Through deft use of euphemism, innuendo and double entrendres, David managed to keep the suggestive episode clear from the ire of the censors.Īnd somehow it worked: The Contest somehow retains an endearing innocence, while being focused almost entirely on the act of self-pleasure. “But are you still ‘Master of your Domain?'” It is co-creator Larry David’s pin-sharp writing that makes the episode one of the funniest in Seinfeld history (though admittedly the subject matter can elicit a few childish giggles in itself). He believed finding creative, alternative words and phrases throughout would improve the episode. Which is when Seinfeld quickly realised that complying with the censors would make the episode infinitely funnier. Julia Louis-Dreyfus – who played Elaine – didn’t think the episode would ever get made, given the subject matter.Ī note from the censors politely encouraged the removal of the word “masturbate”. It wasn’t until the night before the cast read-through that the actors got their hands on the original script, a version that was not quite as clean as the one that made it to air. Years later, David would draw on these events for inspiration, though he was reluctant to share his idea with Seinfeld, fearing the episode would be impossible to sum-up in an inoffensive pitch. L-R: George, Elaine, Kramer and Jerry ‘enjoy’ a subway ride in classic episode, ‘The Subway’ (Photo: NBC) Larry David allegedly took part after being convinced by his friends to do so (he didn’t think he had a chance of winning). Kenny Kramer – the inspiration behind the Kramer character – claimed that a real life Contest once took place.
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