Seinfeld 4k

[Barry]

Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing


Seinfeld is a TV sitcom that is often called “ the show about nothing.” This is not true, it is the show about everything.  I did not see much of the show when it was first on and it in syndication I saw a few very much out of order. I don’t think that mattered very muchfor this show.

I have developed a new pattern for watching TV shows, especially sitcoms. I try not to watch a lot all at once or all in one week. They get repetitive and so I just watch a few a week and so I have not quite finished my run on Seinfeld.

It has now been released in 4K and in the proper aspect ratio that it was for shown in. The picture quality is as perfect as you can get, you can see details in the clothing, in the scenery and on their faces. The color is also outstanding, especially on people’s faces. The first couple of seasons seem a bit dark to me

The audio is also very good for a TV show. When they are outside, you feel surrounded by sound and on the inside the dialog is very clear.

Gosh, this is such an unusual and different sitcom. Normally a sitcom has very likable people and these people are not.  And they’re actually not really loyal to each other and get each other into trouble. But it is enormously funny. Being a New Yorker I sometimes think that the show is successful because people think that’s what New Yorkers are like. And being a New Yorker I’ve run into a few of these characters such as the soup Nazi. Also, they bring up a lot of things that are annoying to me in real life.

The bonus features are one of the things that make this set exceptional. Many episodes have commentaries, but all episodes have a segment of behind the scenes with the creators discuss the episode. And then they have outtakes. 

But let me also describe two nice features. First, the pilot was called the Seinfeld Chronicles, and it only featured the three guys, Seinfeld, Jason Alexander and Micheal Richards., The network thought that a woman would be necessary for the show to be successful so they added Julia Louise Dreyfus, a great addition. That first episode, which has not shown in syndication,  is in this collection.

Julia Louise Dreyfus is not treated like most women are on sitcoms. She is darn funny, a great actress, very pretty, and is treated as a total equal. The only thing is that she can’t dance. 😵‍💫(she is so graceful but I bet she is really a good dancer) 

The cast and writing are just exceptional. It does take two seasons, though to get everything down pat. And the first two seasons are  short, five and then ten episodes. In the behind the scenes comments, they mention that the last episode of season two is the only one that they violate their rules of not learning  for their characters.


When they needed to have a father for George, it was not Jerry Stiller the first time. It was another actor. Stiller came on and just blew everyone away. He was so funny. So when the show went into syndication, they refilmed parts of that first episode that he was not in, putting him in it. Both of those episodes are presented on these discs.

So the show is just plain funny, the audio and video are just terrific and it is just a wonderful time watching.  It is also the first TV show I ever gotten in 4K.

I have seen the last episode and I know that many people don’t like it. But many people don’t like the last episode of most series. I happen to have like this and thanks to these discs. I see that they added a touch that I did not know before.

The very last scene has Jerry straightening the tie of George. That is a redoing of the very first scene from the pilot where Jerry does the exact same thing. 

 It’s kind of their way of telling us that they have never learned anything and nothing has ever changed.

If you like this show, this is certainly the way to see it.

[David Vaughn]

Barry,

I didn't spring for the 4K since I already bought the Blu-ray set of the show (that came with a Festivus Pole ). 

One thing my wife and I discovered is that the last episode made a long more sense if you watched every single episode of the show (something that we didn't do when it was on TV). There are so many hidden jokes that made perfect sense when watching the show over a few months versus watching over many years. Like you, we really enjoyed it a lot. 

Thanks for the review. 

[SRW1000]

Agreed with both of you; the show has earned its place as a classic TV comedy.

I've seen each episode many times and still find it funny.  While the characters aren't admirable, they're richly drawn and the comedy is keyed to their personalities.  

I found the finale disappointing when it first aired but have grown to like it over the years.  Perhaps I was hoping for some kind of redemption in a weird way or at least ending on at an equilibrium.  Perhaps not personal growth for the characters, but not something that was depressing.

[Barry]

you know, you guys are both right about the last episode. You see, I have seen the last episode before I have seen most of the other shows. So I am now picking up on all the characters that was shown in the last episode, but I am seeing them now in their first episodes. And it is just darn funny.

and it is just so original. I don’t know any other show that comes near this. I guess not even the last episode would curb my enthusiasm about this series.😀

[Paul Heroy]

and it is just so original. I don’t know any other show that comes near this. I guess not even the last episode would curb my enthusiasm about this series.😀

Well played, Barry.