Is there such a thing as a "bad" Seinfeld episode? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Anti-Dentyte · 11-09-2008, 04:49 PM

I'm just wondering, because to me all Seinfeld episodes seem like comedy masterpieces. But is there even one episode that could be considered sub-par? It feels blasphemous to even suggest the possibility.

TripperFan · 11-09-2008, 04:54 PM

The final one in my opinion was a huge disappointment.

I'm sure there's a couple of others towards the end, but can't think of them at the moment.

I really didn't like the one where Jerry bought his dad a watch or something like that. Was kind of boring.

Chocolate Moose · 11-09-2008, 05:26 PM

plenty were over the top wacky and won't stand the test of time.

Anti-Dentyte · 11-09-2008, 06:17 PM

I notice that the episodes of the last 2 seasons (after Larry David left the show) had a slightly different tone and were sometimes more wacky. As I've mentioned before, Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David working together and writing episodes could be compared to Paul MCartney and John Lennon. They were the ideal partnership with different sensibilities, which gave the show its brilliance. Once Larry David was out of the equation, Jerry still managed to do a great job, but the series lost something, in my opinion.

One wacky episode that comes to mind has at one point George sleeping inside Jerry's cupboards. (I think that same episode is also the one where Kramer is renting out the drawers of his dresser for the night to Japanese businessmen) I doubt such a wacky over-the-top moment would have happened when Larry David was onboard. Larry liked to keep a certain realism in the show.

Anti-Dentyte · 11-09-2008, 06:18 PM

I notice that the episodes of the last 2 seasons (after Larry David left the show) had a slightly different tone and were sometimes more wacky. As I've mentioned before, Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David working together and writing episodes could be compared to Paul MCartney and John Lennon. They were the ideal partnership with different sensibilities, which gave the show its brilliance. Once Larry David was out of the equation, Jerry still managed to do a great job but the series lost something, in my opinion.

One wacky episode that comes to mind has at one point George sleeping inside Jerry's cupboards. (I think that same episode is also the one where Kramer is renting out the drawers of his dresser for the night to Japanese businessmen) I doubt such a wacky over-the-top moment would have happened when Larry David was onboard. Larry liked to keep a certain realism in the show.

TripperFan · 11-09-2008, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anti-Dentyte

I notice that the episodes of the last 2 seasons (after Larry David left the show) had a slightly different tone and were sometimes more wacky. As I've mentioned before, Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David working together and writing episodes could be compared to Paul MCartney and John Lennon. They were the ideal partnership with different sensibilities, which gave the show its brilliance. Once Larry David was out of the equation, Jerry still managed to do a great job, but the series lost something, in my opinion.

One wacky episode that comes to mind has at one point George sleeping inside Jerry's cupboards. (I think that same episode is also the one where Kramer is renting out the drawers of his dresser for the night to Japanese businessmen) I doubt such a wacky over-the-top moment would have happened when Larry David was onboard. Larry liked to keep a certain realism in the show.

Exactly - for a show "about nothing" it was like they were stretching for scripts and funny moments so they went the way of slapstick and stupid situations more. I actually stopped watching faithfully around that time and wasn't bothered a bit when Jerry announced he was going to shut it down. Obviously he could see it.

You don't want your sitcom to go the way Happy Days did!

Schmoopie · 11-09-2008, 08:08 PM

Oh man... that's a tough one. Usually if I see one that I'm not liking,I always find something in it that makes me laugh and "saves" the episode. I've mentioned this one before, but the one episode that comes to mind is "The Opera" for instance. I didn't like that one at all.... until Jerry starts singing the Looney Tunes theme song!

Andrea

Anti-Dentyte · 11-10-2008, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

Oh man... that's a tough one. Usually if I see one that I'm not liking,I always find something in it that makes me laugh and "saves" the episode. I've mentioned this one before, but the one episode that comes to mind is "The Opera" for instance. I didn't like that one at all.... until Jerry starts singing the Looney Tunes theme song!

