I haven't given Friends a chance yet but I plan to soon. I have just became a Seinfeld Fan in 2005 and just wanted to know from those of you who watched both do you think Seinfeld is better?

I prefer Seinfeld.... but Friends is good too. Friends has more a soap opera feel to it than probably any other sitcom. There's a lot of getting together and breaking up, but for the most part.... it remains funny.




(if you end up liking Friends after getting into Seinfeld.... I think you'd like Cheers as well ;) )

I haven't given Friends a chance yet but I plan to soon. I have just became a Seinfeld Fan in 2005 and just wanted to know from those of you who watched both do you think Seinfeld is better?

Can't stand Seinfeld, but lately it's been growing on me a bit, but IMO I enoyed Friends alot more than I ever did Seinfeld(I used to watch Seinfeld most of it's original run)

I never liked Friends. I did watch it for a year because nothing else was on. I always liked Seinfeld a lot more.

I liked both very much during their initial runs. However, I found I got put off by Seinfeld after a while. I even went through a period where the situations seemed just totally stupid and I felt Elaine was a little too bitchy and superficial. I still get a good chuckle out of certain episodes, but prefer Friends in the long run. It just had more depth in it. Not once would I get emotional in Seinfeld, but did several times watching Friends.

I think guys might like Seinfeld more and women would probably prefer the comoradary (sp?) of Friends more in general.

I liked both very much during their initial runs. However, I found I got put off by Seinfeld after a while. I even went through a period where the situations seemed just totally stupid and I felt Elaine was a little too bitchy and superficial. I still get a good chuckle out of certain episodes, but prefer Friends in the long run. It just had more depth in it. Not once would I get emotional in Seinfeld, but did several times watching Friends.

I think guys might like Seinfeld more and women would probably prefer the comoradary (sp?) of Friends more in general.


That's the way I feel, I couldn't ever get emotionally involved with the Seinfeld characters, but the Friends characters I could :)

But that was the point of the series. Come in, sit down, laugh for 30 minutes, leave. No care, no worries.... just all out laughs. And that's why it'll most likely go down as the most popular sitcom of all time.

But that was the point of the series. Come in, sit down, laugh for 30 minutes, leave. No care, no worries.... just all out laughs. And that's why it'll most likely go down as the most popular sitcom of all time.
Sort of like Cheers. :lol:

I never liked Friends. I did watch it for a year because nothing else was on. I always liked Seinfeld a lot more.
Seinfield was more enjoying to me also.

I think Friends is better if you want long story arcs and to get emotionally involved (ala Ross/Rachel, Chandler/Monica, etc..), but I think Seinfeld works much better as episodic comedy. Unlike Friends, it does not need to be watched in any sense of order. There's a reason why TBS can air a season 8 episode followed by a season 3 one followed by season 5. I think it explains the long-lasting success of the show in syndication despite being off the air for 7 years.

Seinfeld does precisely what a sitcom is supposed to make you do, laugh. I'm sure if Jerry and Larry David really wanted to, they could've done a series-long arc about Jerry and Elaine being meant for each other, ala Ross and Rachel, but they chose not to go that route, and it was probably for the best.

I think Friends is better if you want long story arcs and to get emotionally involved (ala Ross/Rachel, Chandler/Monica, etc..), but I think Seinfeld works much better as episodic comedy. Unlike Friends, it does not need to be watched in any sense of order. There's a reason why TBS can air a season 8 episode followed by a season 3 one followed by season 5. I think it explains the long-lasting success of the show in syndication despite being off the air for 7 years.

Seinfeld does precisely what a sitcom is supposed to make you do, laugh. I'm sure if Jerry and Larry David really wanted to, they could've done a series-long arc about Jerry and Elaine being meant for each other, ala Ross and Rachel, but they chose not to go that route, and it was probably for the best.


Oh I hear ya! Yah, definitely played more just for outright laughs. I mean, you'd never see Ross chasing down and beating an old lady for a marble rye! Just my personal taste. I do still like both sitcoms very much for their own styles. Tough to compare them really because of that.

I among the minority of people who cant stand Friends.On the other hand,I love Seinfeld and find it very entertaining.I've seen a few episodes of Friends,and it just never grew on me.

"Seinfeld" and "Friends" are on at the same time if you have Foxtel in Australia. And after about two weeks of watching friends I've realized how good "Seinfeld" really is.

