Who's the best? Friends, Seinfeld, or Frasier?

Is there anybody out there who watches all three shows? Which one of them is the best?

I watch all three!

I used to enjoy Friends more than I do now. I also think the older Seinfelds were *much* better than now! So as far as recent eps, I think I like Frasier the best. In general, Seinfeld is definitely the best of the three.

-Jen

In article , [email] says...

I watch all three shows, but I definitely enjoy Frasier the most. Seinfeld is a solid second, with Friends coming in third. I think Friends used to be a lot funnier than it is now, and although Seinfeld has some brilliant moments, for consistent hilarity, Frasier wins hands down.

Aleksandra :)

Oh, piffle! Tastes are individual. We could have as many answers as there are readers! I loathe Seinfeld and don't give a hoot who likes which and why, myself. I figure you read this ng 'cause you like Frasier. Isn't that enough?

Having said that, I will cast a vote for Niles, just because I figure it's time that men knew that women *like* men who are witty and smart and vulnerable - i.e. NOT the sort of guy which men still seem to think 'get all the women' (at least in debates I've seen on relationship ngs). Let's hear it for sweet guys! (Probably why I don't like Seinfeld - nobody's very nice of that bunch.)

Glenda (who happens to think 'nice' is a good thing to be)

[email] (Aleksandra McClain) wrote:

I agree with both Jennifer and Aleksandra -- they both said it well.

Hi Everyone,

Well, I used to watch all three shows, but I have not caught any of Frasier this season (I should start using that VCR). Frasier was (can't speak about the current season) a very funny show. The humor was often sarcastic and witty, which I love! Niles is one of my favorite characters on that show, and Frasier and Lillith were my favorite characters from Cheers. All in all, NBC made a good choice when they gave Kelsey Grammar his own show. Now that I think about it, maybe I will tune in to next week's episode.

Friends has really disappointed me this season. It's ironic that just when these actors and actresses start demanding more money, the show goes down the tubes. I still watch the show because I actually find Chandler's character to be pretty funny. Otherwise, this will probably be my last season watching.

Seinfeld, on the other hand, could go one for the next ten years and I would still watch it. Granted, I prefer the earlier seasons to this one, but I do not think that this season has been all that bad so far. In fact, I LOVED the Kenny Roger's Chicken Roaster's episode, as well as 'The Little Steps' ("sweet fancy Moses"). I still watch every Thursday, but I am finding that I enjoy the nightly reruns even more. My favorite character would have to be George. Jason Alexander has made George a character all his own. The same goes for any of the cast members, really. All irreplaceable in my opinion (yes, even Elaine).

Just another .02

Mary

I think that Mary says it BEST. I agree 100%.

I was wondering for all the people who said they liked Frasier the best, what is so great about that show? It has won all these awards and I am puzzled. I have seen the show, but don't watch it on a regular basis, because I basically don't think that it is all that funny or interesting. What is it about the show that you think makes it funny? Please email me or post to the group if you have any responses to that question. I do enjoy watching other NBC hits like Seinfeld, Friends, Mad About You, Caroline IN the City, and 3rd Rock From the Sun. Thanks

Erin

Hmmm ... the main thing that comes to mind is that it has a sophisticated, "droll" humor. I like how there's always a visual joke at the end when the credits roll and I like trying to guess who the call-in guest voices are.

And I like the ensemble. For me, a good cast that works well together is what makes a comedy. I also feel this way about Third Rock, Seinfeld, and Murphy Brown (before it got bad.)

I think Niles is adorable and love anything he does.

Hope this has been helpful, Jen

Obviously its a matter of personal taste, but the writing on Frazier is quite sophisticated, and the show rarely sinks to the usual dopey "sitcom" state (complete with forced laugh track).

As for Seinfeld, this year (and most of last yr) seems desperate. Just ain't the same show anymore!

I admit to still being mildly interested in the Friends characters (with the exception of Phoebe) but the laughs have become pretty scarce.

Also I think Third Rock is juvenile, I like Helen Hunt but Paul Reiser ruins Mad About You, and Caroline in the City seems a Friends rehash (which is a Seinfeld rehash!)

I do like the Boston Red Sox, however...

JLR

best,

am

interesting.

me

WEll, I figure since I'm a NBC hound for the most part (with the very notable exception of the Simpsons and Murphy Brown which has been going downhill as far as sitcoms go) I figured I'd throw my two cents in here. I've been watching Seinfled, Friends, and Frasier since their beginings. As far as going down hill - Friends has definitely been the worst victim...except for Joey and Chandler, the show rarely makes me laugh any more - Rachel and Ross need to break up I think - maybe the show will get back to its original idea. It seems that the best episodes of Friends were the individula epsidoes when the plots were confined within the scope of the episode and had no long lasting effects (ie Rachel and Ross getting together). Frasier still has the best writing of any sitcom on tv - except for the Simpsons - consistantly makes me laugh out loud. David Hyde Pierce and kelsey Grammar are two of the funniest actors - and one of the best comedy teams since Abbot and Costello - on tv. Seinfeld should get back to the plots about nothing - their recent episodes, while still funny, have had TOO much plot. The four actors on the show is still my favorite ensemble cast on tv. As for the other shows mentioned - Mad About You is still funny - Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser are great, and the two episodes this season with Mel Brooks deserve to become classics! 3rd Rock is good - but, as I've said, I'm a loyal Simpsons fan so don't get a chance to see it as often as I would like to. Anyway, that's my two cents - let the bashings begin! Jason

They are different types of humor. Frasier has witty writing....Best line ever being when Lillith, in Tahiti, introduces her fiancee, a seismologist, to Frasier....he replies 'and you Lillith,with all your faults!' But Seinfeld has character development which is rare in comedy series....as is evidenced by the rest of Mustn't See TV lineup. Just the idea of bringing J. Peterman and that stupid catalogue to life....and who cannot laugh at portrayal of George Steinbrenner.

One word: BOSCO

One word for you....BOSCO

Gussel Timer wrote:

If you asked me this question a year ago, I would have said Friends, but the Friends current season has been so disapointing that I would stop watching it completely if it wasn't for Courtney Cox.

I like Frasier, but I don't really follow it because of its Tuesday night showing--I only really tune in when I'm in the "I miss Cheers" mood.

I would have to say that Jerry Seinfeld is the King of Sitcoms. Not only is his show witty and original, but he has the best support cast on TV in Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander, & Michael Richards.

No CONTEST !~

1) Seinfeld 2) Senifeld 3) Seinfeld j anderson wrote:

On Sat, 01 Feb 1997 15:25:12 GMT, [email] (bart) wrote:

I just Seinfield is one of those shows that I'll miss *AFTER* it's gone...

But thank God you won't

have to----thanks to

syndication!!!

Long live Seinfeld!!

I vote for Seinfeld with Frasier a close second

Friends, Seinfeld, and Frasier are all excellent shows. I watch very little television (seriously!), yet I never miss these shows. Other worthwhile comedies are NewsRadio and The Larry Sanders Show. I generally find television to be a waste of time--there is soooo much garbage on the 70 channels I am blessed with--yet I am able to watch these shows guilt-free.

Considering this is a Seinfel group, I'd bet that's what will win

Seinfeld it is.....

Considering that the thread originally was crossposted in alt.tv.frasier, -friends and -seinfeld, I'd bet that the people in those groups will give the K-man some competition. Well, try, anyway.

