ratboy's thoughts on the finale

Here are some of my thoughts. Did anyone notice which episode the very first clip in the clip show came from? Yup. "the Puerto Rican Day". So much for the public apology the outrages PR group requested. Showing that scene was a nice slap in the face of the offended folks. (And they played the 'Superman' theme during the first clip segment. Nice touch.) The best clip? To me, George taking up smoking to force Susan to dump him was number one!

The bloopers were great. The way Jerry couldn't hold it together in the "Look away, I'm hideous!" scene had me laughing through the commercial break. And Jerry Stiller fighting with "Del Boca Vista" and You want a piece of me?" was superb. i gotta invest in that blooper tape!

For a moment, when they first mentioned California, I thought that the very first rumor script would turn out to be the way it really ended. Almost immediately I discounted that possibility. Seinfeld wouldn't do that.

I loved the parody of the pilot pitch episode, right down to George spelling Kimbrough's name correctly (remember he screwed up 'Dalrimple' a few years ago?) and his obsession with how Ted Danson gets treated. Yet another reward for the Sein-faithful.

And George cheated in the contest. Jerry wins. Jerry wins! Time to update the FAQ. (Although if you read the FAQ answer to the Contest question, you'll see I was never convinced that George had one, despite his 'admission' to the hand model guy.)

The montage of all the subpeonaed characters leaving their houses to get to the trial. Roll call: Uncle Leo, J Peterman, David Puddy, Mickey Abbott, Kenny Bania, The Rosses, Rabbi Glickman, Keith Hernandez, and Big Stein!

And Judge Arthur Vandelay?? Too cool! The final reference. Who knew Art Vandelay would send the gang to their ultimate doom? It left me feeling, I dunno, satisfied.

And the way that all the bad stuff they've ever done came back to nail them was the ultimate payback for the past 9 years. It seems so obvious now. Why couldn't we all guess this would happen?

Do I think they're gonna take a year off and come back?

Not at all. I think Kramer's throwaway line that they'd all be back next year was simply a dig at the "will there be a spinoff/reunion/movie?' people.

And what was the most satisfying moment for me? The very end, when Jerry mentions George's shirt buttons. The first joke ever in the very first episode becomes the final joke in the very last episode. I wasn't exactly laughing, but I smiled, and couldn't stop for a few minutes.

And another thing, FWIW, way back when Jerry first announced the end in December, my first thought was that the final scene should have the four of them discussing something stupid and the camera just draws back until the scene is gone. How much more right could I have been? Sure, I said it would happen in the coffee shop, but who could have guessed it would happen in prison? I'm still considering myself correct.

I know I've used the word several times already in this post, but I'll say it again. This last episode left me with a supreme sense of satisfaction.

The 30 million who tune in every week were well rewarded, the other 50 million who just wanted to see what the fuss was about were not. And that's the way it should be.

Bravo, Jerry. You wanted to go out a winner, and you sure did.

Absolutely an A+ episode.

The last A+ episode.

That had me laughing as well!

I couldn't agree with you more. This was one of the best (and last) episodes I have ever seen.

Cas

"You know, sometimes when I think you're the shallowest man I've ever met, you somehow manage to drain a little more out of the pool."

Casella wrote in article ...

That was EASILY one of the last episodes I have ever seen...

MjT

now THAT'S sarcasm...

Mark Tennenhouse wrote in article ...

episodes

"Stick a fork in me Jerry......I..I..I'm D..D...Done" Hahahahahahahahohohohohohahahahaha!!! LOL!!!

Allen

Dave wrote:

Finally, some intelligence does exist in this group.

I agree with Dave (ratboy) on every point he made. Especially the part about the *real* viewers being rewarded, not the 50 million bandwagoneers who wouldn't appreciate it. Everyone I know who liked it is a long-time diehard fan. Everyone I know who didn't like it just watched for the history. It definitely didn't draw any new fans!!!!

As for the clip show. IT WAS MISSING SOMETHING SOOOOO VITAL TO THE SHOW!!!!!!!!

A full retrospective clip of all of Kramer's spasms, entrances, antics, etc. It shoulda had a whole segment devoted to Kramer, but it didn't, and that was the only disappointing part of the night.

