Seinfeld - Seasons 1 & 2
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Movie Reviews of Seinfeld - Seasons 1 & 2
Movie Review: Something about nothing
Summary: 5 Stars
Get Out! "Seinfeld" on DVD? He's already the Master of His Domain why would it need to be released it on DVD? Because the fans demanded it and justice can only be served if one of the most popular and best sitcoms can be viewed, uncut and with lots and lots of background material on this groundbreaking show. Just a warning this review is for the gift set which includes the salt shakers, playing cards and a copy of one of Larry David's scripts. That's the main difference between this gift set (that and the fact that it includes the two boxed sets including the first three "seasons"). The first season consisted of five episodes (including the pilot)while the second consisted of 13 episodes as the network decided to commit to the show when the show received solid ratings. The third season consists of 22 episodes. All the episodes are the uncut original episodes that aired on NBC (most of the episodes in syndication are usually trimmed by a minute or two). The boxed set has a slipover case. Inside the inside slipcase each disc is nicely housed in individual slim DVD holders. 15 commentary tracks (if I'm counting correctly)for both sets. Deleted scenes, unused stand up bits, promos, featurettes make this a generous set particulary when compared to the bare bones releases for other similar (although not as funny) series.
When "The Seinfeld Chronicles" (the original title) first aired as a limited series no one suspected it would be the next big thing. Seinfeld and his collaborator/co-creator/co-producer and frequent co-writer Larry David pushed TV comedy to its boundaries and then demolished them. They'd then establish new boundaries and demolish those. That's groundbreaking, important television. It's also what made "Seinfeld" unique. Sure, "Who's The Boss?" could be funny but it had to be about something where someone learned something in every episode. Seinfeld's and David's mantra "learn nothing and be about nothing" proved that TV touching on the absurdity of real life could be funnier than TV where the characters learned valuable lessons and became better people. In truth, that rarely happens in the real world and the fact that Seinfeld made fun of and played with that convention made it important. It helped that it was damn funny as well.
An exceptionally sharp looking high definition transfer makes this one of the best looking transfer I've seen in awhile. The pilot episode doesn't look quite as sharp. It's clear that it's drawn from a second generation videotaped master. The colors bleed a bit but and the image isn't quite as sharp as the rest of the series.
The hour long documentary has interesting, revealing tidbits including a shocker from Julia Louis- Dreyfus-she never saw the original pilot episode. In fact, she didn't see it until she prepped for the commentary tracks and interview for this boxed set. Larry David's acerbic dry fatalistic sense of humor (which informs his terrific show "Curb Your Enthusiasm" on HBO) along with the witty, informed but ultimately wacky observations of the rest of the cast and crew make this a marvelous documentary. Unlike the featurettes or documentaries on a lot of TV shows (any of the "Sex and the City" ones for example), to invert a famous quip by a famous writer, "there's there there". Substance for a show about nothing what an ironic twist but in reality "Senfield" was about something. It was about the absurd little moments that populate our lives but a little more twisted.
We also get a trivia filled "Notes About Nothing" that can be viewed while watching the various episodes. Sometimes it's about...well nothing but most of the time there's fascinating bits of trivia in this text commentary. "In the Vault" includes deleted scenes from season 1 & 2. Finally, we get commentaries from Jerry, Larry David, writer Larry Charles and Jason, Julia & Michael on 6 classic episodes. There's also two versions of the pilot with interesting differences included (not the least of which is the weak opening music which doesn't compare to the final theme).
So...yada, yada yada buy this today....yada, yada, yada.
Movie Review: Worthwhile to see Seinfeld's evolution from the beginning
Summary: 5 Stars
If these 17 episodes were all that existed of this show, it probably would not be such worthwhile viewing. However, considering that it developed by its third season into perhaps the funniest sitcom ever made and stayed that way to its end, it is fascinating. Elaine isn't even a castmember in the pilot, and overall the characters are trying to find their moorings. However, Jason Alexander has the character of George down from the very beginning. His over-analysis of the phone calls or physical actions to figure out a woman's exact motives were really classic George. The next episode, "The Stakeout", is the first with Elaine. It's also the first time we hear the name of the imaginary character used as a mythical prop throughout the series - "Art Vanderlay". In this case, he is the made-up reason George and Jerry are staking out the building in which a girl works so that Jerry can "accidentally" run into her and get to know her better. You see, all he knows about the girl is the name of the law firm where she works.
Season two gets much better, with such classics as "The Chinese Restaurant" in which Jerry, George, and Elaine all go out to eat at a Chinese restaurant before going to see "Plan 9 From Outer Space", but are forced to wait an incredibly long time for a table. This simple concept with which we all have experience, waiting for a table, was turned into comic genius in this wonderfully crafted episode. Everything about this episode clicked from Elaine's desperation, to George's frenetic anticipation, to Jerry's levelheadedness. The only thing hard to relate to in the age of the cell phone is George trying to find a telephone.
