[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

I liked Seinfeld’s stand up. He was a master of the observational comedy, and it wasn’t that popular when he hit the circuits. Seinfeld basically blazed the trail for observational comedians.

But the genius of his show, and it was a genius conceit, was that while he actually played a comedian on the series, he was the straight man. The comedian wasn’t the funny one.

That’s brilliant.

George, Elaine, and Kramer were the ones that most often ended up in outrageous situations, with a very calm Jerry just making observations. Like his stand up.

It was a clever show that got more clever the more you watched it. Almost impossible to duplicate.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Seinfeld basically blazed the trail for observational comedians."

No, guys like George Burns and Alan King were doing it way before Seinfeld.

[Steve_Seattle]

My girlfriend and I have picked up on some of the Seinfeld word-play, and made up our own versions of it. With a word like "disgruntled," I'll say, "I'm not disgruntled. In fact, I'm very gruntled. I'm the most gruntled employee you can imagine." Or, "I'm not hapless; I'm very happed. I've got hap up the yin-yang." Or at a restaurant, ordering dinner:

Girl Friend: I'd like the roast beef dinner.

Waiter: Great choice!

Me: I'd like the fish and chips.

Waiter: Ok, we'll get those to you in a few minutes.

Me: Wait a minute. You said that my girl friend made a great choice, but you didn't say that I made a great choice. Was there something wrong with my choice?

Waiter: No, but . . .

Me: Is there something wrong with the fish and chips?

Waiter: No, I just meant that . . .

Me: Tell me what's wrong with the fish and chips! Why wasn't it a great choice?

And so forth . . . I don't actually say those things, but the idea occurs to me.