Seinfeld Versus Friends?

seunosewa · Dec 15, 2007

Most people (Americans?) seem to think that Seinfeld is a better show, but i prefer Friends because I like the characters. And because they are consistently funny.

What's so great about Seinfeld? Yes, the humor may be very original and borders on genius occasionally, and they made a deliberate attempt to connect with real life, but there are less jokes and some really bad episodes.

Friends on the other hand doesn't have bad episodes. It has good episodes, and some less good episodes. The 6 central characters are funny by themselves. Seinfeld, well, has just two funny characters: Kramer and SeinGeorgeLaine. What do you think?

katiemac · Dec 15, 2007

I think the type of humor between the shows is different, so I don't know how comparable they really are.

Still, I'll always choose Friends. I pretty much grew up on it, watching it on reruns and Thursday nights. It's the only show I remember our whole family would watch, and now it's something all my roommates do. It ended in 2004, also the same year I graduated from high school, so it was pretty much the definitive "end of an era" for me.

Shady Lane · Dec 15, 2007

I love them both, but...I'd have to say I like Friends better. Though Seinfeld might be the better show.

Siddow · Dec 15, 2007

I like them both, but there is a big difference in their platforms. Seinfeld is a commentary on public life, while Friends is a commentary on relationships. Seinfeld focused on the Soup Nazi, getting a table in a restaurant, lying to bosses, while we never felt that the group friendship was in danger. But on Friends, so many of the relationships intertwined in such ways as to always keep us in suspense: will they still be friends tomorrow?

ChunkyC · Dec 15, 2007

Honestly, I never found Friends to be very funny at all, whereas I found Seinfeld to be hysterical almost every episode.

Different tastes.

Don Allen · Dec 15, 2007

I like both shows alot but lean a little towards Seinfield - kind of in the same way I listen John Lennon songs over and over. With Friends I love the charactors and enjoy the stories but once its over I tend to forget about it. However, weeks after I saw a Seinfield episode I'l' realize a "double ent" that was hidden in a joke that just blows me away. Lennon songs are like that, you find something you missed after listening for the 100th time. Both shows great... really hard to pick one over the other but I guess I'd give the edge to Seinfield if for no other reason it really never lost it's edge....

Mjollnir13 · Dec 15, 2007

ChunkyC said:
Honestly, I never found Friends to be very funny at all, whereas I found Seinfeld to be hysterical almost every episode.

Different tastes.

Same here. I never really warmed to Friends but Seinfeld has me crying every time I watch it. :roll:

ChaosTitan · Dec 15, 2007

I just don't get the appeal of Seinfeld. Never have.

Friends, on the other hand, always makes me crack up.

As Charlie said, different tastes.

maxmordon · Dec 15, 2007

SEINFELD!

Although there is nothing wrong with liking Friends

CACTUSWENDY · Dec 15, 2007

Friends....loved it.

Shadow_Ferret · Dec 15, 2007

The true indicator of whether I will like a show or not is if I can relate to the characters. If I KNOW people like that in real life.

In the case of Seinfeld and Friends, sorry, I don't know anyone like those people. So I never cared for either of them.

III · Dec 15, 2007

I hated Friends with a passion. It always seemed so contrived and self-serving. None of the characters rang true, especially Phoebe. Even the title seemed stupid, like they couldn't think of anything so they just called it "Friends". Seinfeld, while the characters didn't seem real and none of them learned how to act until a few seasons in (and Jerry never really did), was hillarious and iconic. No contest - Seinfeld all the way.

CACTUSWENDY · Dec 15, 2007

Lol...and Seinfeld was not contrived or self-serving? Lol......

I think maybe more gals liked the friends and more males liked the Seinfeld. Am glad I didn't know anyone in real life like any of them........

as posted by 111

I hated Friends with a passion. It always seemed so contrived and self-serving. None of the characters rang true, especially Phoebe. Even the title seemed stupid, like they couldn't think of anything so they just called it "Friends". Seinfeld, while the characters didn't seem real and none of them learned how to act until a few seasons in (and Jerry never really did), was hillarious and iconic. No contest - Seinfeld all the way.
__________________

blacbird · Dec 15, 2007

I always found "Friends" bordering on unwatchable. I never saw anything about it that separated it from any of two dozen other fluff sitcoms that got cancelled after one or two seasons. It needed to have Kramer bust in through that apartment door a few times.

caw

Gary · Dec 16, 2007

Just to throw in one more variation...I've never seen a single episode of either show.

