The Sponge

For other uses, see Sponge (disambiguation).

"The Sponge"

"The Sponge" is the one-hundred & nineteenth episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. This was the 9th episode for the 7th season. It aired on December 7, 1995.

Plot

Template:Spoiler Female contraceptive sponges are taken off the market and Elaine has a limited supply, thus requiring that she restricts her usage. Also, Kramer takes part in an AIDS Walk, yet refuses to wear an AIDS ribbon. George tells Susan the secret of Jerry's jeans size and that leads to a fight about all secrets, which leads him to tell her another of Jerry's secrets when they make up. Jerry finds out and tells him that he's "out of the loop." Template:Spoilerend

Original Story Ideas

When Peter Mehlman originally wrote this episode, it included a story in which Kramer and Newman bought stock in a company that sells over-the-counter contraceptive devices because Kramer had heard that the sponge was going out of business, and that this other company would capitalise on this. Then, in order to improve on their investment, Kramer and Newman go to Wall Street in order to start a buyout rumor on their company by whispering loudly about it at brokerage houses, so that their stock would go five or 10 points before they sell. It was at this point in the show's original story that Kramer shared his scheme with Elaine and tells her about the sponge; she immediately panics and rushes off to buy as many sponges as possible. [1]

Quotes

• Elaine: Oh, you're not gonna cop a girl's phone number off an AIDS charity list!
  Jerry: (copying down the number) Elaine, you should admire me...I'm aspiring to date a giving person.
  Elaine: You're a taking person.
  Jerry: That's why I should date a giving person. If I date a taking person, everyone's taking, taking, taking, no one's giving - it's bedlam