Andrea

My ex-girlfriend didn't like any episode with Crazy Joe Davola in it. And she especially didn't like "The Opera". I think the reason for this is that this kind of dark humor involving a stalker who also happens to be a violent psychopath is a little bit too creepy for some, and going a bit too far. That scene with Joe Davola and Elaine in his apartment is too unsettling (when he's stopping her from leaving and making subtle death threats) to be very funny, in my opinion.

DSfan · 11-11-2008, 12:18 AM

I don't think there are bad episodes necessarily but just some that aren't as funny or good as others. They just don't stand up to the best episodes so they can therefore be considered bad but actually if you were to compare a "bad" Seinfeld episode and a good episode of some other shows there would no difference it's just that Seinfeld's great episodes were so much greater than anything that it makes the regular episodes seem awful when in fact they're pretty decent.

Yooch · 11-11-2008, 12:23 AM

Some (episodes) are more memorable, but in my experience, none are bad. Seinfeld, like M*A*S*H and All in the Family, for example, have no such thing as a bad episode. I will always find something funny or entertaining in them.

Anti-Dentyte · 11-11-2008, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSfan

I don't think there are bad episodes necessarily but just some that aren't as funny or good as others. They just don't stand up to the best episodes so they can therefore be considered bad but actually if you were to compare a "bad" Seinfeld episode and a good episode of some other shows there would no difference it's just that Seinfeld's great episodes were so much greater than anything that it makes the regular episodes seem awful when in fact they're pretty decent.

That's a very good point. The worst Seinfeld episode is still better than most shows' best episodes. That says a lot about how brilliant Seinfeld was.

I was thinking the other day about sitcoms that I used to love while growing up that are today all but forgotten. ("Murphy Brown", "Blossom", "Major Dad", "227", "Night Court", "Too Close For Comfort", etc...) None of these series have really withstood the test of time, but Seinfeld did and became a timeless classic, right up there with "I Love Lucy", "Mary Tyler Moore Show", and "All In The Family".
In fact the only reason we remember "Blossom" and "Murphy Brown" at all, IMO, is because they were mentioned on Seinfeld.

By the way, even the heavy-weight that was airing on NBC when Seinfeld aired, "Cheers", doesn't seem to have withstood the test of time so well either. I don't know of anyone that actually owns the "Cheers" DVDs.

MavFan92 · 11-13-2008, 09:49 PM

I think the last season was rather creatively bankrupt. The one where Jerry buys the car from Puddy, and the infamous backward episode were IMO the worst.

I agree that no other sitcom has stood the test of time like Seinfeld!! Even 10-15 years later, they're still relevant and hilarious!

TripperFan · 11-13-2008, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MavFan92

I agree that no other sitcom has stood the test of time like Seinfeld!! Even 10-15 years later, they're still relevant and hilarious!

I guess it depends on your age to say "no other sitcom". I feel that way about Dick Van Dyke - still relevant and still funny and smart writing. I do agree that Seinfeld is up there in the top 5, but wouldn't say there hasn't been others that are classics like it. Granted, Seinfeld ran longer than DVD as well.

browneyes106 · 11-20-2008, 12:07 AM

I really don't care for the series finale episodes.

Anti-Dentyte · 01-11-2009, 04:34 PM

A lot of people seem to have been disappointed by that last episode. Personally I don't mind it----I think the idea is good, and Jackie Chiles is very funny.

11-09-2008, 04:49 PM	#1
Anti-Dentyte Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 22, 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 100	Is there such a thing as a "bad" Seinfeld episode? I'm just wondering, because to me all Seinfeld episodes seem like comedy masterpieces. But is there even one episode that could be considered sub-par? It feels blasphemous to even suggest the possibility.

