Fans discuss whether Will & Grace copied a joke from Seinfeld's dermatologist pimple-popper storyline, with most agreeing sitcoms frequently imitate Seinfeld but view it as homage rather than theft.
I was watching a repeat of Will & Grace (which I don't usually watch) last night. Grace was obsessed with eavesdropping on her neighbors - the wife was having several affairs while her Doctor husband was at work. Grace said to Will, "Her husband is out saving lives and she's sleeping around!" Will replied, "He's a dermatologist - he's not saving lives, he's popping pimples!" This looks like it was directly lifted from the Seinfeld episode where Jerry dates the "pimple popper M.D."
Jaclyn
Jaclyn Mussehl wrote:
I would say that was done as an honour, in homage of Seinfeld perhaps, and not as an unethical steal. The line is obviously from The Slicer episode.
Jaclyn, let's face it...MOST of today's sitcoms are Seinfeld copies, in
concept even if they haven't gotten to the point of actually plagiarizing
dialogue. Remember a few years ago when Jerry was on the Tonight Show and told
Jay Leno (in the course of discussing Friends), "look, I appreciate the
flattery of imitation, but guys, would you please STOP RIPPING US OFF?"
Think of today's TV sitcoms, especially the ones that are going to survive
to next season. Friends? A Seinfeld-style group of people, just 10 years
younger. Frasier? Another Seinfeld-style group, with the brother dynamic thrown
in. Drew Carey? Seinfeld in Cleveland, a little more blue-collar (though much
better than all the rest of the clones because of the talent of the
performers). It's Like, You Know? Seinfeld in LA with a female lead. Two Guys,
A Girl and a Pizza Place? Seinfeld with a truncated cast. Jesse? Seinfeld with
a female lead again, only in Buffalo instead of LA.
There are notable exceptions to the pattern and some of them (like The
Norm Show) are quite interesting and promising. But Jerry and his partner Larry
David still should be getting creator's credits and royalties on many of
today's sitcoms.Bob Smith, afternoons WXXI-AM 1370, Rochester NY
everyone loves raymond?
Talk1370 wrote:
It seems the times were right for the non-family sitcom and Jerry was first with the best. But there have been other rip offs too.
The Original ========= Seinfeld - four crazy people (Jerry, Elaine, George, Kramer) and their wild antics in New York.
Copies ======= The Wizard of Oz - Four crazies (Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion) in a strange weird city.
Star Trek - Four people (Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty) traveling around the "cosmos" getting into jams wherever they go.
The Dick van Dyke Show - more comedy writers (Rob, Laura, Sally, Buddy) getting laughs in NYC.
Gunsmoke - four craaaazy westerners (Matt, Kitty, Doc, Chester) interacting in a wild western town.
and so on...
:-)
I have a feeling pointing out every instance of a plot point or line lifted from a Seinfeld episode turning up on current network situation "comedy" could become a full-time job. Originality in an industry that recycled its garbage long before it became politically correct is precisely what made Seinfeld stand out.
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