Otherwise, the finale was genious. I was in absolute awe of Larry David's intelligence in bringing back all those characters in such a "Seinfeld-esque" situation. It was poetic.

Matt

[email] (SgtMahoney) writes:

Fine. Then one of you isn't needed. As Dave initiated this thread, you can leave.

This whole "real viewers" justification is really going limp.

Define "real viewers".

And I guess they went away thinking, "Damn, I haven't missed a whole helluva lot by not watching, have I?"

I suppose I'm a "long-time diehard fan" . . . and I still think it was the worst Seinfeld episode ever.

I didn't like it, and I wasn't just watching for the history. I was watching hoping to see one hell on an incredibly written, masterfully performed classic episode.

I agree with you 100% there.

And that makes a lot of sense, doesn't it. Run off potential new fans and jeopardize the syndication value.

Dave wrote:

I think every scene was great. I loved it.

I didn't expect to see any bloopers and I'm very grateful there was some. I wish there were more of it. It was hilarious.

I was hoping someone would mention Jerry's parents and their very funny conversations. I thought "Xena" subject was hilarious. :)

That was the greatest moment. I just couldn't stop laughing. What a hoot. :)

It was perfect. I just loved it.

Because "Seinfeld" is a very ingenious show.

This morning I heard 90 million people tuned in. 80 or 90 is still a very huge number.

Absolutely. I enjoyed the show very much. Thank you Dave for your thoughts.

maro

Dave wrote:

PARODY? I guess that's what this episode amounted to - just parodies of classic material - what a concept.

So recycling material in everyway possible, even if it's completely unrealistic, satisfies you?

The acting in that scene stunk to high heaven - couldn't you tell how awful the acting was? Especially Alexander.

Ohh, well. I thought is was awful. I completely disagree with you.

Yeah. Parodies are stupid. Parodies NEVER make people laugh.

Fool.

Duh. If it happened in the middle of a season, I'd think you almost had a valid point. But since the whole idea of the finale was to recycle old plots and characters, I'd say the meaning left you behind. No wonder you're so bitter. It's like we're all in the lodge toasting shots of run while you're outside in the cold with your nose pressed up against the glass. We've invited you in, but for some sick reason, you prefer to stand out there feeling sorry for yourself.

So freeze to death, drivel boy.

I was far too busy reflecting on what a fantastic episode this was and how it capped a wonderful final season of a great sitcom to piss and moan about the acting. I guess you were simply hunting for reasons not to like it. Like backwards messages on Black Sabbath albums, we always seem to find what we want to find.

Whatever. But you knew you wold hate this episode long before it aired, just as I figured I would love it. Looks like I'm the winner here.

Dave writes:

I really enjoyed the bloopers as well. What simply amazed me about the bloopers were the scenes where JLD cracked up. I've always thought she was incredibly gorgeous, but when she lost it a few times there, for some reason her beauty just intensified. The way she was laughing, that "real" uncontrollable laugh - not the "acting" laugh . . . her face was just glowing, and, and . . .

Man, I was just stunned.

Should have never been revealed. It should have continued to be one of the great Seinfeld mysteries of all times.

Y'see, when you say stuff like that it makes me think that you're just being sarcastic.

Have to disagree. I'm probably every bit as big a fan as you, Dave, if not more. And I've been onboard since the beginning. But I feel incredibly cheated . . . like a little kid on Christmas morning who didn't get that brand-spankin' new bicycle he'd been wishing for.

That's where I think you're logic fails. Regardless of what kind of message Seinfeld (or David) were trying to get across, I think it is stupid to risk losing those meaningless "50 million who just wanted to see what the fuss was about". I really don't think that Seinfeld and friends would intentionally jeopardize the future potential of that audience. Those extra 50 million that went away with nothing can have a significant impact, not just on syndication revenue . . . but on the cast's individual future opportunities as well. No performer in their right mind would intentionally sacrifice that large of a potential fan base.

C'mon, Dave. I think his ass is wet enough. :)

Hey, How big is that beach towel you're sitting on? Don & Mike Rule!

NetAbuzer wrote in message ...