Yup.

In article , bart writes

It's got to be Friends all the time ****** * ******* * *

((|   *     *   |)) *        * *     *        *       *

  \    ( o )    /   *        *    *  *        *   *
   \           /    *        *     * *        *   *
    \_________/     *        *      **       *    *
       |   |        *        *       *******      *
                     [email]   *
                    *******************************

In article , [email] (Mark Robbins) says:

But you CAN decide which one you LIKE better.

For me, I never miss Seinfeld---if I'm not going

to be home I tape it. Since I don't have that

same "passion" for the other 2 shows, that tells

me that I DO think it's the best.

See what I mean?...

In article , j anderson wrote:

friends is the best...

This is a tough choice, but i must go with 1.FRIENDS 2. SEINFELD 3. FRASIER I rarely miss an episode of Friends nor does anyone in my apartment!!! In article , j anderson wrote:

Frasier.....

On 9 Feb 1997 12:37:47 GMT, "Ian J" wrote:

<de-lurking long enough to vote> Frasier....hands down.

Frasier

Flavio Riveros Cadena Tampico Mexico

Flavio Riveros Cadena wrote in article ...

Friends is trendy 20 something crap, none of them are stars on their own, all their movies bomb, they need big stars to do cameo appearances to get more interest, rip off Seinfeld with the coffee shop talk, thinking Chandler is gay (Seinfeld did it first) Etc, etc..

Frasier is psychiatrist (spelling?) talk that brought down Cheers when Fraser and Diane went on and on. It is not funny period.

Seinfeld, the show about anything is clever, suttle, and something people can relate to with their unique situations. Shows many aspects of the four characters lives. The show is amazing.

Matt

In article , "<Your Real Name>" <<youruserid>@worldchat.com> wrote:

And you�re here for what particular reason, please?

For those of you who haven't noticed, this is a cross-posting, so this person is probably not on the Frasier NG at all.

-Jen

In article , [email] says...

Ditto. I watch all 3 regularly, but Frasier is the only one that makes me laugh out loud every episode. Seinfeld can be priceless, but it can also be so out there that I don't even get it sometimes. And Friends, well... I think I only watch out of habit these days, although there are often some funny one-liners... and I like Chandler and Joey.

SLT

Oh Yeah - I gotta say Frasier - Third Rock and this weeks' Friends was great!

Uh- Seinfeld was mediocre, Newman was wonderful!!!!

On 21 Feb 1997, Stephanie L. Thompson wrote:

In article [email] (Stephanie L. Thompson) writes: Q: In article , Q: [email] says... Q: > Q: >Frasier Q: > Q: >Flavio Riveros Cadena Q: >Tampico Mexico Q: Q: Ditto. I watch all 3 regularly, but Frasier is the only one that makes me Q: laugh out loud every episode. Seinfeld can be priceless, but it can also be Q: so out there that I don't even get it sometimes. And Friends, well... I think Q: I only watch out of habit these days, although there are often some funny Q: one-liners... and I like Chandler and Joey.

Yeah... Frasier is consistently good, but it never quite injects that feel-good factor (sorry if I sound like an English politician) that Friends can manage, but on the other hand I never see an episode of Frasier where I think

my word that was uncharacteristically poor

But sometimes I get that with Friends.

But, hey! Why are we arguing when we can watch all the ones we want? (Especially is 'we' are American and 'we' can see series three while poor old Bob is stuck on repeats of one and two!!!)

----
      ______________________________
     /   Bobby Downes              /\
    /   e-mail: [email]   / /
   /   BBS: Sound & Vision       / /
  /   BBS: [UK] (0181) 288 8444 / /
  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\/

Frasier has been somewhat of a downer lately.. nothing happens-- he begs, lies, cheats and/or steals to get a date, and then does something stupid.

Has anybody figured out how to pick-out the celebrity guest-voices on the radio show?

Ann

In article , [email] (John J Martin) writes:

Yeah,, read the credits.

GoodNightSeattle!

In article , [email] (John J Martin) writes:

Um...read the credits...???

It Shrinks...???

Seinfeld has got to be the best sitcom ever made. I deon't really care for Seinfeld himself But George Kramer and Elane are the best.

***SNIP*** Seinfeld has got to be the best sitcom ever made. I deon't really care for Seinfeld himself But George Kramer and Elane are the best. ***SNIP*** It used to be...This season is the worst...Kramer and his highway, George flying across the country for his stupid joke, the double Elaine...Remember, this was a show about NYC characters who were just living their lives...that must've got too weak, because now the show is like any other sitcom...silly, boring, lame and dumbed down to schmuck level...This is not a troll, just a few sad words for a great show that is now for idiots and mean-spirited fools...

I once watched "Friends" on occasion; it never struck a chord with me, so I stopped watching it. It's a little too dumbed-down for my taste, and I really don't care for soap-opera subplots --- I don't care who's doing what with whom, unless it advances the comedic elements of the plot. OTOH, the women on the show are easy on the eyes, even if they wear oh-too-cute hairstyles. :-)

"Frasier" is one of the most literate, witty shows on TV, IMHO. The dialog is intelligent, the plots are (usually) clever, and the characters are well-developed. At the risk of causing a flurry of flames, I'd say that "Frasier" frequently is more clever than "Seinfeld". (That's "frequently", not "always".) Unfortunately, the quality of the show is uneven at times.

"Seinfeld" is a good show, although it's a bit more middle-brow than "Frasier". Also, unlike "Fraser", "Seinfeld" satirizes real life (as experienced on the Upper West Side of Manhattan) as much as it does character types. Part of "Seinfeld's" attraction is the shtick of some of its cast members: in particular, Michael Richards, Jason Alexander, and Jerry Stiller. This compensates for the rhythm of the repartee between Jerry Seinfeld and his friends, which has gotten repetitious from episode to episode; sometimes, it borders on being formulaic.

"Seinfeld" isn't the best show ever to be on TV (as some have claimed), but it's very good. I don't think it's appropriate to ask whether "Seinfeld" or "Frasier" is better; they're both good, for different reasons. "Cybill" is also a very good show (although it's something of a "women's" show), again for different reasons. "Murphy Brown" was good in past seasons, also for different reasons. (It no longer satirizes Washington politics and the news biz, and it's degraded to a "Mary Tyler Moore Show" for the '90's.) Finally, as I said earlier, "Friends" is OK, but it's not quite my taste.

Actually, there's little that interests me on prime-time TV. There's more to do in life than to be a couch potato.

---Alvin H. Nichter (posting/reading in alt.tv.seinfeld)

I agree, the plot in the friends episodes treat you like if they don't keep repeating a certain point you'll forget it. Frasier and seineld have an edge that just is NOT there in friends and they also treat you as though you are semi-intelligent. My guess is that in a few years friends episodes are gonna be laughably pathetic, like watching the brady bunch now..:=)

In article [email] writes:

I watch all three shows, and enjoy each for it's own merits.

Frasier for it's intelligence and classy humor. The best sitcom going.

Seinfeld for the chuckles, with Kramer being the funniest. The show gets tiresome sometimes, and all of the characters are somewhat 'disfunctional', but hey, I laugh!

Friends for the hell of it. I enjoy beautiful women, and this show has more than it's share. It is amusing, occasionally funny and the photography is excellent. (Note the control of the colors presented to the audience). The writting is not all that great, but there is something about it that is rather hypnoticly compelling.

