What Makes "Nothing" So Good

Seinfeld began inconspicuously as not many people immediately latched onto the "show about nothing." With time, the viewers acquired a taste for Seinfeld, and an army of devoted fans would never miss NBC's prime Thursday nine o'clock show. Now, many still enjoy the episodes for second, third, and fourth times as reruns air throughout the week. While the plot might seem silly and insignificant, the show is rich with humor. Seinfeld makes people laugh with its extraordinary characters and ingenious use of language.

Jerry serves as the glue for the show and is normal compared to his friends, but that does not mean he is without funny quirks. This successful stand up comedian sees himself as a thin, neat single man. So do others, which leads to him often being mistaken for gay, which the show makes light of. But, Jerry leads a very active dating life with women, which leads to great humor as viewers see the despicable reasons he comes up with to end his relationships. This picky man finds incredibly petty idiosyncrasies in his partners that serve as his justification for breaking up, such as liking a Dockers commercial, eating peas one at a time, and for suggesting that he share his toothbrush. Jerry's sickening neatness leads to many funny avenues, like him not wearing a shoelace after it has touched a bathroom floor. Although Jerry has these and other funny traits, he mainly serves as a facilitator for his hilarious sidekicks, Kramer, Elaine, and George.

Jerry said that Cosmo Kramer's life is like a fantasy camp as he manages to "Do nothing. Fall ass backwards into money. Mooch food off your neighbors. And have sex without dating." This wild fantasy camp is hilarious! The mere sight of Kramer amuses all Seinfeld spectators because of his tall and lanky presence, his wildly vertical hair, and his goofy clothes. Kramer brings slapstick comedy to the show with his flamboyant entrances to Jerry's apartment, his wild gyrations upon hearing surprising information, and his clumsiness as he bumps into things or falls down. Some of his funniest actions came when he took up karate and dominated a class with small children. More experienced fans enjoy his physical humor, but also look forward to his imaginative schemes and crazy ideas. One classic Kramer moneymaking plan was his coffee table book about coffee tables, which featured a built in coaster. Kramer also wishes to design a car rigged with a periscope for handling city traffic jams. He also attempts to transform his apartment into a Swedish spa by installing a hot tub. When he uses too much power to heat his water the building loses electricity, a typically unsuccessful Kramer venture. Despite having no responsibilities, Kramer feels that he doesn't have enough time during the day, so he hires an intern from NYU. Kramer's fearless individuality appeals to the fans who never act on their premonitions because of society's constraints, and his bizarre behavior is wildly funny.

Viewers find Elaine funny for her social and work related misadventures. One year Elaine sends a Christmas card, ignorant to the fact that her picture on the card reveals her nipple. Even first time spectators can imagine the embarrassment caused by such a mistake, and everyone can laugh at it. Elaine suffers through a period of her life where she works for Mr. Pitts, a rich man who only uses Elaine for petty chores. Her frustrating interaction with this senile man gives great humor to all. However, only more sophisticated fans can appreciate the depths of her relationship with David Puddy, an oafish man. Their relationship revolves around sex. Neither one enjoys conversing with the other and they have little in common, but to see them endure and constantly get back together is very funny to those who know the unfortunate dating history of Elaine, for veteran viewers see the irony that she deserves such a relationship.

George Costanza is the self-proclaimed "lord of the losers" and is very easy to laugh at. This short, stocky, bald man admits that he is lazy, selfish, and without much ambition. Ironically, this man who is going nowhere in life will go to extreme lengths to prove an insignificant point to someone. George and Jerry make a pact to become mature adults and get married. So, George hastily becomes engaged! After leading to much laughter, his struggle of a relationship finally ends with the comically cruel fate of his fiancée dying from toxins in the wedding envelopes that she licked. George chose those envelopes because they were cheap, like him. Also, he is a pathological liar and his fibs are tremendously funny. He tells his dead fiancee's parents that he owns a house in the Hamptons. They know that he is lying but will not let George off the hook. So, the stubborn man drives the parents all the way to the Hamptons, creating more false details about his imaginary house, until they finally run out of road and George admits defeat. Like the rest of him, George's lies are pathetic, but very funny.

