Why did...

Jerry and Elaine broke up. For how long have they been a couple and why did they split?

Greetings from sunny Potsdam, Volker.

As far as I remember Jerry's account of his past relationship with Elaine was given in episode # 2. He was trying to explain to his parents why he could not ask Elaine for the name and phone number of the girl (Vanessa) he met at the birthday party the night before. I believe he said they dated for about 1 1/2 years and the broke because there was "no chemistry". Sexual chemistry might have been the exact quote or the interpretation his parents got out of the explaination.

But they did have sexual chemistry. I think Jerry just brought up the subject of sex to make his parents uncomfortable discussing it. It worked, they dropped it right then and there.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
                           [email]
          (Hammer nail here--> <-- for a new monitor.)
Seinfeld FAQ http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Set/7217/faq.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------
*NOTE*  I am not responsible for equipment damage due to reeeealy
dumb children with no parental supervision, and access to a hammer.

Dave wrote:

physical chemistry ... as below - the entire scene ...
================================

Morty: So why don't you ask someone who was at the party?

Jerry: Nah, the only one I could ask is Elaine, and I can't ask her.

Helen: Why not?

Jerry: Because it's complicated-- there's some tension there.

Helen: He used to go with her...

Helen: Which one is she?

Morty: From Maryland. The one who brought you the chocolate covered cherries you didn't like.

Morty: Oh yeah, very alert. Warm person.

Jerry: Oh yeah, she's great.

Helen: So, how come nothing materialized there?

Jerry: Well, it's a tough thing to talk about... I dunno...

Helen: I know what it was...

Jerry: You don't know what it was...

Helen: So, what was it?

Jerry: Well, we fight a lot for some reason...

% Both his parents respond in that "You know so little son, that's to be

% expected", sarcastic, know-it-all tone...

H + M: Oh, well...

Jerry: And there was a little problem with the physical chemistry...

[ ... they look at each other ... not knowing how to respond to *that*...]

Helen: Well, I think she's a very attractive girl.

Jerry: Oh, she is, she absolutely is.

Helen: I can see if there was a *weight* problem...

Jerry: No, it's not that. It wasn't all one-sided.

Helen: You know, you can't be so particular. Nobody's perfect.

Jerry: I know, I know...

Morty: Y'know Jerry, it's a good thing I wasn't so particular.

Helen: Idiot... [To Jerry] So who're you looking for, Sophia Loren?

Jerry: That's got *nothin'* to do with it.

Morty: How about Loni Anderson?

Helen: Where do you get Loni Anderson?

Morty: Why, what's wrong with Loni Anderson?

Helen: I like *Elaine* more than Loni Anderson...

Jerry: What are you two talking about? Look, Elaine just wasn't "the one".

Helen: And this other one's "the one"?

Jerry: I dunno, maybe...

Morty: So ask Elaine there for the number.

Jerry: I can't-- she'll get upset. I never talk about other women with her, especially this one tonight.

Helen: How could you still see her if your not interested?

Jerry: We're *friends*.

Morty: Doesn't sound like you're friends to me. If you were friends you'd ask her for the number. Do you know where this other one works?

Jerry: Oh yeah...

Dave wrote:

   they didnt have sexual chemistry. dont u remember?
   "fake, fake, fake, fake!!!"

What I didn't remember is if Jerry said that their lack of chemistry was sexual or not. Obviously with hindsight and the information from The Mango episode we discover that lack ofsexual chemistry was indeed a problem. However, I think Jerry felt awkward using that phrase with his parents so he just left it at lack of chemistry. The first time I heard that explaination from Jerry about his relationship with Elaine it caused me to picture them as a couple with no connection yet were able to remain good friends. They just knew they were not "made for each other" and invested in a friendship.

DFrank1068 wrote:

Jerry used the words ... "physical chemistry". ======================================== Helen: So, how come nothing materialized there? Jerry: Well, it's a tough thing to talk about... I dunno... Helen: I know what it was... Jerry: You don't know what it was... Helen: So, what was it? Jerry: Well, we fight a lot for some reason... H + M: Oh, well... Jerry: And there was a little problem with the physical chemistry... Helen: Well, I think she's a very attractive girl. Jerry: Oh, she is, she absolutely is. Helen: I can see if there was a *weight* problem... Jerry: No, it's not that. It wasn't all one-sided.

But Elaine "just didn't have them then".

-----------------------------------------------------------------
                           [email]
          (Hammer nail here--> <-- for a new monitor.)
Seinfeld FAQ http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Set/7217/faq.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------
*NOTE*  I am not responsible for equipment damage due to reeeealy
dumb children with no parental supervision, and access to a hammer.

maybe she didnt have them because of him......

Dave wrote:

In article , [email] (ruth) wrote:

So if they had no sexual chemistry, what was the deal with The Deal?

Ollie

     In the Seinfeld universe they split at some time shortly before the series
actually begins (with the pilot, "Good News, Bad News" which aired in July of
1989, and shows Jerry clearly unattached).
     Two episodes give you the story. Other posters have referred to "The
Stakeout", the second episode to air in the series in 1990, where we first meet
Elaine. That alludes to a problem of relationship chemistry that may have been
sexual in part. But there's more...three years later in "The Mangoes" we find
out that Elaine had been "faking it" during her romantic relationship with
Jerry. (Their few later sexual encounters were evidently much more
satisfactory.)
     Hope that helps.

Bob Smith, afternoons WXXI-AM 1370, Rochester NY

Thanks a lot. I have just seen "The Stakeout". What about Kramer and Elaine. I think they are engaged! Kramer said, they will marry in 50 years.What a couple!!!

Greetings, Volker.