Seinfeld (TV Series) Male Unbonding (1990) User Reviews

In this, the only Seinfeld episode whose title does not begin with the word 'The', Kramer conceives the idea of a bake-your-own-pie pizza shop

[SLionsCricketreviews · 7/10 · 8 January 2018]

"Male Unbonding" does have that particular distinction among Seinfeld episodes, being the only episode in the one hundred and seventy or so episodes of the show whose title does not begin with 'the', an interesting fact in itself. It also has the now iconic Kramer idea of a bake-your-own-pie pizza parlour, an idea that I could not believe was introduced this early into the show.

While these four episodes so far have proven to be rather deflated viewing experiences on the whole, each episode has shown glimpses of the show it would go onto become and this episode begins to solidify Kramer as a character more. He's still not the absurdly energetic and strangely endearing off-kilt personality that he would go onto become but the mannerisms are coming slowly and Michael Richards is slowly getting into character.

I enjoyed "Male Unbonding", whether or not that is an unpopular opinion of sorts, I do not know. The central story here does not relate to Kramer though it is probably the one aspect of the episode that would be most effective marketing given how much of a classic Kramer idea it is. The central story is all Jerry and his desperate attempts to terminate a friendship with a childhood friend that he is becoming increasingly exasperated with. The episode is all about male bonding and the episode sees Jerry attempt to undo said bond, hence the title.

The stand-up is amusing, if unspectacular, but it services one of the central themes of the episode nicely. I for one enjoy the stand-up, mostly the opening piece in which Jerry muses over the strange way in which men can bond over something as trivial as someone operating basic tools. He adds just enough of a charm to the performance and delivery of the piece that despite it definitely worthy of being categorized as weak stand-up, I cannot help but enjoy.

The central story works quite nicely for me here. I enjoy the dynamic between Jerry and his friend Joel and both the chemistry and the writing here are fairly decent. Watching Jerry's desperation stretch as he continuously falters in his attempts to end this unwanted friendship is amusing and it is neatly capped by the scene in which Jerry begins compiling a list of excuses to use against Joel in the future.

Although the Kramer story is famous in Seinfeld's vocabulary, it is underused here. It's little more than a conception on Kramer's part and I cannot remember if it reappears in the show before the fourth (or fifth) season in which Kramer attempts to bring in Poppie into the business.

"Male Unbonding" gets some things quite right I feel. Straight man Jerry is enjoyable and well defined here, the mundane concept and relatable human complication of trying to end an unwanted relationship is great and the central story offers just enough laughs. It certainly isn't great Seinfeld but if I'm being honest, the first season just isn't and this might be my favourite of the episodes so far.

Dental floss

[dannylee-78082 · 7/10 · 26 February 2023]

1. Jerry breaks up with a friend 2. George rolls changes 3. Jerry comes up with excuses

I thought this was better than the prior episode, perhaps because it was more relatable. We've all had that socially unaware friend that you couldn't quite shake off. But then again, it's hard to find a friend like Horneck who always tries to keep in touch with you. It is an interesting balance - we just wish that people we care about have those qualities. This episode featured more of Kramer and it seems like he's slowly setting up his character to be this neurotic neighbor. I think he fits in his role quite well. Jerry Seinfeld seems like he's the most comfortable on set and his chemistry with George is very good so far too. Enjoying the series so far!

Hades

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 13 October 2021]

Jerry is basically spineless. Once he tells the guy they need to stop dealing with one another, he buckles. The setup is he best part of this episode where we allow ourselves to be victimized. Kramer come over time and again with his make your own pizza idea. George actually offers pretty sound advice. Just a comment. People often tell me this series is the greatest comedy series of all time. I would not accept that judgment bases on what I've seen so far. I will be patient.

Annoying friend

[vivianla · 27 January 2022]

Jerry Seinfeld groans about a guy he grew up. He only hung out with him because he had a pingpong table and now this guy always contacts him. Jerry never calls him first.

Jerry's bald friend suggests he treats the guy like a girl. So on their restaurant date, after the guy talks rudely to the waitress, Jerry says it is not working out. Jerry sounds like he is dumping him and the guy cries. The annoying guy says Jerry is his best friend and Jerry tells him he has never even been to his apartment.

Jerry tells the bald guy how it went and that he gave his ticket to the annoying guy. The bald guy is upset. The only worst thing is if a girl were to ask whose bra is this?

The annoying guy goes to the game with their eccentric neighbour. Elaine and Jerry make excuses to get out of hanging out with the annoying guy.

