re: Who was Jerry closer to friendship wise? George or Elaine?

George is clearly #1.

However I'm going to make a case for Kramer as Jerry's next closest friend. Here's why...

1. The Backwards episode: at the end, it shows Jerry first moving into the apartment and Kramer was there. So they've been neighbors for a long long time. It's only natural that they be friends.

2. Kramer goes to LA: if Kramer weren't so close to Jerry, why would Jerry feel so guilty over taking back his keys?

3. The Mom & Pop: kramer's nosebleed and Jerry taking care of him on the bus on the way to Parsippany.

4. The Kramanium: Newman doesn't want Jerry at his NYE party. It tears Kramer up inside and keeps him awake at night. He even sacrifices Newman's party to be with Jerry for the new millennium. He even uses Elaine as a reason to get Jerry to the party.

5. The New Area Code: Kramer gets lost downtown and Jerry drops everything to go get him.

I think that their relationship is very unconventional but there's no denying that they care about eachother. In an almost brotherly way.