The Apology

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"The Apology" is the 165th episode of the hit NBC sitcom Seinfeld. This was the 9th episode for the 9th and final season. It first aired on December 11, 1997.

Plot

Jerry's Nude Girlfriend

Jerry begins dating Melissa, a woman who is comfortably nude in his apartment, even outside a sexual context. She walks naked into the kitchen to eat waffles and is also nude while playing board games. While George is envious, Jerry soon grows uncomfortable with Melissa's quirk. He finds her to be unattractive if she is nude doing anything that involves her muscles contracting. Eventually, Jerry tries casual nudity himself. Melissa, however, while carrying a positive attitude toward female nudity ("good naked"), does not have similar views on male nudity ("bad naked"). Elaine later explains this as the female body being art whereas the male body is just utility. Ultimately Jerry convinces Melissa to wear clothes more often, but regrets his decision when he can't stop thinking about how good she looks naked. Unfortunately Melissa can't stop thinking of how bad Jerry looks naked, and the relationship is ruined.

Step 9

George learns that Jason Hanky (James Spader), a friend of his nicknamed "Stanky Hanky" , is a recovering alcoholic and, as part of Step 9 of the Alcoholics Anonymous's Twelve Steps, he is apologizing for all his old misdeeds. George is angry when he does not receive an apology from Jason for having insulted him at a party a few years earlier (when he made fun of George's overly large head). Jason continues to refuse to apologize, saying that George's large head is not an insult but a fact, and this enrages George so much that he is directed to anger management classes.

Germs, Showers, and Germophobes Anonymous

Kramer begins spending most of his time in his shower, even going as far as preparing dinner there and installing a garbage disposal in his drain.

Elaine's co-worker Peggy ("The Susie") is a germophobe who dislikes Elaine because she thinks she is promiscuous and therefore full of germs. Insulted, Elaine takes revenge on Peggy by going to her office and rubbing her stapler under her armpit, the keyboard on her rear end, and finally coughing on Peggy's doorknob.

David Puddy reveals to Elaine that he too is a recovering germophobe. Later, Elaine makes up with Peggy by inviting her for over for a dinner cooked by Kramer. But when Kramer reveals that he prepared the dinner as he bathed, they are all horrified and Peggy and Puddy have to go back to Germophobes Anonymous, and Elaine joins.

Episode Notes

• Actors Jason Alexander and James Spader had previously appeared together in the movie White Palace.
• The first kid ("Gregg") who wanted ice cream from Jason "Stanky" Hanky (James Spader) was played by Michael Fishman, best known for his role as D.J. in Roseanne.
• Elaine gets her curly hairstyle back in this episode.
• This is Brian Levinson's final on-screen role.