Larry David’s favoriteSeinfeldepisode is “The Contest,” but at the time of writing it, the show’s co-creator was afraid that NBC wouldn’t air it because of the taboo subject matter.Curb Your Enthusiasm’s Larry David co-createdSeinfeldwith Jerry Seinfeld back in 1989, and it quickly became one ofthe best sitcoms of all time. Of course,every season ofSeinfeldhad its more controversial moments, but none were as notable as the season 4 episode “The Contest.”
This particular installment was, and still is, considered one ofthe best episodes ofSeinfeldbecause it was so unbelievably memorable. However, more importantly, “The Contest” was one of the most shocking sitcom episodes ever.“The Contest” stuck in audiences’ minds for decades, and it was an episode that altered how the TV industry tackled certain topics forever, but when it was being written, Larry David was deeply concerned that NBC would push back and refuse to air it.
Larry David Was Afraid NBC Wouldn’t Let Them Do “The Contest”
Seinfeld’s Co-Creator Feared NBC Wouldn’t See “The Contest” In The Same Light As He Did
In the past,Seinfeld’s co-creator Larry David stated that he was ready to “Pack the whole thing in” if NBC refused to air “The Contest” (viaTHR).Seinfeld’s “The Contest”was a unique and different sitcom episode that the world had yet to have seen before, and it quickly became a legendary installment of the show.The episode’s premise was simple: which of the four main characters could go the longest without masturbating?
It made sense that David was concerned about NBC’s reaction to “The Contest,” and he also explained that this episode was one that he kept under close wraps for a long time. Before this,TV networks would typically avoid this type of subject matter,but thankfully,Seinfeldgot inventive. Much to everyone’s surprise, NBC didn’t offer a negative reaction to “The Contest” or attempt to put a stop to it, or as David claimed, “They didn’t say a word.”
“The Contest” Turned Out To Be One Of Seinfeld’s Greatest Episodes
Seinfeld Took A Risk, And It Paid Off
Seinfeld’s “The Contest” was one of the mostgroundbreaking sitcom episodes that changed the genre forever, let alone one of the best episodes of the show overall. “The Contest” was so great for several reasons. It was a typicalSeinfeldpremise, andwhile other sitcoms could’ve definitely attempted a similar storyline, no other title could have achieved it likeSeinfelddid.The concept didn’t just arrive out of thin air, as first, audiences needed to witness the comical moment when George explained to the others that his mother, Estelle, had been hospitalized after catching him pleasuring himself.
Watching each ofthe main characters inSeinfeldtry to keep their hands to themselves was nothing short of hilarious. One by one, they each gave up, but this resulted in some ofSeinfeld’s very best quotes, like when George said, “Never doing that again,” and “master of my domain” became a permanent addition to the pop culture lexicon. Plus,unlike someSeinfeldepisodes, each of the main four had their own subplotsand somewhat equal screen time, rather than one or two playing a part in someone else’s story.
How “The Contest” Changed Seinfeld Forever
“The Contest” Put Seinfeld On The Map & Impacted TV’s Rules About Taboo Topics
“The Contest” amazingly changedSeinfeldforever in a few ways. Firstly, masturbation was a hugely taboo topic on TV in the ‘90s, andSeinfeld’s“The Contest” was one of the earliest instances of a show breaking away from the so-called “rules” of television.“The Contest” was brilliantly clever because it never used the word “masturbation,” and instead,Seinfeld’s characters used a series of euphemisms and metaphors to indirectly discuss it, such as “King of the Castle,” for example.
Even David himself said that “The Contest” was what madeSeinfeldreally stand out, and it “Changed something about how [they] were perceived in television land.”
The fact thatSeinfelddidn’t directly use the correct term only added to the humor of the situation,but it was also a meta joke about the standard of TV at the time. It further proved that Larry David’s sense of humor was nothing short of stellar, and thankfully, NBC didn’t put a stop to his groundbreaking idea. Even David himself said that “The Contest” was what madeSeinfeldreally stand out, and it “Changed something about how [they] were perceived in television land.”
“The Contest” was easily one ofthe best episodes ofSeinfeldwritten by Larry David, and it’s strange to imagine a world without it now.Seinfeldchanged the world with “The Contest,” and it was all thanks to Larry David, really.
Seinfeld
Cast
Seinfeld is a television sitcom that follows stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his three eccentric friends, George, Elaine, and Kramer, as they navigate everyday life in New York City during the 1990s. Premiering in 1989, the series humorously explores the mundane and often trivial aspects of social interactions.
Larry David
Discover the latest news and filmography for Larry David, known for Curb Your Enthusiasm and Seinfeld.
