Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Friends vs. Seinfeld

Yes, I believe the title itself is probably causing all sorts of vibrations to rise up in many of you. I'm not afraid to go there.

This is often a topic of discussion around our office here at Crossbridge. To go even further, it is the final question of every job interview we've done as well. "Friends or Seinfeld?" The person immediately feels on the hot seat and the answer they give will inevitably tattoo them for their entire tenure here at CB.

I know, I know...many of you will say "statistics don't lie...just look at the numbers." Yes, the Seinfeld finale was watched by more viewers. But, looking at the overall numbers from season to season, there is a clear winner in terms of viewers.

Seinfeld Stats

Season Ranking Viewership
Four (1992–93) 25 12,754,700[35]
Five (1993–94) 3 18,274,800[36]
Six (1994–95) 1 19,652,400[37]
Seven (1995–96) 2 20,330,800[38]
Eight (1996–97) 2 19,885,000[39]
Nine (1997–98) 1 21,266,000

Friends Stats

Season Timeslot (EDT) Season Premiere Season Finale TV Season Rank Viewers
(in millions)
1 Thursday 8:30 P.M. (September 22, 1994 - February 23, 1995)
Thursday 9:30 P.M.(February 23, 1995 - May 18, 1995)
September 22, 1994 May 18, 1995 1994-1995 #5 24.3
2 Thursday 8:00 P.M. (September 21, 1995 - January 18, 1996)
Sunday 10:13 P.M. (January 28, 1996)
Thursday 8:00 P.M. (February 1, 1996 - May 16, 1996)
September 21, 1995 May 16, 1996 1995-1996 #2 29.4
3 Thursday 8:00 P.M. (September 19, 1996 - May 17, 2001) September 19, 1996 May 15, 1997 1996-1997 #3 25.0
4 September 25, 1997 May 7, 1998 1997-1998 #3 24.1
5 September 24, 1998 May 20, 1999 1998-1999 #2 23.5
6 September 23, 1999 May 18, 2000 1999-2000 #4 20.7
7 October 12, 2000 May 17, 2001 2000-2001 #3 20.2
8 Thursday 8:00 P.M. (September 27, 2001 - October 4, 2001)
Thursday 8:50 P.M. (October 11, 2001)
Thursday 8:00 P.M. (October 18, 2001 - May 16, 2002)
September 27, 2001 May 16, 2002 2001-2002 #1 24.5
9 Thursday 8:00 P.M. (September 26, 2002 - May 15, 2003) September 26, 2002 May 15, 2003 2002-2003 #2 21.6
10 Thursday 8:00 P.M. (September 25, 2003 - April 29, 2004)
Thursday 9:00 P.M. (May 6, 2004)
September 25, 2003 May 6, 2004 2003-2004 #2 22.8


Now then, I know you die hard Seinfeld loyalists are all throwing things at your computer screen right now...but really. Episode after episode I have tried to watch...with nothing more than the occasional "ha" at some mediocre joke. I do keep giving it a shot, but seriously, not funny.

Friends on the other hand...Mel and I have the entire library and we watch the show regularly. Laughing every time as hard as the first time we saw it.

So, I'll open it up to you guys for comments. Are you a Friends or Seinfeld person? Why?

I'll also set up a little poll to the right to add to the fun!

25 comments:

  1. Friends all the way baby!! You can't deny the chemistry between these guys and I'll go as far as saying until Friends there really hadn't been a great show like it in YEARS and there hasn't been since...yep, that's right I said it! Friends all the way!!

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  2. Friends, because I said so!!

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  3. Friends. You can't beat ugly naked guy, "PIVOT!!!", or the Ross/Rachel kiss at the coffee shop. Classic, indeed!

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  4. Oh, gosh, am I gonna be the only one to stick up for Jerry and Elaine? There is an appropriate Seinfeld quote for every moment in life - that's the mark of a great show.

    A few of my favorite Seinfeld things...

    SERENITY NOW!!
    the "bro"
    Elaine's Christmas Card
    Vandalay Industries
    Newman - "When you control the mail...you control...INFORMATION"
    The ugly baby
    George's parents
    Jerry's Parents
    "I don't have a square to spare"

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  5. Anonymous10:41 AM

    Right on Jeannie! I concur!!! I love the episode when Elaine and George's dad are about to throw down! "you wanna piece of me?"

    SEINFELD ALL THE WAY!

    It was definitely a rough job being the only one in the office to stick up for Seinfeld, but someone had to do it!!

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  6. Anonymous10:42 AM

    NO SOUP FOR YOU!

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  7. Anonymous3:07 PM

    I still can't believe you posted this nonsense!!

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  8. Anonymous3:09 PM

    That last comment was from me, I forgot I was signed in to my work blog...

    so again...NONSENSE! :)

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  9. Jessica, I think you've been gone too long now. :) I am the only person in the office that favors Friends...everyone there is for Seinfeld. Now your comment about nonsense...these are pivotal matters affecting the minds of many people. It's imperative that those that know truth speak up. :) Looks as though truth is prevailing right now. :)

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  10. Anonymous4:52 PM

    one word: jerry.

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  11. Anonymous12:14 PM

    This one is hard for me. On one hand you have Friends, the best writing EVER. And then Seinfeld...well it was revolutionary, pure comedic genious. Sorry man, I'm on the fence.

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  12. Anonymous12:23 PM

    genius...nice

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  13. The deal is the Seinfeld is intelligent humor for intelligent people and Friends is well...

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  14. Another point Joey vs Kramer? Kosmo would wipe that pansy off the floor!

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  15. ha ha ha, i like the image of Joey vs. Kramer. They both had great hair, ya gotta give 'em that

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  16. Anonymous8:06 PM

    No, if anything it looks like there is a massive wave of delusion taking over!

    My apologies to Chuck, I forgot he was the other intelligent one in the office! ;)

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  17. Anonymous3:43 AM

    Of course friends no contest, however, seinfeld was great

    BTW your statistics are wrong..the numbers of ratings for seinfeld are the number of households..but for friends are the number of viewers, but still friends win thats why its the highest costing show of all time

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  18. Anonymous9:31 PM

    It is kinda unfair to compare these shows because they were so different. Seinfeld had a new plot almost every single episode, while Friends episodes all seemed to run together. You can say thet Frieds is like a gigantic movie. I personally like Seinfeld more because that is more my type of humor. They're both great shows, but I got to give it to Seinfeld because if you whatch closely, Freinds uses the same type of situations at sometimes, but not often. Seinfeld is just more original.

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  19. Anonymous6:58 AM

    the numbers for seinfeld arent viewers in million like the ones fo friends are. There househould ratings which is a percentage of viewers watching. For example, in seinfelds last season it had an average of over 34 million viewers. Just check the internet im sure you'll find something about it.

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  20. Anonymous6:09 PM

    SEINFELD!!! Seinfeld is much more interesting and has a great plot line but zfriends is just one stupid joke after another.

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  21. Ever since I saw this site I began to have more desire to keep on doing research for more blogs like this one. Blogs that keep me distracted.

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  22. Seinfeld all the way! There's no comparison between the two.

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  23. Anonymous9:42 AM

    It's simple. If you liked Friends, then you never really got Seinfeld.

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