The Stake Out

]

The opening scene caused some problems because it featured a woman walking off the set and taking one step down to get off it. Gleen Forbes, the set designer thought that this made the show look cheap. The scene in which Jerry and Elaine are in a taxi was filmed in a studio using a black background and moving a fake taxi, due to budget restraints, in a method known as "Poor Man's Process."

This is the first episode to feature Jerry's parents. Only one casting session was performed to find the actors for the roles. Philip Sterling was originally cast to play the role of Morty Seinfeld, but was replaced with Phil Bruns. Bruns was then replaced as well because Seinfeld and David wanted the character to be harsher. As a result, the role was recast and given to Barney Martin. Martin had no idea that another actor had already established the part. [cite video|people=Tom Cherones|title=Seinfeld Seasons 1 & 2: Inside Looks - "The Stake Out"|medium=DVD|publisher=Sony Pictures Home Entertainment|date=2004-11-23] [cite video|people=Barney Martin|title=Seinfeld Seasons 1 & 2: Inside Looks - "The Stake Out"|medium=DVD|publisher=Sony Pictures Home Entertainment|date=2004-11-23] In the first draft of the episode, Morty and Helen Seinfeld were only referred to as "Father" and Mother". In a later draft, Morty was called "Leon".

Reception

When "The Stake Out" was first broadcast on May 31, 1990, the episode attracted a Nielsen Rating of 16.2/24, meaning that 16.2% of American households watched the episode, and that 24% of all televisions in use at the time were tuned into it. When the episode was first repeated, on December 2, 1992, a special introductory film was made featuring Louis-Dreyfus and Seinfeld, claiming that this episode was the first that they did together. Although technically, it was just the first episode broadcast. "Male Unbonding" was the first episode in which the characters were filmed together.

The episode being nominated for a Writers Guild Award in 1991. Holly E. Ordway for DVD Talk Review commented positively on not just this episode, but the whole of the first season saying, "What's not to like about an episode like "The Stakeout," in which (among other things) we are witness to the invention of George's alter ego, Art Vandelay (and his import/export business)?" [cite web|last=Ordway|first=Holly E.|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/13443/seinfeld-seasons-1-2/|title=Seinfeld - Seasons 1 & 2|publisher=DVD Talk Review|date=2004-11-23|accessdate=2008-05-10] Mary Kay Shilling and Mike Flaherty of "Entertainment Weekly" also liked the episode but had some doubts, saying it was, "A painfully realistic take on the lovers-to-friends transition that should have been more comically fruitful." [cite web|last=Shilling|first=Mary Kay|coauthors=Flaherty, Mike|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,282975,00.html|title=Seinfeld Episode Guide: Season 1|publisher="Entertainment Weekly"|date=1998-05-04|accessdate=2008-06-09]

However, some reviews of the episode were critical, both now and at the time. When first broadcast, Matt Roush from "USA Today" said that the episode was, "Lacking much in the way of attitude, the show seems obsolete and irrelevant. What it boils down to is that "Seinfeld" is a mayonnaise clown in the world that requires a little horseradish."

Colin Jacobson for DVD Movie Guide criticized the writing, saying, "the show's rather bland. It provides the occasional chuckle, but the characters aren't formed yet, and that makes the program ring false. The ending reconciliation between Jerry and Elaine causes particular problems; it doesn't turn sappy, but it comes too close for "Seinfeld"." [cite web|last=Jacobson|first=Colin|url=http://www.dvdmg.com/seinfelds12.shtml|title=Seinfeld: Seasons 1 & 2 (1990-1991)|publisher=DVD Movie Guide|date=2004-11-18|accessdate=2008-05-10]

References