There were quite a number of posts comparing the two shows. IMO there is no comparison. Seinfeld is a show most of us can relate to but Friends is just a sitcom sometimes quite funny but bears no relevance to the real world.
Also, I can see why the 4 characters in Seinfeld bond so well and I have no doubt about their friendship and fondness for each other, even though they very seldom show their affections. While in "Friends", they hug and kiss all the time but I really can't see the closeness in their relationships.
I couldn't agree more, Friends has a sitcom feel, Seinfeld, although it really is pretty far from reality, is much more "real". That's really the reason I like the show. Everytime I watch it I see how no other show in history has come close to the "down the earth" feel of Seinfeld.
Actually, I disagree. OK, the two shows are very different, but let's have a quick look-see.
1) "The characters bonding issue". In Friends, they're all of similar age, similar backgrounds, and face similar problems, ie. relationships, job loss, parental problems. Some of them went to school together. Hey! Sounds like Seinfeld, too! 2) "The we-can-relate-to-Seinfeld-but-not-Friends issue". In Friends, we have a group of pals who hang out at a coffee shop, discuss relationships & stuff, support the ones who've lost jobs, crack wise at things they say...Hey, Seinfeld does that too! 3) "The Friends has no relevance to the real world but Seinfeld does issue". In Friends, it's a group of people with diverse jobs, who get together after work to hang out. Sounds like Seinfeld. Sounds like my life. Hmmm. Friends has "people want sex but are out of condoms" episode. Seinfeld has "people want sex but are out of sponges" episode. Hmmm. Friends has "One friend works briefly with another, but hijinks ensue" episode. Seinfeld has "One friend works briefly with another, but sex with cleaner ensues" episode. Friends has "some friends have more money than others" episode. Seinfeld has "some pals have more money than others thought" episode. Friends has "ugly naked guy". Seinfeld has "attractive naked woman". Gee, they both seem to have similarities, with comparable "realities".
OK, folks. The shows are different, and similar. You can like one, and not the other. But to suggest that one is better than the other would be based on either elitism or personal preferences. The judgement criteria I see so far in this thread is simply invalid. They do similar things. They behave in similar manners (also bear in mind the Friends are several years younger than the Seinfolks, and thus each have some age-related quirks), and have similar scenarios. The major, major difference is in the look, and the language. Prefer one? Hey, no problem. Trash the other because it "isn't as realistic" as the other? You're fooling yourself.
You define the "reality" of the show in terms of the situation. I prefer to define the "reality" of the show in terms of the characters.
Obviously, Seinfeld's characters are more "real" than their Friends counterparts, who are the hackneyed type-characters of a number of sitcoms (the airhead, the senistive guy, the sarcastic guy, and on and on).
Seinfeld's characters are so much more complex and, thus, so much more real. I won't even mention the appearance factor, without which Friends would completely flop.
Your points are valid; people relate to television programs which best reflect circumstances in their lives. Since this a newsgroup for fans of Seinfeld, of course the scales will be tilted in favor of that show. Personally speaking, the format of Friends doesn't seem believeable to me. Also, Friends seems geared more towards "generation X" (assuming this is a category) where Seinfeld focuses a bit more toward the tail end of the baby-boomers. In any case, there is some generation gap here; small as it may be.
The character of Kramer, for example, strikes a chord with many people simply because many people have known eccentrics in their lives. Younger people may not have yet met a Kramer-like person. Many older people have. It may be only a matter of how many "characters" someone has met in life.
Friends has a sitcom feel because it seems to be written for a laugh a line. Seinfeld is less frantic; it's willing to devote some lines to simply setting up a situation or a character.
For those who think Friends is every bit as good as Seinfeld (I for one enjoy Friends occasionally, but, no, I don't think it is in the same class) just compare the two newsgroups: Seinfeld fans are still discussing all the details in almost every episode, even the very first ones, because we can see ourselves along the storylines. I can watch Seinfeld over and over again and could still find it funny.
Seinfeld is like "I love Lucy" - the other show that I like, and Friends will be long forgotten when its off the air. IMO.