Only bad thing is that you need to watch a long series of near constant laugh tracks to see the plots. Ive only seen a few episodes though, so might have a gotten a bad impression of an otherwise good show?
I don’t think you even need to have seen the entire show.
Once you’ve seen a few seasons - you pretty much already know what some typical Seinfeld plots would be, to the point you could make an assumption about whether a new invention would inspire or deprecate potential Seinfeld plots.
E.g smartphones. I could EASILY see there being an episode about George getting lost, but refusing to admit it because he has a girlfriend with him, so he can’t ask for directions. Is there one? I don’t remember. Maybe? Maybe not? It just seems like the kinda thing he’d do. But smartphones have completely normalized looking at your favorite map/navigation app. Hell, it’s completely normal to just put Waze on while driving even if you know where you’re driving to, as it shows you real-time information. This is a potential George plot wiped out.
We also know that George always looking to either save or make a quick buck, would have no issues scamming people. He’d definitely be part of a crypto rug pull, thinking he’s gonna make it big… Then also get the rug pulled on him. Could definitely make a Seinfeld plot out of this.
Kramer always has ideas, usually crazy and rarely good. He’d have some weird ass new AI thing going with Newman for sure, only to discover it’s completely useless and literally already solved with some old technology that does it better and more reliably. That’s the most Kramer thing you could think of IMO.
The art is good. Beyond the entertainment value, it’s a way to understand the zeitgeist of the era… you can watch it even from an anthropological perspective. It stings a little to admit that im old enough that periods of my own life could be studied from the standpoint of a historical science, but, that’s just how she goes.
Several of the actors ended up being gigantic pieces of shit. While I think it’s worth accepting that truth, I think the hard reality is that material success and any meaningful period of public reverence does that to a person. Any media you enjoy now, the reality is that the actors are probably pieces of shit too and it just hasn’t come out yet… and again, that’s just how she goes.
It is a show of its time. Seinfeld revolutionized a lot regarding what sitcoms could be, but it was still operating somewhat in the rules of the time.
Regarding the laugh track, every US sitcom of the era was filmed in front of a live audience. It goes back to the tradition of the medium where it was meant to be a remote viewing of a play which oddly stuck with sitcoms.
For context, there’s a trope Seinfeld is unfunny that’s basically that Seinfeld was so pioneering it’s been copied and referenced so much that it’s original jokes and ideas are now cliche
“Good” and “bad” are far more subjective than with most shows, in this case.
The problem with being one of the shows that popularised - if not outright created - a lot of what became staple sitcom tropes is that people tend to look back with the modern lens, of those being extremely over-used and stale. Is just that they weren’t, when the show was current.
A lot of viewers also tend to get stuck on the “wow, these are some truly awful people” part, which similarly was the point. To directly quote Larry David; “No hugging, no learning”.
To dramatically over-simplify things, it is a show about three terrible people going about their lives, and failing to learn any lessons in the process; as is so famously quoted, a show about nothing.
Whether good or bad, it was still important. Walked, so a generation of later shows could run, if you will. (Or even if you won’t, I don’t think anyone could deny that)
It’s interesting because what Jerry really brought to the show was someone palatable. Before Seinfeld and even during it Larry had a problem: himself. Jerry didn’t pick fights with the network. Jerry wasn’t extremely unpleasant to be around. The fact that Jerry wasn’t particularly funny didn’t matter, Larry was funny enough for the both of them. Jerry still seems to not understand that
Curb has the problem that far too many episodes try to justify Larry’s response/position. Whereas most Seinfeld episodes were very clear that Jerry et al were horrible.
It’s Always Sunny did similar stuff where The Gang are pretty much constantly vilified in earlier seasons. But later ones will often try to make it clear that they had a point but went about it wrong.
Sorry, let me cheer you up with some humor from your generation: “Six seeeeveeeeen. Six seeeeveeeeen. Six seeeeveeeeen. Six seeeeveeeeen. Six seeeeveeeeen. Six seeeeveeeeen. Six seeeeveeeeen.”
Only bad thing is that you need to watch a long series of near constant laugh tracks to see the plots. Ive only seen a few episodes though, so might have a gotten a bad impression of an otherwise good show?
And that the show has Jerry Seinfeld, a known Zionist supporter of genocide, in it.
Jerry is the worst part.
The supporting cast is what was most memorable
Also at points in the shows production he was 39 years old and dating a 17 year old.
I don’t think you even need to have seen the entire show.
Once you’ve seen a few seasons - you pretty much already know what some typical Seinfeld plots would be, to the point you could make an assumption about whether a new invention would inspire or deprecate potential Seinfeld plots.
