This is an All Ears English podcast, episode 2100.
Three social gaffes from Seinfeld that you must know.
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When you talk with any native speaker in the U.S., a reference to Seinfeld will eventually come up.
Today, get three favorite episodes which feature key cultural mistakes and find out how to listen for native speakers quoting these hilarious cultural moments.
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Hey, Lindsay, how are you?
I'm Michelle.
I'm doing great.
How's everything going with you?
Everything's good.
You know what?
I am really excited for today's episode.
Oh, me too.
I can't wait.
This is going to be a fun one, guys.
We are talking all about today.
So we've talked on the show before.
We something from Seinfeld always comes up, right, Lindsay?
It's just such a good the show in general, such a good observation on culture.
So that's why.
Yeah.
Oh, yeah.
There's so and there are so many references that have seeped into just regular conversations.
Even if you don't watch Seinfeld, you probably are using something from Seinfeld you might not even realize.
Totally.
That's why I'm so excited to bring this to our listeners.
I think a lot of our listeners know Friends, but I think a lot of them might be missing out on Seinfeld, which I think is funnier than Friends.
That's a hot take, maybe in front of you.
No no, I okay, this is my take, as if, as those being my like two of my favorite, favorite favorite shows, I always say that Friends is my macaroni and cheese of TV shows, like it's my comfort show.
It's, I feel you know, really good, but I do think that Seinfeld is actually funnier Oh, for sure.
It's better writing.
It's just better.
Yeah, it is.
But I love but like I friends like warms my heart more.
But Seinfeld isn't meant to warm your heart.
And but it's still I still watch Seinfeld.
I watch Seinfeld all the time.
And sometimes, like I remember when I had, you know my, my babies were little little babies and I was waking up in the night with them, I would turn on a Seinfeld.
Sometimes if I couldn't sleep, I would, you know, watch a Seinfeld episode.
Sometimes, if things are a little too intense in the news, Dan will say, like let's just watch Seinfeld, like it just is.
And I've seen even if I've seen it a million times, I've seen it so many times I still laugh.
It's just oh, it's so true, it's just that good.
I mean, Jerry Seinfeld was is a comedian, right so, and Did he do the writing of the show too?
Yeah, Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David and others.
That's right.
They're just... They're so great.
So, if you haven't watched Seinfeld, you definitely should give it a try.
So...
Before we get into it.
We want to.
We want to let you know that if you are listening over Spotify, we have a great way that we've been interacting with our listeners.
That I absolutely love.
We've been doing a key poll and we get your responses.
So if you're listening on Spotify, you can contribute to the poll and then we let you know the results there of the poll uh, in a future episode.
So yeah, i feel like fun.
I feel like through these polls, little by little, we're getting to know our audience.
You know, what do you guys, what are your habits, what are your opinions, and so it's more of a conversation and we are all about conversation back and forth between you guys.
So the whole thing guys, That's the whole thing, Michelle.
That's the whole thing.
All right.
So, on that note, we do want to let you know that we have the results from another poll we did recently.
So that was for episode 2074, which was dinner or supper.
What's the difference?
That was a fun one.
Lindsay, what was the poll question?
So we were talking about we talked about breakfast for dinner.
We talked about dinner or supper.
What do you say?
All of these things, topics around eating, and so our question was do you eat dessert every day?
Um, and what was the answer?
What was the final result of our audience?
What percentage?
Yeah, i was kind of surprised about this.
Um yeah, yes was 27 and no was 73.
I was surprised.
I thought that there would be more yeses.
What do you think?
Yeah, i kind of did.
I wonder if we, if we zoomed in on countries, if this would be heavier in the U S?
Yes,
Right.
Well, messages of dessert and sweets and yell, things like that in the States.
Yeah.
I, I, and I do wonder like, okay, what does someone count as dessert?
Like, if you just have a little cookie with lunch, like sometimes I'll just have, you know, a tiny little cookie with lunch or a little something.
Does it qualify as dessert for you?
Does that count as dessert, right?
Like what is dessert?
Good question.
Or is it dessert after lunch or dessert after dinner, right?
So there's some nuances here, Michelle.
Do I eat dessert every day?
No.
No, I would be in that no category.
I don't let myself.
I wish I...
If I only had like a year to live, I definitely would be eating dessert every night.
Yeah, I don't.
I wouldn't say I eat it every day.
No, I don't say I think I eat it every day either.
I try.
I try not to.
It's hard, though, because, you know, I have my kids and then like yesterday.
Oh, the ice cream truck is here.
Oh, the ice cream.
Mom, mom, mom.
And then I wasn't going to let him.
And then his friend was there with ice cream.
And it's like.
Yeah, you got to just do it and let them enjoy.
But so then I end up having a bite, or you know.