-This is getting far too deep.

Larry DeMers

I'd like to add a show and delete one. I admit "Frasier is funny at times, but it's more of an adult humor. I being 17 years of age, am not anxious to grow up . This is why I watch "Seinfeld".

"Seinfeld" mixes several types of comedy; satire, slap stick, etc. This is why I find it funny. Also, the characters are lovable, with the exception of Elaine lately. "A bitch" as someone else on the NG said.

"Friends" was funny for the first season. It is becoming a soap opera. This is why I don't watch TV during the day.

"Third Rock From the Sun" has the B movie flick plot......bad. But the writers and actors are genius's as far as I'm concerned. The ability to take that plot and make it funny is amazing. Just imagining aliens viewing our twisted society, and reacting to like the character's do is hilarious. John Lithgow is a great actor. Seeing him in "Third Rock", then watching the movie, "Ricochet" with Lithgow, is like watching Hanks in "Forest Gump", then watching "Apollo13".

Elvis is King

"A pretty woman, you know, kinda short, big wall of hair, face like a frying pan."

-George, describing Elaine, in "The Movie"

I watch Frasier and Friends every week. I tried to like Seinfeld but just can't do it. Those characters are mean and obnoxious. We tape Friends so we don't have to turn on the tv until 9:30pm. Lori

On Tue, 28 Jan 1997 17:10:02 -0800, Gussel Timer wrote:

It's not a matter of which one is best. All three are quality shows, three of my favorites along with Drew Carey, Dave's World, and King of the Hill. There's no way to determine which one is best because they are all good based on different reasons.

In article , Gussel Timer writes:

Well, I used to watch all three, but Seinfeld became tired and repetitive to me. Between the remaining two, I would say that "Frasier" is DEFINITELY better. It is one of the most smartly written, most consistently entertaining shows on television. While "Friends" is still a very good show, it seems to have been somewhat uneven this season.

Just my $.02...

I think Friends is the best of all, but i like seinfeld too.

Patricio Londaits

IMHO: First and foremost---SEINFELD!!

Second---Frasier

A distant third (with 3 or 4 other shows inbetween)---friends.

In [email] (Jaycey) writes:

of

Friends is definitely losing in its writing department; seems to me that the show is now relying mainly on the stars' popularity. Tym

is the best?

Come on everybody! There is no BEST show! 'Best' is relative! A more appropriate question would have been "Why do you enjoy one vs the other?" You know, I really would like to start seeing some intelligent posts for a change.

In article , [email] says...

	Well, I'll take a stab at making an intelligent post, but I can't
guarantee anything. ;)  I already answered this question about which show is
the "best," giving my rankings as Frasier, Seinfeld, and then Friends.  The
reasons that I like one versus the other are:
	I enjoy Frasier the most because of its incredibly intelligent and
often subtle humor.  Frasier and Niles (especially Niles!) getting their
high-brow sensibilities ruffled is some of the funniest sitcom material I've
ever seen.  Also, there is not a weak actor in the show, and both David Hyde
Pierce and Kelsey Grammer excel at reactions and facial expressions, which are
often funnier than any line.  I absolutely love the mix of verbal,
physical, and smart comedy that Frasier provides, and every mention and
treatment of Niles' unrequited love for Daphne has been brilliant.  The
combination of outstanding writing and acting make Frasier a consistently
hilarious and enjoyable show.
	I like Seinfeld for different reasons.  I also think that the acting
on this show is top-notch, and the plots that the writers come up with are
some of the most original and downright outlandish storylines on television.
The fun in Seinfeld is found in how absolutely strange and often not-nice the
characters are, and yet we like them anyway, perhaps because sometimes we all
wish we could be as scheming as George or as evil as Newman.  Another high
point in Seinfeld is the way the multiple subplots all end up coming together
during the show.  You get the feeling that something so weird could only
happen to this group of people, and watching them go through it makes for a
very funny program.
	Friends is a different style of comedy altogether.  It is (or perhaps
used to be) a very witty and urban show, with uniformly likable and beautiful
characters.  I think that the quality of Friends' writing has declined
recently, but before, I highly enjoyed the sarcastic comments of Chandler, the
sweet stupidity of Joey, and Ross's hangdog longing for Rachel.  There are
still a few good, funny lines every week in the shows, but overall I've been
fairly disappointed with Friends lately, and it just doesn't make me laugh as
much as it used to.  (I have a theory about Ross and Rachel getting together
causing the humor to drain out of the show, but nothing's been proven yet.
<g>)  Anyhow, that's as close to an intelligent post on the three shows as I
could get.  I hope it serves!

Aleksandra :)

If you were intelligent enough, you would have figured out that's what the post meant. i.e. "Of the three, which do you like the best: Friends, Seinfeld, or Frasier?" Get it? :)

I vote for Newsradio.

I had a Best who was a relative, but I don't know if he was my best relative, but then he was probably someone's favorite...it's all relative.... the hermit

Seinfeld is number one.
I have never watched the other shows and even if I had I would still vote
the same..
 I wil now rate the characters:::
  1. Elaine
   2. Cosmo
   3. Castagnia
    4. Jerry
     5. Kramer's attorney
      6. George's father
      7. Newman

To paraphrase Elaine---

It's Costanza.....you jackass!

Castagnia?!?!? ...obviously you're a HUGE Seinfeld fan --OJs a liar

In article , [email] (Jaycey) writes:

That was pretty funny! Or, it's "Can't-stand-ya"

Elvis is King

"A pretty woman, you know, kinda short, big wall of hair, face like a frying pan."

-George, describing Elaine, in "The Movie"

[email] (Jaycey) wrote:

I watch all three on a regular basis. Friends is first, Seinfeld is second, and Frasier is third.

[email] wrote:

     I think, like it was said by Edward D.C., it is all relative.
Saying that, I would like to add that it is relative to how we identify.
 If you are or ever have been a single young adult in the city, just
starting out in your career, I think you would best identify with
Friends.  If you were single as a lifestyle and enjoying it, or maybe
wish you were happily single, maybe Seinfeld would be more to your
liking.  As for Frasier lovers, I guess we simply like the good writing,
and identify with some of the characters some of the time.
    So, when you say which you like, maybe it says more about you than
the show itself.
     I am a philosophical person and see human nature at it's funniest
in Seinfeld...and that is why I love Seinfeld best!
Mary Jo - the hermit

Friends, Frasier, Sienfeld

[email] wrote in article ...

On 2 Feb 1997 18:46:59 GMT, [email] (Jaycey) wrote:

Seinfeld's kinda different -- I love it!

But not as much as I like 'Friends'... Well, I guess it's that 'taste' thing... :)

Never watched Frasier, though (it was never shown on Croatian TV)

	--Srlle
---------------------------------------------
  "The  most  quiet  words  are  the  ones
   that  bring  the storms.  Thoughts that
   come on pidgeon's feet - rule the World."

______________________________
SENIFELD v. FRIENDS v. FRASIER
______________________________

-Let's face it. Seinfeld aint what it used to be.

-Friends is fun to watch because of their youth and good looks.

-But Frasier is without any doubt the best sit-com on American television today. The writing is so much better than any other show. And not just a little bit better. A lot better. And the relationship between the brothers is very funny.

TO SUM UP:

1/Frasier is the best sit-com.

