Apr 19, 1996·12 posts by 11 posters·alt.tv.seinfeld
🙁 Disliked it🔥 Controversial
Fans debate whether characters yell and whine too much, with some arguing excessive yelling is a core premise of the show while others note it can be over the top in certain episodes.
Okay, I have been noticing on Seinfeld that if there is one problem with the show, it is the excessive use of yelling and whining. Like for example the episode where Morty comes up to NY to get his back checked out. All he does is yell, whine, bitch. Often Morty, and George too, go over the line with the yelling to the point where it becomes absurd.
Does anyone else think there is a lot of whining (if not yelling going on?). Elaine may not be a slut, be she definitely is very selfish and seems to think mostly about herself. Jerry and Krmare seem to be gracious enough to do things for other characters, but it seems harder for Elaine.
Are you kidding? I thought yuppie neurosis and all its distasteful trappings were the premise of this show. Of course they whine and yell. That's what the characters do. But they don't do one thing which characters on every other sitcom on the air do, and that is insult your intelligence.
Here's why I love Jason Alexander: On last night's rerun, you could believe (and this might only make sense to someone in their mid-30's or older, who has experienced the helpless feeling that we are, in spite of our best efforts to the contrary, genetic prisoners) that he was truly the progeny of his parents, the Costanzas. The explosive outbursts, the obsessive behavior. I've never felt that way about other parent-child relationships on television, but George is truly a work of art!
I've included many whiners among my friends, and I tolerate this, because dissatisfaction with life's current offerings is part of the zeitgeist in this country, and always has been. It's why the United States is the land of the over-achiever. By God, it's what makes this country great!
As far as whining goes, it seems to be endemic on television these days. "Roseanne", "Cybill", "Frasier"--all whinefests, when you think about it. If it's that distasteful, may I suggest a show where the characters are easy on the eyes, and so you don't think about their human nature (or lack of it)? Something like, maybe "Friends", or "Baywatch", or "Melrose Place".
I think that last night (4/18) George was definitely yelling excessively throughout the whole show! LIke when he and Susan were in the restaurant and she was telling George about how her sister & her husband loved the name Seven, and George turned into a screaming lunatic. (Ever notice how no one outside of them ever really reacts?)
<SNIP> Yes! This was very evident in the "seven" episode, with him going all the way to the hospital with Susan's cousins. Jerry Stiller ranting is always great, and I think a study of episodes over the years would show George ranting more and more.
Each character had some unlikeable traits. That's what makes the show realistic. That even includes Kramer, he mooches so much stuff out of Jerry's refrig., that Jerry has to buy enough for 2.
If you saw the episode on 4/18 it is a classic example of Kramer's moochiness. Kramer decided to set up a system so that he would be accountable for what he ate at Jerry's. I love when Jerry gets mad (in his calm sarcastic manner) and says something to the effect of ( sorry, I'm not good at memorizing phrases word for word!): "I'm not going to go into the physics of carbonation, but when you open a can of soda....you've bought it!"
Then Jerry holds up a piece of fruit with a huge bite taken out of it and makes a similar remark about having to pay for a whole piece of fruit once you've "pierced the skin"! Kramer is a beauty!
Yea, I've noticed that too, but a some of the rants are pretty funny. Especially when Frank starts ranting and raving. Also, I wouldn't say Kramer is gracious enough to do things for other characters, he usually only does something for someone if it will help himself in some way (i.e. he'll get something free out of it), although that's part of what makes him funny :)
Frank rules! He's the funniest character on the show. His best line is when they thought George was dead(when he left his car parked at yankee stadium) and Steinbrenner was at the Costanza's house to break the news to them and they were sitting there crying and all of a sudden Frank says:
"What the hell did you trade Jay Buhner for?! He had 30 home runs and over a 100 RBI's last year, he's got a rocket for an arm!!! You don't know what the hell you're doing!!!"
I've always enjoyed the show, but along came an episode where I also noticed an excessive amount of yelling going on. To the point where I was considering the horrid act of actually fast forwarding through the episode. The yelling has appeared in a few other recent ones too. It really destroys the moment and nips the humor in the bud. I hope they don't make this mistake again.
Jews are syereotyped as perpetual yellers and whiners. And for those of us who have noticed the recurring "Italian contradictions", Italians yell and get very emotional, too. But in reference to the post that said that no one other than the Seinfeld "gang" seemed to be bothered by all the yelling, one other character notices it and hates it. That is the big Black guy who works in the coffee shop. He once threatened to kick George out if he didn't shut up. And what's up with George always saying, "baby" (as in, "those pulp can move, baby!" and "it's [the name Seven] got lots of cache, baby)? And Elaine's always shoving everybody -- "get out!"
Absurd? You don't know many New York Jews, do you?
"Seinfeld" has the most self-centered characters in the history of television comedy. Not one could be counted on as far as you could throw them. And still they are beloved. Genius.