DAILY DIRT: ‘Was that wrong? Should I not have done that?’ and other great moments with George

Daily Dirt for Thursday, April 24, 2025

Costanza’s marvelous combination of insecurity and paranoia has long provided us with plenty of laughs … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,264 of The Daily Dirt.

1. I’ve never tried to hide the fact how much I have always loved “Seinfeld”.

If a TV show could ever be a best friend, “Seinfeld” would be it for me. I’ve never met a “Seinfeld” rerun” I didn’t want to watch … and rewatch … and rewatch again. It’s one of those rare shows where there’s a bona fide connection all of the main characters: Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer.

I’ve been thinking about the “Seinfeld” gang even more lately after referencing George Costanza’s famous line “It’s not a lie if you believe it” a few days ago in this space.

With that in mind, today The Daily Dirt lays out what its Board of Control feels are the best lines from each of the show’s principal characters. We’ve given George the honor of being spotlighted first:

(Note: Since I just used “It’s not a lie if you believe it” less than a week ago, that remark is ineligible for inclusion in the following.)

1. “The sea was angry that day, my friends. Like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli.”

I know, I know, I mentioned this one recently, too, but it’s simply such a classic I had to include it. The great George Costanza, latex salesman to some, world-renowned marine biologist to others, is at his finest in this popular episode. George pretends to be a scientist of the sea in order to impress an old crush. Of course, things spin out of control when they encounter a beached whale that must be saved.

2. “I was in the pool! I WAS IN THE POOL!”

Yes, the famous “shrinkage” episode. Jerry’s girlfriend ends up being seeing George naked after she walks in on him getting changed. She’s not all impressed by what she sees, and is actually amused, at which point George goes into panic mode, repeatedly declaring, “I was in the pool,” as a reason for why the sight of his naked body might’ve been funny. One of the most classic 30 minutes in TV history.

3. “I have a bad feeling that whenever a lesbian looks at me they think, ‘That’s why I’m not a heterosexual’.”

This quote is used in a scene from the “The Subway” episode. George is once again exposing his familiar insecurity and paranoia.

4. “Was that wrong? Should I not have done that?”

When George lands a job at Pendant Publishing, where Elaine also works, one of his first moves is to have sex with the cleaning lady on top of his desk. After an unfortunate series of events revolving around a tainted cashmere sweater, the cleaning lady ultimately comes clean to George’s boss, Mr. Lippman, who fires him. George hilariously tries to plead ignorance on the matter, appearing dumbfounded after hearing Lippman’s decision. “If anyone had said anything to me that that sort of thing was frowned upon …”. Jason Alexander’s perfect timing and facial expressions make this scene legendary.

5. “You should’ve seen the look on her face. It was the same look my father gave me when I told him I wanted to be a ventriloquist.”

George persuades Elaine to take an I.Q. test for him in order to impress an intellectual woman, only Elaine doesn’t do so well. This hilarious quote explains so much about George’s character — whether it is his failed dating life, his relationship with his parents or his whimsical aspirations.

Coming tomorrow: The best of Jerry.

2. Did you know (Part 342)

• That the Japanese word “Kuchi zamishi” is the act of eating when you’re not hungry because your mouth is lonely. 
• That there is actually a word for someone giving an opinion about something they know nothing about. An “ultracrepidarian” is someone who voices thoughts beyond their expertise. 
• That competitive art used to be an Olympic sport.
• That if comedian Redd Foxx were alive today, he would be 102.
• That former actress Tippi Hedren, now 95, has dedicated much of her life to animal welfare.

3. The best of this week’s “Found on Facebook”:

“Welcome to adulthood. You get mad when they rearrange your grocery store.”

“Go Indians! Because nobody ever played cowboys and Guardians.”

“I’m getting stronger with age. I can now lift $100 worth of groceries with one hand.”

“Comfort zones are where dreams go to die.”

“Most people have heard of Karl Marx, but few know of his sister, Onya, an Olympic runner. Her name is still mentioned at the start of every race.”

Steve Thought O’ The Day — One more George Costanza quote before you go: “When you look annoyed all the time, people think that you’re busy.”

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Onya Marx … groan.