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"The Bris"
Seinfeld episode
Episode no.Season 5
Episode 5
Directed byTom Cherones
Written byLarry Charles
Production code505
Original air dateOctober 14, 1993 (1993-10-14)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
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Seinfeld season 5
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"The Bris" is the 69th episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. It is the fifth episode of the fifth season, and first aired on October 14, 1993.[1] In this episode, Jerry and Elaine become godparents to a friend's baby, but are unenthusiastic about organizing the baby's bris. Kramer tries to stop the baby's circumcision, and to prove he saw a "pig-man" in the hospital. George's car roof gets cratered by a suicidal jumper.

Plot

[edit]

Everyone goes to the hospital to see Jerry's friend Stan and his wife Myra's newborn baby, as announced in the previous episode. Jerry and Elaine cannot match the couple's enthusiasm, while George is preoccupied with admiring his perfect parking spot out a window and congratulating himself. Kramer gets lost in the hospital, and points an escaped patient to the elevator. He peeks at a strangely grunting patient behind a curtain, and staggers away in horror.

Stan and Myra ask Jerry and Elaine to be the baby's godparents, which obliges them to help organize the baby's bris. Jerry is inspired to do underwhelming impressions of Marlon Brando as Don Corleone. No one believes Kramer's claim that he saw a "half-pig, half-man" mutant. Suddenly, the escaped patient jumps from the hospital roof, landing on George's parked car.

Elaine is confounded by finding and booking a mohel, while Jerry complains that he has to hold the baby for the circumcision. Kramer flaunts a newspaper article about genetic research at a hospital as proof that he has uncovered a government conspiracy to create an army of "pig-men". He also objects to circumcision on principle, while everyone compares notes on what uncircumcised penises look like. George wonders if he would be more desirable in comparison to pig-men.

George incredulously promises to give the pig-man a ride if Kramer breaks him out of the hospital. Kramer, harassing a hapless hospital resident, learns that the patient he saw was discharged. The damage to George's car will cost more than the car is worth to repair, so he glibly tries to hold the hospital responsible. The hospital administrator, assuming this is a shakedown, throws him out.

At the bris, Jerry and Elaine begrudge Stan and Myra for trying to skip a grade in their friendship. Kramer traumatizes Myra trying to guilt her over the circumcision. The mohel, a very high-strung man, panics and admonishes the attendees at the slightest provocation, including the baby's crying, the dangers of the neighborhood, and Elaine putting a glass too close to a table edge. He drops his instruments, and regrets his career choice.

Kramer seizes the baby, but fails to get away. As Jerry holds the baby against his own will and the mohel trembles with agitation, George faints dead away at the tension. Jerry gets his own finger "circumcised" in the chaos, and everyone rides to the hospital crammed under George's cratered car roof. George congratulates himself again for finding easily accessed parking.

At the hospital, Jerry and the mohel go at each other's throats. Stan and Myra, confirming that the circumcision was not botched, side with the mohel. Kramer absconds with the pig-man on his back, but the pig-man turns out to be a diminutive mental patient, who steals George's easily accessible car.

Stan and Myra have Kramer take over for Jerry and Elaine, now appreciating his devotion to the baby. They plead fealty to Kramer—who upstages Jerry's Brando impersonation−as "godfather" as incidental film music plays.

Production

[edit]

Jason Alexander, who is Jewish, considered the portrayal of the mohel to be offensive and hated the characterization. He argued with Larry David, threatening to boycott the episode if he did not rewrite the character. David softened the portrayal, but Alexander refused to appear in any scenes with the character.[2] Alexander ultimately does appear in the bris scene with the mohel character and even converses with him before passing out.

References

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The Bris

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"The Bris" is the 69th episode of the American sitcom . This is the fifth episode of the fifth season, and first aired on October 14, 1993. It was written by and directed by . In the episode, Jerry and Elaine are recruited as godparents for their friend Isabel's newborn son and must organize the bris ceremony, during which an incompetent performs the . Kramer becomes convinced that the baby resembles a "little man" and tries to intervene, later claiming to see a "pig-man" hybrid in the hospital. Meanwhile, George parks in the hospital lot, where his car is damaged when a suicidal jumps from the and lands on the windshield.

Episode Overview

Background

"The Bris" is the fifth episode of the fifth season of the American sitcom , marking the 69th episode overall in the series. It originally premiered on on October 14, 1993. Following the critical and ratings success of season 4, which averaged a 13.7 Nielsen rating and solidified the show's unique comedic style, season 5 represented a continued evolution toward more ensemble-driven with multiple interconnected subplots featuring the core cast equally. The episode was penned by staff writer in mid- and filmed that summer at CBS Studio Center in , consistent with the production schedule for the season's early episodes.

