Seinfeld: Classic or Dud

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Seinfeld always came off a VERY poor second to Larry Sanders when they were shown together on BBC2...

― Andrew L, Sunday, 9 June 2002 00:00 (10 years ago) Permalink

People are always saying this. I disagree, even though I love Larry Sanders. They're different kind of shows though - I think people in the UK just think of them together cause of the scheduling.

― N., Sunday, 9 June 2002 00:00 (10 years ago) Permalink

Yes.

― david h(owie), Sunday, 9 June 2002 00:00 (10 years ago) Permalink

11 months pass...

This thread is weird. I expected to find lots of Seinfeld love. It seems like a very ILX type show. What's up with some of the criticism here? Racist?! "Wretched fashion sense"?!

Anyway, I want to hate this show, it's the type of cultural phenomenon that normally annoys me, but every time I stumble across a rerun I end up watching it and having some good laffs. Last night I saw the one where Elaine dates a mover but breaks up with him because of his stance on abortion. And George invites himself over to a family's house to watch their rented copy of Breakfast at Tiffany's because he didn't read the book for his study group. It was funny. I'll say classic.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Saturday, 24 May 2003 19:39 (9 years ago) Permalink

The darkest, sickest show television has ever spewed forth. Unbelievably classic.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 24 May 2003 19:46 (9 years ago) Permalink

And I, too, am blown away by this thread. It shocks me so that I may have to step away from the computer. What's wrong with you people?

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 24 May 2003 19:49 (9 years ago) Permalink

I've seen plenty of episodes becuase it's been re-runned forever, everywhere and I have never ever laughed, not once. It doesn't irritate me, it doesn't offend me, it doesn't amuse me...it's just there.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 24 May 2003 19:53 (9 years ago) Permalink

That's so weird.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 24 May 2003 19:54 (9 years ago) Permalink

Do you like anything on television?

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 24 May 2003 19:54 (9 years ago) Permalink

so fucking classic. same with larry sanders.

BBC2 didin't treat these shows like the comedy gold they were (sticking them late evening etc WTF?!) whereas crap like friends and will and grace get prime time on C4 (OK the former was funny for the first two series).

crosspost: daddino doesn't rock anymore.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Saturday, 24 May 2003 19:54 (9 years ago) Permalink

...and maybe the reason why is that I don't even find any of the characters especially eccentric or neurotic. Make of that what you will.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 24 May 2003 19:55 (9 years ago) Permalink

You know what's even weirder? I don't laugh at The Simpsons anymore. There are soooo many episodes, and I've seen them all soooo many times, and some are funny but too familiar to get any honest chuckles out of me, and many of them are nowhere near as funny as I remembered.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 24 May 2003 19:56 (9 years ago) Permalink

crosspost: daddino doesn't rock anymore.

I HAVEN'T EVEN BEGUN TO ROCK YET!

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 24 May 2003 19:56 (9 years ago) Permalink

I don't even find any of the characters especially eccentric or neurotic

I'm afraid of you.

George Constanza is a brilliant character. A recognizable, even sympathetic monster.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Saturday, 24 May 2003 19:57 (9 years ago) Permalink

Do you like anything on television?

Witness this and this. As well as this, once in a while.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 24 May 2003 20:03 (9 years ago) Permalink

I linked to this thread itself when I wanted to link to this: Genius.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 24 May 2003 20:23 (9 years ago) Permalink

ya, it's a pretty damn funny show. I like tuning in for the last 8 minutes and trying to figure out what the fuck is going on.

― oops (Oops), Saturday, 24 May 2003 23:50 (9 years ago) Permalink

Why are Americans complaining that it's always repeated, but Brits are saying it's never fucking on? Oh wait, I know, it's because the BBC treat this gem like utter shit.

Also, I'm fairly sure I would love Larry Sanders, but I've never seen it because of the stupid fucking BBC.

― Nick H, Sunday, 25 May 2003 00:09 (9 years ago) Permalink

I don't find any of the characters especially eccentric or neurotic either. I mean, obviously, at least Kramer is, but they're all cartoon characters on some level like anyone in a sitcom. So given sitcom-ness, they're not.

But I do think it's a great show, and sometimes ridiculously funny. And I think the "nihilism" (but it's not that - it's a sympathetic portrait of failed humanity) is what makes it great. Curb Your Enthusiasm does this too, but too much so - we need some real humor and niceness along with the nasty stuff. Also, the particularly New York voice of the show. Complaining about the hackneyed plot lines is like complaining that Buffy has to kill a vampire every week (well, ok, maybe there's something to that).