E.g smartphones. I could EASILY see there being an episode about George getting lost, but refusing to admit it because he has a girlfriend with him, so he can’t ask for directions. Is there one? I don’t remember. Maybe? Maybe not? It just seems like the kinda thing he’d do. But smartphones have completely normalized looking at your favorite map/navigation app. Hell, it’s completely normal to just put Waze on while driving even if you know where you’re driving to, as it shows you real-time information. This is a potential George plot wiped out.
We also know that George always looking to either save or make a quick buck, would have no issues scamming people. He’d definitely be part of a crypto rug pull, thinking he’s gonna make it big… Then also get the rug pulled on him. Could definitely make a Seinfeld plot out of this.
Kramer always has ideas, usually crazy and rarely good. He’d have some weird ass new AI thing going with Newman for sure, only to discover it’s completely useless and literally already solved with some old technology that does it better and more reliably. That’s the most Kramer thing you could think of IMO.
The art is good. Beyond the entertainment value, it’s a way to understand the zeitgeist of the era… you can watch it even from an anthropological perspective. It stings a little to admit that im old enough that periods of my own life could be studied from the standpoint of a historical science, but, that’s just how she goes.
Several of the actors ended up being gigantic pieces of shit. While I think it’s worth accepting that truth, I think the hard reality is that material success and any meaningful period of public reverence does that to a person. Any media you enjoy now, the reality is that the actors are probably pieces of shit too and it just hasn’t come out yet… and again, that’s just how she goes.
Way she goes
It is a show of its time. Seinfeld revolutionized a lot regarding what sitcoms could be, but it was still operating somewhat in the rules of the time.
Regarding the laugh track, every US sitcom of the era was filmed in front of a live audience. It goes back to the tradition of the medium where it was meant to be a remote viewing of a play which oddly stuck with sitcoms.
For context, there’s a trope Seinfeld is unfunny that’s basically that Seinfeld was so pioneering it’s been copied and referenced so much that it’s original jokes and ideas are now cliche
“Good” and “bad” are far more subjective than with most shows, in this case.
The problem with being one of the shows that popularised - if not outright created - a lot of what became staple sitcom tropes is that people tend to look back with the modern lens, of those being extremely over-used and stale. Is just that they weren’t, when the show was current.
A lot of viewers also tend to get stuck on the “wow, these are some truly awful people” part, which similarly was the point. To directly quote Larry David; “No hugging, no learning”.
To dramatically over-simplify things, it is a show about three terrible people going about their lives, and failing to learn any lessons in the process; as is so famously quoted, a show about nothing.
Whether good or bad, it was still important. Walked, so a generation of later shows could run, if you will. (Or even if you won’t, I don’t think anyone could deny that)
Only three terrible people? Which of the four main characters are you excluding?
Ellain started out good. Then she became obsessed with hurting people .
It’s particularly funny if you view the entire thing as Larry David doing a terrifically slow burn on how shitty Jerry Seinfeld’s comedy actually is.
Also: see Gary Gulman’s special Born on Third Base for an excellent rip on wealth inequality regarding “the guy who played Jerry on Seinfeld”
It’s interesting because what Jerry really brought to the show was someone palatable. Before Seinfeld and even during it Larry had a problem: himself. Jerry didn’t pick fights with the network. Jerry wasn’t extremely unpleasant to be around. The fact that Jerry wasn’t particularly funny didn’t matter, Larry was funny enough for the both of them. Jerry still seems to not understand that
I would say it’s worth watching even if you dislike “laugh tracks” (live studio audience).
If you want the modern, better version of Seinfeld then there is It’s always sunny in Philadelphia.
Same setup of the show of the main characters being terrible people, but much more critical of issues.
Their episodes on Gun control and Genderless bathroom are some of my favorites.
They do have a meta episode where they criticize laugh tracks too.
Laugh tracks aside, the show had funny writing and dialogue. Check out Curb Your Enthusiasm for a more modern version.
Curb has the problem that far too many episodes try to justify Larry’s response/position. Whereas most Seinfeld episodes were very clear that Jerry et al were horrible.
It’s Always Sunny did similar stuff where The Gang are pretty much constantly vilified in earlier seasons. But later ones will often try to make it clear that they had a point but went about it wrong.
That said: I love all three shows.
Incorrect, check out It’s always sunny in Philadelphia for a modern, better version.
Nah, it’s a bad show full of bad boomer humor. And god, laugh tracks are terrible…
Sorry, let me cheer you up with some humor from your generation: “Six seeeeveeeeen. Six seeeeveeeeen. Six seeeeveeeeen. Six seeeeveeeeen. Six seeeeveeeeen. Six seeeeveeeeen. Six seeeeveeeeen.”
Are you ten?