By Trapper John on July 18, 2019.
I know it just means I’m getting old – but realizing the show “Seinfeld” turned 30 earlier this month threw me for a bit of a loop. I grew up loving sitcoms, from the antics on “Three’s Company” and misunderstandings of Jack, Janet, revolving door roommate No. 3, Furley/The Ropers, and Larry at the Regal Beagle to the manic madcap adventures of the Crane brothers of “Frasier.” From the gritty New York City cabbies of “Taxi” to the strutting drycleaner George on “The Jeffersons.” I grew up loving the situation comedy.
But when “Seinfeld” came along – everything changed for me. It was truly a show about nothing. Predictable and turnkey 1970s/1980s plots and formulas went out the window, exchanged for a more realistic way to get laughs. An entire episode in a parking garage or waiting for a table at a Chinese restaurant. Who can forget their “self-control competition” which Kramer dropped out of almost immediately? Even my young self realized the show started slowly (and critics weren’t kind in its first season) but I could tell it was something different and I thought it stayed strong till it wrapped up its run. It’s still one of the rare shows I can always watch, no matter how many times I’ve seen the rerun.
Some say their exploits became a little more surreal near the end after executive producer Larry David left (Kramer finding the set of The Merv Griffin Show, setting it up in his apartment, and hosting it for an audience of none? George’s experience with the Frogger arcade game?), but for me, it was always a step up on other shows like it. (I’ll admit I was never a huge fan of “Friends.” It was just OK for me.) Plus, David leaving in a roundabout way led to the creation of the amazing (and even more surreal sitcom) “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (which seemed a little too “out there” for mass appeal syndication, although they tried).
So I’m glad to see Jerry Seinfeld back with another run at “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.” It’s not at all the same kind of thing as the vintage sitcom, but still brings his trademark style of wit to the small screen in 2019. Plus, it’s interesting to see him interact with the wide variety of guests (then-president Barack Obama in an earlier episode; Eddie Murphy, Martin Short, and Seth Rogan are among those who will make an appearance in the passenger seat in the new season that debuts on Netflix tomorrow.) Hard to believe it’ll be its 11th season!
If you’re a really big fan, you won’t want to miss his southern Alberta appearance later this fall. He’s set for a couple of shows at Calgary’s Jubilee Auditorium for the Owen Hart Foundation on Oct. 18. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster. I’ve never seen his stand-up live so I can’t make any guarantees, but you’d have to think it’s bound to be a set about “nothing” in the spirit of the 30-year-old classic TV show.
Trapper John is on your radio weekdays from 3-7 pm at 105.3 FM and 1053rock.ca