It's not my personal favorite tv show - I like sentimental, yuppie-sensibility stuff like Mad About You and Northern Exposure, which I won't make greatness claims for. And It's not the greatest tv show ever - whatever that is, it's probably not a sitcom - but I think a good argument can be made for best sitcom of the last 25 years

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Sunday, 25 May 2003 00:24 (9 years ago) Permalink

I say classic. But I didn't find it held up well in syndication. Maybe it was just a 90s thing.

― Carey (Carey), Sunday, 25 May 2003 00:28 (9 years ago) Permalink

ive never been able to watch more than 5 minutes of this show w/o feeling ill and changing the channel.

― amateurist (amateurist), Sunday, 25 May 2003 01:16 (9 years ago) Permalink

And as much as I like it, I can totally see how you could feel that way.

― oops (Oops), Sunday, 25 May 2003 01:18 (9 years ago) Permalink

I think Seinfeld is more of an ilm show than an ile show.

― Nicole (Nicole), Sunday, 25 May 2003 01:55 (9 years ago) Permalink

ILM kind of reminds me more of "Facts of Life" actually.

― Ally (mlescaut), Sunday, 25 May 2003 02:07 (9 years ago) Permalink

'You take the good, you take the bad...'
Dibbs on Mrs. G

― oops (Oops), Sunday, 25 May 2003 07:26 (9 years ago) Permalink

Evey day you disturb me just a little bit more.

― luna (luna.c), Sunday, 25 May 2003 07:49 (9 years ago) Permalink

I'll take Tootie.
Although nowadays if you call her Tootie, she'll punch you square in the face.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Sunday, 25 May 2003 07:50 (9 years ago) Permalink

I think the "nihilism" (but it's not that - it's a sympathetic portrait of failed humanity) is what makes it great. Curb Your Enthusiasm does this too, but too much so - we need some real humor and niceness along with the nasty stuff.

I totally disagree with this. I've come to HATE the basic attitude of Seinfeld - I watch it every night, it's the only thing on TV in New Zealand - and Jerry's whole, 'My parents love me, aren't I adorable, you all love me, and I'm just gonna be a fucking bastard because I can' thing is really wearying after a while. Seinfeld doesn't even break a sweat. He's always as cool as a cucumber, looking at everyone else - looking at girls - and the sneer is never too far away. Larry David seems much humbler - he can hardly bear to look anyone else in the face, let alone laugh AT them. This makes 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' seem much, much nicer to me.

― m-ry-nn (m-ry-nn), Sunday, 25 May 2003 07:52 (9 years ago) Permalink

He doesn't care enough to be sneering.

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Sunday, 25 May 2003 08:41 (9 years ago) Permalink

"Jerry" on Seinfeld = Larry David in real life.

― chaki (chaki), Sunday, 25 May 2003 09:15 (9 years ago) Permalink

sensitive people shouldnt watch tv

― unknown or illegal user (doorag), Sunday, 25 May 2003 09:33 (9 years ago) Permalink

that's why i don't watch tv, 'cause i'm sensitive

― unknown or illegal user (doorag), Sunday, 25 May 2003 09:34 (9 years ago) Permalink

I thought Larry David was supposed to be George.

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 25 May 2003 10:43 (9 years ago) Permalink

he actually supposed to be Izzy Mandlebaum

― chaki (chaki), Sunday, 25 May 2003 10:45 (9 years ago) Permalink

I think Jerry's (and Elaine's) smugness is there to distract you from the utter horribleness of George's life (and the utter unbelievableness of Kramer's): has there ever been a more repulsive character on a sitcom?

Seinfeld has ruined me for all other sitcoms: I can't watch any of them without getting bored. I think it's actually gotten better in syndication: the episodes I thought were lame first time around seem funnier to me now. There's also a tragic, hopeless undercurrent to the humor that's perfectly disguised by its breeziness, tho it's probably fatal to take Seinfeld too seriously.

Also, after watching it 53,000,000 times I think I've started to fancy Elaine a bit.

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Sunday, 25 May 2003 12:58 (9 years ago) Permalink

Me too, even her dancing doesn't dissuade me.

― oops (Oops), Sunday, 25 May 2003 18:16 (9 years ago) Permalink

I fancy her because she has the same maniacal grin that I have. Fancying yourself: classic or dud?

