Seinfeld/Northern Exposure

OK, I learned from my first post that I need to make my lines shorter. So here's my second one.

I would like to add my name to the list of those who like both Seinfeld and Northern Exposure. In fact I was surprised to see the recent 'general disdain' for NEXP expressed on alt.tv.seinfeld. Yes, Chris the DJ can get a bit overbearing sometimes when he takes his philosophizing too seriously. And the recent addition of Mike the Bubble Boy (not the one that George got in a fight with) is a major annoyance. Still, I think it's one of the most intelligent (or pseudo-intellectual, depending on your point of view) shows on TV and explores some great themes. In fact, the only shows I watch regularly are Seinfeld, NEXP, and the Simpsons (although I still try to see Cheers and 60 Minutes when I can).

Also, in response to the recent post about sitcoms throughout
history, I'd say my favorites of all time, not counting ones that
are still on, would be (roughly in chronological order):
       The Dick Van Dyke Show
       The Beverly Hillbillies
       All In the Family
       MASH
       Barney Miller
       WKRP in Cincinnati
       Taxi

Does anyone remember a show called 'Reggie' starring the guy from 'Soap' (I think his name is Richard Mulligan)? It only ran about six weeks in the early 80's but I remember it being really funny. He was going through a mid-life crisis and kept having fantasy sequences, and I don't recall much else about it.

Wayne Erxleben

In article , [email] (Wayne

Nice list, Wayne. I would have included Mash in my post but I couldn't remember individual episodes that would stand out as rivals.

What I will do is introduce two more candidates for funniest half-hour, sit-com episodes.

The first would be the Taxi show that both introduced Reverend Jim and had Latka marry a prostitute in order to stay in the country. Jim's spaced out performance, especially when confronted by Latka's foreign word responses to the marriage ceremony, were so priceless that it earned him a permanent membership on the show.

The second would be the Taxi show in where the whole crew ate Marijuana (or was that cocaine) laden brownies. The next morning, someone finds the star of the show still hyperactive at the garage and asks him what he has been doing. He responds with that he is writing an opera and in fact this is his third one of the night.

If not classic, these shows come close.

In article writes:

how about the MASH epsiode Maj. Frank Burns unknowingly helped N. Korean spies dressed up as S. Korean MPs loaded up their jeep with medical supplies, pass check points, and finally the N. Koreans were fed up with him and decided not to take him prisoner 'cause he'll be a bigger help on "this side of the war".

also the "MacArthur is coming" epsiode, Frank & Hotlips made it out in the General's tent, and that cross-dresser guy dressed up as statue of Liberty ... and "Five clock Charlie" when Frank got an AAA gun to shoot down the North Korean "Bomber", "I am your battlion commander, You are the platoon leader, you are the squad leader, ... and you are the squad ..."

In article [email] (Yuanhui Liu) writes:

(Taxi references deleted)

IMHO, the Major Flagg episodes were classic. His convolutions of the espionage agency alphabet soup of acronyms is still funny. And my favorite MASH line, after Flagg jumps out the window in his "quick as the wind exit" Hawkeye looks out and says, "I think the 'Wind' just broke his leg". It still makes me smile. My $.02, we now return you to regularly schedule flames, -DW "standard disclaimer"

     I would also like to add my name to the list of SEINFELD fans who also
like NORTHERN EXPOSURE.  I have been reading this newsgroup for about a month
now and have been kind of worried about the generalizations being made about
SEINFELD fans.  First of all, I am only 18, and from the sound of this group--
all SEINFELD fans are at least 30.  And as for the NX thing--one of my favorit
sit-com episodes ever was when Chris the DJ wanted to build a catapult and
"fling a cow!"  Even though he chose to fling a grand piano instead, I almost
died laughing.
     But I have been a fan of many different kinds of sit-coms, some of which I
know I will be flamed for just mentioning such as, dare I say it, HOME
IMPROVEMENT.  Some of my all time favorites include:

