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Product Description
18 HD episodes in a collectible giftset. Includes two versions of the pilot episode.
Genre: Television
Rating: NR
Release Date: 23-NOV-2004
Media Type: DVD
Nothing? Seinfeld is a show about everything! It's about the appeal of the posse and coma etiquette. It's about importing and exporting. It's about sneaking a peek, and seeing the baby. It's about this, that, and the other. TV Guide ranked Seinfeld the best TV series of all time. It has become the master of its syndication domain. Its most devoted fans can quote each episode chapter and verse; their absorption of each scene's minutiae anything but a trivial pursuit. With such fervent devotion to the show, and demand for its DVD release, series creators Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David could have easily just OK'd a bare-bones set containing nothing but the episodes. Not that there would have been anything wrong with that, but instead, the creative team came together to create extensive and encyclopedic features that make this four-disc set buy-worthy. The candid and revealing audio commentaries and interviews, deleted scenes and original episode promos, and optional "Notes About Nothing" pop-ups are as irresistible as a Drake's coffee cake. It's always fun and instructive to return to the humble beginnings of a series that became a pop culture benchmark. Here are Kramer's first not-so-grand entrance, Jerry's first contemptuous "Hello, Newman," and Elaine's first "Get Out!" shove. But what is most revelatory about these episodes from the first two seasons is what Jason Alexander, during his commentary for the episode "The Revenge," calls a "sweet quality" that somehow redeems these characters' more base instincts. Consider the scene in which Jerry gives a freshly unemployed George some career guidance, or Jerry and Elaine's palpably affectionate banter throughout. The "Inside Look" episode intros offer fascinating insights into this singular show that subverted sitcom convention with such now-classic episodes as "The Chinese Restaurant," in which Jerry, George, and Elaine wait in vain for a table. We learn, for example, why movie tough guy Lawrence Tierney, who guest starred in "The Jacket," never reprised his role as Elaine's father. All of this, of course, is yadda yadda yadda to Seinfeld fans, whose patience for the show's DVD debut has been amply rewarded. As Elaine screams in the third-season episode, "The Subway," "It's not nothing, it's something!" --Donald Liebenson
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Customer Reviews: - Let's Start at the Beginning.
Back in the summer of 1990 a little show aired during the summer entitled THE SEINFELD CHRONICLES. For a summer filler show, it did alright in the ratings and was eventually picked up for a full half season. Eventually the name was shorten to simply SEINFELD and thus began one of the funniest and most inventive comedies of the last quarter of the twentieth-century. The elite and the ignorant alike refer to SEINFELD as being the first television show about nothing. Well, SEINFELD really is about something--it's about everyday life. In some ways, because of how personal Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld made the series, it is in some ways one of the most realistic comedies about life every produced. The show was and always will be pure genius.
Volume 1 off the SEINFELD series offers the 1st and 2nd season of the show. Including the pilot episode, the 1st season only included 5 episodes. However, even in a few of these early episodes, the genius of the show can be seen. In "The Stake Out" George makes the first reference to his dream of being an architect and in "The Robbery" Kramer makes his first big impression when he leaves Jerry's apartment door open while Jerry is on a trip and is robbed.
The 2nd season includes 13 episodes--a full half-season. In "The Chinese Restaurant" Jerry, George, and Elaine spend thirty minutes waiting for a table at a Chinese Restaurant (this is the show the coined the series as being a show "about nothing"). In "The Phone Message" George begins to truly blossom as he leaves a series of nasty phone messages on his new girlfriend's machine because she hasn't returned his calls, only to discover that she has been out of town. In "The Statue" Kramer truly comes into his own as he steals back a statue that a cleaning guy stole from his apartment. In "The Revenge" George is fired for the first time and decides to take revenge on his former employer, while Jerry & Kramer plan to get revenge on the laundry guy for stealing some money. The volume is closed out by "The Deal"--an episode that was originally intended to be the final show in the series.
The DVDs include a plethora of extras. Each disc includes 1 or 2 audio commentaries. These are entitled Yada, Yada, Yada. Unfortunately, I found most of these commentaries rather boring. They don't provide any real new information or insight about the series and really serve as filler and not much more.
Each episode can be played with a feature called Notes About Nothing. This is kind of like a pop-up video feature that pops up various information about the episode throughout he viewing. There's a ton of info there, but at times it's hard to keep up and is almost too much.
About half of all the episodes feature Inside Looks. These are a series of interviews with the cast & crew about a particular episode. I enjoyed these the most of all the extras because they are short and informative.
Other extras include a special introductions to "The Stake Out" and "The Stranded", deleted scenes, special Stand-Up material, bloopers, photo galleries, NBC promos & trailers, a few selected spots from "The Tonight Show", and a documentary entitled "How It Began." Outside of the Inside Looks, I found the documentary and "The Tonight Show" segments to be the best extra features in this set.
Volume 1 of SEINFELD might not be the best episodes of the series, but it is where & how the show began. A great item for any SEINFELD fan or anyone else who wants to see the origins of some classic modern tv....more info - VIVA SEINFELD!
I discovered again this show by chance during a business trip in USA, an evening when I was browsing through the TV channels. I knew it already because Italian RAI used to broadcast this sitcom some years ago, but it was a flop: first of all because all foreign movies and programs are dubbed in Italy, so basically you lose most of the funny jokes and lines, and second of all because (this is just my opinion) maybe this show is way too American, too "New-Yorkish", if I may say so. Personally, after I watched some episodes in the original version, I totally fell in love with it. I find it extremely funny, the characters are very well designed and I especially like George Costanza, because it reminds me of a lot of people (including myself a little), this bald not-so-attractive man in his mid-thirties, with so many flaws (he is greedy, he has no idea how to relate with other persons in general and how to approach women in particular, he always puts himself in incredible situations; he is constantly complaining about other people being insensitive, but he is insensitive exactly in the same way). I have just watched the episode in which George has to replace the cassette in the answering machine of a woman he's dating and I almost died laughing, he is absolutely hilarious. Even though the situations are sometimes obviously incredible, these characters are so human, and while you are watching the show you think that this might someday happen to you in reality. I understand many people complain about the fact that the show is "about nothing". So what? Most of the time our lives are about nothing; I personally like the way this show approaches serious issues in a funny way. We all need to laugh every now and then....more info - Now I get it.
I was one of those naysayers who never "got" Seinfeld's popularity. I'd seen bits and pieces of a few episodes here and there, and what I saw always left me marveling that so many people thought it was the be-all and end-all of television sitcoms. (But I had learned to keep this opinion to myself when outside the bosom of family. I nearly got mobbed in a cafeteria once by a bunch of ravenous Seinfeld fans for saying this out loud, so I keep mum for the most part.)
Finally, I borrowed the first three season DVDs from a friend to give the show one last shot at showing me what it was all about. I figured the least I could do was watch an episode or two in full before writing it off COMPLETELY. But lo and behold . . . I actually *enjoyed* the show. It's HILARIOUS. And futhermore, I finally understand why watching it in bits is useless if you've never seen the episode you're watching. The key to Seinfeld's humor is that the jokes BUILD throughout each episode. Something will be idly mentioned early on, such as the proper way to respond if someone sneezes, and it'll be "hee hee" funny . . . then it'll come up again two acts later, at precisely the perfect time, and be *absolutely hilarious*. If you miss the beginning set-up, then you'll have no idea why everyone else is laughing. Its humor also depends so heavily on character that watching it in bits will never convey to you how funny George is when he's forced to pay for something unless you know how cheap he is, or how funny seeing Kramer find yet another new way to enter the room is, unless you've seen a bunch of others before. The writing is what keeps the show funny, but the characters and the acting performances are what make it truly shine.
I never realized how different from other sitcoms Seinfeld was until I watched the extras. There are tons of them here, and the "Inside Look"s are the best. Ranging from two to five minutes in length, these segments discuss the episode in question and offer tidbits on them. An episode like "The Chinese Restaurant" seems ordinary by today's standards, but Seinfeld SET those standards -- and back then having an episode take place in real time on one set was so revolutionary that the network didn't want them to do it!
