Must be the youngest millennials then, this was airing live when I was a kid and apparently I’m a millennial.
I watched the first episode and found it dull and boring. Is it representative for the whole show?
The past decade of tv has spoiled people with quality TV shows.
Back in the old days of tv, we didn't have story arcs. First seasons of shows were still rough. Networks often gave shows a lot longer of a lifeline to prove themselves. For example: Parks and Rec didn't hit their stride into mid-Season 2.
For 90s shows, I recommend finding a Top 10 episodes list and seeing if you enjoy it.
Some episodes are legendarily funny, but a lot are very forgettable. It’s more of a cultural bellwether.
Seinfeld was one of those shows that talked about certain issues that weren’t broached on network tv. I think the masturbation episode was the first time it was even alluded to on any mainstream tv.
But at the end of the day it’s a sitcom with laugh tracks, so it doesn’t age super well.
Elaine was part of the masturbation episode and lost, which further speaks to the progressiveness of the show because a woman was portrayed as having sexuality that was outside of acceptable limits at the time (for love only, preferably in marriage). They also presented being gay as acceptable, which was quite progressive at the time where people were calling each other "gay" and the f-word as a terrible insult.
Not really, the pilot is the weakest episode I can think of. Not that it turns into an action thriller or anything, but the plotlines and characters certainly get zanier and (arguably) funnier.
I mean I watched it years ago? I didn't clock it as offensive just not really as funny as my parents found it.
Even when it aired, it was walking the line of generally offensive. That line didn't have to move far to tip the show out of favour on average. Seinfeld himself addressed it, initially being upset that his brand of comedy was falling out of favour, but eventually coming to terms with the fact that he himself was out of touch and would benefit from adapting.
Has he? Last I heard he was still complaining that "yOu CoUlDnT dO sEiNfElD tOdAy BeCaUsE wOkE" with Rob McElhenney begging to differ.
Hopefully that link isn't broken or bad. But yeah, he basically said he was wrong and out of touch. And that he could stand to make an effort to get with the times.
His style of comedy has always been about finding where the current edge is and seeing how far you can cross it and still be funny. But the drawback is that the edge moves. So you have to keep seeing where it is, and what you said 10 years ago probably isn't funny anymore. It's normal to get frustrated when something you put effort and work into is no longer seen as a good thing even though it was liked well enough at the time. But he really should have expected that result. And I think he knew that when he made it, but had since got caught up in the false validation that can come from being out of touch.
Gosh. I am unironically impressed, it's rare for people to actually take stuff back and say they were wrong. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
Aside:
Representatives for Seinfeld did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Weird how it's impossible for celebrities to just be taken at their word without a representative being contacted for clarification.
Damn, wonder how they're going to feel about Home Improvement and Married With Children.
Nevermind All In The Family or The Jeffersons.
Married with Children is still hilarious. It's dated but since I lived through that time, it doesn't feel super dated, if that makes sense.
They were doing Incel jokes before it was cool, certainly.
I think sitcoms have improved. There's a handful of genuinely funny old shows, but the laugh tracks concealed pure garbage.
I dunno I grew up with terrible sitcoms and them being kind of bad is sorta part of the appeal to me.
Millenial here, I always just thought it was shit!
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