More iconic '90s series - Friends or Seinfeld? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 07-03-2019, 03:46 AM

Which of these two classic '90s sitcoms do you think is more iconic? Which, in retrospect, do you think better represents that decade? Which has aged better?

AMackII · 07-03-2019, 04:52 AM

Both because they aged well on both respective programs in my point of view. Friends & Seinfeld are truly representing the sitcoms from the 1990s.

icecream · 07-03-2019, 08:27 AM

I will take Seinfeld over Friends any day. Friends is the most overrated sitcom from the 90s.

TSMIV · 07-03-2019, 09:21 AM

I love both, but I'd say Seinfeld because so much of it has entered the American lexicon.

cfr1970 · 07-03-2019, 05:09 PM

Speaking solely on aging, I think Seinfeld has aged better than Friends. I can laugh out loud at repeated viewings of Seinfeld episodes i've seen many times before, but not with Friends. In that aspect, I feel Seinfeld wins out.

Another thing about Friends is there were seasons where they had long story arcs that were soap opera like and went through many episodes to conclude. To me, that detracts from it's longevity and repeated viewings.
Seinfeld's episodes were for the most part open and closed each time and that to me gives it a longer life than continuing story lines that go on and on.

Both have a solid 90's feel to them, but Seinfeld wins again because it has a more timeless quality to it more than Friends did. Friends is so drenched in the 90's that it dates itself. Especially with Jennifer Anistons hideous "Rachel" haircut early on in the series.

None of the characters on Seinfeld went too crazy with the 90's fashion and hairstyles the way Friends did. So I say Seinfeld ages better while Friends better represents the 90's decade.

MA · 07-03-2019, 05:09 PM

Seinfeld

scrapple · 07-03-2019, 08:00 PM

Seinfeld, especially the earlier seasons. I could never stand Friends. But actually, I prefer Frasier to both.

rusty spike · 07-04-2019, 11:18 PM

I would say Friends even though I'm a bigger fan of Seinfeld. Why?

The characters on Seinfeld are truly terrible (not the actor or acting). The characters are self-centered, ego driven, it's all about me types. They're just not very nice and they manipulate others for their own pleasure.

RetroGuy2000 · 07-04-2019, 11:51 PM

Friends. Seinfeld was kinda annoying because of how self-centered the characters were. When George's fiance died, and he didn't care, I stopped watching.

Buffyboy323 · 07-05-2019, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSMIV

I love both, but I'd say Seinfeld because so much of it has entered the American lexicon.

This was a tough decision but I’m going to go with Seinfeld because of this reason as well.

Schmoopie · 07-09-2019, 02:04 AM

Definitely Seinfeld b/c it was such a huge hit and it kind of defined the 90's. I mean, I can't think of the 90's and not think of Seinfeld.

lakesgirl · 07-09-2019, 11:06 AM

I think Friends. All of my kids and all of their friends have seen every episode. I don't think they've ever seen an episode of Seinfeld.

cfr1970 · 07-09-2019, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lakesgirl

I think Friends. All of my kids and all of their friends have seen every episode. I don't think they've ever seen an episode of Seinfeld.

That doesn't surprise me because i've always felt that Seinfeld was more an adult show compared to other sitcoms. What I mean by that, is that the humor is more adult oriented. I'm sure people will disagree with me, but I feel Seinfeld was geared towards the 30 something and older viewer while Friends was geared to 20 something and teens.

When Seinfeld aired during it's original run, I was in my 20's and never tuned into it because the characters were all older and I identified more with Friends. I bet your kids and their friends will discover Seinfeld at some point and appreciate it then.

dee2364 · 07-09-2019, 03:57 PM

Seinfeld is the more iconic. It had a bigger impact on 90s culture (spawned tons of catch-phrases and famous characters people referenced, like The Soup Nazi) and was the show that inspired so many copycats, Friends included.

TSMIV · 07-09-2019, 05:16 PM

Quote:

I think Friends. All of my kids and all of their friends have seen every episode.

