I watch all three shows, but Frasier is definitely my favorite. Of course, my favorite doesn't matter because it's really what the fans of the shows think. Well, I know fans of all three shows and I've read the newsgroups of all three, and Frasier fans seem to be, in the majority of cases, the only ones that remain continuously loyal to the show. Unlike in the Friends and Seinfeld newsgroups, I rarely see the heading "Worst Episode Ever" here. And no Frasier fans talk about how the show is doomed and on a downslide. Even obsessive fans of Friends and Seinfeld admit those shows are not as good as they once were. Most people who criticize the shows that are not their favorites have only seen one or two episodes of those shows. I think the only way these completely different shows can be compared is by looking at fan response. Therefore I don't think I'm out of line if I say Frasier seems to rank best, at least for this year. alt.tv
> On Sat, 31 May 1997, Joseph Ryan Schembrie wrote:
> > No one in America over the age of thirty watches Friends. And for those > > younger, use the formula 100-3.3X, where X=their age. This will give > > you the average IQ of the Friends audience for that particular age > > bracket.
> > Seinfeld is about everything in life that's real. Kramer is more real > > than the most realistic character on Friends. Friends is about nothing > > -- improbable, meaningless relationships built on the pretense of Really > > Caring, but we all know they just want to hang out for fun and get into > > each others' pants. Okay, but do you have to lie about it? Must you > > confuse lust with love twenty-six times a season?
i are 36, and likes friends. and i are vury smart and entelijant. seriuosly though, friends isn't the best show in the world, but it's not the worst either. it's by far the best show in it's time slot. but frasier and seinfeld are much better, maybe the best.
i guess what i'm saying is that it will kill 30 minutes nicely.
>> >______________________________ >> >SENIFELD v. FRIENDS v. FRASIER >> >______________________________
>> >-Let's face it. Seinfeld aint what it used to be.
>> Talk of Seinfeld dropping off this season is a matter of selective memory, the >> supposed negative impact of Larry David leaving, and concerns about the coming >> millenium (well, #3 may be a stretch...)
>> Of the eight seasons, I'd rank them in order this way:
>> Season 3 (stand outs -- The Library, The Fix-up, The Pez Dispenser) >> Season 6 stand outs -- The Jimmy, The Fusilli Jerry, The Switch) >> Season 8 (stand outs -- The Comeback, The Little Kicks, The Susie) >> Season 7 (stand outs -- The Soup Nazi, The Rye, The Wig-Master) >> Season 5 (Stand outs -- The Mango, The Wife, The Hamptons) >> Season 4 (Stand Outs -- The Outing, The Implant, the Junior Mint)
>> Seasons 1 & 2 were more about trying to hit the groove rather than riding it. >> The Jacket was great, if for nothing else, the gruff appearance of Lawrence >> Tierney as Elaine's father. The rest are curios rather than classics (although >> to be fair, season one consisted of 4 episodes and season 2 only had 12).
>> Actually, this season is one of the better ones, although those with weak >> stomachs for "off the wall" episodes may be less enchanted. It's all fine and >> dandy that the Constest is everyones favorite episode -- but it's one of the few >> stand outs in an otherwise weak season (mostly tied up with developng the Jerry! >> pilot). And although season 7 has some great episodes, many of them were more >> routine episodes about George worrying about getting out of his pending marriage >> to Susan.
>> As much as I enjoy the shows about nothing, I find nothing wrong with the >> totally off-kilter ones that are about absurdity rather than true life.
>> >-Friends is fun to watch because of their youth and good looks.
>> Friends has gone downhill. Although it's funny in spots, too much time is spent >> on zingers collected into an umbrella of plot instead of a funny plot in and of >> itself.
>> >-But Frasier is without any doubt the best sit-com on American >> >television today. The writing is so much better than any other show. >> >And not just a little bit better. A lot better. And the relationship >> >between the brothers is very funny.
>> I'd have to agree. I was never a fan of the show until this year's premiere. >> Now I'm hooked. Frasier has quickly shot to the top, surpassing Seinfeld and >> The Simpsons this season. When are they going to syndicate Frasier so I can see >> the stuff I've missed all this time?
