The Sponge
- Episode aired Dec 7, 1995
- TV-PG
- 23m
After learning that her prophylactic of choice is being discontinued, Elaine buys a case of Today sponges and scrutinizes her dates for their sponge-worthiness.After learning that her prophylactic of choice is being discontinued, Elaine buys a case of Today sponges and scrutinizes her dates for their sponge-worthiness.After learning that her prophylactic of choice is being discontinued, Elaine buys a case of Today sponges and scrutinizes her dates for their sponge-worthiness.
- Walker #3
- (as P.B. Hutton)
- Ruthie Cohen
- (uncredited)
- Pharmacist
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaKramer's (Michael Richards) refusal of wearing the red ribbon while doing the New York City AIDS Walk caused a lot of controversy, and was inspired by real events. Every year when the cast & crew went to the Emmy Awards, they were asked to wear the same ribbon for the ceremonies. Writer Peter Mehlman said that none of them saw the need to do this (wearing a ribbon doesn't cure the disease and everybody was already aware of it) and he took great pleasure in satirising the whole idea in this particular episode.
- GoofsAt the end, Elaine, says she cannot afford two of them (sponges) when her boyfriend, Billy, implies if they can go for another round of sex. When in reality the sponge can be inserted up to 24 hours before sex & needs to be left in place for at least 6 hours after sex. So as long as you don't go over wearing a single sponge for over 30 hours, Elaine could have slept with him again without sacrificing another sponge.
- Quotes
[Kramer is cornered in an alley for not wearing the red ribbon at the AIDS walk]
Bob: So, what's it going to be? Are you going to wear the ribbon?
Cosmo Kramer: No! Never!
Bob: But I'm wearing wearing the ribbon.
[points to Cedric]
Bob: He's wearing the ribbon. We are all wearing the ribbon! So why aren't *you* going to wear the ribbon?
Cosmo Kramer: [yelling] This is America! I don't have to wear anything I don't wanna wear!
Cedric: What are we going to do with him?
Cosmo Kramer: Huh?
Bob: I guess we will just have to teach him to wear the ribbon!
[Kramer to escape up the fire escape, but is dragged down by the other AIDS walkers]
- ConnectionsFeatured in Seinfeld: The Chronicle (1998)
- SoundtracksBlack Stompers
(uncredited)
Music by Roger Roger (as Eric Swann)
Plays during the montage of Elaine searching for sponges.
Although there are four stories, only three of them interconnect with each other. As you may have guessed, Kramer is the one set apart. Nevertheless his story is quite entertaining even if the good stuff only appears in the end. From the moment he goes to the AIDS walk everything clicks. Bob and Cedric make another stellar appearance and we get a hilarious, though pretty fantastical, scene concerning Kramer and his non-ribbon attitude.
But the great part of this episode is the other three stories. Although they interconnect with each other beautifully, they all are strong individually. Jerry is dating a woman that's too good for him, George is dealing with the no-secret Susan's policy and Elaine is surviving the sponge hiatus. The season's arc gets a key aspect in the long term relationship book and that is no matter what's the topic, you have to share with your wife. Elaine shines in her quest for sponges and the subsequent analysis for using them.
A great episode all in all.
- juanmaffeo
- Aug 9, 2016
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