British Comedy Guide

Finally, I'm into Seinfeld Page 2

Quote: Leevil @ July 5 2009, 1:06 PM BST

Be a man (a Hen-man) and watch from the start! It's only a few hours of your life wasted, where else would you be, on here?

But he might still think it's rubbish if he starts there! It's not, but it's certainly a lot more low key and not quite the brilliant show it develops into. I think if you watch series one, you might wonder what all the fuss is about; if you watch series three onwards, you can find out. I still love series one and two by the way, but so many people, after I've got them to watch it, have said how they only started getting into it properly once they'd got a couple of series in.

If you start at series one Lee, then you are hereby ordered to carry on, even if you're not sure, to at least series three!

Even though the first few episodes (and the first few series itself) look quite dated now. What they were trying to do with them still feels fresh and exciting.

I agree the show gets better a few series in, but I don't think you'd appreciate it as much if you leaped straight in there. Especially as they refer so much to previous episodes.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ July 5 2009, 1:12 PM BST

But he might still think it's rubbish if he starts there! It's not, but it's certainly a lot more low key and not quite the brilliant show it develops into. I think if you watch series one, you might wonder what all the fuss is about; if you watch series three onwards, you can find out. I still love series one and two by the way, but so many people, after I've got them to watch it, have said how they only started getting into it properly once they'd got a couple of series in.

If you start at series one Lee, then you are hereby ordered to carry on, even if you're not sure, to at least series three!

Duly noted.

Quote: Lee Henman @ July 5 2009, 2:54 AM BST

I need to watch more. The ones I've seen just come over incredibly smug and I think that's what put me off.

I'm going to start from seies 1 and see if I can stand it till the end. Maybe I'll be converted.

I recommend you start from season 4 (where I started from). I couldn't get into it from season one so waited a while then watched from season 4 when it was meant to be at it's best.

It's hard for me to watch Seinfeld because I watched it from almost day one and then watched as it became this major phenomenon. When people who didn't even understand the brilliance of it began talking about it and all they could come up with was how funny Kramer was, I just couldn't watch it anymore. I've tried to watch it recently and I can only get through a couple of episodes at a time and I can't tell anyone, because then I get a barrage of all the famous catchphrases, and who wants to hear that kind of crap?

Kramer is the least funny, to me.

Quote: zooo @ July 5 2009, 7:39 PM BST

Kramer is the least funny, to me.

You've said that before, but I think he's great! I love the physical dimension he brings to the show. He's not the best character (thats George, obviously) but I do love him.

They are all great. Obviously George is alot of people's favourite, and mine. Elaine is also a great character.

Quote: Jacob Loves Comedy @ July 5 2009, 8:02 PM BST

Elaine is also a great character.

She's excellent and bounces off the others well.

Yeah agreed. She and Jerry are particularly good together.

Quote: Lee Henman @ July 5 2009, 3:44 AM BST

See now I feel bad.

I was never a cool kid either, in fact I was a bit of a weird loner, but luckily I was tall for my age (I'm only 5 foot 11 now but have been since I was 13.)

I was 5'11" when I was still sucking a dummy! (age 13 - I was a junior raver).

I was 6'0" at 14.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ July 4 2009, 3:51 PM BST

It's the greatest sitcom of all time.

I have it at #3 (just behind Adder and Fawlty). Partridge completes my top 4. Best yank comedy for sure (AD is almost as great, close, but no cigar).

George always top, he's genius. Kramer is the next best. My favourite minor character has to the the library cop.

The other two major characters switch round all the time for me, Elaine is great in some episodes, I'm thinking of the one where she goes stupid (when George is smart) and the period where she's boss of the Peterman catalogue while Peterman's having a breakdown.

The 4 major characters must be the best cast ever in any sitcom.

Other great characters:

Frank Costanza (no one else would read the lines the way Jerry Stiller would).
Newman
Jackie Chiles
J Peterman

The greatest moments in Seinfeld are mostly the George/Jerry verbal sparring conversations, just like most of the best Marx Brothers moments feature just Groucho and Chico.

Oh and every season - barring 1 and 2 - is great (those two have some inpsired moments, still). Overall I'd say my favourite seasons are: 5, 8, 4 and 6. In that order.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ July 5 2009, 7:43 PM BST

You've said that before, but I think he's great! I love the physical dimension he brings to the show. He's not the best character (thats George, obviously) but I do love him.

Same here, he's clearly the next best of the main cast. The seisure episode, Kramerica, the reality bus tour and ASSMAN always have me in stitches. Amongst many other memorable moments. Very few better physical comedians than Richards.

Quote: Jackson Neil @ July 6 2009, 1:40 PM BST

Frank Costanza (no one else would read the lines the way Jerry Stiller would).
Newman
Jackie Chiles
J Peterman

And Elaines on-off-on boyfriend Puddy, don't forget Puddy!

All of those, including Puddy, have great voices too.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ July 6 2009, 1:43 PM BST

And Elaines on-off-on boyfriend Puddy, don't forget Puddy!

All of those, including Puddy, have great voices too.

"Yeah, that's right" :D

Puddy was a very good character. I also thought Kruger was great as George's boss: "I've locked myself out of my office again. Oh well. I'm going home..." :D

Quote: Lee Henman @ July 5 2009, 2:54 AM BST

I need to watch more. The ones I've seen just come over incredibly smug and I think that's what put me off.

I'm going to start from seies 1 and see if I can stand it till the end. Maybe I'll be converted.

Season 5 is the highwater mark and probably the best for the newbie to start with. I also think it has the higest rate of classics and barely dips in quality at all. Another user reccomended season 4, but the first few episodes are a little long drawn out hour long ones, although that contains a very high amount of greats too. 8 and 9 is a counter to those two in terms that it's wierder and more surreal in terms of the plots, but still very strong seasons. Leave the first 2 seasons till last.

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