The Boyfriend, Part 1

The Boyfriend, Part 1
Season	3
Episode	34
Air Date	February 12, 1992
Writer(s)	Larry David Larry Levin
Director	Tom Cherones
prev	The Fix-Up
next	The Boyfriend, Part 2

“The Boyfriend, Part 1” is the 17th episode of Season Three, and it first aired February 6, 1992. It is the first part of a two-part episode, followed by "The Boyfriend, Part 2". It was written by Larry David and Larry Levin, and was directed by Tom Cherones.

Plot

Jerry, George, and Kramer discuss if George is a chucker in basketball games. Kramer leaves and Jerry notices former New York Mets baseball player Keith Hernandez exercising nearby, who happens to be a fan of Jerry's comedy acts. Keith says that maybe he and Jerry could get together sometime. Jerry, being a fan of baseball, treats his and Keith's relationship like a boy/girl dating drama. Elaine tells him that it's a guy and there's no need to panic, but Jerry still does. Meanwhile, George, still lacking a job, tells Mrs. Sokel of the unemployment office of a recent job interview with Vandelay Industries. He gives Jerry's phone number as the work's number, and the applicant tells him that as soon as the job application is over, she'll call the number. George runs over to Jerry's house, telling him to always answer with "Vandelay Industries". Jerry is still panicking about Keith, and Kramer and Newman hear the name "Keith Hernandez". Kramer and Newman have hated him since 1987...

Newman stated that Hernandez made an error which opened the door to a five run Phillies ninth (In real life, on June 14, 1987, the Mets beat the Pirates on the road). After the Mets lost, Newman said, "Nice game, pretty boy" to Keith, and before anyone knew it, someone....something....spat in Kramer's eye. Kramer and Newman knew it was Keith, and that's why they hate him to this day.

After Jerry and Keith go out for a night, he tells Jerry that he is interested in Elaine. The next day, Elaine tells Jerry that she is now dating Keith. Jerry is shocked and now Elaine and Jerry battle for Keith. George's Vandalay plan backfired when Kramer, unaware of the scam, answers the phone on the office. Kramer is left confused, while George, rushing out of the bathroom, crawls to Kramer screaming "Vandelay! Vandelay Industries!" Kramer says that the caller was "way, way, way off". He then says to George, "How did you know who they wanted?" Jerry walks in, sees George with his pants down, and says, "And you wanna be my latex salesman."

Notes About Nothing

• The scene depicting the spitting incident and the "magic loogie" is a parody of the 1991 film JFK.
• This is the only episode where its title appears on-screen.
• Originally, this episode was to be titled “The New Friend”.
• According to the DVD commentary, Jerry improvised the line, "and you wanna be my latex salesmen" at the end of the episode.
• The gang constantly references "Game 6" throughout the episode. This was an infamous baseball game in the 1986 World Series between the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox, in which Bill Buckner let a routine ground ball go between his legs, allowing the Mets to win the game, and ultimately led to the Mets winning the World Series.

Quotes

• "I am not a chucker! I never have chucked! Never will chuck! No chuck! Kramer, am I a chucker?" - George
• "Vandelay Industries. Kel Varnsen speaking. How may I help you?" - Jerry
• "And you wanna be my latex salesman." - Jerry, after seeing George on the floor with his pants down