>> Hanson >> "How about some turpentine? Or caulk? Delicious caulk!" >> - Homer Simpson >I totally agree... >I've always loved Seinfeld and it's sorta hard to describe why; >something just draws me in. >But Frasier is by far the most complete and "whole" sitcom there is. >The writers are geniuses and so are the actors. >Friends compares to all other regular and decent sitcoms that have been >around for a few years. >just my 2 cents, >eva =)
IMHO Who can dispute the King, Jerry. For absurdity and exposing character defects, nothing can surpass Seinfeld. He is by far the best all-around comedian. And when he guests on Leno, that point is well proven. I am glad that all 4 will be back in the Fall. Frank wheel...@mindspring.com
> Seinfeld rules !... As far as it goes, Seinfeld started all these > situational sit-com and > Friend is just a copy cat of Seinfeld ...
> KuMan
Chris <weave...@iconn.net> says: Actually, if you really want to get technical, Frasier is a spinoff from Cheers which was on long before Seinfeld. Just adding my own 2 cents.
> Seinfeld rules !... As far as it goes, Seinfeld started all these >situational sit-com and >Friend is just a copy cat of Seinfeld ...
>KuMan
>>I agree, I'll go out on a limb here and say that "FRIENDS SUCKS"
Am I the only one that believes these shows are wildly different?
Seinfeld started all these sit-coms? I think you'd have to go back a bit further. Maybe Lucy in the TV era, Bob Hope's work in radio, or some Grecian folks a few years before that - but it wasn't Seinfeld.
As for the Seinfeld/Friends comparisons, I couldn't disagree more. Seinfeld centers on the trivial. It frequently has 4 independent plots interwoven, with each affecting the story's outcome.
While Friends may also center on a group of urban pals, that's where the similarities end. A recent episode featured "boobs, bra sizes, asses, tampons" and a groin reference in it's high minded attempts at humor. While it may be very funny and popular, I'd hesitate at throwing it into the premiere class of shows. I mean c'mon, not one dopey dumb character - but two?
How you would compare Frasier to either puzzles me. I can't find even a superficial similarity. As Friends slaps you in the face with gratuitous references, Frasier works on innuendo and subtlety. While Seinfeld explores the trivial, many Frasier episodes (see the season finale), deal with an emotional reality.
I think each show is great at what it does, but as far as the best, depends more on tastes than anything else.
> Am I the only one that believes these shows are wildly different?
>*snip*
> How you would compare Frasier to either puzzles me. I can't find even > a superficial similarity. As Friends slaps you in the face with > gratuitous references, Frasier works on innuendo and subtlety. While > Seinfeld explores the trivial, many Frasier episodes (see the season > finale), deal with an emotional reality.
(First of all, I must say that this post really is about Fraiser...I just wanted to voice a couple of opinions about comparing Fraiser to other shows like Seinfeld and Friends. The Fraiser stuff is down the post a ways.)
In regard to Pete's comments above, I must concur. While is is possible do debate the relative merits of the shows, I don't believe it is possible to compare them -to- each other. That's like trying to decide whether the Dallas Cowboys are better than the Chicago Bulls or not, and how the Baltimore Orioles stack up against the others.
(side point: It just occured to me that these three sports are not bad analogies for the shows: "Friends" is football. Direct, unsubtle, in your face, hit-you-over-the-head-to-make-sure-you-get-it comedy; will do almost anything to get that touchdown. Seinfeld is Basketball. Fast; inticate, many times almost amazing in the interplay between players and how they come together in the end to result in a score; no place for slow, careful, crafted plays, area of the slam dunk. And, of course, baseball: Fraiser. Subtle, crafted, mature, with a feeling of elegance; just watching the play is rewarding, with the added bonus of scoreing and home runs. The relative popularity of the sports even closely matches the three shows.)
> While Friends may also center on a group of urban pals, that's where > the similarities end. A recent episode featured "boobs, bra sizes, > asses, tampons" and a groin reference in it's high minded attempts as > humor. While it may be very funny and popular, I'd hesitate a > throwing it into the premiere class of shows.
It's funny, but I agree with you. By funny I mean that during the first and most of the second seasons, Friends was my absolute favorite show. Oh, I thought Frasier was good, and Seinfeld was good, etc, but it was Friends that drew me the most.
Now, however, the charm seems to have worn off. I don't really notice and real significant drop off in writing quality, as many people claim; rather, I think I am getting tired of the characters, which are what drew me in in the first place. Ross's insecurities are starting to annoy me. Rachel's sometimes mean vindictiveness is starting to annoy me. Chandler's trite one-liners and continuous complaining about women is starting to annoy me. Phoebe's cutsey, naive and sometimes contrives back-to-front comments and world view, as well as her "songs," are starting to annoy me. Funny enough, Joey really isn't annoying me very much.
Also, I'm getting a tired of the constant theme of dysfunction on Seinfeld, even though the show has some of the best writing I've ever seen, plotline-wise. I'm just tired of the whole premise on which those well-written plotlines are based.
