Seinfeld ranks among the best sitcoms ever produced. It has the perfect formula required to create the best sitcom. The show features many episodes, but some best Seinfeld episodes stand out from the rest.
Making a relatable sitcom is extremely difficult. So making one that stands the test of time is definitely a big achievement. This is what Larry David and star Jerry Seinfeld did when they created this masterpiece.
There are a total of 180 episodes of Seinfeld, and we have handpicked the best among them. So here’s our list of the top 20 best Seinfeld episodes.
Series Overview
Before we jump into the best Seinfeld episode list, let’s talk a bit about the show itself. Seinfeld premiered in 1989 with a six-episode order on NBC. However, the channel quickly realized the potential of this show and green-lit it for further seasons.
The show revolves around an up-and-coming comedian, Jerry Seinfeld, as he faces new challenges in his life every day. He is accompanied by a couple of his friends named George, Elaine, and Kramer.
Seinfeld ran for nine seasons and a total of 180 episodes. Its last episode aired in 1998, and unlike many other shows, its audience didn’t drop over the seasons. In fact, in the previous season of the show, they had the highest audience.
Top 20 Best Seinfeld Episodes
We have listed down the best Seinfeld episodes based on public reaction and their overall ratings. So let’s jump right into it.
20. Season 3, Episode 17
Starting off our list of the best Seinfeld episodes, we have “The Boyfriend.” It is part of the third season of the show.
Seinfeld wasn’t too keen on including celebrity cameos. However, this episode is an exception. Professional baseball player Keith Hernandez gets romantically involved with Elaine. However, she leaves him when she finds out about his smoking habit.
On the other hand, Jerry also ends things with him when he asks for a helping hand to move his furniture.
19. Season 6, Episode 21
The 21st episode of season 6 is titled “The Fusilli Jerry.” This episode aired on April 27, 1995. It revolves around Kramer getting a new license plate, but it turns out highly inappropriate. Meanwhile, Jerry is shaken when he realizes that Elaine’s new boyfriend is using his “move.”
The entire story revolving around Jerry’s “move” is really interesting to watch. Moreover, it makes for some of the best comedic moments. Furthermore, Kramer gets a befitting dedicated story in this episode which is always a joy to watch.
18. Season 2, Episode 9
Season 2’s episode titled “The Deal” takes the next spot on our list of the best Seinfeld episodes. In this episode, Elaine and Jerry try to add more intimacy to their relationship after watching a pornographic movie.
This episode is quite sweet, as we see Jerry and Elaine struggling to establish the grounds for their friendship/relationship. However, they do end up coming back together at the end, which is a brilliant payoff.
17. Season 9, Episode 8
The 8th episode of season 9 is truly unique. Unlike other episodes, this episode plays out in reverse chronological order. So it is quite interesting to watch that the creators have opted for a different style. This is why it is one of the best Seinfeld episodes.
The episode revolves around Elaine, Jerry, and George traveling to India to attend Sue Ellen Mischke’s wedding. Despite the events unfolding in reverse order, the episode remains exciting and funny.
16. Season 5, Episode 2
“The Puffy Shirt” is the title of the 2nd episode of season 5. It aired on September 23, 1993. Larry David, the show’s creator, has described this episode as one of his favorites. So, we had to include it on our list of the best Seinfeld episodes.
In this episode, Kramer and his soft-spoken pal Leslie launch a new clothing line, and Jerry agrees to wear it on the Today show. Everything from the writing to the acting is nearly perfect in this episode.
15. Season 8, Episode 5
The 5th episode of season 8 is titled “The Package.” This episode revolves around Jerry and Kramer conducting mail fraud, resulting in a heated confrontation with Newman at the post office.
Jerry’s Uncle Leo shines in this episode. He is really an interesting character. Uncle Leo adds a lot of humor, especially during the scene where he loses his eyebrows. The Package is a one-of-a-kind episode.
14. Season 5, Episode 11
The next entry on our list of the best Seinfeld episodes is “The Conversion.” It is the 11th episode of season 5. This episode sees George converting to Latvian Orthodox to protect his relationship. Meanwhile, Jerry is obsessed with a fungal cream that he found in his girlfriend’s cabinet.
During this episode, Kramer also gets involved with George’s Latvian Orthodox adventure. His interactions with the church’s nun are extremely hilarious to watch.
13. Season 8, Episode 8
The 8th episode of season 8 was released on November 14, 1996. In this episode, Kramer and Jerry swapped their apartments due to a bright neon sign installed by the Kenny Rogers Roasters chicken restaurant.
However, Kramer gets addicted to the same chicken and has a hard time hiding it. The best moments in this episode come when Kramer and Jerry adopt each other’s mannerisms. It is so absurd yet hilarious.
12. Season 8, Episode 6
Another episode from season 8 makes its way on our list of the best Seinfeld episodes. The episode titled “The Fatigues” revolves around Jerry finding out that his girlfriend has a mentor. Meanwhile, Elaine is about to terminate a coworker but accidentally promotes him.
While all the storylines in this episode are great, Jerry Stiller’s Frank Costanza stands out because of his slightly bizarre storyline. However, it is definitely comedic gold. You will have a great time watching this episode.
