Seinfeld (1989)
Seinfeld is a 1989 comedy series created by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David. It stars Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander and Michael Richards.
Jerry plays a lightly fictionalized version of himself, a stand-up comic living in Manhattan with three of the most gloriously petty friends on television: neurotic George, exasperated Elaine, and the physics-defying Kramer from across the hall. Created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the sitcom famously made itself out of nothing, tiny grievances, waiting for a table, a lost car in a parking garage, the etiquette of everyday life. Over nine seasons on NBC it turned observational minutiae into an art form, letting four self-absorbed New Yorkers dig themselves into ever-deeper holes.
Quick answers
What is Seinfeld about?
Jerry plays a lightly fictionalized version of himself, a stand-up comic living in Manhattan with three of the most gloriously petty friends on television: neurotic George, exasperated Elaine, and the physics-defying Kramer from across the hall. Created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the sitcom famously made itself out of nothing, tiny grievances, waiting for a table, a lost car in a parking garage, the etiquette of everyday life. Over nine seasons on NBC it turned observational minutiae into an art form, letting four self-absorbed New Yorkers dig themselves into ever-deeper holes.
When was Seinfeld released?
Seinfeld was released on 5 July 1989.
How many episodes does Seinfeld have?
Seinfeld has 180 episodes across 9 seasons.
Who made Seinfeld?
Seinfeld was created by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David.
Where can I watch Seinfeld?
Seinfeld is available on Netflix, Google Play, Amazon, AppleTV and Fandango at Home.
Where to watch Seinfeld
Stream: Netflix
Rent: Google Play
Buy: Amazon, AppleTV, Fandango at Home, Google Play
Official site
Cast
- Jerry Seinfeld as Jerry Seinfeld
- Jason Alexander as George Costanza
- Michael Richards as Cosmo Kramer
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Elaine Benes
- Ruth Cohen as Ruthie Cohen (uncredited)
- Wayne Knight as Newman
- Larry David as George Steinbrenner (voice)
- Heidi Swedberg as Susan Ross
- Norman Brenner as Man on Sidewalk
- Estelle Harris as Estelle Costanza
- Jerry Stiller as Frank Costanza
- Liz Sheridan as Helen Seinfeld
Similar series
Explore Seinfeld guides
A few thoughts on Seinfeld
The comedy of small, selfish people has plenty of siblings. Trevor Noah's Born a Crime brings the same sharp, observational storytelling to real life. Gintama runs on absurd banter and characters who never learn. Much Ado About Nothing shares the barbed wordplay. And Tenacious D delivers the same deadpan, ego-driven silliness in album form.
Ensemble sitcoms about friends behaving badly
Seinfeld built comedy out of four self-absorbed New Yorkers digging themselves into holes, and these sitcoms mine the same selfish-but-lovable dynamic. A tight circle of friends bickers, schemes and sabotages one another for laughs, week after week. If Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer are your people, this is your crowd.
Classic American network sitcoms
Seinfeld ran nine seasons on NBC and became the benchmark for the network sitcom. These classics share its multi-camera roots and studio-audience rhythm, turning small domestic frustrations into reliable half-hours of comedy. For anyone who grew up on this era of television, these are the shows that shared the schedule.
Comedies of manners, from Britain to the stage
Seinfeld obsesses over etiquette: the right way to wait for a table, greet a neighbor or return a gesture. That fixation on social rules runs through these comedies of manners too, whether a British class farce or a centuries-old stage satire. Same eye for the absurd codes people live by.
Sketch and stand-up comedy beyond the sitcom
Seinfeld opened and closed on Jerry's stand-up, keeping observational comedy at its heart. These sketch shows, variety hours and comic acts work the same muscle, riffing on everyday life in quick bursts rather than plotted episodes. Reach for them when you want the jokes without the story arc.