But this group isn't about Friends or Seinfeld, it's about Fraiser.
Fraiser I find to have an altogether more subtle, and therefore (to me) humorous quality. Its writing does not insult the intelligence of its viewers (while Friends has jokes like this: Joey, chuckling like Beavis after Rachel said something: "You said 'number two!'" snicker snicker.)
Another thing that has always impressed me about Fraiser was the ability of the cast, director, and writers to pull off serious and emotional scenes, without a trace of "Full House" kitchy sentimentalism. Such scenes in Fraiser anre handled with deft maturity and realism. Case in point: I thought the entire conversation between Fraiser and the woman (Linda Hamilton) in the season finale to be very well done.
> I think each show is great at what it does, but as far as the best, > depends more on tastes than anything else.
> Pete
Right. Most of what I wrote was opinion, of course.
--
===< Will Seabrook, Systems Administrator ==< Advanced Micro Devices, Austin TX. =< Will.Seabr...@amd.com =< http://www.geocities.com/~superhang ==< I have opinions. I invite you to try and change them. You ===< may succeed, and we may both learn something in the process.
On Sun, 8 Jun 1997, jimmy wrote: > On Sat, 07 Jun 1997 23:09:32 -0400, KuMan <yu133...@yorku.ca> wrote:
> > Seinfeld rules !... As far as it goes, Seinfeld started all these > >situational sit-com and > >Friend is just a copy cat of Seinfeld ...
> >KuMan
> I agree, I'll go out on a limb here and say that "FRIENDS SUCKS"
Maybe I,m too Jewish or/and too old oir maybe I.m just too smart or maybe I,m too bizarre but I just don't get Friends at all. Seinfeld is just way too brilliant and to say Friends sucks is too kind
> > On Sat, 07 Jun 1997 23:09:32 -0400, KuMan <yu133...@yorku.ca> wrote:
> > > Seinfeld rules !... As far as it goes, Seinfeld started all these > > >situational sit-com and > > >Friend is just a copy cat of Seinfeld ...
> > >KuMan
> > I agree, I'll go out on a limb here and say that "FRIENDS SUCKS"
> Maybe I,m too Jewish or/and too old oir maybe I.m just too smart or maybe > I,m too bizarre but I just don't get Friends at all. > Seinfeld is just way too brilliant and to say Friends sucks is too kind
To me it really does'nt matter what frasier did in his private life as long as he was'nt proven guilty or anythin like that... I find his show to be extremely smart intellectual and histerically funny... As far as Seinfeld is concerned I think it is also very funny....but it's true what one of you mentioned, Friends isn't even in their league it's a different show all together but it is still very funny alot more lighthearted... As the saying goes "To each his own", but my favorite would most definetly have to be FRASIER....:)
>> // No one in America over the age of thirty watches Friends. And for >> those younger, use the formula 100-3.3X, where X=their age. This will
>> give you the average IQ of the Friends audience for that particular >> age >> bracket. \\
>> Wrong,... I'm 32 and I never miss a show.
>> Steve Conley >> ***************************************** >> "Surely I come quickly" - Jesus
> Seinfeld rules !... As far as it goes, Seinfeld started all these >situational sit-com and >Friend is just a copy cat of Seinfeld ...
>KuMan
I think seinfeld is the most BORING program i have ever seen on TV!!! why the hell is someone so excited because they have no underpants on underneath there trousers? (it was so funny i forgot to laugh!!!) -- The Surfer
It's a good show and I thought the idea is very similar to Seinfeld (show about nothing) plus a "family/romantic" take....also, Paul Reiser, is so much better as an actor then Jerry, don't get me wrong but when I find it funny when Jerry cracks up during some scenes, but it is not very professional
Amanda <sf...@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us> wrote in article <Pine.SUN.3.95.970621093551.13281B-100000@scfn>...
> In <3XwAtEA7eEqzE...@dingers.demon.co.uk>, The Net Surfer <sur...@dingers.demon.co.uk> writes: > >In article <339A226B.8A8D3...@yorku.ca>, KuMan <yu133...@yorku.ca> > >writes > >>Steve Conley wrote:
> >>> Joseph Ryan Schembrie wrote:
> >>> // No one in America over the age of thirty watches Friends. And for > >>> those younger, use the formula 100-3.3X, where X=their age. This will
> >>> give you the average IQ of the Friends audience for that particular > >>> age > >>> bracket. \\
> >>> Wrong,... I'm 32 and I never miss a show.
