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Seinfeld: A Cultural History explores the show's history with an engaging look at the show's legendary co-creators, its supporters (and skeptics) at NBC, and its award-winning cast. By all the traditional rules of television, Seinfeld never should have made it to the air. Paul Arras pays close attention to the writers and writing of the show, offering a fresh look at the episodes themselves and assessing its broader cultural impact. Throughout he also dissects the show's main quartet and the other memorable characters that foursome interacted with over the show's eight seasons. With deep perception and good humor, this book considers what the adventures of Jerry, George, Kramer, and Elaine reveal about the nineties and what messages they pass along to twenty-first century viewers.
Seinfeld: A Cultural History will lead any fan of the show back to the series to re-watch old episodes with new insights and observations. Readable and illuminating, the book's well-researched discussion of the show's background and legacy is an essential guide for Seinfeld viewers and scholars alike. Most of all, Seinfeld: A Cultural History is an enjoyable way to engage, or reengage, with one of the funniest shows of all time!
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Creators
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Series
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Publisher
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Release date
June 15, 2020 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781538126882
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9781538126882
- File size: 19661 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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May 15, 2020
Arras pays tribute to the popular sitcom, exploring its massive impact in the 1990s and beyond in this engaging read, which is part analysis of the show and its characters and part glimpse behind the scenes at the efforts to bring Seinfeld to air and keep it there. The show had a rocky beginning in 1988, when NBC expressed interest in developing a show with Jerry Seinfeld, who partnered with then largely unknown writer Larry David for the pilot. It only secured a pickup once the late-night division of NBC stepped up to order a four-episode first season. It took awhile for Seinfeld to find its audience, but eventually viewers fell in love with the show about nothing and the eccentric quartet at its core. Arras offers a lively look at the characters, their struggles, and their romances, as well as providing some background on the cast and their relationships with each other, which changed over the years. Fans will welcome the opportunity to learn more about the beloved, ever-popular series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.) -
June 1, 2020
Seinfeld's (1989-98) history is well documented. After a panned pilot, NBC was willing to order only four episodes for the show's first season. But the series finale brought in 76 million viewers and Super Bowl-size advertising rates. Along the way, the show changed the landscape of American television and added phrases such as "sponge-worthy" and "close talker" to the English lexicon. Arras (communications & media studies, State Univ. of New York Cortland; The Lonely Nineties) covers this ground but takes a fresh approach, demonstrating how Seinfeld reflects the culture of its time and analyzing how well it holds up today. Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer each say something about facets of 1990s American experience: delayed adulthood, yuppiedom, and relationship and career dissatisfaction. The author also points out the American experiences the show missed in its focus on (mostly male) white urban heterosexuals. Although he thoughtfully critiques the show, Arras demonstrates his enthusiasm for the subject, and his personal ranking of all 168 episodes is a fan's labor of love. VERDICT Lively writing, extensive research, and thoughtful analysis combine to make Arras's book a must for those interested in taking a deeper dive into a show about nothing.--Terry Bosky, Madison, WI
Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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