April 1, 2016
Coining the term Seinfeldia, Armstrong (Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted) examines the landmark TV show's metarealm of existence. It's a Twilight Zone-like dimension in which a gruff New York soup purveyor becomes the basis for the legendary Soup Nazi character, and the actor who portrays him goes on to sign soup ladles at conventions around the world. In charting Seinfeld's rise from NBC's hesitant four-episode order as a summer fill-in through to the finale seen by 76 million viewers, the author takes readers to the heart of the sitcom. Behind the scenes writers delve into their personal histories for story lines, directors film on sets to create a cinematic (and more New York) look, while on-screen the stars of the show Jerry, Elaine, Kramer, and George compete in "The Contest" or simply try and get a table at a Chinese restaurant. Armstrong also contextualizes the program, investigating the television landscape over its 180-episode run and its profound impact on legions of fans. VERDICT Armstrong offers a masterly look at one of the greatest shows. The research involved makes this a boon to television scholars, but Seinfeld enthusiasts will also enjoy this funny, highly readable book.--Terry Bosky, Madison, WI
Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Starred review from June 1, 2016
Entertainment journalist Armstrong offers up a lively and illuminating examination of NBC's groundbreaking 1990s sitcom Seinfeld, from its inception as a vehicle for stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld to its continued influence almost two decades after the final episode aired. The 1989 brainchild of Seinfeld and fellow New York comic Larry David, the original pilot featured Seinfeld and two of his friendsKramer (Michael Richards), inspired by David's eccentric neighbor, and neurotic George Costanza (Jason Alexander), based on David himself. When the show became a series in 1990, a fourth member of the group was added: Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), an ex of Jerry's who shared the same caustic sensibilities as the male characters. Armstrong shines the spotlight on the network executives who fought for the show and the revolving staff of writers who lent their personal experiences as fodder for the characters' adventures. Seinfeld himself pulled the plug on the show in 1998 after nine wildly successful seasons, but Armstrong illustrates how its fans have kept it alive and relevant in syndication and on the Internet. A wildly entertaining must-read not only for Seinfeld fans but for anyone who wants a better understanding of how television series are made.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)
May 15, 2016
Welcome to an upfront seat at one of TV's most popular sitcoms. How does a TV studio replace the loss on Thursdays of Cheers, one of the greatest sitcoms of all time? With one that may be even better. Former Entertainment Weekly staffer Armstrong (Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted: And all the Brilliant Minds Who Made the Mary Tyler Show a Classic, 2013, etc.) believes that Seinfeld was special. Its "trademark bouillabaisse of cultural references and inside jokes" created "portals between its fictional world and reality," its actors had rich characters to inhabit, and its talented writers, including star Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, wrote smart scripts. Armstrong unfolds the show's history chapter by chapter. Here are Jerry and David, two hardworking stand-up comedians, talking in a late-night diner, coming up with an idea for a TV show based, essentially, on them, a metashow in which little happens. At first it was The Seinfeld Chronicles. Jerry wanted it changed, and NBC president Brandon Tartikoff agreed. Armstrong then covers the "players," how four characters were created by four talented actors, followed by the "network," the "production," the "writers," and the "bizarros" (the show's many odd ducks, including the Soup Nazi and J. Peterman). It all came together to create a masterpiece. The show's tickets were always free, and tapings could last three hours. Even the show's relatively minor characters became national sensations. America Online's numbers plunged when Seinfeld was on. Just before the eighth season, David decided it was time to go. Jerry was worn out too. NBC offered him $5 million per show; he was already making $1 million. He passed, and the ninth season would be Seinfeld's last. Armstrong's intimate, breezy history is full of gossipy details, show trivia, and insights into how famous episodes came to be. How nothing could become something or how a national TV audience learned to live in a Beckett-ian world. Perfect for Seinfeldians and newcomers alike.
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