Seinfeld: 10 Best Costanza Family Moments

While Seinfeld has its comical moments between Jerry, Elaine, Kramer, and George, fans can’t deny that the rare moments between the Costanza family are pure gold. George had a peculiar childhood, to say the least, and it’s a running gag that led to the dysfunctional man that he became.

When watching the sitcom, there are more than a few Costanza family moments that had fans siding with George. On the other hand, George often had it coming. No family is perfect and they all have their unique quirks. Remember the in-depth conversation Frank had about the Cornish game hen that led to the famous Rye incident? The Costanza’s may be kooky, but they’re a fan favorite.

10 George’s Seventh Birthday

“The Fire” episode gave fans a bit of insight into George’s childhood. While the flashback scene is haunting, it doesn’t stop fans from laughing. Geroge helps plan his girlfriend’s kid’s birthday party – the one where he tramples everyone to escape a small fire. While at Monk’s, Geroge explains he can vividly remember his seventh birthday.

Young Geroge looks scared and frightened as his father shakes him, yelling at him to blow out the candles. It seems that Geroge is having a breathing problem and Estelle yells at the top of her voice, “Stop it, Frank. You’re killing him!” Fans can understand why George isn’t so fond of his childhood memories.

9 “Ma, Your Eyes!”

A lot goes on in “The Fusilli Jerry,” including a comical storyline with the Costanza’s. Estelle gets her eyes done to feel better about herself. In one scene, she explains that Frank is just jealous that she’s improving herself and Frank calls her “Manhattanite.” Fans remember this episode because it’s when Frank gets Fusilli Jerry stuck where the sun doesn’t shine during a fight with Kramer.

At the end of the episode, George takes Frank home from the hospital. Estelle is upset because he was supposed to fix the stove hours ago. She learns of his accident and starts to cry, to which Geroge yells at her because she’s not meant to cry after her surgery.

8 They’re Not Getting a Divorce

One incident that affected George that some fans could relate to was when his parents decided to get a divorce. It all starts when Frank was seen with a man in a cape, George’s phone lines get crossed, and he learns about the divorce through Donna Chang. George heads to their home to set things straight. In a huff, he says that he refuses to go to two Thanksgivings.

Frank says they worked it out and won’t get a divorce. George then asks about the man in the cape and Estelle says it’s a ridiculous thing to wear. Franks yells “You have no eye for fashion!” Estelle gets heated. But upon learning that Donna Chang isn’t Chinese, she says the divorce is back on, as she’s not going to “take advice from some woman from Long Island!”

7 The Paella, Mice & Cabana Wear

Paella is a Spanish dish made with rice and seafood and it’s the topic of conversation when the Seinfeld’s make up a lie to get out of going to dinner at the Costanza’s. But before that, while having breakfast, George encourages his parents to go on a cruise so he can have some time to himself. Frank then thinks he sees a mouse and freaks out.

Frank and Estelle become increasingly upset that their invitation to the Seinfeld’s was rejected. They “want to know what they did wrong.” Thankfully, Kramer comes over to eat. But this only leads to more problems, as Frank learns that George sold his cabana wear.

6 George Moves Out

George finally found the perfect trick to ensure that his life goes right – he just has to do the opposite of what his instincts tell him to do. It works because he lands a job at the Yankees, which means he can finally move out of his parent’s house. This is a somewhat comical yet sweet scene.

Frank warns him to be nice at the Yankees and thumps him on the head. George says he can’t, it defeats the purpose of how he got the job. George pulls his parents in close and says he loves and cares for them. Kramer is perplexed and Jerry explains it’s the opposite of what George would normally do.

5 George As A Hand Model

George has had his bad luck with jobs, but no one expected him to be noticed by a hand model scout. At home, Estelle boasts how she always knew George had beautiful hands and how she always mentioned it to people. Frank is quick to shut her down. She irritatingly claims they’re “milky white” and George quietly does some filing and upkeep on his hands.

Estelle serves as his assistant and hands him a pair of nail scissors with the point facing out. George blows up and scolds her. Nothing can happen to his one shot of becoming a successful model. Estelle asks if he wants Jell-o, but Frank hates that she put bananas in it. George gets up and says “stress is very damaging to the epidermis!”

4 Orthodox Conversion

George will go pretty far to be with a woman, even convert to her religion. In “The Conversion.” Geroge thinks he found the one, but she can’t be with him because of their different religions. She’s Latvian Orthodox, so George’s only solution is to convert himself.

He keeps it hidden from his parents, but an acquaintance of Estelle spills the beans. George’s parents are upset and Frank asks if Latvian Orthodox is the religion that mutilates squirrels. Estelle thinks he’s crazy to do such a thing for a woman, stating that George is under their control and Frank forbids him from performing rituals.

3 The Rye Bread

Fans can vividly recall the mishap with the rye bread. The Costanza’s finally have dinner with Susan’s upper-class parents. On the menu is Cornish game hen and Frank is perturbed because he doesn’t get what type of chicken it is. As good guests, they bring some rye bread.

After dinner in the car, Frank and Estelle are upset that they never put cake out to have with their coffee. It’s bad manners. George is stunned to find the marble rye in the backseat. Franks says he took it back as retribution for them not putting out the cake. This creates a slew of problems, like Susan’s parents thinking bad of them for taking it back and George having to use a fish hook to get it back into the apartment.

2 The Bra Discussion

Frank gets George a job interview as a bra salesman. Leave it up to Frank to question whether or not George knows the ins and outs of a bra. At dinner, Franks tells Estelle to get one of hers to properly teach George and to verify the material it’s made of. Frank explains the different cup sizes, with “D” being the biggest.

Frank takes a look and explains the cups, clasps, hooks and “that’s it.” George then puts the bra on the table and gets ketchup on it. It’s a small family moment that’s plain good comedy.

1 The Prophylactic Wrapper Incident

If there was one scene where George really messed up with his parents it’s when Estelle finds a prophylactic wrapper in their bed. George claims his bed was too small to do the deed, so he used theirs. Frank is angry and scolds him, while Estelle is grossed out and shaken and claims she can’t sleep in the bed.

George doesn’t see why she can’t. “She can’t, she just can’t!” Frank then parents George and grounds him. Even at his age, George can still get in serious trouble with his parents.

About The Author

Gabriela Silva
(478 Articles Published)

Gabriela Silva is a List writer for Screen Rant with experience in all things television, film and pop culture. A graduate of Fordham University with previous years experience interning for Cliché Magazine.

With her passion for movies, television and entertainment, she’s interviewed some great actors from Cress Williams of ‘Black Lightning’ to Tati Gabrielle from ‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.’

Her love for entertainment reaches a broad range of interests from 90s thriller movies, guilty pleasure teen dramas, action-packed MCU movies to popular K-dramas. You’ll most likely find her binge-watching a new television show or movies on Netflix into the early morning.

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