I thought last night's episode (9/26) was VERY weak. It lacked all the subtlety of the best Seinfeld episodes. I mean, there was not a bit of funny dialogue, and the actors just seemed like they were trying to hard, as if they realized they had some bad material to get across.
I hope the Seinfeld writers have a look at the newsgroup sometimes. It surely would be the fastest way to take the pulse, not having to wait for the ratings to go down!
I still think they can save this season (it's only been two shows), but they really have to get back to the old way.
Absolutely the worst Seinfeld ever! Could it be that Jerry without Larry is like McCartney without Lennon? Is this season going to be nothing but Silly Love Songs? God, I hope not!
What was *so* wrong with last night's episode? Everyone's going
crazy, saying it's the end of the world and that Larry David must come
back and save this show. I thought it was pretty funny. Not one of my
favorites, but still an entertaining and rewarding episode. Could it
just be nervousness about the new season? I know that happened to me
last year....hmm.
Still, there is no way this season is a "catastrophe" or anything
like that. In fact, this season is actually pretty good. Anyone agree
with me?
Yes, I liked last night. Eight years is after all a long time to keep up the types of problems these kids go through week after week. It's a long time for a sitcom. I think also that many diehard Seinfeld fans are now watching in syndication every night (I know I am) and have it very fresh in their minds the antics and stellar shows of the past these newer shows can't compare with the ones we've seen and enjoyed over and over again. I think no matter what they do I'll love Seinfeld and I'll watch till the end.
P.S. After watching again the very early episodes I can see how much Jerry has grown over the years as a comedic actor. And it's still fun to imagine a comedian's personal life and stuff, even if it isn't his life. My husband mentioned to me also that he thinks Jerry would be outstanding as the next host of the tonight show.
In article , [email] (Andrea and Joshua Barol) wrote:
Good point. When you see great comedy like that every night, it becomes a kind of standard, and you expect the weekly shows to top that every time, which is of course impossible.
Well, I know not everyone will agree with this, but for me the season premiere did compare with some of the best Seinfeld episodes. It had that blend of absurdity and realism that is a trademark of the Seinfeld show, and it was full of comedic energy. I was in fact a little surprised that so many people on the newsgroup disliked it.
So maybe it is the reason why I was so disappointed with last night's episode. It just seemed to me like a different show with the same characters. If this type of comedy was what Seinfeld was about, I never would have become such a big fan. But it's only one episode, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hope this is not the new direction the show is taking.
The show was dismal. The worst I've seen for Seinfeld. They had such promise. George being a suspect in Susan's death. I love this! He needs to be investigated by the police. I see enormous potential for a true "Seinfeld" mess coming out of this. I hope they go back to this premise. The vasectomy story line sucked. The only really funny bit was when Newman lost it over junk mail. It makes me wonder, don't the stars see how bad the script is?
It wasn't funny, and different in many ways both in terms of plot structure & editing techniques. I know this may seem hocus-pocus sounding to you, but ask any movie or TV director...they make a HUGE difference in terms of the quality of a product.
I cannot think of any episodes last year, or even in years previously that were worse than the two that started this season. Can you? I mean, these Davidless-episodes make Cosby seem hilarious. Do you think its mere coincidence that David is gone and these two shows stink?
Remember that we are going to see very few opening Seinfeld monologues to start of the show now. Why? Because Jerry Seinfeld says its now "too much work". Now keep in mind, they never last more than 30 seconds to a minute, but now with David gone, it's just "too much" to handle because he has to do all the writing now. This would seem to indicate that David did a LOT of the plot handling and writing, while Seinfeld did the monologues and added charming one-liners to the script.
At any rate, the proof is in the pudding. The first two episodes without David stink and the ones with David don't. Even if you don't think they stink, they are certainly different in terms of the sheer TECHNIQUE with which they're crafted. That certainly is jarring in itself...still nobody would care as long it was funny as ever...and it's not. Why do I emphasize technique? Because it indicates things are being done very differently over there. i.e. it's not just a matter of them not being as fresh using proven techniques. they're using a different set of protocols that don't seem likely to yield as funny a fruit (how's that for an analogy) :)
There were a few Gilligan's or I Dream of Jeannie's that were worse but no other Seinfelds ever stooed that low for humour.
The show used common gags that could have been played out in any sitcom. There was no credence in the actions of the cast. (1) The lady from the hamptons who was trying to imitate the voice of the 'fiancee' lady for cheap laughs - she did not talk that way when we met her with her newborn in the Hamptons. (2) Jerry pleading for a relationship - his charm has always been his cold alloofness(sp?) to his girl friends that he always had relationships with for supperficial reasons, (3) Kramer, the man with 'The Kavorka' needing Neuman's help with woman, (4) Neuman's crush on Elaine that came out of left field for no reason and went nowhere.
There was no clever dialogue or interwoven plots.
Like a Tapestry that is hung backwards the scene evident but displays none of its magic. (anyone know what that quote is from or what it is exactly) But the show certainly is now a shadow of its old self.
We all have to remember that this isn't the same show we've watched for years. Larry David is gone now. He was the writer or co-writer of almost every episode, was also the producer.... It'll take a while to get the machine rolling again, but I expect them to get some of the old spark back....
I agree with all your objections except #1. The lady from the hamptons did talk that way before, if not in The Hamptons episode, which I haven't seen in a while, then certainly she did in The 2nd part of the Keith Hernandez episode which was just on last week.
It wasn't funny, and different in many ways both in terms of plot structure & editing techniques. I know this may seem hocus-pocus sounding to you, but ask any movie or TV director...they make a HUGE difference in terms of the quality of a product.
I cannot think of any episodes last year, or even in years previously that were worse than the two that started this season. Can you? I mean, these Davidless-episodes make Cosby seem hilarious. Do you think its mere coincidence that David is gone and these two shows stink?
Remember that we are going to see very few opening Seinfeld monologues to start of the show now. Why? Because Jerry Seinfeld says its now "too much work". Now keep in mind, they never last more than 30 seconds to a minute, but now with David gone, it's just "too much" to handle because he has to do all the writing now. This would seem to indicate that David did a LOT of the plot handling and writing, while Seinfeld did the monologues and added charming one-liners to the script.
At any rate, the proof is in the pudding. The first two episodes without David stink and the ones with David don't. Even if you don't think they stink, they are certainly different in terms of the sheer TECHNIQUE with which they're crafted. That certainly is jarring in itself...still nobody would care as long it was funny as ever...and it's not. Why do I emphasize technique? Because it indicates things are being done very differently over there. i.e. it's not just a matter of them not being as fresh using proven techniques. they're using a different set of protocols that don't seem likely to yield as funny a fruit (how's that for an analogy) :)
Its obviously different...even people that work on the show are doubtful Jerry can handle the chore. However, I found the first two shows to be very good. The plots don't seem to connect anymore, but the humor is much darker. I believe the idea is to have everyone hating the cast by the end of the year and they will all be killed off one by one. It will be funny to some, but will alienate most Seinfeld fans. They don't care.
The show was dismal. The worst I've seen for Seinfeld. They had such promise. George being a suspect in Susan's death. I love this! He needs to be investigated by the police. I see enormous potential for a true "Seinfeld" mess coming out of this. I hope they go back to this premise. The vasectomy story line sucked. The only really funny bit was when Newman lost it over junk mail. It makes me wonder, don't the stars see how bad the script is?
I thought this was the funniest I've seen in a long time. I thought Elaine's dance was hysterical - and when George the "tough guy" is in the police station and he's crying and says "why did that policeman have to yell at me".
I also liked the end when everyone's dancing Elaine's dance.