The Netflix Sitcom That Changed Comedy Forever

Commonly referred to as a “show about nothing,” Seinfeld is a fictionalized version of Jerry Seinfeld’s life in New York City as an up-and-coming stand-up comedian. Each episode begins at a comedy club, where Jerry does a comedy routine in front of a live audience which is loosely related to the events that will play out over the next 24 minutes. But what makes the series so special is the trivial day-to-day interactions between a tight-knit group of friends who are always scheming, either against each other or against those they encounter.

Some of the more notable Seinfeld plots include, but are not limited to: Jerry’s dentist converting to Judaism so he can tell better jokes, Kramer pouring cement into a washing machine after having a falling out with a laundromat owner, Jerry and George knocking out a woman with turkey and red wine so they could play with her action figures, and Elaine stealing recipes from the brilliant but menacing “Soup Nazi.”

If you’re thinking to yourself that Seinfeld sounds a lot like Curb Your Enthusiasm or It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, it’s because all of these shows are cut from the same comedic cloth. After all, both Seinfeld and Curb are Larry David inventions, and boast a similar slice-of-life premise. And Always Sunny has the inherent ability to make you root for some of the worst people you’ve ever seen in a sitcom, which is something Seinfeld does in spades. But an unfortunate reality that we have to face is that some people who love the latter two series absolutely hate Seinfeld. It’s worth noting, however, that trailblazers are often misunderstood because they’re ahead of their time. Even the most die-hard Seinfeld fan will tell you that the acting isn’t great, but that’s not the point.

Seinfeld took the tried-and-true sitcom format and propelled it into subversive territory that was wholly unexplored at the time. For the first time ever, we bore witness to a series that glorified terrible people, which allowed viewers to live vicariously through their ill-intent. But at the end of the day, after every disastrous scenario plays out, they get what’s coming without ever learning a thing.

Though it’s been nearly 30 years since the series concluded, Seinfeld is still winning over audiences on streaming. While it’s clear that the show’s humor isn’t for everybody, it was the proof of concept we needed during a time when sitcoms were generally playing it safe by creating likeable characters. But now that this brand of humor is pretty much ubiquitous in 2023, it’s definitely in your best interest to fire up Netflix and watch the series that inspired the shows that you love today.