11-09-2008, 04:54 PM	#2
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,086	The final one in my opinion was a huge disappointment. I'm sure there's a couple of others towards the end, but can't think of them at the moment. I really didn't like the one where Jerry bought his dad a watch or something like that. Was kind of boring.
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11-09-2008, 05:26 PM	#3
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,900	plenty were over the top wacky and won't stand the test of time.
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11-09-2008, 08:08 PM	#7
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	Oh man... that's a tough one. Usually if I see one that I'm not liking,I always find something in it that makes me laugh and "saves" the episode. I've mentioned this one before, but the one episode that comes to mind is "The Opera" for instance. I didn't like that one at all.... until Jerry starts singing the Looney Tunes theme song! Andrea
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11-11-2008, 12:23 AM	#10
Yooch Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 07, 2006 Location: California Posts: 3,180	Some (episodes) are more memorable, but in my experience, none are bad. Seinfeld, like MAS*H and All in the Family, for example, have no such thing as a bad episode. I will always find something funny or entertaining in them.
	__________________ "The true meaning of America, you ask? It's in a Texas rodeo, in a policeman's badge, in the sound of laughing children, in a political rally, in a newspaper...In all these things and many more, you'll find freedom. And freedom is what America means to the world. And to me." --Audie Leon Murphy June 20, 1924-- May 28, 1971

11-09-2008, 06:17 PM	#4
Anti-Dentyte Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 22, 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 100	I notice that the episodes of the last 2 seasons (after Larry David left the show) had a slightly different tone and were sometimes more wacky. As I've mentioned before, Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David working together and writing episodes could be compared to Paul MCartney and John Lennon. They were the ideal partnership with different sensibilities, which gave the show its brilliance. Once Larry David was out of the equation, Jerry still managed to do a great job, but the series lost something, in my opinion. One wacky episode that comes to mind has at one point George sleeping inside Jerry's cupboards. (I think that same episode is also the one where Kramer is renting out the drawers of his dresser for the night to Japanese businessmen) I doubt such a wacky over-the-top moment would have happened when Larry David was onboard. Larry liked to keep a certain realism in the show.

11-09-2008, 06:18 PM	#5
Anti-Dentyte Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 22, 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 100	I notice that the episodes of the last 2 seasons (after Larry David left the show) had a slightly different tone and were sometimes more wacky. As I've mentioned before, Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David working together and writing episodes could be compared to Paul MCartney and John Lennon. They were the ideal partnership with different sensibilities, which gave the show its brilliance. Once Larry David was out of the equation, Jerry still managed to do a great job but the series lost something, in my opinion. One wacky episode that comes to mind has at one point George sleeping inside Jerry's cupboards. (I think that same episode is also the one where Kramer is renting out the drawers of his dresser for the night to Japanese businessmen) I doubt such a wacky over-the-top moment would have happened when Larry David was onboard. Larry liked to keep a certain realism in the show.

11-11-2008, 12:18 AM	#9
DSfan Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,204	I don't think there are bad episodes necessarily but just some that aren't as funny or good as others. They just don't stand up to the best episodes so they can therefore be considered bad but actually if you were to compare a "bad" Seinfeld episode and a good episode of some other shows there would no difference it's just that Seinfeld's great episodes were so much greater than anything that it makes the regular episodes seem awful when in fact they're pretty decent.

11-13-2008, 09:49 PM	#12
MavFan92 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 13, 2007 Location: Dallas Posts: 249	I think the last season was rather creatively bankrupt. The one where Jerry buys the car from Puddy, and the infamous backward episode were IMO the worst. I agree that no other sitcom has stood the test of time like Seinfeld!! Even 10-15 years later, they're still relevant and hilarious!

11-20-2008, 12:07 AM	#14
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	I really don't care for the series finale episodes.

01-11-2009, 04:34 PM	#15
Anti-Dentyte Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 22, 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 100	A lot of people seem to have been disappointed by that last episode. Personally I don't mind it----I think the idea is good, and Jackie Chiles is very funny.