The Gymnast

The Gymnast
Season	6
Episode	92
Air Date	November 3, 1994
Writer(s)	Alec Berg Jeff Schaffer
Director	Andy Ackerman
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"The Gymnast" is the 92nd episode of Seinfeld. It aired during the sixth season. It originally aired on November 3, 1994.

The episode was directed by Andy Ackerman and was written by Alec Berg and Jeff Schaffer.

Plot

Jerry dates Katya, a Romanian former gymnast that Jerry says won a silver medal at the 1984 Olympics, (although if this were confirmed, she would also have won a gold medal as Romanian women took the team title in Los Angeles). Kramer encourages him to have sex with her, since she is probably very "flexible." Jerry can only think of a conversation involving deposed dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu. George is given another shot with Lindsay, whom he met while trying to join a book club to read Breakfast at Tiffany's. Jerry and Kramer find out about one of George's odd bathroom habits: whenever he goes into the "office" he takes off his shirt so as to feel "no encumbrances." Jerry talks about how George is better with the mothers of his girlfriends than with the girlfriends themselves.

Kramer goes to Mr. Pitt's office to retrieve a 3-D autostereogram painting that Elaine took to frame. Kramer leaves early as he feels intense pain which turns out is a kidney stone. Mr. Pitt becomes obsessed with finding the "spaceship" image in the 3-D painting. In place of Mr. Pitt, Elaine goes to a merger meeting between Morgan Springs and Poland Creek, but starts a dispute because of the suggested name "Moland" Springs. At Lindsay's mother's house George impresses Mrs. Enright with his gentlemanly demeanor, until he is caught by her eating a partially eaten chocolate éclair out of the trash can.

George assures Jerry that the pastry was clean and "on top", but Jerry says George has crossed the border between man and bum. George explains over the phone and gets another chance with Lindsay. Kramer brings Jerry a videotape of the 1984 Olympics and Jerry decides to go for it with Katya. Later, Jerry comments with Elaine of his disappointment with the sexual tryst (there was nothing gymnastic about it) and she tells him he is now committed to dating Katya for at least three more weeks.

At the street George buys a cup of coffee but he does not like it and throws it away, accidentally splashing a nearby automobile. George is spotted washing the windshield by Lindsay's mother, who is now convinced that he is a bum. George has to apologize once more and gets another opportunity with Lindsay.

Since it was Kramer's idea, Jerry wants Kramer to come along to the circus with Katya and him to watch the performance of Katya's friend Misha. However, Kramer is afraid of clowns. At the circus's restroom, Kramer finally passes the kidney stone, but he screams so loudly that he makes Misha fall from the high wire. At Lindsay's mother's place there is a small party, and in the bathroom they have placed a 3-D painting which is "mesmerizing." George goes into the bathroom but then forgets to put his shirt back on and walks out of the bathroom topless, which shocks all the other party guests.

Mr. Pitt has lost three days trying to see the image in the 3-D painting. He now sees it right before going to an important meeting discussing the merger. Elaine, who has her hands covered in ink, breaks the picture and snaps her boss from the trance. However, she spills ink on him and he goes to the meeting with a painted mustache, making him look like Adolf Hitler. Aside from the visual humor, the scene alludes to Hitler's invasion of Poland in 1939 through the juxtaposition of the imagery and the bottled water brand name.

Katya breaks up with Jerry to be with Misha, saying Misha told her that she only needed to give him 3 days after their night together. Katya tells Jerry about a Romanian legend of a man with great libido – "the comedian" and says Jerry is no comedian.

Notes About Nothing

When Jerry sees Misha's cape, he remarks, "Those capes are really coming back." This is a reference to Frank Costanza's lawyer who wore a cape in the previous episode “The Chinese Woman”.

Quotes

Kramer: "Jerry, you stand on the threshold to the magical world of sensual delights that most men dare not dream of."
Jerry: "Boy, you can really talk some trash." Then to George: "I guess that's better than eating it."

Jerry: "How did you stay on that beam like that? It's only this wide."
Katya: "I can balance myself in any position." Jerry swallows. "It is amazing after years of training how one can contort one's body. Of course, it's only useful in gymnastics."

Jerry: "I couldn't believe it. I thought I was entering a magical world of sensual delights. It was just so ordinary; there wasn't anything gymnastic about it."
Elaine: "What'd you think she was going to do?"
Jerry: "You know, I mean, I don't know...."
Elaine: "No, what?"
Jerry: "Well, obviously I prefer not to mention any...."
Elaine: "What, you thought she was going to take some of that chalk...."
Jerry: "See, I really don't want to get in to any kind of specifics."
Elaine: "Oh, come on. One thing. One thing. What?"
Jerry: "Well, frankly I thought, you know, I was going to be kind of like the apparatus."
Elaine: "You mean like the uneven parallel bars?"
Jerry: "See, again, I really don't feel...."
Elaine: "The balance beam?"
Jerry: "Could we stop?"
Elaine: "Not the pommel horse?"

George on the phone to Lindsey: "Lindsey, I had accidentally spilled coffee on the gentleman's windshield.... Why would I do that? I have a job.... Well, did she see a squeegee? You're not going to make a dime without a squeegee!"
Jerry: Strike two!

Mr. Pitt to board (with ink above his lip like Hitler's toothbrush moustache): "I have been accused of wrong-doing. But these false accusations will not deter us. We WILL annex Poland by the Spring, at any cost! AND... our stock will rise HIGH!" (he raises his right arm at "high" in what looks like a Nazi salute).

Katya: "In my country they speak of a man so virile, so potent, that to spend a night with such a man is to enter a world of sensual delights most women dare not dream of. This man is known as a comedian. You may tell jokes, Mr. Seinfeld, but you are no comedian."