10 Seinfeld Episodes That Fans Were Offended By and Quit Watching

One of the most acclaimed television sitcoms in history is Friends. It initially premiered on NBC in 1989 and continued for nine seasons, receiving 10 Emmy Awards along the way. The show has become an integral part of popular culture, with many people viewing it as one of the funniest prime-time TV shows ever produced. Even today, famous lines like “No soup for you!” remain just as popular.

Regrettably, even popular shows such as Seinfeld sometimes miss the mark. Certain episodes from this series have been deemed so controversial that many fans chose to stop watching altogether. These unpalatable episodes left a sour impression on some spectators and tarnished their enjoyment of the show.

Season 9, Episode 20

Air Date: May 7, 1998
Director: Andy Ackerman
IMDb Score: 7.8/10

In one of the last episodes of “Seinfeld,” I found myself part of a group returning from a Mets game, but we were stuck in a massive traffic jam. As it turned out, we had stumbled upon the bustling celebration of “The Puerto Rican Day” parade in Manhattan. The streets were teeming with people joyously participating in the festivities.

Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer occasionally exhibit an air of self-importance that can make them somewhat hard to sympathize with. In the episode “The Puerto Rican Day,” this character trait is particularly noticeable, leading some to find it harsh or even highly inappropriate. Given that this was the final season, it’s possible that Larry David may have been feeling less inspired and a bit more cynical than usual, which might explain why this episode appears harsher than others.

Season 4, Episode 17

Air Date: February 11, 1993
Director: Tom Cherones
IMDb Score: 9.4/10

In “The Outing,” Elaine enjoys playing tricks on her friends whenever possible. Specifically, she overhears a woman listening in at a neighboring table at Monk’s Café and decides to pull a prank on Jerry and George by pretending they are a couple to make them uncomfortable. Unbeknownst to them, the woman is actually a journalist who later publishes an article about Jerry’s “outing” in a newspaper.

A significant number of viewers chose to stop tuning into “Seinfeld” due to their discomfort with its use of homophobic humor, which was a sensitive topic during that time when many states were less accepting of same-sex relationships. The show’s crude jokes targeting gay rights issues led to a decline in viewership as some viewers found them offensive.

Season 4, Episode 9

Air Date: May 2, 1991
Director: Tom Cherones
IMDb Score: 8.2/10

As a cinephile, I’m primed and ready to elevate my journey in the world of entertainment. In an exhilarating turn of events, season four’s episode titled “The Pitch” saw me striking a deal with NBC to bring my vision to life on television. Joining forces with George, we proposed an innovative concept, a “show about nothing.” Miraculously, our idea resonated with the network, and it was greenlit for production. This is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter!

It’s not that every viewer of Seinfeld stopped watching due to being outraged or offended by the series. Instead, some viewers found themselves growing weary in season four, as they felt the storyline revolving around Jerry and George’s “show about nothing” became repetitive and self-indulgent. At first, this meta plotline offered a bit of amusement, but it eventually wore thin and seemed overly indulgent without much substance.

Season 7, Episode 17

Air Date: February 2, 1996
Director: Andy Ackerman
IMDb Score: 8.1/10

Susan Ross (portrayed by Heidi Swedberg) experienced a heartbreaking storyline on Seinfeld. Prior to her passing in season seven, an episode titled “The Doll” unfolds where George pays a visit to her apartment. There, he notices her unsettling collection of dolls, one of which strikingly resembles his mother.

George and Estelle Costanza are undeniably hilarious characters, yet not even their comedic brilliance could rescue the greatly disliked episode number 7. The plot itself was genuinely amusing, but the primary issue with the episode lay in Kathy Griffin’s guest appearance. Many viewers found her aggressive, vulgar humor off-putting, and the show paid the price for it. Few were pleased to see her reappearance in “The Cartoon” during season nine.

Season 2, Episode 9

Air Date: May 2, 1991
Director: Tom Cherones
IMDb Score: 8.2/10

In the episode “The Deal” during the second season of Seinfeld, Jerry and Elaine find themselves in a lull. To spice things up, they decide on a casual, benefits-only friendship arrangement. However, the episode hints at a potential revival of their romantic feelings. This move by NBC aimed to introduce a touch of romance into the series. While some viewers embraced this change, many felt it disrupted the humorous camaraderie between Jerry and Elaine, leading several fans to stop watching until they returned to their usual platonic bond in the following episode.

