David Puddy, usually just Puddy, is a fictional character on the situation comedy Seinfeld played by Patrick Warburton. He is the on-and-off boyfriend of the character Elaine Benes.
Biography
Puddy first appears in "The Fusilli Jerry" (S. 6) as Jerry's mechanic and Elaine's current boyfriend. As Jerry had been friends with Puddy before he went out with Elaine, he had shared a sexual technique with Puddy known as "the move". Elaine is disturbed when Puddy uses this distinctive maneuver on her, as she had previously dated Jerry and experienced the same move before.
A recurring gag is that Elaine and Puddy break up and get back together so frequently that it becomes inconsequential. In the episode "The Butter Shave" (S. 9), the two manage to break up, get back together again, and break up again, all during the course of an international flight. In the episode "The Burning" (S.9), when George asks why she got back with Puddy the most recent time she says that she "needed to move a bureau". Elaine finds Puddy attractive for his masculine qualities, such as his height, deep voice, and the fact that he works with his hands; early in their relationship, Elaine compares him to Stanley Kowalski. She is turned off by his lackadaisical attitude toward relationships and his odd behaviors, such as face and body painting at New Jersey Devils ice hockey games (of which he is a fan). She also finds his religious beliefs problematic, as she herself is atheist. He is untroubled by her lack of faith, but constantly reminds her that she is going to hell. Puddy is also a recovering germaphobe.
Though Puddy originally appears as a mechanic, he is later promoted to salesman at a Saab dealership, after which Jerry tries to use him to get a good deal on his new car. When Puddy agrees with someone strongly enough, he likes to get that person to give him a high-five. Puddy is offended by the term "grease monkey" to describe an auto mechanic.
He appears briefly in the series finale; as the four main characters are sentenced to jail, Elaine tells him, "Puddy, don't wait for me," to which he shrugs and replies, "All right."
Significance
Along with J. Peterman, Jackie Chiles and George Steinbrenner, Puddy is one of the more memorable and frequently recurring characters to appear on Seinfeld. His distinctive voice and monotone delivery make his lines eminently quotable among Seinfeld fans.
Quotes
- "Yeah, that's right."
- (after being asked if he's going to wear a jacket with an 8 ball on the back all the time) "All signs point to yes!"
And then, "You got a question? Just ask the 8-ball!"
- "Feels like an Arby's night."
- "Alright, high five."
(On being told by a priest that he and Elaine are "both going to hell')
"No way, this is bogus, man!"
"You know, to support the team." (On why he painted his face)