"Friends" irks me the way that all the people in it are just skinny good looking singles. In Seinfeld all the characters faults are so blatantly obvious, it makes it easier to relate to.

Also "Seinfeld" has better dialogue and is really clever, while "Friends" is just a bit too predictable.

"Seinfeld" and "Friends" are on at the same time if you have Foxtel in Australia. And after about two weeks of watching friends I've realized how good "Seinfeld" really is.

"Friends" irks me the way that all the people in it are just skinny good looking singles. In Seinfeld all the characters faults are so blatantly obvious, it makes it easier to relate to.

Also "Seinfeld" has better dialogue and is really clever, while "Friends" is just a bit too predictable.


What would you say one of Jerry's Faults was?

If I was forced to choose, I'd pick Seinfeld. I know I'm in the minority, but I never cared much for either show.

When Friends first aired I watched it all the time.

And Seinfeld I did the same.

But when watching reruns it is very apparent that Seinfeld holds up better.

I still enjoy parts of Friends, but it is not the same, and when reruns can make you dislike aspects of a show you used to like, that means something.

I haven't given Friends a chance yet but I plan to soon. I have just became a Seinfeld Fan in 2005 and just wanted to know from those of you who watched both do you think Seinfeld is better?

Seinfeld is more watchable to me. Friends doesn't interest me at all.

I never liked Seinfeld at all. I never understood the humor. Friends is a future classic sitcom and probably one of the best.

I don't understand how Seinfeld is labeled 'best sitcom ever' Sure it has a HUGE fanbase but I always thought the other half hated the show. Maybe its a love/hate show but still, for a great sitcom, alot of people don't find it funny at all and thats including me.

I agree, I don't understand the attraction to Seinfeld, IMO the only funny character on Seinfeld was Kramer, the others just grated on my nerves too much to be funny. I don't get the "greatest sitcom ever" title either, IMO there are tons of other shows that fit that label more

They are both good shows, but in different ways. If you just want a laugh, then Seinfeld is for you. If you want a story to follow, then Friends is better than Seinfeld. Overall though, I think Seinfeld holds up better than Friends.

the thing with Seinfeld is, when it premiered, NOTHING on tv was like it. It ushered in a new image and style for sitcoms, you can see Seinfeld's influence in shows from Frasier (even though it was a Cheers spinoff, you can see Seinfeld influences as well) to Will And Grace to Arrested Development. It forever changed sitcoms from being either family-oriented or workplace-driven.

I think in terms of quality and originality, Seinfeld has very few rivals for the "best comedy ever" rank it gets

Well I guess we see it different, Seinfeld doesn't seem like a standout show to me at all. IMO The Dick Van Dyke Show is the best tv comedy ever, I can't think of one bad episode of that show ;)

Yes and no.

"Seinfeld" was the funnier of the two (though "Friends" was still hilarious), but "Friends" had more heart and depth. "Seinfeld" holds up better because its episodes were standalone, not interconnected with story arcs like "Friends."

It really depends on what you're looking for in a sitcom. If you want nothing more than a laugh and a more unique brand of humor, go with "Seinfeld." If you're more interested in character and evolving storylines, "Friends" is the better bet.

It is possible to enjoy them both equally though. They are my top two favorite sitcoms ever, but I can never decide which I like better. I love both for entirely different reasons.

the thing with Seinfeld is, when it premiered, NOTHING on tv was like it. It ushered in a new image and style for sitcoms, you can see Seinfeld's influence in shows from Frasier (even though it was a Cheers spinoff, you can see Seinfeld influences as well) to Will And Grace to Arrested Development. It forever changed sitcoms from being either family-oriented or workplace-driven.

I think in terms of quality and originality, Seinfeld has very few rivals for the "best comedy ever" rank it gets

See, I'll never understand how it influenced or was more different than other sitcoms beyond the fact that they were weird people. Can you explain more?

See, I'll never understand how it influenced or was more different than other sitcoms beyond the fact that they were weird people. Can you explain more?

before Seinfeld, sitcoms usually followed a set pattern of what happens in episodes. With Seinfeld, the comedy became more dialogue driven, and instead of typical sitcom cliches (ala marriage, work, children, dream sequences, etc...), we ended up getting episodes that were about such mundane, unnoticed things, as pens and pez despensers, yet made them unbelievably funny. I think Seinfeld really took comedy to the next level. I don't think any sitcom before Seinfeld even tried to do a 22 minute episode waiting to be seated at a Chinese resteraunt, or being lost in a parking garage. It was really groundbreaking stuff IMO. The show lost a little steam in the last 3 or so seasons because they seemed to be aware of it's hype (even though it was still funny), but the first 5 or 6 seasons were really out there and there was nothing on tv like it.

