I find it interesting that in "Favorite Episode" polls, "The Contest" always comes out by-far the winner. Does everyone really find this episode that much funnier than others, or do people find the fact that they take on such a "controversial" topic in an entirely implied way to be what makes it funny? Make no mistake, I think it is a hysterically and brilliantly crafted episode, with some classic criss-crossing of plot. But if I were to pick my favorite episode based purely on how much and how often I laugh, I wouldn't select "The Contest". Rather, I'd choose, say "The Pen".
To quote Chris Gabel's post:
Quite so. Humor based on "shock" value, as in the plot of "The Contest", only goes so far. (Sort of like, to make a VERY crude comparisson, how stand-up comedy alla Eddie Murphy, based solely on profanity and vulgarity, gets very old very fast.) Indeed, it's the back and forth bantering, repetition ("Snapple?"...."Snapple?" -from, ironically, "The Contest" when first Jerry, then Elaine offer the Virgin a Snapple.), and the criss-cross of "nothing" plots that makes the show funny. That's precisely what make a "show about nothing" work.
Once they try to add too much plot, the show fails (relatively). Frankly, I really didn't care for the episodes of last season in which J & G were trying to come up with a sitcom, which came to its disappointing climax at the season finale. They tried too hard to force a PLOT about a show about nothing, rather than actually making a show about nothing, highlighting their bantering.
Sure, their plots are far more creative and funny than the vast majority of other shows, but face it, it's the bantering...the Bantering, people...it's the BANTERING.
Opinions?
Mark