The Frogger

the Seinfeld TV episode

"The Frogger" is the 174th episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. It is the 18th episode for the ninth and final season. It first aired on April 23, 1998. In this episode, Elaine eats a vintage cake from King Edward VIII's wedding, Jerry maintains a relationship with a woman he doesn't like in order to avoid running into a serial killer, and George tries to preserve his high score on the Frogger machine at his high school hangout.

Elaine is weary of her co workers' numerous celebrations with cake, so she calls in sick. Elaine's co workers surprise her the next day with a cake to celebrate her return to work, but she rejects it and refuses to take part in any future celebrations. Missing the daily sugar rush, Elaine raids her boss Peterman's mini refrigerator. She finds a slice of cake and has a bite. Peterman reveals it is from King Edward VIII's wedding to Wallis Simpson, and he bought it for $29,000. Elaine returns to even out the cake, but is swept up by the decadence of eating cake from a royal wedding and ends up finishing it off. Elaine looks for a replacement, and Kramer points out that it resembles an Entenmann's cake. Peterman is bewildered when he has his slice of cake appraised at only $2.19. He reviews his office surveillance videotape and sees Elaine eating and dancing with the slice of cake. However, he decides the effect of such a stale cake on her digestive system is all the punishment she needs. Kramer visits the police station, where he obtains some caution tape and hears a serial killer nicknamed "The Lopper" is on the loose in the Riverside Park area. Jerry and George go to their high school hangout, Mario's Pizza Parlor, for one last slice of pizza before it closes down. George discovers he still has the high score on the Frogger arcade cabinet, and buys the cabinet to preserve his fame. Jerry points out that he must keep it powered up while he moves it, or it will lose its memory, erasing the high score. George meets with Kramer, expert electrician "Slippery Pete", and truck driver Shlomo to coordinate the movement of the Frogger machine. However, Slippery Pete plays Frogger on battery power until only three minutes of power remain. The only available power source is across a busy street, and Kramer has run out of caution tape. George moves the machine across the street, weaving through traffic like the frog from Frogger. George reaches the opposite sidewalk, but is unable to lift the game onto the curb; an oncoming Freightliner smashes the Frogger cabinet. Jerry dates Elaine's friend Lisi, who finishes his sentences, but incorrectly. While he walks her home after a bad date, she tells him she lives in the Riverside Park area. To avoid the Lopper, he instead takes her back to his place, where they end up having sex. Lisi plans a weekend trip for them to Pennsylvania Dutch country, a signal that the relationship is getting serious. It is too late for a phone breakup, so Jerry goes to Lisi's apartment and breaks up with her. However, the breakup takes ten hours, so Jerry makes up with her rather than risk going out at night and running into the Lopper. The next morning, they head off on the trip to Pennsylvania Dutch country.

Seinfeld co creator/star Jerry Seinfeld came up with the story of George attempting to preserve a Frogger high score himself. This episode's many working titles include "The Cake Parties". The table read was held on February 27, 1998, with filming taking place on March 2–4.