My one complaint is a biggie, and it's the main reason I'm taking off a star. The extras, myriad though they may be, are VERY repetitive and often pointless. If you use the "Notes about Nothing" feature, you're treated to everything from behind-the-scenes info to the "Kramer Entrance Counter" (Which is cool -- there's also a counter for sightings of Kramer's stand-in.) to historical factoids about random things mentioned on the show. Some of the notes are interesting, while others seem to have been written for the mentally challenged. And if you use the notes AND listen to the commentary (try it simultaneously for a clearer example) you find that they sometimes give the same information at the same time. The "How It Began" featurette is even more repetitive and actually uses a lot of the same footage they used in the individual Inside Looks, so I recommend watching that first in order to avoid boredom.
Another reason I took a star off is because the show had yet to truly hit its stride. Season 3 was a lot funnier and I'm sure that once I get around to watching seasons 4-9, it will only get better. I'm looking forward to it! This is a great show, and I can't believe I'm even saying that after so many years of turning my nose up. Well my nose is down now, and I'm finally saying what everyone else has known for years -- this is one of the funniest shows that was ever on television.
PS: Another great benefit of seeing this is that now I am deadly determined to get "Curb Your Enthusiasm" on DVD. Seeing Larry David on this show, hearing about him losing his temper and watching the episodes he wrote -- hell, just listening to him TALK -- have convinced me that "Curb Your Enthusiasm" must be like Seinfeld on steroids, with no crazy network censorship and no filtering of David's words through someone else's mouth. I don't expect to be disappointed by that one either, and I look forward to logging many hours of couch time enjoying both it and Seinfeld.
It's a pleasure to be recruited, even this late in the game....more info - Not perfect, but Seinfeld is Seinfeld.
Ah, Seinfeld. The yardstick by which all sitcoms are measured. Could anyone have guessed the impact this series would have on the western world? Looking at the 18 episodes in these first two seasons, probably not. But then again, you are probably not buying this DVD set just for the episodes, right?
Which is why I won't devote much time to the episodes themselves; it's the extras that warrent review. Seinfeld is Seinfeld, and the episodes are notorious. Chances are, you've already seen them all already; you may even own them (VCR!). Sure, it'll be nice to revisit them every now and again, but these are the first episodes, and on their own merit they are far from outstanding, certainly not what we've come to expect from Seinfeld as the series progressed. So a few short words on the episodes themselves, then to the main course - the extras.
The episodes themselves are not quite up to par. It's understandable; after all, everyone was still finding their way. The characters are still forming (with the exception of Jerry, who remained pretty much the same throughout the series). The episodes often suffer from the inexperience of the writers and producers; the pacing is often off, and there are the occational gaps, dead moments, strange breaks, inappropriate transition points, etc. It gets better towards the end of the second season, of course; by then the characters begin to resemble what they will later become, and the mechanics click much better. The content improves as well; watching the first few episodes, you can understand why the series was struggling in the ratings. The first truely full force "Seinfeld" episode in the entire lot is "The Chinese Restaurant" (not surprisingly, it was the one the network had the hardest time approving).
Another problem with these episodes is that some of the more daring and fresh approaches they introduced, which made them pack a better punch 15 years ago, are lost on today's audience, who by now has a higher shock tolerance. The mentioning of a period or bowel movements, which may have been rare in sitcoms in the early 90s, can now be the entire subject of an episode.
Still, it's fun to see the origin of things, to track the development of character traits, and to be able to say, "Hey, that's the first time they did that!".
As I've mentioned, the main value expected from the DVD (At least in my opinion) is the extras. These, unfortunately, are a mixed bag.
Sure, there's lots of stuff. There's a "How it began" documentary; there are "Notes about nothing" - subtitle notes that run through the episode for every episode; there are "Inside looks" segments for most episodes; there are voice-over commentaries for six episodes; there's a bloopers segment, an extra standup segment (standup bits of Jerry that didn't make the shows) and a few more trivial things such as photo galleries, previews, and Tonigh show segments. All in all, there's a wealth of trivial and trivia spread around the four DVDs. But quite frankly, some of the most interesting items are too few, too short, or too sparse in interesting information.
For me, the greatest dissappointment comes from what is possibly the most important extra in any DVD - the voice-over commentaries. Only about a third of the episodes have these, and most of those are very sparce in interesting details. Especially dissappointing are the commentaries by Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Michael Richards, which are pretty banal ("oh, that's a nice dress; no it isn't! yes it is!"). Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld do a better job, and so does writer Larry Charles, but they do only four episodes. I was seriously hoping for more, because these are the most interesting extras there are - taking you to the heart of episode, with thoughts, notes, anecdotes, etc. I was surprised that the pilot episode, for example, didn't have voice over commentaries; surely there would be a treasure trove of information.
The "Inside looks" are nice. These are interview sniplets with the cast and crew giving brief insight into each episode. Unfortunately, some of them are pretty short, and many of them are rehashed from the "How it began" documentary (which is great, by the way).
Then there's the "Notes about nothing", Trivia tracks that run through the episode. These are very interesting and in general add a lot of information on things like casting choices, changes in scripting, and occationally trivia bits on references made by characters. In some episodes they repeat things that were already covered in the "inside looks". Then there's a technical problem - they sometimes to run too fast, and it's hard to read them before they dissappear. They can flash as fast as three a second - that's a bit much, and quite unnecessary, considering that other times several minutes can go by without a single note appearing.
The bloopers segment is great, but short. I would have imagined they had more to show after so many episodes (but of course I could be wrong). A nice touch is showing previews from the bloopers in season three (Jerry Stiller!!!). The previously unseen standup is also great, and deleted scenes are interesting (even if there are no more than about 10 minutes of them from all 18 episodes combined). The rest of the stuff is pretty minor, if nice (Especially the Carson show bits).
There's lots of stuff here, to be sure. I would have liked better quality, and in some areas, more quantity; but over all, it's still enough to leave the trivia hunters satisfied. So it's not a full meal - you still won't leave hungry.
Spongeworthy? Sure, why not....more info - First and strongest 2 seasons
Imo, Seinfeld seasons 1 & 2 are the best. Here the characters are still searching for the right form, and it is not as unrealistic as the later seasons....more info - Enough Already!!!!
This is without a doubt one of the dumbest most overrated shows in the history of television. All the characters do is repeat the same lines over+over again. Larry David needs massive amounts of serious therapy. Michael Richards is 20th rate Robin Williams+the rest of the cast is just as bad. Basically the 4 main characters are narcissistic,self absorbed whiners who the planet would be better without. I would give this 0 stars if I could...more info - I watch the DVD set, yada yada yada, I enjoyed it
Anyone who thinks Seinfelf isnt funny is crazy. Its the funniest show of all time. Who knew a almost unknown comedian along with some actors who never made it big get together do a show about nothing and as a result have the greatest comedy of all time. The dvd has quite a few of my favorite episodes:
Male Unbonding
Chinese Restaraunt
The Pez
The show is a cult classic, fully of memorable qoutes, jokes....more info - Love that Kramer !
Very original, so kool, what a cat, that Kramer! Awesome!...more info - Great show
Great to have in your library when you need a fast 30-minute pickup and like to laugh outloud.
If you have seen it, you know. If you have not, you should!...more info - Seinfeld - Lovin' every minute of it
If you're a Seinfeld fan you will love this set. Some of the features I've enjoyed are the Kramer entrance counter and the Jerry girlfriend counter along with the pop-up video-ish interesting facts about the show, stars etc. The best DVD tv series boxed set ever. Worth every cent....more info - Hilarious!!
