Seinfeld (TV Series) The Wife (1994) User Reviews

"It's all pipes!"

[itamarscomix · 8/10 · 3 October 2011]

Season 5, Episode 17, "The Wife"

Not one of season's 5 best episodes, certainly, but it's still a worthy classic. Courtney Cox was a grade-B star at the time, still a few months before hitting it big in Seinfeld's main competition Friends, but she was still one of the better known faces to make an appearance in the early seasons and she's one of the better Girlfriends-of-the-week the show had. Cox has great chemistry with Jerry and it makes their storyline the real highlight of the episode, and one of the better relationship stories in season 5.

The other stories in the episode pale by comparison - Kramer hardly even has any, but Elaine and George have some very funny moments. Overall a very good Seinfeld episode.

It All Ends Up in the Same Place

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 14 October 2022]

Selfishness prevails in this episode. First of all, a dry cleaner is nice enough to give Jerry a permanent discount because he returned a valuable locket. This isn't enough as Jerry's girlfriend wants in on the dry cleaning (and eventually Kramer). Meanwhile, George has embarrassed himself by being seen urinating in the shower and a guy is going to report him and get him thrown out of his health club. He is a friend of Elaine's and kisses her, and the complications get rolling from there. George's defense is that it's all pipes going to the same place (hilarious). Elaine has no concern for her friends, showing herself to be just as much self-centered as any of them. Kramer plays a small role but his experience with a tanning machine is pretty funny.

Seinfeld, meet Friends

[martin-intercultural · 7/10 · 26 June 2017]

The premise is funny and quirky yet believable. But as much as I used to be a huge 'Friends' fan, watching the story I couldn't help thinking that the Courteney Cox role was miscast, or at least mistimed: Just like on the early seasons of 'Friends', she is still finding her pace as an actress. Her hair seems stuck in the 80s. Worse, her sweet-as-can-be, childlike attitude just doesn't gel at all with the Seinfeld set and concept. Not a mean or messed-up bone in this supposed New Yorker's body. All in all, and considering the thespian heights she would go on to climb, her presence feels oddly unsettling.

Courtney Cox just before Friends

[ssochet · 10/10 · 10 June 2022]

Jerry and Courtney get together with incredible chemistry. They pretend to be married to each other just so they can each get a family discount on their dry cleaning. Hilarious.

When Jerry gets a discount at the dry cleaners for "family" it prompts his girlfriend to say she's his wife.

[Laurarocks501 · 1 August 2006]

This is a hilarious episode!!! Not only does it have the gorgeous Courtney Cox, but it's well written and acted.

It all begins when Jerry finds a locket in his jacket that wasn't his. He asks the dry cleaner if it was his and it turns out it's a family heirloom (in future episodes they have a problem with the dry-cleaners wearing clothes of their clients I believe this alludes to that since the dry-cleaner looks very guilty!!) Jerry is in a happy relationship with Courtney's character but when she say's she's his wife they begin acting as a married couple and it goes downhill. He kisses another girl and gets her dry cleaning done for her. Then Courtney's character picks up her dry cleaning and they give her Jerry's as well and he's caught.

My wife is a lazy pig

[ThunderKing6 · 10/10 · 7 March 2023]

Another dry cleaner means more clothes.

On March the sixth 2023 this review was typed up.

About: Jerry is somewhat married an loves to say "my wife".

Elaine tries to figure out a creep

Kramer is kramer

George pees in the shower at the gym. Who doesn't?

Story and production: A good and amusing story. Jerry's story was the highlight.

Production was flawless. Another great ep in season 5.

Overall a great episode.

Highlight: Jerry's story. Also when George threatened to call a plumber.

"I don't see a white boy. I see a damn fool".

Laugh meter: 8

Girlfriend attractive level: If SHE is legit 8. Kramers girl was a 10. Damn.

What can be learned?: Be careful who you marry.

Should you watch this? Yes.

Wife

[bevo-13678 · 10/10 · 19 June 2020]

I like the bit where Kramer spent too long bit the tanning bed.

Looking through the eyes of history

[speedolitec · 8/10 · 24 July 2022]

Funny episode, but given Michael Richards' little debacle from a few years back, that I think we all remember, kinda makes the end scene with Kramer visiting his girlfriend's family a bit more uncomfortable!

Friend-to-be

[safenoe · 7/10 · 10 February 2024]

Courtney Cox guest stars as Meryl, who has a complicated relationship with Jerry and his generous dry clearner, and this was just six months before her career exploded big time in Friends of course. Anyway, Courtney Cox had wonderful rapport with Jerry, and I guess it would have been asking too much for her make more guest appearances with Friends being the worldwide sensation it became.

Anyway, the ending of The Wife was controversial in retrospect, and thankfully in the episode the family of Kramer's girlfriend didn't wield pitchforks if you know what I mean. Anyway, it's hard to believe The Wife debuted 30 years ago.