It was the show about nothing that captivated Americans across the nation. My husband still watches it several times a week; I can tell because the guffawing can be heard from one end of the house to the other. It’s humor for adults; sometimes wry, sometimes blatant, always funny.
One of my favorite episodes is of George pretending to be a marine biologist. He figures it’s a safe enough lie and that he’ll never be found out. Of course a whale gets stuck on a the beach where he and his new girlfriend are, and he gets found out. Everybody has their favorites; George is probably mine. Whether it’s his fiancé dying over bad glue on their wedding invitations or weaseling his way into his own handicapped bathroom, Jason Alexander brings depth to the role of everybody’s favorite loser.
Paul’s favorite character is Elaine. No, not because Julia Louis-Dreyfus is beautiful, but because Elaine is all the bad dates, all the geeky girls, and all the ones you loved to hate all rolled up into one. Her wacky dancing makes Taylor Hicks look like Fred Astaire.
The success of Seinfeld is that almost everyone can identify with the characters. While I may not have known someone exactly like Kramer, I have had a few strange friends from whom everything seemed to work out no matter what. Who hasn’t known a Jerry, or dated a Puddy? Even the minor characters in this show were well-developed and their stereotypes instantly recognizable.
So I bought my husband’s birthday present six months early. All seven seasons (Seasons 8 and 9 aren’t on DVD yet) for only $99.99, less than $15 apiece. Shipping is free which sweetens the deal.
What’s your favorite episode? Did you laugh over the Soup-Nazi? Imitate Jerry’s “Hello Newman” or say “Hello” out of half of your mouth? The show may be about nothing, but all those nothings together made up for one of the most unforgettable series on television.