The Maestro (Seinfeld)

"**The Maestro**"
"The Maestro"
Seinfeld episode
Episode no.	Season 7; Episode 3
Directed by	Andy Ackerman
Written by	Larry David
Production code	703
Original air date	October 5, 1995
Guest appearances
	Heidi Swedberg as Susan Ross; Mark Metcalf as Maestro; Phil Morris as Jackie Chiles; Gary Yates as Security Guard; Tim Bagley as Evan Fain; Paul Michael as Ciccio; James Noah as Ned; Tim Bagley as Manager; Richard McGonagle as Mr. Star; Kenneth Ryan as Mr. Burns; Kymberly Newberry as Ms. Jordan; David Wendelman as Waiter;
Episode chronology
← Previous; "The Postponement"	Next →; "The Wink"
	Seinfeld season 7
	List of episodes

"The Maestro" is an episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. It first aired on October 5, 1995.^[1] It was the series' 113th episode and third episode for the seventh season.^[1] The episode debuted recurring character Jackie Chiles, a lawyer who represents Kramer in the hot coffee case introduced in the previous episode. The title character is played by Mark Metcalf. Elaine dates him while Jerry tries to disprove his claim that there are no houses available to rent in all of Tuscany.

Plot

Concerned for a security guard at Susan's uncle's store who must stand all day, George delivers a rocking chair to the store, using his standing as the owner's soon-to-be nephew to override objections. The guard is so comfortable in the chair that he sleeps through a robbery. Elaine begins dating Bob Cobb, a.k.a. the "Maestro", and immerses herself in classical music.

The Maestro gives Kramer a balm for his coffee burn from the previous episode, but Kramer is caught off-guard by how quickly the balm heals his burn. At a meeting with the coffee chain Java World to negotiate an out-of-court settlement, he is so nervous at the possibility that they will ask to see the burn that he eagerly agrees to the settlement as soon as a Java World representative mentions unlimited free coffee, cutting him off before he can finish listing the terms of the offer. This infuriates Kramer's lawyer Jackie Chiles, who realizes that Java World were about to mention monetary compensation.

Jerry is frustrated that Elaine and George have no problem with Bob's insistence on being called "Maestro" instead of his real name; furthermore, the Maestro's unsolicited declaration that there are no houses to rent anywhere in Tuscany makes him suspect Maestro of lying to keep him out of Tuscany. Jerry asks Poppie about the matter. He is referred to Poppie's cousin, who appears to be a mafia boss, making Jerry too afraid to turn down his insistent offer that he rent a house.

Elaine and Maestro are enjoying his house in Tuscany when Jerry and Kramer noisily arrive at the house across the street in a taxi; both Elaine and Maestro react with exasperation.

Production

"The Maestro" was the first appearance of Jackie Chiles, a parody of Johnnie Cochran, played by Phil Morris. Morris and Cochran had visited the same barbershop in Los Angeles for years, and so Morris was very familiar with Cochran's personality and mannerisms.^[2] Jerry Seinfeld interrupted Morris' audition for the role by turning up the air conditioning and remarking "You're so funny you're making me sweat."^[2] The table reading for "The Maestro" was held on August 27, 1995, and it was filmed before a studio audience on August 30.^[3] Michael Richards' mispronunciation of the words "theater" and "caffè latte" was unscripted.^[2]

Reception

"The Maestro" first aired on October 5, 1995.^[3] The episode earned a ratings share of 22.5/35.^[3]

Superman reference

The Maestro's name is Bob Cobb. Bob Cobb is the original alias of Mon-El, a supporting character in Superman comics.

The name Bob Cobb would be used again by Larry David in the Curb Your Enthusiasm episode "Trick or Treat."

Popular culture

Some critics of New York's "Standing is Tiring (SIT) Act", a proposed right to sit law, have ridiculed the legislation by comparing it to the scene where George provides a seat for the security guard. New York State Assembly member Karines Reyes, a supporter of the bill, responded by saying that the jokes were "funny", but the law would be reasonably applied.^[4]^[5]^[6]

References

^ ^a ^b "Seinfeld Season 7 Episodes". TV Guide. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c Seinfeld Season 7: Inside Look - "The Maestro" (DVD). Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. 2006.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Seinfeld - Season 7" DVD bonus material, "Notes About Nothing" subtitles
^ "New York lawmakers invoke 'Seinfeld' comparisons with sitting-on-the-job bill". New York Post. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
^ "Standing Is Tiring (SIT) Act would let workers sit down on the job". WNYW. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
^ "Churchill: Taking a stand for sitting down". Times Union. Retrieved September 28, 2023.

