One of the greatest sitcoms, Seinfeld recently once again got into conversation after the script of a scrapped episode was leaked online. Created by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, the show is known for its unique brand of humor, which often includes elements of dark comedy.
However, one specific episode of Season 2 took things a bit too far, in an episode titled, The Bet. The episode follows Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Elaine deciding to buy her first gun. However, things soon take a dark turn with references to the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy.
The Scrapped Seinfeld Episode’s Worst Take on Presidential Assassinations
The scrapped episode of Seinfeld focused on a bet regarding Kramer’s claims about having had s*x with a flight attendant in an airplane lavatory during his return from Puerto Rico.
Meanwhile, a secondary plot follows Julia Louis-Dreyfus‘ character, Elaine, contemplating buying a gun due to feeling unsafe in New York City as a single woman. And it’s her part of the script that goes on to take an unexpected dark turn as the episode progresses.
After Elaine buys a realistic-looking toy gun, things escalate insignificantly. “George … Annie Oakley … is it warm in here or are you just packing heat?” Jerry says which is followed by Elaine saying, “One bullet in the brainpan oughta drop your body temperature considerably.”
The banter continues with references to the assassinations of former presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, who were assassinated in 1865 and 1963 respectively.
Jerry: I guess that would provide some cross-ventiliation. Can you give me the Kennedy? In here (MOTIONING TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD) and out here (MOTIONING TO HIS ADAM’S APPLE)?
Elaine: Maybe I’ll just take a little off the top.
Jerry: Aah, the Lincoln.
The episode concludes with Elaine deciding against pursuing gun ownership. And it was eventually scrapped after the Marvel star and Tom Cherones raised concerns about its gun ownership themes.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus And the Cast Raised Concern Over the Episode
Written by Larry Charles, the episode was in the advanced stages of production with sets and rehearsals underway when Julia Louis-Dreyfus reportedly expressed reservations about its theme.
The actress raised concerns regarding Elaine’s casual treatment of firearms, prompting producers to halt production and ultimately scrap the episode from the season.
The script later surfaced online after being purchased by a devoted fan, who shared its controversial plot. Larry Charles, reflecting on the episode’s cancellation, said, “Larry (David) and Jerry were extremely supportive of me.”
Releasing the episode at that time could have potentially tarnished the show’s reputation, especially considering it was still two seasons away from achieving its status as a ratings powerhouse.
Seinfeld is available to stream on Netflix.
