The Opposite

Infobox Television episode
Title = The Opposite
Series = Seinfeld


Caption = George tries doing the opposite of his natural instinct.
Season = 5
Episode = 86
Airdate = May 19, 1994
Production =
Writer = Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld & Andy Cowan
Director = Tom Cherones
Guests = Siobhan Fallon, Paul Gleason, Melanie Smith, French Stewart, Regis Philbin & Kathie Lee Gifford
Episode list = List of "Seinfeld" episodes
Season list = Infobox Seinfeld season 5 episode list
Prev =
Next =

"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.

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 that his life is the exact opposite of what it should be. Later, at Monk’s Café with the gang, he tells Jerry this, who convinces him that “if every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right”. George then resolves to start doing the complete opposite of what he would do 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 building. The list of grievances include "putting Canadian quarters into the machine".

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.

Quotes

* George: I had so much promise. I was personable, I was bright. Oh, maybe not academically speaking, but ... I was perceptive. I always know when someone's uncomfortable at a party. 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 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, yes I was, you just ordered the same exact lunch as me.
George: My name is George. I'm unemployed and I live with my parents.
Victoria (with a huge smile): I'm Victoria, hi!

Trivia

* 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 [http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=81278 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.
*This episode marks the start of George's work with "The Yankees". This will continue until the end of season Eight

External Links

* [http://www.tv.com/seinfeld/the-opposite/episode/2326/summary.html TV.com Episode summary - The Opposite]