The "The Start Of An Entire New Language," Story

It was an ordinary day.  Headed east on Route 30, also known as the old Lincoln Highway, and after passing York, PA I noticed a single-level home made into a business on the right of the road with a sign above it that read "Holistic Harmony".  The place was an office that you could visit for healing of the entire individual.  I looked at Carol and asked, "You don't think Bob Sacamano works there, do you?"  I imagine a few of you reading this might know exactly who Bob Sacamano might be.  If you are not one of them, I should tell you that he was a character on "Seinfeld", a USA Television show that ran from 1989 to 1998.  Bob Sacamano practiced holistic medicine and tried to cure George Costanza, a character on the show, of tonsillitis.  

The main characters: Kramer, George, Elaine and Jerry.

 We had a good laugh, but then got into a conver- sation about an entire new language that was created by the show "Seinfeld".  If you don't remember Mr. Sacamano, perhaps you remember the close talker, Elaine's boyfriend who had to get in your face when he talked to you.  A few years after that episode aired our daughter came home from a visit to her dermatologist and described her visit by calling the doctor.....the close talker.  It was the same dermatologist that both myself and my wife had visited and she was exactly right.  

The "Close-Talker" with Jerry's mom.

 He was about six inches from your face when he talked to you.  Just like on Seinfeld.  I'm sure it had to do with performing exams all day long with a magnifier in his hand.  The show gave an entire generation of TV viewers, no matter what their age, a new vocabulary with neat and unusual character names and unusual story vocabulary.  Names like "the soup nazi, the braless wonder, the maestro, the low talker, the dentist to the stars, yada yada yada, the bad-breaker-upper, the timeless art of seduction and even the double-dipper all were part of the vocabulary on the show.  Remember any of them?  How about characters such as Martin van Nostrand, Sue Ellen Mischke, Sal Bass, Poppie, Mr. Kruger, Lloyd Braun, Izzy Mandelbaum, Jackie Chiles, Bob Cobb, Babu, Jack Klompus, Crazy Joe Davola and David Puddy.  You have to remember some of them!  The show brought an entire new meaning to a variety of things.  

George and Jerry at their favorite restaurant, Monks.

 Celebrating Festivus, selling only muffin tops, eating Snicker Bars with a knife and fork and sparing a square were all part of the Thursday evening language.  Carol and I still watch reruns almost every evening.  If you can't find them on one channel, check the listings since they are sure to be on another channel.  And, most days of the week will have something happen where we will say to one another, "Remember when Kramer called Jerry an anti-dentite?" or perhaps you might remember when Dr. Whatley had the penthouse magazine in his waiting room.  I could go on and on and I'm sure many of you will remember every single instance I give.  For those of you who don't have the advantage of having US cable television or Hulu, I fear you have lost the chance to see one of the most successful comedies in the history of television.  Just ask J. Peterman or maybe Lt. Joe Bookman or Mabel Coate.  Ah, Ha!  I got you, didn't I?  Mabel was the little old lady who bought the last marble rye and then recognized Jerry once again while living with Jerry's parents at Del Boca Vista. Ah, now you remember her, right!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.