THIS SEASON?

Just wondering if anyone out there concurs with my opinion that the current season of Seinfeld isn't quite up to par with earlier ones. You know how in the 2nd season (or so) each new episode made refernces to prior ones, and the humor was really quirky - I mean genuinely so - unlike now, when quirkiness has the flavor of formula and the jokes seem formulaic as well - as if they figured out exactly what they (writers) figured out what they were do��ing so well at first and instead of continuing to turn over new comedic soil (so to speak) they began to think: "Ah, how did we do that again? Oh yes, like this..." and then proceeded to write new episodes. Thoughts, anybody?

I agree totally. While the show is still _much_ better than anything else of its kind, I prefer to see reruns of old episodes that I haven't seen than new episodes. (I understand they're playing 'The Chinese Restaurant' this Thurs, and I'm so happy that I finally get to see this famous episode) Like you said, this season's episodes lack that continuity that the older episodes have, and to me, the plots seem to be 'too busy'. (like Jerry's shirt (how's that for an obscure Kramer reference?)). A lot of the episodes this season have had the characters running around for 22 minutes, as opposed to the laidback quality of some of the older ones. For example, in The Tape (which I was really happy to finally get on tape), there's enough things _not_ happening to leave time for 'The big toe captain' and Jerry's cockney accent, stuff that didn't have to be tied to the plot as much. To me, the conversation in Seinfeld is much more important than the events, and the more stupid and unrelated the items are the better. Don't get me wrong, I've absolutely loved some of the episodes this season, but on a whole, I don't feel they've been as good as earlier seasons.

Al.

h> From: [email] h> Organization: University of Saskatchewan

Well, I concur. Too much stuff goes on in an episode. Too much totally unrelated stuff. And I agree that there is not much continuity anymore between episodes. It still makes me laugh though, out loud! A friend of mine, who's reading over my shoulder, thinks that Elaine is too laid back now. Hmmm hadn't noticed. What gets me is Jerry - and this isn't new this season, in fact this is better this season. Jerry always looks like he's going to burst out laughing, at inappropriate times. I know it's a comedy but as an example, he'll be yelling at Kramer and as soon as he finishes he gets this quirky little smile on his face! I thought he was supposed to be mad!! Why's he smiling??

sw

The problem is that Jerry is not an actor...I think sometimes he can just barely get the lines out before the cameraman has to cut away.

Every once in awhile on the show they'll make reference to the fact that Jerry can't act. I think it's an inside joke in the cast, but it's pretty plain for all to see.

I think it's part of the charm of the show, frankly.

Also, something which I noticed early on, and now just find rather humerous, is that Jerry cannot act mad. Apparently, he just doesn't know how to seem genuinely angry. Anytime he tries to act mad, you can still see him smiling a little- as if he were about to start laughing. The others have all been really pissed off about something at some point or another (or often), and they do just fine, but whenever Jerry has to do an extreme emotion, it flops.

If anyone can point me to an episode where Jerry came off as being really angry, please do, until then I will agree that he can't act, and of course, I will keep tuning in every week.

--AlexJB

Hey!! The Seindude is a nice guy. Don't flame him! <g>

I've always thought he just had to be funny...and he is bygolly! So no need to be so critical of him Gene Siskel (sp)...he is the real negative guy of the two right? TJ