Share This Article
“The Dealership” is by far the most popular episode of Seinfeld.
“The Soup Nazi” and “The Contest” are neck-and-neck for second place; they’re both held in high regard as among the best episodes ever written.
“No soup for you!” was from a different show altogether called ‘Alice’, not from this one.
‘Over the Top’ is ranked just below these two, but it’s still considered to be quite good nevertheless.
‘The Hamptons’ rounds out the top five list with its well-written dialogue and memorable moments such as George asking if he can have his shirt back or Jerry saying that Kramer has left town because he saw too much.
The rest of the episodes vary in quality according to which people you ask.
“Yada, Yada” might be considered by some as one of the better ones due to its more dramatic tone that many found refreshing.
“The Doll,” on the other hand, is often singled out for being a weaker episode with an uninteresting storyline and not much humor.
It’s time to dispel some misconceptions about Seinfeld. This show, which originally aired from 1989 to 1998, has been off the air for 18 years but is still one of the most talked about shows in pop culture. The nine seasons that comprise it have spawned dozens of catch phrases and memorable moments (who can forget Elaine dancing around on a table with her shirt open?). Some people may think they know every single thing there is to know about this classic sitcom from how many episodes were produced or who wrote what episode but I’m guessing more than a few will be surprised at these facts:
In “The Puffy Shirt” episode, Jerry’s friend Jackie tells him that his agent thinks he needs to wear a flashy shirt on The Today Show. So when Kramer gets an invite to appear in the show as well, they both end up wearing this ridiculous garment. This is one of my favorite episodes because it shows how small moments can spiral out into something much bigger than anyone ever imagined which is also what happens with so many misconceptions about Seinfeld!
For years I’ve been telling people that Larry David wrote “The Puffy Shirt,” but apparently it was actually penned by Jerry Seinfeld himself . And though there are plenty of jokes throughout the series written solely by David (including some of Elaine’s best one-liners), it was actually Jerry who wrote the infamous “Festivus” episode that everyone always talks about.
The following are nine episodes of TV’s most popular sitcom, “Seinfeld,” ranked by popularity according to IMDB ratings (highest first). Though many fans have their favorites among these top picks, there is no bad place to start with this classic show!
Sitting in his car outside a dry cleaners on Christmas Eve waiting for Kramer and Elaine so they can go see Santa at Macy’s together, George lets slip how much he hates his boss Mr. Kruger when he yells out the window for them to hurry up. They both get fired and George learns he’s also lost his girlfriend, Susan (the woman who later becomes Jerry’s wife) because of his outburst.
George is such a loser! He does nothing in this episode except tell the audience what to think about him!
Kramer has been nominated for an award but insists that Elaine not be told until after it’s given out so as not to jinx anything. When she hears, Elaine starts frantically campaigning on Kramer’s behalf while he tries desperately to avoid her interference without giving away why or how much importance he places on wining the prize.
Seinfeld is one of the most popular shows in television history. And while it was on, people loved to debate over which episodes were its best. But there’s a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to these debates.
Here are nine common misconceptions about what makes them good or bad:
Misconception One
It all boils down to whether you prefer plot-driven or character-driven stories: Some people will tell you that plots make for better TV because they’re unpredictable and exciting and keep things moving forward at an engaging pace. Others will say this goes too far, preferring instead characters who grow and change as human beings rather than simple caricatures with predictable arcs “Jerry gets engaged! Kramer inherits a million dollars!”
Misconception Two
It’s all about the jokes: Some people will tell you that Seinfeld was never funny. The show is not only one of TV’s most influential comedies but also arguably its best, and it features some of the funniest moments in recent television history. But while there were plenty of laughs to be had on any given episode, they weren’t what made it so great. Shows like Friends or How I Met Your Mother have been just as funny over their long runs without being anywhere near as iconic as Seinfeld so this isn’t really a misconception at all.
Misconception Three
Season Nine Was Terrible: This one might actually be kind-of true. The ninth season is seen as the weakest because it had to get a lot of mileage out of Jerry’s engagement, and it took place entirely in one apartment building. But there are some great episodes here like “The Voice,” which featured Kramer becoming an opera singer and plenty that don’t deserve their reputation for being any worse than those from seasons one through eight.
Misconception Four
It’s about nothing: You’ve heard people say this before, but not only do they seem completely uninterested in what the show was actually about, they’re also wrong on multiple levels. Sure, many plots were driven by things like who said what word or how much someone owed somebody else, but most everything revolved around Jerry and George’s everyday lives.
Misconception Five
Kramer is an idiot: In the show’s first season, George said to Jerry that “Kramer is a complete idiot.” But what most people don’t know about Kramer and it was never really suggested in the series itself–is that he has borderline personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Though his actions were often erratic and offbeat, they weren’t always without logic behind them; when we realize this, our perception of him changes completely.
Misconception Six
Elaine isn’t funny: Sure she wasn’t as good at physical humor or jokes as Jerry or George (though her sarcasm made up for it), but there are some great moments with Elaine throughout Seinfeld’s nine-season run.
Misconception Seven
The show is about nothing: Let’s be clear, the episodes of Seinfeld were never just “about” one thing; there might have been a central theme but it was always something small in comparison to all the other events that are happening at any given time. And furthermore, because every episode builds on what came before and after it, everything feels connected even when Jerry doesn’t like his girlfriend (he most certainly does), or George lies on his employment test for Kramer’s sake (later realizing he passed).
