#9 Actions are always louder then words

"The Contest” an episode that even the director of Seinfeld was apprehensive of airing got one of the highest re-run ratings. One of the subplots of the episode was a bet among the four characters to see who could last the longest without masturbating. An issue rarely talked about during that period.
In true ‘seinstyle’ the writers of Seinfeld took this subject that was considered awkward to talk about in society and created humor out of it. Through the whole episode the word ‘masturbate’ was not mentioned even once keeping the show inoffensive and tasteful. Yet masturbation was not the only issue dealt with- it focused on how both men and women objectify the opposite sex (the nude women that the three men constantly watched and who was responsible for Kramer’s loss and Elaine’s fascination with John John’s butt) and the reaction of the older generation to something that is if so normal. These issues were rarely talked about but people were still aware of them.
To add to the humor of the story was the way certain scenes were shot, for instance the shot of Jerry, Elaine, and George in their beds unable to sleep and Kramer, who was out of the contest, sleeping like a baby. These may be just a few of the reasons why this episode did so well.