So I feel like I end up eating more just because of my kids.
Yeah, makes sense.
Makes sense.
Yeah.
So anyway guys, we're not going to let you know the poll question of today until close to the end of the episode.
So definitely keep listening because we have one for today.
I'm excited.
So good.
And so there was a past episode that we did Michelle, that our listeners should definitely check out.
Check it out because it's related to today.
Today's episode.
Yeah, guys, just a few episodes ago, episode 2094 was what's so funny?
How connect how to connect over laughter in English.
So perfect for today.
I love that.
I love that.
Yeah, laughter is so important for connection.
And it also is important to know culture to have that laughter.
Like most of the material that comedians work with tends to be cultural, right?
Cultural observations.
I think the best things are when it's a cultural observation that so many people can relate to and you don't think about it in your normal life.
And then when somebody points it out, it's just funny because we kind of, Especially if it's a very shared thing
Yeah.
This morning, my partner sent me an Instagram clip.
And there's so much comedy on Instagram too, on social media stuff.
And it was about when you have a dog and you have to leave the house.
A certain personality type, which is me
And it's like going off forever, saying goodbye to the dog.
I'll be back in 10 minutes, I promise.
I won't be gone long.
And then we'll go get a pup cup or something.
Like talking to your dog like they're an actual person.
You know what I mean?
Yeah.
Yeah, no, exactly.
Because that relates to you.
And so it's extra funny for me.
I just had also something that I saw online and it was about giving your kids a snack.
So it was like this mom was at the fridge and they said to their kid like you couldn't even see the kid or hear the kid, but they're saying like oh, do you want a snack?
Oh, so you want cheese?
Yeah.
Okay.
Do you want string cheese or circle cheese?
Do you want me to, do you want to open it or do you want me to open it?
Should I open it halfway or should I open it the whole way?
Do you want to, and I'm basically repeating the entire thing, but we do.
We do a string cheese or circle cheese.
And so that related to me so much.
So I sent it to Dan.
It was so funny.
So it's all about these observations that are true to your day life, that you don't think, you don't realize are so ridiculous.
And then when somebody points it out, you're like, oh my God, you do that too?
It's so ridiculous.
Yeah, exactly.
It just makes you feel a little more connected to humanity, a little more normal, because at least one other person in the world does that the comedian or has seen that among other people.
So anyway, that's why we love Seinfeld.
And that's why we want you guys to really understand.
And there's another reason why it's important to talk about Seinfeld today is that you're gonna hear these references coming up all the time.
So it's almost like required reading here, Michelle.
It's true.
If you hear these, you'll know what they mean.
And these also really, I chose these because I felt that they had a cultural aspect to them.
And I felt that they were, they had something in common.
It says something about the culture.
So I think we're gonna learn from Seinfeld today as well.
So-
Should we get into it?
We got so excited.
I'm really excited.
So are we doing three cultural... We're going to do three.
Three episodes, three kind of gaffes, I guess, is sort of what you would say that they make fun of on that show.
Yeah, you could call it a gaffe.
Yeah, you could call it a gaffe.
So, Lindsay, what's the first one?
All right.
Well, you've actually, I think, seen all these episodes.
I've just kind of heard about them.
But the first one is The Double Dipper.
Yeah, The Double Dipper.
Yes.
So...
Lindsay, do you know what double dipping is?
Of course, right?
Even if you haven't seen this episode where George double dipped a chip into dip, you know you've probably heard no double dipping right.
If you live in the US or if you've traveled to the US.
Often, when you bring out chips and like guac or any kind of dip or crackers, anything you're going into with a group, someone might say no double dipping.
And you definitely shouldn't double dip.
It's rude.
So don't do it.
What is double dipping?
It means you dip one time you eat half the chip and then you dip that same chip or that same cracker in.
It means your saliva is going into what everyone else is eating, to be very blatant.
So it's rude.
So we don't do it.
Yeah.
Right.
So I don't know if the expression double dip started on Seinfeld or not.
I don't know.
I don't think so.
I don't think so.
I don't think so.
But.
But I think it became even more popular because of this very special scene where George double dipped a chip.
And he basically this guy saw him and he just started screaming at him and explaining why it was disgusting.
And it was it was very funny.
So I feel like that got used more prominently. probably because of the show.
So yeah, if I see someone double dip, it does gross me out.
I have seen it.
And yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
You have to pay attention.
Sometimes I wonder if I accidentally double dip if I'm not paying attention.
I don't think I do.
But sometimes I'm like, oh my gosh, am I double dipping?
I become self-aware all of a sudden.
Well, I...
Yeah, I think it's different.
It depends where you are.
You know, if it's just me and Dan or, you know, somebody.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Like then it doesn't matter.
