As a kid growing up in the 90s, a few things took up my time. Nintendo, Basketball, and SEINFELD. SEINFELD was the show that allowed me to make sense of how out of place I felt in Arizona. No, my family isn’t all narcissists who yell at each other, but, for the most part, they are all Jewish and from New York. It connected me to something that felt like there might be a group I belonged to someday. Every time I go to NY, it makes even more sense to me why a show about nothing, that’s really about everything, won the hearts of critics and audiences when it aired.
Yet, we aren’t here to talk about me. We are here to discuss SEINFELD and how they pulled off a near-perfect holiday episode with THE STRIKE. During SEINFELD’s hit-or-miss final season, they had a “Festivus miracle” with episode ten. We all know why this show works. It takes a group of self-centered friends that comment on everyday life and makes it highly relatable. Hearing about George Costanza’s dad, Frank, creating a holiday where there are only two goals:
- Feats of strengths – An opportunity for Frank to prove he’s still stronger than his son.
- Airing of Grievances – A chance to complain about all the ways his family disappoints him
For the unfamiliar, those are the two main topics in any household with Jewish guilt from your parents, taken to comedic extremes in the sitcom format of SEINFELD.Â
Some of my favorite moments:
- “Bad lighting on the porch.”
- The Human Fund.
- Elaine: “So… Whatley’s still Jewish, huh?” Jerry: Oh, sure. Without the parents, it’s a breeze.” 😆
- No Bagel!
- The blink-and-you-miss-it Bryan Cranston cameo.
In the spirit of the holidays, you could watch several Christmas movies and TV shows. Instead, why not celebrate by having a “Festivus for the rest of us” and enjoying a top ten episode in one of the greatest TV series ever? I promise that if you attend, I’ll donate to the Human Fund in your name.
It’s available to stream on Netflix.
