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Post by Dave on Nov 19, 2006 18:51:08 GMT
Why don't I 'get' Seinfeld? I like to think I've got good taste when it come's to comedy and I love Curb, but I just can't see the genius in this. I liked the Soup Nazi, the Contest and the one about the muffins when I caught them years ago, but just started watching the first series from scratch (my daughter's trying to evangelize me) and it only ever raises a little smile from me. Am I missing something? Do I need to give it more time? Jill I generally really like Seinfeld, but I have to be in the right frame of mind though, because sometimes I too just sit there vaguely smirking every ten minutes. Anyway, starting from season one probably isn't as good a move as it sounds. Compared to later seasons, it's just nowhere near as good. The episodes you remember watching and liking are from much later seasons. Season 7 actually comes out to buy tomorrow, and I would say that starting with that will be a good move. Seinfeld isn't heavily dependent on knowing any back story of the characters, so it doesn't really matter where you start (although best to watch a season from beginning to end as they started to have a running story through some of them). Don't judge Seinfeld on the first 2 seasons I would say. Newcomers should try it out from season 5 onwards, then go back if you like those. I think there were 8 seasons all-together, and seasons 7 and 8 are generally regarded as the best (amusingly, this is when Larry David left the writing team). |
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Post by PatrickCoyle on Nov 20, 2006 0:23:18 GMT
Maybe you all won't agree, but I'm starting to think the American Office is better than the UK version was.
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Post by large michael on Nov 20, 2006 13:31:26 GMT
Maybe you all won't agree, but I'm starting to think the American Office is better than the UK version was. Maybe it seems less squirm inducing because a) Steve carrol is hilarious b) you dont see yourself in the characters because of the accent giving it distance, therefore not as embarrassing, c)youve literally heard the lines before, and familiarity breeds content. Just a thought. Maybe Gervais is a better writer than actor?  |
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Post by Dave on Nov 20, 2006 14:39:29 GMT
Maybe you all won't agree, but I'm starting to think the American Office is better than the UK version was. I just view the two as distinctly different entities. They are both brilliant. Only the first ever episode of the US version was a total let down because it was basically a word-for-word copy of one of the UK episodes.... and you also couldn't help thinking about the UK equivalents of all the US characters, which didn't help. However, after only a few episodes, in my mind I had completely detached the US Office from the UK one. Isn't the saying: "Familiarity breeds contempt" ? Anyway, like I mentioned above, you haven't literally heard all the lines before (apart from the very first episode). |
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Post by Davros on Nov 20, 2006 14:44:02 GMT
Maybe you all won't agree, but I'm starting to think the American Office is better than the UK version was. No chance! In its own right im really enjoying the American version, and id agree with largemichaels points. Its alot easier to watch, and id imagine it would be even better if I know american workplaces like i do british ones. Carrol is bloody excellent Im wondering if they'll ever combine the two, kind of a 'town twinning' for offices?! |
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Post by large michael on Nov 20, 2006 14:52:18 GMT
its not like you to contradict me David.......
Yes, that is the saying, i was being clever, or so i thought, anyway...:-(
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Post by PatrickCoyle on Nov 20, 2006 17:53:01 GMT
I think what it is is that the US version has done loads more episodes, and that's the advantage of great American TV over great British TV - you get more time to get to know the characters. I must say though, I haven't watched the UK office in a while... And the letdown of Extras series 2 might have soured me on Gervais and Merchant.
Does anyone know if the US sitcoms are now at 40 minutes long permanently or if it was just a special ratings/sweeps week thing last week?
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Post by Dave on Nov 20, 2006 18:34:01 GMT
its not like you to contradict me David....... Yes, that is the saying, i was being clever, or so i thought, anyway...:-( Haha... oh well, it turns out you were being clever, and I was being the prize twot. Not an entirely new experience! ;D As for the cross-over of UK and US Offices possibility... well I definitely remember reading that some of the UK cast will be turning up in a future US episode. No definite story, and no finalised list of which UK characters would appear. |
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Post by PatrickCoyle on Nov 20, 2006 18:47:00 GMT
Where did you read this, Dave? I know Gervais and Merchant have written an episode for this season, but I didn't know some of the cast would be appearing!
Has anyone seen the MySpace pages of the cast/characters? I've not seen them all, but I know that the woman that plays Angela updates hers fairly regularly, as does Jenna "Pam" Fischer (wife of the writer/director of Slither, James Gunn).
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Post by pointblank on Nov 20, 2006 19:50:16 GMT
no one mentioned goodnight sweetheart yet........................ah just remembered its fuckin shit
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Post by Dave on Nov 21, 2006 0:18:04 GMT
Where did you read this, Dave? I know Gervais and Merchant have written an episode for this season, but I didn't know some of the cast would be appearing! Can't find the original article that I read, but here's one where it is mentioned: www.hollywood.com/news/detail/id/3529029*Very minor spoiler* Just got up to date with series 3 of The Office. As in the UK Office, two branches merge..... in the US Office however, we have already spent around 6 episodes getting to know the faces at the other branch. That really made it very interesting indeed, because you just couldn't wait to see how their personalities were going to cause 'issues' during the merger! "I always like to stay one step ahead... like a........carpenter......... making stairs" |
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Post by Dave on Nov 21, 2006 2:03:18 GMT
Speaking of Seinfeld.... Look at this very recent video of Michael Richards (Kramer) going mental at a stand-up gig. This certainly taints your future viewings of Seinfeld.  Just bought Season 7 too. |
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Post by PatrickCoyle on Nov 21, 2006 2:34:41 GMT
This is the thing with the American office... In the UK version, outside of Brent, Tim, Dawn and Gareth, nobody really got much screentime. The "minor" characters are much more featured in the US.
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Post by Hyde on Nov 21, 2006 2:52:15 GMT
Speaking of Seinfeld.... Look at this very recent video of Michael Richards (Kramer) going mental at a stand-up gig. This certainly taints your future viewings of Seinfeld. Just bought Season 7 too. Damn I was just about to post that... was even gonna say "Speaking of Seinfeld...." haha but about the video... I get the impression he was pissed off and just went off on one probably not noing what he was doing just being over the top racist. I dont think its as bad as people are making out really.... |
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Post by large michael on Nov 21, 2006 11:23:39 GMT
Speaking of Seinfeld.... Look at this very recent video of Michael Richards (Kramer) going mental at a stand-up gig. This certainly taints your future viewings of Seinfeld. Just bought Season 7 too. oh no, god, why? fuck. |
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Just bought Season 7 too.