But at a party, you definitely want to be aware of it.
And then, you know, you just hope that.
Well, I wanted to comment on this one because this one reminded me so much about the pandemic.
And this is a commentary on culture.
Like, I mean, on more so on hygiene than anything.
And like how we became so obsessed with this stuff, especially since COVID. the pandemic.
So I think that people are more aware of it.
But I also think that we're starting to forget a little bit.
Do you feel that?
Yeah.
I think double dipping is something that is going to live on past the pandemic.
I think it became more pronounced and more of a hot button issue in the pandemic.
But I think it always was rude to double dip and will continue to be rude.
Although I agree with you at home, with your partner, your family, whatever you're all sharing germs anyways.
It's fine.
But anywhere other than that, if you have one neighbor over, you definitely want to leave that.
Leave that behind.
Um, So the important takeaway, number one, is culturally don't double dip.
Number two check out the episode and then understand when someone says no double dipping or you're out for double dipping.
Oh, I saw Michelle double dipping over there.
They might be making a joke or something.
Yeah.
But yeah, it's going to come up in the culture.
Yes.
I was at the playground the other day and my daughter just had, her was stole my iced tea and she had, she was holding it with the straw and then, just like some little kid just at the park just came over and took us.
That's hilarious.
And i was like okay, that's the end of that.
Um, but so yeah, so basically, so you might say something like don't double dip, i still want to have a bite of that ice cream.
Take some and put it in your own bowl.
Yes, nice.
And you know I like to lead with assuming people know this although, of course, when you're talking to a kid, you got to teach them.
But I want to assume everyone knows this.
I assume that, too.
I don't think that that's like a specific U.S. culture thing.
I think it's a universal hygiene thing.
Yeah, yeah, probably, probably.
And so now the next one.
Michelle is my absolute favorite and is probably the one that's penetrated the culture the most.
Mm hmm.
What is it?
It's a good one.
Well, is it the one that I've highlighted or the one below?
Okay.
The one that I've highlighted.
Okay.
Close talker.
Great.
This is great.
Tell us about this episode.
Oh okay, i'll tell you about it.
Um well, i believe that this was when um elaine i think it was her boyfriend, and but he just would get so close to someone's face when he was speaking that it was like startling.
And he was a really nice guy and i think there was one, if i'm not mistaken.
There was no.
I can see where he's with, like um jerry's jerry talking to Jerry's parents.
And he's just like really a nice guy, but he just is right up in your face.
And so he's a close talker.
Yeah.
He's like a blonde guy with kind of curly, wavy blonde hair.
I can picture the scene.
I can picture the scene.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So close talker.
So that is so funny from the episode.
So funny.
Yeah.
It's speaking in someone's personal space.
And I think that people do use it.
Do you think, what do you think about this?
Like personal space, what does it say about culture, things like that?
Well, we've talked about this on the show before.
Right, this is one that will probably not kind of permeate across the world as much and it might not be as funny.
Actually, this one and, by the way, guys just go to youtube and type in close talker yeah, if you want to see, i'm sure you'll be able to find.
Oh yeah, you'll be able to pull up those clips for sure, maybe not the whole episode, but at least the clip, and see if you find this one funny.
I think we find this funny because it's so socially awkward to penetrate someone's bubble.
But it really is a very American thing, right?
In other countries we know, people do talk a lot more close.
Oh, you know what?
I noticed this the other day.
Oh, I was babysitting for my niece and we were watching a teenage show that was filmed in Australia.
And all the actors were Australian.
And I was like, what's weird about this show?
There's something weird about the way they're interacting.
And I realized they're speaking very close to each other.
Like they're standing right at right.
And I was thinking, oh, my gosh, that is really interesting.
That is interesting that you like picked up on something that felt weird to you.
And that's what it was.
Yeah.
And so I think it's even like not even just the English speaking world.
I think it's just the American world and maybe Canada, too.
What do you think, Michelle?
I don't know.
I yeah, I'm not really sure.
I mean, I'm trying to think of travel experiences that I've had.
And if I've specifically noticed this and I wish I had paid more attention, but I don't really.
Nothing stands out just at this very moment, but definitely.
Oh, really?
You've had.
Oh, yeah.
There are times when I taught English in New York.
This is back in like twenty two thousand seven.
Actually I remember I had a student from Spain and she would come up to me and she would be really really close.
And I would find I would be with my back to the board.
And by the time we were, I would start moving back as she was, she would move closer.
And by the time I, we finished the conversation, I was like against the board.
Because it just felt so uncomfortable.
I just needed that space. yeah that's that is interesting yeah so guys i mean so you see you so you've had experience with that um so yeah it can make you feel funny when someone is in your personal space in your personal bubble um but you might hear in a conversation like this um sorry i don't mean to be a close talker there's just not that much room here yeah this is fun so just go check it out see if you guys think that's funny if not then It might be that we're weird, you know, we're weird in the sense that we need that space.