Seinfeld has been the classic comedy of the ninenties, for three very good reasons: it's funny, it's hysterical, and it's side-splittingly hilarious. These shows are all fantastic, with the possible exception of the pilot, but, that show is nonetheless interesting to watch. Hours of informative bonus features top off the mix. ...more info - SEINFELD CHRONICLES
THIS SHOW IS HIOLARIOUS. IT INCLUDES THE FIRST EPISODE, THE PARKING GARAGE AND THE CHINESE RESTARAUNT. THERE ARE TONS OF BONUS FEATURES LIKE BLOOPERS, DELETED SCENES, AND EXCLUSIVE STAND UP COMEDY BY JERRY SEINFELD. IT CONTAINS 18 EPISODES...IF YOU LIKE SEINFELD YOU NEED THIS DVD.
...more info - Seinfeld funny?
Red Skelton made me laugh. The Honeymooners made me laugh. Robin Williams and Bill Cosby make me laugh. Chris Rock makes me laugh. At the top of my all time list of shows and comedians that have never made me laugh, not even a snicker, snort, or chuckle, nay not even a smile is Seinfeld. His stand up routine was self aggrandizing and boring. His show was even worse. Thank God there are thousands of other DVD choices in the world to fill the void of humor that this show has left in the world. ...more info - I feel ripped off!!!!!!
I believed the TV promo for this DVD. It was advertized as never seen on TV since the original airing. It also states this on the DVD package.
I have seen every episode at least 10 times. Don't waste your money on this one. You can record any episode on the DVD set from TV reruns.
...more info - Seinfeld At Last!!!
The "Seinfeld Era" takes a new turn as it enters the DVD realm. Milllions of people have been waiting for this to happen in the last ten years. This collection of Season One and Season Two episodes bring us back to where it all began, including the pilot that most don't remember as "The Seinfeld Chronicles". The earlier episodes take some "warming up" to, but Season Two Episodes begin to shape the Seinfeld culture as we know it today. The turning point, involves the "Chinese Restaurant" episode, which defines the essence of this legendary show, the "commonality" of every day life. Who hasn't wasted precious time waiting in a restaurant to be seated? This episode alone makes it a "must have" for any Seinfeld fan. The laughs continue with "The Phone Message" and "The Statue". Overall, this is an invaluable DVD set necessary for any TV collection, but more importantly, any Seinfeld follower....more info - The evolution of one of the greatest shows on TV...
It's been so long since I've watched the show's first or second seasons straight through that there were a few episodes that I had completely forgotten about (odd, considering I see at least an episode a day playing in syndication on 5 different channels), which was a nice surprise. You can really see the way the show evolved from a more traditional sitcom (though never cliche or obvious) to what it's known for--a show about nothing--which is also really interesting.
The DVD set also has some really great extras, way better than what you get on most boxed sets. The commentaries are interesting and funny (especially the ones with Larry David), and I usually am not a huge fan. There are also "notes about nothing" which you can turn on or off like subtitles, which provide factoids about the show and each episode.
This is really worth checking out--highly recommended!...more info - Masterful DVD set!
It would be worth buying these for the extras alone. What's amazing here, to me, are the interviews, so you learn how the characters were created and why they evolved the way they did--the little details, for instance, why Kramer's pants are high-waters. It's like a form & theory workshop on sit-com screenwriting and stage production. You learn how nearly every episode came into being. Nothing has been more fun to watch and more inspiring. I can't imagine anyone being disappointed. And if you're looking to read anything, I have to suggest Jennifer Paddock's A SECRET WORD (especially this one to Seinfeld fans, who love clever stories about nothing--or, actually, everyday life put in perspective)....more info - The Two Best Dvds my money bought...
I love Seinfeld. I think it's an education in people. Often, I relate to their lives. This isnt your cheesy,cosy,feel good show where everything happens for a reason and most things end good. This is Seinfeld. Jerry Seinfeld is the most effective and influencive of stand up comedians. I almost crack up each time looking at his dressing sense but then I understand it's the 90's. His observational skill is second to none. He has a soft corner for Elayne (Julia Dryfus) who's trademark "Get out of here's" leave me laughing.
This show is made for the couch. It is the show to watch with people you don't get along with. Imagine Seinfeld without any adverts and umlimited re-runs at your perusal.
Some of my favourite episodes on the two dvds are -
First Season,
The Stock Tip (recall Kramer's grin at Jerry's Loss)
Male Unbonding (So stupid and simple , it made me laugh)
Please note,all 5 of the first season episodes have something unique about them. Notice the change in Jerry Seinfeld's accent and swiftness.
Second Season,
The Pony Remark (Jerry kills his aunt by a comment)
The Busboy ( makes me smile with paranoid George)
The Baby Shower (A definite classic with the Russain cables guys and cosmo Kramer)
The Jacket (The best episode in both the dvds. This one made me laugh so much I cried. It seems like a 35 minute comedy with all the action)
The Statue (Incredibly funny, interesting new characters)
The Revenge (a classic Seinfeld...v.v.v.funny too)
I think the second DVD contains a lot of episodes they never aired on the cable telivision.Owning these,I feel like a kid who just learnt what 5 bucks can do and later realises he has 200 bucks.
The absolute star of Season 2 are Kramer and Jerry and their association which is quite funny.
I own the third season too but haven't given it a watch.George remains my favourite character owing to his (negative)humanity in general.
Just so you know the following episodes are on the respective DVDS-
First Season - The Seinfeld Chronicles,The Stakeout,The Robbery,Male Unbonding,The Stock Tip
Second Season - The Ex-girlfriend,The pony remark,The Busboy,The baby shower,The Jacket,The Chinese Restaurant,The Phone Message, The Apartment,The Stranded,The Statue,The Heart Attack,The Revenge,The Deal
Please note- The Stranded is hilarious too.
Enjoy Seinfeld....more info - The Seinfeld Classics
These episodes are the begining of the greatest show on the planet. They are indeed Classics. The show follows Jerry Seinfeld the Comedian, George Castanza, Elaine Beniz, and the ever so famous Kozmo Kramer through many odd and exiting adventures about nothing. Even though each episode has the most stupidest conversations and the dumbest storylines you find yourself watching and adoring this show. The show was created by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David. It first Aired in 1989 and ended with perhaps the funniest finale in history in 1999.
Thank You for reading my Review, I hope it was helpful to you...more info - Gift
The product was excellent of high quality. Transaction without incident and shipment timely....more info - A Show About Nothing In Its Infancy
Who would have believed that a show about nothing would someday become a classic to be ranked up there with shows such as "I Love Lucy," "Leave It To Beaver," or the "Brady Bunch." But that is exactly what Seinfeld has done. After nine wonderful seasons, Seinfeld became a contemporary classic whose reruns are still high in the rankings.
In this DVD featuring Seasons 1 & 2, we are introduced to the three of the four single New Yorks that we come to know and love: Jerry, Kramer & George. Later in the Season, after producers decided they needed a female character, we are introduced to the fourth Seinfeld friend, Elaine.
In these first two seasons, Jerry's apartment looks bare compared to later seasons. Kramer is bit more rough around the edges and George just hasn't quite got his "game" (funny) on at this time; but it's still well worth the watching so that you can see these characters grow.
Just bare with this new show during these two seasons, and I can promise you'll become a Seinfeld fan for life!
...more info - quick delivery; good product.
dvd delivered four business days after purchase even though i only specified for regular shipping. clearly a new product....more info - Totally Halarious
Great special features! Great episodes. A true classic and one of the best. This will be compared to the I Love Lucy sitcom among other well known and famous shows now and by future generations.
Touche!
Great job!
MC White...more info - Not Perfect Yet, But Launches The Show Off Very, Very Well!
'Seinfeld' is a show people have waited a long, long time to see on DVD. I was one of them, but, I actually only caught the show through re-runs. I'm only fifteen, and never really saw an episode while the show was on (although my dad watched every week), but the re-runs left me in stitches and I wondered when the day would come that we would see the show on DVD. Well, the day came Christmas time 2004, and I was very happy to unwrap volumes one and two, seasons one, two and three, Christmas morning. I zoomed through the first three seasons, laughing all the way, and here are my thoughts on the first volume, which contains the first and second seasons, which aired from 1989 to 1990 and 1990 to 1991.