"The Deal" in which Elaine and Jerry try to maintain their current friendship and restart the past sexual side of their relationship - which Jerry calls "this and that" - is funny and very spot on as to the relationship between men and women. However, the show must have decided to abandon the concept, because in all later episodes Jerry and Elaine act like this particular show never happened. "The Phone Message" is an underrated classic in my opinion, and epitomized the extreme awkwardness of George's situations that would be re-visited many times in Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm. In this episode, George has left progressively nasty messages on his girlfriend's answering machine. He enlists Jerry's help to switch the tape before his girlfriend returns home and hears the messages. Like many Seinfeld episodes, the grand plan of one of the characters (in this case, George) comes to an end in an unexpected manner, but this episode actually had things work out for George in the end, which is something that wouldn't be seen very often afterwards as the series progressed.
The only bad thing about the first two seasons is that you don't see as much of Kramer as you do in subsequent seasons. Plus, there is a bit of rewriting that takes place involving Kramer's financial situation. In these first two seasons early on it is mentioned that Kramer makes more money than Jerry. In later seasons much is made of Kramer's spotty employment history, including the fact that he has been on strike from working in a bagel shop for several years over wages, and he returns to work after the strike is settled only because the minimum wage is finally raised to the wage his union was demanding.
I recommend these first two seasons, mainly for the point of seeing all of the character development that takes place getting everything ready for the truly great season three.
Movie Review: "That's gold, Jerry!"
Summary: 5 Stars
Twentieth Century Fox began releasing "the Simpsons" on DVD about two years ago, but that only completes about half of my little puzzle. America simply yearns for this series to be released on DVD. Well, I don't know about yearning. We crave, though. Constant craving. To be able to view the mishaps of four endearing goofballs from New York at any given time of day would be a God send, because three times a day on television is just not enough. In my entire TV viewing experience, I think this is one of the very few series that will never get old, remain loved and (not to sound corny) stay timeless. There's a few things about this show that let you forget your worries for a half hour and draw you in to it's silliness. For one thing, I belive this to be the best show ever written. In my opinion, the writing is just a little sharper than "the Simpsons." Secondly, "Seinfeld" features the greatest acting ever presented on television. There is never a blundered note or dull moment. This was not your typical friends-living-in-apartments-together sitcom. With it's lighting and editing, it's almost as if you're watching a really great movie, and "Seinfeld" gives off that movie vibe. For the folks who love this show, you guys know I'm not exaggerating. From the moment the episode begins, you're hooked, and you can't wait to see how it all ends. And the endings for each episode of "Seinfeld" rarely disappoint. It's really quite amazing to see how the little adventures of Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer all somehow tie in together in the end for roughly 180 episodes.
If a successful show like "the Simpsons" can do it, then surely "Seinfeld" can. We NEED this series on DVD. There's no two ways about it. As posted by many other fans of this show, studio executives should quit acting as if they work in a Jerk Store and stop releasing [junky] shows so they can get to the good stuff. We all love Jerry's sarcasm; George's rants; Elaine's dancing; Kramer's stories; Puddy's 8-ball jacket; Newman's deviousness; Tim Wotley's conversion; Uncle Leo's justified thieving. And who could forget Silvio's interpretation of why celebrities wear furs? Or Jackie Chiles' Cochran-esque philosophies on court cases? What about the Soup Nazi? And, of course, let's not leave out George's parents.
"I can't read without my glasses."
"You can't read because you're weak! You're WEAK!"
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!!!"
I'm sure you all agree that a DVD set of this show will surely prove to be sponge worthy. This way, you can toss all of those low-quality VHS tapes! "Alriiiiight!"
By the way, you may want to take another look at the universally disliked final episode. It's actually a fantastic social commentary. We all laugh at these characters because (for the most part) the situations they get involved in, we've all been down that road... or at least something similar. What's funny is that these four people get sent to prison for a year simply for doing things an everyday Joe would do. It was a great finale to a great show, much better than the much talked about "plane crash" ending would have been. Finally, when they're all sitting in a cell together, George comments on a button. Jerry says, "Didn't we have this conversation before?" If your memory serves you well, you'll recall that the first conversation to the first episode of "Seinfeld" was Jerry and George talking about a button. The whole point of this was to illustrate that, as far as the show goes, there is nothing left to say or do (even though we all know the REAL reason the show was discontinued).
Movie Review: Seinfield Triva
Summary: 5 Stars
I love seinfeld. It's one of my favorite shows,along with the csi trilogy and yes dear.
Seinfeld Season 1 and 2 contains 18 episodes that are remastered and as clear as HD.Season One Has 5 episodes, which aired in the summer. And season 2 has 13 episodes.
