Worlds Aren't Colliding!

I've been reading the posts, both pro and con, about the season premiere, and the thing that stands out for me is that the Seinfeld trademark of intersecting plots was notably absent.

It used to be that the elaborate mechanism of the script would set up parallel storylines that would "collide" together at the end in various hilarious and unexpected ways. It is the most difficult form of comic writing, and thus one can understand that it might be hard to keep coming up with the ingenious storylines that bring all the characters together, but that's what made "Seinfeld" so special!

The premiere had Jerry off doing his market research on the best story to tell to score with women; George involved in the Susan Foundation; Elaine taking over for Peterman; and Kramer's karate class. Except for Kramer giving his pep talk to Elaine and Jerry's vague reference to two women eating cheese, none of this overlapped. The characters would simply get together at Monk's or Jerry's apartment and TELL each other what was happening in their lives.

Let's face it, folks: The "Seinfeld" we've known and loved is gone forever. This is brought home to me even more strongly as I watch some of the early ones that are running again in syndication, like "The Heart Attack" and "The Overdue Book." Even such small amusing details, like naming the librarian Marion (as in "Marion The Librarian" from "The Music Man") in "The Overdue Book" are missing.

"Seinfeld" was an accident. It was never supposed to become the huge hit that it became. It was a small, quirky comedy that mirrored everyday life, with recognizable archtypes. Most of us have friends with the personality traits of Jerry, George, Kramer and Elaine, and even have many of those quirks ourselves. That's what caused it's huge following...fans IDENTIFIED with it!

Oh, well. Let's make the decision now to take care of and treasure this final season as we would a dear old friend. At least it won't stick around five years after it's prime like "Married...With Children" has done. And soon, those naysayers who were trashing Season #7 will be pining for it and looking back on it as "the good old days."

In Lee Salem writes:

premiere,

various

coming

together,

to

Elaine

Kramer

get

some

Heart

Music

hit

this

funny if not funnier, and some of us really liked the premiere and the past season. The show is still great and still has a huge following, so things can't exactly be broken.

	Lee,
	I don't know about this.  While it's good when the episodes keep the gang
together, especially when they gang up on someone (like when Elaine and George
lied about wrecking his car in The Parking Space, or when George and Jerry
tried to keep Elaine from finding out about the spot on the Cashmere sweater,
or the "panties your mother laid out for you" fiasco), there've been some good
one's where they split up and come back to tell about their day (The Subway
"I'm not ashamed of my body." "That's your problem- you should be!") though
it's *really* good when their actions bring them together, like the Marine
Biologist, where George saves a whale from a golf ball Kramer hit into the
ocean earlier.
	epbrown
[email]
Laptop Central
http://www.enteract.com/~epbrown

Actually, during the middle of season #7 I noticed that they stopped intertwining plots. Although, the premiere didn't intertwine plots either I thought that it was funnier than most of the episodes last season. Seinfeld is not as good as it used to be, but it is still funnier than most of the other shows on television.

Aaron

What the hell show were you people watching!?!?!?

Let's see:

(1) Jerry tells Elaine that she's incapable of doing Peterman's job, then Kramer says "go for it" by explaining what he's done in Karate. Later we (including Elaine) see that Kramer is in a child's Karate class and that's why he's class champion. Now she has no confidence. Ummm, isn't that an intersection?

(2) Jerry does his "market research". George is involved with the Susan Foundation. Jerry finds out that having a dead fiance is better than breaking up. Ummm, isn't that an intersection?

(3) One of the first scenes is of Elaine getting back from Mexico with the lame idea of a "suburban sombrero". Now go see (1). At the end of the show, two gentlemen are discussing being dismissed and censured at work and blaming it on the "suburban sombrero" while sitting right next to Elaine! Ummm, isn't that an intersection? And a full-circle thread?

I'm not saying that it was a particularly funny show. I think that future episodes may build on this foundation show. But don't say there weren't intersections!

ThatBobGuy

In article , Aaron Zober wrote:

<maudlin whining removed>

Lee Salem wrote:

Very well said! It seems they're trying a whole bunch of new things this season (or staying away from the things that make the show good).

I always wondered what aspects of the terrific plots that Jerry Seinfeld was responsible for and what parts Larry David covered. It's becoming increasingly evident that David (or whomever left the show at the same time as David) was responsible for the ingenious intersecting comedic plots, as well as fast-paced brisk editing WHILE Seinfeld handled the addition of charming one-liners and funny side-moments to the script.

Just like that comment in the last episode about how George should be the M&M. That was very much reminiscent other funny one-liners Jerry would deliver.

e.g. (to George) "I'm a lot like you...only successful."

or

	Elaine: "Why do the call getting drunk Benders?"
	Jerry: "I don't know, they probably get drunken mad in bars and start
bending things!"

or

"Alright, let's watch em slice the fat bastard up"

So the funny one-liners are still there. But the deviously clever & hilariously intersecting plots with fast-paced editing? Gone. Very sad that the show will have to end with Seinfeld alone pulling the strings. We need Larry David back.

BTW, why did he leave? This is probably old news, so sorry to rehash, but I was curious.