'Seinfeld' started as a little known pilot called 'The Seinfeld Chronicles,' which aired July 5th, 1989 on NBC. The show starred Jerry Seinfeld as himself, Jerry Seinfeld, living in NYC and observing things with a sarcastic point of view. His co-stars were Jason Alexander as his best friend, George Costanza, Lee Garlington as the friendly waitress, Claire, at Pete's Luncheon, and finally Michael Richards as Kessler, Jerry's bizarre neighbor who hadn't left the apartment in ten years. This is all the pilot, mind you. When the show was picked up for a ridiculously short first season (only four episodes; the shortest in television history!), it dropped the waitress from the main cast and added the amazing Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Elaine, Jerry's ex-girlfriend. Their unique friendship is a major part of what made the show very special. Unlike the other typical sitcoms which set up two characters meant to be together but kept apart, these two remained just friends for pretty much the entire show (except for one brief episode from season two, 'The Deal'). But, I'm getting ahead of myself. In the first season, not a lot happened. It did change Kessler into Kramer, delete his dog and change his storyline so that he had indeed left the building before. The first season consisted of 'Male Unbonding,' 'The Stake Out,' 'The Robbery,' and 'The Stock Tip.' Despite some funny parts and some great little observations which would become standard (my favorite is when George exits the bathroom at Monks and gives a little speech about how great the mirror is and how he looks like Robert Wagner, and I love Jerry's thoughtful reply, 'It's a good mirror'), the first season doesn't really stick to the memory, and it performed dismally in the ratings, which is what made it so strange that NBC picked it up for another season. This season was still abbreviated, but not nearly so much, at thirteen episodes. This is where the show really starts to get special. 'The Pony Remark' is probably the first true classic episode. In it, Jerry makes a disparaging joke about any child who ever owned a pony, outraging his relative (second cousin?), dn then he worries that he killed her when her death is announced. This episode sets the standard for what would make 'Seinfeld' brilliant, where serious things happen and they are treated like comedy. The rest of the second season goes on swimmingly. It still hasn't prefected itself. One thing I noticed is that Kramer is treated as much more of an outsider than in the following seasons. In most episodes, whenever the characters meet at the coffee shop, it is just Jerry, Elaine, and George, while Kramer mostly appears within the apartment. He doesn't even appear at all in 'The Chinese Restaurant.' Also, you get a lot more of Jerry's stand up skits in this set. He does several per episode, but they slowly fade away until they don't appear at all in the eighth and ninth seasons. But, this is still a hilarious year. 'The Chinese Restaurant' is another classic, being that it takes place completely in real time. The commerical break is even placed in the middle of Jerry's sentence, and then his sentence continues after the break. This episode inspired many other shows to do real time episodes, including 'Friends,' which aired one in the third season ('The One Where Noone's Ready'). I also love 'The Jacket,' in which we meet Elaine's father, for the first and only time. If you wanna hear about why he never appeared again, watch the fascinating 'Inside Look.'
Speaking of which, 'Seinfeld' has set a new benchmark in how to do TV on DVD. This set is like an encyclopedia of information. we have an hour long documentary entitled 'How It Began,' which covers the entire beginning, and the struggles to keep the show on the air. But what really makes the set special is the individual attention each episode gets. EVERY SINGLE episode contains 'Notes About Nothing,' which has quickly become my favorite feature. You can learn all sorts of random, often very interesting facts about all the episodes. It is this individual attention that makes these sets better than any other TV shows on DVD. Plus, these episodes look, frankly, amazing! They have been remastered in high definition, and even the casual viewers will notice. Remember the grain of the syndication versions? Long gone. These episodes are just beautiful to look at. And these are the original NBC versions. No more re-run cutting. We can now finally see the full, uncut, versions, not seen since the very early nineties. In some cases, episodes which have been slightly changed in syndication have been presented as originally aired, with its syndication counterpart. Two episodes are given this tretment in this set. The first is 'The Seinfeld Chronicles.' Being that this was the pilot, nothing quite matches with what comes later, and the music is no exception. This pilot, when originally aired, contained a ver cheesy 80s pop type theme. In re-runs, it was replaced with the typical score which comes in the next episode. Both versions are included for you to analyze. And the second episode is 'The Revenge.' As any fan knows, this is technically the first episode to feature Newman, later played by Wayne Knight, but in this episode he is only a voice at the end. In the original version, Larry David provided Newman's voice. In the third season episode 'The Suicide,' Wayne Knight took over the role, adn went back to 'The Revenge' to overdub Larry David's voice in the final scene. Both versions are available! Also, rather than presenting these episodes in airing order, they are presented in original production order, which really makes a difference. For instance, 'The Stranded' was produced as part of season two but put off of airing until season three. This created an inconsistency in airing since he loses his job at the end of season two but then has his job in this episode. Putting this episode back into its proper home really helps with the scope of the show and putting stories into context. Finally, I'd like to say that I *LOVE* the packaging of these sets. I am sick of the foldout digipacks every other TV show is packed in. They fall apart after a week on the shelf, while this set still looks pristine! Job well done, Columbia!
OK, this review is incredibally long, but I'm proud of it. My basic point is that although these two seasons are not the show's finest, they are often hilarious and you'd be a fool to skip this set! And don't miss volumes two and three and all the ones to follow those!...more info - Great Price
I never watched Seinfeld, but am now trying to "catch up" since several of my friends frequently refer to "Seinfeldisms".
Also this is a great price....more info - Generally good but inconsistent
Some of the early episodes must be painful to watch for the stars themselves. It's interesting from a character development study over time for hardcore fans but somebody watching fresh for the first time may be surprised at why this series eventually became so popular.
There's not much to the first season - only five episodes. The pilot (the actual series pilot - not the episode the Pilot from season 4) and episode 2 are simply just bad from an acting standpoint. George is the strength of the show and he is probably what saved it from cancellation. But Jerry, Kramer, and Elaine really stumble out of the gate. There's some apparent ad-libs between Jerry and Elaine that fall completely flat and never should have made the final cut. There's some funny scenes in Episodes 3 and 4 and the acting gets a little better. Episode 5 is the first all-around good episode of the series.
Season 2 improves a lot. This is where we see the show starting to take shape. The Pony Remark contains perhaps the funniest single stand-alone scene in the history of the series when Jerry ruins the family get together with his dinner table remark and spends five minutes trying to rationalize his way out of it while his relatives stare at him in contempt. Most of the other season 2 episodes are good with some classics (The Jacket, The Statue, The Heart Attack) and a couple clunkers (The Chinese Restaurant -critics praise it as innovative but the comedy is mediocre - and the season finale The Deal).
The extras are fanstastic and really provide a lot of insight and trivia for long-time Seinfeld fans.
...more info - Nothing is Everything (I'm sure someone said that already)
Let me get straight to the point, for once. Not counting dvd's, I'm not much of a TV watcher. In fact, I don't think there's a single show on the tube I watch even occasionally. I guess the news is enough of a show to me. Do I sound like a bore? To some, I suppose. However, I am glad I'm not quite boring enough to not recognize the magic of SEINFIELD once it has stuck me in the face. I'd only watched a few episodes several years ago and found it mildly amusing when a friend of mine recently asked me to check it out a tad further. He loaned me the two first seasons. After a couple of episodes, I got addicted; and unlike if it was another show in question, I didn't feel bad about it. On the contrary.
I used the word "magic" to describe the, uh, magic of SEINFIELD, as snappy as I could do. But what is actually the magic of it all? Well, to be honest there is no magic at all. Just a few guys and one gal hanging around and throwing punch-lines at one another. That's the surface of it. If you climb down just a step underneath, however, you'll probably learn quite a few things about yourself. And if you don't, at least you'll recognize your friend. And how you relate to him.