I mean, we've talked about this.
I mentioned at the airport when I was in Egypt, too, people were just kind of really up in there.
A lot of kind of pumping and no.
I think that we we you know Americans kind of settled in the countryside where there's lots of space, and we build this expectation that we can have that space.
But it's not a reality all over the world.
No, no, no.
So let's do one more.
So the last one is Low Tucker.
Okay, this one I haven't seen.
Oh.
So this was, I believe, I think it was Jerry.
No, no, no, no.
Maybe Kramer.
Ah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I was dating this woman, and she spoke in a very quiet voice.
And instead of asking... her to speak louder, they would just kind of like nod along.
And then Lindsay, have you seen you remember where Jerry wears the puffy shirt?
No.
Okay, so she ends up asking Jerry to wear a shirt that she designed, I believe, or she had something to do with on a talk show.
And he just says, Oh, yeah, yeah, because he can't hear.
And then he gets stuck wearing this shirt.
It's very embarrassing.
He's upset.
And so um, they would say that she is a low talker.
Now, let's just say these things are all kind of insults, you know, like seinfeld is a little bit of a mean-spirited show, so it's not something where you want to go around and say hey, you're a low talker, you know you're a close talker, yeah.
Yeah, i just want to point that out, because seinfeld is not one of the things i say make seinfeld is special, or that the show even says is that there's nothing to learn from the show as far as like, your morals.
There's no lesson.
I've heard that said about Seinfeld.
The characters aren't really admirable in any way.
It's just funny.
So don't go around saying these directly to someone, but you can use it in certain ways.
That's a good point.
I think we've mentioned that on the show too.
It's kind of refreshing in the sense that, like up until Seinfeld, there always needed to be a lesson.
It was like a moral thing, these TV shows, sitcoms.
But now Seinfeld just said, hey, we think some things are funny.
We're going to make fun of some things and it's going to be refreshing.
And it is.
But yeah, low talker.
So why does this not work, at least in American culture, Michelle?
I think, I mean yeah, I think, especially in our culture we really value, like You know, speaking up, being loud and whether that's a good thing or not.
Right.
People, you know, we people get the attention if they're loud.
What do you think?
Yeah.
And this is what we get a bad rap for when we go abroad.
And I'm always hyper aware to not be that loud American talker when I speak or when I'm in, like a cafe in Paris, for example.
Right.
I want to really be culturally aware.
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
But we do have a better reputation.
So it doesn't translate abroad very well.
But in the US, I think it is important in many contexts to project your voice, know where you are.
Just read the room.
But yeah, I think we're a culture that really values verbal expression.
Definitely.
Yeah.
All right, Michelle, this is great.
Where do we use these?
What should we do next?
All right.
So again, you don't have to be a Seinfeld expert, because I think these have seeped into everyday language.
Like I said,
That's what's incredible about references and why you should always be paying attention to them and consuming lots of media content.
So TV shows, movies, music, etc.
But there are some things from shows that are playful, more teasing and all of these.
You got to have a playful undertone.
You got to be careful about insulting people.
Anyone.
Oh my gosh, totally.
I love it.
I love it.
So are we ready for our key poll now, Michelle?
I'm excited.
Yes.
So the key poll is, do you watch Seinfeld?
Yes or no?
I'm curious.
Do we have any Seinfeld fans?
This is a good one, because we know a lot of you guys watch Friends, but we're a little curious about yeah, what do you know about Seinfeld?
Because I think it's just as popular here in the US as Friends is, and so we want to know.
So, do you watch seinfeld, yes or no?
Good stuff.
Whoa, this is a long episode, lindsay.
Should we go on or should we cut it off?
Uh, let's see yeah let's uh, let's.
Actually, i think that's probably good for today.
Okay yeah, another time we'll do some role plays, but yeah, we'll have a part two or something.
Yeah well, we definitely will, because there's so much here.
But yeah, like we said, the takeaway is you got to be careful with these, because they are much more playful but could be insulting.
But you will hear them and you can use them in a playful way within the right situation.
Yeah.
The most important takeaway, I think, is like we said go watch these clips, you know, see how you feel when you watch them.
How does it resonate with you? have you had any experiences on either side of the gaffe, right?
And that's a key word for today, right?
Gaffe.
Gaffe.
Kind of a social mistake.
That is a good one.
All right, Michelle, we are off the mic for today and we'll pick up this topic another day.
Definitely.
All right.
This was fun, guys.
And enjoy Seinfeld.
Yep.
Go to that key poll and make your voice heard.
All right.
Bye, guys.
Take care.
Bye.
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