Sponge-worthy?! Whatever happened to the Today sponge?

Who could forget the iconic episode of 'Seinfeld' that saw Elaine frantically running around New York trying to buy as many Today sponges as she could because they were going off the market? She bought cases of it, but still narrowed her criteria to only passing time with men who she deemed "sponge-worthy."

To refresh your memory, here is some dialogue from Elaine analyzing a potential suitor for his sponge-worthiness...

Image: Seinfeld / YouTube, with Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Elaine and Scott Patterson as her date Billy

Billy: Well, we've gone out several times. We obviously have a good rapport. I own a very profitable electronics distributing firm. I eat well. I exercise. Blood tests are immaculate. And if I can speak frankly, I'm actually quite good at it.

Elaine: You gonna do something about your sideburns?

Billy: Yeah, I told you I am. I'm gonna trim my sideburns.

Elaine: The bathroom in your apartment?

Billy: Cleaned it this morning….

Elaine: Alright, let's go.

Image: Seinfeld / Youtube

The Today sponge dates back to 1976 but hit the market in 1983. It was the most popular female-controlled, over-the-counter form of birth control — used by 6.4 million women between 1983 and 1995, according to WebMD. It works as a spermicide-coated plastic barrier placed inside a woman to prevent women from getting pregnant.

‘Seinfeld’ writer Peter Mehlman explained to Playback that he was inspired by the news to write the episode. "I heard that a very popular over-the-counter birth control device for women was going out of business. It’s called 'The Sponge,' which is a funny word. I thought it would be great if Elaine would hear about the rumor. She just loves the sponge, so she buys out the West Side and hoards them," he said.

It was pulled off the market after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspectors found bacterial contamination in the manufacturing plant. So it wasn't about the safety of the sponges themselves. The brand's owner didn't want to invest in upgrading the factory, so the product was pulled from the market.

While Elaine turned the niche woman’s issue into a pop culture phenomenon, she wasn’t the only woman scrambling to preserve their favorite method in the mid-1990s.

"I was completely devastated when it disappeared the first time," Louise Rozett, a freelance book editor in Brooklyn, who had used the sponge to avoid hormone-based birth control pills, told the New York Times.

Well, besides its inconsistency, there are pros and cons to the sponge. On one hand, it is a hormone-free device that the woman controls, significantly reducing the chances of pregnancy. On the other, it's not as effective at stopping pregnancy as other methods, and it doesn't prevent STIs. However, experts say that more choices are always better, as some methods are more suitable to different individuals and circumstances.

Image: Seinfeld / YouTube

After nearly a decade, the sponge made a triumphant return in 2005. A new brand bought it, improved manufacturing processes, and renewed FDA approval, bringing this beloved contraceptive back to shelves much to the delight of many women (and less-than-spongeworthy men!).

Image: Seinfeld / YouTube

But it was devastating once again for many women because the new proprietor declared bankruptcy in 2007, according to the New York Times. That was enough to take the beloved sponge off the shelves once again.

By 2009, another brand had picked it up and announced the sponge would be re-launched in the US, Canada, and the EU, though there were more hiccups. Then around 2019 and 2020, the lab announced "major mechanical failures" and pulled them off the shelves again. Current reports suggest spotty availability.

Image: Seinfeld / Youtube

Will the sponge be readily available again or will women have to hoard them while they can? The saga continues…

Follow Showbizz Daily to stay informed and enjoy more celebrity and lifestyle content!