Why isn't Seinfeld as popular internationally as Friends? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 02-07-2021, 03:47 AM

On the same token, it appears that Seinfeld isn't as popular domestically as Friends either.

dee2364 · 02-07-2021, 12:37 PM

If it's true that Seinfeld isn't as popular as Friends, I would hazard a guess: the humor on that show is very niche, based around so-called "neurotic NYC Jewish" comedy that was made popular by the likes of Woody Allen. Friends is more generic and mainstream, appealing to almost everyone. I know people who are the most ethnocentric people on the planet and yet obsessively binge-watched Friends in a way they never did with a show like Martin. Yet when I tried turning them on to Seinfeld, they couldn't care less.

TSMIV · 02-07-2021, 01:21 PM

Maybe because Seinfeld is less "warm and fuzzy" than Friends. I love both shows, but Seinfeld doesn't really fit the category of comfort TV.

Olaf · 04-10-2021, 11:49 AM

If I were to guess, it's the romantic twenty-something angle that Friends has. People, particularly women, like to live vicariously through the characters. Seinfeld's comedy was rooted in the indifference and selfishness of its main cast. It's a lot harsher for some to swallow. I've always preferred Seinfeld. Friends could be funny, but was more often just annoying.

RetroGuy2000 · 04-10-2021, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olaf

If I were to guess, it's the romantic twenty-something angle that Friends has. People, particularly women, like to live vicariously through the characters. Seinfeld's comedy was rooted in the indifference and selfishness of its main cast. It's a lot harsher for some to swallow. I've always preferred Seinfeld. Friends could be funny, but was more often just annoying.

I've always preferred Friends, but I think you are exactly right: Seinfeld is harsher; Friends is more Comfort Food.

I enjoyed the early seasons of Seinfeld very much, but grew tired of it when George's fiance died as a result of toxic envelopes he had given her, and instead of being sad, he was relieved. That was some dark, dark humor. For me, it was a turn-off.

Friends also had an international angle, with characters from Italy (Paulo), the UK (Emily), Australia (Janine), and a visit to London. I'm not surprised Friends would sell better internationally.

hifijohn · 06-05-2021, 03:25 AM

I think there is something very subtle about the humor on Seinfeld that most people in other countries don't get,If you look at comedy shows in other countries then tend to be very simple and in your face, nothing subtle at all about them.

GentlemanJim · 06-05-2021, 10:15 AM

The show always seemed to have a heavy handed insistence upon what MUST be considered funny.

I don't think that played well with foreign sensitivities. Take the "Marine Biologist" episode just for one example. Seinfeld has himself said he thought it was the funniest episode of the series. It failed to impress me that way. Suffering animals is funny?

And while I found "the Soup Nazi" to be absolutely golden, I can see how it would be much less amusing in Europe.

SO, I think the nature of the humor is pointed to appeal to a particular subset, and I'll leave it at that.

I also don't think the "lovable" side of Kramer's eccentricity resonates with foreign audiences as well as it does with Americans.

Crusinforabrusin2.5 · 07-20-2021, 09:59 AM

Seinfeld lacks the warmth that Friends has and its humor is very niche. Nearly anyone can watch Friends and like it to some extent but Seinfeld is not everyone's cup of tea. Seinfeld is definitely better, but it doesn't appeal to everyone

icecream · 07-20-2021, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crusinforabrusin2.5

Seinfeld lacks the warmth that Friends has and its humor is very niche. Nearly anyone can watch Friends and like it to some extent but Seinfeld is not everyone's cup of tea. Seinfeld is definitely better, but it doesn't appeal to everyone

Friends doesn't appeal to almost everyone or nearly anyone either. I don't like Friends at all, most definitely not my cup of tea.

