Vents MagaZine Music and Entertainment Magazine
Related Articles
I am of a generation, but not the only generation, where Seinfeld airing in reruns was a part of life. Basically every day, you could watch Seinfeld on TV, be it on a network channel or a cable channel. Seinfeld, like The Simpsons, was ubiquitous in reruns. I started watching the show, by and large, in reruns. I used to watch it in reruns basically every day, back before streaming services were a thing. These days, you can still watch it on reruns, particularly on Comedy Central. In reruns, though, you won’t see “The Puerto Rican Day.” It was removed from the mix, hell, probably 15 years ago at this point. A Puerto Rican flag is (accidentally, in the story) lit on fire, and that was a cause for consternation. Personally, I don’t hold iconography of that ilk sacred, so I don’t have a problem with that bit. That being said, if you don’t see “The Puerto Rican Day,” you aren’t missing a ton.
The episode is available on Netflix, and having not seen it for over a decade, I figured I’d give it a watch. Oddly, if I recall correctly, it’s effectively the penultimate episode of the show. I believe it comes right before the two-part retrospective clip show, and then the series finale. It definitely feels like a ninth-season episode, but it is not the one to go out on. The episode is credited to like six writers, and it definitely feels like a bifurcated, all-over-the-place, effort.
Basically, the gang has left a New York Mets game early, as the Mets are getting stomped, and then find themselves blocked from getting anywhere by the Puerto Rican Day parade, a real event in New York City. The four flit in and out of one another’s lives, with the three men all making their way to an apartment viewing to, say, use the restroom or watch the Mets game. Elaine has more of a Great Escape experience. Jerry deals with a guy he cut off in traffic. George deals with a guy with a laser pointer. Then, yeah, Kramer accidentally burns a flag and is chased down for it.
“The Puerto Rican Day” is pretty good. Most Seinfeld episodes can at least hit that level. It’s a little warmed over, though. There are a couple good bits, and it is fun to get one more appearance from both Dr. Peter Van Nostren (Kramer’s alter ego) and the iconic Art Vandelay. I don’t think it is inappropriate to show “The Puerto Rican Day” in repeats, but it isn’t exactly delivering in terms of high comedy.
