I recently found an article all about episodes of Seinfeld which are still relevant today. Which is an interesting idea. Awhile back I did an article on some of the episodes which have become dated the last thirty years, but some remain timeless. However, I disagreed with some of the choices this author picked as examples. So I decided to do my own list!
Seinfeld was not a show that was so set in its time period that it was instantly dated (Murphy Brown and Will & Grace anyone?). However, thirty years is still a long time and that's gonna make any sitcom seem out of touch. Heck, imagine what Friends would be like today? Still some episodes managed to touch on things so timeless that the episode is still relevant today. Here are ten examples (in broadcast order).
The reason this episode was so brilliant is because it was so real. In fact, to be honest. most of Season 3 could be on this list. That was how the show worked and this is a perfect example. Ok the whole thing with George waiting for a payphone to be free wouldn't work but the rest would. It involved waiting while Jerry recognized someone, Elaine was hungry, and George trying to connect with someone. The show didn’t to need to make the situation outrageous to make the story work (see The Puerto Rican Day) it feels real.
9.The Pony Remark
Here's another one, helped by the fact that it's so early and episode there really is not B story. Who hasn't blurted out a stupid comment he should never have said? Even worst, at a family function? Yeah the death is unnecessary but it’s still realistic.
8.The Contest
It's a classic for a reason, and that's all there really is to say about it.
7.The Airport
Oh man this episode could be so expanded today with the security check in's being ten times worse than they were back then. And I'm sure flights are just as miserable especially since most airlines don't even serve dinner anymore. The Kramer story is lame but not unbelievable.
6.The Cigar Store Indian
Wow, this episode is almost MORE relatable today. The 90's were a simpler time where you could make fun of people's need to be obsessively politically correct (Murphy Brown also did an episode on it). It's gotten so much worst I'd bet thus episode would never air if made today. True the tv guide stuff is passé but you could substitute it with something else. And since people still live with there parents of course George’s story still works.
5.The Dinner Party
People still go to dinner parties, and I am sure struggle to get things to bring. Nothing dated here except that idiot Sadaam Hussein reference.
4.The Label Maker
This is a clever episode because we've all gotten gifts we didn't like and then turned around and tried to give it to someone else. The stuff about the Super Bowl still works too. And even the stuff about Kramer and Newman obsessively playing a game is valid, it wouldn't be a board game they'd be playing in there phone, however.
3.The Calzone
I always loved how this episode captured the need to suck up to the boss, and how important lunch can be to the work place. The rest is fine too.
2.The Soul Mate
While this isn't my favorite episode by far, the situations are real. Kramer and Jerry arguing over the same woman is fine. The whole thing about George obsessed about the way a person coughed implying guilty is the show being brilliant. Almost as good as the wink episode but that one got silly.
1.The PotHole
Towards the end Seinfeld got goofier and in fact there is no season 9 example here. It stopped being real and the situations got ridiculous (The Merv Griffn Show?). And while this one is no exception the basic ideas are relatable. We've all lost our keys, and the struggle to get food delivered out of zone is very real (especially if you try DoorDash). Even Kramer's story is grounded in reality, for once. Jerry's story involves his obsessiveness which I'm sure people still are.,
Did I miss one you think belongs here? Comment and let me know. Yes I did match one or two from the article, but you can guess which one's.
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