Jerry Seinfeld’s Joke About Friends and the Legacy of Iconic Sitcoms
Jerry Seinfeld, the legendary comedian and co-creator of the iconic sitcom Seinfeld, recently made a playful jab at another beloved show, Friends, during his appearance at the Netflix Is a Joke festival in Los Angeles. At 72 years old, Seinfeld is still as sharp as ever, and his comments on the popular series sparked some interesting conversation.
During the event, Seinfeld took the stage and shared his thoughts on Friends, which he claimed was inspired by his own hit show. He said, “My show came on in ’89, ’90. Friends came on a few years later.” According to him, NBC saw the success of Seinfeld and decided to try a similar concept but with “good-looking people.”
“I think that was a pretty good idea. I think that kind of worked,” Seinfeld added, clearly not taking himself too seriously. The comment was part of a lighthearted moment where he asked the audience to guess his all-time favorite TV show. One fan guessed Seinfeld, to which he responded with a humorous quip: “Seinfeld? I am Seinfeld. Why would I watch Seinfeld?”
He went on to joke about how it would be odd to go up to a mirror and say, “This is fantastic. I love this show. I’m in every episode.”
The Evolution of Seinfeld and Its Cultural Impact
Seinfeld, which ran from 1989 to 1998, followed four single friends living in New York City. It starred Seinfeld in the title role, alongside Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Elaine, Jason Alexander as George Costanza, and Michael Richards as Kramer. Known for its “show about nothing” approach, the series became a cultural phenomenon, with its finale drawing an impressive 76.26 million viewers in the US.
The show was co-created by Seinfeld and Larry David, who later went on to create and star in Curb Your Enthusiasm. During the festival, Seinfeld mentioned that Curb Your Enthusiasm and Breaking Bad were good guesses for his favorite show, though he never explicitly named it.
Friends: A Long-Lasting Success
Meanwhile, Friends debuted in 1994 and ran for 10 seasons, following a group of friends living in New York City. Jennifer Aniston played Rachel Green, alongside Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, and the late Matthew Perry. The show became a massive hit and remains a staple in pop culture.
In 2021, The Rolling Stone ranked Seinfeld as the third best sitcom of all time, while Friends landed at number 38. Both shows have left a lasting legacy, with their casts continuing to benefit from the shows’ global syndication.
Residual Income and the Enduring Popularity of Friends
Lisa Kudrow, who played Phoebe Buffay, recently revealed that the Friends cast still earns around $20 million a year in residuals. This steady income comes from the show’s continued popularity across international markets.
Kudrow spoke to The Times about the enduring success of Friends, reflecting on how the show has maintained its appeal over the years. She also shared her emotional response to watching the show after the passing of Matthew Perry, who died in 2023. “After Matthew died I watched the show again. Before, I only saw what I did wrong or could have done better, but for the first time I truly appreciated just how great it was,” she said.
She praised the talent of her co-stars, saying, “Jennifer and Courteney? Amazing. David and Matt? They had me laughing so hard. And then Matthew – he was just beyond us all.”
The Lasting Influence of Classic Comedies
Both Seinfeld and Friends have shaped the landscape of television comedy, influencing generations of shows that followed. Their unique approaches to storytelling and character development continue to resonate with audiences today.
While Seinfeld may have jokingly suggested that Friends borrowed from his work, the two shows have each carved out their own distinct place in television history. Whether through the “nothing” of Seinfeld or the “friends” of Friends, both have left an indelible mark on pop culture.