Still forming from a rocky start

[chadtoland · 6/10 · 17 December 2022]

Season 1 is drifting and dragging by this episode. George and Jerry's characters often seem mixed together, where lines they say sound written by the other. The standup that was sharp in the pilot is lacking here. Seinfeld's poor acting is also frustrating in this episode, where he is meant to be annoyed during lunch with a friend, but keeps cracking up and breaking character. Elaine is absent much of the episode. When she does appear at the end of the episode it's painfully clear that Louis-Dreyfus has done much of the heavy lifting in the prior two episodes. I've seen comparisons of Elaine and Jerry to Danson and Long in Cheers. Sorry, no. Seinfeld season one's charm is largely carried by Elaine with Jerry tagging along as a poor man's Ted Danson. This show does eventually find its stride once George mirrors Larry David and Elaine is decoupled from Jerry. But season 1 has so far been a bumpy start.

The one with no "The" at the beginning...

[MaxBorg89 · 10/10 · 11 November 2007]

Male Unbonding is the only Seinfeld episode that doesn't have a "the" in the title, but it is hilarious nonetheless, featuring some of the most brilliantly awkward moments in the history of American situation comedy.

As suggested by the title, this is a man-centric story, from the beginning, where Jerry delivers a monologue about men's obsession with tools. This is supposed to introduce the episode's "theme": male partnership. Problem is, Jerry sees it as a burden: an old friend of his, Joel Horneck (Kevin Dunn), keeps asking him to do stuff, even though our favorite comedian would rather engage in silly conversations with George and Elaine (with occasional input from Kramer). Unable to bluntly tell Joel to get lost ("As a guy, I don't know how to break up with another guy!"), Jerry has to come up with a list of excuses, which actually only makes things worse.

Being an early episode, Male Unbonding still suffers from some minor character development issues: while the protagonist, Elaine and especially Kramer (who plans to open a pizza place where you can make your own pie - excellent!) are already fully rounded, George is still somewhere between the confident sidekick seen in the pilot and the whining, insecure loser who went as far as being called "the greatest sitcom character ever" by Ricky Gervais (director/writer/star of the UK version of The Office, in case you didn't know). Fortunately, this flaw (which is probably the reason this show is listed as Episode 2 on the DVD, as the remaining Season 1 stories got the character right) is compensated by the presence of Dunn, who plays Joel as George's wimpy brother, all anxious and unable to do anything by himself: the "break-up" conversation between him and Jerry, which has a not-so-subtle homo-erotic connotation (still a bit risky in 1990), is embarrassing, ridiculous and very funny, spawning dozens of imitations (a couple of Friends episodes most notably) and making the character's disappearance after this episode a bit of a let-down. Maybe, though, his one-off guest spot was for the best: I'm not sure the show would have been as good with two George Costanzas in it.

Heteronormativity, sexism and gender norms

[CursedChico · 7/10 · 29 October 2020]

We see in the episode that man become only friends with man. Woman become friends with only woman. This is heteronormativity.

Man do something, woman do another thing. This is sexism.

After that critism, I can say it was nice episodee except the ones i wrote before.

I did not know about bank queue. I did not know also you could listen your home phone voice messages from another phone by calling your phone.

I sometimes also become in the situation. People send me messages or call me. I try not to upset them but I dont want to speak or write messages to them. Also i cant say "no more write or call" to them. It is a hard situation :)

"I don't think we're right for each other"

[callanvass · 9/10 · 19 February 2014]

Jerry comes home from hanging with George, to find out Kramer has talked to his pesky childhood friend Joel Hornek. Jerry is goaded into meeting him. During the meeting, Hornek is very obtuse towards a waitress, ignoring Jerry in the process. Jerry has enough of his self-involved ways and tells Hornek they can't be friends anymore. Jerry is forced to change his mind when Hornek weeps like a baby, agrees to take Hornek to the Knicks game in lieu of George. George isn't pleased, but tells Jerry he should "Break up" with him like he was a woman. Jerry writes down excuses to avoid Hornek. Meanwhile, George is dealing with a breakup.