External links

"The Maestro" at IMDb

[tvguide-1] "Seinfeld Season 7 Episodes". TV Guide. Retrieved December 10, 2021.

[InsideLook-2] Seinfeld Season 7: Inside Look - "The Maestro" (DVD). Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. 2006.

[Notes-3] "Seinfeld - Season 7" DVD bonus material, "Notes About Nothing" subtitles

[4] "New York lawmakers invoke 'Seinfeld' comparisons with sitting-on-the-job bill". New York Post. Retrieved September 28, 2023.

[5] "Standing Is Tiring (SIT) Act would let workers sit down on the job". WNYW. Retrieved September 28, 2023.

[6] "Churchill: Taking a stand for sitting down". Times Union. Retrieved September 28, 2023.

[1]

v t e Seinfeld episodes
Season 1	"The Seinfeld Chronicles" "The Stake Out" "The Robbery" "Male Unbonding" "The Stock Tip"
Season 2	"The Ex-Girlfriend" "The Pony Remark" "The Jacket" "The Phone Message" "The Apartment" "The Statue" "The Revenge" "The Heart Attack" "The Deal" "The Baby Shower" "The Chinese Restaurant" "The Busboy"
Season 3	"The Note" "The Truth" "The Pen" "The Dog" "The Library" "The Parking Garage" "The Cafe" "The Tape" "The Nose Job" "The Stranded" "The Alternate Side" "The Red Dot" "The Subway" "The Pez Dispenser" "The Suicide" "The Fix-Up" "The Boyfriend"† "The Limo" "The Good Samaritan" "The Letter" "The Parking Space" "The Keys"
Season 4	"The Trip"† "The Pitch" "The Ticket" "The Wallet" "The Watch" "The Bubble Boy" "The Cheever Letters" "The Opera" "The Virgin" "The Contest" "The Airport" "The Pick" "The Movie" "The Visa" "The Shoes" "The Outing" "The Old Man" "The Implant" "The Junior Mint" "The Smelly Car" "The Handicap Spot" "The Pilot"†
Season 5	"The Mango" "The Puffy Shirt" "The Glasses" "The Sniffing Accountant" "The Bris" "The Lip Reader" "The Non-Fat Yogurt" "The Barber" "The Masseuse" "The Cigar Store Indian" "The Conversion" "The Stall" "The Dinner Party" "The Marine Biologist" "The Pie" "The Stand In" "The Wife" "The Raincoats"† "The Fire" "The Hamptons" "The Opposite"
Season 6	"The Chaperone" "The Big Salad" "The Pledge Drive" "The Chinese Woman" "The Couch" "The Gymnast" "The Soup" "The Mom & Pop Store" "The Secretary" "The Race" "The Switch" "The Label Maker" "The Scofflaw" "The Highlights of 100"† "The Beard" "The Kiss Hello" "The Doorman" "The Jimmy" "The Doodle" "The Fusilli Jerry" "The Diplomat's Club" "The Face Painter" "The Understudy"
Season 7	"The Engagement" "The Postponement" "The Maestro" "The Wink" "The Hot Tub" "The Soup Nazi" "The Secret Code" "The Pool Guy" "The Sponge" "The Gum" "The Rye" "The Caddy" "The Seven" "The Cadillac"† "The Shower Head" "The Doll" "The Friar's Club" "The Wig Master" "The Calzone" "The Bottle Deposit"† "The Wait Out" "The Invitations"
Season 8	"The Foundation" "The Soul Mate" "The Bizarro Jerry" "The Little Kicks" "The Package" "The Fatigues" "The Checks" "The Chicken Roaster" "The Abstinence" "The Andrea Doria" "The Little Jerry" "The Money" "The Comeback" "The Van Buren Boys" "The Susie" "The Pothole" "The English Patient" "The Nap" "The Yada Yada" "The Millennium" "The Muffin Tops" "The Summer of George"
Season 9	"The Butter Shave" "The Voice" "The Serenity Now" "The Blood" "The Junk Mail" "The Merv Griffin Show" "The Slicer" "The Betrayal" "The Apology" "The Strike" "The Dealership" "The Reverse Peephole" "The Cartoon" "The Strongbox" "The Wizard" "The Burning" "The Bookstore" "The Frogger" "The Maid" "The Puerto Rican Day" "The Chronicle"† "The Finale"†
† Indicates two-part episode