35 Years Ago, Seinfeld Introduced Two of Its Best One-Off Characters & Started an Iconic Catchphrase

by

Season 2 of Seinfeld is when the show truly found its voice – the famously quirky humor about everyday life. This season included some of its most memorable episodes, like “The Chinese Restaurant,” which revolved entirely around waiting for a table, and “The Pony Remark,” which hilariously focused on a minor social faux pas. These episodes demonstrated Seinfeld’s unique ability to find comedy in the mundane. We also saw George Costanza’s impulsive quitting and re-hiring – a situation inspired by a real event in co-creator Larry David’s life – and the first-ever mention of the character Newman, though Wayne Knight wouldn’t officially portray him until the following season.

The fifth episode of the second season, “The Apartment,” gave us a now-famous line from the show and introduced two characters who quickly became popular with fans. Let’s take a closer look at that episode to see what the line was and who those characters are.

What Makes “The Apartment” a Special Episode?

Okay, so the whole thing with the apartment above mine and Kramer’s? It’s a bit of a mess. Elaine was looking to move, and this place was unbelievably cheap for New York – a real steal. I told her about it, thinking it would be great. But then it hit me: having an ex that close, even one who’s become friends with the group, is just…awkward. I suddenly wasn’t so thrilled about the idea anymore.

Jerry learns from his building managers, Harold and Manny, that his upstairs neighbor has died. They also mention someone offered $5,000 just for the chance to rent the apartment. Since Elaine can’t afford anything near that amount, Jerry secretly feels relieved that he doesn’t have to compete for it.

Kramer excitedly proposes Jerry lend Elaine $5,000, which Elaine loves, but throws Jerry into a panic. After Jerry questions Kramer, Kramer manages to find a buyer willing to pay $10,000 for Jerry’s apartment. However, Jerry is dismayed to discover the buyer is a member of a noisy rock band.

Though they’re only in a few scenes, actors Glenn Shadix (known for Beetlejuice and The Nightmare Before Christmas) and Tony Plana (from Netflix’s The Punisher and JFK) make a big impact. Shadix plays Harold as a genuinely nice guy who always keeps his promises, while Plana’s Manny is a loud, ambitious character focused on making money.

Harold was originally planned to reappear in the episode “The Revenge” during the same season, but that didn’t work out. It’s strange, considering how much time the show spends in Jerry’s apartment – it’s a constant setting. Despite this, Jerry and Harold never shared a scene again.

Many viewers have noticed similarities between Harold and Manny from earlier seasons and Cedric and Bob who appeared later on. While it’s never explicitly stated, there are connections between the characters. For example, Bob shares Manny’s Latino heritage, and Cedric, like Manny, frequently wears glasses and a hat. It’s probably not a direct reuse of the original characters, but the possibility is there.

This episode features the first appearance of a catchphrase that became closely associated with Elaine Benes, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Throughout the series, Elaine delivered many memorable lines, like calling a man ‘Spongeworthy,’ defiantly yelling ‘Next!’ at the Soup Nazi, and complaining about having ‘no square to spare’ when needing toilet paper. However, her most famous recurring line was ‘Get out!’ – with a strong emphasis on the word ‘out’ – which she first shouted when particularly enthusiastic, starting in ‘The Apartment’ episode.

Did you enjoy Harold and Manny’s scenes and wish there were more? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/feature/30-years-ago-an-iconic-seinfeld-episode-gave-george-his-best-subplot-and-fans-believed-it-would-influence-the-mcu/embed/#

Read More

2026-04-05 22:19