Best of the Small Screen, Comedies No. 6


Over the next 16 weeks I'll be taking a look at some of my favorite TV series, broken down into three groups (Limited Run Series, Comedies, and Dramas). In my post on March 1 I laid out the ground rules for these categories and this exploration, the biggest of which is no series that are currently airing. To read the whole thing, check out the post "Best of the Small Screen" from March 1.

Today we look at one of the highest rated comedies of all time.

Seinfeld (1989-1998)
Number of Seasons/Episodes: 9/173
Network: NBC
Starring: Jerry Seinfeld, Michael Richards, Jason Alexander, and Julia Louis-Dreyfuss
Creator: Larry David
Favorite Season/Episodes: Season eight, 5.18 "The Raincoats," 5.21 "The Opposite," 7.06 "The Soup Nazi," 8.16 "The Pothole"
About: There are so many things to talk about when you consider "Seinfeld." First is the fact that if the show were introduced today, it probably wouldn't have gotten more than a season, and certainly wouldn't have become an iconic classic. It was a show few understood, and was incredibly low-rated at first. The first season was just five episodes, and the second was just 12. But NBC believed in the show and kept it on the air. And the rest, as they say, is history. "Seinfeld" became one of the most successful and highly rated shows in NBC's history, running for nine seasons and getting a huge farewell second off in May 1998. That brings us to the second thing to talk about, that finale. "Seinfeld" was one of the first comedies I remember following. I was in middle school when I started watching it as part of Must-See TV, and in high school when it ended. Like so many, I was curious about the finale. And, like so many, I was disappointed in the final episode. But, if like me you wish it had ended differently, please go watch season seven of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," the HBO comedy created by Larry David. The seventh season is about a "Seinfeld" reunion, and the finale includes a show within a show that is pretty great, and feels like a fitting cap to "Seinfeld." And, the good news is if you miss the show you can watch episodes pretty much daily in syndication, and they still hold up. I referenced some of my favorites here. "The Raincoats" always stood out to me because of the "Schindler's List" sequence. "The Opposite" is a fun episode because George finally comes out on top. "The Pothole" features one of my favorite Newman story lines, as his truck ends up on fire. And "The Soup Nazi," well, that's probably one of the most iconic episodes of television of all time. The eighth season, as a whole, is probably the strongest overall season with plenty of memorable episodes. But, let's be honest, there isn't a bad season of "Seinfeld," which is just another reason it's one of the greatest of all time.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju...
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co...
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve...
Read more