The story revolves around George Costanza's (Jason Alexander) plot to exact revenge on his boss, with his friend Elaine Benes' (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) help, after he quits his job at Rick Barr Properties and is refused re-employment.
Written by series co-creator Larry David and directed by Tom Cherones, the episode premiered in the United States on NBC on April 18, 1991.
The episode also contains the first mention of Newman, a suicidal man who lives in Jerry and Kramer's apartment building, who would later become a popular recurring character.
As the episode is the first in which Kramer does physical comedy which the character would become well-known for, some cast and crew members consider it a turning point for the show.
When first broadcast in the United States, the episode gained a Nielsen rating of 14.4/24 and was met with positive response from critics.
As revenge, George decides to slip a Mickey into Levitan's drink during an office party and enlists Elaine to help him by flirting with him as a distraction.
While Jerry distracts Vic with laundering questions, Kramer puts cement mix in one of the washing machines as revenge.
Kramer tells Jerry about his friend Newman, who repeatedly threatens to kill himself by jumping off the apartment building.
[4][5] David had quit SNL halfway through the 1984–1985 television season, but felt he had made a mistake once he reached his home.
Unlike George, the ploy succeeded for David, who remained with SNL's writing staff until the end of that season.
As a method actor, Richards insisted on dumping a real bag of cement into the washing machine used on set, so that the proper physical reactions to such a heavy object would be present.
[3][15] Additionally, Fred Applegate guest-starred as George's boss[16] and John Capodice portrayed Vic, the laundromat owner.
[3] Patrika Darbo, who played George's co-worker Glenda, would reappear later in the season five episode "The Sniffing Accountant" as a woman Newman flirts with.
[20] The scene in which Kramer struggles to put cement in one of the washing machines has gained positive responses from critics.
"[22] Daily News of Los Angeles critic Jody Leader also praised Seinfeld for how he distracted Vic in the scene.