My connection to the Seinfeld series came years after the show aired. My dad had a friend, Dr. Nick Catalano, who was a professor with him at Pace University in New York City. Nick told the story of how, as a young professor, he was also a musician who played in comedy clubs, where he got to know Larry David (creator of Seinfeld) when he was a young, struggling comedian.

Larry David went on to become the co-creator and writer for the Seinfeld television show. Several retrospective pieces have been done on what the Seinfeld show was based on. The joke was that it was the “Show about nothing.” The truth is that most of their shows were about real-life experiences that Seinfeld, and mostly David, had had.

The following clip explains how most Seinfeld episodes are based on real-life experiences:

https://youtu.be/qYBaJe_0cz4?si=ivT2VIPOxlP0egA6

After watching the Seinfeld episode about a dentist, I am convinced it is based on the real-life story of Dr. Marvin Toucher, (Name has been changed to protect the guilty)  a dentist I caddied for. I worked as a caddy all through high school, college, and business school. Dr. Toucher played golf regularly in a group we called the “gamblers” as it was common to have a couple of thousand dollars change hands. I used to caddy for Dr. Toucher a lot. (He once claimed he put me through business school). Marvin was a larger-than-life character, whose “locker room banter” included stories of sexual exploits. As a young, innocent caddy, what did I know? Then Marvin  got arrested for putting his female patients under with gas and then molesting them. The District Attorney got him on videotape with a police officer. He did real time in jail. It made national news. Johnny Carson even did a parody on it.

After Marvin was convicted, he came back to the club for a round of golf. One of his longtime playing partners, with a Henny Youngman-type sense of humor, came up to him and said: “Marvin, I want you to know that you have ruined it for millions and millions of American children. They grew up wanting to be doctors. So now they want to be dentists…”

The real-life punchline is that while Marvin’s case was out on appeal, he performed in a local summer stock play. The New York Times did a review of his performance. They said Marvin Toucher, the dentist being prosecuted for sexual malpractice…amongst his many talents, can also sing and dance. (This, you can’t make up)

https://youtu.be/WS0P9XkWNoQ?si=5wEDw0p3Idc-Ope_

Bryan Cranston (the actor who later starred as Walter White in Breaking Bad) tells great stories about his experiences as a young actor playing the dentist on the Seinfeld series. He explains how taking a hit of gas became part of the bit in the episode where Jerry Seinfeld is convinced he was sexually molested by his dentist. In retrospect, this episode is a direct parody of “Dr. Toucher’s” real-life story.

https://youtu.be/HsfFYm1NROA?si=ZpA1-L2pTrRGiUsC

While I haven’t seen Nick Catalano in years, I am looking forward to sharing this story with him. Who knows, he might even be able to reach out to his old friend Larry David

If you enjoyed this blog and similar other stories/wine group/supper club lessons follow me on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to get future blogs at www.impromptufridaynights.com/blog and check out my book Impromptu Friday Nights a Guide to Supper Clubs. Published by Morgan James Publishing and available through most channels where books are sold.

Golf was an important link between me and my dad. Dad taught me the game. We played a lot of golf together. We talked about golf all the time. And, it brought us together at the end.

My father loved the game of golf and he passed that love onto his son. I think I have always played the game. Dad never gave me lessons per se, but I probably grew up imitating his swing. Unfortunately, when I look at my swing, in the shadow of a late afternoon, I see my father’s swing. Some would say it is the “Kenny Curse”.

When I was in high school, dad was a college professor and worked irregular hours. He would pick me up from school and we would play golf at the local municipal golf course. In high school, I wasn’t a bad player. I caddied and played on my high school golf team. For years, dad kept beating me, even though I was a better player. Dad used to call me a “Tower of Jello” long before I worked for Kraft. Maybe he was training me, the way Tiger’s father taught him, or not.

In the mid 1980’s Susan and I moved to California with my job. One of my fondest golf memories was playing the famed Pebble Beach Golf course with my dad. I will never forget standing next to him from the 8^th fairway and him saying: “What I thrill it was watching your ball disappear into the ocean” after he sliced his second shot.

The 8th hole at Pebble Beach where dad had the “thrill” 

For years we talked about my second shot on 18. I drew a one iron under and around the famed pine in the middle of the fairway. (Note: I carried a one iron in my bag for years. I couldn’t hit it, but it looked good in the bag) Dad felt pretty good about his round saying his score of 99 was better than a dollar a shot that he paid for, the then, $100 greens fee.

In our later years, as my job took me around the country, we would always get together over the phone on Sunday evenings. Invariably, we would talk about the golf we had watched that afternoon.

Golf brought us together in the end. My dad died on Father’s day in 1995. It was the day that Corey Pavin won the US Open at Shinnecock Hills. We were living in Memphis TN at the time and Mom and Dad lived in Westhampton NY, 15 miles from Shinnecock. I was on my way to Brazil for work. My plan was to visit mom and dad. Spend a day at the Open and then fly from JFK to Rio. I just happened to be there when dad’s health took a horrible turn for the worst. We got to spend his final hours together, and what did we talk about, golf. We went through that special round at Pebble Beach, hole by hole shot by shot. Golf kept us together.

Happy Father’s Day dad

If you enjoyed this blog and similar other stories/wine group/supper club lessons follow me on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to get future blogs at www.impromptufridaynights.com/blog and check out my book Impromptu Friday Nights a Guide to Supper Clubs. Published by Morgan James Publishing and available through most channels where books are sold.