What makes SEINFIELD great to me is that the crisp writing and frank insight into human relations and reactions is excecuted through characters which, while simply constructed, each attribute something unique into the comedy. We may not identify ourselves with the all-around loser George (thank you), but I'd be a liar if I said I've never experienced some of the humiliations he has to suffer. Eccentric Kramer adds the well-adjusted slapstick element between the dialogue, while Elaine provides the feminine touch although she always remains "one of the guys." Jerry Seinfield himself is more of an observer; after all, he is a comedian, and a damn good one at that.
These two first seasons of the show are, of course, somewhat experimental as it had not yet quite established itself. Still, many of the episodes are as hilarious as the later ones. How can anybody sit through THE PHONE MESSAGE, THE RESTURANT or THE REVENGE and not laugh? I don't know. But I know I did laugh. Till it hurt....more info - Worthwhile to see Seinfeld's evolution from the beginning
If these 17 episodes were all that existed of this show, it probably would not be such worthwhile viewing. However, considering that it developed by its third season into perhaps the funniest sitcom ever made and stayed that way to its end, it is fascinating. Elaine isn't even a castmember in the pilot, and overall the characters are trying to find their moorings. However, Jason Alexander has the character of George down from the very beginning. His over-analysis of the phone calls or physical actions to figure out a woman's exact motives were really classic George. The next episode, "The Stakeout", is the first with Elaine. It's also the first time we hear the name of the imaginary character used as a mythical prop throughout the series - "Art Vanderlay". In this case, he is the made-up reason George and Jerry are staking out the building in which a girl works so that Jerry can "accidentally" run into her and get to know her better. You see, all he knows about the girl is the name of the law firm where she works.
Season two gets much better, with such classics as "The Chinese Restaurant" in which Jerry, George, and Elaine all go out to eat at a Chinese restaurant before going to see "Plan 9 From Outer Space", but are forced to wait an incredibly long time for a table. This simple concept with which we all have experience, waiting for a table, was turned into comic genius in this wonderfully crafted episode. Everything about this episode clicked from Elaine's desperation, to George's frenetic anticipation, to Jerry's levelheadedness. The only thing hard to relate to in the age of the cell phone is George trying to find a telephone.
"The Deal" in which Elaine and Jerry try to maintain their current friendship and restart the past sexual side of their relationship - which Jerry calls "this and that" - is funny and very spot on as to the relationship between men and women. However, the show must have decided to abandon the concept, because in all later episodes Jerry and Elaine act like this particular show never happened. "The Phone Message" is an underrated classic in my opinion, and epitomized the extreme awkwardness of George's situations that would be re-visited many times in Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm. In this episode, George has left progressively nasty messages on his girlfriend's answering machine. He enlists Jerry's help to switch the tape before his girlfriend returns home and hears the messages. Like many Seinfeld episodes, the grand plan of one of the characters (in this case, George) comes to an end in an unexpected manner, but this episode actually had things work out for George in the end, which is something that wouldn't be seen very often afterwards as the series progressed.
The only bad thing about the first two seasons is that you don't see as much of Kramer as you do in subsequent seasons. Plus, there is a bit of rewriting that takes place involving Kramer's financial situation. In these first two seasons early on it is mentioned that Kramer makes more money than Jerry. In later seasons much is made of Kramer's spotty employment history, including the fact that he has been on strike from working in a bagel shop for several years over wages, and he returns to work after the strike is settled only because the minimum wage is finally raised to the wage his union was demanding.
I recommend these first two seasons, mainly for the point of seeing all of the character development that takes place getting everything ready for the truly great season three....more info - "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."...more info - I'M LOSIN' MY MIND, HERE!
Best thing to come out of the 90s. Easily.
Buy it. Watch it. Love it.
Or Tivo TBS....more info - Not The Best Season But Still Great.
Seinfeld is my favorite show of all time and could not wait for these sets to come out. Told my wife if I didn't get this for Christmas I would pitch a fit on Christmas morning and fortunately that never came to pass. I feel the show really hit it's stride during the third season and continued to build steam. While season 1 & 2 seem a little slow at first there are some great moments. The Chinese Restaurant, The Revenge, The Stranded. The episodes are little more subtle than later seasons. The characters are still being developed especially Kramer. You can sense there is some tension between Jerry and Kramer early on and they don't seem especially close. You gradually begin to see Georges neurotic side especially in The Message and The Heart Attack. You begin to see Elaines dark side during season 2. Theres also some cool extras such as the "Pop-Up Video" style "Notes About Nothing" that you can turn off and on. Kind of hard to follow the episodes when watching but if you're familiar with the episode and have the notes on it's pretty cool because you get a lot of background information on what went during the filming of the episode and little tidbits regarding some of the references the characters make in the show. There is also a "Kramer Entrance Counter" which lets you know how many times overall since the series started that Kramer has barged into Jerrys apartment. I could go on about this all night but I've got to watch "The Revenge". Go get it!...more info - 3 reasons to "watch" this "show" #1 Newman #2 Kramer #3 George
To be honest with you, this show isn't consistantly funny or even smart most of the time...but it does have it's funny moments and they all involve George, Kramer, and especially Newman. But Jerry Seignfeld is one of the worst stand-up comedians I've ever seen! His jokes are so bland and boring e.x. "What's the deal with airplane food?" I mean come on people!
Julia Louis-Dreyfus isn't funny either. It always seems like she's there either as a straightwoman or to be annoying. Some of my friends and a lot of critics said that this show is hilarious and revolutionary, I on the other hand see neither. I see a hugly overrated show whose main characters aren't even 1/4 funny and the the only ones that are aren't even used properly.
If you want to see a funny show watch "The Drew Carey Show" it's hilarous. Or, if you want situation comedy see "Everybody Loves Raymond." but if you want to watch a show about nothing, and almost nothing good to offer, look no further!...more info - It's stil Seinfeld - but I'd recommend getting the rest
Well, Seinfeld is finally out on DVD and the problem with all collected editions is the fact that the companies feel duty bound to release the DVDs in order (the nerve!) so sometimes you get stuck buying the lame original episodes as opposed to the great episodes that defined the series for you.
This is not exactly the case with this one. There are still some fine episodes. It has its moments. However none of them are on the first disk which comprises "season one" (all five episodes). Watching this disk makes you feel like you're watching a 7-year old Lance Armstrong learning how to ride a bike. You know that it's going to get much much better, but that doesn't mean that you find the kid stumbling around on the bike remotely entertaining.
The making of featurettes are standard fare. They do make you want to rent out "Curb Your Enthusiasm" which might make you resent them. The commentary tracks are stellar because if the movie "Comedian" proved anything, it proved that Jerry Seinfeld knows how to make a commentary track (if I was in charge of marketing DVD's I'd take out 80% of the director commentaries and replace them with Seinfeld - if he was available of course.)
Beyond that, it's merely ok. Buy the third or the fourth season if you want real Seinfeld....more info - The extras, men, it's all about the extras!!
Talk about a TV sitcom show regarded as one of the best ever (or even the best ever). Add to it a DVD box set full, I mean, really FULL of extras and information, and you have in your hands the perfect set. The SEINFELD's seasons released in DVD up until should make the FRIENDS sets feel ashamed, because SEINFELD, like FRIENDS, would sell a lot even without all the extras. But Larry David and jerry Seinfeld proved how they care about their fans, and released the DVD's only after they found it to be a really singular product. The Warner people responsible for FRIENDS didn't cara a little: there is not ONE SINGLE INTERVIEW with any of the enesemble cast!! There is not ONE SINGLE COMMENTARY TRACK with any of the ensemble cast!!