Season 1
1.The Seinfeld Chronicles (Pilot)
2.Male-Unbonding
3.The Stake Out
4.The Robbery
5.The Stock Tip
Season 2
1.The Ex-Girlfriend
2.The Pony Remark
3.The Bus Boy
4.The Baby Shower
5.The Jaket
6.The Chinease Restraunt
7.The Phone Message
8.The Apartment
9.The Stranded
10.The Statue
11.The Heart Attack
12.The Revenge
13.The Deal
Triva
1.How many years did Seinfeld Last?
a.) 2
b.) 9
c.) 6
d.) 11
2.In how many episodes does Kramer have a dog?
a.) 5 episodes, the first season
b.) 13 episodes, the second season
c.) 18 episodes, season 1 and 2
d.) The Pilot Episode
3. True or False.
Seinfeld is not officaly considered a sitcom.
4.True or False.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who plays Elaine Benes, didn't star in the pilot episode and has never seen it. She says she will never watch the pilot episode.
5.In the Robbery, what soap oprea did Kramer say he was watching?
a.)The Young and the Restless
b.)All My Children
c.)The Bold and the Beautiful
d.)Guiding Light
6.True or False.
In the Chinease Restaraunt Jerry, George, and Elaine Eventually Get Seated.
7.In The Deal, Elaine and Jerry do what?
a.)renew their physical relationship
b.)date again
c.)go to the hamptons
d.)tell Kramer not to use the refrigerator anymore
8.In the Ex-Girlfriend Marlene's breaks up with Jerry because why?
a.)He did a bad comedy act
b.)Kramer annoyed her
c.)She thought Jerry was cheating with Elaine behind her back
d.)She thought Jerry was an acholic
9.In The Jacket,how does Jerry's jacket get ruined?
a.)rain
b.)fire
c.)an ink pen n the washing machine
d.)snow
10.In The Revenge, who helps George try to get his
job back?
a.)Kramer
b.)Jerry
c.)George
d.)Elaine
Answers
1.The answer is b.
Seinfeld lasted nine years.
2.The answer is d.
Kramer only had a dog,which jumped on George in The Pilot Episode.
3.True.
Seinfeld was never considered as a sitcom.
4.True.
She has never seen it.
5.The answer is c.
The Bold and the Beautiful.
6.False.
They never get seated.
7.The answer is a.
8.The answer is a.
9.The answer is d.
10.The answer is d.
Write a review and tell me how you liked the quiz.
I hope you love Seinfeld.
Movie Review: Notes about nothing . . .
Summary: 5 Stars
When the first three seasons of Seinfeld were released in November of 2004, it was quite possibly one of the most anticipated television on DVD releases ever. The four stars had all come to terms to be a part of the DVD production and fans were excited about seeing one of the funniest sitcoms of all time on DVD after a long wait.
I for one, was not at all disappointed.
I wasn't quite old enough to appreciate Seinfeld in the first few years but grew to love the show as I went off to college and beyond. The normal everyday life that these people lived showed just how funny things can be, even what seem to be mundane things.
I found the first two seasons (five episodes in season one, 13 in season two) to be quite entertaining. The four characters were just beginning to find their chemistry, but you could tell it would be something that would come together relatively quickly.
I found it interesting that the pilot episode was so much different than the rest of the show. To start with, there was no Elaine. The female character was a waitress named Claire, played by Lee Garlington, who has had small roles in many different shows including Everwood and Friends. In addition, Kramer wasn't Kramer, but was Kessler. And he had a dog, which was never seen again. In the 'Inside Look' section, it is mentioned why the dog appeared. The story is kind of interesting.
Probably my favorite episode of the first two seasons was 'The Chinese Restaurant.' I don't think a show had ever done anything like that, with three characters just standing around waiting for a table. It was unique, but certainly something that almost everybody does and can relate to. The only bad part about the episode was that Kramer wasn't a part of it.
While the episodes enough would have been plenty of incentive for me to purchase the DVD set, the extras on this set are fantastic. The bonus features include 'notes about nothing' which are production notes and behind the scenes notes, the aforementioned 'Inside Look' where viewers can take a look inside many of the episodes through the characters, creator, writers or others involved in the production. There are also commentaries from Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Jason Alexander, Michael Richards, creator Larry David and even from one of the writers. These provide a lot of great information. There are also deleted scenes and a piece on the creation of the show.
It is hard to believe that this show, which went on to be one of the top-rated shows on television, almost didn't survive the first year. Low ratings were to blame, but NBC held on and gave it another shot and reaped the benefits for years to come. Now only if networks could do that these days with fine shows that don't get immediate ratings and get axed.
This set is a well-done piece and is worth purchasing for anyone who is a fan of the show or even just a fan of good sitcoms. This one was certainly one of the best. A great ensemble cast, good writing and good producing all add up to a great show.