The Foundation (Seinfeld)

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

Plot

The season opens at a cemetery, where we see the gravestone of George's late fiancée Susan in full view. While George wishes to move on from Susan's tragic demise, her parents want to keep her memory alive by creating a foundation in her honor, inspired by a Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan reference Jerry told them about Susan, which ruins George's newfound happiness as the Rosses want George to sit on the board of directors. George also sees a large portrait of a smiling Susan at the well-appointed foundation headquarters.

Jerry breaks his engagement with Jeannie Steinman and reunites with Dolores (aka Mulva) from "The Junior Mint." However, Dolores had figured Jerry would mature because of his advanced relationship with Jeannie and thus breaks up with him when it turns out he hasn't. Jerry, in need to prove that he has matured, makes up a relationship questionnaire in order to see where he stands with other women.

After a nervous breakdown, J. Peterman runs off to Burma and leaves Elaine in charge of his catalog. Kramer becomes a dominating martial arts expert at a karate academy for kids and 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 that his inspiration came from Star Trek III: The Search for Spock; realizing her disastrous mistake, she angrily shoves him, causing the kids (who were earlier defeated easily by him) to be in awe. Kramer later gets beaten up by the kids in an alley. Elaine later finds out her urban sombrero has destroyed some people's lives, further ruining her confidence.

George finds out he would have inherited some of Susan's millions had they been married, but now he is stuck at the foundation as they are all auctioned off to the highest bidder to benefit various charities. The same portrait of Susan which hangs in the foundation's boardroom now seems to be sneering at George from beyond the grave as he looks back at it in shock.

Production

Jerry Seinfeld took over the role as executive producer following the departure of Larry David, beginning with this episode. The episode was dedicated to Marjorie Gross, a writer for the show who died of ovarian cancer in June 1996.

Cultural references

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 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan ("He's really not dead. As long as we remember him."). Kramer mentions his Katra, the Vulcan spirit introduced in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. 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 beaten up by the children in an alley, pays homage to a similar scene in Season 7's "The Sponge" where Kramer is beaten up by angry AIDS-walk participants.

External links

• The Foundation at the Internet Movie Database

Seinfeld episodes
Season 1	"The Seinfeld Chronicles" "The Stake Out" "The Robbery" "Male Unbonding" "The Stock Tip"
Season 2	"The Ex-Girlfriend" "The Pony Remark" "The Jacket" "The Phone Message" "The Apartment" "The Statue" "The Revenge" "The Heart Attack" "The Deal" "The Baby Shower" "The Chinese Restaurant" "The Busboy"
Season 3	"The Note" "The Truth" "The Pen" "The Dog" "The Library" "The Parking Garage" "The Cafe" "The Tape" "The Nose Job" "The Stranded" "The Alternate Side" "The Red Dot" "The Subway" "The Pez Dispenser" "The Suicide" "The Fix-Up" "The Boyfriend" "The Limo" "The Good Samaritan" "The Letter" "The Parking Space" "The Keys"
Season 4	"The Trip" "The Pitch" "The Ticket" "The Wallet" "The Watch" "The Bubble Boy" "The Cheever Letters" "The Opera" "The Virgin" "The Contest" "The Airport" "The Pick" "The Movie" "The Visa" "The Shoes" "The Outing" "The Old Man" "The Implant" "The Junior Mint" "The Smelly Car" "The Handicap Spot" "The Pilot"
Season 5	"The Mango" "The Puffy Shirt" "The Glasses" "The Sniffing Accountant" "The Bris" "The Lip Reader" "The Non-Fat Yogurt" "The Barber" "The Masseuse" "The Cigar Store Indian" "The Conversion" "The Stall" "The Dinner Party" "The Marine Biologist" "The Pie" "The Stand In" "The Wife" "The Raincoats" "The Fire" "The Hamptons" "The Opposite"
Season 6	"The Chaperone" "The Big Salad" "The Pledge Drive" "The Chinese Woman" "The Couch" "The Gymnast" "The Soup" "The Mom & Pop Store" "The Secretary" "The Race" "The Switch" "The Label Maker" "The Scofflaw" "The Highlights of 100" "The Beard" "The Kiss Hello" "The Doorman" "The Jimmy" "The Doodle" "The Fusilli Jerry" "The Diplomat's Club" "The Face Painter" "The Understudy"
Season 7	"The Engagement" "The Postponement" "The Maestro" "The Wink" "The Hot Tub" "The Soup Nazi" "The Secret Code" "The Pool Guy" "The Sponge" "The Gum" "The Rye" "The Caddy" "The Seven" "The Cadillac" "The Shower Head" "The Doll" "The Friar's Club" "The Wig Master" "The Calzone" "The Bottle Deposit" "The Wait Out" "The Invitations"
Season 8	"The Foundation" "The Soul Mate" "The Bizarro Jerry" "The Little Kicks" "The Package" "The Fatigues" "The Checks" "The Chicken Roaster" "The Abstinence" "The Andrea Doria" "The Little Jerry" "The Money" "The Comeback" "The Van Buren Boys" "The Susie" "The Pothole" "The English Patient" "The Nap" "The Yada Yada" "The Millennium" "The Muffin Tops" "The Summer of George"
Season 9	"The Butter Shave" "The Voice" "The Serenity Now" "The Blood" "The Junk Mail" "The Merv Griffin Show" "The Slicer" "The Betrayal" "The Apology" "The Strike" "The Dealership" "The Reverse Peephole" "The Cartoon" "The Strongbox" "The Wizard" "The Burning" "The Bookstore" "The Frogger" "The Maid" "The Puerto Rican Day" "The Chronicle" "The Finale"
Indicates two-part episode