Have you ever had a childhood friend that's a guy, who doesn't seem to grasp that you don't wanna see him anymore? This episode sheds light on this situation in a hilarious way. Everybody talks about how hard it is to break things off with a female, but a guy is a completely different story. Kevin Dunn's performance as Hornek is excellent. I can't stomach people like him, I pity them. Dunn did a terrific job in his role. His pathetic, sniveling character is one of the best guest characters Seinfeld has ever had. Dunn was originally considered as George Costanza. As a matter of fact, his character here resembles George quite a bit. I have to commend Jerry Seinfeld for his performance during the dining scene with Kevin Dunn. He has one great scene where he admonishes Horney for being rude to a waitress. "How can you talk to someone like that?" This wasn't one of his whiny situations either, I felt the irritation. This episode is technically the episode that was done after the pilot. This was Elaine's first appearance, but The Stakeout aired before this one, as did The Robbery. There are many things in this episode that would make Seinfeld such a classic show. "It's not you, it's me" would become infamous during this show, mostly said by George. Jerry and George's discussions about everyday life would become integral for the show's success. There is also a Stallin mention by Jerry, attributed to Larry David's fascination for historical figures. (If I remember correctly from the DVD extras) Kramer's idea for making your own pizza would be brought up again in season 6. It wouldn't exactly become "Kramerica Industries" , but he did get to work with Poppie, to produce disastrous results. "One day, you'll beg me to make your own pie!" Elaine doesn't have much to do, until the end of the episode, but she shines.

Final Thoughts: Seinfeld hadn't even cracked the surface yet. This show was definitely still in the feeling out process and was far more subtle with its humor and situations. They were still extremely funny though. This is a fantastic episode that makes you thankful for one thing. You don't have a Joel Hornek in your life

Additional Note. There is an alternate ending. Hornek still comes to Jerry's apartment after the Knicks game with Kramer. But this time, Jerry gets highly annoyed by Hornek hitting on Elaine. Jerry tells him he's done for real with him, Hornek claims Jerry will want him back in his life. It is a good ending, but I like the one they chose.

9.2/10

Immersive

[joeblowxxx · 9/10 · 6 July 2019]

This episode has, hands down, the best B-roll audience reaction shots of the whole season

Kevin Dunn later appeared in Veep as one of Julia Louis-Dreyfus' acerbic advisors

[tjsypdv · 9/10 · 17 November 2021]

Watching these episodes more or less back to back, the audience reaction shots at the comedy venue are all the same. Only Jerry's clothes have changed.

Just How Much Cocaine Did This Show Require?

[nebohr · 4/10 · 30 November 2021]

Finally, an opener about men. Working on things. Nothing specific. Just...things. That's funny, isn't it?

And the exact same actors as "audience" members. Show after show. See for yourselves.

Listen to George with your eyes closed. Doesn't he sound like some loser sixth grader you knew back then?

You ever notice how the hallway from the elevator to Jerry's door is actually a big square with the camera pivoting in the middle?

I have a Post-it on the screen that says "Don't Forget to Laugh" but I can't read it from my recliner.

Once again Elaine saves the show.

Finally. The closer. Yawn.

Excuse roloadex

[ThunderKing6 · 10/10 · 6 January 2023]

The date is January 6th 2023 that this very review was written

About/Main plot: Jerry reunites with an old childhood friend who is annoying and rude. Jerry wants to part ways while.

George has a sceneless plot about a girlfriend.

Kramer is busy with Kramerica Industries

Elaine is there to help Jerry with excuses to avoid Hornek.

Other than the Jerry Versus Hornek plot, this episode was good for that, but nothing else happened because everything else was off scene.

Highlight: Reggie Miller is mentioned. Jerry's rude friend. Wish he made another appearance.

Leaugh meter Rating: For Jerry's story, it's an 8

Overall, an episode that I can still enjoy.

Goofs and trivia: Kramerica industries returns, thought out the series 2-3 more times.

Jerry and George have male crushes and or male break-ups throughout the series.

Honey, I think Jim's working on something over there.

[bombersflyup · 9/10 · 25 December 2021]

Male Unbonding is about Jerry having a long-time friend whom he no longer shares any interests, whom he wishes to avoid.

The only episode without "the" in the title and really where the show gets into the swing of things. A very true to life plot and situations within. The opening standup as well, though I don't see Jerry being of that mould which he claims. Jerry once having already said they have nothing in common could at least start to actually say some of what he's thinking and if the guy still wants to be friends, so be it. Instead of going back to the initial state of the friendship, but it's done for laughs. Kramer of course putting Jerry in a position he would otherwise avoid, twice. The situation ends without resolving, even though Elaine thinks fast on her feet. Excellent episode.

ELAINE: How about: "You've been diagnosed as a multiple personality, you're not even you, you're Dan."