Seinfeld DVDs

I'm addicted to Seinfeld.  I am down to two episodes a day, which I consider an accomplishment.  So, when the DVDs came out two years ago I shied away from them.  How much more could I take, really?  I'd seen every episode a dozen times -- did I really need to own them?  Well, I got Seasons 1 and 2 for Christmas and I've now watched every episode and all the extras.  It's great.  Of course.  But, I must admit I find it disheartening when I watch the audio commentary and realize that I know more about the show than Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David, Larry Charles, Julia Louise-Dreyfuss, Jason Alexander, and Michael Richards combined.  I've got to kick this habit.  I'm like a Trekkie who expects William Shatner to know how many space rocks he stepped over in Episode 48.  Too much Seinfeld for me. 

Comments

[D. Derek]

"You know, before I answer any more questions there's something I wanted to say. Having received all your letters over the years, and I've spoken to many of you, and some of you have traveled... y'know... hundreds of miles to be here, I'd just like to say... GET A LIFE, will you people? I mean, for crying out loud, it's just a TV show! I mean, look at you, look at the way you're dressed! You've turned an enjoyable little job, that I did as a lark for a few years, into a COLOSSAL WASTE OF TIME! I mean, how old are you people? What have you done with yourselves? You, you must be almost 30... have you ever kissed a girl? I didn't think so! There's a whole world out there! When I was your age, I didn't watch television! I LIVED! So... move out of your parent's basements! And get your own apartments and GROW THE HELL UP! I mean, it's just a TV show dammit, IT'S JUST A TV SHOW! "
William Shatner, SNL, 12/20/86

[John]

Excellent reference. And I can picture the hilarious way Jon Lovitz looked down at the floor in shame after Shatner asks him if he's ever kissed a girl as if I watched that last night. Great stuff.

As for the Seinfeld DVDs, I haven't watched them in quite awhile (I got them for Christmas 2004). But even though I remember it being obvious many of the actors and others doing commentary hadn't watched the episodes in a long time and therefore weren't up on a lot of the minutiae we get into, I found it fascinating to hear what Larry David and Larry Charles in particular had to say about the background to things they put in the show. Of course, that's common on DVD commentaries, I think - the actors surprise you with how little they actually understand about the content and I'm always fascinated by the director or writer's thought process in putting it together.

[DTS]

I thought of the same SNL bit when I likened myself to a Trekkie. Great piece.

On the audio commentary the writers stuff is the best. I get a kick out of the actors, but they focus more on how they look than anything else -- which makes sense. Hearing David and Charles though discuss the origin of the work, what they hoped to accomplish, and how they think it worked is much more fascinating.