On Sun, 06 Apr 1997 18:57:33 GMT, [email] (Darryl

I thought your government was so committed to ethnic cleansing that they weren't letting you use English any more. If you don't like Seinfeld your taste in sitcoms is as bad as your taste in languages.

On Sat, 5 Apr 1997 [email] wrote:

...once again reinforcing the view that Albertans are rednecks.

...Congratulations, rklein. Hey... 'Klein'! Boy, do you *ever* sound like a Klein. Are you Ralphie's little boy?

...for you non-Canadians, Ralph Klein is the right-wing premier of Alberta.

GR

[email] wrote:

First of all, though Montreal is in Quebec, it still has a big english community. Second of all, I really don't see what you mean by a bad taste of language. Having lived in Alberta for 12 years, I also happen to know that there is a decent french community in Alberta. It's not because you don't like french, probably 'cause after having tried learning it for so long and still only being able to say "Bonjour" with a really bad accent, that the language itself is no good. That or in your opinion all languages besides english are a "bad taste in languages" (though, unfortunately, that probably is your opinion). Last but most importantly, Darryl (english sounding name by the way), didn't say that he didn't like Seinfeld (though since I don't know him, I can't speak for him), he just said that it wasn't what it used to be, and I tend to agree with him. It is still one of the best comedies on TV, but Frasier has definitely surpassed it.

Anne-Lise Piquard Ottawa, ONtario, Canada

[email] (Darryl Levine) wrote:

Talk of Seinfeld dropping off this season is a matter of selective memory, the supposed negative impact of Larry David leaving, and concerns about the coming millenium (well, #3 may be a stretch...)

Of the eight seasons, I'd rank them in order this way:

Season 3 (stand outs -- The Library, The Fix-up, The Pez Dispenser) Season 6 stand outs -- The Jimmy, The Fusilli Jerry, The Switch) Season 8 (stand outs -- The Comeback, The Little Kicks, The Susie) Season 7 (stand outs -- The Soup Nazi, The Rye, The Wig-Master) Season 5 (Stand outs -- The Mango, The Wife, The Hamptons) Season 4 (Stand Outs -- The Outing, The Implant, the Junior Mint)

Seasons 1 & 2 were more about trying to hit the groove rather than riding it. The Jacket was great, if for nothing else, the gruff appearance of Lawrence Tierney as Elaine's father. The rest are curios rather than classics (although to be fair, season one consisted of 4 episodes and season 2 only had 12).

Actually, this season is one of the better ones, although those with weak stomachs for "off the wall" episodes may be less enchanted. It's all fine and dandy that the Constest is everyones favorite episode -- but it's one of the few stand outs in an otherwise weak season (mostly tied up with developng the Jerry! pilot). And although season 7 has some great episodes, many of them were more routine episodes about George worrying about getting out of his pending marriage to Susan.

As much as I enjoy the shows about nothing, I find nothing wrong with the totally off-kilter ones that are about absurdity rather than true life.

Friends has gone downhill. Although it's funny in spots, too much time is spent on zingers collected into an umbrella of plot instead of a funny plot in and of itself.

I'd have to agree. I was never a fan of the show until this year's premiere. Now I'm hooked. Frasier has quickly shot to the top, surpassing Seinfeld and The Simpsons this season. When are they going to syndicate Frasier so I can see the stuff I've missed all this time?

Hanson "How about some turpentine? Or caulk? Delicious caulk!" - Homer Simpson

i can't stand frasier. kelsey grammer makes me sick! especially after he was accused of molesting a child. i think that seinfeld is the best show. friends is good too, but sometimes they get on my nerves.

I would say "Friends" because, while I enjoy all three series, Friends is the only one of the three I never miss. It is truly "must-see-TV", you might say. I do try to see the others when I can but I don't bash myself over the head if I miss an episode.

In , Roger Schoolcraft writes:

Actually, I'm a bit tired of 30-something angst. Friends was funny for about a season. Lets see how it plays during season 8 before we compare it to Seinfeld.

Who brought this thread back from the dead file...???

I don't want to drag this out into a lengthy discussion since this NG is about Seinfeld but I really don't know what the basis of comparison is for these 3 shows other than the fact that they're 3 high rated sitcoms on the same network.

If I watch and enjoy all three am I still allowed to read this newsgroup?

Babu

On Tue, 27 May 1997 01:08:31 +0100, Jonathan Mark Francis wrote:

Let's grow up people. Tablois and allegations plague all celebrities' life. As soon as they get popular, someone is bound to come up and try to ruin their public life. To Jonathan - that child case was so long ago and I think the charges were eventually dropped....

Well, now that Seinfield has broken up with his girlfriend of 5 years, are you going to stop watching that show?? (BTW< I wouldn't watch Seinfield either way since to me, that show is really about nothing -- does not have the rich storyline as Frasier nor Friends)...

ML

Oh, come on! Friends is so high school that it isn't even in the same class as Seinfeld or Frasier. It is a tossup between the 2 for me depending on the mood of the day. BTW how do they compare with Home Improvement? Carl

In , Carl Muench writes:

If Friends is high-school, Home Improvement is kindergarten. (And I don't even care for Friends all that much.)

No one in America over the age of thirty watches Friends. And for those younger, use the formula 100-3.3X, where X=their age. This will give you the average IQ of the Friends audience for that particular age bracket.

Seinfeld is about everything in life that's real. Kramer is more real than the most realistic character on Friends. Friends is about nothing -- improbable, meaningless relationships built on the pretense of Really Caring, but we all know they just want to hang out for fun and get into each others' pants. Okay, but do you have to lie about it? Must you confuse lust with love twenty-six times a season?

I hate to prove you wrong, pal, but I watch Friends and I'm 45! And I like it!

In article , Joseph Ryan Schembrie writes

True but the lack of realism is part of Friends' charm. It's a complete
escape from reality.
Believe me I am completely aware of waht a more 'realistic sit-com is
like, we have plenty in the UK, Friends makes a nice change, a piece of
pure escapism, no more no less.
        ------------------------------------------
        |Matt (aka Dark Samurai or marl_1 on irc)|
        |[email]                 |
        ------------------------------------------

i are 36, and likes friends. and i are vury smart and entelijant. seriuosly though, friends isn't the best show in the world, but it's not the worst either. it's by far the best show in it's time slot. but frasier and seinfeld are much better, maybe the best.

i guess what i'm saying is that it will kill 30 minutes nicely.

duane

On Sun, 8 Jun 1997, jimmy wrote:

Maybe I,m too Jewish or/and too old oir maybe I.m just too smart or maybe I,m too bizarre but I just don't get Friends at all. Seinfeld is just way too brilliant and to say Friends sucks is too kind

Are you too smart to tell the difference between commas, apostrophes, and periods?

Ira . Hessel wrote in article ...

I don't like Friends or Frasier. I love Seinfeld though! Hey! What about Mad About You? Does any one like that? I love M.A.Y. too.

Amanda

"There's no need to fear! UnderDog is here!"

Class of 1999. Go Wharton Wildcats!

It's a good show and I thought the idea is very similar to Seinfeld (show about nothing) plus a "family/romantic" take....also, Paul Reiser, is so much better as an actor then Jerry, don't get me wrong but when I find it funny when Jerry cracks up during some scenes, but it is not very professional

If you dont like Friends, then what are you doin on this ng?

FIGHT SPAM! Please delete the * from our address if you'd like to email.

