November 14, 20223 yr I've really started to try and appreciate the earlier seasons more, as so many people seem to like them, but I realized one of the main things I hate is the writing is actually exceptionally bad in the early seasons. For example: Elaine: Y'know, my brother-in-law once left a message on this guy's machine, and he blurted out some business information he wasn't supposed to, and it would have cost him $15,000, so he waited outside the guy's house and when the guy came home he went upstairs with him and he switched the tape. There is WAY too much detail in that. We don't need to know all of that. All she had to say was "someone I know left a message they didn't like so he waited outside the guy's house and when the guy came home he went upstairs with him and he switched the tape." Brother in law, business information, $15k? Unnecessary. It happens quite a bit in the early seasons. None of that shit adds to the plot or the comedy.
November 14, 20223 yr I notice it a lot, too. I think it literally just came down to filling time. It was just one scene after another with largely pointless, innocuous conversations and they had to fill up 22-23 minutes, I guess 18 minutes without the standup bits. The writing got much tighter in seasons 3-8. But yeah, they'd just keep adding details and circling around a point for a few lines too many at first. It wasn't so much that the show was about nothing, it was about everything. They dissected everything with lots of background and forecasting and the laughs didn't come one after another like we got used to eventually. I think that was a big part of the reason the show eventually captured our lexicon with so many great short-hander terms like regifter, close-talker, and shiksappeal. Instead of two scenes explaining the situation in over-detail, the entire portrait in your mind is created in just 1 or 2 lines total and the foundation is laid for way more humor in the episode.
November 14, 20223 yr I think there's less absurdism in the earlier seasons as well. Kind of like the Simpsons.
November 15, 20223 yr they're not cloning sheep. it's the same sheep! I saw harry blackstone do that trick with two goats and handkerchief on the old dean martin show.
November 15, 20223 yr Jim Fowler, the animal guy from Wild Kingdom is coming to your apartment? "Yeah, I practically raised his kids." Every other episode, they would have dissected the story behind that comment by Kramer...but I love how George and Jerry are like, "Yeah, that checks out actually." and just move on. Edited November 15, 20223 yr by YGIFS
November 15, 20223 yr 4 minutes ago, YGIFS said: Jim Fowler, the animal guy from Wild Kingdom is coming to your apartment? Where are the cameras?
November 15, 20223 yr Fowler (and the Hawk) are consummate professionals while the rest of the cast is going off the deep end and trying not to be so ridiculous. But between Fowler's question about the cameras and the little touch of his girlfriend storming out from "Backstage" which is just Kramer's kitchen is so funny to me. They appease Kramer's fantasy the entire episode but it takes the actions of Fowler and the girlfriend to make you realize, "Oh shit, I guess this is all really in Kramer's head." I mean Elaine calls him out at first, "Well, for starters---you're looking at (fucking) note cards." But within seconds, you're just locked into Kramer's show. "again...my dead tooth"
November 15, 20223 yr El Paso? I spent a month there one night. Newman's unctious sycophantic laugh at that line really ties the scene together.
November 15, 20223 yr When he goes from jovial sidekick to the sad story about the generic wax beans back to sassy instigator…it was maybe Newman’s best overall episode in terms of one’s where he had a mini story arc. year ago, Jerry talked about the show after a comedy set. He would answer a few token questions and then close with saying Newman. But he rambled a bit about Newman that I’d never heard before. He said it finally dawned on him that really the only thread through the seasons was why Jerry and Newman hated each other. There’s no reason to, they never hash out their past or their issues, and the resentment never goes beyond a certain point. And it’s never explained. he’s ambivalent about George, yearns for Elaine; and of course is tight with Kramer. But why does he have this disdain for Jerry of all people? And it’s not to make Jerry more relatable, plenty of other characters disliked Jerry. But not for 8 full seasons like Newman. Ah well, mystery lost to time. “Back to base, Joe”
November 15, 20223 yr 10 hours ago, YGIFS said: Fowler (and the Hawk) are consummate professionals while the rest of the cast is going off the deep end and trying not to be so ridiculous.
November 15, 20223 yr I'm more responsible than you are! Don't be ridiculous. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go fill my refrigerator with my own blood.
November 15, 20223 yr Author I don't care for you Costanza. You hang out on the west side of the building with Seinfeld all day just laughing it up, wasting your lives.
November 15, 20223 yr From same episode farther up. Another pinnacle example of J Peterman’s ability to wane off the end of a line for dramatically hilarious effect: “And if you are the undead…..I’ll find about that, too.” fucking flawless.
November 16, 20223 yr That’s why during the 80s vomit I was yelling, “George, can you believe it? I’m vomiting on June 29th again!”
November 16, 20223 yr "Hang on, he's vomiting again...AWAY FROM THE CURTAINS, AWAY! USE YOUR BUCKET!"
November 17, 20223 yr Ok, I figured out the first time the writers get George's character right. It's in Season 3, Episode 7. The Cafe. When George has to concoct the lie about how he spilled food on the IQ test by going out the window, that is when George as we know him for the rest of the series was born. Fantastic.
November 18, 20223 yr On 11/14/2022 at 8:35 PM, futureman said: they're not cloning sheep. it's the same sheep! I saw harry blackstone do that trick with two goats and handkerchief on the old dean martin show. Loved Harry Blackstone on Square One TV Edited November 18, 20223 yr by WBT better video
November 18, 20223 yr Did I need that pointed out for me? What is that going to do for me? How does that help me, to see her? I'm trying to live my life.
November 20, 20223 yr 6 hours ago, futureman said: jerry, she's a loser. That episode still vexes me because we never figure out what they saw wrong with her.
November 20, 20223 yr 9 minutes ago, Biff Tannen said: That episode still vexes me because we never figure out what they saw wrong with her. I don’t think we were supposed to figure it out.
November 20, 20223 yr 3 minutes ago, futureman said: I don’t think we were supposed to figure it out. I am aware. Doesn’t mean I don’t want some resolution!
November 21, 20223 yr Why don't you stick around and we can sweep together. You want me to sweep with you? I don't want to sweep alone.
November 21, 20223 yr On 11/20/2022 at 7:36 AM, Biff Tannen said: That episode still vexes me because we never figure out what they saw wrong with her. She was smart, like a computer!
November 28, 20223 yr come on, look, I'll give you my next birthday wish. - your next... fifty wishes. 48. - 49. done!
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.