S04E11 · EP 51
Episode DNA
20 scenes · 4 threadsStory threads over runtime
click a block to open the sceneEvery scene
20 scenes · our breakdownJerry jokes about not wanting to visualize parents having sex and the relief of being adopted.
00:02–00:43social_rule_violation
2 ▸ 00:43George admits his mother caught him masturbating, causing her to fall and hospitalize her back.
00:43–02:39confession · humiliation
3 ▸ 02:39The group bets on who can go longest without masturbating; Elaine joins at 2-to-1 odds.
02:39–04:08bet · dealGeorge argues with his mother about seeing a psychiatrist; Jerry tells Kramer about his date with Marla the virgin.
04:08–04:39scheme · avoidance
5 ▸ 04:39Kramer spots a naked woman across the street from Jerry's apartment window.
04:39–05:29obsession
7 ▸ 06:09Kramer slams $100 down, eliminated by the naked woman; Jerry and George remain.
06:09–06:53bet · escalation
9 ▸ 06:58Estelle berates George in her hospital bed; a nurse announces a sponge bath for another patient.
06:58–08:21humiliation · social_rule_violation
10 ▸ 08:21George watches silhouettes of a gorgeous nurse giving a beautiful patient a sponge bath behind a curtain.
08:21–08:58obsession
11 ▸ 08:58Elaine discovers John F. Kennedy Jr. in her aerobics class and gets a spot behind him.
08:58–09:36pursuit · obsession
12 ▸ 09:36Jerry and Marla make out; she slows things down, and he accepts her virginity boundary.
09:36–10:32avoidance · social_rule_violationJerry avoids temptation with cartoons; Kramer guards the window; George boasts 'King of the County'.
10:32–12:12avoidance · obsession
14 ▸ 12:12Elaine recounts sharing a cab with JFK Jr., lying about her address to get dropped at Jerry's building.
12:12–14:08lie · scheme
15 ▸ 14:08George visits mother again but refuses to get food, fixated on the 6:30 sponge bath routine.
14:08–15:18obsession · avoidance
17 ▸ 15:27The receptionist tells Elaine that JFK Jr. asked about her and will meet her at Jerry's building at 9 PM.
15:27–16:22pursuit · coincidenceJerry watches Tiny Toons; Kramer sings 'The Woman Across the Block' while watching the naked woman.
16:22–17:16obsession · avoidanceElaine arrives; she and Jerry argue over ownership of a pair of blue-striped socks.
17:16–18:03petty_grievance · social_rule_violationElaine admits defeat, pays $150, blaming fantasies of 'John-John'; George notes only he and Jerry remain.
18:03–19:05bet · confessionMarla dumps Jerry over the contest; Kennedy consoles Marla and they leave together; Kramer seen with naked woman.
19:05–21:26secret_exposed · betrayalJerry, George, Elaine sleep soundly; Kramer sleeps with the naked woman; Marla sleeps with JFK Jr.
21:26–21:40coincidence · comeuppanceJerry closes with a bit on male obsession with whatever women cover up, referencing National Geographic.
21:40–22:29social_rule_violationSame DNA
nearest episodes by gene profile
S03E1318.7M viewers
S05E0631M viewers
S03E1717M viewers
S03E1419.2M viewers
S03E1118M viewers
S02E1116.8M viewersCollect this episode
live eBay listings







Episode facts
Wikipedia · Wikidata- Aired
- November 18, 1992
- Overall
- #51
- Writers
- Larry David
- Director
- Tom Cherones
- Viewers
- 18.5M (US)
- Pace
- 127 words/min · 143 questions
Read more
Where to watch
sponsoredOn Reddit
r/seinfeld- The Contest will always be the best episode.▲ 2,667 · 136 comments
- Am I crazy, or was The Contest colour coordinated?▲ 2,048 · 258 comments
- What is your favorite episode, for me it will forever be The Contest▲ 1,195 · 315 comments
- Madi Prewett is the final boss of the The Contest, a true master of her domain▲ 1,050 · 143 comments




