The Seinfeld Chronicles

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Seinfeld episode
“The Seinfeld Chronicles”

Episode no.	Season 01 Episode 01
Writer(s)	Larry David Jerry Seinfeld
Director	Art Wolff
Original airdate	July 5, 1989
Episode chronology
← Previous	Next →
"N/A"	"The Stakeout"

The Seinfeld Chronicles (also known as Good News, Bad News and Stand Up) (Series Original Script Title) is the pilot episode of the NBC series, Seinfeld. It originally aired on July 5, 1989. The original title of the episode was Good News, Bad News; however, it has been confirmed by the creators that the title of the pilot is The Seinfeld Chronicles.

It was rebroadcast in 1990 after the show had been picked up as a series.

The episode was written by creators Larry David & Jerry Seinfeld and was directed by Art Wolff.

[edit] Plot

Template:Spoiler Jerry Seinfeld and George Costanza are seated at Pete's Luncheonette debating over a shirt button. The argument is about the second button of the shirt, which Jerry claims is the most important. (This same conversation, ultimately, will recur as the last conversation of the entire series.) The waitress, Claire, comes over to their table and pours each a cup of coffee. George tells Claire he does not want caffeine in his coffee and Jerry corrects him by telling George she is an expert waitress. The two continue to talk and finally leave when Jerry has to do laundry.

The following evening while watching a late Mets game, he receives a phone call from a potential girlfriend, Laura, whom he met on the road. She asks if she can stay over his apartment since she cannot find a "decent hotel" (a fact George contests). Jerry invites her, but is unsure if her visit is intended to be romantic or not. George and Jerry continue to debate fine details in Laura's conversation with Jerry to determine the true nature of the visit. A character known in the pilot as "Kessler," (who in all future episodes is known as Kramer) joins in asking Jerry why he would even give her a choice about where to sleep by bringing in another bed. The episode gives viewers a quick glimpse at George's profession (real estate) and also Kramer's (dubious "get-rich-quick" schemes).

At the airport, George and Jerry continue to talk in an effort to identify the possible signals Laura might give upon her arrival. Laura arrives and takes Jerry (and George) by surprise. The two arrive at Jerry's apartment and he feels uncomfortable with the situation. Laura removes some excess clothing to get comfortable and asks for wine. Jerry believes he has gotten to the bottom of the whole question. His plans are abruptly interrupted when he learns Laura has a fiancé. Jerry realizes he has no chance with Laura but has already committed himself — and his studio apartment — to an entire weekend with her. Template:Endspoiler

[edit] Notes

The episode does not feature the character of Elaine Benes. Her character was introduced as a result of constructive criticism based on this episode, and to this day, Julia Louis-Dreyfus has never seen the episode.
The restaurant Jerry and George are eating lunch at is known as Pete's Luncheonette in this episode. This restaurant, along with the appearance of Claire the waitress, is featured in this episode only. In later episodes, they eat at a coffee shop called Monk's Cafe, set in Tom's Restaurant.
Lee Garlington, who played Pete's restaurant waitress Claire was credited as a regular in the pilot, but was not featured in any subsequent episodes.
The conversation had by Jerry and George at the beginning of this episode is reiterated in the final episode, The Finale, Part 2, with George proclaiming "I think we've had this conversation before."
Kilroy appears on the side of Jerry Seinfeld's refrigerator