7 Things Fans Couldn’t Get Enough Of In Seinfeld
An article about nothing?
All great sitcoms face a similar fate once their final series has drawn to a close. The creators, writers and stars for years are bombarded by calls for the show to return in the form of a reunion episode.
Even whilst promoting their latest pet project stars are often interrogated about “when will we see Ross and Rachel together again?” etc. However, the reality would likely be Schrödinger’s show. The show has said what it had to say, the laughs have been had and to return would risk seeing the show die a slow and painful death. It is best not knowing what happens after the screen fades to darkness and the next advert confirms that it’s all over.
Whilst the current generation may see Friends as the go-to casual American sitcom, Seinfeld, “the show about nothing”, has garnered more demand for such reincarnations than almost any other sitcom. Perhaps Seinfelds' poorly received ending is accountable for the demand, however the journey or end goal was never the point in Seinfeld - it was the laughs along the way.
The characters never learnt anything, are morally incognizant and the show doesn’t tie anything up in a neat bow. Therefore, the incessant clambering for a reunion, or god forbid a film seems to want answers to a show that wasn’t asking any questions.
So, despite little prospect of a reboot, fans still have a surfeit of Seinfeld content to enjoy, with 9 seasons of old school comedy gold at their fingertips. But what is it fans loved so much about this 90s comedy juggernaut?
In Jerry Seinfeld’s own whiny and exasperated tone…..”What’s the deal with Seinfeld?”
7. Festivus
You could say that you know that a show has made the big time when it spawns its own holiday. But this would only seem to apply to Seinfeld so perhaps it’s not the best barometer.
Festivus whilst established in mainstream consciousness through its appearance on Seinfeld, was actually the brain child of Seinfeld writer Dan O’Keefe’s father- author and editor Daniel O’Keefe. The holiday was integrated into the show when executive producers Alex Berg and Jeff Schafer became aware of the holiday through O’Keefe’s younger brother.
In Seinfeld, Festivus is celebrated by George’s father Frank Costanza as an alternative to the overt commercialisation of Christmas. George whilst reluctant to engage in Festivus’s customary ‘Airing of Grievances’ or ‘Feats of Strength’, persuades his boss Mr Kruger to witness Festivus due to a lie George told about fake charity donations. Of course.
Whilst a classic episode in its own right, the idea of Festivus has caught the imagination of many practising Seinfeld fans who have adorned their homes each year with a Festivus pole.
Seinfeld here giving us an episode, and a Festivus, from the best of us.