The Foundation (Seinfeld)

Infobox Television episode
Title = The Foundation
Series = Seinfeld


Caption = George observing a portait of Susan Ross.
Season = 8
Episode = 135
Airdate = September 19, 1996
Production =
Writer = Alec Berg & Jeff Schaffer
Director = Andy Ackerman
Guests = Janeane Garofalo, Susan Walters, & Bruce Davison
Episode list = List of "Seinfeld" episodes
Season list = Infobox Seinfeld season 8 episode list
Prev =
Next =

"The Foundation" is the 135th episode of the American television sitcom "Seinfeld". This was the 1st episode of the 8th season. It was originally broadcast on the NBC network on September 19, 1996.

Plot

While George would rather forget about his fiancee Susan's tragic demise, Susan's parents want to keep her memory alive by creating a foundation, inspired by a Star Trek reference Jerry told them about Susan, ruining George's newfound happiness. George is seen gazing at a portrait of a smiling Susan. Jerry reunites with Dolores (aka Mulva) from "The Junior Mint." J. Peterman has a nervous breakdown, runs off to Burma and leaves Elaine in charge. Kramer becomes a martial arts expert at a karate academy for kids. Kramer 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 realizes her disastrous mistake. Kramer gets beaten up by the kids from his karate class in an alley. Elaine finds out her urban sombrero has destroyed some people's lives. George finds out he would have inherited much of Susan's riches had they been married, but now he is stuck at the foundation as they are auctioned off. The same portrait of Susan which hangs in the room where the foundation meet now seems to be sneering at George.

Trivia

* This episode was dedicated to Marjorie Gross, a writer for the show who died of ovarian cancer in June 1996.
* This episode makes several references to "Star Trek". Jerry's line to Susan's parents, "She's not really dead if we find a way to remember her.," is very similar to a line said at the end of '. Kramer mentions his Katra, the Vulcan spirit introduced in '. Finally, when George learns of the foundation, he yells, "Khaaaaaaannnnnnn!!!" while the camera pans above him, much like Captain Kirk in "Star Trek II." This upward-panning camera technique is repeated by George in "The Dealership" and also by Elaine in "The Susie".
* One of the things being auctioned off at the foundation is Susan's doll collection, seen in "The Doll."
* The scene in which Kramer is beat up by the children in an alley, pays homage to a similar scene in Season 7's "The Sponge."
* George twice equates his joyous sense of freedom following Susan's death to eating a block of cheese.