Lots of teens are fans of Friends right now. The fact that it's on Netflix is a big reason for it's popularity. Seinfeld is exclusively on the less popular Hulu. Also, Jerry and the gang are baby boomers while the Friends were Gen X. Today's teens' parents are Gen X. Kids can probably relate more to their parents humor than their grandparents. I still say Seinfeld had more of a cultural impact, but Friends may be the one to stand the test of time. Seinfeld may have been too steeped in current events for people who didn't live through that time to get it. Either way, I love both.

07-03-2019, 03:46 AM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,441	More iconic '90s series - Friends or Seinfeld? Which of these two classic '90s sitcoms do you think is more iconic? Which, in retrospect, do you think better represents that decade? Which has aged better?

07-03-2019, 08:27 AM	#3
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,606	I will take Seinfeld over Friends any day. Friends is the most overrated sitcom from the 90s.
	__________________ Top 200 TV Shows https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...14#post6225214 Top 150 Movies https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...84#post6175384 Top 1100 Scripted TV Characters https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=493306 Top Rookie TV Shows by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=365017 Top Movies by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=473533

07-03-2019, 05:09 PM	#6
MA Member Moderator Forum Idol Join Date: May 20, 2017 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 127,094	Seinfeld
	__________________ ~-Mikaela-~

07-04-2019, 11:51 PM	#9
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	Friends. Seinfeld was kinda annoying because of how self-centered the characters were. When George's fiance died, and he didn't care, I stopped watching.
	__________________ The Facts of Life's "Lost Girls" Tribute to Julie Piekarski, Eastland Girl Join "The Group", Sitcoms Online's Facts of Life group!

07-09-2019, 02:04 AM	#11
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	Definitely Seinfeld b/c it was such a huge hit and it kind of defined the 90's. I mean, I can't think of the 90's and not think of Seinfeld.
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

07-03-2019, 04:52 AM	#2
AMackII Member Forum Star Join Date: Oct 23, 2015 Location: St. Louis Posts: 17,198	Both because they aged well on both respective programs in my point of view. Friends & Seinfeld are truly representing the sitcoms from the 1990s.

07-03-2019, 09:21 AM	#4
TSMIV Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 29, 2018 Location: Arkansas Posts: 695	I love both, but I'd say Seinfeld because so much of it has entered the American lexicon.

07-03-2019, 05:09 PM	#5
cfr1970 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 13, 2017 Location: Kissimmee, Florida Posts: 3,368	Speaking solely on aging, I think Seinfeld has aged better than Friends. I can laugh out loud at repeated viewings of Seinfeld episodes i've seen many times before, but not with Friends. In that aspect, I feel Seinfeld wins out. Another thing about Friends is there were seasons where they had long story arcs that were soap opera like and went through many episodes to conclude. To me, that detracts from it's longevity and repeated viewings. Seinfeld's episodes were for the most part open and closed each time and that to me gives it a longer life than continuing story lines that go on and on. Both have a solid 90's feel to them, but Seinfeld wins again because it has a more timeless quality to it more than Friends did. Friends is so drenched in the 90's that it dates itself. Especially with Jennifer Anistons hideous "Rachel" haircut early on in the series. None of the characters on Seinfeld went too crazy with the 90's fashion and hairstyles the way Friends did. So I say Seinfeld ages better while Friends better represents the 90's decade.

07-03-2019, 08:00 PM	#7
scrapple Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 03, 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 259	Seinfeld, especially the earlier seasons. I could never stand Friends. But actually, I prefer Frasier to both.

07-04-2019, 11:18 PM	#8
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	I would say Friends even though I'm a bigger fan of Seinfeld. Why? The characters on Seinfeld are truly terrible (not the actor or acting). The characters are self-centered, ego driven, it's all about me types. They're just not very nice and they manipulate others for their own pleasure.

07-09-2019, 11:06 AM	#12
lakesgirl Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2014 Posts: 2,116	I think Friends. All of my kids and all of their friends have seen every episode. I don't think they've ever seen an episode of Seinfeld.

07-09-2019, 03:57 PM	#14
dee2364 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 20, 2019 Posts: 643	Seinfeld is the more iconic. It had a bigger impact on 90s culture (spawned tons of catch-phrases and famous characters people referenced, like The Soup Nazi) and was the show that inspired so many copycats, Friends included.