The Burning (Seinfeld)

"The Burning"
	Seinfeld episode
Episode no.	Season 9; Episode 16
Directed by	Andy Ackerman
Written by	Jennifer Crittenden
Produced by	Andy Ackerman; Tim Kaiser; Suzy Mamann-Greenberg;
Production code	916
Original air date	9:00 pm, March 19, 1998
Running time	22:37 minutes without commercials
Guest appearance(s)
	Patrick Warburton as David Puddy; Danny Woodburn as Mickey; Daniel von Bargen as Kruger; Cindy Ambuehl as Sophie; Henry Woronicz as Father Curtis; Ursaline Bryant as Dr. Wexler; Daniel Dae Kim as Student #1; Alex Craig Mann as Student #2; Brian Posehn as Artie; Alec Holland as Co-Worker #1; Suli McCullough as Co-Worker #2; Ruth Cohen as Ruthie Cohen (uncredited); Julie Wagner as Medical Student (uncredited);
Episode chronology
← Previous; "The Wizard"	Next →; "The Bookstore"
	Seinfeld (season 9)
	List of Seinfeld episodes

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"The Burning" is the 172nd episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. This was the 16th episode for the ninth and final season. It aired on March 19, 1998.

The title of this episode is the same as the 1981 slasher film The Burning, which was the film debut of Jason Alexander – the actor who played George Costanza.^[4]^:100

This episode was dedicated to the memory of Lloyd Bridges, who died on March 10, nine days before the broadcast. Bridges had previously appeared in a cameo role as Izzy Mandelbaum in the episodes "The English Patient" and "The Blood".^[5]

Plot[edit]

Elaine thinks that boyfriend David Puddy may be religious after finding Christian rock stations set on his car radio. At the coffee shop, George laments to Jerry about losing respect at a project meeting led by Mr. Kruger after following a good suggestion with a bad joke. Jerry suggests that George use the Vegas showmanship trick of leaving the room after a comedic high note. Elaine tells George and Jerry about her suspicions with Puddy. George suggests altering his radio presets as a test. Kramer and Mickey Abbott get an acting gig playing sick for some medical students.^[6]^:233 Jerry's girlfriend Sophie (Cindy Ambuehl) calls him with the "it's me" greeting, but he does not recognize her voice. At the next Kruger meeting, George takes Jerry's suggestion and actually leaves the room after a well-received joke and goes to a movie theater to see Titanic. For their acting job, Mickey and Kramer are assigned bacterial meningitis and gonorrhea, respectively.^[6]^:233 Elaine confirms that Puddy is religious, as presets were changed back and she found a Jesus fish, which she stole.^[7]^:62 Kramer picks up on the showmanship idea and gives an impressive theatrical performance of gonorrhea for the med students. When Sophie uses the unwelcome "it's me" greeting on Jerry's answering machine, George suggests he does an "it's me" when she calls back to see if she recognizes Jerry's voice. Sophie does not, and assumes it's a friend named "Rafe". She reveals that she has not told Jerry about an incident she calls the "tractor story". Puddy confirms that he is religious and doesn't care that Elaine is not, because he is "not the one going to Hell".^[8]^:106

George and Jerry speculate on what the tractor story may be, George thinks she may have lost her thumbs in an accident and that her big toes are grafted on in their place. This causes Jerry to yell that she does not have "toe-thumbs". Elaine is frustrated that Puddy does not seem concerned about her, when he thinks she is going to Hell.^[9]^:233 George's showmanship backfires when Kruger throws everyone else off the large project because they are boring in comparison. Kramer is concerned about being typecast when the hospital wants him to perform gonorrhea again the next week, due to his stellar performance. Jerry sees a scar on Sophie's leg and assumes it was from a tractor accident. George finds that he has to do all the actual work on the project as Kruger constantly makes excuses and goofs off. Puddy asks Elaine to steal a newspaper. He would do it himself, but he reasons that he is bound by the Ten Commandments and she is going to Hell anyway. Kramer is attacked by Mickey after trying to take over Mickey's assigned role of cirrhosis of the liver. Elaine and Puddy seek the advice of a priest about their relationship. The priest informs them that they're both going to Hell for premarital sex, much to Elaine's delight and Puddy's resentment. Sophie tries to tell Jerry the tractor story, but he tells her that he already knows about it (believing it to be about the scar). Kramer and Mickey enter, still arguing about being given (the role of) gonorrhea, and Sophie tells them her tractor story. She says she got gonorrhea from riding a tractor in her bathing suit. Kramer tells her that that's impossible and she says that's what her boyfriend told her (with the implication that her boyfriend gave her gonorrhea, and that she was rather gullible and believed him). After hearing that, Jerry leaves the relationship on a comedic high note.