― Ally (mlescaut), Sunday, 25 May 2003 19:22 (9 years ago) Permalink

classic as long as you tickle yourself and others watch ;)

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 25 May 2003 19:32 (9 years ago) Permalink

Who do you think I am, Martin?

― Ally (mlescaut), Sunday, 25 May 2003 19:33 (9 years ago) Permalink

no. but you are N's long lost sister.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 25 May 2003 19:34 (9 years ago) Permalink

Ally in self-fancying SHOCKAH

― oops (Oops), Sunday, 25 May 2003 19:38 (9 years ago) Permalink

So that's where my brother went. My mother always told me I had an older brother that she sent away, because she hates boys...

― Ally (mlescaut), Sunday, 25 May 2003 19:44 (9 years ago) Permalink

well tell yr momma N is a GROWN MANG now!

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 25 May 2003 19:47 (9 years ago) Permalink

Trust me, if she gets wind of the tickle thing she'll never take him back.

― Ally (mlescaut), Sunday, 25 May 2003 20:01 (9 years ago) Permalink

ok then I'll tell her and then she can send you here. i can tickle ya ;)

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 25 May 2003 20:06 (9 years ago) Permalink

You really want to tickle N. though, admit it.

― Ally (mlescaut), Sunday, 25 May 2003 20:13 (9 years ago) Permalink

Classic.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Sunday, 25 May 2003 22:40 (9 years ago) Permalink

Seinfeld: totally classic. I watch the reruns quite regularly.
I thought this show was unsurpassed in american comedy,
until I started watching Home Movies (on Cartoon Network).

But I'm not entirely without complaint.

They truly should have found someone else to play Seinfeld. In a stellar
comedic cast he stood out as a rank amateur, often botching the
proceedings. The scripts stroke his ego shamelessly, pairing him with
an endless parade of beautiful women and sparing him the severest
discomfort. And his standup was horrible, an unintentional joke.

But he couldn't stop the show from being brilliant! Starting about
halfway through the second season, the writers were so great at
layering several absurd storylines, culminating in these chaotic
comedic orgies that can only be compared to end-of-episode
climaxes in _Fawlty Towers_. How come more sitcoms don't
have this format, instead of a boring linear string of
sometimes-funny wisecracks? Mindless jokes _Seinfeld_
decidedly IS NOT.

Thing is, the early episodes were pretty crappy - that's partly
why I think people don't like them, they got a bad taste in their
mouth early on and never gave it a second chance.

Also, the episodes are highly self-referential, so you have
to watch it from the opening credits, or half the jokes don't
make any sense whatever.

And woah, are there actually people named Shoshanna?
I know a Shoshanna and I thought that her name was a
bizzare hippie side effect.

Oh yeah, and the sight of a pimp Kramer being
arrested for assaulting a prostitute = one of the best
endings ever.

― squirl plise (Squirrel_Police), Monday, 26 May 2003 01:00 (9 years ago) Permalink

How did I get mixed up in this?

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 26 May 2003 01:44 (9 years ago) Permalink

ps. please no one tickle me. My sister used to do it to me till I was a gibbering wreck. I can't even remember what I'd done wrong.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 26 May 2003 01:45 (9 years ago) Permalink

Skipping 453 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

I am familiar with the works of Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky.

― Plasmon, Monday, 20 May 2013 08:02 (3 days ago) Permalink

reminded me of "House of Leaves"

― Number None, Monday, 20 May 2013 14:21 (3 days ago) Permalink

George stares into the abyss, but the abyss shows no interest back.

― frogbs, Monday, 20 May 2013 15:09 (3 days ago) Permalink

that's from nietzsche

― the white queen and her caustic judgments (difficult listening hour), Monday, 20 May 2013 16:03 (3 days ago) Permalink

ugh this is even cornier than 'future seinfeld,' what is the compulsion to use an actual comedy classic as fodder for chin-scratching internet humor

― yeeznuts (some dude), Monday, 20 May 2013 16:16 (3 days ago) Permalink

this here is one of my favourite piece of 'internet humour':

Seinfeld Current Day ‏@Seinfeld2000
Newmen comit suicide

― NI, Monday, 20 May 2013 16:40 (3 days ago) Permalink

lol

― Le Bateau Ivre, Monday, 20 May 2013 16:41 (3 days ago) Permalink

wait what's chin scratching about it -- it's pretty faithful to the Seinfeld template and free of deliberate misspellings.

― Philip Nunez, Monday, 20 May 2013 16:45 (3 days ago) Permalink

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