The eighth season of Seinfeld, an American comedytelevision series began airing on September 19, 1996, and concluded on May 15, 1997, on NBC.
The eighth season marked a turning point in the series. It is the first season where Seinfeld himself took creative control of the show after co-creator Larry David left. It also marks the beginning—other than a few episodes from the sixth and seventh seasons, such as "The Understudy"—of the use of cold opens for the episodes, which would continue through most of the ninth season. Seinfeld states that this is because he was too busy writing episodes to create additional stand-up material.[1] As a result, the show began to remove itself from the 'show about nothing' format it had begun life as, and took a far more absurdist, surreal stylistic turn.
Due to Julia Louis-Dreyfus' off-screen pregnancy, her character had to spend the latter half of this season hiding her belly behind furniture and laundry baskets.
While George would rather forget his fiancee Susan's tragic demise, Susan's parents want to keep her memory alive by creating a foundation. Jerry reunites with Dolores (aka "Mulva") from "The Junior Mint". J. Peterman has a nervous breakdown and leaves Elaine in charge, and Kramer takes up martial arts.
Kramer falls for Jerry's girlfriend and goes to Newman for advice. Elaine tells her friends she does not want a baby after her woman friends convince her to. George thinks the foundation lawyer assumes that he killed Susan.
Elaine has new friends who are opposites of Jerry, George and Kramer. Jerry dates a woman who has "man hands." George uses a picture of Jerry's date to meet attractive women. Kramer uses a bathroom in an office building and begins working there.
Elaine holds a party for her co-workers where she loses respect when they see her dance. Jerry and Kramer go to the movies with a friend who makes bootleg tapes.
George finds out that the woman at a photo store is looking at his pictures. He tries to impress her by getting Kramer to take seductive pictures of him. Jerry refuses delivery of a package with no return address. Elaine tries to retrieve her medical records when she begins having problems with her doctor due to her attitude.
Jerry is interested when he learns that his girlfriend has a mentor. George prepares to give a speech on risk management. Elaine prepares to fire co-worker Eddie Sherman (Ned Bellamy) but instead promotes him when she approaches him.
Elaine learns her new boyfriend has some obsessive behaviors. Jerry keeps receiving checks from a guest appearance on Japanese television. Kramer warns George that his carpet cleaners are part of a religious cult.
A Kenny Rogers Chicken restaurant opens across from Jerry's apartment with very bright neon lights. Kramer cannot sleep because of the light and seeks solace at Jerry's where he becomes addicted to the chicken by Newman. Elaine begins using the J. Peterman expense account. George tries to score a second date with a saleswoman by leaving a large hat at her house.
George's girlfriend has infectious mononucleosis, so they will not be able to have sex for at least 6 weeks. Jerry agrees to make an appearance at his former junior high's career day. Elaine meets a doctor who does not have a license yet. Kramer smokes in the coffee shop and is asked to leave.
Jerry takes Kramer to his self storage space where they learn Newman has been hoarding mail. George becomes excited about a new apartment he is about to move into. Elaine is set up on a blind date who has a hard time breaking up with people.
Kramer gets a pet rooster he names "Little Jerry Seinfeld". George visits a woman's prison where he does not see what he had expected. Elaine discovers her boyfriend once had a full head of hair and convinces him to grow it back. A store owner exposes Jerry's bad check currently on display which raises much discussion.
Jerry's parents sell their Cadillac to a neighbor in order to give Jerry some money. Jerry quickly buys back the car but remains stuck in Florida when he does not have money to return home. George's parents announce they are moving to Florida which the Seinfelds object to. Elaine returns to her old position at work.
George has trouble thinking of a retort to one of his co-workers. Jerry buys a tennis racket believed to be used by a pro. Elaine and Kramer discuss employee picks at the video store. Kramer creates a living will.
Everyone seems to have a problem with Jerry's new girlfriend (Christine Taylor) whom he sees as "perfect". George interviews students for the foundation's first academic scholarship. Elaine is asked to ghostwrite the autobiography of J. Peterman. Kramer has a run-in with the infamous "Van Buren boys".
Elaine creates an alter ego named "Susie" who co-workers believe is actually real. Jerry's friend who once considered him a "phony" becomes a bookie. George avoids his girlfriend by screening his phone calls.
Kramer adopts a piece of a highway after he complains about a very large pothole. Jerry's girlfriend (Kristin Davis) uses a toothbrush that was once dropped in the toilet. George brags about a new key ring given to him by George Steinbrenner.
Elaine hates a movie that everyone else seems to love. Jerry is challenged by one of his father's neighbors to a series of physical tests sending the old man, his father and his son to the hospital. A woman mistakes George for her boyfriend. Kramer imports some Cuban cigar rollers.
George creates a desk he can sleep in at work after having trouble sleeping. Jerry has his kitchen remodeled. Elaine's boyfriend worries about her back and buys her a mattress. Kramer begins swimming in the East River after becoming restricted at a community pool.
George's girlfriend uses a particular phrase constantly. Jerry is suspicious that his dentist has converted to Judaism to get away with telling Jewish jokes.
Kramer makes plans for New Year's 2000 and wonders what the future may be like. Elaine gets bad service at a store and begins shopping at a similar store. George tries to get himself fired from the Yankees. Jerry learns he is on his girlfriend's speed dial.
Elaine tells Kramer that stories he sold to Peterman were published in his autobiography. Elaine's old boss, Mr. Lippman, steals her idea for a muffin shop. Kramer then decides to create a "Peterman Reality Tour." Jerry starts shaving his chest hair for his new girlfriend. George pretends to be a tourist in order to go out with a woman.
George decides to take the summer off when he learns he can receive severance pay. Jerry and Kramer attend the Tony Awards where Jerry brings a date who he fears has a boyfriend at home. Kramer fills seats at the awards and pretends to accept an award with a cast ensemble.
