Eric F

Well, it's been about 5yrs since I've seen it, and they finally ran it in syndication on the local Fox channel here. It was in 2 30min episodes, and I think it was a bit longer when it originally aired, I'm not sure.

At any rate, after seeing it a second time I finally begin to understand why it left me feeling a little a little hollow the first time. The laugh track is the main problem, it's terribly out of place. We already know Jerry and his friends are miserable people, but put in the context of their action's consequences on others, it's just not funny.

Yes, there were a few funny scenes in the show, and I think the funniest part (which I had forgotten) was during the closing credits. Jerry's stand up routine in prison is a masterpiece in irony, and should have been the only part of the show that had a laugh-track (if any).

Robert

I've always wondered if Estelle had any influence on the length of their jail sentence.

(no pun intended!)

palebluedot

I thought that the finale was brilliant. The main reason is, I never thought of the characters as the miserable bastards they are because you were always a part of their world, in the show. The show was always about the 4 of them and their little world that they created between them.

It wasn't until they played the tape of them making a commentary while the guy was being robbed that we were removed from their world and saw them, as an outside observer. The ending was perfect because they are in the jail cell togerther and we pull away from them and they continue right along in their own little world.

Plus the episode was just hilarious.

That's my take on it anyway.

ClarkKentKY

"Hey everybody, bring a bucket up to Jerry's.... we're having a pee party!"

Eternia

Elaine and Jerry should have started to have some fun while the plane was going down. lol

Mopower

Hey they just ran it on my fox station too......thats interesting anyway.....I thought the whole thing was ironic. Especially when they are in the jail cell at the end and jerry starts talking about one of georges buttons being out of place.....the exact same conversation that took place in the first scene of the first episode.

madcougar

I always wondered if anybody else remembered that.

huzefa

I never watched the first show, so obviously I never heard that conversation about the buttons before, but the way they were talking, I kind of figured that this was probably what they talked about in the first episode.

rfduncan

You know - I seem to recall there was more made out of this when it originally aired... can't recall exactly what happened, but I thought Estelle and Vandelay had another scene or an extension of that same scene together.

As for the original airing, I seem to recall that it was 90 minutes (or so) and started with a short "best of" show with clips. If you have been watching the syndicated re-runs, you would have seen it in the past week. This episode ends with the cast bowing while "Time of Your Life" plays in the background.

BTW - this is not the first time this has been on in syndication. I have seen it re-run at least once before.,

For those who haven't seen "the no man's land button" segment, check it out on your syndicated channel on 3/13 - they should start the show from the 1st episode. Also note that while the pilot of "Jerry" includes Elaine - she is pretty much absent from the real pilot of Seinfeld - which is why they leave her out when George and Jerry sit down to write the pilot ("I don't know how to write for a woman!")

Robert

I don't recall any extensions of that scene being in the first airing. They have no reason to edit the finale anyway. I think its best left to the imagination.

das Monkey

I sometimes get tired of all the Seinfeld finale bashing. I don't think it was one of the best episodes of the series nor do I think it's one of the great all time finales, but I liked it. The media (and those jackholes at NBC) hyped it so damn_much that it couldn't live up to any expectation no matter what happened. But it was bitter and ironic and daring, and I liked it. Not my favorite, but I liked it.

das

Eddyhazkel

I thought the finale was a great way to wrap up the series' run. It reminded us of all of the great bit characters who helped make the show great throughout the years.

Jericho

How can you end a show about nothing?

renaldow

I've got to agree with Paleblue Dot and das on this one. A great finale. We get to step out of their world and view them from the outsider angle. It quickly becomes apparent what bastards they really are, and now they have to pay for it. Bringing in everyone they've wronged over the years was pure genious, IMHO. Jerry doing his routine in prison was priceless.

I would like to see a reunion show one day.