The Conversion (Seinfeld)

Infobox Television episode
Title = The Conversion
Series = Seinfeld


Caption = George in his conversion clothing.
Season = 5
Episode = 75
Airdate = December 16, 1993
Production =
Writer = Bruce Kirschbaum
Director = Tom Cherones
Guests = Molly Hagan, Kay E. Kuter, Jana Marie Hupp
Episode list = List of "Seinfeld" episodes
Season list = Infobox Seinfeld season 5 episode list
Prev =
Next =

"The Conversion" is the seventy-fifth episode of the NBC sitcom "Seinfeld". This was the 11th episode for the 5th season. It aired on December 16, 1993.

Plot

George converts to Latvian Orthodoxy in order to keep a girlfriend who would otherwise break up with him for their religious differences. He jokingly refers to his cheapness, remarking to her about ordering lobster, "You know? You are the first woman that I haven't thought about the price." Jerry finds a fungus cream in his girlfriend's medicine cabinet and, wondering what the cream might treat, convinces Elaine to ask her boyfriend, a podiatrist. Jerry mocks podiatrists by stating that they aren't real doctors and that even George could get into Podiatry school. It is later revealed that the cream was for Jerry's girlfriends cat and somehow ends up in Elaine's medicine cabinet only to be discovered by her current boyfriend. Kramer meets a nun at George's church but must break up with her when she decides to forsake religion for him, due to Kramer having "kavorka" (the lure of the animal).

Interestingly, the writer of the episode, Bruce Kirschbaum, revealed later that he was unaware that the Latvian Orthodox church actually existed while writing the episode. His original intention was to have a fictitious sect. ["Inside Looks" "Seinfeld" on DVD Volume 4 Disc 3] Kirschbaum received many Thank You letters from the church for bringing attention to the denomination.

References