Season 3, Episode 3

Air Date: October 2, 1991
Director: Tom Cherones
IMDb Score: 8.2/10

In most episodes of Seinfeld, viewers seldom witness Jerry’s parents. But in the episode titled “The Pen,” an exception occurs as Jerry pays a visit to his parents at their retirement home in Florida. During this trip, his father’s friend, Jack Klompus, presents him with an intriguing zero-gravity pen. However, Jerry finds himself in a sticky situation when it turns out that Jack wasn’t fully intending to part with the pen permanently.

In the backstage hustle of “The Pen,” I found myself grappling with an unexpected predicament. Rumors swirled that Jason Alexander, our beloved George Costanza, contemplated walking away from the entire series due to his absence in one particular episode. For some devoted fans like me, the chemistry between him and Jerry was a vital ingredient that made the show tick. A handful of us felt the void so deeply, we chose to bid adieu to the series altogether.

Season 7, Episode 1

Air Date: September 21, 1995
Director: Andy Ackerman
IMDb Score: 8.6/10

It appeared as if the situation with Jerry was about to drastically alter his life trajectory. He popped the question to Jeanne Steinman, who was essentially Jerry in a female form. However, their engagement didn’t last long as they both came to understand that they weren’t interested in a married life together.

It wasn’t something Jerry Seinfeld appeared to be inclined towards – marriage. This is why some fans found his engagement in season seven a bit jarring. In fact, quite a few viewers stopped watching because they feared that Jerry’s wedding might disrupt the usual dynamics among the four main characters. Fortunately, the storyline about Jeannie didn’t persist for long.

Season 1, Episode 1

Air Date: July 5, 1989
Director: Art Wolff
IMDb Score: 7.5/10

In a casual rephrasing: The storyline of “The Seinfeld Chronicles” focuses on just three of the show’s leading characters – Jerry and George – who gather at Pete’s Luncheonette (later known as Monk’s Cafe, starting from season four). During their conversation, they discuss George’s recent dating experience. The audience is introduced to Kramer for the first time; however, Jerry calls him by his initial name, Kessler.

Initially, each episode of the series wasn’t as strong as later ones. It seemed like it was still finding its stride, and this was evident with the show called Seinfeld. NBC initially considered not airing it during primetime because its Nielsen ratings were so poor. The sitcom almost lost viewers before it even started. However, by changing the title from “The Seinfeld Chronicles” to simply “Seinfeld”, a second episode was broadcast nearly a year after the pilot.

Season 9, Episode 8

Air Date: November 20, 1997
Director: Andy Ackerman
IMDb Score: 8.9/10

Some episodes of “Seinfeld” are quite complex, and “The Betrayal” is one such episode. Elaine receives an invitation to a wedding in India, while Jerry and George both find themselves attracted to the same woman. Meanwhile, Kramer stays at home for a birthday party where the guest of honor expresses a desire to be deceased.

Title “The Betrayal” is appropriate for the eighth episode as it deviates from the typical format of the series by presenting an experimental narrative structure, where the story unfolds in reverse chronological order. While some viewers found the unconventional timeline intriguing, the main controversy revolved around Jerry sleeping with a woman who George had shown interest in dating. This action seemed out of character for Jerry, as it appeared to betray their friendship norms.

Season 4, Episode 2

Air Date: August 19, 1992
Director: Tom Cherones
IMDb Score: 8.2/10

Seinfeld featured numerous two-parters, such as “The Trip,” broadcast during the fourth season. This episode initiates with Jerry and George jetting off to Los Angeles, where Jerry is due on The Tonight Show starring Jay Leno. They intend to connect with Kramer since he’s already in town auditioning for commercials. However, their plans take an unexpected twist when Kramer becomes a suspect in a murder case.

Part II” might have been too grim for fans of Seinfeld, as many viewers stopped watching due to Kramer’s emotional breakdown over being falsely accused of being a serial killer. This scene wasn’t funny or uplifting, but rather quite depressing and uncomfortable, which is far from what viewers usually associate with a show about nothing.

2025-06-04 04:53