Broadcast and Release

"The Bris," the fifth episode of 's fifth season, originally premiered on on October 14, , occupying the network's Thursday night 9:00 PM ET/PT time slot. This placement followed the conclusion of in the lead-in position, contributing to the series' rising prominence during the 1993 television season. The episode achieved a Nielsen household rating of 28.7, attracting approximately 26 million viewers and ranking among the top-rated programs of the week. In home media, "The Bris" was included in the Seinfeld: Season 5 DVD set, released by on November 22, 2005. The full series, encompassing the episode, became available on Blu-ray for the first time with the Seinfeld: The Complete Series release on December 17, 2024. Following its initial run, entered syndication, with TBS securing cable rights in a deal that began airing episodes in fall 2002; "The Bris" has been a recurring feature in reruns, often highlighted for its distinctive humor. As of 2025, the episode streams exclusively on , where the complete series has been available since October 2021 under a multi-year licensing agreement.

Plot Summary

Jerry and Elaine's Storyline

In the episode, and are approached by their friends Stan and at the hospital shortly after the birth of their son, Steven, and reluctantly agree to serve as the baby's godparents. This role obligates them to assist in organizing the bris, a traditional Jewish , which heightens their anxiety about the responsibilities involved, as neither is enthusiastic about such parental duties. Elaine takes on the task of hiring a to perform the procedure, while Jerry is designated to hold the during the event. The bris is held at Jerry's apartment, where the hired mohel arrives appearing highly agitated and unsteady, repeatedly expressing frustration with the setup and his own nerves, which makes Jerry increasingly uneasy about the mohel's competence. As the ceremony commences with guests gathered, including Kramer's disruptive presence adding to the tension, Jerry is forced to hold Steven on his lap while the mohel prepares the circumcision. In a moment of panic, Jerry flinches at the sound of the procedure beginning, causing the mohel to accidentally circumcise Jerry's finger in addition to completing the ritual on the baby. The mishap sends Jerry to the hospital for stitches on his injured finger, where he initially resists treatment due to his aversion to needles and medical procedures, ultimately relenting after persuasion. The baby, unharmed but checked as a precaution, recovers without issue, but the chaotic ordeal underscores Jerry and discomfort with roles. In the resolution, Stan and Myra, dissatisfied with how Jerry and Elaine handled the event, revoke their status, allowing them to escape further involvement in the family's traditions.

George's Storyline

George arrives at the hospital and secures an exceptionally convenient parking spot directly in front of the entrance, celebrating the rare luck as he parallel parks perfectly between two vehicles. However, moments later, a mentally disturbed attempts by jumping from the hospital , landing squarely on the hood of George's car and creating a large dent in the roof that renders the nearly undrivable. Shocked and furious, George immediately inspects the damage, yelling "My car! My car!" as he realizes the extent of the destruction. Determined to seek compensation, George confronts the hospital administrator, Mrs. Sweedler, in her office, presenting a repair estimate and arguing that the hospital's in supervising the patient makes them liable for the costs. Mrs. Sweedler, outraged by George's lack of empathy for the deceased man—he focuses solely on the financial loss rather than the —accuses him of and callousness, screaming, "A man plummeted tragically to his ultimate demise... and you greedily, callously try to profit from it!" before ejecting him from . This rejection amplifies George's frustration, as he laments the improbability of the incident and the potential exceeding the car's value. Throughout the episode, George's emotional arc revolves around escalating irritation with the absurdity of the situation and his inability to turn the misfortune to his advantage, highlighting Seinfeld's typical absurd interpersonal dynamics in a single sentence. In an ironic twist tying into the broader chaos, George's damaged car is later stolen from lot by a figure resembling the "pig-man."