As for the episodes, we all know that SEINFELD began to find its mark in Season Three, but we all also know that the seeds of its future success were already plainly visible in Seasons 1 and 2....more info - Seinfeld's humble beginnings
Seinfeld - Seasons 1 & 2 shows the cast and the writers getting their feet wet. Disc 1 covers the series' first five episodes which spanned from 1989-1990. The writing as well as the camaraderie between the cast doesn't leave a lasting impression as "The Robbery" is the best episode of an otherwise forgettable disc. Based on these episodes, you would think the series would have fallen off the face of the earth. However, by Season 2, which is featured on Discs 2 though 4, you slowly see the writing as well as the cast's rapport begin to gel. Episodes such as "The Pony Remark" and "The Jacket" from Disc 2, "The Chinese Restaurant" and "The Statue" from Disc 3, and "The Deal" and "The Revenge" from Disc 4, are all very good, with "The Revenge" being an early classic. By contrast to their glory days, the characters have yet to find themselves as much emphasis is placed on Jerry's on and off relationship with Elaine. George bounces from intelligent to neurotic throughout the season while Kramer is more of a bit player although he has very memorable scenes on the final disc. As with all of the Seinfeld volumes released on DVD, it's the special features such as deleted scenes, inside looks, bloopers, and exclusive stand-up material, which make them a real bargain. The short documentary on the show's creation on Disc 4 is also a must see. Finally, The Notes About Nothing are very informative as they give you behind the scenes looks, blurbs about nearly every actor who made an appearance on the show, and other little tidbits such as The Kramer Entrance Counter and the boyfriend/girlfriend counters. All told, while the episodes here pale in comparison to those featured on future volumes, Seinfeld - Seasons 1 & 2 show hints of the greatness they would achieve starting in Season 3. ...more info - Buy Just to See Where it all Began
If you can only afford to buy one season then to be honest I think you should buy one of the later seasons as undoubtedly more of your favourite episodes that you will want to keep playing again and again will be on them. What you won't find on them however is the pilot the Seinfeld Chronicles which is just so fascinating to watch and see how different it is (in fact all of the first season is) to later episodes as well as to learn how it all began. Season one also is not replayed much on TV (at least this is the case in Australia) and I really didn't remember these episodes so it was like seeing fresh Seinfeld episodes in a way.
With Episode 1 there is different theme music, it is set in a different cafe where the waitress knows George and Jerry pretty well. Elaine is not in this one either, Jerry has a different apartment then the rest of the series, George seems to be the more confident and in control one than Jerry, Kramer has a dog and heaps of other interesting things you'll pick up. The Special Feature Notes About Nothing are a lot better than in following series DVDs and you learn a lot more about the show such as Helen Hunt turned down the part of Elaine and that the show was not pitched as a show about nothing but in fact a show about where Comedians get their material. There are less features overall than on following series DVDs but any fan of the funniest show on TV is going to want to see these.
You are definitely going to want to own and watch again and again later seasons but you have to at least borrow this series from the video store or library just to learn about what happened at the beginning and how it all began.
...more info - Seinfeld Needs No Review...It's ALWAYS Great!
Review Seinfeld? Do people like chocolate? Is the earth round? Any season of Seinfeld is a must buy!!!...more info - Great series, mediocre DVD set.
I enjoyed the series immensely, and the DVD set does have some great features. But, I find that the "notes about nothing" go across the screen so fast, it was impossible to read. I even slowed it down 8X, and they still flashed by too fast to read. Otherwise, I look forward to the next installment. ...more info - The beginnings of a masterpiece!
What can possibly be said about the funniest show ever? C'mon. Many of the seasons are different from eachother, but they are all still incredibly funny in their own ways. As the seasons progress, the characters in the show evolve a little bit and slowly become the crazy characters that we've all grown to love. They all have such perfect chemistry together. One of my favorite episodes in this collection is The Baby Shower. I love when George rehearses his revenge speech that he plans to give the lady who spilled chocolate all over his nice red shirt! Ha....classic!! The extra features in this collection are awesome, too. Just buy this DVD set or you'll be yelling, "SERENITY NOW!!"...more info - More Than Just a Comedy Series
If you're a T.V. Seinfeld fan you will absolutely love the DVD's. The scenes that were cut to insert commercials by syndicators are restored on the high quality DVD versions. I grew up in the United States and had always liked the series from television. I was married while living/working/studying in China in 2002 and bought the DVD's for my wife on our coming to the United States in 2005. She had never seen Seinfeld before and had never been exposed to this style of humor or the slice of American life that the series presents. We have watched the DVD's over and over again and they never fail to make us laugh and lift our spirits when we've had a bad day. We utilize the closed captioning option and it has been a great help for my wife in acquiring an understanding of casual English usage including slang, and idiom. On a more serious note, owning so many seasons and watching the episodes regularly makes you realize the sad truth that much of American life really is focused on the themes of myopic self-interest presented and ridiculed in this series. I sometimes worry that individuals may actually see the series as a validation of their lack of ethics, morals, and connection with the Creator instead of as a revelation and jabbing at today's inappropriate social dynamics; just as the Archie Bunker/All In the Family series did in the 1970's.
The DVD sets include great special features from "How It Began" to "Making a Seinfeld Episode", deleted scenes, behind the scenes commentary from cast and creators, never-before-seen standup footage of Jerry, original NBC promotional ads and trailers, outtakes and bloopers, and much, much more. It's obvious that a lot of thought and work went into producing the DVD sets and I can't wait until the remaining seasons come out for sale at Amazon. After all; "Who wouldn't love Jerry?"
Contrary to other reviewers' opinions I find that Seasons 1&2 are at least as enjoyable as the later seasons. Episodes included in this set are:
Season 1- The Seinfeld Chronicles, Male Un-bonding, The Stake Out, The Robbery, The Stock Tip.
Season 2 - The Ex-Girlfriend, The Pony Remark, The Busboy, The Baby Shower, The Jacket, The Chinese Restaurant, The Phone Message, The Apartment, The Stranded, The Statue, The Heart Attack, The Revenge, The Deal....more info - 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....more info - Incredible
If you are a fan of Seinfeld (and let's face it, who isn't?) then you should consider purchasing this set....more info - Must-have for "Seinfeld" fans.
"Seinfeld" is the greatest show in the history of television, and this DVD set is essential to those who want to see how it all began. You get the complete first two seasons, as they originally aired (many were edited for syndication), plus commentary, deleted scenes, and a lot of cool interviews and behind the scenes stuff.
Seasons 1 and 2 weren't quite as strong as seasons 3 and 4 ("The Contest" is the best ever), but you've still got plenty of classics, like "The Pony Remark", "The Heart Attack", "The Chinese Restaurant", "The Revenge", and many others.
This is something you can't be without. I hope they release all 9 seasons, because they all deserve to be immortalized.
Long live "Seinfeld"!...more info - 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!...more info - You Can't Beat This
The greatest thing about Seinfeld is that they are horrible people which makes it hillarious. I've seen just about every show they ever had. These DVDs are essential for the true Seinfeld fan. Even if you're not a fan, this would hook you. You will die laughing. My personal favorite characters are George and Kramer. They are so outrageous that you can't compare them. This is the greatest work of all time in comedy. ...more info - Not funny, not funny... NOT funny. If there was only a ZERO stars listed...
The show is not funny. There are too many reasons I could list here to explain, but I don't have 5 or 6 hours to list them all here.
The number one reason for me, though, is that even though it carries itself off as a comedy, all it has EVER been was a bunch of people smashed up through odd circumstances, arriving at impossibly unusual, uncomfortable endings which we are expected to "laugh" while squirming, all set up by the sheer ugliness and meanspiritedness of the writers' intent. They succeed in making you feel bad, then make you feel smug - why? - because it's not happening to you.
I expected better from them, and received NOTHING in return for it.
Now I know why everyone says "it's a show about nothing."
It truly is nothing.
Buy yourself a copy of any of the seasons of "The West Wing" or even "E.R." if you had to, but please - don't waste your time here.