          ALL IN THE FAMILY--it is a classic.  I don't think I could say
                             anything about it that would do it justice.
          THE JEFFERSONS--George and Florance.  What a comic team!
          THREE'S COMPANY--Probably my favorite of all sit-com's.  While the
                           script was predictable, no one could beat the
                           physical comedy of Jack Ritter.  And Susan Summers
                           as Chrissy Snow was hilarious.  If Kramer and
Chrissy ever got together--WOW!  Don Knotts was also
                           amazing.  I loved Mr. Furley?  I'm curious, though?
                           If there are any THREE'S COMPANY fans on this net,
                           who do you like better, Furley or the Ropers?
          LAVERN AND SHIRLEY--Again, two more great physical comedians.  I
                              would rank Penny Marshall up there with Lucy Ball
          NEWHART--Bob is great.  He is very different from any of the
                   comedians I have mentioned so far--probably the closest to
                   Seinfeld in many ways.  NEWHART is my favorite of his 3
                   shows.  I loved Stephanie and the three Darryls.
DESIGNING WOMEN--I'm sure many of you will disagree with me on this
                           one, but it is a funny show.  It was a funny show,
                           rather.  It totaly lost it when Delta Burk left the
                           show.  Susan was great!  She reminds me a lot of
                           Kramer.  Just when the conversation would get too
                           normal, she would pop in with something totally off
                           the wall.  Another of my favorit sit-com episodes
                           was when everyone was sitting on the couch
                           discussing something political, when out of nowhere
                           Susan wearing a beautifulwhite fur coat walks
                           through the door with a pig on a leash.  I am
laughing now just thinking about it.
          CHEERS--Another classic sit-com.  However, I think, unlike most sit-
                  coms, it improved with age.  I like the Kirsty Ally (I am
                  sure I butchered her name) episodes were the best.
          MURPHY BROWN--I also disagree with the assumption that SEINFELD fans
                        are apolitical.  I am most certainly not apolitical.
                        In fact, I am studying government at American U., and
                        if you like politics, you must like Murphy Brown.  I
                        have been a fan of that show since the first episode
                        and Murphy's tet-a-tet with Dan Quayle only made me
                        idolize her more.
ARE YOU BEING SERVED--This is a British sit-com.  Have any of you
                                heard of it?  I am a big fan of British humor
                                and this is a hilarious show.  I also like
                                MONTY PYTHON, WHO'S LINE IS IT ANYWAY?, THE
      BLACK ADDER, and MR. BEAN (or anything with
                                Rowan Atkinson).
     So you can see, that I like many kinds of television comedy.  My favorite
show right now is SEINFELD, but that doesn't mean that you can automatically
assume that I like certain shows and dislike others.  As for NORTHERN EXPOSURE,
I am glad somebody spoke up against the abuse it has been taking lately on this
net.  I haven't been able to see much of it this season, or any tv for that
matter, since I have just started college, so I don't know how good it has been
lately.  But I certainly can say that I hold not disdain for it.
     BTW, I also was unable to see the "M" episode and am dying to see it.

Micah Mahjoubian "What a waste it is to loose one's mind" --Dan Quayle, Fmr. Vice President

Wow!!!! This is one hell of a list from someone only 18 years old and from the name, I can only suspect is a foreigner to our shores.

Did you see all these in reruns outside of the U.S?

I caught some Black Adder episodes on PBS but most of the "English" shows you named are unknown to me.

I would not necessarily agree on some of your choices but Hey that's what makes the world go round, difference of opinion.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Talk about Stereotyping! I hope you didn't criticize New Yorkers a couple weeks ago for stereo-typing the rest of the U.S. about their knowledge of door buzzers, Snapple, etc. You've never met a U.S.-born citizen with a foriegn (!?!) sounding name?

Peter J Nelson

In article , [email] (nelson

I didn't mean it in any derogatory way.  I got the impression that
the person was foreign also from many names of sit-coms I had never
heard of.
Even though I only said "I suspect", I will apologize here and now if
any negative connotations were conveyed to anyone out there.
You should also know that this person emailed me to tell me that he
was born an American.
Actually what was uppermost in my mind was with the long list of
mainstream American sit-coms along with what seemed like foreign
sit-com names, I wondered, as I have many times, how much our TV
menu influences by exposure the rest of the world and of course how
much we get influenced back.
I believe the Newhart show was influenced by Fawlty Towers.
We also know that a show we never saw on this side of the Atlantic
influenced "All in the Family".  I wonder how many sit-coms might have
made the crossing from us to them as an influence.
ALAN ROGERS  **** [email] * I speak only for myself as a *
VMKRAFT INC.  708-675-8615             * citizen of the UNIVERSE, not *
                                       * as an employee of Vmkraft nor*
                                       * as a user of U of I Services.*

I agree - Are You Being Served is very funny. It kind of has a Cheers type appeal, though sometimes a bit "wackier" (those Brits...) The only time I've laughed at a TV show more than Seinfeld is watching Are You Being Served (though some of the later episodes are bad) And for biting sarcasm, and physical comedy, nobody alive can beat Rowan Atkinson in Black Adder. But you seemed to have forgotten one of the best British comedies ever - Fawlty Towers! (Basil! Basil!)

Peter J Nelson

[email] (Micah L. Mahjoubian) writes:

Me too. I like both shows. Thanks for your observations. I'll add mine.

I don't think I've ever laughed hard at anything on NEXP, but I've only been watching it for a year and maybe earlier seasons were more comedic. I watch it because of the "feel", rather than for comedy. I laugh out loud at Seinfeld just about every week. The "M" episode had me rolling!

Has this already been discussed? Kramer really reminds me of NORTON on the Honeymooners. Half the time Kramer shows up, my mind flashes back to primal TV memories of Norton and his goofy hat and mannerisms.

Another Kramer similarity (to me) is the Don Knotts character (Barney Fife) on the Andy Griffith show.

On the subject of generalizations again, I also think people need to realize that not all of us have been watching Seinfeld from day one. I only "discovered" it this season.