Jerry Seinfeld Miffed at N.Y. Post

.c The Associated Press

      NEW YORK (AP) - A report that New Yorkers think ``Seinfeld'' is
going stale sent the star of the top-rated show straight to the
telephone.
      Jerry Seinfeld called the New York Post after the tabloid
published results of an unscientific fax poll that found a slim
majority of New Yorkers were displeased with the sitcom's first
month of new fall shows.
      ``I think four episodes doesn't seem like a fair sampling out of
a 24-episode season,'' Seinfeld said in Sunday's editions. ``I
think most seasons go that way. It takes a few weeks to kind of get
back on track, get back into it and get groovy again.''
      The Post said hundreds responded to its ``TV Plus Flash-Fax
Poll,'' which asked whether readers were satisfied with
``Seinfeld.'' Fifty-two percent expressed mild displeasure, while
48 percent said the show remained brilliant, the newspaper said.
      Seinfeld called the paper after learning about the report, the
Post said, to say he has completed work on three upcoming episodes
that will change doubters' minds.
      ``I feel like we've totally taken off - they're so totally
unique and original,'' Seinfeld said.
      The stand-up comic who plays himself on the program that has
called itself ``the show about nothing'' because its comedy comes
from everyday mundane events defended its nontraditional premise.
      ``Every week, you have no idea what you're in for,'' Seinfeld
said. ``Most shows have a certain formula ... but we try to keep it
very unexpected.''
      ``Seinfeld'' remains the top-rated show in America. In its first
four weeks this season it finished second in the Neilsen ratings
only once, to ``ER.''
      AP-NY-10-19-97 1435EDT

"A good cross section of opinions?" This newsgroup is the only "cross section" less typical than one composed of New York Post readers.

Jerry and his staff should just keep doing what they're doing. It's working just fine.

working just fine. *********** Exactly, in fact I wonder why people, who are so displeased with the show, take time to watch each episode, and then log onto their internet account and write about how the writers are so bad. I've been watching the show for years, and I still base my schedule around it: 7:30 each weekday, and 9:00 on Thursdays --> Seinfeld. As far as how bad Seinfeld has gotten, I disagree: George is still George, Kramer is better than ever, and Newman has really earned his spot in the lineup. How anyone can not like the show is beyond me, let alone complain about it. To those who are so critical I ask the question: "Have you watched anything else on T.V. lately?"

My $0.02

Andre

Andre Mitchell wrote:

I wonder to, and it doesn't surprise me. I sometimes wonder why people take time to watch each episode, and then log on to defend the writers.

It miffs me that some people are so surprised with negative thoughts from fans....I mean, there is bound to be criticism. I wouldn't expect everyone to come onto this NG and say something like "well, last night's episode was perfect! Nothing went wrong! I laughed the whole time! Jerry is the greatest actor! Elaine is her old self! George is fantastic! Kramer is still his crazy ol' self!" and so on, and so on.

Wanna know the comeback that drives me crazy more than any other? "If you don't like it, don't watch!". What?!?!? I've been watching for years, so why should I suddenly stop because of a few bad episodes?

I love the show[sometimes], and as for the complaining part, it is my RIGHT to complain. I am the viewer.....if I don't like, I can complain. I think people would be really suprised at how much this NG would suck if everyone had nothing but constant praise for the show.

There isn't much else to watch. You can always watch something like Simpsons, or Home Improvement. If someone is REALLY looking for something to watch, might I suggest "Frasier"? I feel this show is truly in it's prime.

In , Bob Johnson writes:

Actually, there's where you're wrong. This is a common fallacy that a newsgroup needs antagonists. Guess what? This one doesn't. I think the rest of us would be perfectly content to post our favorite episodes, and our favorite scenes, and how many people have died and our favorite Newman quotes, and which secondary characters we like the most, and where Michael Alexander is gonna find those glasses he needs for his Halloween costume, and a thousand other things without once saying, "Gee. What's really bad about this show? I wish there were some people who would post negative crap trashing the show I enjoy so much! That would really make this a super news group!"

Andre Mitchell wrote:

To which I reply: take a look at other tv show newsgroups. There are people who, every week, post messages ala "Worse Episode Ever" and "Last Night Sucked"!! on practically every tv show usenet group out there. Many people actually think they can do a better job than professional writers--you'd be surprised. It certainly never ceases to amaze me.

Here's a fun fact for you pal, we "Seinfeld haters" are simply the REAL FANS who acctually understand comedy. You jokers couldn't write a good sitcom if your life depended on it - but we could. No wonder Larry David left the show, he understood how bad it was getting.

Justin T.

"Andre Mitchell" wrote:

Yes, and unfortunately, Seinfeld is morphing into one of those other mediocre shows. That's what critics of the new season (like me!) are upset about!