In article , KuMan writes

I think seinfeld is the most BORING program i have ever seen on TV!!! why the hell is someone so excited because they have no underpants on underneath there trousers? (it was so funny i forgot to laugh!!!)

UMMM surfer dude if u watched seinfeld enough u would understand why the heck kramer was excited about no underwear

ITS KRAMER WHAT DO U EXPECT kramer is not normal

Frasier is the most intelligenty written sitcom on TV. It is clever and funny. Seinfeld is clever and funny as well but more zany. It is my 2nd favorite show. Friends is juvenile and shallow. I fear for our civilization if this show is among the top 10!

Palehorse wrote in article ...

for

No one in America over the age of thirty watches Friends. And for those younger, use the formula 100-20X, where X=30-their age. This will give you the average IQ of the Friends audience for that particular age bracket.

Seinfeld is about everything in life that's real. Kramer is more real than the most realistic character on Friends. Friends is about nothing -- improbable, meaningless relationships built on the pretense of Really Caring, but we all know they just want to hang out for fun and get into each others' pants. Okay, but do you have to lie about it? Must you confuse lust with love twenty-six times a season?

Seinfeld deosn't have an actual storyline, thats what makes it about nothing. And Home Improvments. Oh come on. You want to compare Seinfeld to Home Improvements. No contest. Tahts comparing Jerry's comedy to Tim Allen's comedy. Im not saying Tim Allen isn't good, I comend all comedians, but the only good thing that comes to me from that show is that my hopes that I could get my own sitcom are highered, showing how Tim Allen got one.

         ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

...The trouble with this is that this gutless wonder is passing on an evil rumor, never proven to be even remotely true. He has posted it in a newsgroup read all over the world. Perhaps the reason this fool cannot stand Frasier is that his attention span is only long enough for him to blow his nose. I guess the major clue as to what weight one ought to assign to this article is the faked address to avoid responses.

Jeesh.

Larry DeMers

Did kelsey molest the god-fearing inocent embryo-like infant baby child, before or after the pope? Your vicious rumors are evil. Fraiser- the show has about as much to do with Kelsey Grammer as Cheers did. Shows are written and blocked etc....... they exsist before the actor steps in. The question was 'which show is better" not, which individual do you approve of. Listen, to this guy, "friends" get's on your nerves? Did Mary Richard of Mary Tyler Moore give you hives?

The show FRAISER is brilliant, espiecially the child molesting scenes :) duh but, SIENFELD is also great. I'd say it's a tossup, and judge them episode by episode. FRAISER is a wittier show, tho jam

eva wrote:

IMHO Who can dispute the King, Jerry. For absurdity and exposing character defects, nothing can surpass Seinfeld. He is by far the best all-around comedian. And when he guests on Leno, that point is well proven. I am glad that all 4 will be back in the Fall. Frank [email]

It has to go SEINFELD #1, Frasier #2, and friends #3

Definetly SEINFELD #1, Friends #2, frasier #3

I agree with this ranking... Frasier's script is pretty good!

In article , [email] (Archana Arkanath) wrote:

Mine would be: Seinfeld #1; Frasier #2; 3rd Rock #3....(Though it's interesting that Frasier has been winning the Emmy)....

give me a break! comparing friends with seinfeld? Frasier, maybe, but no way in hell Friends.

Seinfeld is the best i think

Alexandr59 wrote in article ...

[email] (Alexandr59) wrote:

Not "spinoff," RIPOFF.

On 31 Jan 1997 14:29:55 GMT, [email] (Enrique Londaits) wrote:

FRIENDS is need of a major story-line change. They've exhausted every character on the show and they need to introduce something new and fresh,

FRASIER remains to be the best of the three IMHO. The witty Frasier, flirting Niles, innocent Daphne, out-going Roz, and blue-collar Marty can always combine to give the freshest show every week (although there have been a lot of reruns lately). Even still, the writers of Frasier have also gotta advance more charcters.... the Crane brothers can't be talking at Cafe Nervosa every week that gonna get resolved in 30 minutes.

SEINFIELD, the show about nothing, is witty in a community sort of way. If it wasn't for the annoying music that comes on every 5 seconds when they change scenes, I'll watch it more often...

BTW, since the Golden Globes for Best Comedy went to 3rd ROCK, here's my two cents about the show --- DON'T LIKE IT AT ALL.

Marcus

I also think that Friends is the best show. JILL CRAWFORD

Friends has really taken a huge turn for the worse after the second season... it has gone absolutely nowhere... it will never be in the same galaxy as Seinfeld... Frasier slightly edges out Friends, b/c its actually funny... the only reason i even flip on friends is to see Chandler's crazy comebacks, and of course the ever so Perky C.Cox! Seinfeld is in the same class as Cheers, not Friends or Frasier... Friends is in the same league as like Night Court... just my .02

I like Friends but do not think it will hold up over time. It is so much a part of "now" that I think its reruns will be confusing to new audiences several years from now. Of course such a prediction is merely speculation.

Seinfeld's richer characters may instead make it a funny and nostalgic look at the 1990s

Frazier will likely always be funny as well. The best sitcoms are the ones that work so well with an ensemble cast.

Jim

I find that I at my age (19) can more identify myself with the Friends charaters, and maybe that's why this is my favorite show. Seinfeld is sometimes hillarious, but it tends to be ... hmmm.. a bit made up(hard to put words on it). But it still beats Frasier which is also a real great show.

I agree that Friends has gone down hill in the 3rd season, but NZ has only showed 2 shows, maybe it's hard to judge from my point of view. The first show was definitely bad, I don't think I laughed (or even smiled) once, but the second show was quite funny.

Anyway, although Friends is easier on the eyes ;), Frasier is actually funny. I find Seinfeld irritating. To me, Seinfeld only has 2 ways of creating a funny situation - make up some long wounded phrase/word to avoid some taboo word/phrase or talk at the top of their lungs. On top of that, I actually find Seinfeld himself annoying.

Frasier is the best of the three, followed by a close fight between Friends and Seinfeld for second (or last, depends on how you look at it). I'm not sure whether Friends is in the same league as Night Court, Friends seems to be slightly better. Actually Friends and Seinfeld should be in the same league. If Chandler and some of the female characters are gone, it'll be just as annoying as Seinfeld.

Another 2c, Samuel

Yeah right...you never know what Seinfeld is gonna do. Thats because it doesn't rely on doing the right thing. Nobody expected Susan to die.

I believe that all three shows have their own great qualities.

I hate friends! It was funny at the beginning, but now it sucks so badly! They are just trying to copy the same style of comedy as Seinfeld, but they aren't getting it right, and now they figure, hey, we're such a hit, now we can just keep doing the same thing over and over. The characters are so trapped, they have no room to grow. Chandler always has to make a (not so) witty remark, Phoebe always has to say something wierd, Ross always has to put that intonation when he speaks, and Joey always has to be extremely stupid. I have stopped watching it altogether. It is so stupid, I can feel myself getting dumber when I watch it. Seinfeld is hilarious though, and Frasier is better than Friends. But I don't watch Frasier that often.