SledgeBarone · 07-27-2021, 04:51 AM

Perhaps Friends is more of the anomaly. The graph shows that it tops more recent hits like Big Bang Theory, The Office, and How I Met Your Mother. Seinfeld is older than all of those sitcoms, so you might think it belongs at the bottom.

steve523 · 08-14-2021, 12:21 PM

I agree with Seinfeld's humor being a bit harsher than many sitcoms, and for me the show was an acquired taste. I also think the "eye candy" factor might be another factor. The "freinds" cast was easier on the eyes for the most part.

TMC · 10-02-2021, 05:53 AM

Will British viewers finally appreciate Seinfeld now that it's on Netflix?

Despite being a massive hit in the United States, Seinfeld has had only a cult following among British viewers. In contrast, Friends was widely watched in Britain. "What’s the deal with British people and Seinfeld?" says Louis Chilton. "Ordinarily, American culture has no trouble whatsoever finding a willing audience on our shores. From gritty dramas like The Walking Dead to frothy comedies such as Friends, US TV usually slips unimpeded into the UK’s bloodstream like a lab-grown supervirus. But not Seinfeld. In its native US, Jerry Seinfeld’s ground-breaking sitcom was a hit of obscene proportions. Its creator and star became an immediate household name, and, before long, the richest comedian in the world. The language of the show seeped into the vernacular of the American everyday – from 'yada yada yada' to 'not that there’s anything wrong with that.' When Seinfeld went off air, its finale was watched by more than 75 million people. Here in the UK, however, you’d be forgiven for wondering why there’s so much ado about the show about nothing." As Chilton points out, Seinfeld has been available to British viewers on streaming before, on platforms such as Sky and Amazon. But thanks to Netflix, Seinfeld "is the most accessible it’s ever been" since the streamer paid more than $500 million for global rights to the iconic comedy. ALSO: Netflix transforms Seinfeld's Jerry into a living Lego -- something Jerry Seinfeld did with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show.

Festivus · 10-17-2021, 03:17 PM

It annoys me that Friends is so much more popular in the UK than Seinfeld. All the big American sitcoms aired on Channel 4. Seinfeld did have a cult following in the ‘90s, but unfortunately it had a terrible time slot on BBC Two. Its popularity in the UK has grown somewhat in the internet age, but it’s still way too underrated here for my liking!

Now it’s on Netflix hopefully its popularity will grow here (especially with the younger generation).

RetroGuy2000 · 10-17-2021, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve523

I agree with Seinfeld's humor being a bit harsher than many sitcoms, and for me the show was an acquired taste. I also think the "eye candy" factor might be another factor. The "freinds" cast was easier on the eyes for the most part.

Welcome, Steve!

Yeah, the humor on Seinfeld was bit harsher, more hard-boiled. And as you say, the Friends cast was for sure eye candy.

02-07-2021, 03:47 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,334	Why isn't Seinfeld as popular internationally as Friends? On the same token, it appears that Seinfeld isn't as popular domestically as Friends either.

06-05-2021, 10:15 AM	#7
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	The show always seemed to have a heavy handed insistence upon what MUST be considered funny. I don't think that played well with foreign sensitivities. Take the "Marine Biologist" episode just for one example. Seinfeld has himself said he thought it was the funniest episode of the series. It failed to impress me that way. Suffering animals is funny? And while I found "the Soup Nazi" to be absolutely golden, I can see how it would be much less amusing in Europe. SO, I think the nature of the humor is pointed to appeal to a particular subset, and I'll leave it at that. I also don't think the "lovable" side of Kramer's eccentricity resonates with foreign audiences as well as it does with Americans.
	__________________ On my word as a gentleman!

10-17-2021, 03:17 PM	#13
Festivus Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 10, 2020 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 9	It annoys me that Friends is so much more popular in the UK than Seinfeld. All the big American sitcoms aired on Channel 4. Seinfeld did have a cult following in the ‘90s, but unfortunately it had a terrible time slot on BBC Two. Its popularity in the UK has grown somewhat in the internet age, but it’s still way too underrated here for my liking! Now it’s on Netflix hopefully its popularity will grow here (especially with the younger generation).
	Last edited by Festivus; 06-30-2024 at 04:33 AM.

