Is It True That Superman Is Referenced in Every “Seinfeld” Episode?

Seinfeld is one of those TV shows that's still talked about long after the series ended. It's been 25 years since we said farewell to Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer, but with its memorable cast of characters, witty storytelling, and unique sense of humor, it’s not hard to see why so many people loved—and continue to love—this iconic sitcom.

Although the show was famously "about nothing," allusions to Superman were a recurring theme on Seinfeld. For years, a rumor has circulated that the comic book hero is mentioned or otherwise referenced in every episode. However, although references to the Man of Steel appear relatively frequently in the sitcom, it’s a myth that there is a Superman reference in every single episode.

The sitcom's fictionalized version of Jerry Seinfeld is a big Superman fan. He has a Superman magnet on his refrigerator and dons red and blue sweatpants in the pilot episode. Yet there are only two episodes in which Superman is a major theme: “The Race” and “Bizarro Jerry.” Fans and critics who have reviewed the show's 176 episodes have calculated that Superman is referenced visually or verbally in around 120 episode.

Seinfeld writer and producer Peter Mehlman has stated that there was no intentional effort to include such frequent references to Superman in the series. Rather, the Man of Steel became a good go-to guy for humor. The show also uses Superman to contrast the self-centeredness of the Seinfeld characters with the intrinsic goodness and selflessness of the superhero.

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