I think Seinfeld's influence shows in a lot of the dialogue on Frasier, and many of the situations the Bluth family finds themselves in on Arrested Development.

People tend to forget Seinfeld wasn't a full on situation comedy. It was observational comedy in a situation subtext. Seinfeld really redefined what a sitcom could be and creatively pushed the envelope. Nothing like it had been tried successfully before or after.

I think Seinfeld's influence shows in a lot of the dialogue on Frasier, and many of the situations the Bluth family finds themselves in on Arrested Development.

I completely agree. Especially with Frasier, which did a few "real time" episodes, undoubtedly inspired by Seinfeld. The same was done with Friends as well.... and even the creators of Friends admit that the episode "The One Where No One's Ready", which is in real-time for all of you who don't know, was an homage to Seinfeld.

Similarly, Everybody Loves Raymond has done at least 1 real-time episode.... something a sitcom would have never thought of pre-Seinfeld.

interesting. I never knew that about Seinfeld. It actually makes me want to check out those episodes. But don't tell anyone...I'm still suppose to be a raging anti seinfeld supporter.

I'll probably get slapped for this, but I've never really watched a whole lot of the two shows to form an opinion. However, based on opinions of other people alone, I think I would go with Seinfeld...it just seems more my style. I'm not in the whole "involving" plot lines and complicated romances that Friends seems to be based on. Again, I can't say for sure since I've only seen bits and pieces of the show...only going by hearsay.

However, I don't think Seinfeld was the first show to be about nothing.... Three's Company holds that title for me :D

However, I don't think Seinfeld was the first show to be about nothing.... Three's Company holds that title for me :D

well, I think TC had more of a plot than Seinfeld did.

But... watching the Kramer character, I think it's a pretty safe assumption that John Ritter did play a huge influence on Michael Richards' brand of physical comedy. Ritter is the only other actor I can think of who would do such outrageous physical comedy on television that Richards did on Seinfeld.

But... watching the Kramer character, I think it's a pretty safe assumption that John Ritter did play a huge influence on Michael Richards' brand of physical comedy. Ritter is the only other actor I can think of who would do such outrageous physical comedy on television that Richards did on Seinfeld.


I was thinking the exact same thing while watching "The Trip" (Parts 1 & 2) on DVD last night.

I completely agree. Especially with Frasier, which did a few "real time" episodes, undoubtedly inspired by Seinfeld. The same was done with Friends as well.... and even the creators of Friends admit that the episode "The One Where No One's Ready", which is in real-time for all of you who don't know, was an homage to Seinfeld.

Similarly, Everybody Loves Raymond has done at least 1 real-time episode.... something a sitcom would have never thought of pre-Seinfeld.


Married...With Children did a real time episode once back in 1987.

But was it about something as mundane as waiting for a table in a restaurant or getting lost in a parking garage?

Not quite. It was about Al and Peg helping the kids with problems so they could attend the closing of their old hangout. The episode was called "Johnny Be Gone" and it was during the first season before the show bacame a real life cartoon.

Friends, to me, is the end all, be all, of sitcom greatness.

Dee : )

This is going to sound funny (weird, not haha), but I've actually never seen an episode of Seinfeld in its entirety. I've seen clips and segments, but never a whole episode. So there are indeed some folks out there who haven't been exposed to the show.

When it originally aired I prefered Seinfeld, but I've become a major Chandler & Monica fan, so I prefer watching Friends for that reason.

Seinfeld consisted of very dry humor...yes Michael Richards seemed to the physical comedian of that show and I did laugh at some of them..Soup Nazi, Puffy Shirt, Astronaut Pen....but there was no human emotion attatched to Seinfeld...

FRIENDS had it all... there is comedy and the physical comic of that show all would agree was David Schwimmer...there was human emotions and love... people falling in love, getting married, having babies, most of the vocal comedy was Matthew Perry....yes i know that TOW No One's Ready was in homage to Seinfeld