Vol. 5, No. 16 · 25¢ thefestivusproject.com

THE DAILY NOTHING

February 24, 1994 New York Final Edition
S05E16 · Season 5, Episode 16 of 180

The Stand-In

Jerry is tasked with cheering up a hospitalized friend so morose that no joke lands — then overshoots so dramatically on round two that the friend dies of laughter. Kramer's little-person friend Mickey Abbott wears lifts to keep his stand-in job on All My Children as the child actor outgrows him, but the subtle height difference sparks a scandal among the little people on set, costing Mickey both his credibility and his love interest. George commits to marrying his boring girlfriend Daphne purely to spite a friend who accused him of commitment phobia, only to get turned down for "Pachyderm" — the man who once dropped hot pizza on her face.

What's The Deal?

George's GirlfriendDaphneSo boring they always end up reading the news in silence
George's JobUnemployed
Elaine's BoyfriendPhil TotolaHas his genitals out in the car for no reason
Elaine's JobPendant Publishing
Kramer's SchemeWorking as stand-in on All My Children with Mickey Abbott
References
All My ChildrenSuperman
Dark Turn
Jerry's comedy act is so funny that Fulton dies laughing

The Full Story

George is hopelessly bored by dating Daphne, since they always end up reading the news in silence, while their mutual friend Al Netche gushes over his own chatty romance. Al suggests that Jerry help cheer up their hospitalized friend, Fulton. Jerry takes the task so seriously that he sweats bullets entertaining Fulton, who is so morose that Jerry cannot land a single joke. Jerry reminisces about their friend "Pachyderm" trying to chat up a woman only to drop hot pizza slices on both their faces, but this too falls flat.

Kramer and his friend Mickey Abbott, a little person, are both working as stand-ins on All My Children, but Mickey is standing in for a child actor who is quickly outgrowing Mickey's height. Kramer twists Mickey's arm to wear lifts to keep his job, even though this is "not done". This subtle difference makes waves among the little people on set, with Tammy becoming attracted to Mickey while Mickey's rival Johnny Bigiano becomes suspicious.

George is about to break up with Daphne, but learns that Al warned her of George's fear of commitment. George commits himself to Daphne to prove Al wrong, despite liking her even less as a result. He declares that he will even marry Daphne just to spite Al.

Jerry vouches for his friend Phil Totola to Elaine, and sets them up on a date. Elaine cracks up Phil with the "Pachyderm" story, and they hit it off, but she is disgusted when Phil has his genitals out for no apparent reason as they sit in his car. Later, Phil is entirely oblivious to why Elaine was turned off, even as he complains about a woman breastfeeding in public.

Mickey discovers that Johnny found the lifts in his locker, and regrets letting Kramer talk him into breaking the unwritten rules against "heightening". Mickey gets outed, and all the little people on set shun him in disappointed silence as he defends himself. When Tammy leaves with Johnny, Mickey tackles Kramer to the ground in fury.

Fulton's wife blames Jerry for Fulton getting sicker, and Jerry begs for another chance, promising that his latest act "killed" on stage. This time, Jerry is so funny that Fulton, gasping for breath, dies from laughter. George is freed from his commitment when Daphne turns him down for "Pachyderm"—revealing that she was the woman he dropped the pizza on.