The Understudy (season 6, episode 24)
written by Marjorie Gross & Carol Leifer, directed by Andy Ackerman
original airdate: May 18, 1995
Jerry and George are accused of injuring Bette Midler during a softball game so that Jerry’s girlfriend, her understudy, can take the stage in their Broadway show. Elaine convinces Frank Costanza to translate her manicurist’s suspicious conversations. Depressed, Elaine meets J. Peterman on the street and lands herself a new job.
FEATURED LOCATIONS
The Improv
The Improv is not featured for any stand-up material, but the softball team Jerry and George play for is The Improv’s team.
Jerry’s Apartment
Jerry watches “Beaches” with his emotional girlfriend Gennice, and later discusses with George and Kramer his boyfriend obligation to comfort her over a movie. Kramer berates Jerry, George and Gennice for “planning” the hospitalization of Bette Midler.
Monk’s Café
Elaine convinces Frank to translate Korean for him at the nail salon, and Frank “unburdens” himself by telling Elaine the lewd details of his past affair with a Korean woman.
Ruby Nail Salon (NOW CLOSED)
1179 Lexington Ave., New York, NEW YORK (map)
nearest subway: 77th Street (6)
Elaine hires Frank to secretly translate her gossipy Korean estheticians, and Frank finds Kim, his lost love, but she dumps him when he tries stopping short. The sign on the set across from the salon has the address reading 449 Columbus Ave., but the establishing shot features Lexington Ave.
Central Park
New York, NEW YORK (map)
The Improv faces the cast of “Rochelle Rochelle: The Musical” in a softball game. George wins the game for The Improv by tackling the musical’s catcher, Bette Midler, while rounding home plate.
SOUTH KOREA (map)
We learn that Frank sold religious memorabilia made in Korea, speaks fluent Korean, had an affair with a Korean woman (which he briefly rekindles back in New York), and once met the Reverend Sun Myung Moon of the Unification Church. This is almost certainly to be specifically South Korea, as Frank fought for the U.S. side during the Korean War (which supported the South), and had diplomatic relations with the United States post-war, unlike North Korea.
New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center (now New York-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell Medical Center)
525 E. 68th St., New York, NEW YORK (map)
nearest subway: 68th Street – Hunter College (6)
Where Bette stays to recover from George’s collision during their softball game, and where Kramer comes to stay with her, and present her with “Macaroni Midler.”
ITALY (map)
In the first of many elaborate stories of foreign intrigue, Mr. Peterman tells Elaine of escaping bulls in his Italian Captoe Oxfords…men’s whole and half sizes 7 through 13; price, $135.
Star Struck Vintage Clothing
47 Greenwich Ave., New York, NEW YORK (map)
nearest subway: 14th Street (1,2,3)
Jerry and George’s cab passes here, when they are on their way to pick up Gennice.
JoJo
160 E. 64th St., New York, NEW YORK (map)
nearest subway: Lexington Avenue – 63rd Street (F)
Elaine and Peterman have dinner together, where they discuss the elaborate backstories of their respective clothing.
La Chinita Linda (NOW CLOSED)
166 Eighth Ave., New York, NEW YORK (map)
nearest subway: 18th Street (1)
Frank and Kim pass by here in Frank’s car, talking about making up for lost time, before Frank stops short on her, causing her to storm out of the car.
Milan, Lombardy, ITALY (map)
Jerry dates the understudy to Bette Midler in the musical version of “Rochelle, Rochelle,” of which Midler sings a line to Kramer about the eponymous “strange erotic journey from Milan to Minsk.”
Minsk, BELARUS (map)
Jerry dates the understudy to Bette Midler in the musical version of “Rochelle, Rochelle,” of which Midler sings a line to Kramer about the eponymous “strange erotic journey from Milan to Minsk.”
Pinsk, BELARUS (map)
One of the lines Bette Midler sings to Kramer from “Rochelle, Rochelle” says “You never stopped hoping, now you’re in the Pinsk, Rochelle, Rochelle.”
The Town Hall
123 W. 43rd St., New York, NEW YORK (map)
nearest subway: Times Square – 42nd Street (1,2,3,7,N,Q,R,S)
Jerry’s girlfriend Gennice gets her chance to star ahead of Bette Midler, but wrecks it when she starts sobbing uncontrollably over an untied shoelace. Elaine gets her Korean aestheticians tickets to apologize for the Frank translation incident, but angers them more when Bette Midler doesn’t appear.
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