Vince M. Camiolo's Blog

Once a week I will decipher an obscure cultural reference or fifty-cent vocabulary word slipped into a Seinfeld script.

Episode 35 | “The Boyfriend (Part II)” | Original Air Date: February 12, 1992

After bumping into one if his “favorite ballplayers of all-time,” Keith Hernandez, Jerry enters into a bizarre social triangle between himself, Elaine and Hernandez.

As Jerry and Hernandez embark on a fresh male relationship, Hernandez enters into a romantic relationship with Elaine (Jerry and Elaine used to date, but it didn’t work out). When Hernandez starts to prematurely advance his relationship with Jerry (a request for assistance with moving), Jerry decides to “break up” with him.

Elaine, while making a similar move, has an entirely different motive: Hernandez smokes.

As Jerry and Elaine rejoice in their simultaneous decision to end their relationships with Hernandez, Elaine reveals her reason, to which Jerry replies, “Oh, smoking. You know, you’re like going out with C. Everett Koop.”

So what is the meaning of the reference to C. Everett Koop?

C. Everett Koop served as Surgeon General of the United States from January 21, 1981 to October 1, 1989 (administrations of Reagan and H. W. Bush). One of his most notable acts as Surgeon General — and the reason for the Seinfeld reference — is his militant stance on tobacco products, instituting the required revolving warning labels on tobacco products and advertisements. Koop also stated that nicotine’s addictiveness was similar to that of cocaine and heroine.

My being a native of Philadelphia, it’s also worth noting that Koop first rose to prominence as a pioneer in the field of pediatric surgery while surgeon-in-chief at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), establishing the nation’s first neonatal surgical intensive care unit, developing techniques in separating conjoined twins and many more ground breaking procedures.