I have no idea how many times I’ve seen each episode. Now that Seinfeld is on Netflix, I’m watching again, attempting to see it through fresh eyes.
The Seinfeld phenomenon may be one of those “you had to be there” things. Younger generations may chuckle, but it can never be new to them since every sitcom since Seinfeld has attempted to copy it. They can’t appreciate the fact that before Seinfeld, sitcoms were meant to teach some moral principle, using restrained humor and usually some “cute” kid to be easily excused for misbehavior.
Hence, Seinfeld’s reputation for being a “show about nothing”. It’s a show about anything and everything, but it had no principles to teach. No one learns. No one is saved. No cute kid to admit, “Gee, Dad, I really learned a lesson.” These are adults (arguable if you’re measuring adulthood by maturity), their ids and egos shamelessly on display as they stumble through a world of baffling social protocol. They beg for empathy but aren’t stupid enough to expect sympathy.
Empathy, they get. I’m always surprised how many people say they relate to George Costanza, a character known to be self-serving, insecure, pessimistic, unconfident, needy, whiny, insincere, and at his best is loyal to his best friend and has just enough self-awareness to know he is socially impaired. What does this say about those who claim to relate to George? There is a little of George at the core of us. We don’t want to admit it, but it is strangely comforting to see someone with our hidden thoughts and feelings on screen. It’s safer to laugh at him than at ourselves.
The unusual writing team of Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David had to result in something unique. Seinfeld’s comedy is mostly light-hearted and detached. David’s is the opposite. It’s the genius of that mixture that gives Seinfeld a feeling of plenitude.
Like most sitcoms from the 80s and 90s, however, it shows signs of aging. Forgivable, perhaps, because Seinfeld’s tone was always one of revelation instead of promotion. The homophobia, racism, and sexism are obvious but it is just as obvious that the “isms” are considered just as ridiculous as the rest of the thoughts expressed by the disturbed characters. Seinfeld never clings to a need to be right about anything. Instead, the show presents situations and asks, “So what about this? Can we all laugh about this for a few seconds?”
On this viewing, my feelings have not changed. I still prefer Seasons 2-8, finding 1 too subtle and 9 too bizarre. Puddy remains my favorite secondary character. Some episodes stand out as ground-breaking. I still quote Seinfeld, even to crowds who have never seen it.
