"The Soup" was the 7th episode of Season Six and the 93rd overall. It originally aired on November 10, 1994. It was written by Fred Stoller and was directed by Andy Ackerman.
Plot
George is flirting with Kelly (Tracy Kolis), a waitress from Monk's Cafe. Elaine just returned from a trip to England with Mr. Pitt; she met a man who is flying over with Elaine's frequent flyer miles. Kenny Bania (Steve Hytner), an obnoxious comedian, offers Jerry a brand new Armani suit for free. After his kidney stone, Kramer decides to dump his refrigerator to eat only fresh foods. Bania delivers the suit but he insists Jerry should buy him a meal in exchange. Simon, the Englishman, has arrived but he is being arrogant with Elaine while in a taxicab. Kelly, the waitress, and George go for a walk. George mentions how he likes the word "manure", and immediately after, Kelly makes a casual remark revealing that she has a boyfriend. Later, at Jerry's apartment, he and George speculate on the theory that she made that up to avoid George and whether or not the manure comment that George made had anything to do with it. Kramer goes to Jerry's apartment for food, not for himself, but for his hungry girlfriend Hildy who is a waitress at Reggie's. At Mendy's restaurant Jerry is ready to eat dinner with Bania, but Bania only orders a soup, which, he says, cannot count as the "meal". Simon is acting rude with Elaine and he doesn't seem to have plans to return to England. He turns out to be a real "bounder". George is feeling uncomfortable in Monk's with Kelly around, because the playful banter that he enjoyed with her before he asked her out has been replaced on her part with a cold formality that borders on rudeness. Kenny Bania joins George and Jerry at the coffee shop; this time he orders a soup and sandwich. Jerry believes his obligation is fulfilled, but Bania disagrees as they didn't eat in a fancy restaurant like Mendy's. With information provided by his girlfriend Hildy, Kramer informs George that Kelly doesn't have a boyfriend so she did invent the story earlier. In order to get rid of Bania, Jerry offers the Armani suit to Simon, who willingly accepts it. George is still uncomfortable at Monk's and he badgers Jerry and Elaine to go to Reggie's, where Hildy works. However, when Hildy takes their order, they are informed that Reggie's doesn't offer the meals they have grown accustomed to at Monk's; i.e. Jerry's egg white omelette and Elaine's Big Salad. When they try to place them as special orders, Hildy gives them a hassle, leaving them frustrated, unsatisfied, and (consequently) angry at George. At his apartment, Jerry is out of food for Kramer's hungry girlfriend. Kramer is terrified. Hildy is in a bad mood because she got fired after Kramer made too many calls to her workplace; George decides to try the same trick with Kelly. Back at Monk's, Kelly informs Jerry and Elaine that she isn't going to work there anymore. Kelly's boss, fed up with calls, says he will treat George as his "hand puppet". Bania attempts to reclaim the suit from Jerry. Simon, who has just flirted with a woman in front of Elaine, has a job interview thanks to the suit Jerry gave him, and he decides he might stay longer in the country. Elaine tells Bania where his suit is, and a heated Bania rushes outside the restaurant to confront the unsuspecting Simon. Jerry and Elaine, enjoying their egg white omelette and Big Salad, salute each other in triumph. The last shot of the episode is George eating by himself at Reggie's.
Critical Analysis
A blog dedicated to the legality of the issues that arise in Seinfeld episodes, Seinfeld Law, analyzed whether Jerry created a legally binding contract by taking the Armani Suit from Bania that would put him under obligation to take Bania out to dinner.
Quotes
"You're going in there, Soldier! That's an Order!" - Jerry to George
Notes about Nothing
- This episode is the first appearance of Kenny Bania.
- This episode is the second appearance of Tracy Kolis (her first being The Ex-Girlfriend), although in this episode she portrays a different character.
- This episode has the first appearance of the other diner, Reggie's.
| Season Six Episodes |
|---|
| The Chaperone | The Big Salad | The Pledge Drive | The Chinese Woman | The Couch | The Gymnast | The Soup | The Mom and Pop Store | The Secretary | The Race | The Switch | The Label Maker | The Scofflaw | The Highlights of 100, Part 1 | The Highlights of 100, Part 2 | The Beard | The Kiss Hello | The Doorman | The Jimmy | The Doodle | The Fusilli Jerry | The Diplomat's Club | The Face Painter | The Understudy |