Believe me, I *want* to love this show. I have followed it for a number of years, and the reruns from old seasons still make me laugh - a LOT! There was so much cleverness and style, and *wit* in past years, even last year. There was something very special about how so many of the shows progressed, how the plots evolved, how the kicker at the end just seemed to be right on the mark. I cannot fathom what happened to it all, but whatever happened, the show just hasn't made me laugh that much this year.

I love the characters - that's not the problem at all. It's that they are being given crap material to work with! Well, let me rephrase that - some of that material has potential, based on the fact that I tend to laugh earlier in the show, when the exposition is still occuring. But the last 10-12 minutes, I'm sitting there groaning as they deliver some very stale lines, or engage in plot development that just goes nowhere. It used to be that they would maybe have one or two duds like that year - heck, I understand they can't all be winners, and I can forgive that. But I've been disappointed with all four shows thus far this year, and I see from this NG that I am not the only one.

It doesn't surprise me that much - I'm also a big fan of the Simpsons, but I remember last year thinking that the writing for that show had also deteriorated. I haven't seen this years episodes yet, so I can't say what is happening now. But after 6-7 (or more) years of fairly solid writing, that show seemed to have lost its edge too. I would just like to see Seinfeld finish off strong, as would anyone else. But I won't pretend that the show is as good as it used to be, if it just doesn't seem to be.

Boy, and you'd think that since we're "jokers" we could probably write pretty good sitcoms. Good thing my life seldom depends on my being able to write a sitcom that's up to Justin Tribble standards.

What are your credits, JT? I'm eager to learn. I mean, I'm watching Seinfeld and laughing a lot, so I can't wait to see what you "comedy-understanders" have come up with. It must be super duper!

Don't hide your light under a bushel, Trib. Glow for us, baby!

We still watch the show because they might just surprise us with a classic, and we still love JS,CK,GC and EB. At least I do anyway.

around it: 7:30 each weekday, and 9:00

Me too, so what?

George, Kramer >is better than ever, and Newman has

That's your opinion. If you read the article, you might have noticed that YOU are the minority of that unscientific poll, not us. If Seinfeld hadn't been so great at one time, then we wouldn't even be complaining about it now, we wouldn't even care. But it was great at one time, now it's not, and that's why we're disappointed and complaining.

To those who are so critical I ask

Such an attitude is not exactly a ringing endorsement. :-)

I'm one of those who are disappointed with the season so far, but I still find Seinfeld among the top shows. It's certainly not the only good thing on tv right now (have you seen Michael Palin's Full Circle on PBS?); it's not even the only good comedy. I'd rate King of the Hill, the Simpsons (tho' that one's slipping too), News Radio, and Third Rock up there with Seinfeld. IMO, King of the Hill is a bit better than Seinfeld at this stage.

just fine? then why do most people think its gone progressively worse for the last 2 seasons?

Well, it might be a good thing if Jerry would take a look at this news group

section"

just fine? then why do most people think its gone progressively worse for the last 2 seasons?<<<

If Jerry took time to call the NY Post, then he and his production group do notice what is being said about their show by viewers. I would imagine they keep on top of these opinions as they seem to be pretty astute at what the public likes.

Actually, this newsgroup is going t be just as valid as any other group for forming ideas as to how viewers feel about the show. Seinfeld and co. would have to check those groups who discuss the show just as the NY Post talked to viewers who watch it often. It isn't going to do much good if they just check the man on the street who never watches or does rarely as that person isn't going to care or have noticed if the show is better or worse and for what reasons.

Jenn

Hmmm...maybe the AP needs to do a little more research. The past four weeks of Neilsen ratings I've seen in USA Today have shown "ER" is number one, with "Seinfeld" (albeit close behind) at number two. Just me? -Molly

			"We started out to get television,
		 but, in the end, it was television that got us."
						-"Quiz Show"

A 24 episode season! Is this the sci fi channel?

Frank

[email] (MMarkowitz) wrote:

In my book, either a sitcom is intelligently written (like the old episodes of Seinfeld) or it is mediocrely written and worth critizing. Hey, I'm spending time watching, so I'm certainly going articulate it and decipher it.

If Seinfeld were another show, it probably would stand up pretty well against the competition. But as a dedicated Seinfeld fan, the clear change of path that the show has taken in the past two years is very disturbing. When I'm watching these new episodes I still have fresh in my memory the excellent syndicated episode I had watched the night before, and with that image fresh in my memory, I can only begin to compare the old episode to the new one, and therein I become very dissapointed because I see how much more poorly written the new episodes are and how much the characters have changed. I simply DO NOT WANT CHANGE. Keep it like it was - why must everything be "changed" so to keep up with the "times"? If it's good, why change it? That's my point - that is why I'm upset with what has happened. I just loved the old episodes - I'm like an old grandpa who can't handle the change in society - I'm becoming grumpy and disgrunteled - but, just like an old grandpa will play his old records to soothe his battered soul, I will watch the old episodes of Seinfeld to heal me.

Justin Tribble