The Foundation (season 8, episode 1)

written by Alec Berg & Jeff Schaffer, directed by Andy Ackerman
original airdate: September 19, 1996

Following the death of their daughter, the Rosses establish a foundation in Susan’s memory and ask George to sit on the board. After Peterman has a mental breakdown and moves to Burma, Elaine takes over the company and puts the Urban Sombrero on the catalog cover. Jerry gets reacquainted with Mulva. Kramer takes up karate.

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The Improv is not featured in this episode.

Jerry’s Apartment
George decides it’s time “for George to start being George again” following Susan’s death. Kramer inspires Elaine to find her “katra” in order to head up the J. Peterman catalog. Elaine debuts the catalog’s cover feature, the Urban Sombrero.

Monk’s Café
It is revealed that Jerry and Jeannie broke off their engagement at Monk’s, after both abruptly blurting out “I hate you!” in unison, and rapidly ending the relationship. Jerry also reveals that it was his suggestion to the Rosses that inspired them to start the Susan Ross Foundation, as inspired from “Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan.”

Mountain View Mortuary & Cemetery
2400 Fair Oaks Ave., Altadena, CALIFORNIA (map)
Jerry sends Susan off to the afterlife with a quote from Star Trek 2: The Wrath Of Khan. The scene was filmed in the same cemetary as “The Special Section” episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Oriole Park At Camden Yards
333 West Camden St., Baltimore, MARYLAND (map)
George, in talking at Susan’s tombstone, mentions that after the All-Star Break, the Yankees swept the Orioles “in four games…in Baltimore!”

airport
Queens, NEW YORK (map)
Jerry picks up Elaine from the airport after her return from six weeks in Mexico.

MEXICO (map)
Jerry mentions to Kramer’s surprise that Elaine has been in Mexico for six weeks (“I think you’re wrong! We just went to the fireworks the other day!”) Elaine travelled the entire country (“all on Peterman’s peso!”) and the best fashion she could come up with was the infamous Urban Sombrero.

J. Peterman
Elaine uses her new seniority (a.k.a. “katra”) to push the Urban Sombrero as the cover feature for the new catalog.

Lake Victoria
AFRICA (map)
Dugan’s copy for the catalog discusses “the shimmering waters of Lake Victoria,” which borders Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.

Yangon, MYANMAR (map)
Mr. Peterman suddenly escapes here since he feels fried, (“You most likely know it as Myanmar, but it will always be Burma to me!”) leaving Elaine in charge of the catalog. He is shown at the same payphone as Elaine in the deleted scene from “The Chicken Roaster,” implying he is in Yangon. Kramer, when told about Peterman: “Where? Myanmar? Isn’t that the discount pharmacy?”

Kenpo Karate (NOT REAL)
New York, NEW YORK
Kramer “dominates” the children’s dojo, becoming class champion…until Elaine shows he has weakness in front of the group, leading to a gang retaliation against Kramer.

George’s Apartment
The Rosses find George eating a solid block of cheese in his underwear, celebrating his bachelor status, and tell him they are establishing the Susan Ross Foundation with George on the board of directors.

Susan Ross Foundation (NOT REAL)
115 Remsen St., Brooklyn, NEW YORK (map)
nearest subway: Borough Hall (2,3)
George sits on the board of directors here, breaking down all of the “moneys” he lost out on after Susan died, including the very townhouse where the Foundation is housed, which was to be their wedding present from Susan’s parents. Thanks Erkan B. for the tip!

Del Boca Vista
Jerry warns Morty not to eat anything he caught in the pond in front of their condo…before quickly telling him he’s no longer engaged to Jeannie.

Southampton, Long Island, NEW YORK (map)
The Foundation announces that George and Susan were to bequeath a 48-acre beach house in Southampton…now, gone.