urban sombrero" on the cover. She then finds out Kramer was fighting kids and that his inspiration came from Star Trek III: The Search for Spock; realizing her disastrous mistake, she angrily shoves him, causing the kids (who were earlier defeated easily by him) to be in awe. Kramer later gets beaten up by the kids in an alley. Elaine later finds out her urban sombrero has destroyed some people's lives, further ruining her confidence.
George finds out he would have inherited some of Susan's millions had they been married, but now he is stuck at the foundation as they are all auctioned off to the highest bidder to benefit various charities. The same portrait of Susan which hangs in the foundation's boardroom now seems to be sneering at George from beyond the grave as he looks back at it in shock.
Production
Jerry Seinfeld took over the role as executive producer following the departure of Larry David, beginning with this episode. The episode was dedicated to Marjorie Gross, a writer for the show who died of ovarian cancer in June 1996.