The Soup Nazi Joke On Seinfeld That Fans Missed For Years
Of all the memorable episodes "Seinfeld" has to offer, one that truly stands out as among its best is, without a doubt, "The Soup Nazi." The well-crafted entry has a plethora of hilarious jokes, some more noticeable than others.
The side story with the armoire or the overuse of pet names like Schmoopie are just some of the reasons that Season 7, Episode 6, is regarded by many as one of the best. But what makes it a worthwhile affair is watching the Soup Nazi himself, Yev Kassem (Larry Thomas), in action. The way he removes people from the store and his strict yet efficient method to keep the line moving is some of the best writing the show has ever unleashed upon home audiences.
The character (along with his iconic phrase, "No soup for you!") has even spawned a legacy. Thomas' performance earned him a nomination for an Emmy for outstanding guest actor in a comedy series in 1996, and he has also appeared in several ads in character for companies like Pepsi and Acura. It's amazing how some jokes can outdo all expectations and take on a life of their own.
There is no shortage of sidesplitting shenanigans and gut-busting moments in the top-rated "Seinfeld" installment (via IMDb), mostly thanks to Thomas' brilliant take on running a military-style soup kitchen. But there is one subtle hint of humor regarding the persona that fans may have missed during their first watch or even subsequent rewatches.
Where did the Soup Nazi end up?
Redditor u/peji911 pointed out a joke that fans maybe hadn't quite noticed. Toward the end of the episode, the Soup Nazi's soup recipes are no longer secret, forcing the rigid restaurateur to close up shop — but not before getting rid of whatever product he has left. After telling Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) the news, Newman (Wayne Knight) mentions rumors that the Soup Nazi is relocating to Argentina, a country to which thousands of actual Nazis relocated after World War II (via History). There are so many funny moments going on toward the end of the episode that it's easy to miss such a clever joke.
However, the actor who played the rigid restaurant owner has a different idea of what happened to him. Larry Thomas did an interview with Today in which he told fans where he thinks the Soup Nazi ended up after the events of "Seinfeld." He said, "I see a food court in Manhattan where the Soup Nazi, Babu, and Poppie are all in a row with their respective little stands, and Jackie Chiles comes in there every day for lunch, and we vie for his business, of course."
Thomas' idea sounds like a spin-off that fans of the sitcom would enjoy, and the rumor about his character going to Argentina would probably help keep Seinfeld and friends away, allowing the Soup Nazi to have the last laugh in the end. Whether big or small, the show rarely disappoints in the joke department, and this humble example is just another justification for why "The Soup Nazi" ranks as one of its absolute greatest episodes.