The Face Painter
"The Face Painter" | |
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Seinfeld episode | |
Episode no. | Season 6 Episode 23 |
Directed by | Andy Ackerman |
Story by | Larry David and Fred Stoller |
Teleplay by | Larry David |
Production code | 622 |
Original air date | May 11, 1995 |
Guest appearances | |
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"The Face Painter" is the 109th episode of
Plot
Kramer finally persuades Jerry to call and give the courtesy thank you to Alec, but Alec has already given away the next playoff tickets to someone else. He instead passes on two tickets from a mutual friend of Puddy's who can't make it; Jerry and Kramer fill in as 'E' and 'V' with Puddy and his Devil fan friends. Elaine visits the priest to explain that it was Puddy he saw. She is wearing a white raincoat and the sun shines through a window behind her, leading the priest to believe she is the
Production
Fred Stoller based Kramer's altercation with Barry the chimpanzee on a childhood visit to Monkey Jungle, during which he witnessed visitors throwing rocks at the monkeys.[2] In the apology scene, a trainer was standing just off-camera to direct the chimpanzee's behavior.[3]
In the original script, Kramer tells Jerry that if he no longer wants to be part of society, he should move to the bottle city of Kandor, continuing the series' tradition of Superman references. In the final draft Kandor was replaced by the East Side.[3] The character Alec Berg was named after a Seinfeld writer.[3]
George's story arc originally had a different ending: After George tells Siena he loves her the second time, she responds, "I love you too." He then asks her to marry him, and she agrees.[3] This ending was filmed but not used, though the idea of George becoming engaged was repurposed for the next season premiere.
Patrick Warburton and the New Jersey Devils
Patrick Warburton, who played David Puddy, grew up a fan of the Los Angeles Kings, but also acquired an affinity for the New Jersey Devils due to the episode.[4] (He found himself with torn allegiances during the 2012 playoffs.[5]) The season following "The Face Painter"'s broadcast, he was invited to drop the ceremonial first puck at a Devils game, and showed up with his face painted in the same way as Puddy's in the episode.[3] After dropping the puck, he slipped and almost fell, but rescued the moment by regaining his balance and ripping off his shirt to reveal his chest was painted with the letter "D".[5] This came to be regarded as an iconic moment in Devils history.[4][5]
Warburton has often been invited to appear at Devils games with his face and chest painted, exhorting the crowd in a manner like that of his Seinfeld character. The Devils gave out a Puddy bobblehead doll to fans at a 2019 game.[4]
Notes
- ^ The priest's dialogue, which is in Spanish and not subtitled, translates to "The Madonna...! I am not ready!"
References
- ^ a b "Seinfeld Season 6 Episodes". TV Guide. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
- ^ Seinfeld Season 6: Inside Look - "The Face Painter" (DVD). Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. 2005.
- ^ a b c d e Seinfeld Season 6: Notes about Nothing - "The Face Painter" (DVD). Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. 2005.
- ^ a b c Mastracco, Abbey (February 19, 2019). "'Seinfeld' Actor Patrick Warburton Reprises Role as Devils Fan David Puddy for Good Cause". Northjersey.com. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ a b c Mooney, Harrison (May 18, 2012). "Patrick Warburton Is a Kings Fan; Will David Puddy Cheer Against the Devils?". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
External links
- "The Face Painter" at IMDb