George tries to get Mr. Kruger to work and instead he makes silly comments and walks off on a high-note just like George previously did, leaving George with a mountain of paperwork.

Production[edit]

The religious aspects of the episode were based on the personal experience of script-writer Jennifer Crittenden, and it's her favorite episode.^[10]^:33

Reception[edit]

New York magazine's Vulture rated the episode as 28th best out of all 179 Seinfeld episodes, especially praising the taboo-breaking theme of STDs and the appearance of Puddy.^[11]

References[edit]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 "Series 9 - Episode 16 –The Burning", Radio Times
↑ ^2.00 ^2.01 ^2.02 ^2.03 ^2.04 ^2.05 ^2.06 ^2.07 ^2.08 ^2.09 ^2.10 ^2.11 ^2.12 ^2.13 Seinfeld: The Burning (T53959), Paley Center for Media
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Carter, Bill (19 March 1998), "'Seinfeld' Writers Plot Their Busy Afterlife", The New York Times
↑ Gattuso, Greg (1996), The Seinfeld Universe, United States: Carol, ISBN 9780806517445
↑ Chris Morgan (9 December 2020), Celebrities who had cameos on 'Seinfeld', Yard Barker
↑ ^6.0 ^6.1 The Ultimate Guide to Seinfeld, Time Home Entertainment, 2020-06-19, ISBN 978-1-5478-5562-9
↑ Edmondson, Todd (Spring 2010), "The Jesus Fish: Evolution of a Cultural Icon", Studies in Popular Culture, 32 (2): 57–66, JSTOR 23416155
↑ Arras, Paul (2020), Seinfeld: A Cultural History, Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield, ISBN 978-1-5381-2688-2
↑ Smith, Alyssa. (2020-06-19), Entertainment Weekly: The ultimate guide to Seinfeld, New York, NY: Time Home Entertainment, Meredith, ISBN 978-1-5478-5562-9
↑ Bjorklund, Dennis (2017-09-01), Seinfeld Reference: The Complete Encyclopedia, Praetorian Publishing, ISBN 978-0-9679852-4-4
↑ Larry Fitzmaurice (2019-09-16), "All 169 Seinfeld Episodes, Ranked From Worst to Best", Vulture, New York

External links[edit]

"The Burning" on IMDb
"The Burning" at TV.com

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[RT-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 "Series 9 - Episode 16 –The Burning", Radio Times

[PCM-2] 2.00 ^2.01 ^2.02 ^2.03 ^2.04 ^2.05 ^2.06 ^2.07 ^2.08 ^2.09 ^2.10 ^2.11 ^2.12 ^2.13 Seinfeld: The Burning (T53959), Paley Center for Media

[NYT-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Carter, Bill (19 March 1998), "'Seinfeld' Writers Plot Their Busy Afterlife", The New York Times

[SU-4] Gattuso, Greg (1996), The Seinfeld Universe, United States: Carol, ISBN 9780806517445

[YB-5] Chris Morgan (9 December 2020), Celebrities who had cameos on 'Seinfeld', Yard Barker

[UG-6] 6.0 ^6.1 The Ultimate Guide to Seinfeld, Time Home Entertainment, 2020-06-19, ISBN 978-1-5478-5562-9

[JF-7] Edmondson, Todd (Spring 2010), "The Jesus Fish: Evolution of a Cultural Icon", Studies in Popular Culture, 32 (2): 57–66, JSTOR 23416155

[CH-8] Arras, Paul (2020), Seinfeld: A Cultural History, Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield, ISBN 978-1-5381-2688-2

