When Cultures Clash: George in the Midwest...

Last week's episode was priceless! The bit about George, clearly a neurotic Jewish man from NYC, enters the domain of ultimate Gentile Christianity....the result is chaos. George, in his inability to adapt to his surroundings, acts like he's at home and stands next to the food, palcing food on his plate, eating, talking, placing more food on his plate...did anyone notice the Minister's look of wonder at George's NYC manners?! (In NYC, you eat as much as you can at the buffet table, because you might not get back anytime soon...).

Also, Timmy, the spirit of disgruntled youth, who looked more sad about having to miss going out with his friends on a Saturday night than the death of a relative, fired the first salvo with his patronizing smile at George's introduction. George always stands up for himself when he feels that he's being insulted (re: the psychiatrist who criticixed his screenplay as not being funny....). His ability to take everything personally (the washed/unwashed pear...) led to his clash with Timmy.

The whole notion of double-dipping a chip, yes a disgusting practice, but no reason for a fight, was hilarious. Timmy was itching to take on George, Timmy: tall, atheletic, blond haired and gentile from the suburbs of Detroit, which are some of the most segregated in America, George: Jewish, short, balding before his time, flabby and from the big city...if you think about it every one of George's friends are Jewish. His wolrd is pretty sealed except for his forays into dating, which expose him to all points of humanity :-)

p.s. Let him have it George!

-Marcus Haupt

hi, all....

I just wanted to respond to this:

George, Timmy: tall, atheletic, blond haired and gentile from the suburbs of Detroit, which are some of the most segregated in America, George: Jewish, short, balding before his time, flabby and from the big city...if you think about it every one of George's friends are Jewish. His wolrd is pretty sealed except for his forays into dating, which expose him to all points of humanity :-)

Have you ever been to Detroit? I'm from the Detroit Suburbs, and I don't find that to be true at all. The portrayal of a non-jewish funeral may indeed be true (that's why it was so funny), but the suburbs are decidedly *not* segregated. O.k, o.k, maybe Grosse Pointe is predominantly Christian, and Birmingham is predominantly Jewish, but everyplace else is extremely integrated (Ann Arbor, Southfield, Royal Oak...)

I don't mean to imply that I am flaming you; I'm not. What made the scene so funny was the contrast of cultures, which undoubtably happens frequently. However, I just thought everyone would like to know that the characterizations portrayed on Seinfeld last week, and Northern Exposure a couple of weeks ago were just that. Characterizations. And yes, they were amusing.

-Jacki Bricker

[email] (Marcus E. Haupt) writes:

[stuff deleted]

With a name like Costanza, George is Italian, no? (In real life, I think Jason Alexander is indeed Jewish, but I don't think the character on the show is.)

Well, maybe it's just me. But I thought the parts with George and Timmy were the least funny of the show. Way overblown and predictable. The whole scenario (nyc jewish guy meeting girlfriend's gentile family) was done first and better in Annie Hall - which also had Woody Allen meeting Annie Hall's rather-too-tense brother a la Timmy and George.

*Not* my favorite episode.

Sue

Please no flames but this has always been my big conflict on the show. George does have all the characteristics of the nice, neurotic Jewish boy from Lun Guyland (Long Island). He does not have the typical macho Italian appearance. In fact, look at George's mother.

Italian mothers are usually proud and boisterous about their sons. Kinda, "My boy is a gooda boy and can't do no wrong" mentality. I am sure that John Gotti's mother's attitude.

George's mother is a nag who is always telling him about his faults.

Maybe, George is an Italian Jew.... ;-)

Thank you.

Steve Simmons

Did you noce that when George double-dipped, he dipped a different corner than the bitten one the second time?

What's wrong with that? 8v)

-Rob

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