The Merv Griffin Show (season 9, episode 6)

written by Bruce Eric Kaplan, directed by Andy Ackerman
original airdate: November 6, 1997

Kramer finds the set of “The Merv Griffin Show” in a dumpster and recreates the show in his apartment. Jerry’s girlfriend owns an unbelievable toy collection. George’s girlfriend forces him to care for a squirrel that he ran over with his car. Elaine mist contend with a sidler at the office.

FEATURED LOCATIONS

The Improv is not featured in this episode.

Jerry’s Apartment
Jerry’s is only seen from the outside, as Kramer interrupts him from entering by showing off his new “Merv Griffin Show” set.

Monk’s Café
Jerry laments on his new girlfriend’s amazing toy collection, and agrees to bring George and Elaine to play with them. George debates humanity’s “deal” with pigeons, after running over a squirrel and having to nurse it back to health. Elaine laments on a “sidler” in her office, and how to handle him.

Cort Theatre
138 W. 48th St., New York, NEW YORK (map)
nearest subway: 47-50th Streets – Rockefeller Center (B,D,F,M)
The original studio of “The Merv Griffin Show” from 1969-72. Deleted dialogue from the original script says this is where Kramer finds the dumpster with the discarded set that he rebuilds at his apartment.

Smithsonian Institution National Museum Of American History
National Mall, 1400 Constitution Ave. NW, WASHINGTON, D.C. (map)
Kramer says that the Merv Griffin set belongs in the Smithsonian…to which Jerry says “or at least in the dumpster behind the Smithsonian.” Would likely be most suited for the American History Museum at the Smithsonian, which houses American historical and cultural icons (like the Puffy Shirt).

Celia’s apartment
New York, NEW YORK
Jerry fights the urge to play with his girlfriend’s vintage toy collection, eventually bringing George and Elaine into the fold to help distract and overload her with alcohol, until she loses consciousness.

J. Peterman
Elaine is stalked by Lou Filerman, a “sidler” with awful breath, at the office. Elaine tries easing his halitosis by giving him Tic Tacs, but nearly gets fired for it.

Kramer’s Apartment
Kramer converts his entire apartment into the set of the old “Merv Griffin Show,” after finding the discarded set pieces in a dumpster, proceeding to somehow turn his entire life into an ongoing talk show.

Central Park
New York, NEW YORK (map)
George tests his theory on the “deal” with the pigeons by running at a group of pigeons…where he ends up stampeding them.

Downtown Veterinary Clinic (NOW CLOSED)
148 Ninth Ave., New York, NEW YORK (map)
nearest subway: 23rd Street (C,E)
George and Miranda go to visit the squirrel George hit, even sending away for special “really tiny instruments” at a massive cost to save its life.

El Paso, TEXAS (map)
George mentions that the tiny squirrel veterinary instruments are being flown in at his expense from El Paso, to which Kramer comments how “I spent a month there one night.”

MICHIGAN (map)
George uses a videotape of his boyhood trip to Michigan to make Celia fall asleep so they can play with her toys. The tapes reveal George’s parents changing him…when he was 7 and a half years old.

HAITI (map)
Mr. Peterman says that the constant Tic Tacs rattling sound around his office reminds him of the Haitian voodoo rattle torture…and then asks Elaine if she’s “gone over to their side.”

George’s Apartment
George ends up taking the squirrel he hit with his car home with him, sleeping on the couch while the squirrel gets his bed.