Seinfeld compliments its superb starring cast with many laughable minor characters. One group of these supporting characters causes constant chuckles with their distinct manner of speaking. Just after the O.J. Simpson case the show introduced a Johnny Cochrane lookalike, defense attorney Jackie Chiles, who provides his legal counsel and fast talking ways in several episodes. Viewers burst into laughter after each of his quick diatribes that use alliteration and unnecessary big words. Vintage Jackie Chiles appears in the finale; instead of merely objecting in court, he bursts, "I object! This witness's testimony is irrelevant, irrational, and inconsequential." Another character who causes laughs with inane ramblings is Elaine's boss, J. Peterman. This clothing catalogue owner speaks in the elaborate style that his writers use in the catalogue. For example, when describing a pullover jacket he babbles of a jacket for "the naked natives of the Bantu Besh." Like Jackie, Peterman is often impossible to comprehend, but always funny.

Two more minor characters provide laughs through their unique way of speaking, George's father Frank Costanza and Yankee owner George Steinbrenner. Frank's short fuse leads to constant yelling when a loud, obtrusive outburst is completely inappropriate. During one episode the entire Yankee organization incorrectly thinks that George is dead, so Steinbrenner goes to the Costnaza home to deliver the tragic news. Instead of showing the expected grief, Frank erupts, "How could you trade Jay Buhner? He has a rifle for an arm!" Not even the death of his only son could make Frank pass up the opportunity to give the Yankee boss a piece of his mind. Steinbrenner also induces laughs through the nonsense that he babbles. This high profile executive has no logic behind his whimsical decisions, and he refers to himself as "Big Stein," not the administrative title one would expect. Both Frank and Steinbrenner surprise the audience with their preposterous remarks that always provide a good laugh.

Innovative use of language is not limited to these few characters, and even a first time viewer can appreciate the cooky vocabulary that Seinfeld creates. George suffers the cruel fate of being intruded upon while changing clothes after swimming in cold water. His manhood is temporarily very small because of the frigid water, but the female invader only knows what she sees. From this tragedy Seinfeld coined the phrase "shrinkage" that is now used my men across the nation who have been swimming, and though it involves quite a serious matter, shrinkage renders a good laugh. Another term is invented when Elaine is dating a man who turns the stereotypical table around, as he is a male bimbo, leading to the term "Mimbo." This male bimbo's only responsibility is to be cool, which he fulfills by wearing a backwards cap and doing adventurous things like climb rocks. Viewers enjoy naming a ditzy man a "Mimbo" after seeing this episode. The four main characters give a collective effort to coin a new phrase, "Master of your domain," during their epic contest to see who can go the longest without masturbating. Such a crude topic sounds civil when referred to with this new expression, and viewers can discuss the subject with less fear of being crass by using it. In one episode the tender topic of homosexuality is touched on, and after each reference to someone being gay the cast members said, "Not that there is anything wrong with that." This phrase protected the show from critics and allowed it to make light of this serious issue and it became widely used by millions across America. Countless other terms have been created in this zany show, but the common thread is that they are fun to say. Delicate topics may be broached with these new words, and all viewers can enjoy them. Many people have enjoyed not only hearing these new phrases, but have gotten many laughs from using them too.

Some more subtle phrases can only be truly enjoyed by veteran Seinfeld fans. Such an aspect of the show might alarm its producers who would fear that it would cause fewer people to watch, but not this show. One episode addresses this issue as Elaine adopts a new group of friends. While hanging out with these other people Elaine's remarks and gestures are not understood and are offensive. For example, her usual yell of "Get Out!" that is followed by a shove hurts one of her unassuming new friends. Yet, insiders such as Jerry, George, Kramer, and longtime fans of the show love to see Elaine's trademark explosion and find its aggression very funny. Jerry's cynicism shines through his oft used, "That's a shame." First time fans do not grasp that this simple phrase exemplifies the amazing insensitivity that fans of Jerry love. Many of the characters show this same apathy towards others by expressing their indifference with, "Whatever." This simple phrase is wildly funny because it allows the heartless characters to ignore important issues. Viewers of Seinfeld wish that they could ignore reality and utter these phrases themselves, so to see them said is very funny.

Seinfeld has been labeled the "show about nothing," but people spit out this phrase without truly understanding its depth. Sure, the absence of plot leads to the excruciatingly thorough examination of the ordinary, which is subtle humor. But, the lack of action leaves an open slate each week that is filled with rich characters and an innovative use of language. After seeing the show it is fun to imitate things such as Kramer's movements or say the phrases that were heard on Seinfeld. For nine happy seasons millions bellowed out loud at the show that dared to be different, not that there's anything wrong with that.

contact me at cfromme@email.unc.edu