Seinfeld
(1989–1998)
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.
The "American Gods" star credits amazing co-stars and killer special effects for his mind-bending performance.
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Title: The Sponge (07 Dec 1995)
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Cast
| Episode complete credited cast: | |||
| Jerry Seinfeld | ... | Jerry Seinfeld | |
| Julia Louis-Dreyfus | ... | Elaine Benes | |
| Michael Richards | ... | Cosmo Kramer | |
| Jason Alexander | ... | George Costanza | |
| Heidi Swedberg | ... | Susan Ross | |
 |
Jennifer Guthrie | ... | Lena |
| Scott Patterson | ... | Billy | |
| John Paragon | ... | Cedric | |
| Yul Vazquez | ... | Bob | |
|
|
David Byrd | ... | Roger |
| Ileen Getz | ... | Organizer | |
| Steven Hack | ... | Walker #1 | |
| Wren T. Brown | ... | Walker #2 | |
| Patricia Bethune | ... | Walker #3 (as P.B. Hutton) | |
|
|
Susan Moore | ... | Monica |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Elaine's birth control method of choice is being discontinued and she goes all over New York to find the last remaining case. After she successfully finds it, she then begins the agonizing process of determining whether or not her dates are "sponge-worthy". Kramer participates in an AIDS walk but when he refuses to wear the ribbon, he suffers the consequences. Meanwhile, Jerry meets a woman and doesn't get her phone number. He then gets it from the list of participants in the AIDS walk. He tells George, who proceeds to tell Susan, who then starts a chain reaction of phone calls and ultimately winds up getting back to Jerry, who gets dumped as a result. Written by halo1k
Plot Keywords:
sponge | birth control | kissing | all night poker game | intimidation |Genres:
ComedyParents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
7 December 1995 (USA) See more »Filming Locations:
CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA See more »Company Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
StereoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
4:3
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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!
[...]
See more »
(uncredited)
Music by Roger-Roger (as Eric Swann)
Plays during the montage of Elaine searching for sponges.
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The Today sponge "was manufactured until 1995, when FDA imposed new manufacturing standards." The product had several setbacks while marketed, including a link to toxic shock syndrome. In 1998 Allendale Pharmaceuticals acquired the rights to the Today sponge, and it was once again available. New FDA standards for manufacturing and record-keeping forced repeated delays, but the Today sponge was finally re-introduced in Canada in March 2003, and in the U.S. in September 2005. See more »Goofs
When Elaine stomps on George's foot, she misses and hits the floor, but he reacts to it anyway. See more »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!
[...]
See more »
Soundtracks
Black Stompers(uncredited)
Music by Roger-Roger (as Eric Swann)
Plays during the montage of Elaine searching for sponges.
See more »
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What an entertaining episode. Four great story lines and a swell pace.
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.