The Switch (Seinfeld)

"The Switch" is the 97th episode of NBC sitcom Seinfeld. This was the 11th episode for the sixth season. It aired on January 5, 1995. This episode is notable for revealing Kramer's first name.

After playing tennis, Elaine is recognized by Mrs. Landis (Gail Strickland), a former potential employer from Doubleday. Elaine lends Mr. Pitt's tennis racket, a Bruline, to her in hopes of getting a new job. Meanwhile, Jerry is dating Sandy, a "non-laugher". George is dating Nina (Charlotte Lewis), a model who eats a lot and whom Kramer thinks may be bulimic.

George has dinner with Nina; she feasts on the food and then goes to the bathroom to "freshen" herself. Jerry has dinner with Sandy; he keeps making funny remarks but she does not laugh, just saying "that's funny" in an emotionless manner. Back at the apartment, Jerry describes how his jokes just bounce off his girlfriend. George now strongly suspects his girlfriend is bulimic because he heard a "blah" in the bathroom, and wants a matron to spy on her to verify that she intentionally throws up. Kramer's mother Babs (Sheree North) is introduced, who happens to work as a matron, but Kramer doesn't want anything to do with her. When she first sees her son, she yells out his first name in shock, the first time in the series the audience learns Kramer's first name. A bewildered George, who went with Kramer, confusedly repeats his name, "Cosmo"?

Mrs. Landis, who injured her humeral epicondyle playing tennis, is devastated and states she has no reason to live if she can't play tennis, and Elaine doesn't have the heart to ask for the racket back. Back at the apartment, Elaine says Mr. Pitt needs his racket for a match against Ethel Kennedy. George arrives with the news of Kramer's name, much to everyone's delight. Kramer accepts his name and says he was running from his true self.