SteveSilver.net

For The Rest of Us

Yes, tomorrow is everybody’s favorite fake holiday, beating out Chrismukkah. The New York Times even ran a piece the other day on the origins of Festivus- it was dreamed up in 1964 by the father of a “Seinfeld” writer, and then re-appropriated for a final-season episode- and all those who currently celebrate the holiday.

This whole thing, as well as the DVD sets that my wonderful girlfriend got me for ChrismukkahHanukkah, has got me thinking- it appears that today, almost seven years after it went off the air, “Seinfeld” is more popular and influential than ever before. Yes, a strange thing to say about the popular sitcom of all time, but look at it this way: it seems like people quote and reference the show more often than it any time during its original run.

Maybe it’s the constant re-runs, in which the episodes always get funnier with repetition. Maybe it’s that the new sitcoms on TV are almost universally horrible, making “Seinfeld” look better by comparison. Or maybe it’s the phenomenon that people of my generation who grew up watching the show all appreciate the jokes differently now that we’re adults and can relate to the jokes about dating, jobs, apartments, etc.

So be sure to ponder that, as you enjoy the Feats of Strength and the Airing of the Grievances.

(Image courtesy of Bill)

Posted by Stephen Silver at December 22, 2004 06:30 PM