New comedy for Seinfeld watchers

My normal routine for Wednesday nights is to tape Seinfeld and watch Home Improvement. This is actually a compliment to Seinfeld because I like to go back and watch the funny parts (or the parts I didn't understand) over again. As HI concluded last night (9/23), I was rewinding the tape to watch Seinfeld when I caught a few moments of the new NBC show, Mad About You. I ended up watching the whole show. I actually laughed quite a bit. I found the Paul Riser's speech and delivery very similar to Jerry's. I didn't know Paul could be so funny. He appeared in a few other sitcoms but I guess the scripts just didn't do him justice.

Call me naive, but I didn't realize a show relied so much on its writers for success. I always thought a good or popular actor/actress could carry a show. I can now imagine Jerry bombing on some other show with sub-par writers. I'm not trying to equate these two (Jerry=Paul), but if you like Seinfeld, you might want to try out Mad About You. I'm sure they put the show right after Seinfeld to attract its viewers anyway.

"Writers? This is a sitcom! Who needs writers?"

BTW, I liked the first season of "My Two Dads" with Paul Riser.

TIM

[email] (92F02544) writes:

If you want to know how important writing is, compare the Seinfeld plots to the Seinfeld monologues. I've never been a fan of Jerry as a standup comic, and I still don't think his intros are funny. I have to think that he writes these himself, but the show is more of a collaboration.

As for Jerry vs. Tim, I think "Mad About You" will keep Seinfeld in the running. It is an acquired taste, but having two similar and brilliant comedies back to back like that can only help them both. Home Improvement will end up on a lot of tapes (then again, I record Seinfeld, and now Mad About You as well).

I almost never get hooked from a first show. Even Seinfeld took me awhile. But I absolutely *loved* this show. Like Seinfeld, the characters are very similar to people I know (or, in the case of Helen Hunt's character or her sister, people I'd like to know :-), and so it's clear that the target audience the same. I understand that the trade nickname for the show is "Seinfeld Gets Married". 'nuff said.

In article [email] (David Steinman) writes:

[discussion of Mad About You deleted]

I agree -- the show looks very promising. One thing's been bugging me, though: I can't remember what show/movie I've seen the sister in. I think the actress's name is Anne Ramsay (not to be confused with the late Anne Ramsey, who played Momma in "Throw Momma From the Train"). Any ideas?

Someone in rec.arts.tv generously provided the answer: she was on "Doctor, Doctor" last season. Now that THAT mystery's solved, I think I'll enjoy "Mad About You" even more. :-)

Am I the only Seinfeld fan who was decidedly *unimpressed* by Mad About You?

Nope. I was all set to like it (I like Paul R. from My Two Dads and his standup stuff) but turned it off after a couple of minutes, mainly because (imho) the wife was annoying. My wife thought so too. ("Takes one to know one!" <rim shot here>)

ObSeinfeld: "What, you want to be Murphy?" "I like Dylan." "You can be Colin."

In article Andy Lowry, [email] writes:

I'll put in another vote against "Mad About You." Reiser's character was too much of an ass (I can't believe I'm degrading that...), and come on, the only guys that can get away with not wanting to have sex with their wives are Al "Married...With Children" Bundy & Norm "Cheers" Peterson.

I'd have to disagree with this. I saw the first episode, and I rather liked it. (So did my girlfriend). I guess the real reason we came up with for liking it was that it was very similar to our relationship! (I know, we need help!)

Good day good people!

In article , [email] (Andy Lowry) writes...

Yuppers, I think you are.
Later!
Amy
                             "Guess what folks, that's the news and
                              I am outta here!"
                                       -Dennis Miller
                             "They have pre-wrapped sausages, but
                              they don't have pre-wrapped bacon!"
                                       Barenaked Ladies

No, you're not. I liked the show but thought it lacked something which Seinfeld has. I guess you would have to call them sitcom "intangibles".

--tom

I am on the fence about Mad About You. I thought the scene in 9/30's show regarding the side of the bed and using one's own pillow was pretty funny, but I didn't like the rest of it.

ObSeinfeld: I love this show. I have always been a huge fan of Julia Louise Dreyfuss. Although physically, I do not resemble her, I have been told by people that I remind them of her (:-)) She really adds a needed component to this show; it was flat without her. IMHO. Judy

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the people at NBC refer to "Mad About You" as "Seinfeld Gets Married". It is indeed designed to capitalize on the same audience, and if you look at upcoming script topics, they're about "nothing" as well.

John