AND put another shiny coin into Jerry's already well-documented and well-bloated pockets.
Oy!...more info - In The Beginning There Was Nothing.
Larry David must be a modern day television Midas--though the touch didn't come to him until he was in his 40's. No matter. As the driving creative force behind "Seinfeld", as Seinfeld himself admits, he co-created, executive produced, and wrote or co-wrote the majority of the "Seinfeld" episodes from the pilot through season 7. When he left the show was never the same again. The character of George is based on him. Kramer is based on his former real-life neighbour, and Elaine's relationship with Jerry is based on his relationship with a former girlfriend. Many shows are based on David's, sometimes very odd, real-life experiences. And then he went on to the great "Curb Your Enthusiasm". But that's another review.
Of course, Larry David himself is a very odd individual. The documentary on the making of "Seinfeld" that comes with this set is, when focused on David, as funny as any of the shows themselves and the shows are great. He is an entirely unique individual which is clearly where "Seinfeld" got it's singular sensibilities from. This dvd set comes with about as many "bells and whistles" as any "Seinfeld" fan could hope for. Included is the documentary already mentioned--the best of the lot in my opinion--commentaries, line notes, Seinfeld's stand-up routine from his 1981 debut on Carson, bloopers, deleted scenes, etc...
The shows in these first two seasons are quite leisurely paced. Some fans may prefer the quicker pace that came in the following seasons. Are these two seasons the best of "Seinfeld"? I don't think so. The best was still to come. But what is that saying exactly? "Seinfeld" is the funniest series ever to come to television and if this set doesn't quite match up to the next two that doesn't mean that greatness isn't on these discs. It is. "The Chinese Restaurant" episode especially is a "Seinfeld" classic and took a series that was already delightfully novel even further into uncharted television waters. Some of my other favourite episodes are "The Pony Remark", "The Jacket", "The Heart Attack", and "The Revenge". The simple fact is that every show in this set is funny. Even more, as shown by the huge success of the show in syndication, they are rewatchable funny. Time and again. And that too is unique.
...more info - This show is Great!
Show: Perfect. Bonus Features: Fantastic. This is the greatest DVD set I've ever had. May I suggest turning on the "Notes About Nothing" feature?...more info - Yada,Yada,Yada
I loved This DVD! I got it for Christmas.I watched The Chinese Restaurant,The Heart Attack,The Jacket,and The Alternate Side. I love it....more info - The magic wasn't there yet ...
The show was still finding itself in these early seasons, still hitting its stride, so the magic wasn't quite there yet. Some of the changing characters - like Jerry's parents - and Kramer's personal (not hyper yet!) held it back. But so what! There were certainly a couple of gems and great things were to come!!...more info - FYI
According to CBS research (through Nielsen Media Research) released in the summer of 2000, the most-watched "summer" primetime series in modern tv history were:
1 - "Survivor" CBS averaging 21 million viewers in its first 5 episodes in the summer of 2000.
2 - "Seinfeld" NBC averaging 20.1 million viewers in its 5 episodes in the summer of 1990.
3 - "Totally Hidden Video" FOX averaging 16.1 million viewers in its 9 episodes in the summer of 1989.
4 - "Top Cops" CBS averaging 15.5 million viewers in its 7 eposodes in the summer of 1990
5 - "Sonny and Cher" CBS averaging 15 million viewers in its 5 episodes in the summer of 1971.
6 - "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" ABC averaging 14.3 million viewers in its 13 episodes in the summer of 1999....more info - 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....more info - Groundbreaking and totally original...
The preeminent show of the 1990's decade, Seinfeld grew from an idea of "a show about nothing" into a sacred pop culture icon - not that there's anything wrong with that.
The show follows the life of comedian Jerry Seinfeld and the exploits of his "short, quirky, bald guy" best friend, George Costanza (Jason Alexander), Jerry's neurotic neighbor Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards), and Jerry's ex-girlfriend Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Through the years, they're joined by loveable cast of characters that includes Newman, Uncle Leo, the Soup Nazi, Frank and Estelle Costanza, the Bubble Boy, and countless others.
The first and second season DVD offers the very first glimpse into the world Jerry, starting with The Pilot (episode 1) which was originally titled The Seinfeld Chronicles. The first scene involves Jerry commenting to George about a button on his shirt (the same conversation later takes place in the last scene of the series finale). These opening episodes provide insight into the development of the four main characters with conversations that range from George's initial admission that he'd like to be an architect (episode 2) to Kramer's propensity for get rich quick schemes like a make-your-own-pizza pizzeria (episode 4). From day one, Seinfeld established itself as "must see TV," creating such memorable episodes as "The Stock Tip," "The Pony Remark," "The Deal," and "The Chinese Restaurant".
Below is a list of episodes from the Seinfeld (Seasons 1 & 2) DVD:
Episode 1 (Good News, Bad News)
Episode 2 (The Stakeout)
Episode 3 (The Robbery)
Episode 4 (Male Unbonding)
Episode 5 (The Stock Tip)
Episode 6 (The Ex-Girlfriend)
Episode 7 (The Pony Remark)
Episode 8 (The Jacket)
Episode 9 (The Phone Message)
Episode 10 (The Apartment)
Episode 11 (The Statue)
Episode 12 (The Revenge)
Episode 13 (The Heart Attack)
Episode 14 (The Deal)
Episode 15 (The Baby Shower)
Episode 16 (The Chinese Restaurant)
Episode 17 (The Busboy)
The DVD Report...more info - Disappointed ...
Dear Sir or Madam,
Have been very disappointed to have to pay 24,15? of customs taxes at my post office when I did pick up your package.
Plus, I can view the cds on my dvd reader, neither on my computer ...
What should I do?
Yours Faithfully
Richard Palumbo...more info - Very Pleased
I received my DVDs in great condition and in a reasonable time frame....more info - Seinfeld, the first years.
It is great to see how different this first seasons are compared to the last ones....more info - Not That There's Anything Wrong With That
This set is perhaps the most "important" of all the Seinfeld DVDs because we learn of the original concept and how it morphed.
The concept of "the Seinfeld Chronicles" was to feature a New York standup comic and how his standup material interacted with his real life.
Major themes involving his three friends and then other recurring characters (making this into more a "sitcom" than originally intended) happened later.
The humor was supposed to be comparing his routines to his life.
But instead, viewers became fascinated by his character and his friends. "The Seinfeld gang" is, to me, one of the quirkiest phrases imaginable. Is the Seinfeld gang like the crips or the bloods? Well, no. In fact, the most enduring trait and root of great comedy comes from their relentless self-absorption and lack of empathy.
Larry David lends himself to the show in incredible ways.
Oddly enough, I stopped watching Seinfeld after the original "chronicles" morphed into the much more familiar sitcom rhythm. I felt cheated. It was almost as though the integrity of the first creative concept had been sacrificed to commercialism.
Five years later, when the only thing people around the water cooler could talk about was last night's Seinfeld, I realized that I was right: it had "gone commercial" but, in the process, become a part of our culture and had brought pleasure to many, many people. Art is lost for money...
Not that there's anything wrong with that....more info - Excellent
I bought this for my boyfriend for his birthday. All of the DVDs were in perfect shape and the packaging was nice as well. It was a great gift! I would recommend both this supplier and this product to everyone!...more info - Still one of the best series ever
One of the funniest shows ever is on DVD! This is the one show i can honestly say there is not a single bad episode. If you've seen this show its not hard to understand why they say its based on Nothing. Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer are always getting into predicaments over the most trivial things! The second season on this dvd has unforgetable episodes like the one where George goes to tell off a pregnant woman at her own baby shower and the one where Jerry offends an old Polish woman by saying he hates people who had ponys while growing up. If you love Seinfeld you've probably seen all of these but buy this dvd set anyway it has excellent picture and has tons of extras! ...more info - Smart/Funny versus I Love Lucy
I laughed when I read the 1 star reviews of these shows. People saying that there was no real plots, no characters that they could "love" and no punchline. I laughed because that is EXACTLY the point of this very clever comedy. You therefore, I repectfully say, have missed the point by miles.