                                                              ___
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      |  ____  ||          Madeeha Choudhry           | -------- |      |
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()      ___    ||        ___               ___        | --------        |
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I fail to see what anyone finds funny about Seinfeld. The characters are *not* 'ordinary people' and the show is *not* 'about nothing'. The characters are unpleasant, unkind, and one-sided. Seinfeld is smug. Kramer is a wierdo. George hasn't got a clue. Elaine freaks out over every little thing. Past that, they have zero personalities. The situations they get into are not even close to realistic - and they *certainly* aren't 'nothing'. I've tried to watch it but I just find it stupid. A car that you can't get B.O. out of after one person drove it once. Really. Breaking up over jujubes. Oh, yeah, I know lots of people that's happened to. I could go on. And on.

Frasier and Friends at least have believable characters who are three-dimensional, with both lovable and annoying traits. What, please, is lovable about any of the Seinfeld crew? They have zero redeeming good points - they are merely annoying. There's nothing likeable about any of them. If you people like spending time hating people, well, then maybe that's why you get such a kick out of it. Me, it just bugs me.

Worst of all, there is no wit in Seinfeld. Frasier and Friends both have witty, clever writing. I'm sure any six NG readers could write a Seinfeld - it requires inventing a completely unrealistic situation, adding a couple of unlikely plot twists, and getting the characters to do and say some formula things - none witty. It doesn't take a vast amount of intellect or talent to invent outrageous characters and have them act like fools.

Don't bother flaming me because you'll be ignored. What I would like is to receive a couple of reasoned responses explaining why someone would think Seinfeld is funny.

G. Robertson

Glenda Robertson wrote: (snipped) What I would like is

Seinfeld's humor is very cerebral. There is a physical element, of course. The Seinfeld show has its share of slapstick, pie-in-the-face falling down comedy. But it's funniest when it juxtaposes old ideas and reactions in new combinations. Woody Allen's humor is similar. In some ways, Seinfeld humor is very much like that of old radio comedies, where with nothing to watch, it was the idea that was funny. But I think it unwise to over-analyse something as ephemeral as humor. Sometimes if you look at it too closely it evaporates. You either have a mind that reacts to it or you don't. Harry Gehlert

	Well, I'm not so sure Seinfeld *is* still funny, but here's why I think
the show was initially successful:
	The show about nothing showed normal life with a slight twist. The
conversations that rambled over various subjects (ugliest world dictator,
salsa as the new number one condiment), the use of group catch phrases (you
are sooo good lookin', these pretzels are making me thirsty) are things
most people have among friends. The fact that, though the group is aware of
each others' foibles, they remain steadfast friends is another thing. The
show was initially based on Jerry Seinfeld's routines, and these were
basically explorations of ordinary human behavior, analyses of *why* we do
the things we do.
	It was a situation comedy based on real (though exaggerated) situations
(waiting for a table in a restaurant, having to interrupt sex to go to the
bathroom, being stuck on a subway train, looking for a car in a huge
parking lot) instead of the stock sitcom situations, which usually consist
of people who care dear friends or family believing (with little or no real
evidence) the worst possible things about each other. This was my biggest
gripe with shows like 3's Company, where three close friends constantly
assumed the others were hookers, drug dealers and the like from half-heard
conversations eavesdropped on. To be seasonal, how many sitcoms plots were
about one of the characters not being romantic enough for another's
expectations on Valentine's Day?
	Lately, and this happens to a lot of sitcoms, I feel that Seinfeld has
run too long, and run out of ideas from it's basic premise. When is the
last time something happened on the show that could have arisen from even
remotely normal human behavior, like being caught by a girlfriend picking
your nose or forgetting someone's name? Like Cheers in it's final seasons,
the writers have moved from the original concept and degenerated into
farce. The show is less intelligent now, and efforts to be original involve
adding new characters and odd situations rather than new ideas and takes on
life. For the most part, the cast seems to be mean-spirited now, rather
than a bunch of well-meaning ne'er-do-wells. I know I'd much rather see
"The Contest" or "The Marine Biologist" than almost any of the more recent
episodes.
	The show does do some things well. Seinfeld is the best at character
continuity, for example. The flashes of characters from past episodes
during "The Pilot" was one of the coolest things done by a series, and the
occasional return of various characters with the histories we remember is
nice as well.
	But I miss some of the looks exchanged by the group, like those of real
friends, that communicate as much as words. The gang is not as playful as
they used to be (like Jerry and Elaine going back and forth about an
imaginary girlfriend of Jerry's who came to NY by dogsled after winning the
Iditarod, or Elaine trying to trick Jerry and George into admitting
George's sweater gift was bought defective and discounted, or George's
speech about his "gift" for parallel parking, countered later by Elaine's
speech about her gift for lying). This interaction, the relationship
between friends, is what made the show good, and is missing now. We know
the George, Jerry, Elaine and Kramer are friends, but they don't *show* us
they are friends anymore.
	It's this element, I think, that makes friends of mine who've just
started watching Seinfeld say they prefer the reruns in syndication to the
current series, and may explain why new viewers who don't already have a
relationship with the show find it mean-spirited. Without a background of
seeing the cast in better days, the show doesn't look funny.
	epbrown
[email]
Laptop Central, home of the Portable Computing FAQ
http://www.enteract.com/~epbrown

Some interesting thoughts posted above. I especially appreciated that comparison to old radio. Try this, kiddies: go to the library and dig out recordings of the Jack Benny Show or the Fred Allen Show. You'll immediately see the connection. The star is the straight man in the midst of a bunch of crazy characters who are always pushing his buttons. But, as Jerry once pointed out, he is always "even Steven" -- he's the "center" who exerts a kind of gravitational force of normal-guy-ness.

Yes, Jerry's humor is related to Woody's, but with important differences. There's definitely a generation gap. Woody is a child of the 40's and 50's and Jerry is a child of the 60's and 70's. Woody's humor still references things like the depression, WWII, classic Hollywood where Jerry's quite deliberately limits itself to the banalities of TV-Mall culture. Woody is a moralist from the get-go, brooding about death and sex and culture, etc. and passing explicit judgements about "plastic" and "inauthentic" people and cultural practices. Jerry's character unapologetically uninterested in such matters. "Every time I think you are the shallowest man alive, you manage to drain a few more inches out of the pool"--Elaine says at one point. The inability to even conceive of the kind of "big issues" that underscore Woody's humor is part of Jerry's Shtick. He's not quite the son, but he's the much younger cousin who got raised on TV and is therefore incapable of taking anything seriously.

But the celebration of the classic New York-Jewish-entertainer story is there: the origins in Brooklyn or Queens or Long Island and the long, slow climb through the comedy clubs and the Joke-writing gigs, to the big break and the prospect of life in MANHATTEN--where all the real chicks are! All the jokes about sharing cabs and worrying about parking spaces and chinese take-out---that's all from the Jewish-yuppie Manhatten that Woody has mythologized for the ages.

While I'm rolling, a couple more observations:

1) Seinfeld is funny because it was different from the start. It seemed totally unlike other sitcoms and it understood that its quirky amateurness was a virtue--and it kept it.

2) The show is really a cartoon. The characters are flattened "types" who never grow, never experience more than transitory doubts about their own motives. This is why there cannot, by definition, ever be a "very special Seinfeld". The callous killing off of Susan was an exhilirating re-statement of this principle.