11. Season 3, Episode 8
Episode 8 of season 3 is titled “The Tape.” In this episode, Elaine leaves an erotic recording for Jerry as a prank. However, George unknowingly develops a crush on this voice while Kramer and Jerry try to uncover her identity.
This episode is extremely hysterical. It portrays Elaine and her chemistry with the other cast members in a new light which is extremely interesting and funny to watch.
10. Season 8, Episode 22
We have finally reached the top ten portion of our list of the best Seinfeld episodes. “The Summer of George” is the title of the last episode of season 8. It is the perfect episode for this spot.
This episode sees George taking a summer vacation when he learns that he’ll still receive his salary. Meanwhile, Jerry and Kramer attend the Tony Awards. Jerry is actually invited, but Kramer is only there as a seat filler.
9. Season 4, Episode 17
The next episode on our list of the best Seinfeld episodes is the 17th episode of season 4. This episode is titled “The Outing.” This episode is especially funny and special because it helped popularize the phrase “… not that there’s anything wrong with that.”
Jerry and George find themselves in trouble as they’re mistaken for a homosexual couple. I mean, not that there’s anything wrong with that, but all those little moments prove to be hysterical.
8. Season 9, Episode 6
In the 6th episode of season 9, Kramer believes he has discovered a vintage television set that was used in The Merv Griffin Show. So they stage their own reality show by using this equipment. On the other hand, it turns out that Jerry has been “drugging” his girlfriend in order to play with her toys.
Kramer is again the star of the show. His comedic chops are simply remarkable. Moreover, this episode features brilliant writing, and the cast does justice to the script. The best way to describe this episode is by calling it a completely surreal comedy experience.
7. Season 5, Episode 21
“The Hamptons” is the second last episode of the 5th season of Seinfeld. It aired on May 12, 1994. In this episode, Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer go to a Hamptons mansion. George suffers from “shrinkage.” Meanwhile, a doctor flirts with Elaine.
This episode is well-known for giving a new meaning to the word “shrinkage,” which goes to show how timeless the entire show is. Overall, it is definitely one of the best Seinfeld episodes due to all the comedic moments featuring George.
6. Season 8, Episode 3
“The Bizarro Jerry” is the name of the 3rd episode of season 8. In this episode, Elaine introduces the gang to her new boyfriend, who is exactly the opposite of Jerry. On the other hand, Jerry is tensed to find out that his girlfriend has “manly hands.”
This is one of those episodes that wouldn’t have been possible if the show was still written by Larry King. It is an insane ride, but it is so well-executed that it fits perfectly within the universe of Seinfeld. Overall, it is one of the best Seinfeld episodes coming from season 8.
5. Season 5, Episode 14
The 14th episode of season 5 is titled “The Marine Biologist.” In this episode, Jerry meets an old college friend. When he asks about George, Jerry tells him that George has become a marine biologist now.
This confusion leads George into a situation where he actually has to save a big whale. The Marine Biologist has genius writing from start to finish. You will have an amazing time watching this episode. Overall, it deserves a place among the best Seinfeld episodes.
4. Season 8, Episode 13
The next entry on our list of the best Seinfeld episodes is titled “The Comeback.” Another episode of season 8 makes its way on this list.
In this episode, George is hell-bent on thinking of the perfect comeback to his coworker’s insult. This is a George-centric episode and is extremely funny. George eventually comes with the most iconic comeback.
3. Season 5, Episode 22
Seinfeld’s fifth season finale takes the next spot on our list of the best Seinfeld episodes. This episode is titled “The Opposite.” In this episode, George makes a huge lifestyle change by doing the opposite of what he is supposed to do. Surprisingly, it works.
The irony of this episode is that when George’s fate swings upward, Elaine’s fate swings downward as a counterpoint. The expression on her face as she realizes, “I’ve become George!” is priceless.
2. Season 7, Episode 6
The 6th episode of season 7 is titled “The Soup Nazi.” This episode revolves around a soup chef who is obsessed with a very strict ordering policy. However, his soup is so good that people can’t keep themselves from having it.
Larry Thomas played the role of the Soup Nazi. His role and this episode are both extremely iconic in terms of Seinfeld history. Ask any Seinfeld fan about their favorite episodes, and The Soup Nazi will be among that list.
1. Season 4, Episode 11
“The Contest” is the 11th episode of the fourth season of Seinfeld. It aired on November 18, 1992. It is regarded as the best Seinfeld episode by countless fans. This episode is 20 minutes of pure comedy.
In this episode, George is caught by his mother while pleasuring himself with an issue of Glamour magazine. So the gang agrees to make a bet on who can avoid doing the deer for the longest.
Despite being a controversial subject at the time, this episode is regarded as the best Seinfeld episode of all time. This episode even received an Emmy Award.
Conclusion
Many sitcoms came after Seinfeld ended its run. However, none of them have been or will be as consistent and successful as this comedic masterpiece.
We have presented our ranking of the best Seinfeld episodes. As always, your opinions or rankings might be different because this list is based on ratings and personal opinions.
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