The Burning (Seinfeld)

"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 Jason Alexander's film debut.

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Lloyd Bridges, who died on March 10, 1998. Bridges played Izzy Mandelbaum in "The English Patient" and "The Blood".

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. 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. Elaine confirms that Puddy is religious. 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 he 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".