3) The theme of most of Jerry's humor is the byzantine maze of modern etiquette--especially sexual/social etiquette. Think about it: how many episodes turn on "big" questions like "can you ask a girl's name after you made out with her?" "can you show up to a party with Pepsi and Ringdings?" "Can you re-gift a label maker?" etc. etc. etc. This ties in with what I was saying about the crucial differences between the Woody-world and the Jerry-world: For Woody, the ideal is INTERNAL moral/aesthetic uprightness; For Jerry the whole problem of dealing with the world rests on mastering the ins and outs of EXTERNAL rules--etiquette.

OK--enough for now. I'm burned out.---JM

-I fail to see what anyone finds funny about Seinfeld. The characters are -*not* 'ordinary people' and the show is *not* 'about nothing'. The -characters are unpleasant, unkind, and one-sided. Seinfeld is smug. -Kramer is a wierdo. George hasn't got a clue. Elaine freaks out over -every little thing. Past that, they have zero personalities. The -situations they get into are not even close to realistic - and they -*certainly* aren't 'nothing'. I've tried to watch it but I just find it -stupid. A car that you can't get B.O. out of after one person drove it -once. Really. Breaking up over jujubes. Oh, yeah, I know lots of people -that's happened to. I could go on. And on. - -Frasier and Friends at least have believable characters who are -three-dimensional, with both lovable and annoying traits. What, please, -is lovable about any of the Seinfeld crew? They have zero redeeming good -points - they are merely annoying. There's nothing likeable about any of -them. If you people like spending time hating people, well, then maybe -that's why you get such a kick out of it. Me, it just bugs me. - -Worst of all, there is no wit in Seinfeld. Frasier and Friends both have -witty, clever writing. I'm sure any six NG readers could write a Seinfeld -- it requires inventing a completely unrealistic situation, adding a -couple of unlikely plot twists, and getting the characters to do and say -some formula things - none witty. It doesn't take a vast amount of -intellect or talent to invent outrageous characters and have them act like -fools. - -Don't bother flaming me because you'll be ignored. What I would like is -to receive a couple of reasoned responses explaining why someone would -think Seinfeld is funny. - -G. Robertson

So, why do you subscribe to this newsgroup then?!?! Millions and millions of loyal viewers can't be wrong. Seinfeld has been the #1 comedy on TV for a long time now and has won numerous awards. And, how do you happen to know so much about Seinfeld if you can't stand it?! When i don't like a certain show, i don't watch it, maybe you should do the same.

-Seinfeld is smug Kramer is a wierdo. George hasn't got a clue. Elaine freaks -out over every little thing.

Duh! No kidding! These are the just some of the reasons why they are all so funny! You say George hasn't got a clue...oh, and Joey and Phoebe do?!! When you can think of some real reasons why Seinfeld is stupid, let me know. --OJs a liar

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Allright, Glenda, I'll bite.

    I think your descriptions of the characters is almost right.  I believe
they have a little more depth (of character traits, that is; they are defi-
nitely shallow) than you ascribe them.
    The wit you refer to in Frasier is more what I would call dialogue wit,
and occasionally plot oriented wit.  In Sienfeld, much of my interest in the
show is the plot-oriented wit, how things that start out smelling like a two
plot show (I hate it when shows do that-- two separate plots in one episode),
but by the end of the episode they are linked together.  Sometimes it is a
smooth transition, and sometimes it is quite contrived.
    I would liken my appreciation of Seinfeld to that of Dilbert.  When I
first read the cartoon, I couldn't stand it.  I couldn't see why people
considered the strip funny.  I found it very obvious, and, most of the time,
a repeat of the same workers=smart/management=dumb joke.
    Many people I mentioned this to claimed it was because I was not working
in a corporate setting.  I did, however, work in a bureacracy (teacher in a
community college).  Shortly before I started working at my present job,
which is more of a corporate setting, I started to enjoy Dilbert more.
    Seinfeld is much the same.  I didn't care for the first few episodes
that I watched (I started seeing Seinfeld and Friends while taping them
for a friend who had to work Thursday nights).  I did love Friends, however,
but it has gone quite downhill.  After a while, though, I got used to
Seinfeld.  I think the humor in Seinfeld can only be appreciated through
a long-term perusal of the show seeing how the characters react and
comparing their reactions to situations earlier in the series is an important
part of it.  One of things that I especially like about Seinfeld is that
every once in a while, they slip something in the show that you had to see
an earlier episode to understand.  My favorite example:

     I saw an episode where George got a job because someone 'discovered'
his hand: they felt that George's hand was model perfect, and wanted to
photograph it holding different products that they were selling.  At one
point, there was a conversation about something that had happened to their
previous model that no one wanted to discuss.  Most of the conversation
came across as nonsense to me.
     Later I saw (in syndication) an _earlier_ episode of the series, in
which the four principal characters decided to have a contest, on the
honor system (a great part of the irony), on who could go the longest without
masturbating (trying their best to not actual directly refer to the act).
George came out the winner.
     Some time after this, I saw the later episode again.  The 'nonsense'
conversation I had _completely_ forgotten about, and when it came up, it
made perfect sense.  The previous model had ruined his hand through
addiction to masturbation, to which George commented [parap.] "You don't
have to worry about me;  I won a contest...".  The people he told that to
didn't understand, they also blew it off as nonsense.  It was, in its way,
an obscure reference to an earlier episode.

One last comment on Seinfeld: These characters are almost allegorically shallow. We have to consider them with the same depth as we would any allegorical character. The fact that a relationship ended over Jujubes might seem pretty far fetched, but as an isolated incident, it is not so much so. My last serious relationship ended because my girlfriend couldn't deal with the fact that I can't stand silk/satin/nylon like material. Don't under- estimate the ability of people to be shallow. Every once in a while, you might see something on the show that you might be able to relate to from your own life, evn if in a small way.

    Finally, a note regarding the orignal thread: almost two years ago,
I would have put Friends above Seinfeld.  No longer; Friends is very
dissappointing as of late.  I didn't watch Frasier two years ago (the
first episode I saw was one in which the brothers bought a restaurant
[One of my signature files from work is a quote from this one].  I have
been addicted ever since).  IMHO, Friends is out of the race.  I like
The Single Guy and Caroline in the City much better than friends.
    As for Frasier and Seinfeld, they are so dissimiliar that there is
almost no point in comparing, but I generally like the style of humor
in Frasier better, so: Frasier/Seinfeld/[Caroline in the City]/
[The Single Guy]/Friends.

- --
"In God We Trust.                  Dr. Franklin
 Everyone else we monitor."        [email]
     -Former NSA employee           http://www.pillory.com/franklin
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I would just like to point out that on Seinfeld, Jerry is the only one who isn't funny.

Dr. Franklin wrote in article ...

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You mean he's the only one the writers don't have ACT funny. However, he is given a lot of hilarious lines and put in screamingly funny situations. So he is funny, he just doesn't show it through acting. :)

I would like to add my 2cents worth...IMHO, Jerry is the core of this
show.  Example:  My husband and I didn't even LIKE Dr. Joel Fleishman in
Northern Exposure, but as soon as he left the show, it fell apart.
     Jerry is at the heart of the writing of this show, and I know the
writing is good when, having taped a show, I'll re-wind repeatedly to
get just how a phrase was said, as the combination of writing and
delivery excells any other show on TV (as I said: IMHO).
     I was watching The Raincoats pt.1; and had to get it straight just
how Jerry phrased it when he wondered why his parents didn't like
George's parents, the Constanzas:
Jerry's mom: "...We've never liked them."
Jerry: "Why?"
Mother: "Well they're so Loud.  They're always fighting...it's
         uncomfortable.  You never notice?!"
Jerry: "Oh, I NOTICE...but they"re from your own age group - I didn't
think you could detect abnormal behavior from your own kind."
    That comment just cracked me up!
Mary Jo   [email]

"How Serendipitous!" (Kramer)

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A good point. In the first few episodes I saw, they always started out with him doing stand-up, and I was not very impressed. When I later started to like the show, I started to appreciate it a bit more, but mostly because they would explain via the "plot". I have not been impressed with his standup bit _most_ of the time (there have been quite a few that he has done that I really liked).