02-07-2021, 12:37 PM	#2
dee2364 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 20, 2019 Posts: 643	If it's true that Seinfeld isn't as popular as Friends, I would hazard a guess: the humor on that show is very niche, based around so-called "neurotic NYC Jewish" comedy that was made popular by the likes of Woody Allen. Friends is more generic and mainstream, appealing to almost everyone. I know people who are the most ethnocentric people on the planet and yet obsessively binge-watched Friends in a way they never did with a show like Martin. Yet when I tried turning them on to Seinfeld, they couldn't care less.

02-07-2021, 01:21 PM	#3
TSMIV Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 29, 2018 Location: Arkansas Posts: 696	Maybe because Seinfeld is less "warm and fuzzy" than Friends. I love both shows, but Seinfeld doesn't really fit the category of comfort TV.

04-10-2021, 11:49 AM	#4
Olaf Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 06, 2013 Location: London Posts: 28	If I were to guess, it's the romantic twenty-something angle that Friends has. People, particularly women, like to live vicariously through the characters. Seinfeld's comedy was rooted in the indifference and selfishness of its main cast. It's a lot harsher for some to swallow. I've always preferred Seinfeld. Friends could be funny, but was more often just annoying.

06-05-2021, 03:25 AM	#6
hifijohn Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 07, 2013 Posts: 209	I think there is something very subtle about the humor on Seinfeld that most people in other countries don't get,If you look at comedy shows in other countries then tend to be very simple and in your face, nothing subtle at all about them.

07-20-2021, 09:59 AM	#8
Crusinforabrusin2.5 Gone for now, but I'll be back Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 17, 2019 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 451	Seinfeld lacks the warmth that Friends has and its humor is very niche. Nearly anyone can watch Friends and like it to some extent but Seinfeld is not everyone's cup of tea. Seinfeld is definitely better, but it doesn't appeal to everyone

07-27-2021, 04:51 AM	#10
SledgeBarone Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 01, 2020 Posts: 1,930	Perhaps Friends is more of the anomaly. The graph shows that it tops more recent hits like Big Bang Theory, The Office, and How I Met Your Mother. Seinfeld is older than all of those sitcoms, so you might think it belongs at the bottom.

08-14-2021, 12:21 PM	#11
steve523 Member Forum Cub Join Date: Aug 14, 2021 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 2	I agree with Seinfeld's humor being a bit harsher than many sitcoms, and for me the show was an acquired taste. I also think the "eye candy" factor might be another factor. The "freinds" cast was easier on the eyes for the most part.

10-02-2021, 05:53 AM	#12
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,334	Will British viewers finally appreciate Seinfeld now that it's on Netflix? Despite being a massive hit in the United States, Seinfeld has had only a cult following among British viewers. In contrast, Friends was widely watched in Britain. "What’s the deal with British people and Seinfeld?" says Louis Chilton. "Ordinarily, American culture has no trouble whatsoever finding a willing audience on our shores. From gritty dramas like The Walking Dead to frothy comedies such as Friends, US TV usually slips unimpeded into the UK’s bloodstream like a lab-grown supervirus. But not Seinfeld. In its native US, Jerry Seinfeld’s ground-breaking sitcom was a hit of obscene proportions. Its creator and star became an immediate household name, and, before long, the richest comedian in the world. The language of the show seeped into the vernacular of the American everyday – from 'yada yada yada' to 'not that there’s anything wrong with that.' When Seinfeld went off air, its finale was watched by more than 75 million people. Here in the UK, however, you’d be forgiven for wondering why there’s so much ado about the show about nothing." As Chilton points out, Seinfeld has been available to British viewers on streaming before, on platforms such as Sky and Amazon. But thanks to Netflix, Seinfeld "is the most accessible it’s ever been" since the streamer paid more than $500 million for global rights to the iconic comedy. ALSO: Netflix transforms Seinfeld's Jerry into a living Lego -- something Jerry Seinfeld did with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show.