DVD : Seinfeld - Seasons 1 & 2

In association with Amazon.com

Rating:

- "Shouldn't You Be Out on a Ledge Somewhere?"
Watching Seinfeld through the countless network and cable channels offered these days is redundant to say the least. But watching this now classic sitcom come to life again in it's original and uncut format via DVD maintains the show's quality. This package offers the earliest days of Seinfeld and it feels too unreal that this show started some 17 years ago, but even then one can recognize Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David putting forth a creative front in comedy television. The two were creating a sitcom that was both funny and ground-breaking with the simple formula to tell tales of everday living. Sure, The Chinese Restaurant episode turned into a classic and I wouldn't snub that episode by any means, but even better(as you watch them again)are The Stock Tip, The Phony Remark, The Busboy, The Baby Shower, and The Statue, just to name a few. Jerry Seinfeld was correct when he described his show in an interview about ten years ago as, "Real life with a twist of lemon."

Rating:

- A MUST HAVE IN YOUR TV DVD COLLECTION!
This show ranks up there with the greatest tv shows of all time. These early episodes are interesting,even if the show had not hit it's peak yet. The episodes plus lots of extras makes this a worthy purchase.

Rating:

- What do I know?
Many years go I read that that the (much forgotten) humorist James Thurber wrote about the crazy things that ordinary people do when they believe they're behaving with perfect common sense. "Seinfeld" is like that... although it's funny on the surface, the series is actually a deeply intelligent examination of humans and friendship and behaving with perfect common sense. In that regard, I like to think "Seinfeld" is the heir to Thurber.

On its own, some of the episodes go far beyond a TV sitcom. Many are as thoughtful and profound as a good short story (yes, Literature is exactly what I mean). The episode where they take O'Brien's limo from the airport. The episode where Elaine is also Suzy at the office. The episode about the stolen TV guide (everyone goes increasingly mad, a crescendo like that which underlies Ravel's Bolero). The episode about The Contest, perhaps their most famous episode of all.

These episodes aren't merely funny. They reveal a depth of observation and writing that I believe is still scarcely recognized and appreciated (perhaps because of guilt by association, in that Seinfeld categorized sitcoms, most of which are poorly written beyond description).

But. Yes, Seinfeld the show IS funny. Yes, it has funny situations that we still talk about (I actually do prefer muffin tops) or recognize (like a fight I nearly got into at an office copier; later I realized it was a "Seinfeld Situation"). But it's so much more than merely funny. To paraphrase Elaine, Seinfeld is watch-worthy as printed literature is read-worthy.

Rating:

- Shop around!
Theres not much to say about the dvds, they have bloopers, and extra material about each episode. What is important is that you should shop around. Target sells the first 5 seasons for $20!

Rating:

- I'M LOSIN' MY MIND, HERE!
Best thing to come out of the 90s. Easily.
Buy it. Watch it. Love it.

Or Tivo TBS.

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