Should we move this to only alt.tv.seinfeld? Frasier-to-Seinfeld ratio on alt.tv.frasier is getting rather low 8-(.

- --
"I told them to send over an _Asian_ woman..."
     -Uncle Leo, on Seinfeld                      [email]
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Ummmmmm...I'm sure that is quite debatable. I don't care for Seinfeld. I've watched it a few times lately (too lazy to change the channel, I guess) and it still isn't funny to me. There are certainly quirky situations but beyond some being mildly amusing, it does nothing for me. The characters don't seem to even like each other, let alone anyone else.

Frasier, to me, is very very funny. Laugh out loud funny. For as lofty as Frasier and Niles THINK they are, they keep making fools out of themselves. One thing I really like about this show is that I really can believe that Frasier and Niles are brothers.

I do like Friends but not enough to tape it so I usually end up missing it most of the time. The one thing that has always struck me about this show is that it seems over so quick. More than any other show, its half hour seems more like only 20 minutes.

Lori

The one thing that has always struck me about this show is that it seems over so quick. More than any other show, its half hour seems more like only 20 minutes.

Oh yes he is! Who else can we make fun of because he has such idiotic friends????

;)

On 17 Feb 1997, LACEY wrote:

I watch Seinfeld and Friends, and the occasional Frasier if I happen to turn on the TV Tuesday night. My favourite show by far is Friends followed by Seinfeld and Frasier is a distant last.

First off, Friends is NOTHING like Seinfeld. It's young. It's fresh. The characters are believable. The situations they get themselves in are believable. It also has a story line which keeps you coming back episode after episode. Seinfeld episodes are for the most part completely disjoint and if you missed one you really haven't missed much. And let's face it: Friends has sex appeal, and lots of it. Seinfeld is woefully lacking in that category. Last but not least, after 8 seasons Seinfeld is starting to get a bit dated. The characters must be approaching 40 now and it gets me to thinking: Are these people going to remain losers for the rest of their lives?

Sasha

[email] (Madeeha Choudhry) wrote:

      |  ____  ||          Madeeha Choudhry           | -------- |

I agree. Friends is totally unwatchable now. The humour is so junior highish. Then they imported Tom Selleck trying to appeal to the "older set". Big mistake for Tom. They had him acting like a 7th grader. I will never enjoy watching him in anything again.

Both Seinfeld and Frasier have their very own brand of homour. I I appreciate the fact that the Seinfeld or Frasier casts aren't trying to act so "cute" all the time like Friends. Very sickening after a while.

badly!

but

hit,

characters Friends is totally unwatchable now. The humour is so junior

Especially that weasel Ross. What a chump! I'm glad he and Rachel broke up. Seeing those two dating made me sick! I do like the scenes when Chandler and Joey attempt to explain things to each other like the "threesome" with that copier girl. That was funny. The show is funny sometimes, but they shouldn't have the characters date each other. Seinfeld is still the best and Frasier is a close second.

Bill

Gee, I think that it is only a matter of taste on what type of humor that you like. Watch what you want. Don't listen to what others say you should watch.

Personally I like all three shows for entirely different reasons.

RonB

Why are we even arguing about this?

I like all three shows. Frasier and Seinfeld make me laugh out loud (as does Cybill, and the earlier Wings and last week's episode of Mad About You, the part where Paul asked Jamie's OB "could his hand be on his penis?").

Friends used to make me LOL but is still a funny show. My main requirement in a sitcom is that it make me laugh. All three of these shows make me laugh. If they were all on at the same time, and if I could only watch one and record one, I guess I would have to let Friends go, but good thing I don't have to make that choice.

Frasier is the best, hands down. Seinfeld used to be funny, but is now unwatchable. Friends was always an inferior show.

Can we put this thread to rest now? I am clipping the newsgroups list down to one with this message, to try to slow this boring, repetitive thread down.

In article "devendra m. jani" writes: Q: The one thing that has always struck me about this show Q: is that it seems over so quick. More than any other show, its half hour Q: seems more like only 20 minutes. Q: Q: Lori Q: -------- Q: Lori : I agree with you! Friends always seems really short. I usually Q: can't believe it's over!

What you on about? Friends does only last twenty minutes.

You know, advertising?

Something the Americans excel at over everyone else (then again they excel at most things over everyone else. Americans are cool.)

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I know that (silly!). Without going into long boring details, I was trying to say that the 1/2 hour (commercials and all) never seems like a full 1/2 hour. It always seems much shorter than that. I don't get that feeling on any other sitcom. I'm sure it doesn't have any more commercials than any other show. It just zips along that much faster.

Lori

Lori Crittenden wrote in article ...

trying

1/2

on

Sorry folks... I thought I was on the Seinfeld newsgroup. I guess I'm mistaken.... :)

Ryan

In article "Ryan" writes:

Q: Sorry folks... I thought I was on the Seinfeld newsgroup. I guess I'm Q: mistaken.... :)

You are.

You're on all the bloody newsgroups.

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I think Friends is really well written...It is too bad that it isn't getting the reviews or audience it deserves.

Mark_Sawin_`[email] wrote in article ...

getting the

Seinfeld has better writing than Friends, but it's almost as good as Frasier's writing. 1. Seinfeld 2. Frasier 3. Friends

Ryan

I am frankley disapointed in the choice of many of the people in this news group.

Friends better than Seinfeld? "What is wrong with you people" "are you all insane" (Elaine-eating candy bars with knife and fork)

Seinfeld is by far a far superior television program.

If not for any other reason just because of the experiense of Seinfeld writing.

As it is painfully obvious that all new television programs (including Friends) are centered around sex and almost nothing else.

So why go throw that crappy writing that is only wrote to capture hormone bursting perverts into watching their show. When you could just watch Seinfeld that is already through the maturing prosses that takes place when a writer sees that his show has a big veiwing audience. And sees that he can focus on funnier and a lot more ORIGINAL subjects instead of sex.

I will omit that Seinfeld was really dirty, and still has an occasional episode about sex. But I'm sure that I laugh a lot more when I watch Seinfeld rather then Friends, and what is this show Frasier. Is it even on the air?

They are all good - but I think Seinfeld has nearly run it's course. Watching Frasier, I get more of a laugh at the character's stupid states of affairs, so I vote Friends as the best, because its fresh and funny in a different sort of way.

Chris.(tine)

In article , [email] wrote:

I would have to say that Seinfeld is definately the best, followed by Friends and then Frasier. Seinfeld takes real life situations and blows them out of proportion. Don't we all? I would think that this is especially true for those of us that live in small towns across the country.

Seinfeld!!!

It's about 22-23 minutes long without commercials. I was surprised when this one ended since it seemed like there should have been more time left, but that's probably because of the episode's plot and not any real time differences. As for other sit-coms, I assume they have the same time without commercials as Friends does.