Kramer's Involvement

In the episode, Kramer's subplot revolves around his deep-seated opposition to the bris , stemming from a traumatic personal experience with his own as a . He recounts to Jerry how the procedure was excruciating, stating, "Don’t believe them when they tell you it doesn’t hurt. It hurts bad," and warns that it would become the baby's indelible first memory of pain, likening it to "someone yanking the hat off his little man." This childhood ordeal leads Kramer to view as a "barbaric ," prompting him to vow against allowing such a procedure on the newborn, whom he affectionately refers to as the "little man." Kramer's protectiveness intensifies after a bizarre at the hospital, where he mistakenly enters the wrong room and encounters a whom he believes to be a "pig-man"—a grotesque hybrid creature he believes results from secret experiments dating back to the . Describing the incident vividly, he exclaims, "Pig man! It’s a pig man! Pig man!" upon hearing a porcine grunt, and later connects this vision to broader conspiracies, insisting, "The ’s been experimenting with pigmen since the fifties... They’re probably creating a whole of pig warriors." This dream-like interpretation fuels his about medical interventions on vulnerable infants, blurring the lines between his believed "pig-man" and the defenseless baby, and solidifies his determination to intervene in the bris. Uninvited, Kramer crashes the bris ceremony at Jerry's apartment, escalating the tension by arguing vehemently against the procedure and physically resisting efforts to proceed. As the mohel prepares to perform the circumcision, Kramer bursts in holding the baby and declares, "I can’t let you do this!" leading to a chaotic struggle where he refuses to hand over the , heightening the room's disorder; George faints from the tension as the mohel proceeds. In the aftermath, with Jerry's finger accidentally circumcised, the parents, Stan and , are so moved by Kramer's fervent concern for their son Steven that they appoint him as the baby's godfather, bypassing Jerry and Elaine. Later, in a rare display of tenderness that contrasts his usual erratic behavior, Kramer bonds with the baby during the hospital visit following the ceremony mishap, cradling Steven gently and accepting his new role with solemnity, responding to the parents' offer by saying, "I’d be honored," in a nod to archetype. This moment underscores Kramer's unexpected capacity for protective affection, transforming his disruptive impulses into a meaningful connection with the child he sought to shield from harm.

Production

Development and Writing

The episode "The Bris" was written by , a key staff writer for during its first five seasons who contributed to several of the show's most memorable installments. Charles drew inspiration from Jewish rituals and personal anecdotes to explore the absurdity inherent in everyday cultural events, infusing the script with the series' signature blend of observational humor and awkward social dynamics. Developed during the 1993 writers' room sessions for Season 5, the concept centered on the characters' entanglement with a bris ceremony, delving into family taboos and interfaith tensions while expanding on the relational depth established in prior seasons. The script's structure featured interwoven subplots—Jerry and Elaine's godparent duties, George's hospital reimbursement woes, and Kramer's interventionist antics—finalized after multiple drafts to maintain narrative balance amid the sensitive subject of circumcision. This multi-threaded approach, typical of 's format, allowed for parallel escalation of comedic tension without resolving into conventional arcs. Revisions to the script addressed concerns over potentially offensive content, particularly the portrayal of the mohel character, ensuring the satirical edge remained intact while mitigating risks of insensitivity. Actor , upon reading an early draft, described the mohel as "disgusting" and "anti-Semitic in a hurtful way," prompting adjustments that shifted the focus to the character's incompetence rather than malice. These changes, overseen by executive producer , exemplified the collaborative refinement process that honed the episode's humor. Director later influenced the pacing to heighten the rhythmic interplay of subplots.

Casting

The principal roles in "The Bris" were played by the show's core ensemble: as Jerry Seinfeld, as , as , and as . Guest actors included Levin as the Avram, whose portrayal emphasized a high-strung, jittery demeanor central to the episode's comedic tension during the ritual. appeared as Stan, the newborn's father, while Jeannie Elias played Myra, Stan's wife and the baby's mother. These supporting roles highlighted the main characters' discomfort with the duties outlined in the script, without introducing any new recurring figures to the series. The casting reinforced the episode's focus on the established group's neurotic dynamics amid the cultural ceremony.

Filming and Direction

The episode was directed by Tom Cherones, who helmed 80 of the 86 episodes across Seinfeld's first five seasons and was recognized for his adept management of the show's intricate, multi-threaded comedic subplots, ensuring narrative cohesion amid frequent changes in writing staff. Principal photography occurred primarily at Stage 9 of the CBS Studio Center in Studio City, Los Angeles, where the bulk of the series' interior sets—including Jerry's apartment—were constructed and utilized for key scenes. Hospital interiors, such as those depicting the newborn's room and the bris ceremony, were filmed on soundstages at the same facility to replicate New York environments efficiently. Exterior shots, including the sequence of the body falling onto George's car, were captured on the studio's backlot to simulate urban mishaps without on-location disruptions. The shooting schedule adhered to the series' standard one-week timeline per episode, encompassing rehearsals earlier in the week and a live audience taping on Friday night, followed by pickups over the weekend; this process for "The Bris" wrapped in the summer of 1993 ahead of its October airdate. The production was shot on 35mm film, allowing for a cinematic style with dynamic camera work that emphasized the episode's visual gags, as shaped by Larry Charles' script. Cherones utilized close-up shots to build tension during the bris ceremony and quick cuts to synchronize the timing of intersecting subplots, enhancing the episode's rhythmic comedy.