> >>> Steve Conley > >>> ***************************************** > >>> "Surely I come quickly" - Jesus
> >> Seinfeld rules !... As far as it goes, Seinfeld started all these > >>situational sit-com and > >>Friend is just a copy cat of Seinfeld ...
> >>KuMan
> >I think seinfeld is the most BORING program i have ever seen on TV!!! > >why the hell is someone so excited because they have no underpants on > >underneath there trousers? (it was so funny i forgot to laugh!!!) > >-- > >The Surfer
> Open your mind, surfer dude.
> There has never been a sitcom as well written as Seinfeld. > NOBODY tackles sensitive issues with as much style. So, you > take the best writing in the business, add THE BEST ENSEMBLE > CAST THAT TELEVISION HAS EVER SEEN and you know you have a > winner.
> All time: > I rate Seinfeld in the top 5. > Frasier... somewhere in the top 20. > Friends... Hmm. I'm 29 (same age as Ross) so I figured the show was > aimed right at me. They missed. I don't get it. I'll be generous and > say it's in the top 50.
> This decade: > Seinfeld... No. 1, by far. > Frasier... Top 5. > Friends... Well, it's better than Homeboys from Outer Space.
> BTW, ask yourself one question. How many minor characters can you > recall from Friends or Frazier? 5? 10? Seinfeld has at least a hundred. > Not sure what else this fact implies, just thought I'd mention it. > -------------------------------------------- > ratb...@ibm.net > (Hammer nail here--> <-- for a new monitor.) > (Remove SPAM to reply)
Frasier is the most intelligenty written sitcom on TV. It is clever and funny. Seinfeld is clever and funny as well but more zany. It is my 2nd favorite show. Friends is juvenile and shallow. I fear for our civilization if this show is among the top 10!
Palehorse <palehorse...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in article <01bc8ab6$ff7d1640$23379...@adam.whitehouse>...
> UMMM surfer dude if u watched seinfeld enough u would understand why the > heck kramer was excited about no underwear
> ITS KRAMER WHAT DO U EXPECT kramer is not normal > -- > _______________________ > / \ > | Palehorse...@worldnet.att.net | > \_______________________ /
> Dave <ratb...@ibm.net > wrote in article <33aa6f0...@news1.ibm.net>... > > In <3XwAtEA7eEqzE...@dingers.demon.co.uk>, The Net Surfer > <sur...@dingers.demon.co.uk> writes: > > >In article <339A226B.8A8D3...@yorku.ca>, KuMan <yu133...@yorku.ca> > > >writes > > >>Steve Conley wrote:
> > >>> Joseph Ryan Schembrie wrote:
> > >>> // No one in America over the age of thirty watches Friends. And for > > >>> those younger, use the formula 100-3.3X, where X=their age. This > will
> > >>> give you the average IQ of the Friends audience for that particular > > >>> age > > >>> bracket. \\
> > >>> Wrong,... I'm 32 and I never miss a show.
> > >>> Steve Conley > > >>> ***************************************** > > >>> "Surely I come quickly" - Jesus
> > >> Seinfeld rules !... As far as it goes, Seinfeld started all these > > >>situational sit-com and > > >>Friend is just a copy cat of Seinfeld ...
> > >>KuMan
> > >I think seinfeld is the most BORING program i have ever seen on TV!!! > > >why the hell is someone so excited because they have no underpants on > > >underneath there trousers? (it was so funny i forgot to laugh!!!) > > >-- > > >The Surfer
> > Open your mind, surfer dude.
> > There has never been a sitcom as well written as Seinfeld. > > NOBODY tackles sensitive issues with as much style. So, you > > take the best writing in the business, add THE BEST ENSEMBLE > > CAST THAT TELEVISION HAS EVER SEEN and you know you have a > > winner.
> > All time: > > I rate Seinfeld in the top 5. > > Frasier... somewhere in the top 20. > > Friends... Hmm. I'm 29 (same age as Ross) so I figured the show was > > aimed right at me. They missed. I don't get it. I'll be generous and > > say it's in the top 50.
> > This decade: > > Seinfeld... No. 1, by far. > > Frasier... Top 5. > > Friends... Well, it's better than Homeboys from Outer Space.
> > BTW, ask yourself one question. How many minor characters can you > > recall from Friends or Frazier? 5? 10? Seinfeld has at least a > hundred. > > Not sure what else this fact implies, just thought I'd mention it. > > -------------------------------------------- > > ratb...@ibm.net > > (Hammer nail here--> <-- for a new monitor.) > > (Remove SPAM to reply)
