The Cartoon

"The Cartoon" is the 169th episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. This was the 13th episode for the 9th and final season. It aired on January 29, 1998.
The episode was notable for his subtle criticism towards the cartoons published on The New Yorker, which none of the characters seen to understand. Elaine tries to contribute to the magazine with a simpler and understandable cartoon, but ends up subconsciously lifting a Ziggy joke. This part of the storyline was later remembered by the media when in 2008 Jessica Seinfeld was falsely accused of plagiarizing a cookbook.
Plot
Kramer reveals what Jerry truly thinks of Susan Ross's old college roommate, Sally Weaver (Kathy Griffin) and thus once again getting him in trouble.
Elaine obsesses over the meaning of a cartoon that appears in The New Yorker. Elaine and later Kramer comments that new girlfriend (Tracy Nelson) looks a lot like Jerry. In fact Kramer tells George, "Just because they look alike, that doesn't mean you're secretly in love with Jerry." Jerry confronts Kramer's frankness. Sally claims that Jerry has ruined her life and she's quitting the business. Jerry can't have that on his conscience; he talks her back into the business. Kramer makes an important life decision: the only way to keep his mouth shut is to stop talking. Before he finally stops talking, Kramer's constant references to the looks of George's girlfriend drive George out of Jerry's apartment.
Elaine goes to The New Yorker offices to seek an explanation for the cartoon. She discovers that the editor (Paul Benedict) didn't understand the cartoon either - he simply "liked the kitty". Sally opens her new one-woman show about "Jerry Seinfeld, the Devil". Elaine's complaint gets her the opportunity to do her own cartoon for the magazine. Jerry confronts Sally about the content of her show. Newman is her biggest fan; finally, he can see a "show that is about something". Kramer discovers the disadvantages of not talking. George worries about why he really likes his girlfriend. A clip of Sally's show appears on Channel 9 news; it features Jerry's latest confrontation with her. Elaine works all night on her first cartoon; it is okay, but it is not the gem that Elaine thinks it is. Jerry calls Sally and the message he leaves on her answering machine appears in her show as well. Later the lawsuit he filed appears in her cable special. Jerry decides to cut off all communication with Sally. Elaine's first comic appears in The New Yorker. J. Peterman thinks it is a great cartoon until he realizes it is a Ziggy and he can prove it ("Quick, Elaine, to my archives.")
George and his girlfriend discuss their relationship, until she gets chewing gum in her hair. Sally starts talking to the silent Kramer, until he can't take it anymore. He tells her to shut up, then he apologizes and says that he hasn't spoken for days. Sally tells him to lay it on her. To remove the gum from her hair, George's girlfriend cuts her hair; her new hairstyle looks exactly like Jerry's. George runs out of the apartment screaming. Elaine tells Jerry about the Ziggy incident. Ziggy responds to The New Yorker. Elaine shows Jerry the comics. The Ziggy says with the pig at the complaint booth, "The New Yorker is stealing my ideas." Jerry laughs. Sally's new cable show is about to come on and Jerry is convinced she'll have nothing to talk about, and is proven wrong because Kramer talked with Sally at . George decides to take a few days off from his relationship with "Jerry."
Trivia
*Newman's liking a show about something references the Seinfeld show itself -- "a show about nothing".
*The episode was inspired by comedienne Kathy Griffin's ridiculing Jerry Seinfeld during a stand-up comedy performance on HBO where she alleged that he was rude to her during her first appearance on the sitcom. Seinfeld was so amused by this that he wrote her a humorous letter congratulating her for it (reprinted in her memoir, Official Book Club Selection) added the clip of her routine as well as a clip of her being interviewed about the incident by Conan O'Brien to a video shown to audiences at Seinfeld tapings and had it written into the series. Griffin and Seinfeld have remained friendly in the years since.
Continuity
Sally Weaver was originally in the episode "The Doll".
Memorable quotes
Kramer You know what woman I always thought you looked like? Lena Horne.
Elaine: ...And he said I could submit some of my own cartoons.
Jerry: Wow! that's incredible... But you don't draw.
Elaine: I do too.
Jerry: What, your sad little horsies? The house with the little curl of smoke? The sunflower with the smiley face? The transparent cube...
Elaine: It's better than your drawings of naked Lois Lane.
Jerry: Where did you see that? Those are private!
Elaine : The pig says, "My wife is a slut"?!
Jerry: Now that's a complaint.
Sally (on TV): I have two words for you, Jerry Seinfeld. you.

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See Also

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