Fans debate why Home Improvement attracts larger audiences than Seinfeld, with theories ranging from relatable relationship drama to appeals to different demographic groups.
Does anyone understand why Home Improvement appeals to the masses so much more than Seinfeld? I just can't figure it out. I think Seinfeld is sooooooooo much better than HI.
Of course it doesn't really matter now that Seinfeld is moving to Thursdays, but I was just curious what other people's theories are.
Lisa Kent
In article Lisa Kent, [email] writes:
This is my theory. It is only my opinion, so no flames please.
Home Improvement tends to address relationship issues, which just about everybody can relate to. Invariably, Tim or Jill does something to offend the other, a lot of miscommunication results, Wilson helps the offending party to see the light, the offender pseudo-apologizes, and life goes on. The focus, though, is how a strong relationship can withstand life's ups & downs.
A lot of people can relate the on-screen arguments to their real life relationships. This appeals to just about all ages. Moreover, there are enough zany antics and sight gags to relate to kids, and enough cute-kid behavior to relate to seniors.
Seinfeld tends to relate more to a single person in his/her 20's to 30's. The show is, well, about nothing. When relationships are introduced, the show tends to emphasize their fleeting nature. Examples: Jerry & Elaine, "The Pick," The Virgin, "The panties your mother laid out for you," etc.
I guess it boils down to audience appeal. I would submit that Home Improvement does better than Seinfeld overall because the storylines appeal to a broader demographic base.
And don't get me wrong, I love both shows. I just like Seinfeld better, well, because I'm single and in my 20's.
(No flames from married 60 year old Seinfeld fans, please, I'm only stereotyping to make a point.)
IMHO, Lisa, you just answered your own question.
(And I'm married & in my 50's.)
In article , [email] (Lisa Kent) says:
Can't be certain, because I don't personally know anyone who watches "Home Improvement" on a regular basis (I've seen it a couple of times). I would guess that HI appeals to boring, suburban, upwardly-mobile yuppies who can relate to the trials & tribulations of raising a family in the '90s, while "Seinfeld" is more for people who actually still have some imagination and sense of humor left.
(s)
mid-30's boring suburban professional youth-culture-obsessed
technopunk wannabe"boring suburban upwardly mobile yuppies"...hmmm. Let's translate the acronymic word yuppies and see what we get.
"boring suburban upwardly-mobile young urban professionals"
or (depending on your translation)
"boring suburban upwardly-mobile young upwardly-mobile professionals"
Exqueeze me?
Wade
-------------------------- [Jerry is asked to appear as a guest on Tool Time. Later, he describes the experience for us]
"Do you ever watch those 'work around the house' TV shows? Yeah, you know the ones, where they fix things or do crafts or projects that very few people would ever actually attempt in real life. So, I'm on this show, as a guest, and they're making, like, mailboxes or something. So I'm sitting there, smiling and trying to be charming, and these guys are just...at each others throats. I can't figure it out...I'm saying to myself "guys, guys, take it easy! We're just making a mailbox here, for crying out loud" but since I'm saying it to myself they can't hear me. Finally, this gorgeous blond comes in, holding a bunch of power tools. Except I can't really get a good look at her because the two guys have started fighting over a piece of wood for the mailbox. I don't know, maybe it's just me, but when a gorgeous blond comes into the room carrying power tools, I pretty much lose my desire to play tug of war with a piece of timber. So the girl and I leave to get a cappucino, and, well, that's pretty much it. I don't know what happened to the mailbox."
In article , [email] (Wade Blomgren) says:
Well, that was surprisingly mild. I thought I'd get way flamed for stereotyping and defamation of characteristics. Maybe yuppies are one ethnic (?) group that can still be insulted with impugnity. Or maybe they (or we?) are so secure they (we) don't care what anyone says?
Anywhatever, I'll expound: I thought YUP meant "Young Urban Professional" (and my guess is that "young" means under 40). I never heard the "upwardly-mobile" expansion. A "surburban YUPpie, obviously, is someone like me, who lives in a suburb and works in a city. Anyone who tries to raise children on the nitty-gritty streets of the city is too gutsy to be completely boring.
In article , William H Temps III writes:
never
obviously,
Anyone
is
Some similar acronyms:
Yubbie: Young urban breadwinner Yuffie: Young urban financial failure
Chuckle, chuckle.
Personally, I'd rather go have a beer with a yubbie or a yuffie than with a yuppie any day of the week.
Wayne Erxleben University of Arizona