HOW SEINFELD RUINED TV COMEDY

I know. Great show. Great characters. Great idea. Great story lines. Yet, it was a show about nothing happening. And they pulled it off week after week for several years. Only one season did I think they slipped somewhat, but they bounced back.

So how did it ruin television comedy? By imitation. Too many tried to replicate Seinfeld. They didn't have a Jerry (Malcolm wasn't close), or a Newman (Drew wasn't either), or an Elaine (Frannie, uh, no), and the inimitable Kramer.

In addition, there were no Soup Nazis, no drakes ( "I hate the drake,") and no special quests like Keith Hernandez.

So what's left? Sexual innuendo. And that's what tv comedy has been reduced to. When George claims, "Shrinkage," because he just got out of the pool, it was original and funny. When the new shows try for shock value they fail badly. I'm reminded of junior high jokes and feel pretty insulted. And disgusted.

TV comedy today is like the Whoopee Cushion--not very funny even when it works. Now if we can get Seinfeld out of syndication. Never mind, then there would be no tv comedy at all.