Seinfeld: Classic or Dud

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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 (twenty-three years ago)

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 (twenty-three years ago)

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 (twenty-three years ago)

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 (twenty-three years ago)

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 (twenty-three years ago)

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

― Nicole (Nicole), Sunday, 25 May 2003 01:55 (twenty-three years ago)

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

― Ally (mlescaut), Sunday, 25 May 2003 02:07 (twenty-three years ago)

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

― oops (Oops), Sunday, 25 May 2003 07:26 (twenty-three years ago)

Evey day you disturb me just a little bit more.

― luna (luna.c), Sunday, 25 May 2003 07:49 (twenty-three years ago)

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 (twenty-three years ago)

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 (twenty-three years ago)

He doesn't care enough to be sneering.

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Sunday, 25 May 2003 08:41 (twenty-three years ago)

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

― chaki (chaki), Sunday, 25 May 2003 09:15 (twenty-three years ago)

sensitive people shouldnt watch tv

― unknown or illegal user (doorag), Sunday, 25 May 2003 09:33 (twenty-three years ago)

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

― unknown or illegal user (doorag), Sunday, 25 May 2003 09:34 (twenty-three years ago)

I thought Larry David was supposed to be George.

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 25 May 2003 10:43 (twenty-three years ago)

he actually supposed to be Izzy Mandlebaum

― chaki (chaki), Sunday, 25 May 2003 10:45 (twenty-three years ago)

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 (twenty-three years ago)

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

― oops (Oops), Sunday, 25 May 2003 18:16 (twenty-three years ago)

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 (twenty-three years ago)

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

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 25 May 2003 19:32 (twenty-three years ago)

Who do you think I am, Martin?

― Ally (mlescaut), Sunday, 25 May 2003 19:33 (twenty-three years ago)

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

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 25 May 2003 19:34 (twenty-three years ago)

Ally in self-fancying SHOCKAH

― oops (Oops), Sunday, 25 May 2003 19:38 (twenty-three years ago)

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 (twenty-three years ago)

well tell yr momma N is a GROWN MANG now!

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 25 May 2003 19:47 (twenty-three years ago)

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

― Ally (mlescaut), Sunday, 25 May 2003 20:01 (twenty-three years ago)

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 (twenty-three years ago)

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

― Ally (mlescaut), Sunday, 25 May 2003 20:13 (twenty-three years ago)

Classic.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Sunday, 25 May 2003 22:40 (twenty-three years ago)

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 (twenty-three years ago)

How did I get mixed up in this?

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 26 May 2003 01:44 (twenty-three years ago)

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 (twenty-three years ago)

It's cos you're TOO MUCH THE SEXY, N.

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 26 May 2003 01:46 (twenty-three years ago)

UR sick.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 26 May 2003 01:52 (twenty-three years ago)

Shoshanna is the Hebrew form of Susannah.

― rosemary (rosemary), Monday, 26 May 2003 01:54 (twenty-three years ago)

I am sick. You're totally right. That doesn't take away the fact that you're my long lost brother and that Julio wants to tickle you, N.

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 26 May 2003 02:22 (twenty-three years ago)

There is no better modern illustration of the timelessness of the ancient story of the Emperor's New Clothes than the fact that Seinfeld was a success.

D-U-D garbage!!!!

― Fred Nerk, Monday, 26 May 2003 02:30 (twenty-three years ago)

wow

― chaki (chaki), Monday, 26 May 2003 05:08 (twenty-three years ago)

SEINFELD ROXX U R ALL GAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously, what is UP with all the Seinfeld hate??!!

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Monday, 26 May 2003 05:48 (twenty-three years ago)

yeah, I mean it was a sitcom, I thought it was pretty funny, but we are talking about a sitcom here. there are no big threads about according to jim.

― slutsky (slutsky), Monday, 26 May 2003 06:05 (twenty-three years ago)

YET!

(ominous music)

― slutsky (slutsky), Monday, 26 May 2003 06:06 (twenty-three years ago)

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

Ally with my right hand. N with my left.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 26 May 2003 08:15 (twenty-three years ago)

ally with my right hand 'n' with my left.

― RJG (RJG), Monday, 26 May 2003 14:44 (twenty-three years ago)

rjg!?

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 26 May 2003 14:51 (twenty-three years ago)

?????????

― RJG (RJG), Monday, 26 May 2003 15:40 (twenty-three years ago)

Me before reading this thread: :)
Me after reading this thread: :(

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 26 May 2003 18:29 (twenty-three years ago)

richard- you're sick.

the laughter has been sucked out of this thread.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 26 May 2003 18:32 (twenty-three years ago)

gimme a break.

― RJG (RJG), Monday, 26 May 2003 18:35 (twenty-three years ago)

Wait, RJG wants to tickle me now too? What is going on here?

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 26 May 2003 20:12 (twenty-three years ago)

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