More than 25 years since its finale,Seinfeldremains popular, and it should be no surprise considering how influential it was for the sitcom genre. But to Emmy-winning actressJulia Louis-Dreyfus,one episode stands out. In an episode of her podcastWiser Than Me, Louis-Dreyfus reflected on one ofSeinfeld’s most iconic episodes: 1992’s “The Contest.” Widely regarded as one of the greatest sitcom episodes of all time, it was bold and groundbreaking for its era. The story begins with George (Jason Alexander) revealing he was “caught” by his mother, prompting a wager between Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld), Kramer (Michael Richards), and, eventually, Elaine (played by Louis-Dreyfus). The subject was taboo at the time, and the word itself was never even used, resulting in some of theshow’s most iconic euphemisms and innuendosthat remain memorable to this day, including “master of your domain.”
So many years later, the episode is still one of the most talked-about in television history, which is an accomplishment. Louis-Dreyfus, who re-watched it last year, admitted she was amazed it ever made it to air. But thankfully, both for the creators and for audiences, NBC gave it the green light, andit became an instant classic. “The Contest” deserves recognition as an undeniably hilarious installment of the series, but Louis-Dreyfus goes beyond that as she praises the episode and its writer,Larry David, not just for the subject matter, but for the way it tackledsomething that few sitcoms at the time seemed to do.
Elaine’s Inclusion Made “The Contest” A Groundbreaking Episode of ‘Seinfeld’
When rewatching the episode, it wasn’t how funny or risky the episode was that struck Louis-Dreyfus the most. Instead, the actress noticedhowequalit felt. Despite being the only woman in the competition, Elaine is treated the same as the guys, and even more notably, her inclusion in the contest was never presented as unusual or out of place. As Louis-Dreyfus put it, the episode embraced “the equity of sexual desire,” which made the moment feel more authenticand ultimatelyelevated the entire storyline. At a time when female characters were often sidelined orturned into a punchlinein male-driven plots, thisSeinfeldepisode made Elaine a full participant. There’s a quick nod to the idea that women might have an advantage, but the end result is clear: Elaine is in it with the same rules, though paying slightly more if she loses.
When it comes to being groundbreaking, Louis-Dreyfus is absolutely right about “The Contest.” As she points out, most sitcoms of that era would’ve made her the object of the male characters' fantasies, positioning Elaine as more of an obstacle or a distraction than part of the bet. That version of the story wouldn’t have been nearly as sharp or as funny and, frankly, would’ve beeninauthentic to the character of Elainethat she had set up for four seasons. Luckily,Seinfelddidn’t do that, and instead,Elaine is given the same agency and vulnerability as the others, and it pays off both comedically and culturally.
Like many old TV series, there are some episodes ofSeinfeldthathaven’t aged as well, and, admittedly, because the show was never known for being overtly progressive. Yet “The Contest” is a subtle but meaningful step in that direction.Louis-Dreyfus is hilarious in the episode, but her performance is never framed as a grand gender statement.Elaine’s inclusion isn’t treated as groundbreaking within the episode, and that’s exactly what makes it so. It’s ironic, but the very fact that it seems normal makes it impactful. Even more effective is how the contest ends, and what unfolds between Elaine and the guys afterward. The payoff isn’t just funny, but it reinforces her place as an equal part of the group, not the predictable punchline.
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“Yada, yada, yada.”
Elaine’s Role in “The Contest” Signaled a Shift for Women in Sitcoms
It is perhaps the episode’s smartest choice thatElaine doesn’t win the contest.Though the joke suggests she should have the edge “because she’s a woman,” her resolve hilariously crumbles when she discovers thatJohn F. Kennedy Jr.is in her aerobics class. It was a great move, considering earlier seasons of the show had already established that Elaine had a fascination with the Kennedys, and, at the time, young JFK Jr. was widely considered one of the era’s most handsome and iconic public figures. This makes Elaine’s loss logical and hilarious, all while proving that desire is universal.
The scene where she breathlessly explains that she lied about where she lived just to share a cab with him is one of Louis-Dreyfus’funniest moments in the entire series.You can see her cracking, even as she insists she’s still “Queen of the castle.” Ultimately, her fantasies about “John-John” get the best of her, and she becomes the second one out of the contest, right after Kramer. Elaine’s lossreinforces Louis-Dreyfus’ point that women have desires, too. Elaine is allowed to be tempted, just like the guys, and even give in, which is why the episode is so groundbreaking.
Elaine’s inclusion in this bet might seem unremarkable now. After all, in the years since, shows likeSex and the City,Girls, andBroad Cityhave reached mainstream popularity by putting female sexuality front and center. However,Seinfeldpredates that discussion, and moments like Elaine’s story in “The Contest” arguably helped pave the way for those series, and others since, because it allowed a character likeElaine to be flawed, imperfect, and fully human.While Louis-Dreyfus acknowledged that her character wasn’t created to make a sweeping statement, she admitted she couldn’t help but feel “a little proud” of thesubtly progressive message about womenwoven into the episode’s comedy.
Despite NBC’s initial hesitation aboutthe episode,“The Contest” went on to win the Emmy for Outstanding Writing,and even now it remains consistently ranked among thegreatest sitcom episodes ever made, which is a monumental achievement. The equal treatment Elaine receives in “The Contest” stands out, especially for the time the episode was made. For a show that famously proclaimed it was “about nothing,” this moment certainly meant something. Decades later, the episode still holds up,not just for its iconic catchphrases, but for its sharp writing, standout performances, and quietly groundbreaking moments.
All episodes ofSeinfeldare available to stream on Netflix in the U.S.