[EW-9] Smith, Alyssa. (2020-06-19), Entertainment Weekly: The ultimate guide to Seinfeld, New York, NY: Time Home Entertainment, Meredith, ISBN 978-1-5478-5562-9

[SR-10] Bjorklund, Dennis (2017-09-01), Seinfeld Reference: The Complete Encyclopedia, Praetorian Publishing, ISBN 978-0-9679852-4-4

[V-11] Larry Fitzmaurice (2019-09-16), "All 169 Seinfeld Episodes, Ranked From Worst to Best", Vulture, New York

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v t e Seinfeld episodes
Season 1	"The Seinfeld Chronicles" "The Stake Out" "The Robbery" "Male Unbonding" "The Stock Tip"
Season 2	"The Ex-Girlfriend" "The Pony Remark" "The Jacket" "The Phone Message" "The Apartment" "The Statue" "The Revenge" "The Heart Attack" "The Deal" "The Baby Shower" "The Chinese Restaurant" "The Busboy"
Season 3	"The Note" "The Truth" "The Pen" "The Dog" "The Library" "The Parking Garage" "The Cafe" "The Tape" "The Nose Job" "The Stranded" "The Alternate Side" "The Red Dot" "The Subway" "The Pez Dispenser" "The Suicide" "The Fix-Up" "The Boyfriend" "The Limo" "The Good Samaritan" "The Letter" "The Parking Space" "The Keys"
Season 4	"The Trip" "The Pitch" "The Ticket" "The Wallet" "The Watch" "The Bubble Boy" "The Cheever Letters" "The Opera" "The Virgin" "The Contest" "The Airport" "The Pick" "The Movie" "The Visa" "The Shoes" "The Outing" "The Old Man" "The Implant" "The Junior Mint" "The Smelly Car" "The Handicap Spot" "The Pilot"
Season 5	"The Mango" "The Puffy Shirt" "The Glasses" "The Sniffing Accountant" "The Bris" "The Lip Reader" "The Non-Fat Yogurt" "The Barber" "The Masseuse" "The Cigar Store Indian" "The Conversion" "The Stall" "The Dinner Party" "The Marine Biologist" "The Pie" "The Stand In" "The Wife" "The Raincoats" "The Fire" "The Hamptons" "The Opposite"
Season 6	"The Chaperone" "The Big Salad" "The Pledge Drive" "The Chinese Woman" "The Couch" "The Gymnast" "The Soup" "The Mom & Pop Store" "The Secretary" "The Race" "The Switch" "The Label Maker" "The Scofflaw" "The Highlights of 100" "The Beard" "The Kiss Hello" "The Doorman" "The Jimmy" "The Doodle" "The Fusilli Jerry" "The Diplomat's Club" "The Face Painter" "The Understudy"
Season 7	"The Engagement" "The Postponement" "The Maestro" "The Wink" "The Hot Tub" "The Soup Nazi" "The Secret Code" "The Pool Guy" "The Sponge" "The Gum" "The Rye" "The Caddy" "The Seven" "The Cadillac" "The Shower Head" "The Doll" "The Friar's Club" "The Wig Master" "The Calzone" "The Bottle Deposit" "The Wait Out" "The Invitations"
Season 8	"The Foundation" "The Soul Mate" "The Bizarro Jerry" "The Little Kicks" "The Package" "The Fatigues" "The Checks" "The Chicken Roaster" "The Abstinence" "The Andrea Doria" "The Little Jerry" "The Money" "The Comeback" "The Van Buren Boys" "The Susie" "The Pothole" "The English Patient" "The Nap" "The Yada Yada" "The Millennium" "The Muffin Tops" "The Summer of George"
Season 9	"The Butter Shave" "The Voice" "The Serenity Now" "The Blood" "The Junk Mail" "The Merv Griffin Show" "The Slicer" "The Betrayal" "The Apology" "The Strike" "The Dealership" "The Reverse Peephole" "The Cartoon" "The Strongbox" "The Wizard" "The Burning" "The Bookstore" "The Frogger" "The Maid" "The Puerto Rican Day" "The Chronicle" "The Finale"
Indicates two-part episode