The Jacket (Seinfeld) The Jacket (Seinfeld) "The Jacket" is the third episode of the second season of the NBC sitcom "Seinfeld" and the show's eighth episode overall. In the episode, protagonist Jerry Seinfeld buys an expensive suede jacket and has dinner with the father of his ex-girlfriend Elaine Benes. Elaine's father Alton (Lawrence Tierney), a war veteran and writer, makes Jerry and his friend George Costanza (Jason Alexander) very uncomfortable. Elaine is delayed and Jerry and George are stuck with Alton waiting for her at the hotel. The episode was written by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld and was directed by Tom Cherones.
The Seinfeld Chronicles was watched by nearly 11% of American households, and received generally favorable reviews from critics, who reacted with disappointment that NBC did not order a first season. Convinced that the show had potential, and supported by the positive reviews, NBC executive Rick Ludwin managed to convince his superiors to order a four-episode first season (the smallest order in TV history), by offering a part of his personal budget in return. The show, renamed "Seinfeld", would go on to become the most successful sitcom in television history. The series opens with Jerry Seinfeld (Jerry Seinfeld) and George Costanza (Jason Alexander) seated