Vincent · Dec 16, 2007

While both shows employed the laugh-track, I found it an invaluable assistance when watching Friends. Otherwise, how would I know which parts were funny?

Julie Worth · Dec 16, 2007

beezle said:
While both shows employed the laugh-track, I found it an invaluable assistance when watching Friends. Otherwise, how would I know which parts were funny?

Exactly! In 1997 Seinfeld turned down $5 million/episode to continue the show, while the cast of Friends was just breaking 100 thousand. Going by the money alone, Seinfeld is 50 times better.

Anyway, why isn't there a poll?

Lyra Jean · Dec 16, 2007

Not that I watch either show with regularity but I do like Seinfeld better than Friends. Although if something else is on like X-Files or CSI: Miami I would watch that over either of the shows.

KTC · Dec 16, 2007

I'm with Katie...the humor is completely different between the two shows. I probably watch Friends reruns more often...but I think Seinfeld is by far the better show. Just the amount of stuff going on in each episode is overwhelming. When I watch a rerun I'm surprised by how many memorable events are in the same episode...while in my memory I saw them all as separate episodes. Every show was just packed full of funny.

KTC · Dec 16, 2007

Having said the Seinfeld was my choice...I absolutely love Friends. We can never pick our favourite Friends character. Mine..today, is Phoebe...but tomorrow it could be Joey and the next day Chandler Bing. I love the show and relate to pretty much every character. It's a great escape.

seunosewa · Dec 16, 2007

I probably watch Friends reruns more often...but I think Seinfeld is by far the better show.

If Seinfeld is a better show, then why do you watch Friends more often?

BenPanced · Dec 16, 2007

If those are my choices, I'll pick That Girl.

KTC · Dec 16, 2007

seunosewa said:
If Seinfeld is a better show, then why do you watch Friends more often?

Because where I am you could probably watch Friends around the clock. Seinfeld is on a few times a day, but not as often.

BenPanced · Dec 16, 2007

Sebby said:
Having said the Seinfeld was my choice...I absolutely love Friends. We can never pick our favourite Friends character. Mine..today, is Phoebe...but tomorrow it could be Joey and the next day Chandler Bing. I love the show and relate to pretty much every character. It's a great escape.

seunosewa said:
If Seinfeld is a better show, then why do you watch Friends more often?

Sebby said:
Because where I am you could probably watch Friends around the clock. Seinfeld is on a few times a day, but not as often.

You obviously have the wrong cable package. Upgrade to more channels!

robeiae · Dec 16, 2007

My problem--well, my biggest problem--with Friends was that I despised all of the characters, except for Chandler. Not from the beggining, mind you, but that's where I ended up. They were all so narcisitic, pathetic, and obnoxious. Plus, only Ross and Chandler could hold down a stinkin' job.

Now, you might say that the characters on Seinfeld are just as despicable--as far as human beings go--and I would agree completely. The difference is, Friends was written in such a way as to present those losers as real people that I should actually care about. Seinfeld presented them for what they were, which made it infinitely funnier, imo.

Still, there is no more annoying and obnoxious character than Rachel in all of TV history. Ugh.

Seinfeld Versus Friends?

Friends Or Seinfeld: Which Sitcom Did You Enjoy More?

Friends

Seinfeld

Five by Five

my name is hannah

I'm super! Thanks for asking

It's hard being green

Seeking a Sanctuary of Intelligence

I am the Meatlump King!

Around

Penúltimo

An old, sappy, and happy one.

Court Jester

rockin the suburbs

An old, sappy, and happy one.

Cheers

What? I have a title?

Two years old now.

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Stand in the Place Where You Live

THE BLUEBERRY QUEEN OF HADES (he/him)

Stand in the Place Where You Live

THE BLUEBERRY QUEEN OF HADES (he/him)

Touch and go