Difference between Seinfeld and Friends
The old favorite TV shows Seinfeld and Friends are sitcoms, which is short for situational comedy. They often feature the same characters in a common environment such as a home, restaurant, workplace etc. US audiences were first entertained by these sitcoms when Seinfeld originally aired July 5, 1989 until May 14, 1998, as it lasted for nine seasons. Whereas Friends began its run on September 22, 1994 until May 6, 2004, it lasted for ten seasons. Both are similar in the manner that they are sitcoms but that’s where the similarities end is that their theme, the story line, the characters are completely different. Both shows have had a huge following and were two of the most successful running TV shows of all time.
Characters
The characters of Seinfeld included; Jerry Seinfeld, who plays a stand-up comedian who is the main character of the show. Jerry's apartment is where most of the scenes take place it is visited by his peculiar friends George, Elaine, and Kramer. George, is Jerry's best friend. He is cheap, a liar, petty and jealous of others' achievements. Elaine Benes, Elaine is Jerry's ex-girlfriend. The last main character is Kramer, who is Jerry's "crazy neighbor". Whereas the characters of Friends include; Rachel Green, a fashion enthusiast and Monica Geller's best friend from high school. Monica, the mother hen of the group is a kitchen chef. Phoebe, who is a masseuse and a musician. Joey, who is a struggling actor and food lover. Chandler Bing, an executive working for a large multi-national corporation. Ross Geller, a paleontologist.
The Theme
Seinfeld desecrated many conventions of normal television. The show, often described as about nothing, became the first television series to be widely described as postmodern. Many fundamentals of Seinfeld fit in with a postmodern explanation. The show is naturally motivated by comedy interspersed with phony conflict and characters with strange dispositions. Whereas Friends is about six people in their 20s making their way in Manhattan, it shows how they struggle through life, going through relationships and financial problems and how they overcome every day issues faced by normal people.
Awards
Seinfeld was awarded the Emmy for "Outstanding Comedy Series" in 1993, Golden Globe Award for "Best TV-Series (Comedy)" in 1994 and Screen Actors Guild Award for "Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series" in 1995, 1997 and 1998. The Friends’ series won six Primetime Emmy Awards, it won the 2002 Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series, with nominations in 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2003. The series also won an American Comedy Award, one GLAAD Media Award, one Golden Globe Award, three Logie Awards, six People's Choice Awards, one Satellite Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Summary
- Seinfeld and Friends were the best sitcoms of their era; although they are comedy shows they portrayed different concepts to their audiences, each with its own fan following.
- There are 4 main characters in Seinfeld which have unique relationships with each other, whereas Friends is about six people who depend on each other.
- Seinfeld is unconventional and some describe the show as being about “nothing.” Whereas Friends, is about what the title says, friends, six of them living together in Manhattan, New York.
- Both shows have won their fair share of awards, each of them well deserving as they influenced American culture.
