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Screen & Stage • Series

Seinfeld

Seinfeld is an American television sitcom created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Seinfeld is an American television sitcom created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, airing on NBC from 1989 to 1998. It follows a fictionalized version of Jerry and his friends in New York City, widely regarded as one of the most influential sitcoms of all time.

What it is

Seinfeld centers on the daily lives of Jerry Seinfeld and his close friends George Costanza, Elaine Benes, and Cosmo Kramer. Known as a “show about nothing,” it focuses on routine social interactions and observational humour, turning ordinary situations into comic plots. The series is set mainly in and around Jerry’s apartment on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

Key details

The series was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, premiering on NBC on July 5, 1989, and ending on May 14, 1998. It ran for nine seasons and 180 episodes. The core ensemble includes Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Michael Richards.

Why it matters

Seinfeld became one of the best-known American sitcoms of the 1990s, frequently cited as highly influential. Its dialogue, catchphrases, and character-driven humour have been widely discussed in popular culture. In Canada, the show has been widely broadcast, syndicated, and discussed as part of North American popular culture.

In short

  • Seinfeld is a sitcom about Jerry Seinfeld and his friends in New York City, airing 1989–1998 on NBC.
  • It has nine seasons and 180 episodes, known for observational humour and a “show about nothing” style.
  • The main characters are Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer, played by Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Michael Richards.
  • The series is widely regarded as one of the most influential sitcoms of all time, with a strong cultural presence in Canada.
Canadian angle

Seinfeld has been widely broadcast, syndicated, and discussed in Canada as part of North American popular culture, and Canadian viewers have had access through major television and streaming distribution in the Canadian market.

Quick questions

What is Seinfeld?
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom about Jerry Seinfeld and his friends, set mainly in New York City.
Who created Seinfeld?
It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld.
How many seasons and episodes does Seinfeld have?
The series has nine seasons and 180 episodes.

Sources

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seinfeld
    Supports: Series creator, cast, setting, original run, season and episode count.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannicahttps://www.britannica.com/topic/Seinfeld
    Supports: Overview, broadcast years, popularity, and cultural significance.
  3. Encyclopedia.comhttps://www.encyclopedia.com/media/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/seinfeld
    Supports: Broadcast period, popularity, and premise.
  4. TBS / YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGhg-htVnJ0
    Supports: Main characters and series premise in promotional description.