This comedy is very deep, very very flawed characters, two or three story strands per episode, very clever and funny observational humour and NEVER a happy ending. Making it funny and original, especially compared with the conveyer belt apple-pie twee non-humour comedies that get churned out every week onto our televisions.
If the 1 star people want cuddly characters and domestic humour, then I Love Lucy and The Cosby Show are all still running. Me, I prefer this cutting edge humour of now. People mention Mash, but Mash (brilliant) was very much cutting edge and of its time in the same way.
Ignore the people who dont get it. You americans should be very proud of producing this type of comedy. Its universal and brilliant!
...more info - Seinfeld is a great gift!!!!!
This item was a great Christmas gift!!!! I never watched it, but the service was great and I recieved it in the most timely fashion....more info - Greatest Sitcom Ever!!!
What can I say about Seinfeld, other than it's the greatest show of all time. There isn't a single episode in which I don't enjoy. If I could only watch one show for the rest of my life, it would have to be Seinfeld. It's a must have....more info - 5 stars for the show 2 stars for the dvd package
The case the dvds come in is flimsy and worthless and all the dvd cases look the exact same from the side so if you have multiple seasons you can't tell what disc is from what season and you just can't tell one disc from another by looking at the cases. Doesn't make me want to collect them at all, just makes me want to buy them to watch one time then sell....more info - I love it
I love these episodes, although, I do prefer the later episodes but these seasons are definitley funny and are great for establishing the characters personality traits. For example, George will lie more and explode with rage more and Jerry will become even more of a germaphobe and become even more selfish, etc. as the seasons progress. These episodes are really the classic ones, they have most credit based on that but although the humour is more subtle, I still put these episodes above any other sitcom at the time and many, many that are on now....more info - Worse Than Unfunny
Let me be the innocent child in "The Emperor's New Clothes," and proclaim:
Jerry Seinfeld is not funny!
Oh, I know what you're thinking: Here's a guy who thinks Seinfeld was unfunny, but his cast was hilarious.
No. At best the rest of the cast was mildly amusing (although Jason Alexander is a talented actor, he is not necessarily hilarious, hence the two stars).
Because, when it comes down to brass tacks, "Seinfeld" *was* a "show about nothing" -- in every sense of the word:
The contrived semi-plots, with choppy one-liner segments.
The cloying, annoying, ejaculatory bass riffs between shots.
Jerry Seinfeld posing as this hipster: Yeah, right, a hipster with a ridiculous bushy mullet. At best, Seinfeld was an Upper West Side Jewish version of Jeff Foxworthy. You want to know why people think Jewish men are smug, metrosexual wimpish know-it-alls? I submit Jerry Seinfeld as "Exhibit A." If a WASP played a Jew such as Seinfeld, he'd be accused of bigoted racial slurs against the Jewish people. Grating, like fingernails down a chalkboard.
Oh, and speaking of freakish hair-do's: Is there anyone alive who thinks that Michael Richards as Kramer would even inspire a single chuckle if shorn of that ridiculous Brillo-pad hair? Within three episodes, he'd have been out of the door, after having been reduced to haranguing black hecklers in the studio audience: He's a [n-word]! He's a [n-word]!
Pathetic.
And, "Elaine"?
Puleeze! She makes Gwyneth Paltrow look like Kate Winslet, she is so flat.
Yawn....more info - More than a decade later it's still hilarious
Seinfeld was such a masterpiece of sitcom television that even 10+ years later the first two seasons are absolutely priceless entertainment. The key to the genius of this show, I've always thought, is that there are no serious episodes - nothing but comedy from start to finish. So many other sitcoms became unbearable or just crashed and burned because for some crazy reason they decided to develop some kind of serious theme that served as a distraction away from the comedy element. Seinfeld never even came close to doing this and will live on forever as one of the greatest sitcoms ever because of it....more info - The start of the greatest show ever on tv
Finally the first and second season of Seinfeld is available. See for yourself how the greatest sitcom ever started. The show is just geniuse and see for your self witht he halarious episodes. The charactors are all great Jerry, Elain, George and Kramer. The first and second season are not the best of the series but there still classic episodes that can be watched again and again. ...more info - It doesn't get any better...
Finally, Seinfeld on DVD! But not just the episodes (uncut of course),but packed with tons of special features such as deleted scenes, outtakes and bloopers. Plus scenes from the Tonight Show, commentaries and how it all began. It seems now a days, studios want to rush things out on DVD and make the fast buck, skimping out on all the extras. Not this set though. My one single complaint about the set: I wished they would have printed the DVD disc number on the spine of the DVD Case. Minuet I know, but it's a pain to pull them all out each time to figure which disc I want. Definitely worth the purchase if your into Seinfeld....more info - Notes about nothing . . .
When the first three seasons of Seinfeld were released in November of 2004, it was quite possibly one of the most anticipated television on DVD releases ever. The four stars had all come to terms to be a part of the DVD production and fans were excited about seeing one of the funniest sitcoms of all time on DVD after a long wait.
I for one, was not at all disappointed.
I wasn't quite old enough to appreciate Seinfeld in the first few years but grew to love the show as I went off to college and beyond. The normal everyday life that these people lived showed just how funny things can be, even what seem to be mundane things.
I found the first two seasons (five episodes in season one, 13 in season two) to be quite entertaining. The four characters were just beginning to find their chemistry, but you could tell it would be something that would come together relatively quickly.
I found it interesting that the pilot episode was so much different than the rest of the show. To start with, there was no Elaine. The female character was a waitress named Claire, played by Lee Garlington, who has had small roles in many different shows including Everwood and Friends. In addition, Kramer wasn't Kramer, but was Kessler. And he had a dog, which was never seen again. In the 'Inside Look' section, it is mentioned why the dog appeared. The story is kind of interesting.
Probably my favorite episode of the first two seasons was 'The Chinese Restaurant.' I don't think a show had ever done anything like that, with three characters just standing around waiting for a table. It was unique, but certainly something that almost everybody does and can relate to. The only bad part about the episode was that Kramer wasn't a part of it.
While the episodes enough would have been plenty of incentive for me to purchase the DVD set, the extras on this set are fantastic. The bonus features include 'notes about nothing' which are production notes and behind the scenes notes, the aforementioned 'Inside Look' where viewers can take a look inside many of the episodes through the characters, creator, writers or others involved in the production. There are also commentaries from Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Jason Alexander, Michael Richards, creator Larry David and even from one of the writers. These provide a lot of great information. There are also deleted scenes and a piece on the creation of the show.
It is hard to believe that this show, which went on to be one of the top-rated shows on television, almost didn't survive the first year. Low ratings were to blame, but NBC held on and gave it another shot and reaped the benefits for years to come. Now only if networks could do that these days with fine shows that don't get immediate ratings and get axed.
This set is a well-done piece and is worth purchasing for anyone who is a fan of the show or even just a fan of good sitcoms. This one was certainly one of the best. A great ensemble cast, good writing and good producing all add up to a great show....more info - Seasons 1 and 2
Seinfeld as a show is still in a process of defining itself during seasons 1 and 2. Season 1 contains only 5 episodes and this whole volume may appear different from the Seinfeld that's in your mind (different furniture in Jerry's apartment, etc...). However, I still highly recommend it and it has great extra features like commentaries and things....more info - Worth it...
I wasn't really a big fan of this show but then a friend gave it to me to watch. I got hooked. I found myself laughing out loud at the t.v. which i never do. thats how funny this show is. Some really clever humour and twists on everyday observation makes this show by far the funniest American sitcom....more info - Absolute Entertainment
Jerry Seinfeld is the master of comedy. He brings everyday occurrences to life. I was thrilled to be able to watch the first 2 seasons consecutively....more info
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