Reception and Legacy

Critical Response

Upon its release in , "The Bris" received mixed critical attention, with reviewers noting its bold approach to taboo subjects like while praising the ensemble's chemistry amid the discomfort. The episode's humor was described as edgy for broadcast standards, pushing boundaries with satirical takes on Jewish customs and religious ceremonies. However, the portrayal of the as a cantankerous, stereotypical figure drew immediate internal controversy, as actor threatened to filming due to concerns over antisemitic tropes in the depiction. In retrospective analyses, the episode has been lauded for its willingness to tackle sensitive topics through Seinfeld's signature absurdism, though opinions on its execution remain divided. A 2011 review highlighted its solid construction and memorable guest performance by Charles Levin as the jittery mohel, awarding it an A- grade for effective bits like the hospital chaos and Kramer's eccentric subplot. Later critiques have appreciated the satire on cultural rituals, with one 2017 ranking placing it at #13 among the show's top 25 episodes for standout Kramer dialogue and layered storylines involving the "Pigman" urban legend and a Godfather-inspired twist. Conversely, some modern assessments criticize the mohel character as offensively caricatured, contributing to its lower placement in comprehensive rankings, such as #125 out of 180 in a 2024 list that deemed the central ceremony underdeveloped. Critics consistently acclaim Michael Richards' physical comedy in the Kramer scenes, particularly his frenzied pursuit of the Pigman myth and interactions with George, which inject high energy and exemplify his improvisational flair. A 2024 retrospective emphasized Richards' "on fire" performance throughout, suggesting the episode as an ideal showcase for his unique brand of manic humor. These elements have helped cement "The Bris" as a polarizing yet discussion-worthy entry in Seinfeld's catalog, balancing discomfort with comedic insight.

Viewership and Awards

"The Bris" drew 28.7 million viewers during its original broadcast on October 14, 1993, placing it among the top programs for that week. This performance contributed to Season 5's average rating of 19.6, representing a 43% increase over Season 4's average of 13.7 and underscoring Seinfeld's growing prominence in the 1993–1994 television season. In the years following its debut, the episode has maintained strong audience engagement through streaming platforms, reflecting the enduring appeal of Seinfeld's catalog. Regarding accolades, "The Bris" was nominated at the 46th in 1994 for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series, though it did not win.

Cultural Impact

The episode "The Bris" ignited significant debates in the 1990s regarding television's portrayal of Jewish religious rituals, particularly the , with critics decrying the depiction of the as a neurotic that perpetuated stereotypes. Jewish media outlets, such as , later reflected on these portrayals in anniversary pieces, noting actor Jason Alexander's initial threat to boycott the episode due to its potentially offensive handling of the ritual. In , Kramer's hallucinatory encounter with the "pig-man"—a half-human, half-pig figure glimpsed in —has endured as a since the 2010s, frequently shared in online forums like through GIFs and fan discussions that amplify its absurd humor. The subplot was parodied in the 2004 episode "The TiVo Guy," where encounters a real photograph of a pig-man, directly nodding to the . The episode bolstered Seinfeld's legacy as boundary-pushing comedy by fearlessly satirizing sacred traditions, contributing to scholarly analysis of humor's role in and media representation. It has been examined in academic works on , such as Jarrod Tanny's 2016 essay "Decoding Seinfeld's Jewishness," which frames the mohel's portrayal as emblematic of tensions between self-deprecating and external perceptions. A 2022 analysis in The Baby Historian further contextualizes the episode within evolving discussions of practices, underscoring its influence on cultural conversations about bodily autonomy and ritual. As of , "The Bris" remains relevant in dialogues on interfaith relationships, mirroring the episode's premise of non-Jewish characters serving as godparents to a Jewish amid U.S. intermarriage rates exceeding 70% among non-Orthodox . This theme aligns with broader trends, as noted in recent assessments of Jewish communal dynamics, where such episodes are invoked to explore hybrid family rituals in an era of increasing interfaith unions.

References

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  27. https://ralanberry.wordpress.com/2012/01/11/seinfeld-and-the-birth-of-the-cinematic-style-in-the-network-sitcom/
  28. https://forward.com/culture/564797/seinfeld-circumcision-episode-jason-alexander/
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  30. https://screencrush.com/best-worst-seinfeld-episodes-ranked/
  31. https://the-avocado.org/2024/12/29/seinfeld-season-five-episode-five-the-bris/
  32. https://www.reddit.com/r/seinfeld/comments/2qp7ta/believe_me_jerry_somewhere_in_this_hospital_the/
  33. https://seinfeld.fandom.com/wiki/The_Bris
  34. https://surface.syr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1322&context=etd
  35. https://academic.oup.com/book/11913/chapter/161091448
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  37. https://jppi.org.il/en/annual-assessment-of-the-jewish-people-2025-5785/s/11/
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